This is a delightful romantic fantasy, but it does have some drawbacks, particularly in its worldbuilding, which can be both insufficient and confusing at times. Additionally, the book ends on a troubling happy-for-now note, leaving many conflicts unresolved and questions lingering. Despite these issues, I genuinely enjoyed reading it.

For me, the plot felt almost secondary because I was completely captivated by Wes and Margaret. They each navigate a world filled with prejudice, discovering their identities and aspirations while also dealing with the challenges of adolescence. Their connection grows in unexpected ways, providing them both with comfort and companionship during their struggles.

While the fantasy elements may not be very strong, the tender romance that develops between the two characters is truly beautiful. I'm particularly impressed by how the author crafted Wes and Margaret, giving them significant depth and complexity.

When two lonely people team up to reach what seems to be an unattainable goal, they discover that together they can accomplish anything.

An excellent novel from an excellent author. Saft builds her worlds carefully, but what really shines here is the characters— Maggie & Wes are the perfect leads for this magical little book.

This books is beautiful and I don’t know why I didn’t jump to read this book sooner. The writing, the characters, the worldbuilding - it was all gorgeously done. I was hooked from the start, immediately falling in love with our two main characters and their story. Alison Saft is official my newest auto-buy author!

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft follows Margaret Welty, a strong willed and independent sharpshooter, and Weston Winters, a desperate but determined alchemist. The two soon accept that whether they like it or not they need each other. As a team, they enter the Halfmoon Hunt, a hunt for the magical hala/fox.

I enjoyed seeing the dynamic between Margaret and Weston. They play really well off one another and both push each other where they needed to be. I feel for Margaret in the situation she gets into with her mom. Weston’s family was the perfect juxtaposition for this. It made me happy that they found each other and could provide that balance. For both characters, the themes of family, finding your place, knowing your worth, and loneliness hit pretty hard.

This book honestly took me so long to read and I have no idea why. Saft is an excellent storyteller. The writing was beautifully crafted. The two main characters worked really well together. There is just something that did not totally keep my attention with this book. It is possible that I was just not anticipating or in the mood for a slow burn type of story. The writing felt peaceful, but the story itself at times was more boring for me.

However, I would still highly recommend checking A Far Wilder Magic out if you like young adult fantasy. The writing and themes alone are worth the shot!

Thank you to the publisher, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

A FAR WILDER MAGIC is a deliciously atmospheric and magical novel, with a mythical hunt and grumpy romance included. I reveled in the beautiful prose, unique characters and how they come together, and a plot worthy of seeing on screen. I can't wait to read more from Saft, and I hope to reread soon! Thank you for the ARC!

Allison Saft never disappoints. This cover is so beautiful and the book inside is even more so. The setting was so stunningly gothic and the premise blew me away from the first page and the characters carried me through to the last.

I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this. I don't read a lot of romance and I wanted to give this book a fair shake. Thankfully, I found myself enjoying the characters and their relationship. It was sweet and I think the fantasy helped me enjoy the story even more. It was surprisingly fun.

Allison Saft gets better and better with each novel! Down Comes the Night was a 3 star for me., this one is a 4 star, and A Fragile Enchantment is 5 stars! I like how Allison walks a delicate balance between giving us a fantastic romantic tale, while not shying away from important subjects such as colonialism, racism, appropriation, etc. She is one of the best YA authors in the field right now, because she does more than just entertain, she also makes you think and be in the shoes of those who are being treated wrongly just for who they are, who their parents were, or which religion they hail from. She is now an auto buy author for me for sure.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the magical and scientific mixture and the concept of the hunt. I loved Weston’s family so much. Great supporting characters in this one!

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

This story is an interesting narrative that weaves alchemy, myth, and an exploration of loneliness. The book introduces us to Margaret Welty, a sharpshooter living in isolation, who longs for her mother's return and stumbles upon the legendary Hala, signaling the start of the Halfmoon Hunt—a contest promising unimaginable riches and knowledge to the victor. The arrival of Weston Winters, seeking an apprenticeship with Margaret's absent mother, offers her the partnership she needs to partake in the hunt. Despite the unlikely pairing, their combined efforts in facing the hunt encapsulate a journey of survival, intellectual prowess, and the unfolding of a deeply moving romance.

Saft's storytelling shines through her fantasy atmosphere and tender character development. The romance between Margaret and Wes, two outsiders drawn together by circumstance, evolves beautifully, marked by a slow burn that captures the essence of their individual struggles—Wes's desire to truly live and Margaret's fight against the loneliness of her family's legacy.

However, the book is not without its flaws. The setting suffers from a lack of clarity, with anachronisms and inconsistencies that might distract readers sensitive to continuity (like me). The narrative struggles to establish a coherent sense of time and place, blending modern elements with those suggestive of the late 1880s to early 1900s, yet also incorporating anachronisms from the late 20th century.

Nonetheless, for readers willing to overlook these continuity issues, "A Far Wilder Magic" offers a rich tapestry of magic, alchemy, and emotion. Saft's ability to craft scenes filled with depth and longing, alongside a thrilling and heartwarming romance, makes this novel a captivating read. It's a story full of desperation, romance, and the quest for a sense of belonging that remakes the soul, proving once again Saft's unique talent for storytelling that is both intimate and magical.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Such a lovely, romantic YA fantasy! All the elements you love and crave in a romantasy but so soft and sweet in this YA.

Summary:
When Margaret Welty spots the legendary hala, the last living mythical creature, she knows the Halfmoon Hunt will soon follow. Whoever is able to kill the hala will earn fame and riches, and unlock an ancient magical secret. While Margaret is the best sharpshooter in town, only teams of two can register, and she needs an alchemist.

Weston Winters isn’t an alchemist—yet. He's been fired from every apprenticeship he's landed, and his last chance hinges on Master Welty taking him in. But when Wes arrives at Welty Manor, he finds only Margaret. She begrudgingly allows him to stay, but on one condition: he must join the hunt with her.

Although they make an unlikely team, they soon find themselves drawn to each other. As the hunt looms closer and tensions rise, Margaret and Wes uncover dark magic that could be the key to winning the hunt—if they survive that long.

In A Far Wilder Magic, Allison Saft has written an achingly tender love story set against a deadly hunt in an atmospheric, rich fantasy world that will sweep you away.

I loved this cover and I heard excellent things about this, but I think this author’s writing just doesn’t work for me or my tastes, which is so unfortunate because so many good premises!

Musings:

A lot of the time I read books at the right time for me to read them. This book is one of those times. I am in a place in my life where everything is chaotic and uncertain. I feel like things have only gotten harder and I feel very discouraged. This is much the place Maggie is in mentally and physically. Her mom leaves her alone to fend for herself for months on end. Everyone in the village for the most part gives her hate except for a select few good people. The hate she is given is based off of the religion she was born into.

I needed this book because in spite of it all Wes shows Maggie how to stand up for herself. She learns not to absorb every insult and to finally choose herself and take up space in the world of her own right. Even though she is scared and things are uncertain they move forward.

This helped me to see life isn’t supposed to be certain and it’s not going to do any good for me to try and control it so all I can do is live my best and watch life unfold as it will.

The other part of this book I loved was the romance. While at the beginning I was very unsure if there was even a spark between them, as the story went on, I was proven wrong. Maggie and Wes remind me a lot of the relationship I have with my boyfriend. In the beginning it took us time to truly trust each other, but the attraction we have together is undeniable. Wes is a representation of hope for Maggie that she isn’t so sure she can take because of the trust issues she has due to her mother.

God was the attraction there once they truly saw each other. The way they are magnetized to each other and just look at each other and feel so much makes me feel the way I feel for my boyfriend. Especially the way Wes wants to take care of Maggie and ease the weight off her shoulders while still encouraging her and is in awe of her strength reminds me of how my boyfriend sees and treats me. Her reaction to being seen and wanting to deny it and say he can’t love her that much is also a similar feeling for me, but eventually like Maggie I learned to accept it.

This novel is such a fun read on top of the complex relationships there’s alchemy and danger and a hunt that will keep you on edge. I highly recommend ‘A Far Wilder Magic’.

I love the way Allison weaves romance and fantasy together into a pitch-perfect, breezy, heart warming read. Can't wait to read more from her!

I wanted this to be betterrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ugh

Like, I liked it. And the audio was *chef's kiss* but at the same time this fell short in so many ways and I am SAD about it and BUMMED and UGH.

What I loved: Maggie, Wes, Maggie and Wes, Trouble, the entire idea behind the book and the plot, Shimmer, the creepy moments, the character growth

What didn't work for me: the pacing, the lack of world building, the confusing religions that never were quite explained???? Wtf half of the things pertaining to alchemy were????

So like, I liked it. The idea was there and SO CLOSE but I wasn't 1890328190% invested until the last like, 20% and that was such a bummer to me because I WANTED TO LIKE THIS SO BAD.

10/10 will read another book by Allison Saft though because I want to try again.

I absolutely adored this fantasy novel. I love any story with unique religions and god systems, especially when there are mythological beasts. Also, The Hunt was such a fun plot point to read about. We have varied family dynamics which instills a multitude of emotions within the reader and adds variety to the story and characters. I highly recommend this book!

After months of trying to get through this book, I have finally given up. This particular book wasn't for me I felt like it dragged on and completely lost interest in both the characters and the plot.

I have recommended this book to multiple a high school students in my area. Anything with alchemy will always draw me in. Adding in the hunt of Hala and the religious undertones, paired with two people having to work together for different reason- you have a nice concoction for magic and love. This novel is so atmospheric and lyrical. Margaret and Wes are two of my favorite characters and I look forward to anything else Allison decides to write.