Reviewed by Lucie
In Enchantée, a work of historical fiction set during the French revolution, orphaned Camille must find a way to provide for her sister while managing her volatile brother. Using magic, Camille turns scraps of metal into coins to feed and house her family. But when her brother steals her earnings and vanishes, a desperate Camille embarks on a dangerous scheme to save herself and her sister. Employing a more dangerous and darker magic, Camille creates a double identity for herself – Baroness Cécile Déscharlots, an aristocrat with access to the gambling tables at Versailles. Yet as Camille spends more and more time with the aristocrats at the tables, she struggles to maintain the resentment she once felt for the rich. Meanwhile, at home, Camille encounters Lazare, a handsome young balloonist who becomes quite taken with her.
As Camille’s double identity begins to unravel and the revolution erupts, Camille must choose between the opulent excitement of Versailles and the principles of her old life.
Enchantée offers immersive imagery of the French revolution, creative concepts of magic and flirtatious romance. The reader will relish the well-developed characters' highs and will pine for them during their lows. The plot can sometimes be slow, but the imagery of a sparkling yet flawed France makes reading Enchantée delectable. The book is fitting for all fantasy and historical fiction fans of grade eight and older. It offers a glimpse of a very real situation for the era while adding unique fantastical elements. Enchantée is enchanting!