I absolutely adored this story set just before the French Revolution as our heroine battles poverty by using magic to disguise herself as an aristocrat at the French court.
A beautiful romance sits at the heart of the story along with dark magic and dangerous secrets. The historical period is also wonderfully evoked.

As soon as I found out this book was set in Paris I knew I would love it. This is the perfect blend of historical fiction and fantasy that has you questioning whether this actually happened. Though the pacing was slow at times, the story still drags you in and with a beautifully fresh magic system I was hooked from the first few chapters. I would highly recommend this 5/5.

18th century France and magic. What's not to love? I liked how some of the dialogue was interspersed with French words and phrases. The glossary and historical notes at the end are excellent. This novel would transfer well to film and I'd love to see it on the big screen. One for fans of The Night Circus.

Enchatée is a simply beautiful novel that will capture your heart.  

The Story follows Camille as she uses a dark form of magic to try to make money for herself and her sister by gambling in Versailles.  But lights and the life of the wealthy are too easy to become wrapped up in and Camille finds herself becoming more invested in her fake life and in more and more danger.  

This is not a novel to read quickly.  It moves at a slow, indulgent pace and every description and dialogue is to be luxuriously savoured as you read.  1700s in Paris  brought to life by such rich and sumptuous description that transports you to a Paris/Versailles which is on the verge of a revolution.  Through the eyes of Camille the reader lives the life of an aristocrat and a poor, destitute young girl.

Camille and Sophie and both adorable but feisty female characters and you cannot help but fall in love with them.  Other characters include the handsome Lazare, and the dangerous Seguin. 

Enchatée is such a delight to read and it really didn't feel liike a YA (Young Adult) novel at all although is highly appropriate for younger YA readers as the violence is limited and the story is more about the magic and the romance.  It has a fairy tale/Les Miserables vibe to it and is just stunning to read.

A YA novel set in Paris/Versaille immediately prior to Revolution, with glorious frocks, extravagant hats, parties, food, card games, added magic, hot air balloons and of course some romance.

This work is set up to highlight aristocratic riches and excess gained by cruelty and indifference to the suffering of others - and the atmosphere of the times, when the image of opulence that was Versaille (and all that it represented) was beginning to flicker out and crumble in the eyes of the people.

'Enchantee' is well written and detailed. However I didn't really find myself caring much for any of the characters until quite late in the book, when I suddenly found myself more emotionally invested.

I love stories set in France so was eager to read Enchantée, a historical fantasy debut set in an eighteenth-century Paris on the brink of revolution. Making it even more appealing, a rare few people (magicians) are able to access magic although at a steep cost. I thought the magic system worked really well as there were clear limits to its capabilities and the price of using it was dangerous both emotionally and physically. Camille Durbonne is a seventeen-year-old magician who lives in abject poverty with her older brother, Alain, and younger sister, Sophie. I was frustrated by both of her siblings as they were incredibly selfish at times and simply expected Camille to provide for them. Sophie at least matured over the book and I found their sisterly bond to be authentic and relatable.

The relationship between Camille and hot-air-balloonist Lazare was beautifully portrayed, although secrets threaten to jeopardise their growing attachment. As Camille infiltrates the court of Marie Antoinette to provide for her family by disguising herself as the Baroness de la Fontaine, she slowly begins to lose herself in the magic, gambling, and decadence. Not only does Camille have to keep her magic hidden but there’s a greater threat promised by a power-hungry dark magician. I found the build-up of this plotline to be well-paced but I did feel the resolution was a little rushed.

The main triumph of this book is the atmospheric setting that perfectly captures the poverty of Paris and the wide divide between rich and poor. The author authentically portrays the cramped and desperate conditions of the maze of streets inhabited by working-class citizens and contrasts it with the excess and waste of Louis XVI’s court, using a writing style evocative enough that the setting seemed almost tangible at times. Overall, I loved this story of magic, mystery and revolution and would highly recommend it. It’s a slow tale but thoroughly rewarding.

An interesting read steeped in the history of France and the magic of Versailles. Intertwined with the beauty and opulence of the courtiers and glittering facade we see a misuse of magic and the rotten core of the aristocracy of the time.
We have Camille who uses her magic in an effort to better the circumstances of herself and her sister. Her use of minor magic to turn scrap metal into coins escalates into something more dangerous. She has to confront the fact that her knowledge is poor and needs help to avoid the consequences of being caught. Not only has she the ability to use magic she also has a bright enquiring mind. So begins her double life one within the dazzling rooms of the palace of Versailles and the other mundane life with her sister. A believable account highlighting the different worlds of the courtiers and the common people. Characters are well interpreted.
The backdrop to the story is a time of upheaval and changing ideas in France. The storming of the bastille and the imminent downfall of the aristocracy and what it signifies. Entertaining read, interested to see what the author pursues next.

Overused story of girl using her powers for wealth hording, achieving financial stability through marriage and all rounded with your regular happy every-after with another aristocrat.
It had many elements going for it: France at a tumultuous time; Marie Antoinette, glamour, magic etc yet is missing that "je ne sais quoi" one would expect to find in such a novel. Plus not to mention all that talk about revolution, about changing the social norms for then to fall in the same trap or the old story, told and re-told a thousand times.
Boring and disappointing.

Many thanks for the opportunity to read it.

Lived up to its title! Enchanting read. A heady mixture of romance, rivalry, mistrust, deceit and not to forget - magic. I particularly enjoyed how true events in history were brought into the story. Set in the heady era of Paris in the 18th Century, I was carried away, imagining the fashion and beauty that was prevalent at that time. Not to mention being literally carried away in an early hot air balloon! How wonderful it would have been - sailing across the beautiful city of Paris. The role of the magician was an exciting part of the story and the romantic in me was swept away at the idea of a dress that would live and breathe whilst on the wearer.
This is a fabulous read for young and older adults alike. Truly enjoyable.

Oh how I loved this book...

It's magical, beautiful, and just "oooohhh"

It's Paris in 1789, that time of poverty, starvation, excessive wealth, Marie Antoinette and Versailles. Our leading lady, Camille wants desperately to get out of poverty and have a better life for her and her younger sister Sophie after their parents die - their brother Alain having become a violent drunk and gambler, spending their rent and taking all of their money.

Camille can do petty magic, and uses this to turn items into coins in order to buy food. A chance encounter with an air balloon and an accident with Sophie and the aristocracy leads Camille down a path her mother never wanted to take - opening the charred black box hidden under the eves.

Camille enters the world of Versailles with all it's traps and wealth.....

This is an astonishingly beautiful story, the setting of scenes is perfect, and I just adored all of the characters. It was just wonderful.

My thanks to Netgalley and McMillan Children's Books

"To try is to be brave. Be brave."

Set in the beginnings of revolutionary France, Enchantee is a wonderful insight to both the struggles of 'peasant' life and the awe of aristocratic Versailles. Trelease brings her protagonist to life in so many different ways, with her lyrical writing and vivid world building.

This type of book is not something new to me. I love The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue and this seemed fairly reminiscent of that, and sucked me in just as much. Blending fantasy, science and history together is something I love, as it allows you to fall into the world and not only allow your imagination to run away, but also allows you to learn a little about the past at the same time. As I've mentioned in previous reviews, I almost enjoy the historical afterword parts more than the story itself, and that definitely hasn't changed, but reading about the history during the story arc adds to the experience brilliantly. And in this book, getting to see both sides of the coin made this even better.

Camille is determined to run away from her problems. Her brother's gone down a long rabbit hole, unlikely to dig himself out and do the noble thing, her sister, Sophie, is recovering from an illness, and determined to marry someone rich and powerful, and Camille is left in the middle, to care for her and Sophie, turning scraps of metal into coins in an attempt to survive.
So when she tries another kind of magic, she finds herself at Versailles, amongst the glitz and glamour of the aristocracy. Soon she's drawn in, unable to give it all up, and putting both herself and her sister in danger.

This particular arc was one I adored from the beginning. Camille makes such a good protagonist, who's morals are never in doubt, but whose actions are often misjudged. She's trying her hardest to make ends meet, but falls victim to addiction, hurting not only herself, but her family and friends as well. With such an eclectic cast of characters to surround her, Camille definitely stood out, and I found myself feeling sorry for her.
As always, the side characters were the ones I loved seeing the most. I adored Chandon, Aurelie, Sophie, and Foudriard, but (like Camille) fell head-over-heels for Lazare!
Watching these characters come to life was something that stole the show for me. They were so alive and realistic I wanted to get caught up in their world, and see how they looked and dressed. Lazare, especially, was one of the characters I found myself drawn to, forever wishing for him to be around, as his background was very interesting, and only added to the mystery.

But the thing that let this book down, was the plot. I wanted more of the balloon, of the side characters stories, and the build up to an otherwise suitable climax. I wanted to get pulled along on an exploration of Versailles, blinded by the wonders within. Instead, it felt like a forced plot, just so the characters could be brought to life. There was so much focus on the glamoire, and not enough focus on the story, that when it ended, it seemed a little cliche.
I adored the world, and the characters, but the plot was just... meh.
And after reading the afterword, this seemed to be a common issue for the book in it's initial stages.
If there was more plot, with the same amount of lyrical writing, and world/character building, this would have been a five star read for me. But I definitely didn't hate it. This book is propelled by romance and mystery, it just needed that little bit more oomph.
But if Trelease brings that out more in her next book, I know I'll fall head-over-heels all over again!

I gave it my best shot with this and read half of it, but I’ve decided to DNF it. I wanted to love this because Paris is one of my favourite places to visit but I found myself being so bored. I felt as if nothing had happened really and that’s not good when you’re halfway through a book because things should be happening! The writing is beautiful and so is the world, but I couldn’t connect to the characters unfortunately. I know there’s some people who have felt the same as I did and others who love it, so I think it’s all personal preference. I prefer books with a little more action I think.

Firstly I would like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for my free ARC.

This story is a heady mixture of the dirt and grime of poverty, and the glitter and sparkle of fantastical magic. Set in pre-revolution Paris in the 1700s, the reader gets to grips with the fashion and frippery of the era as well as the abject impoverished, destitute, needy poor. The description of magic brings it to life and as a reader I was caught up in the atmospheric romance, politics and adventure and the richly alluring dreams of a better life. Enchantée is truly enchanting.

Themes: Magic, revolution, poverty, Marie Antoinette's court, romance

A beautifully written historical fiction fantasy set in 18th century Paris. A wonderfully atmospheric tale full of adventure and romance. Billed as a young adult read but there is plenty for older readers to enjoy too. Truly magical, in every sense of the word. Bring on book 2!

Set in Paris around the time of the French Revolution this book features Marie Antoinette alongside the rich and the powerful. In contrast Camille and her sister are desperately poor and afraid of their elder brother. Camille, however, has a talent, a magical ability to change metal into godld coins albeit temporarily and through the medium of a dress herself into nobility. The book follows her use of these abilities to better herself - and tosses in some interesting characters based on historical people such as the ballooning brothers.

She creates a very evocative picture of a city at a time of crisis but her narrative lacks something for me - at times it feels simply like a series of card games and hat shows. Everything happens in the latter third of the book.

I couldn't really empathise with any of the characters even Camille has a hard and selfish side, all for themselves and none for all is how i would describe them.

A magical and unique twist on revolutionary Paris, this combines rich historical settings with imaginative fantasy elements to creates something original

Enchantée by Gita Trelease is a YA historical fantasy set at the time of the French Revolution. The story has elements of fact with events and people from history, there is also magic….

Camille family had never had much money and when her parents die of smallpox (prevalent at that time) Camille and her siblings are left alone.

Camille’s older brother is abusive to Camille and her sister and to protect them, Camille begins to practice dark magic…..and transforms herself as a baroness to enable her to enter the Palace of Versailles to try to make money by gambling..

An involved story that’s slow to build with lovely, descriptive writing by Gita Trelease, with some great characters and the relationship between Camille and her sister, Sophie is very strong and emotional. I loved the historical part too….of Paris at such a turbulent time.

I would like to thank the Author/the Publishers/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review

A really enjoyable read of two young sisters and how they navigate their way through family dramas and sadness, experience romance for the first time, as well as the magical ability they rely on changing into something greater.

I did not delve into this book aiming to criticise the well traversed route of young adult fiction and magic; instead I felt like the setting of Paris gave the story a slightly more interesting edge in a saturated market. The gritty undertones and reality of life in that era that we glimpse, particularly at the beginning, made me far more interested in the story than others I have read recently. The shift to decadent balls and the wealthy side of Paris kept my interest and I really just enjoyed being swept away to a different time!

Will be recommending to some of my students who I know enjoy this genre.

Was really intrigued by this book, the description and cover pulled me in and I was not disappointed.

If you love Night Circus and Caraval then this book is just for you.

Magic, history this book has it all

Enchantee is one of the best books I have read for a while. Gita Trelease has set this book in 1789 in Paris, and tells the story from the perspective of Camille. Enchantee sees Camille growing up after the loss of her parents, and taking her younger sister under her wing. Camille faces a number of twists and turns over the course of this book, and each one kept me wanting to know more.

Camille is the typical female protagonist, as she is the scrappy main character making a sacrifice in order to protect her family. As a reader, I have read this trope numerous times, yet Gita seems to write it excellently. I enjoyed seeing Camille turn into a strong and independent character, and I fought for her so much.

The magical aspect was well-written, and a magical dress is something that could have been over-played. However, this book writes this in such a way to differentiate from other fantasy books.

There are plenty of characters to fawn over, with my favourites being Lazare and Chandon. Lazare is fascinating, as he shows that people are not who they seem. Whereas Chandon is the character who I wish was my best friend.

There was definitely the issue of social class through this book, and how appearances can definitely be deceiving, both for Camille dressing up, and Lazare dressing down. The book shows that anyone can pretend to be whoever they want, as long as they look the part.

Enchantee is the debut for Trelease, who is an approachable author via social media. Trelease has clearly done her research into Paris, and France in general. Trelease has included translations in her bibliography, which I thought was handy. I am excited for whatever she publishes in the future!

Enchantee is definitey a book I plan on re-reading in the future. This book is suitable for fans of The Night Circus and Caraval. I will no doubt be shouting from the rooftops about this book for a long time.