Quick Synopsis – A stunning YA fantasy romance where Niamh Ó Conchobhair is our heroine and Kit Carmine is our brooding prince. Niamh has a chance to help her family by being the tailor for a royal wedding. Only nothing is that simple; the wedding is in Avaland, a Kingdom that has devastated her homeland. As Niamh uses her magic to weave pieces imbued with emotions, she sees not all is perfect, and the brooding, unpredictable prince might be more than just cruel.

Song This Reminds Me Of – ivy by Taylor Swift

Publication Date – Jan. 02, 2024

Steamy Rating – 🌶🌶

Rating – 3.5 out of 5⭐

Review – This book was so sweet and honestly made me remember why I love YA fantasy.

Magic is confined to certain bloodlines blessed by the Old Ones. Niamh’s family was blessed, and as such, she can imbue clothing with feelings and magic. She’s been chosen to be the tailor of the wedding of the royal family in Avaland. Only, it’s so much more than that. Avaland has decimated her home through a war fought 20 years ago. The royal family has plant magic that they abused and “accidentally” caused a famine. Despite the complicated history, Niamh sees this as a chance to save her family, so she leaves.

When she arrives in Avaland, she discovers that Christopher, the prince she’s meant to dress for his wedding, is positively awful. As she begins to sew the pieces for his wedding and the events leading up to it, she discovers there is so much more to Avaland. There’s a gossip column that gets under everyone’s skin, protesters demanding reparations for her homeland, and friends in unlikely places.

This really was a lovely story, a little predictable, and a little lacking in backstory for me, but I did really like it. The only other thing is that the timeline was very confusing to me. At one point, Niamh mentions that it’s been a few days but references a fight as if it happened the night before. Several times I had to flip back a few pages to see when something happened and then try to figure out if it matched. Overall though, the story was nice if you like: enemies to lovers, whimsical romance or slow burn romances then you are in for a treat. There is some slight steam in the form of kissing and some handsiness in the second half of the book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC!