In spite of my sky-high expectations, A Far Wilder Magic somehow managed to surpass them. This book is moody and atmospheric, filled with characters who feel like real, extremely flawed people, people you desperately want to root for. The magic, the world-building — this book does it all beautifully. Above all else, however, this book is a romance, a romance that grabbed me right from the first time Margaret and Wes set eyes on each other. This is an instant favorite, one I’m sure I’ll return to time and time again.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Had a bit of a slow start for me but I ended up loving it after the first few chapters!

I'm usually not one for historical fantasy but I was pleasantly surprised. The prose was AMAZING! Saft really shines in her writing and character development. I loved Margaret and Wes so much!

A magical tale of alchemy in a world very much like our own, complete with racial prejudices and awful people. But don't let that keep you from reading it because there is also sweet romance, lots of action, and some very hard truths about family and self that get fully explored.
Margaret and Weston both have things they desire, although they are vastly different at the beginning. Margaret just wants to focus on surviving while her mom decides to return from wherever she left months ago in pursuit of her alchemy. Weston wants to become an alchemist to better not only his family's lives but that of everyone living in the country of New Albion. They're brought together when Weston arrives to ask Margaret's absent mom to take him on as an apprentice just as the hunt for the last the most feared legendary creatures in the land is about to begin and they grudgingly team up to participate.
It's a slow-burn tale that picks up pace as more secrets are revealed and tensions grow over the hunt. Saft's writing shines in her ability to create fully human characters you can empathize with or recognize using only a few words. It's very much a character-driven story, and that's what sets it apart.
I'm amazed at how hard Saft leaned into the racial prejudice angle of how people treat Margaret and Weston, and I applaud her for it because it gives the book and characters so much depth, plus it shows how rising above it is always the best choice. I also really appreciate that she was able to fully express the awfulness of racial slurs without resorting to using them. That's a special skill all on its own.

Happy thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the riveting read!

I really liked this book and I really do hope to read another book set in this world in the future. Hopefully she will write another one.

5/5

I really enjoyed this book. It was lush, dark and atmospheric. The story had me hooked from the very first page. I loved the dual POV’s and getting to see both characters thoughts and emotions. Both Margaret and Wes are amazing characters. Allison does an amazing job with slow burn romance. I love when two characters don’t really get along and one of them is grumpy and we see them slowly confiding in each other and eventually falling in love. I loved the differences between Margaret and Wes but loved how they grew naturally together and it never once felt forced. I was invested from the moment Wes and Margaret met!

The story and world building was gorgeous. As a chemist I couldn’t get enough of the magic and I found that the alchemy was fascinating. I also really enjoyed the political and religious themes that were included. The the author portrayed prejudice and the atrocities people face based on warped ideas and biases really well and accurately while still fitting into the story and never feeling preachy.

Overall I highly recommend this book and cannot wait to see what Allison writes next!

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

After adoring Saft's debut, I had to know about this fantasy book. Saft is absolutely nailing the suspenseful fantasy aesthetics of my dreams with her works.

I really, really liked Allison Saft’s debut, DOWN COMES THE NIGHT, so my expectations for A FAR WILDER MAGIC were set pretty high. For the most part, I think the book delivered on my hopes. The setting feels raw and strange and a bit like a fantasy version of a tiny seaside English town.

Margaret’s character is tragic and closed, but so full. She is a closet full of emotions. Wes is awkward and charming and sometimes a bit doofy, but in a lost puppy kind of way that I found endearing. I loved his sisters, especially Mad and Colleen.

Probably the thing that I struggled with most– which is totally a me issue– is that the book is written in third person, present tense. I don’t know why I tripped over that so much, but I know it slowed me down in my reading because I kept translating it to past tense in my head and then confusing myself. It took a long time for my brain to get with the program on that one, unfortunately.

Other than that, I was pretty easily swept away by the story and characters. I liked the mythical, magical hunt, though I think I kept waiting for something else to happen with the hala, for it to turn out to be not what they expected. And I guess in some ways it wasn’t, but not in the ways I thought it might.

I thought the way the author set up different religious groups/cultures and the animosity between them was really interesting, too. It took me a long time to interpret some of the representation, but some of the clues are pretty obvious. I like the way this reviewer explains it on her Goodreads review.

On the whole, though, I really enjoyed reading it, especially for the moments of banter between characters and some of the sweet, awkward exchanges between Wes and pretty much anyone else. Ha.

A spoiler free review: It’s difficult for me to pinpoint what I liked best about Allison Saft’s “A Far Wilder Magic.” I loved the layered characters that spanned from our protagonists to even some lesser mentioned characters. I loved the world of alchemy and Saft’s world-building was a wonderful change of pace from witches and wizards and fae. I loved the romance between Wes and Margaret being rooted in bringing out the best in one another. And I loved how thoughtfully Allison chose her words — her metaphors, her descriptions, her dialogue is all artfully crafted.
My only criticism was that this book was marketed to me as YA but it reads with more adult pacing. I would advise readers not to go into it prepared to get swept up in a fast-paced magic adventure. This YA book is much more methodical. A slowburn, mystery with a bit of fantasy that’s also a psychological thriller.
Overall, I give A Far Wilder Magic four out of five stars. I hope to see Saft put out an adult fantasy someday and I certainly wouldn’t hate it if it followed Maggie and Wes.

A huge thank you to Wednesday Books for the free digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

While I didn't love this as much as DOWN COMES THE NIGHT. I certainly did adore our two characters, Wes and Margaret, their romance, and the world Saft created. There are just these tiny things that really bring the world into focus and how difficult it is for Wes and Maggie but also how they want to break free of the constraints the world puts on them because of who they are.

I also found myself feeling really sad for Maggie due to her complicated feelings about her mother. She had such happy memories but also really sad ones and the sad ones really do a number on you! As an childfree adult I have this tendency to take a step back and examine parent/child(ren) relationships with somewhat of a keen eye and you know what, Maggie's mother deserved what she got. I'm glad Maggie was able to see through the fog of love for her mother to find that it was rather rotten and Evelyn at one point was a good mother but then her ambitions got the best of her and twisted her into someone Maggie didn't recognize.

In contrast you have Wes's large family and while they're definitely infuriating at times, the weight of Wes's self-inflicted need to be everything and provide for his family is a burden that shouldn't be placed on anyone. I wasn't sure how he and Margaret would fit together as things were so rough from the beginning but goodness me, color me wholly in love with Wes and Maggie together. I think Wes is definitely a better person than I am, especially how he treated Jaime toward the end. I also grew a little frustrated in Wes's ever slow growing relationship with Annette, and the constraint she felt regarding Jaime, Maggie, and Wes. I hope Annette grows to be a good person because she deserves it.

There were definitely some slow parts and I think that mainly distracted me from giving it more than four stars, along with how this entire book sets us up for the hunt and the hala and yet... That entire part seemed rushed and ended too quickly. I thought the hala would play a bigger role or something but it really didn't. I admit I was left rather disappointed.

Saft really makes me wish her books were series instead of standalones. I just want so much more and I mean that in a good way! I'm excited to see what else she has in store for her readers.

A Fair Wilder Magic, by author Allison Saft, is the authors sophomore release after Down Comes the Night. This story alternates between 17-year-old Margaret Welty and 18-year-old Weston Winters. Margaret is a loner, an outcast of town, and a sharpshooter who spends most her time alone in Welty Manor located in Wickdon along with her bloodhound Trouble. She's already lost her father, brother and her mother dedicated herself to her research, spending most of her time out of town, leaving her daughter by herself in the manor full of ghosts.

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. Enter Weston who has failed at every single attempt at gaining an internship in alchemy.

With 5 sisters at home with his mother, and Wes is at the bottom of his barrel, he decides to travel Welty Manor and plead with Evelyn Welty for an internship. Over the past 2 years, Wes has burned every bridge that was once opened to him. Wes, the son of Banvish immigrants, has huge issues. He can't translate unfamiliar words on pages to meaning and he has no natural talent when it comes to alchemy. Unfortunately for Wes, Evelyn Welty, his last hope, has gone on a research trip and not even her daughter Margaret knows when she'll be back.

Every Autumn, the hala stays for 5 weeks in a territory terrorizing the citizens and causing the land to wither and die. Legend says that a demiurge can only be killed beneath a full moon. Maggie is a good person, who has been given a bad slice of life. Her mother has left all the love that she had for her daughter in hopes of finding the legendary philosopher's stone. The people of Wickda treat her badly because of her duality of being 1/2 Yu'adir. Margaret and Wes are thrown together under strange circumstances. Nobody wants to see the couple do good. Nobody wants to lose to people who are not full New Albion citizens.

In case you were wondering, like I was, Yu'adir is Judaism, Sumic is Catholicism, and Katharism is Protestantism. Margaret and Wes were both forced to overcome prejudices based on where they were from and what they believed in. The story is a slow burn romance. Margaret’s independence and strength and Wes’ charisma and determination made for a great balance between the two in this character-driven story.

A Far Wilder Magic is a quiet, atmospheric fantasy, more intent on setting a particular melancholy mood than on covering much ground in terms of plot. The fantasy in this story is magical realism rather than high fantasy: it’s a normalized part of society and its existence is not surprising or in need of explaining to the characters - which means that it’s ultimately left a bit vague for readers as well. I was a bit surprised to find a synopsis of the story and learn that it was set in the 1920’s; this wasn’t something I was quite able to pin down while reading. Some of the dialogue and narration felt a bit more modern and anachronistic, and the present tense the story is written in may contribute to that effect though after a while I didn’t mind this as much. In this respect, the world-building of the story maybe left a bit to be desired.

However, the most satisfying aspect of this book was the development of its two central characters: Margaret and Wes feel like fully-realized individuals with a balance of very realistic strengths and flaws, who meet and eventually challenge and encourage one other to grow. Their relationship is the grumpy-sunshine and slow burn romance trope combined, but Saft writes them so that they feel unique independent of one another, both outsiders and outcasts with internal conflicts to overcome. For a book that is supposedly centered around a hunt for a mythical creature, very little of the book actually covers the competition itself. I didn’t mind this, since I do enjoy slower-paced, quiet books focusing more on character growth and interactions!

Despite some of the initial vagueness and disorientation with world-building, I still found this to be an enjoyable, contemplative read! The journey Wes and Margaret go through internally comes together beautifully.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review!
3.5 /5

<i><b>A lush, lyrical, and atmospheric fantasy about a lonely survivor of a girl and an ebullient charmer of a boy going from reluctant allies to begrudging friends to
lovers during the lead up to a hunt for a mystical beast in a fantastical 1920s New York.</i></b>

This book gripped me from the very first pages. The story is told in dual points of view, alternating between Maggie and Wes. Alison Shaft’s writing had my heart wrenching within the first few pages of each of Maggie and Wes’ respective chapters. Only a few pages into the book and my heart was already aching for these two characters who so desperately want to belong: to a place, to society, to a person. The comfort, companionship, and eventual love, these characters find in each other is beautiful and is a delight to see unfold over the course of the novel.

Saft’s writing is lyrical and luscious but accessible at the same time. As someone who often finds it difficult to get into fantasy, especially in the early stages, I read the first fifty percent of this book in one sitting. Occasionally, when the technicalities of Wes’ alchemy were being described, my eyes started to glaze over just a bit, but that very well could have just been my inability to process anything scientific above a rudimentary level or the fact that I had a severe sinus infection when reading.

Either way, Saft’s writing is beautiful and I know I’ve used this already used this word, repeatedly, but I can’t think of a better word for Saft’s writing than atmospheric. From the first sentence you are transported into the world she has created. This book felt like a gloomy December night spent curled up in armchair by the fireplace with a hot cocoa and a classic Gothic novel in your lap. I can see myself revisiting this book again and again to get myself in the mood for the winter season.

This is also a story about prejudice, particularly religious persecution. Maggie is half Yu’adir (Jewish) and Wes is Banvish-Sumic (Irish Catholic) and the two of them both face varying forms of bigotry and xenophobia from the Katharist (Protestant) world they inhabit. It’s never explicitly stated that Maggie and Wes are Jewish and Irish Catholic, respectively, but context makes it abundantly clear that this is the case and that this story is one about antisemitism and xenophobia and rising up against the injustices they suffer.

While at times the threats of those around them, both the human and nonhuman monsters, can feel bleak at times, that bleakness is always overshadowed by warmth, whether it be from the romantic feelings Wes and Maggie share for each other or from the few allies they have in this town that has it out for them. Overall, this is a story about possibility, about hope, which is what the novel ultimately ends on. Happy endings, hopeful ones, are desperately needed, and the one that closes out this beautiful triumph of a book, is the best ending for these characters you could ask for.


If you like beautiful prose, foreboding foxes, eerie forests, broken down manors, themes of identity and belonging, small seaside towns, and tender love stories, you should pick this up immediately.

After loving Allison Saft's debut novel I knew I wanted to read her sophomore novel, but I wish I loved A Far Wilder Magic half as much as I loved Down Comes the Night. I was disappointed with how hard this book was to get through for me.

Margaret Welt's mother is an alchemist, and she often leaves for weeks on end to do research and Margaret is left alone. Until Weston Winters shows up on her doorstep looking to be her mother's next apprentice, Margaret had been alone for several months. Margaret is used to being alone and she is best described as a prickly human, whereas Weston has charm down to a science. Both characters are religious and ethnic minorities, which plays a large part in the story (though it isn't really explained why).

This book had too much plot going on, not enough world-building, and characters that I didn't buy into or care about. I had a hard time getting through this one because it just didn't hit any positives for me. I didn't really care about the romance, though it eventually got sweet, but it started with Weston literally being repulsed at the sight of Margaret and then he suddenly comes to think she's beautiful almost overnight. There seemed to be several plot holes as well.

There is so much I could say more about what I didn't vibe with in this book, but I don't want to come off like I'm discouraging anyone from reading this. Just because it fell extremely flat for me doesn't mean it won't be the next person's five star read. So if you're a standalone fantasy romance fan, maybe check this one out and see if it's a new favorite for you.

**Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review**

(3/8/2022) 5 stars.

Allison Saft's sophomore novel, A Far Wilder Magic, is beautiful, soft, romantic, and utterly wonderful. Saft knows how to create characters that are so easy to connect with and cheer for. I don't know how else to describe the novel and I have already used this word in my review but A Far Wilder Magic is soooooft. It's cozy and sweet and so lovely. And Saft knows how to build up romance. I am in love with this book and I cannot wait to read more from Allison Saft.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for sending me an E-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

A Far Wilder Magic is the newest book by Allison Saft, author of Down Comes the Night. When I saw A Far Wilder Magic being pitched as "if you loved Sorcery of Thorns you'll love A Far Wilder Magic", it instantly went onto my radar.

A Far Wilder Magic follows Maggie, a sharpshooter, and Wes, a struggling alchemist. When Wes is fired by every apprenticeship he has tried, his final chance is Master Evelyn Welty, Maggie's mother. However, when he arrives at Welty Manor, Master Welty is nowhere to be found, only Maggie and her bloodhound Trouble. Maggie reluctantly allows him to stay on one condition - he joins the hunt for the legendary hala with her. In their preparations, they uncover some dark, sinister magic that could be the key to winning, but will they survive that long?

Oh, My. God. I did not anticipate how much I would love this book. Everything is so beautifully written from the characters to the plot to the setting to the romance. I loved this book so much and is definitely going to be a favorite of 2022.

The romance in this book follows the grumpy x sunshine trope which I absolutely adore. Weston Winters is well and truly a simp. I loved everything about the romance despite it being frustrating at times and you will see why when you read it.

All of the characters in this book were so well written and I fell in love with each and every single one - except for a select few who I despised.

Onto the representation in this book. I loved the depiction of learning difficulties - implied dyslexia, and PTSD. They were so well done and not overwhelming. It was evenly spread out which I liked as it was not the main focus of the story. I cannot speak for the Jewish and Irish rep (Maggie is Jewish-coded and Wes Irish-coded) so please seek reviewers from own voices reviewers for that.

This book is indeed perfect if you loved Sorcery of Thorns. Allison Saft has delivered yet another amazing book!

Thank you to the publisher and NegGalley for an advanced readers copy of this novel. It did not influence my review.

I enjoyed the slow burn romance of this novel, and the politics kept my interested piqued, yet I felt the world building could have used more. I enjoyed the historical aspects as well as the how the writer handled topics of discrimination and religion.

The protagonists Wes and Margaret were captivating from the start and are what drove me to finish this book. The character development was amazing. The writing has an eerie lyrical feel to it. It just flowed effortlessly.

**4.5-stars rounded up**

When Weston Winters shows up on her doorstop, Margaret Welty is home alone and has been for quite some time. Margaret's mother, a famous alchemist, is traveling for work and Margaret, essentially abandoned, has no idea when she will return.

Wes is an aspiring alchemist seeking apprenticeship with Margaret's mom, hence his sudden and previously unannounced arrival. Although Margaret is annoyed by his mere presence, he is able to break down some of her walls and she agrees to let him stay until her mother returns.

Margaret may have ulterior motives. The Halfmoon Hunt approaches and she is desperate to participate. The winner of the hunt, the one who is able to slay the legendary Hala, the last living mythical creature, will win fame and a large sum of money. The catch is only teams of two are allowed to sign up. Margaret is the best shot in town, but she needs an alchemist for a partner. Perhaps Wes can serve a purpose after all.

As you can imagine, with two young people living and working together under the same roof, sparks begin to fly. It's not immediate and certainly not discussed, but as Margaret and Wes learn more about each other, they discover they may be more alike than they initially thought.

I was swept away with this story. Saft is a master at creating lush and fully-consuming atmospheres. I loved the world she created here; it felt very greater-Boston area, maybe mid-to-late 1920s, but with magic.

Additionally, I was impressed with the different layers woven into this story. For example, there was quite a bit of commentary on discrimination against ethnic minorities and immigrants. It never felt forced, which I appreciated. It felt like a completely natural aspect of this story.

Both Margaret and Wes had experienced outward discrimination and hostilities towards them based upon who they were and where they came from. Eventually, they were able to talk about and bond over these shared experiences. I was moved by both of their stories and how they learned to stand strong in the face of those aggressions; how they both sought to make changes for the better for all.

That is just a minor part though, for me, the highlight of this book is the Halfmoon Hunt. I loved learning about it, the lore, history, dangers and watching Margaret and Wes prep for the big day. Of course it doesn't go entirely smoothly. Drama abounds as the event nears and I had no idea where it was going or what was going to happen. I was completely head over heels for this team by that point though, I was ready to cut down the competition myself!

While Margaret and Wes have their ups and downs over the course of the story, one thing that never waned was their growing feelings for one another. This is a YA Fantasy Romance after all and I thought the romance was splendid; so natural and satisfying to watch evolve. From the early neurotic days of pining and questioning, all the way through to the end, I was invested. There were no eye-roll moments for me, no wishing for it to be over, it was organic and fun.

I really enjoyed Saft's 2020-release, Down Comes the Night. It was an impressive Romantic Fantasy debut. In A Far Wilder Magic, I feel like Saft's writing has really blossomed. This is a complex story and it was executed so well.

Thank you to the publisher, Wednesday Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I cannot wait to for Allison Saft's next book. I look forward to following her career for a long time to come!!

Magic, action and strong relationships abound in this story. You’ll be rooting for and falling for the main characters right from the start. Also, I really enjoyed that this book strayed from the “norm” with the female lead not being the “damsel in distress.”

This fantasy novel was absolutely breathtaking. The tender love story written within this story is set against a deadly hunt in an atmospheric, rich fantasy world that sweep me away.

The death of the last mythical creature can very well bring fame and fortune to whoever ends the creatures life. For Margaret she seizes it as a chance to finally bring her mother home. The race to hunt down the mythical creature is on and she has Weston's help to fight to win.

At first the two of them butt heads, but soon they become incredibly close with each other. This unlikely duo is drawn to each other and neither truly want that pull between them to stop.

This story was crafted so well, and I honestly never wanted to put it down. The elements of magic and romance, and the historical kind of vibe the setting gives off was woven together really well. Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book.

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft was a highly captivating, richly atmospheric, character-driven YA fantasy!

Margaret spends most of her time in her family’s cold, dark, crumbling manor, with only her dog as a companion. Her father and brother are gone, her mother is often away, and the townspeople have shunned her. If she could just find an alchemist to help her win the Halfmoon Hunt by killing the hala, a magical fox, then maybe her mother would stop leaving her to go on extended research trips. Then Weston appears on her doorstep, hoping to get an apprenticeship with her mother, an alchemist, so he can eventually take care of his family. Will Wes be the one to help Maggie capture the hala?

I absolutely adored Maggie and Wes! They were like night and day and came from completely different backgrounds, but they had a beautiful understanding of and appreciation for one another. The budding romance between them was so sweet, and I loved how Wes’ charming and good-hearted nature slowly broke down Maggie’s protective walls. Although I wish the hunt had been a much more prominent part of the story, the exquisite writing, well-developed characters, and detailed world-building made this a fascinating and magical book to get lost in!