Enchantée (Enchantee, #1)

by Gita Trelease

A compellingly beautiful tale of magic, intrigue and deception, set against the backdrop of eighteenth-century Paris on the cusp of revolution.

Paris in 1789 is a labyrinth of twisted streets, filled with beggars, thieves, revolutionaries – and magicians . . .
When seventeen-year-old Camille is left orphaned, she has to provide for her frail sister and her volatile brother. In desperation, she survives by using the petty magic she learnt from her mother. But when her brother disappears Camille decides to pursue a richer, more dangerous mark: the glittering court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

Using dark magic Camille transforms herself into the ‘Baroness de la Fontaine‘ and presents herself at the court of Versaille, where she soon finds herself swept up in a dizzying life of riches, finery and suitors. But Camille’s resentment of the rich is at odds with the allure of their glamour and excess, and she soon discovers that she’s not the only one leading a double life . . .

Enchantée is a compelling historical fantasy and is Gita Trelease's debut novel.

• ISBN10: 1509895973
• ISBN13: 9781509895977
• Publish Date: 21 February 2019 (first published 5 February 2019)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Imprint: Macmillan Children's Books
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 480
• Language: English

Reviews

[Steph L]

A fantasy mixed with historical fic

This book was a perfect mix of fantasy and historical fiction. I loved both elements of this book.

I recommend this for anyone who likes historical fiction or stories set in Paris. This was a fantasy, but it was a new take on what the genre is.

[Kelly]

★★★☆
In eighteenth century Paris, the streets whisper with discontent. The wealthy aristocratic community collecting taxation payments from the lower socioeconomic castes, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette holding lavish parties for the affluent society. Camille Durbonne provides for her sister Sophie, recovering from the small pox virus that their parents succumbed, her brother Alain an alcoholic indebted to the dazzling lights of the royal casino.

Camille relies upon magie ordinaire and her ability to manipulate metal into currency, using sorrow as motivation for the transformation. Once celebrated for their abilities, magicians were revered by royalty and aristocrats to transform the Palace of Versailles into a glittering showcase of wealth, beauty and privilege. For a lowly printers daughter, Camille needs money for Sophie's medication and to keep the roof over their heads, brother Alain is unable to hold down a job and has sold anything of value within their crumbling, rented rooms. On a drunken rampage, Alain ransacks their home, assaults Camille and flees to Versailles with their overdue rent money.

Camille is a resilient young woman, using whatever means are at her disposal to earn money to care for her younger sister Sophie. Sophie is recovering from small pox, a disease which had taken both their parents lives and left the siblings for fend for themselves. And one another. While Camille and Sophie have been a means of support for one another, Alain begun gambling, seduced by the bright lights of Versailles and the careless life of an aristocrat.

Alain is an abusive character. He cares little for the welfare of his sisters, rather his own lifestyle of drinking and gambling which has lead him debt with dangerous creditors. Not only does he attempt to manipulate Camille but also threatens to sell Camille and Sophie with the implication of selling their bodies to clear his debts. Sophie is awestruck by this lavish life Alain leads and idolises her brother, Alain filling her head with false promises of Sophie meeting a wealthy aristocrat and marrying. Sophie is frustrating. Although incredibly naive at only fifteen years of age, she's only beginning to realise the toll that magic takes on Camille and begins working for a local milliner creating hats for the wealthy women of Paris. Unfortunately it still isn't enough money to survive.

Using her mother's glamoire gown and the last of their savings, Camille uses magic to manipulate her appearance to join the aristocrats at Versailles, where she's taken into the fold as the young widow Baroness de la Fontaine. For Camille, it's impossible not to lose her sense of identity within the dazzling atmosphere of Versailles and the privileged aristocrat lifestyle. Although Camille is seduced by her new lifestyle, she returns home with her winnings each day to provide for sister Sophie.

Sophie's loyalties seem to lie with Alain, her brother convincing the fifteen year old that she will one day become an aristocrat with influence, marrying a wealthy man and living a life of affluence. She becomes increasingly jealous of Camille, even as magie ordinaire slowly begins to destroy her sister. I found Sophie incredibly self centred and it's not a term I use lightly. Understanding that she is only fifteen years of age and recovering from a life threatening illness, she showed such little compassion for Camille except for wanting her sister to pursue relationships for societal gain.

The subtle romance was lovely. Meeting in the most unconventional manner, the aeronautic Lazare is dashing, charming and oh so chivalrous. His wonderment at Camille is absolutely delightful and he cares not for her societal standing. Leading her double life, Camille meets the wealthy, mysterious Seguin, an acquaintance of her new friends. Seguin is incredibly forward with his intentions, he likes Camille as her alternative ego but Camille also suspects he is aware there is more to her than the wealthy, lonely widow she portrays.

It was incredibly atmospheric. I was lured into the world of Versailles and the the lavish romanticism of the wealthy aristocrats. Gita Trelease has sprinkled words and phrases in French throughout the prose, creating such a lovely narrative and authenticity. An inclusion I really enjoyed.

My only complain is of the pacing. It's incredibly slow to begin. We follow Camille throughout the streets of Paris as she collects scrap metal to transform into coins and gambling to create a better life for her and Sophie. There was so much emphasis on the gambling and Camille stumbling home each night from exhaustion that there was little left for romance or developing Sophie's character.

Overall, it was slow but incredibly lovely. I expected more from the brewing revolution subplot rather than glittering casinos but really enjoyed it despite the slow beginning. Fans of lavish historical romances will love this one and looking forward to the next installment.

[alisoninbookland]

Overall, Enchantée is an enjoyable historical fantasy with a lovely dose of Revolution.

Full review here.

[Amber (The Literary Phoenix)]

Is it too cheesy to say that I'm enchanted by Enchantée?

I loved everything about Gita Trelease's writing style here - this book swept me off my feet and I read 40% in the first night. She brings Paris to life so you can smell the bread and feel the coarse powder in the ladies hair, but she does it in such a way that the reader is not overly burdened with flowery language. It is smooth and enrapturing and I absolutely loved it.

Enchantée is a tale of la magie, but also of the Revolution. The story takes place just as the Revolution is beginning and we are able to see through Camille's eyes as the Tennis Court Oath is spoken and the chaos of Paris streets when the people break into the Bastille. I adore fantasy novels that hinge on historical events, because they bring together two of my favorite genres. Enchantée is just that - half fantasy and half historical fiction. Thee magic is always fleeting - harbored in illusions, mostly - and requires blood and sorrow. The nobles in Versailles play with magic like playing with fire (those who can) and Camille quickly finds herself in danger because she is to eager with her own performance, and she catches the eye of the villain....

Ugh! There is so much of this book I want to talk about - from the layers of the heroes that make them less heroic in certain lights, to the finery of Sophie's hats, to the fact that Camille and Aurelie and the others go play cache-cache (hide-and-go-seek) in the Gardens. The French that is flawlessly woven into the story just brings it more to life, but for those who are not fluent, there's a glossary in the back. And the balloon! The aeronauts were only on the edges of the story, but every flight, every conversation about what it means to go up in a balloon, is magnificent.

I highly recommend Enchantée to anyone who enjoys period pieces and magic, YA readers most of all. It's an extraordinary debut, and positively dazzling. I loved it.

[shannonmiz]

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight

3.5*

Are any of us ever going to turn down magical 1789 Paris? Right, didn't think so. Good news is, you don't have to! This definitely delivers on magic, Paris, and 1789! You know, in case you super like smallpox, even crappier patriarchies than now, and peeing in buckets or whatever. Onward to the stuff I liked and didn't!

The Things I Liked:

• •Again, I return to the setting, for 1789 Paris is fabulous. I feel it must be reiterated that I mean to read about and decidedly not to live in, for I like my head attached to my body and also, plumbing. But if I had a time machine I'd pop in for a hot second. The author did a great job of making the setting feel authentic- between the clothing, the conditions the sisters faced with the lack of reputable male kin, the classism, it was on point. Add to it the tense vibe of a city on the brink, and yep, nailed it.



• •Camille was a character I absolutely rooted for from the start. Look, obviously she was getting the sympathy vote to begin with. Our girl's parents are dead, her brother is a creep of the highest order, and she just wants her sister and herself to be able to get by, which doesn't seem like much to ask. She's stubborn and incredibly strong-willed, but that also translates into her working hard to get what she wants. Also I adored the romance and devoured every last scene with Camille and Lazare. The sisterly bond was also one worth noting, it was great to see the way their relationship changed and grew.



• •The magic system was enjoyable! I have said before that magic is hit-or-miss with me, but this one was a hit. I loved that the magic cost something every time it was used because honestly doesn't that seem like how it would work? And it was hard work! It wasn't just a flick of a wrist or whatever, it took a lot of dedication, which I also appreciated. Plus, it turns into quite a thought-provoking question: If the magic would cost you so much, would you still do it?



• •I just plain enjoyed the story. Sometimes that's enough!

The Things I Didn't:

• •It was a bit long, maybe longer than necessary? At times it felt like it was taking too long, which I found unfortunate, because I wanted to be immersed in this world. But I did find it lagging from time to time.

Bottom Line: 1789 Magical Paris! Go for the sisterly bond, the awesome slow-burn romance, the enchantment of magic and nobility. Leave before the guillotine gets you.