Originally published as Enchantée, All That Glitters is Gita Trelease’s debut fantasy about an orphaned girl who uses dark magic to save her sister and herself is “a soaring success” (NPR)!Paris is a labyrinth of twisted streets filled with beggars and thieves, revolutionaries and magicians. Camille Durbonne is one of them. She wishes she weren’t…When smallpox kills her parents, Camille must … smallpox kills her parents, Camille must find a way to provide for her younger sister while managing her volatile brother. Relying on magic, Camille painstakingly transforms scraps of metal into money to buy food and medicine they need. But when the coins won’t hold their shape and her brother disappears with the family’s savings, Camille pursues a richer, more dangerous mark: the glittering court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
Using dark magic forbidden by her mother, Camille transforms herself into a baroness and is swept up into life at the Palace of Versailles, where aristocrats both fear and hunger for magic. As she struggles to reconcile her resentment of the rich with the allure of glamour and excess, Camille meets a handsome young inventor, and begins to believe that love and liberty may both be possible.
But magic has its costs, and soon Camille loses control of her secrets. And when revolution erupts, Camille must choose—love or loyalty, democracy or aristocracy, reality or magic—before Paris burns.
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Deliciously addictive. Enchantée is a lit firework crackling with treacherous magic, decadent romance, and disguises that take on lives of their own. I adore this gorgeous book.
Magic during the French Revolution?
Yes, please!
For years, my sophomore AP World History students have asked for extra credit novels about the French Revolution, but there wasn’t a YA one that I could recommend. However, I thoroughly enjoyed Enchantée by Gita Trelease, plus there are fun cameos by Lafayette, Jefferson, and of course, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. As soon as I finished, I handed the book off to my twelve-year-old daughter and she’s excited to dive in tonight!
Blown away by this magic world set in Paris, 1789. Camille plays a dangerous game of disguise to lift her and her sister out of poverty. A magic dress and a skill at turning cards could do it if Camille doesn’t lose her head to the seductive magic. Love is complicated, new friends don’t know the real her, and one scorned aristo becomes a dangerous enemy. Delightful read that truly had me worried about our heroine and what would happen. Fantastic world-building that made sense and a meaty plot with interesting characters.
I was into this book right off the bat! It captured my imagination from the first page and held it the entire time. When I finally finished it I was actually sad and now I can’t wait for the sequel, Liberte, to come out!
The story is set at the beginning of the French Revolution in 1798 and spans several months through when the Bastille fell. It follows a young woman whom I believe is about 19 years in age and her dysfunctional family. Her name is Camille and she learned magic from her mother. Like all good magic stories, there are rules and I really like how limited magic is in this world. She can change garbage into gold basically, using items like discarded screws and buttons to change them into money so they can buy food that evening. Another form of magic she can do is called a glamour, where she uses a lively dress and makeup to magically change her appearance. This helps her to fit into the in-crowd at Versailles so she can swindle them at cards, changing the cards to the ones she wants in order to win more money. The cost of magic in this world is blood and sorrow. It takes a horrible toll on the magician’s body and there’s no exception for Camille, but it’s all for her family’s survival, right? That’s the big question.
Camille loves her little sister Sophie more than anything. She is seventeen and talented in fashion. Camille desperately wants to provide for Sophie, not only food but also a safe place to live and opportunity to shine. Her sister makes the most glorious hats that soon become popular at the palace. With the money Camille makes turning cards, Sophie is able to realize her dream of owning her own shop, but can Camille keep her safe? Camille’s brother is a whole ‘nother story. He’s a drunk, abusive, and desperate for his own money because he has wracked up and absorbent amount of debt playing cards. He tries to squeeze his sisters for all they have to perpetuate his sick habit, causing the sisters to flee in the night to a new home when they are able. But will their brother find them again? Paris is a big city, but not that big.
On top of all the scandal and magic of Versailles, Camille meets new friends, villians, and of course a love interest. This love interest brings into her life the daring adventure of hot air balloons which gave the story a fun, whimsical touch.
What I really loved about this book is that it was just enough. I didn’t feel like the paragraphs dragged on with minute details about Paris in 1798. It didn’t beat me to death with its history. It gave just enough to help me imagine it and pique my interest in that time. It mentioned real people during that time, but also didn’t overload the story with them causing me to ask “Is this even plausible that THAT MANY historically famous people’s paths would cross that frequently like this?” The history set the scene and the story did the rest. It was delightful!
And I have to comment on the cover design. There are two different types. One is illustrated and reminds me a bit of “The Night Circus”. It’s light and whimsical and fun. The other ones, the one that I purchased, uses a photograph of a girl with brilliant red hair and bright colors and it really modernized the story and caught my attention with its bright colors. I loved it! The sequel’s cover has not let me down either.
I have seen that it says this is a teen/young adult story. I think it’s labeled this because of the age of the main character and the element of magic, but it didn’t feel teeny to me. I’m 32-years-old and I enjoyed every bit of it and related to some of the main character’s struggles even now. If you’re a fan of historical fiction with elements of magic and romance, then this is the book for you! I know that sounds like a narrow group of people, but I really think it appeals to a lot. Enjoy! I’m holding my breath until the sequel comes out!
Loved it
I really wanted to love this book. The writing is so incredibly good and I loved how accurate the history and lifestyle of the powerful and rich were. It made sinking into this world so easy and wonderful. I liked the magic a lot and thought it was such an interesting concept. Unfortunately, I never connected with this book. I did like Camille in a very detached kind of way. The devotion she had for her family, mostly her sister was admirable. The romance wasn’t completely necessary and took away from the story a little bit. It was an aspect of the story I didn’t really care for all that much.
I’m not going to say I disliked this book, but I didn’t like as much as I was hoping I would. I may read the second book and most definitely will be reading other books by this author.
5 ’Balloon’ Stars
Wow, this book really was amazing.
After reading a few fantasy book in a row, I can tell you one thing – I loved them unique. Unique setting, unique characters, unique atmosphere. And I totally got all of them in Enchantée.
At first, it didn’t really catch me. I didn’t see where it was heading, but after a few chapters into the book, I was hooked. This book is about 430 pages, and I read it in less than 2 hours. That’s something, even for me. I was totally enchanted.
I created a bond with each and every characters. I loved them so much! They were all unique their own ways and I really loved how colorful was this gang!
I can’t wait to read more of this world. And amazing debut!
What did I love about this book? EVERYTHING. Trelease transported me from 2018 to late 18th century France, and I was truly enchanted with every second of the ride. Her world-building is stellar as she moves us through Paris streets to the glamorous, but decaying, palace of Versailles sweeping us through Parisian fashion, print-making, hot-air ballooning, and parlor games. Woven into this story of magic, trickery, romance, and loss, is the history of the storming of the Bastille, which highlights the differences between social class that can drive a person to form dangerous alliances and dabble in dark magic. Add it immediately to your TBR list!
Enchantée is truly enchanting: a sumptuous, slow burn of a book that builds to an exciting conclusion. This is a book to be savored: from the rich, detailed descriptions of Paris on the brink of revolution; to the witty repartee and tender romance; to the dark, dangerous thread of magic woven through this wonderfully vivid world that Gita Trelease has crafted. I didn’t want it to end!
Enchantée is an utterly beguiling spell that lingers long after the final page.
Enchantée is a sparkling, decadent confection of a book, one with a hidden bite. Its sumptuous and evocative Paris has magical depths that will enthrall you. Be careful. Once you start reading, you won’t stop until the final page.
A heady, sparkling dream of a book. I tumbled head over heels into Enchantée’s dark and sumptuous magical Paris and wanted to stay there forever. One of the best fantasies I’ve read in years.
An intoxicating blend of opulence, magic, intrigue and romance. Gita Trelease deftly balances a spellbinding story of desperation and deceit on the precipice of the epic revolution that changed history. Camille’s tale wrapped around me as entrancingly as her magical gown. J’étais enchantée par ce livre.
Air balloons and intrigue, magic and mayhem, all in a sumptuous Paris on the verge of revolution ― a delight from beginning to end.