All a bit silly but it's a hugely enjoyable historical fantasy with plenty of OTT drama, macabre characters and a dose of French history. Good read for those wanting something a bit different

Le Miserables meets with Caraval in this engaging Fantasy book set in 1700's Paris.

It felt different to read a fantasy book set in pre-revolution Paris and I loved the atmosphere of this book. I am not generally a fan of the YA genre however the story pulled me in from the start. Trelease is a story teller for sure. I strolled the streets of Paris with Camille, brushed the corridors of Versailles. I loved the steam-punk soul of the book, and the magic system of the book might be simple but it was perfectly fitting to the story. The plot is a bit predictable but the way it's told is very engaging so I would be interested to read a sequel of this book. Would love to hear more about Camille and her new adventures!

Possibly my favourite thing about this book was the setting. I, unfortunately, do not know enough about the court of Louis XVI or French culture during the late 18th century to speak to the historical accuracy of this book  - but let's be real, you don't read a book about 'la magie' and expect it to be entirely realistic. What this book does manage to do is to capture that feeling of a world on the verge, there are bitter feelings brewing in Paris, new technology on the rise, that which has stood for such a long time is soon to be no more. I thought that this book did a great job of conveying both the glamour (in a non-magical sense) of Paris and Versailles while still showing that more seedy, grimy side of the city that is so often brushed over when we talk about Paris even today.

I have a complex relationship with Paris, I've been a few times and I've never managed to feel like I got quite the right kind of experience out of it. I have delightful memories of having baguettes on the Isle de la Cité with my best friend and terrible ones of waiting around in tourist crowds milling near the Eiffel Tower. Paris has that over romanticised feel, so much so that a lot of the beauty and the history has been subsumed by this idea of creating that 'Parisian' experience that ultimately ends up feeling pretty false. I'm sounding like a travel snob now, and if you love Paris that's totally fine, but personally, I would go to Lyon any day of the week.

What was the point of that particular tangent? Purely to illustrate that this book also had that slightly false, glittery feel to it, while also having the poverty and the fear of Paris during this time. I loved that this wasn't a 'Paris is so wonderful, look at all the pretty dresses' kind of a setting, but it did still have those elements. 

The magic system is also worth talking about. It isn't ever explained in any kind of exact terms but it seemed to me as though magic was focussed on the idea of changing one thing into another, the initial example being Camille turning scraps of metal into coins. It wasn't clear whether the darker magic that Camille later gets caught up in is a different type of magic entirely or an extension of that same magic, but you definitely get the sense that magic has many different facets and can be used for good and evil. This book has the 'standard' 'magic has a cost' kind of vibe to it, which is handled fairly well, you do see Camille's descent from the start of the book to the end.

What I appreciated was that this book does parallel the idea of addiction to magic with addiction to gambling (as well as substance addiction, but gambling is more of an obvious comparison). While Camille may begin to dabble in darker magic as a result of necessity, she isn't just hopelessly trapped, she clearly makes the choice to keep dabbling. I liked that this story gave her that agency, it made her feel a much more developed character where she could have just been the poor orphan girl swept up by the flashing lights.

I'm read French pretty fluently (far better than I speak and write it - thank you Latin education) so found it quite easy to read the moments where characters drop into speaking French - ok they are speaking French all the time, the book is set in France, but it isn't written in French except on a few occasions - usually exclamations such as 'mon Dieu' and suchlike. It would be interesting to hear from someone who read no French what their experience was. I personally didn't feel like it flowed particularly well, and that it read more like a sudden poke to the ribs - remember we are in France *poke*- but someone else might read it differently. There is a handy glossary at the back to help readers understand some of the French terminologies in case you were worried. 

Overall, I thought that this was a great example of the historical/fantasy crossover. It has pretty much everything you could ask for, sibling relationships, romance, hot air balloons, ballgowns - the whole nine. While I found some of the writing a little jarring I enjoyed the story as a whole and I think this would make a great read to round out winter, while the evenings are still dark and cold. 

My rating: 4/5 stars

I received a free digital advanced review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Enchanteé merges the hedonistic beauty of Marie Antionette’s Court, with the poverty stricken rue’s of Paris and adds a dash of magic like the sprinkles on top of an ice cream.

Drunken debauchery and sparkling gambling halls, mingle with the grey roofs and desperation of a starving young girl, doing what she thinks is best for her and her family.

Since her parents succumbed to smallpox, Camille has been left in charge of her younger sister Sophie and their older brother Alain. Alain should look after them really but he’s too busy drinking and gambling all their money away and lashing out when the girls refuse. Meanwhile Sophie lives in a dream world where she believes she’ll one day meet a handsome aristocrat who will fall in love with her and save them all from poverty. Only Camille has her eyes wide open to their empty cupboards and stomach’s, the overdue rent and the fact she has to work La Magie in order to make fake coins and buy food.

But then Camille finds a new use for La Magie, she can transform herself into the beautiful and alluring Baroness De La Fontaine, and she sets her sights on the glittering court itself. At first Camille only intends to gain enough money to see her and her sister safe and well, but the lure of court and the lure of La Magie soon become too much of a pull.

The true beauty of this novel is its seamless blending of both history and fantasy. Glittering lights shine out from the pages while the scent of rot from the poverty stricken streets seeps out. Camille is a bewitching character in her honest determination to do right by a family who quite honestly haven’t been that great to her. From her abusive brother, to her spoilt little sister and the mother who forced her to learn La Magie despite its horrible price.

But everything falls apart as the riots of Paris expose more than just the corruption in the heart of the court. Camille is forced to make terrible choices to protect herself and those she loves.

A fantastic story which caters to my love of both history and fantasy. The writing is captivating and beautiful, I felt every bit of Camille’s sorrow and desperation. I have no doubt that this is set to be one of the most sparkling debuts of 2019.

Enchantee by Gita Trelease is a magical story set in 1789 Paris in the reign of Mary Antoinette. Camille Durbonne has to find a way provide for her sick sister and herself and her older brother who drinks and gambles all their money away. Times are hard, it’s the start of The French Revolution. People are starving, and rioting, while the queen parties away. So Camille uses magic to get into the French court and turns metal into money to gamble, to win enough money to take care of her sister and move away from her violent brother. Along the way she meets an array of different character some good, some bad.
This is a beautifully written and magical story set 18th Century Paris. The author’s description draws in you like as if you are actually there in them times. The author has done well researching and describing the social gatherings and the fashion of the 18th Century and how people live double live to keep their reputations intact. This is a great historical novel that I enjoyed very much with lots of twists and turn and also quite intense. I highly recommend.

This is a wonderful magic tale set in pre-revolutionary France. If you like magic and leading a double life than this is a book for you. The book has a little French sprinkled throughout which I really enjoyed and thought it added a nice element to the story.

We first learn of out main character through an apprentice who she tricks with magic and I thought it was a great way to introduce the main character. I liked the main character, Camille, she was brave but also not perfect as she cannot give up her double life. She wanted to help her family and the only way she can is to use magic. I liked the relationship between her and her little sister Sophie as I thought it reflected a real sibling relationship. I didn't like her older brother and he was just a waste of space.
I really liked that the Magic has a price and in this book you need Sorrow to be able to use magic but it takes more than it gives. Three kinds of magic, one for changing things, changing oneself and imbuing objects with magic to make them sentient.

I also enjoyed the way the real historical events were used in the book. I thought it was done very well as you can see the revolution building slowly in the background. I also liked that this book showed a clear class divide in the book and also how she added magic into the history. I enjoyed the story and how it played out, I will admit parts of the book took me by surprise and I love it when that happens.

I have to admit I’m not the biggest fan of romance but I liked the romance of Camille and Lazare, It didn’t feel forced and I have to say I really liked Lazare who feels he doesn't fit into the French aristocracy as his mother was Indian. I enjoyed the representation in this book. There is also Chandon who has a male lover in a Baron and I loved their relationship and how it fits into the book. Also in the book was a glossary of French terms which is helpful for the French parts but the French phrases used in the book and there is also a historical note which shows what events and people were real which was interesting to read.

This is the first historical fantasy I have read in a while and I loved it. Honestly I forget how much I love a good historical fiction. I highly recommend this book and I will most likely buy it when the book is released. I love a physical book plus the cover is gorgeous.

I really loved this book, there was great world building and I loved the characters so I was really invested in their story. The was a lot of intrigue and suspense and a major theme throughout the book was that everyone was hiding something so the deception kept me hooked. I wanted to know what was truly happening, who each of the characters truly were.

Each character had their own secrets for various reasons, from needing to blend in to keeping a loved one safe, and it made their deception grown until they were almost spiralling out of control. It really made me root for the characters and wanting them to work everything out.

I personally loved the romance in the story, even though there isn’t a lot of it, it felt very realistic for the time period it’s set in and honestly they were so adorable!

The world building was amazing, it was rich and intricate, so I felt like I was right there walking the streets with the characters. It shows Paris’ dark and bleak side where the common people live but also the glitz and glam of the aristocracy. It made it seem much more real.

I also loved how Gita incorporated true historical events and people into the story, from the revolution to Marie Antoinette to the hot air balloons. I especially loved how the hot air balloons were shown as the revolutionary event in the story as it was so accurate for that time and how the characters were so invested into making using a hot air balloon a reality. Their enthusiasm and zeal was completely addictive and it made me want to join them in the hot air balloon!

I was really glad to see that Gita accurately depicted the stark differences between the rich and the poor and how the rich often cared very little for the suffering of others. While Camille and Sophie had to deceive people to just be able to buy bread, the rich were gambling and drinking their days away. Showing this made it clear why the revolution happened.

I loved the diversity in the books and how it was portrayed from Lazare being half Indian and facing racism even amongst the aristocracy, with them making it clear that he is not their equal and Chandon having to hide his relationship because it was seen as unacceptable.

Although I loved the book I did feel it dragged a little near the end but it did not lessen my enjoyment of the book. Then the ending was a lot more fast paced and I loved the way it ended.

One thing I did love was that although there will be a book two, this book had a complete arc so you can technically read it as a standalone. I am most definitely looking forward to reading more and being back in this world as I so want to see what will happen with the characters during the revolution.

If you love historical fantasy books I highly recommend you pick this book up when it comes out in February!

I loved the concept for this book – a sort of Cinderella story that focuses more on the class and wealth divide than on one person magically escaping it. I’m afraid I just didn’t really connect with the writing. Some slow unwinding plots fetch me, some don’t. This just didn’t really grab me. However if you like Eighteenth Century France and are more engaged by descriptions of pomp and circumstance than I am, this might be right up your street.

Camille Durbonne must find a way to provide for her sick sister while escaping the clutches of an abusive brother. Relying on her limited knowledge of magic, she transforms herself into a baroness and begins to gamble at Versailles. Quickly, she hones her skills but magic has a cost and soon she discovers leaving Versailles is much harder than it looks.

What I loved the most about this book was how vividly Trelease painted Paris in the 18th century. As Camille transforms, she comes to face the rich who she has despised her entire life. The rich who live in luxury while families like Camille’s waste away. The world building shines through, 18th century Paris with a tinge of magic in its streets: its street fashion, printing system, hot air ballooning, and games.

Camille is a determined and headstrong lead, driven by her situation to make a better life for herself and her sister. I really like her as a lead. She tends to get the better of herself and assumes she knows best for her sister, who rightfully calls her out on it. A terrific sibling dynamic between them.

There are the beginnings of a good discussion with the male love interest who is biracial. (Indian and French) Both India and France see him as an outsider, and there’s a moment where she discusses his identity and how he struggles to find his place. I just wish this was considered more, he was basically a ghost for a good portion of the book.

I did struggle with the length of this book. There’s a lot of moments where you’re just going through it, part build-up as we watch Camille learn the ways of the court, part was just me as reading getting partially bored in some moments. You’re left waiting for something to happen, but it felt like it takes way too long for the actual plot to move on from Camille being introduced into the court. But once it picks up, it gets a lot more exciting, and I really enjoyed it in the end.

Overall, There’s a lot of small tidbits that stuck to me and mixed with the writing and plot and the way the author used real historical events that worked with the plot, it was really great. A lot will be put off by its length, but the world was something else and enjoyable to explore. I actually enjoyed this much more than I had expected.

A beautiful debut novel from Gita Trelease, perfectly captures the decadent ways of Paris alongside the crippling poverty. The magic plot line fits perfectly into this novel.

Set against the back drop of over indulged aristocrats,the poor getting poorer,and a crumbling Versailles... this was entertaining enough.
I really enjoyed the idea that the palace was built on magic and spilt blood and Marie Antoinette was being held together by magic.... well almost.
The whole book was a pleasant enough read... But it lacked magic for me. There was lots of talk of it... but I didn't feel it.

Enchantee a historical fantasy novel set around the eve of the French revolution. Camille and her family are incredibly poor and the only chance of survival is if Camille practices la magie ordinaire. But changing coins only lasts so long and soon she has to change herself and step through the gates of Versailles to have any hope of surviving.

The Good

The world building in this book was phenomenal! The magic was so interesting and fantastic. I loved all the courtly intrigue and learning about the cost of magic as it went on. Some of the description was so interesting and I found the idea of the glamoire really interesting. It’s something that I’ve only really seen with the fae in the past so it’s interesting to see how it can be used in a different light.

The characters were also really interesting and the whole story was a pretty fun journey. It also seemed historically accurate but…I don’t really know that much about French History. But honestly, this book made me want to learn more.

The Bad

Near the end, I did start getting a little bored. Lying was a common theme which made sense. But when it’s the same unnecessary lie over and over and a character is agonizing over it…things get a little dull.

It wasn’t enough to put me off the book but it did make me roll my eyes a little. I know the lying was so certain things in the plot would happen but I just get so tired of it.

Final Thoughts

This was a pretty damn good book. I’d like to think this book was the end of my slump. I truly enjoyed it.

4/5 stars

This book was BEAUTIFUL. The writing was lush without being stifling, the heroine was flawed without being unlikeable… honestly my gripes with this one are very minor.

This one has a very fulsome blurb. 17-year-old Camille Durbonne is dealing with an alcoholic, abusive older brother and an ill younger sister, Sophie, so she needs all the money she can get. So far the family have just been using la magie ordinaire, little magic: it can turn scrap metal into coins for just long enough to push them onto unsuspecting vendors. But they can’t do this forever, because all the shopkeepers in their neighbourhood are wising up. The next step is to use glamoire, a bigger magic, which can disguise not petty objects but people.

There’s just one problem. Magic always has its price. The petty magic uses sorrow and tears to fuel itself; glamoire uses sorrow and blood. But Camille has no choice, so she’s disguised herself as their ancestress Cécile, Baroness de la Fontaine and taken herself to Versailles. There she uses la magie ordinaire to win card games by cheating. I loved Camille’s no-nonsense attitude here. A lot of YA heroines you see are burdened by scruples, but not Camille. (Okay, I sound like a total criminal right now, but honestly, I love the unrepentant bad-girl heroines). She has a problem, and by God, she’s going to get herself out of it. There’s no squeamishness – quite refreshing.

But when she gets to Versailles she discovers she’s not the only cheater there – or even the only magician. She falls into a friendship with the aristocrats Chandon, his lover Foudriard, their friend Aurélie… and the Vicomte de Séguin, a dangerous, unpredictable young man. Incidentally, for anyone who’s read Les Liaisons Dangereuses, I could see the influence of the Vicomte de Valmont very clearly in Seguin. And I’m not just pulling that out of nowhere – Liaisons is actually referenced in the book!

Seguin is a fascinating villain, charming and utterly opaque. I did knock a star off my rating because of him, though – one of his crucial actions at the end of the book seemed nothing like his character whatsoever, it felt very deus ex machina.

But the sisterly bond between Camille and Sophie was nicely done. Camille’s not a perfect sibling; there were many times I wanted to scream at her for not showing more care about Sophie’s whereabouts and actions. I mean, this is Paris, 1789! She needs to look after her! But Camille’s kind of like one of those people who think they need to work more, earn just a little more money, and then their family will love them more – not realising it’s them the family loves, not the money. It doesn’t help that gambling holds an allure which Camille is not immune to.

The romance was pretty cute. Slightly fast, perhaps, but I loved how it was complicated by all manner of disguises (and not just on Camille’s part). The setting was, mostly, very well realised. I sat a three-hour exam on the whole French Revolution a few months ago, so it’s still very fresh in my mind, and I do think Trelease has captured the dizzy atmosphere of Versailles well.

In short, this is a strong debut (if not perfect, especially at the end).