DNF. I tried to get through this book, but maybe this just isn’t the book for me. It sounds very interesting, I just found the writing to be a bit dull and just can’t get invested to the story. I defiantly am in the minority though and am glad others are enjoying the story.

A Far Wilder Magic has to be one of my new favorite books. Ever. It’s that good.

Allison Saft’s writing is lyrical and lush, and in her sophomore novel, she really cements herself as a wonderful new voice in the fantasy genre (and in young adult in general). A Far Wilder Magic follows Margaret, a girl abandoned by her alchemist mother, who has a chance to prove herself when the legendary ancient fox-creature the hala appears and triggers the Halfmoon Hunt. But only teams of two— a sharpshooter (Margaret’s specialty) and an alchemist— can join the Hunt. Enter Wes, a struggling alchemist, and the sunshine to Margaret’s grumpiness. As they start the Hunt and grow closer together, they realize a darker scheme that is brewing beneath the surface of the Hunt and under everything they thought they knew. Intrigued yet?

A Far Wilder Magic is gothic and fantastical, filled with alchemy, magical fox hunts, a warm romance, and its 1920s inspired setting paves the way for this book to feel like something fresh and new in the fantasy genre. I already won’t shut up about how much I love this book, and I’ll be trying to convince anyone I can to read it, because believe me— this is an absolute must-read, especially for fans of Maggie Stiefvater and those who crave a comfort, romantic, magical read.

ARC provided by NetGalley and the publishers! Thank you so much for allowing me to read this early in exchange for an honest review!

Okay. Wow. Where to start with this book. I'm kind of genuinely overwhelmed, but I'll do my best to unjumble my thoughts.

This book is not a bold, exciting fantasy story. It is not a story of heroes and villains, or grand battles of good and evil. No, this is a quiet story. The vast majority of it takes place in one remote little town, with most of that being centered on the woods outside of it and the isolated manor where our protagonist— not our hero— lives, wasting away waiting for a mother who doesn't care for her the way she deserves. And while our other protagonist— also not a hero— and the mythical hala— wild and vicious, but hard to call a villain— do liven up the somber little setting, it never truly loses its quiet charm.

Oh, don't get me wrong. There are some truly despicable characters on this book, but I wouldn't call them villains. Antagonistic definitely, and the town golden boy bully is outright an antagonist, but I have to stress that villain doesn't accurately describe them the same way that hero doesn't truly describe Margaret and Wes.

This is a quiet tale. Whimsical. A 20s inspired fantasy setting set not in the roaring party scene one thinks of first, but in the little parts of of the countryside. Not only that, but Margaret and Wes are both outsiders in every sense of the word— namely, they are both ethnic minorities in their country. Margaret seems to parallel Jewish experiences if the way she is treated and the specific insults and conspiracies hurled at her. Wes and his family are a bit harder to pin down a real world parallel, but if I had to guess, probably Polish (or more generally Eastern European?) or Irish. This is my speculation of course, but at the end of the day their experiences as minorities and the way they clash with the dominant culture of their country is a central theme of the story.

I do specifically want to mention that I think the strongest theme of this book is that of love; be it the love we do or don't receive from others, the love we give to others, or the love we give to ourselves. There is an undercurrent of self-hatred to this quiet story, of grief and guilt and loneliness. Of not feeling like you're enough for the people you love, and that means you aren't worthy of being loved in return. Of being so desperate for love despite that, that you're willing to sacrifice everything— even if it isn't healthy.

Themes of neglect and emotional abuse from a parent is heavy here, but it's handled incredibly well. And while heavy, it ultimately has a feeling of hope and breaking free of cycles of abuse and misery. I try not to go into spoilers in my reviews, and I don't think that's truly a spoiler, but if you're sensitive to themes of parental abuse and neglect then know it's here and handled seriously, but also with hope.

I care about both of these characters dearly. I care about their relationship, which felt so earnest and gentle. I nearly cried through the whole last quarter of this book because of how overwhelmed I was with how much I loved them and wanted them to be okay. They're two characters who've just toppled over the brink of adulthood and are so terribly, awfully confused and lonely. And I love them.

Anyways. For a vibe check of this series, think Over The Garden Wall and Hozier. I mean this in the best way possible. Quiet, whimsical, creeping in its eeriness.

I will be buying this physically, and I'll also be following this author in the future.

I was so excited when I got an ARC of this book, as I've heard nothing but excellent things about it! And now it's my turn to sing its praises.

Margaret Welty has seen the legendary hala in the flesh. It appeared to her, a snow-white fox the size of her dog, Trouble, before anyone else. Now, the Halfmoon Hunt is after it, flooding her small backwater town, Wickdon, with the richest and rowdiest New Albians, all thirsting for the blood of the world's last demiurge. Depending on the religion, demiurges are either demons, gifts from God, or pieces of God himself, but one thing is for sure: they are dangerous, and wherever they show up destruction is left in their wake. Margaret knows firsthand there is only one thing more dangerous -- seeking the philospher's stone, which can only be made out of demiurge's boiled down body. She almost lost her mother, Evelyn, to it. Left alone in a crumbling mansion filled with ghosts of her past, Margaret wants nothing more than for her mother to return home from her obsessive search. And if that means she has to risk her life in the Halfmoon Hunt to win the demiurge for her, she will.

Weston Winters is desperate. He is an alchemist -- or almost one -- who has lost every one of his apprenticeships due to his own folly. He's exhausted every option in his sprawling city of Dunway and being taken on by the mercurial Evelyn Welty is his last option. And it's not just his hopes of changing the world for the better that rest on his shoulders, but the happiness of his mother and four wild sisters. After an accident that cost them their father's life, they struggle to make ends meet. Weston will do anything to make it, even if it means living with Evelyn's daughter, who does little more than seethe at his sunny presence. When she suggests they enter the Halfmoon Hunt -- every team has to consist of one hunter and one alchemist -- he balks at the thought. He's a good Sumic boy and his mother would kill him if he so much as laid a finger on a demiurge. But the victors don't just win the demiurge's body. They win money.

I loved both of the main characters -- Margaret for her practicality and heart, which is soft as clay underneath her armor, and Weston for his positivity and mischievousness! The mythology was fascinating, and I loved especially learning about Weston's Sumic religion. He's Banvish, and this combination is this world's Irish Catholic. His mother, Aoife, has little figures of the demiurges, and sometimes prays to them. He explains they don't worship them, but use them as sort of messengers between them and God, sort of like saints. Margaret herself is half Yu'adir, which is heavily influenced by Judaism. Both of them are the subject of ridicule and hate by the New Albians, and I could totally understand both of their reactions to it. Margaret wants to be forgotten, to blend in with the population, to be safe. Weston is a fighter and can't help but pick at the prejudices in the town, much to Margaret's chagrin.

A big part of this book is the exploration of family dynamics. On one hand, we have the Winters family, who is full of love, despite their differences, and will always protect each other and be there for one another. And on the other we have Margaret's family. Evelyn is gone most of the time, in search of something to make her family real again. Margaret has lost a little brother, and her father left them, so she clings desperately to the memory of her mother before alchemy and grief overtook her life. But the thing she has to learn, no matter how heartbreaking it is, is that she doesn't deserved to be treated this way. She is such a strong character, but is made weak by her controlling and neglectful mother, and I found that so realistic. Because oftentimes it those we love the most that hurt us the most.

My one little qualm about this book is that I sort of wish it had just been Adult instead of Young Adult. The romance is at the forefront of A Far Wilder Magic, and we have some rather explicit and steamy scenes, even a sex scene towards the end. Even though Saft was coy with her words, it's obvious to anyone with an inkling of knowledge about sex what is going on. If it had been adult, maybe we could have explored those themes and scenes even better.

All in all I really loved it. It's full of magic and heartache, love and hope, and will surely bring a smile to your face. Highly recommend!

DNF @ 43%

I just can’t get into this one. Nothing about it is keeping my attention. I’m not finding the world compelling and I don’t particularly care about either of the main characters.

4.5/5

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft is about Margaret Welty, a country girl whose well-known alchemist mother has gone away to accomplish something to make their family happy again… but to do so leaves Margaret alone and unhappy. Then comes Weston Winters, a city boy with his own dreams to chase and capabilities to prove. Weston just needs an apprenticeship with Margaret’s mother to pursue his dreams, but first he must charm Margaret into letting him stay. If only it were that easy.
Both with their own secrets to hide, can they learn to trust each other and finish a century long tradition once and for all?

I found the connection to our world to be really interesting. It was fun to decipher what religions were what and which countries were which. I could never tell if this was a future, almost dystopian version of our world. Or maybe some alternate dimension. It was intriguing and I kind of like that it was never outright explained.

I loved both the main characters. They both had their strength and weaknesses and were just so darn cute. For the most part, pacing was good and the world developing and lore was top-notch. I loved the depth that we got from both, but Margaret was definitely my favourite in her mannerisms and such.

Can I just say, that initial meeting? Chefs kiss.
And the romance? Enemies-to-lovers and grumpy+sunshine gold.

Now the only reason I’m not giving this the full 5 stars is because it took me a little bit at the beginning of the story to care (though that could just be me, honestly I’m so fickle), and because the ending was a little rushed (which is a nice way of saying “More Please!”)

If you’re into magic or the Wild Hunt type lore, then this is the book for you.

I’d be so excited to read more Allison Saft in the future. Definitely an author I will look out for from now on.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

*4.5 Stars*

I loved this one more than Down Comes the Night, which is saying something.

Margaret Welty is a sharpshooter who has dealt with a lot of loss in her life. Her father left her, her brother is dead, and her mother is no where to be found. All she can do is wait in their home, Welty Manor, with her hunting dog Trouble, until her mother comes back.

While out in the woods one day, she encounters a creature called the Hala. Most of the people of Wickdon believe that it is evil, but some people, like Margaret’s father, believe that it is a holy thing. There is a long standing tradition in the town of Wickdon of the Halfmoon Hunt, which consists of tracking and killing the Hala. Those who succeed are rewarded with a large sum of money and the honor that comes with being the “hero” that slayed the beast.

Margaret has her own reasons for wanting to join the hunt, but she doesn’t have a partner. In order to join, she needs an alchemist to
help. When Wesley Winters saunters up to her doorstep looking for her mother to beg for an alchemy apprenticeship, she finds a partner and more.

Saft’s writing sucked me in, and I finished
A Far Wilder Magic in one sitting. I loved the descriptions of the forest, and the quiet magic of Wickdon. What really stood out to me were the characters- they leaped out of the page, and the chemistry between Wes and Margaret was so fun!

I have a thing for cocky, flirty male leads. Wesley Winters arms himself with his charm, and almost everyone falls underneath his spell. He is admittedly flawed, but he is ambitious, kind, and wants to change the world for the better.

Unlike Wes, Margaret is tough and hardened after her many years of isolation from the townspeople and her own mother. Behind her mask of indifference she cares deeply, and all she can hope for is for a safe and quiet life. She hasn’t even thought of wanting more.

Wes and Margaret are able to see the pain within each other. Both are outcasts in their own worlds, and it is a heady thing for them to feel acceptance from someone. The romance was tender and touching.

I wish we could’ve learned more about the Hala and alchemy, but all in all, I really enjoyed this one!

A Far Wilder Magic would be a great novel for folks who love intense world building. This novel features and wonderful love story that is both heart wrenching and raw. Two opposite characters, Margaret and Wes, are brought together and endure an incredible and sweet journey.

Unfortunately, this was not a book that spoke to me. However, others seem to enjoy this novel very much. I think it important to give it a fair chance especially if you love the intricacy of the character’s backgrounds, interwoven dreams, and a healthy mixture of myth.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC. My review will be shared on Goodreads.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

Allison Saft has a true gift to be able to make a story so haunting that you want to hold your breath, yet scream about how good it is. This was truly a work of art! I loved every second of it! Full RTC

Margaret and Wes are teenagers striving to find their true selves and gain their independence. Margaret is a self-sufficient girl, whose alchemy-wielding mother leaves her alone for months on-end for research into the philosopher's stone. Wes, as the only male in a household of six, feels a pull between chasing his dream of becoming an alchemist/politician and taking care of his family. Margaret, striving to bring her mother back home and Wes, hoping for recognition and to win the prize money for his family, enter the Halfmoon Hunt and embark on a quest to hunt and destroy the last legendary hala, an evil mythical creature. And along the way they learn to trust and rely on each other.

This story tackles a lot of issues...perhaps too many for one book. Both Margaret's and Wes' families are immigrants from smaller religious sects and have been persecuted their entire lives. They are considered inferior in every way...socially, economically, etc. A large part of the story deals with this issue along with the bullying and degradation that often comes with it. There's also time spent on the have and have-nots of society, and the yearning to stop the discrepancies and persecution.

A whole other issue is Margaret's relationship with her mother who is obsessed with her own quest. She has her own demons of losing a child and ignoring her surviving child in her resulting depression and grief.

The author does a good job of presenting flawed characters who are all on lonely and at times seemingly impossible quests, but I will also say that I came away feeling a bit overwhelmed and browbeaten by the political treatise. I found it a bit too preachy and overly saturated.

All in all, a good solid fantasy/romance.

My thanks to #NetGalley, #StMartinsPress and #WednesdayBooks for providing me the free early arc for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

DNF at Chapter 4, 11%..

Perhaps I should have given this book more of a chance. I'm very aware that 11% isn't much of a book, at all, but I just don't see myself enjoying A Far Wilder Magic, and as a final year university student, I simply don't have time to waste on books I know for a fact I won't love. Given my experience reading Down Comes the Night (which I only rated 3 stars), and the few chapters I've read of this, I think I have to accept that Allison Saft's books aren't for me.

I was somewhat looking forward to the hunt - the draw of this book, if you will - but it had yet to properly start by the third/fourth chapter. I also liked the idea of a grumpy x sunshine trope where the girl is the grumpy one, but I can't find a single thing about Margaret that I find likeable. To be honest, I can say the same for Wes, as well. I should have liked the fact he wanted to go into alchemy to ultimately become a politician and make things better for his family, but there was just something about him that wasn't clicking for me. I really don't think I could have made it through an entire book with these two characters, given their first impressions. They're both rather... bland.

The writing style started off nice enough, giving cozy, 'read by the fireplace' vibes, but that wouldn't be enough to sustain any reading experience I had.

The other reviews for A Far Wilder Magic are largely positive, so perhaps this is a case of "it's not you, it's me", but either way, I don't have the time to dedicate to a book I cannot imagine would be rated any higher than 3 stars, at most.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the eARC!

↠ 1 star

I absolutely adored this one! A beautifully evocative tale of love, loss, and healing.

Saft's prose is so gorgeous that I couldn't possibly do it justice in this review. There were so many images and moments in this book that made me pause and remark on their beauty and richness.

Margaret and Wes are both well-developed and memorable main characters and their relationship is adorable and swoon-worthy.

The religious allegories in the novel are interesting and I think they offer a valuable lesson about prejudice and the importance of legacy and family.

I also really enjoyed the development of the side characters and both the Welty and Winters families. It shows how different family can be and that blood relation isn't always enough to forgive every sin.

Overall I absolutely loved this one and will definitely be recommending it! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the eARC :)

Allison Saft has found her niche in writing about big empty houses and people who find themselves in the same proximity and have to learn to like -- or love -- each other. This sweet love story built upon the lead up to a hunt for a legendary beast was both enthralling and entertaining. Maggie was a strong, no-bs character who was perfectly complimented by the more vibrantly aloof Wes. The two together made a wonderful pair that I couldn't help rooting for. Layering in complicated family dynamics and heavy anti-discriminatory messaging, you're getting a lot more than you bargain for when picking this up. I very much enjoyed the ride.

2022 has done it again with a fab fantasy release! Thank you to Netgalley & Wednesday Books for an ARC! This book follows Margaret Welty, a lonely hunter, and Weston Winters, an aspiring alchemist, as they team up to hunt down the legendary hala. For Margaret, this is a chance to win her mother’s love. For Weston, it’s his last chance to follow his dream of becoming a politician.⁣
⁣
Although set in a fictional New Albion where hunting a magical fox is a national pastime, this book is based solidly on American historical conflicts and dynamics. In fact, I think if anything is the epitome of American inspired fantasy, this is it. There’s religious conflict between three fantasy religions that are obviously inspired by Protestantism, Catholicism, and Judaism. Colonialism, immigration, and discrimination play huge roles in the story. ⁣
⁣
Above all, A Far Wilder Magic is about the search for a better world and how to accomplish it in the face of trauma and bigotry. I loved how atmospheric and rich this book was. It felt like a dark fairytale that I couldn’t put down. The romance felt real and well-crafted even if it included elements that were not my cup of tea. I loved the emphasis on family. Unfortunately, the ending felt a bit anti-climactic to me but overall it was a lush, absorbing read.⁣
⁣
Another enjoyable element in this book was the unspoken (or at least unadvertised) disability representation. Although it’s never explicitly stated, Margaret has an anxiety disorder and Weston is dyslexic. I don’t know if it’s ownvoices or not, but I thought it was well done.

Another amazing story where the characters kill everything. I wanted to love this one to the last page but sadly I just kind of feel like this one is a take it or leave it title. The story itself was wonderful but the characters were just kind of meh.

I didn't want to read this book.

A few thoughts I had before I gave up on it:

I wish it was either set wholly in the real world or wholly in a fantasy world. Switching a few words around…

How is the hunt organized? Who are the organizers? Who is in charge?

Present tense, yuck

Not clear what time this is set in.

Wes takes a shower. Is this a cold shower? Does the mansion have a water heater? How is it powered?

Why is the entire house open? Maggie obviously can't take care of it herself, why not close off the rooms not in use?

The only reason Maggie has for letting him into her home is so the story can move forward.

Wes is awful.

Actual Rating 3.5 Stars

Margaret Welty is a teenager left with only her hound dog in her secluded house, as her alchemist mother often leaves her for long stretches of time searching for ancient artifacts and knowledge. A mythical large white fox, or hala, appears and starts a traditional hunt, which may bring her mother home again if she manages to kill it. Wes Winters aspires to become an alchemist to make a better life for his family in the political world, but he has been thrown out of every program he's entered. His last shot is with Master Welty, and when he arrives to find only her daughter, his only chance lies in helping hunt the hala as well.

I loved all of the magical elements, such as alchemy and ancient creatures known as demiurges. I do wish the book focused a little more on the legendary creatures, especially considering most of the plot revolves around killing the last one to exist. The hala does attack people and destroy farms as its power grows, but I still hated to see it hunted and wondered if there truly was a higher purpose to it existing in the first place. I was also sometimes taken out of this magical world when modern things like cars and condoms entered the story, but I think it partly had to do with how cut off the Welty's town seemed in my mind. The alchemy was a great addition to the book, and how it could be used to enhance everyday objects by imbuing them with different elements.

The pacing was a little slow to start with, and I had a hard time liking Wes in the beginning when he comes across as a little too self-assured. Once we see a little more into Wes' life he does become somebody you want to root for, and I found myself relating to him a little more easily than to Margaret and all of her emotional walls. Their relationship is a VERY slow go, but satisfying in the end. I also really appreciated how the characters (mostly Wes) stand up against prejudice and the religious persecution that is portrayed throughout the book.

I think this is a great YA book overall, and would also be enjoyed by adults as well. I would read more from Allison Saft in the future. I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Margaret Welty is the daughter of the famous alchemist Eleanor Welty. Margaret has been left alone, aka abandoned by her mother, to care for Welty Manor when a stranger comes to her door requesting to apprentice for her mother.

Taken aback by his determination, she lets Mr. Winters stay with her until her mothers return. Meanwhile, the Halfmoon Hunt and the threat of the Hala hang in the balance.

Where the Hala goes, destruction follows. The lingering smell of sulfur, rotting and decaying crops, and charred ground are some of what the Hala is capable of.

Whoever kills the Hala receives both fame and fortune. But there’s something even more valuable that the Hala represents. You’d just have to be an alchemist to understand it.

This book has themes of religion, loneliness, and racism woven throughout.

I’m a fan of a slow burn from time to time but this was way too slow. For all the emphasis that was placed upon the Halfmoon Hunt, you’d assume that it would take up a large portion of the book. I had yet to hit the Hunt when I chose to DNF this at 65%.

It said romance and all I can say is… where? This had a chance for an EPIC enemies to lovers and it just fell flat for me. Part of the reason that it fell flat because neither Margaret nor Wes really did anything for me. I didn’t like either of their characters.

Now what I was here for:
Alchemy
The religions and races
Hala
Demiurge (hello Gnosticism)

I really wanted more from these too. I felt like some of the explanations were brushed over too quickly and I was a bit confused at times. Especially when it came to discrimination of the Yu’dair, the differences between Sumic and Katharist. Which from my understanding, Sumic would be similar to being a Christian.

I have issues with books that pack everything into the last 10%. Unfortunately, while I loved the concepts of this one…I couldn’t push myself to finish it. I was actually dreading picking this book up every time I went to read it.

This book truly is achingly romantic. I cannot put into words how much I was desperately rooting for Margaret and Wes in every aspect. Also, unsurprisingly, Alison Saft's writing is so good. She had me hooked from the very first page

This was as beautiful as I expected it to be. The writing is extremely atmospheric, with many sentences just evoking unforgettable imagery and I’m so glad the author just stepped up from her wonderful writing in Down Comes the Night. We also have the grumpy sunshine trope here with Margaret being a very serious person, mostly because of her abandonment issues. She just wants her mother’s love again and will do anything for it, even if she doesn’t wanna kill the Hala in her heart. Wes feels happy go lucky on surface but is hiding a lot of insecurities and just wants to provide for his family. Their relationship is full of small and tender moments which was so endearing.

Overall I really loved this story. It made me smile and cry and feel all kinds of emotional. The only reason my review is short is because I’ve just not been in a good mood these days and don’t feel upto writing something longer. But don’t let my boring review stop you, go ahead and pick up this book to enjoy a lovely atmospheric romantic fantasy.