Author: Gita Trelease
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Publication date: February 5, 2019
Pages: 464
Source/format: ARC // Publisher
Rating: ☆☆☆☆1/2
Synopsis (from goodreads.com):
Paris in 1789 is a labyrinth of twisted streets, filled with beggars, thieves, revolutionaries—and magicians...
When smallpox kills her parents, Camille Durbonne must find a way to provide for her frail, naive sister while managing her volatile brother. Relying on petty magic—la magie ordinaire—Camille painstakingly transforms scraps of metal into money to buy the food and medicine they need. But when the coins won’t hold their shape and her brother disappears with the family’s savings, Camille must pursue a richer, more dangerous mark: the glittering court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
With dark magic her mother forbade her to use, Camille transforms herself into the ‘Baroness de la Fontaine’ and is swept up into life at the Palace of Versailles, where aristocrats both fear and hunger for la magie. Though Camille's resentment of the rich is at at odds with the allure of glamour and excess, when she meets a handsome inventor she believes liberty and love may finally be possible.
But la magie has its costs. When a scheming courtier blackmails her and Lazare’s affections shift, Camille loses control of her secrets. Then revolution erupts, and she must choose—love or loyalty, democracy or aristocracy, reality or la magie—before Paris burns…
ENCHANTÉE is a thrilling YA historical fantasy that combines the decadence of Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette with the dangerous enchantments of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.
M Y T H O U G H T S
"Magicians needed sorrow. And deep sorrow existed only because of love."
Enchantée takes place in pre-revolutionary Paris in the late 1700's. Camille Durbonne wields a kind of magic that can twist pieces of scrap metals into coins with an illusion. Forced to rely on magic in order to live, Camille is left with no choice but to create an alter ego in order to survive. She reinvents herself as Baroness de la Fontaine after finding a magical dress. However, with this alter ego comes a price since she starts using dark magic.
Camille only does this in order to provide for her sister, Sophie, after her brother, Alain, gambled away their last bit of money and because they are on the cusp of being evicted. After their parents died, the three siblings have struggled to live with the basic living needs such as food and shelter. The price of the la magie takes a toll on Camille. She is exhausted everyday but she wants to make sure that Sophie is taken care of.
Gita Trelease showcases extreme poverty against pure luxury. Camille's mother used to be an aristocrat until she married Papa, the printer. But Camille's Grandmère shuns the family because of her daughter's marriage decision. Even when Camille goes out as Camille compared to Baroness de la Fontaine, she is looked down upon like she is unworthy. Status is everything.
Enchantée is beautifully written with an alluring plot and fantastic character development. I have to admit it took me some time to warm up to the book in the beginning. The novel started off a bit slower than I anticipated but then the pace picked up fast. I enjoyed reading about the relationships Camille made throughout the novel and she herself grew a lot from the beginning to the end of the book. Camille learns that lying to people, especially to loved ones, is hard. Keeping secrets slowly eats away at her. Camille learns that she must tell the truth about who she is and she needs to stay true to herself.
Camille reminisces about how her father took her to Versailles to see a Montgolfier when she "helps save" Armand, Lazare and Rosier when flying a hot balloon. The romance between Lazare is slow but steady. You can tell they care for one another but they don't rush anything. He is unlike the other aristocrats out there and truly believes in equality. And that balloon ride with Lazare and Camille is perfect!
I enjoyed reading about when Camille creating her glamoire and when she plays cards at Versailles. There is something satisfying knowing how confident Camille is in the things she does. Camille finding another magician, Chandon, was equally surprising but intriguing. Of course there are some good magicians around and some bad ones. Chandon warns Camille to be careful while she gambles. Little does Camille know is that someone knows of her magic and has been playing the cards of the game only for her to fall into a trap.
Enchantée is a compelling and enchanting historical fantasy that will keep you on your feet wanting to know more. Trelease's gorgeous writing draws in the reader. Enchantée is an ideal read for those who love the stories of Cinderella, Les Miserables and Caraval.
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