Thank you so much, NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

When Margaret Welty spot the legendary hala, a mythical creature, she's ready to hunt and kill it, because whoever will do it will earn riches and fame and unlock an ancient secret. To be part of the Halfmoon Hunt she will need an alchemist, since she's already a sharpshooter, the best in town. On the other side Weston Winter isn't yet an alchemist, since he's been fired from every apprenticeship and his last chance is Master Welty. Arrived at the manor, he only finds Margaret who lets him stay in if he joins the hunt with her. With tensions rising and the hunt coming closer, Margaret and Wes find themselves drawn to one other and, maybe, finding the way to win the hunt.

A far wilder magic is wonderful, evocative and brilliantly written story, set in a world of crumbling manors, ancient forests, magical foxes and wild hunts, with two great characters, competing for winning riches, fame and each other's hearts. A slow burning romance, a fantasy able to capture the reader's attention and heart since the beginning, A far wilder magic is magnificent, original and so amazing.
The worldbuilding is rich and intriguing, making the reader interested in knowing more and more, the characterization is on point and the story is layered, full of well timed twists. I loved reading this book. I was hooked from the cover and first page and it didn't disappointed me at all. Allison Saft has a wonderful way with words, I love the writing style and I couldn't stop reading this book, who balances skillfully fantasy and romance, with a strong heroine and a worldbuilding so captivating it's impossible not to be drawn to.

If there's one thing I will drink up like a dehydrated man finding an oasis in the desert, it's YA fantasy that promises a healthy heaping of romance. Which is why A Far Wilder Magic was just, like, so fun for me. I loved the writing style--while I don't typically connect with characters written in third person, I found myself really enjoying my time with Maggie and Wes; the writing was almost lyrical and just flowed really nicely. I loved the characters, I loved the plot, and I loved the world building. I'm all for standalone fantasy novels (please, I am begging authors everywhere, no more 7-part series. I am so tired), so this was a fun, refreshing read. Fans of Margaret Rogerson and Brigid Kemmerer will eat this one up!

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for letting me read an eARC of A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft! I read Down Comes the Night, also by Allison Saft, last year and it was really cool, so I was really excited to read this one!
A Far Wilder Magic 4/5 Stars
Summary from Goodreads:
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. If Margaret wins the hunt, it may finally bring her mother home. 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. Fired from every apprenticeship he's landed, his last chance hinges on Master Welty taking him in. But when Wes arrives at Welty Manor, he finds only Margaret and her bloodhound Trouble. Margaret begrudgingly allows him to stay, but on one condition: he must join the hunt with her.
Although they make an unlikely team, Wes is in awe of the girl who has endured alone on the outskirts of a town that doesn’t want her, in this creaking house of ghosts and sorrow. And even though Wes disrupts every aspect of her life, Margaret is drawn to him. He, too, knows what it's like to be an outsider. 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'm not going to lie, this book started a lot slower than I wanted it to. I almost DNF'ed it quite a few times at the beginning, but I'm glad I didn't because as soon as I got into it, I really enjoyed A Far Wilder Magic. I liked Weston as a character a lot and I felt like Maggie grew so much throughout the book. And Trouble! I loved Trouble (I'm a sucker for the pups). The whole idea of a hunt where you're hunting a magical beast with both a hunter and an alchemist and the beast can't die unless it's killed with an alchemized weapon is so cool. I really liked that aspect of this book. And the way that both Maggie and Wes were discriminated against because they were different than what was seen as normal because they came from immigrant families felt like it was done really well (yayyy immigrant families!). Speaking of families, I loved Weston's family! They were so fun and boisterous and loving. 10/10 for sure. In terms of pacing and plot, besides the struggle I had getting into the book, I through the plot and pacing were good. Overall, I really enjoyed A Far Wilder Magic and I think y'all should go out and grab it today!

Link to be added once post goes live

Summary: A decent YA fantasy with a nice romance, but with an odd amount of Irish Catholic trauma??

Pros: The use of the magic system was well-developed and blended into the storyline nicely. The characters had a lot of depth which is always nice to see in YA, with a good amount of slow burn romance.
The family trauma was heart-rending and really well-written.

Cons: What was with the world-building?? The countries and world are made-up, but the religious systems are just Protestantism, Catholicism, and Judaism renamed?? Like I get it, the Protestants were terrible to Jewish and Catholic Irish immigrants and and you have a bone to pick about that. But this would have been the exact same story if you kept the anti-immigration sentiment, but removed the random references to the pope and Shabbos. It impacted the story in NO way at all, and felt like it was thrown in just to make a 'STATEMENT' about it.
If you wanted to write a book about 1920s immigration issues but with alchemy... Why did you rename everything to make it a different world setting??
If you wanted to write about a fantasy world with alchemy and political issues... Why did you copy paste our religious systems and add 'oh and everyone believes in magical foxes'?

<spoiler> Also how come when Trouble gets half-eaten by the hala do MARGARET AND WES HAVE A PAGES-LONG CONVERSATION INSTEAD OF STITCHING HIM UP FIRST. </spoiler>

Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for access to the eBook ARC.

Covers can often influence my interest, but it’s got to have a synopsis that I’m still thinking about well after reading it. A Far Wilder Magic was one of those books – and the writing of this was absolutely gorgeous as well.

One of my favorite aspects of this book is that, while it has a distinct storyline, the characters drive this book just as much. I found this book to be a beautiful example of how people can bring out the best in each other, and help each other grow.

The way that A Far Wilder Magic was set did so much for the story as well. I love the way that, despite the elements of alchemy and fictional creatures, this book still managed to feel like it could be real. And I think that the addition of religion and their differences on how to embrace creatures like the hala added so much depth to the conflict at hand. Despite the fact that this book takes place in basically two places, it felt so vast and real, and I’m amazed at how that was executed in Saft’s writing.

I’m also just realizing that Saft also wrote Down Comes the Night, which has also been on my radar – I think I know what to add to my TBR next!

Okay, this book is magic. It’s meant to be savored and will have you slowly falling for it. I expected something more fast pace, grew frustrated at its slow pace, then realized I just needed to slow myself down and let this book lull me into its magic. And it did.

The slow-burn romance, which is an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers trope, really is at the heart of the story, while also leaving room for personal growth for reach main character.

It is set in a low fantasy world, similar to early 20th century United States. The author did an amazing job at giving us a Jewish based character and an Irish immigrant based character, while keeping their identities fit the world building established. Lots of relevant conversations around discrimination and hate speech that is very fitting for today’s issues as well.

All of this story felt like a cozy autumn evening, and was pure magic. I loved the HEA ending and the rewarding journey for both characters. And also, I won’t complain about getting major Anne Shirley and Gilbert vibes. I can’t be the only one!

Allison Saft is now a must buy author for me!

Margaret spots the mythical hala in the woods which precedes the Halfmoon Hunt. She wants to compete but needs to partner with an alchemist. Luckily for her a alchemy apprentice has shown up at her door looking for her mother who is a famous alchemist. Wes is charming but an outsider to this small town. They don't have immediate chemistry but the more they work together the more a silent yearning and budding love starts between them. 

Both him and Margaret are different religions from eachother and from those in the town are from another and they look down on them.

They have some rivals and people in town that are cruel but there are also people that help Margaret since her mother has left her to live and survive in her home alone.

These two were very full characters and confronted what others said about themselves such as Wes needing attention and Margaret hiding away in her home. But loved when he caught her with a romance novel 😂

This story was so interesting and dark in many ways but felt warm.

Thank you stmartinspress and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A Far Wilder Magic may be one of my favourite reads of 2022 so far! First off, the setting is so intriguing. Saft seamlessly blends the charm of coastal town life with the gloom of classic gothic manors to create a magical and, at times, eerie atmosphere. Even more interesting was the inclusion of complex religious and political tensions that delve into the various beliefs held about magic. I liked that alchemy was a core part of this world’s magic system. It’s described as mysterious and ancient, which only adds to the story’s otherworldly quality.

The novel switches back and forth between our two protagonists, Margaret and Wes, and I loved getting to read about each character’s perspective. They both feel authentic and complex, making it easy for the reader to fall in love with Margaret and Wes as they grapple with the impending hunt, their internal struggles, and their feelings for each other. I adored how their relationship evolved throughout the book. The gradual trust and mutual understanding that builds between the two of them makes for just the loveliest slow-burn romance. Plus, the grumpy/sunshine dynamic is top-tier for me.

I also loved the overarching themes of A Far Wilder Magic. At its core, it’s a story about survival, belonging, and, more than anything, hope. It has all the makings of the perfect comfort read and it’s something I expect I’ll be reaching for time and time again.

I loved Allison Saft's freshman novel Down Comes the Night. I love how she infuses her stories with such casual queerness. This was a solid read for me, but I'm so bummed that I didn't adore it as much as I did her first. We meet Maggie Welty, who has basically been abandoned in a manor on the edge of town by her alchemist mother in pursuit of a formula that will bring their dead brother/son back to life, and who is treated poorly by many in the local small town because of her cultural background. Enter Wes Winters, an aspiring alchemist who has promise but struggles with a seeming learning disability, arriving at her doorstep hoping her mother will take him on as an apprentice, just in time for a legendary hunt of a demigod fox. The hunt requires pairs: a hunter and an alchemist. So Maggie enlists Wes, guaranteeing him that her mother will take him on when she returns if they win the hunt, knowing that the win for her will result in the ingredient her mother allegedly needs to complete her magnum opus.

I really loved how soft this fantasy was. Down Comes the Night was the same kind of vibe, and it's very much what I'm into reading these days. That said, I feel like the worldbuilding was a little bit lacking, even in a soft fantasy. For example, it seems to be sort of a modern world—there are cars, phones, electricity—but 25 cents is a lot of money? Seventy five dollars for the prize of winning this legendary hunt is enough for an expensive surgery and potentially buying a house? I would've liked to have seen that fleshed out just a little bit. Likewise for the hunt of the hala. There were some interesting and thought-provoking explorations of discrimination and prejudice via the different religions that are represented but we just got bits and pieces of their ethos and beliefs. I would've liked to hear more about the hala, about the demigods. It seems like the hunt takes place fairly regularly, but there's only one of these demigods left? So were there like hundreds to begin with? Have people failed the hunt every other year? And for such a buildup to the hunt, the actual thing was a bit anticlimactic. Overall, I had a good time reading it, but it's not likely to stick with me because I just found myself with more questions than answers.

Saft is such a fantastic writer and this book, her second, is no different. She draws you right in with characters you can't help but root for. The settings in this book were lush and realistic feeling. I adored the magic in this book. I love the idea of alchemy so of course that caught my attention and was one of the aspects I most enjoyed. I loved the romance too. Overall this was a great read I would definitely recommend.

A FAR WILDER magic is like a blend of The Scorpio Races and Fullmetal Alchemist. Allison Saft perfectly crafts an eerie Gothic autumn atmosphere, which was one of my favorite aspects of the novel. I liked the establishment of the mythology of the hunt and the early 20th century American-esque setting. I also became very invested in Margaret's journey to overcoming her personal demons.

This book could have been more effective had it been much shorter, as many scenes and the two leads' musings felt repetitive. The slow burn romance was also too drawn out, and I could have done without the amount of sexual content, especially in a YA novel. I also personally didn't care for the religious dynamics in the novel. They felt rather on the nose and surface level in my opinion

Three words to describe this: magical, haunting, romantic. It reminds me of those old romance novels that took place in creepy victorian homes flooded with ghosts. This is such an interesting story and, as I was reading it, I kept getting this gothic feeling reminiscent of Phantom of the Opera or something like that. Needless to say, the tone of this way very clear from the beginning. The setting and the eerie coldness of it all was wonderful and only further developed by the lovely writing and stunning characters. Wes was amazing and he reminded me of myself many times. However, it was Margaret who was the standout for me. She was my favorite character in this by far and I loved having her as the heroine. She's gone through so much but she's such a strong character yet also desperately needs to be taken care of herself sometimes. The balance between these two characters and their love was nothing short of amazing.

Thank you to Net Galley St. Martins Press for the advanced copy of A Far Wilder Magic.

I really enjoyed this book, it was a fun mix of historical fiction, magical realism, romance, and YA. The portrayal of alchemy, science-based magic, hooked me. I would love to read more books set in this Era where alchemists reign. The characters also drew me in and kept me turning the pages which was good because the plot was slower to develop.

My one qualm with this book was the use of made-up names for what felt like very close depictions of real-life nationalities and religions. I just felt the real names could have been used and it would have added to the story.

I'll be checking out Allison Saft's Down Comes the Night in the near future!

I am no romance reader, and I've always made that very clear. But something about this premise and the cover drew me to this book - and I'm really grateful it did. The chemistry between Wes and Margaret and the slow burn from hatred to love was so fantastically written. But more than that, the conversations around bigotry and immigration, around discrimination and the things people let slide, was interesting and well done. The primary plot of the Hunt and their competing with a town that hates them was immensely interesting to me. This book is intriguing, entertaining, and lovely. It feels like getting a warm cup of soup on a rainy day, and the magic of sitting with loved ones in the evening near a fireplace. A bit of a fluffy explanation from me, but I can't come up with a better one.

A FAR WILDER MAGIC is such a modern, original story. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

A FAR WILDER MAGIC feels distinctly like a Jewish story without every explicitly stating so. Because of that, the story feels even more important. We need Jewish stories that aren't just about the Holocaust (as important as those also are). Additionally, Saft's writing is beautiful--full of figurative language that dances across the page. The plot is also artfully structured. Saft seems to have achieved the perfect arc in terms of pacing and plot. Her characters are compelling and sympathetic. I so wanted to beat up all the people who made Margaret and Wes feel the way they did about themselves. They both grow tremendously--independently and together. And Margaret and Wes's relationship is such a wonderful slow burn, starting with them barely tolerating each other to falling deeply in love.

This was a deeply enjoyable read.

¨Alchemy makes monsters of men."

A Far Wilder Magic far exceeded my expectations and I will be picking up anything Allison Saft writes! Set in an fantastical seaside English town, Margaret Welty teams up with a sassy and frustrating alchemist, Wes, in order to compete in the Halfmoon Hunt. It's an intensely romantic story about loneliness, vulnerability and acceptance, and personally a very timely read for me. Margaret and Wes have my whole heart! Wes' flirtatious, optimistic and sunny personality to Margaret's pragmatic, grumpy realism were a perfect balance and reminded me of Howl and Sophie's dynamic in the book Howl's Moving Castle. Their angst and pining was so exhilarating to read!

Saft's wonderfully descriptive writing truly transported me into the world of Wickdon and Welty Manor. The setting, from the large and dusty Welty Manor, the creepy woods, the soothing seaside, to the way lighting is described, was all so vivid.

I really enjoyed all the references to Fullmetal Alchemist too. There are passionate alchemists, transmutation circles and desperate searches for more power, and every nod to my favourite anime was a delightful surprise to pick out. I highly recommend this YA novel for lovers of anime, cottage core vibes, reluctant partnerships, the boy fell first trope, and a delicious slow-burn romance.

Alone in a crumbling manor, Margaret Welty survives day by day, waiting for her mother to return from extended research trips. Her mother is a well-established alchemist who often leaves Margaret alone for months at a time. Due to her religious background, Margaret is an outsider to many in her community. When Margaret 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. If Margaret wins the hunt, it may finally bring her mother home. While Margaret is the best sharpshooter in town, only teams of two can register, and she needs an alchemist.

Then there is Wes Winters. Wes desperately wants to complete an alchemy apprenticeship, but he’s failed out of countless apprenticeships thus far and is pinning his hopes on securing another one with Evelyn Welty, Margaret’s mother. When he arrives unannounced at the Welty’s manor, he learns that Evelyn is away on one of her trips and Margaret is uncertain when she will return. After much persuasion, Margaret agrees to let him stay and wait for Evelyn’s return. The unlikely duo ultimately enters the hunt as a team in an attempt to achieve what they’ve always wanted.

A far wilder magic is a character-driven story alternates between Margaret and Wes’ POV. It is an easy fantasy to immerse yourself in if you like teen angst and ancient magic/mythology. There is some info-dumping in the beginning, but the worldbuilding gets better as you read. It also features themes of religious persecution, belonging, and many facets of love.

My only complaint is that the synopsis of the book makes the hunt seem like a more prominent part of the book than it actually was. I was expecting something akin to the hunger games, but we ultimately only see the hunt in the last 60 pages of the book. I think this portion of the novel definitely could have been extended.

4.5 stars — I had a good feeling about this one, and while it was a little bemusing, it did not disappoint. Saft has created a world that maps almost perfectly onto the one we inhabit — complete with a world war, prohibition, famine and recognizable religious and ethnic bigotry — to the point that one wonders, why not simply say "our world, our history, but with magic"? However, this is a minor critique, considering I loved everything else! Withdrawn, methodical Margaret and loud, intuitive Wes appear complete opposites but share a deep loneliness and an experience as cultural outsiders. Watching them learn to work together and trust was immensely rewarding, and the built-in stakes of the hunt — and the conflict it presents for both of them — had me biting my nails, both wanting them to succeed and hoping they would find another way. Highly recommended if you enjoy magical realism, stories set in the early 20th-century, and explorations of the nature of love, in all its messy glory.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Well. I read this one is in--essentially--one sitting. While it's not a perfect book (what is?), it's a damm fun story with likeable characters and a solid premise.

I really liked Maggie and Wes; they were very different characters but easy to love in their own ways. I think that their characterization is Saft's strongest writing ability. Neither are perfect people, but that made them believable. I also appreciated that the plot moved quickly, but with plenty of quiet beats for reflection.

That brings me to what holds it back from 5 stars for me. While the plot was engrossing, many scenes felt very predictable and a little cliche. Saft pulled them off because of the strength of her characters, but it did leave me feeling a bit disappointed. I think my other big letdown was the world-building. New Albion is clearly a thinly veiled stand-in for America. That's fine. But it felt...thin. Not a lived-in world, which leeched enjoyment from the book for me. I think it would have been a stronger book if it had been set in the real world (just, y'know, keeping the magic) and allowed to be a stronger critique. As it was, the themes hardly landed for me because of that....gauziness, I suppose.

I suppose plot and premise-wise, I'd compare this book to Maggie Steifvater's The Scorpio Sea. However, I think that that would only do A Far Wilder Magic a disservice.

I definitely can and do recommend this book. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ebook ARC. All opinions are mine alone.

I was given an eArc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have hated most of the romances I've read recently, the romance doesn't feel real. A Far Wilder Magic is the rare romantic pairing that feels so real that I think I'm going to be using it as a reference point for judging future pairings. At it's core the book is about trauma and the baggage we bring into our relationships.

That said, outside of the main relationships the book doesn't really have much going on. The book feels slow and frankly is longer than it needs to be. There's not enough mystery or intrigue to keep the reader hooked.

Also unrelatedly: why not just make the main characters Irish and Jewish if they're going to be those groups but with different labels?