This book kind of lost me. It's very coy with its purpose, but much of the initial intrigue about the hunt and Margaret felt overshadowed by the insta-attraction set up between her and Weston.

I'm also unsure of the setting/time period; everything (in the beginning, at least) feels very much felt like scatter-brained world-building. Ultimately, the kids just weren't holding my interest.

Very different in tone from Down Comes the Night, this is no less an important read. With themes if small town racism and prejudice, it gives the reader a lot of things to think about. Child abandonment is also present, as well to pics of self worth and how we see ourselves worthy of love.

You are drawn to Maggie and Wes as they both battle through internal and external challenges, and are inevitably drawn to each other.

This is the second book by Saft that I’ve DNFed. I just don’t think her writing style is for me unfortunately. The premise sounded amazing but the beginning was so achingly slow and I just couldn’t connect to either character.

A Far Wilder Magic by Alison Saft is an atmospheric, emotional, character-driven novel.

When the hala appears, the hunt begins. A sharpshooter and an alchemist must band together to track and kill the spiritual creature that wreaks havoc on the land and people.

The hala is condemned as a demon by the popular church, known as Katharists. But seventeen-year-old Margaret Welty has been taught by her father, a Yu'adir, that the hala is a sacred vessel created by God. Her mother, Evelyn Welty, is a renowned alchemist who has dedicated her life and time to creating the philosopher's stone. Evelyn often abandons her daughter for stretches at a time, leaving her to fend for herself in the crumbling Welty Manor.

An aspiring alchemist, Wes Winters, has been fired from every apprenticeship. The son of immigrants, Wes is determined to make something of himself, and alchemy is how he plans to give his family a better life. So when he travels to Welty Manor to become Evelyn Welty's apprentice, he's surprised to find Evelyn isn't home. Nevertheless, he convinces Margaret to let him stay until she returns.

The chilling, haunted atmosphere of A Far Wilder Magic is beautifully captured on the pages. It paints a magnificent backdrop to the slow-burning romance. It's a solid story with confusing elements. At one moment, the story comes across as having a steampunk vibe, but then the wealthy have cars. Guns are accessible, everyday items. There are factories, industry, and electricity, all sitting side by side with alchemy and proper attire.

There isn't a lot of magic in A Far Wilder Magic. While the hala acts as a magical entity and is an intriguing mythos for the story to center around, the only magical elements reside in the structure of alchemy. In this sense, magic is more scientific than unexplained. Perhaps Saft's far wilder magic is love.

The characters are solid and likable, especially Wes. He stands up to bullying. He has a strong heart, determination, and will that builds him as an honorable character. Margaret is a little less easy to love, but there are aspects of her that ring with authenticity. She is resourceful, and her strength and determination come more from the base need to survive than the desire to embody those characteristics.

There are powerful themes such as prejudice of religion and culture, triumphs over dyslexia, and class. Still, there is a load of exposition and inner character thoughts that often interrupt the flow of the narrative. Along with this, there are sexual situations that feel rushed and unrealistic. Hinting back to the confusion of the world in which the novel is set, A Far Wilder Magic contains talk of masturbation, teen girls reading smut, and condoms. The introduction of these items yanks the reader out of the otherwise haunting setting.

With a confused world and interrupting exposition, A Far Wilder Magic is more jarring than immersive.

I received an e-arc of A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book, I think it helps that I read it at the right time. I connected with Margaret's anxieties and feelings and I felt so seen. I loved the romance, I usually do like grumpy x sunshine, and I loved Wes and Margaret together.
I was kind of confused by the religious parts and the setting, I know that Margaret is Jewish, but I found it hard to figure out the other religions and the setting of New Albion. I liked the 1920s feel and the autumnal vibe, and I would recommend this story for around the fall/winter time. The magic system was also very cool.
4 stars.

Margaret, sometimes abandoned by her mother, lives alone in a society that has rejected her based on her Religion.
Wes, an alchemy student who wishes to learn under Margaret’s mother, lives in a society that has rejected him based on his Nationality? Religion? Not quite sure.

I’m not sure if I was suppose to know what “Sumic” or “Banvish” is. Maybe it’s totally obvious and I’m just daft. But I didn’t get it.
Also, I couldn’t figure out when this story was taking place. I though it was in “Olden times” as the author eludes to Albigensian/Cathar (New Albian / Katharist) which I had to look up, and saw this was predominantly in the 12th century …. then there was a car. So I had to recreate the entire landscape in my head.

I found the writing a little vague in places. And I was left with a couple unanswered questions.
But it was still an interesting story.

key words: standalone, YA fantasy, 1920s U.S. inspired, sunshine/grump, small-town setting, creepy woods, ocean, science-y magic, family bonds, slow-burn romance, angst, earning, forced proximity, Jewish protagonist, dual POV, atmospheric, slower tempo, search for belonging, healing, magical hunt preparation, gothic-like mansion

I got very excited when I opened my inbox and saw an e-ARC of A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft there. I absolutely loved the author's first book, and this one got into my heart as well.

Since the first page, it was a reminder of how beautifully Alisson Saft writes. She can create an enchanting atmosphere. The vibe of this story reminded me of Emily Lloyd-Jones (The Bone Houses), Shea Ernshaw (Winterwood), and maybe a bit of Naomi Novik (Uprooted). Mostly the first two.

You know, the type of story where the tempo is slower and the air is heavy with danger and magic. Think of the atmosphere of a small town with ocean and woods hiding danger in a form of a magical fox, that is, the hala, and slow-building of everything that seems calm on the outside, but you can clearly smell the quiet before the storm. You can bet that as well as these authors, Allison Saft always gives you the kind of story that seeps right into the very core of your body, deep into your bones. I wouldn't describe it as an emotional storm, but as something slowly enchanting your heart and marking your soul.

The story more about the preparation for the deadly hunt than actual hunting. Nevertheless, when the dangerous hunt comes, it's worth it. Maybe a bit short - this part is over quite quickly - but totally capable of pulling you into the action.

What I love about the worlds that A.S. puts together is that they are unique, mixing magic and science-y things together in a very intriguing way. For instance, alchemists here alchemize goods to make their life easier - as imbuing a knife with the essence of quartz for it to stay sharp or enchanting a blanket to stay warm. Both her books are full of great ideas.

The world inspired by 1920s America is a delight. It made him think all the time about where the author was drawing from and all the parallels.

I loved the characters. Margaret is the grump of the story. The abandoned girl, desperately trying to make her mother to come back home. On the contrary, Wes has got a mother and 4 lively and opinionated sisters. I loved those siblings´ interactions and family bonds. Plus, just think of a black haired sunshine character smelling like liquor, candied apples, gunpowder, aftershave, and the sea. Doesn't it sound amazing? It definitely smells great in my head.

Margaret and Wes work so well together. The slow burn, angst, earning, and pining are everything! The author has a gift of describing something as innocent as two hands touching so... seductively, erotically. It's incredible.

By the way, in comparison with the author's debut, this book is written in the 3rd person present, and it's got a dual POV instead of only one 3rd person POV narrated in the past tense. Sometimes I tended to pay a bit more attention to the present form than I would like to. I guess I would prefer if it was written in the past tense.

Content warnings: graphic descriptions of blood and wounds, light gore, animal injury and death, parental neglect and emotional abuse, abandonment, antisemitism, nationalism and xenophobia, bigotry, PTSD and panic attacks, death, loss of a parent


Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday Books for sending me an electronic reading copy in exchange my honest review.

A quiet, atmospheric story of yearning and hope and whimsical dreams.

An outsider in her small town, Margaret patches up her aging home and looks forward to the day her mother - an accomplished alchemist - returns from an overlong research trip. Her daily routine is interrupted by the arrival of Weston Winters, an amateur alchemist with hopes to apprentice with her mother and a dazzling smile with enough charm to disguise his own hurts. One alone, the other surrounded by family. One full of dreams, the other focused on the simple needs of tomorrow. Margaret and Wes bewilder one another with their differences, all wile spiraling closer to the secrets which draw them together.

The prose is beautiful, every line filled with purpose and love, and perfectly capturing the rural post-industrial New England setting. The names - and magical alchemy - diverge from history, but there are clear parallels to the socio-religious tensions of the time, particularly establishment attitudes toward minorities.

I wasn't a huge fan of Saft's first book, but I'm so glad I gave this one a chance. Sure, in a way, not a lot happened, but it was a pleasure to read, and I'll be keeping an eye out for her future books.

**Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC**

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review

A stunning sophomore novel, Allison Saft writes a fantastic world. Beautiful, lush and captivating, this book was incredible. A must read for fantasy lovers.

While Margaret Welty is holding onto a thin shred of hope amongst a crumbling manor house, Weston Winters is chasing his. The two collide and pair up out of sheer necessity as the last of the divine, magical beasts, the halla, has been spotted. If they can work together and enter the hunt, it might be what each needs to see their dreams become a reality.

This book is about so many things, but at its core, it is about relinquishing our fragile hold onto the walls that hide our hearts and the brave, wild choice to love and be loved in return.

I adored it.

A Far Wilder Magic is a lush love story that beautifully balances hope with the grim acknowledgment of society's -- and people's -- failings. Though Margaret and Wes appear to be polar opposites -- she's a somber loner who never gives space to her own desires, he's a carefree city boy who dreams of becoming a politician -- the two discover that these masks they've constructed don't hold up under the scrutiny of the other's gaze. As the pair live and work together in preparation to hunt the last magical beast, the hala, Margaret and Wes find they both understand what it means to be marginalized and discriminated against for their heritage and they form a deep bond that helps them each face traumas they'd long tried to ignore. Since Margaret and Wes both have trouble expressing what they're truly feeling, the novel spends a lot of time with their internal monologues and Saft uses this opportunity to bring these characters to life with such depth, complexity, and empathy. A Far Wilder Magic is a lovely tale of healing and self-growth, but -- just like how Wes' idealism is matched by Margaret's practicality -- the story balances its hopeful message with an unflinching look at the systemic issues that plague this world, including both those who actively and more passively support the oppressive system. Overall, Saft does a fantastic job exploring religious and immigrant tensions while delivering a tender, heartwarming romance about two young people falling in love for the very first time.

Man, I feel really bad when I don’t like books that I’ve been given an arc for but here we are.

I did not like this authors writing. It felt very stiff. I found myself getting stuck and not paying attention to the story because I just couldn’t get past how the author flowed. I also really don’t enjoy when there are pages and pages of inner monologue I have to get there. I think it’s the third person present tense. It just feels wrong and difficult to feel.

I did not like Wes at all. He just rubbed me the wrong way. I didn’t like his inner monologue as a person he didn’t seem interesting and quite frankly I found him a little icky.

I did, however, like Margaret. I love that she’s a sharpshooter. That’s all good fun! I enjoyed the fantasy setting and the elements of magic. I’m always a fan of a slow burn and that definitely delivered here. The ending was done nicely as well. I liked where everything tied up.

Overall, I thought it was readable but not wholly enjoyable. I just think the writing style didn’t suit my taste? Hard to say.

2.75⭐️

After loving Down Comes the Night, I was so excited for Allison Saft’s next novel! When the cover and the premise dropped, I knew we were in for another soft love story. Achingly beautiful, A Far Wilder Magic is a story of love in the face of hate and the true price of dreams.

One day, Margaret Welty spots the hala, a mythical creature whose presence signals the start of the hunt, where people compete for the chance to kill it for glory. However, she wants the hala for different reasons: maybe if she kills it, her mother, an alchemist who has been away for months and metaphorically absent for far longer, will stay and love her. Meanwhile, Wes Winters appears at her door, looking for her mother, one of the last alchemists he can seek an apprenticeship from after failing out of many other ones. Since the hunt requires pairs of people—one sharpshooter, one alchemist—she allows him to stay in exchange for him joining the hunt with her, and they gradually grow closer.

The prose was gorgeous, lending an achingly soft tone to the story. It strengthened the two protagonists’ voices, both of whom have big dreams and a strong determination to see them through. There’s so much yearning in this book, in the romance and in the characters’ motivations, and you can really feel that laced in every paragraph throughout the story.

I loved the characters! Margaret is used to being on her own, especially after her brother’s death when her father left and her mother became emotionally distant and obsessed with bringing their family back together again. While she outwardly seems cold, she inwardly yearns for love, particularly from her mom; she begrudgingly tolerates Wes’s presence but can’t stay closed off forever. Wes wants to become an alchemist, not for glory, but to become a politician and to better the lives of everyone who is persecuted. He has big dreams and no means of accomplishing them, but he doesn’t stop trying. The two of them help each other realize those parts of themselves that they’ve kept hidden.

The romance was so good! Wes likes Margaret from the moment she opens her front door, and while she rejects him immediately, he can’t help but continue finding endearing things about her. From her side, she dislikes how bright and loud and flirty Wes is, but she also admires his determination and his perseverance. Their moments together were so soft, and I was reading their scenes together with a smile.

The worldbuilding was interesting; it had a bit of a 1920s American feel, but with magical creatures and alchemy. I know I’ve said before that I don’t really enjoy books that are centered around alchemy, but I liked that this books delved into the magic and science of it without being overly descriptive. The numerous religions and the setting clearly take root in real dynamics of the 1920s. Margaret is Yu’adir, or Jewish-coded, and faces many antisemitic stereotypes. Wes’s family are Sumic (Catholic-coded) Banvish (Irish-coded) immigrants; part of the reason that he wants to become a politician is because he wants to stop the tide of anti-immigrant laws and restrictions.

The hunt for the hala — and the anticipation for this — felt akin to the races in The Scorpio Races, which I believe was a comp for this book. It ended up being a little less of the plot than I anticipated, with more of the book comprising of Wes and Maggie figuring out the proper alchemy to kill it, but this wasn’t really something I noticed in the moment.

A Far Wilder Magic was a gorgeously tender story of love and dreams. I loved the characters and the romance, and I couldn’t put this book down. If you enjoyed Saft’s debut novel Down Comes the Night or The Scorpio Races, I definitely think you should check out A Far Wilder Magic!

This book has gorgeous prose, a lush and fascinating world, and such a good premise! I highly recommend it for any fans of fantasy!

**Review will be published March 3rd on my blog/Goodreads/Instagram/Storygraph**

A BIT CONFUSING.

Oh the plight of a standalone fantasy.

I really enjoyed Down Comes the Night and have been excited to pick this one up and I’m kind of bummed it let me down.

What I struggled with most was the world building and magic system. It was obnoxiously convoluted for a standalone. Info dumping for some things and not broad enough explanations for others left me utterly directionless. Even by the end I was still a bit mixed on the religions, world system and more.

In the mix of things I did like was the romance. Wes and Margaret grew on me over the book. That sweet sense of first love and finding some who gets you and supports you. They were also solid as main characters. I love character growth and both exhibited plenty by the end. I enjoyed their banter and quiet moments.

Still not quite sure what the deal was with hunting the fox? It was a unique plot I’ll give it that, but I found myself skimming far more than I wanted. Great characterization and movement, but slow and enigmatic plot.

Overall audience notes:
- YA Fantasy Romance
- Language: a little
- Romance: one vague and brief open door
- Trigger/Content Warnings: discrimination, prejudice, breaking and entering, hunting (of animals), physical altercations, animal mauling, neglectful parents, depictions of grief

It was a very unique fantasy story with one headstrong and iron willed woman main character. I really loved the fantasy elements of it, but it was quite slow in the beginning; and the romance part was even slower. However, I really liked the character growth and development of the MCs, ultimately making it a 3.75 stars read for me.

A hunting competition, an alchemist, and a sharpshooter all converge in this magical story about endurance, growing, and finding a family for yourself. In a small coastal town there is a mysterious hala, the last living mythical creature that wrecks havoc on the town’s crops and people... and the annual hunting competition for it has come once again. With this competition comes the prize of honor, glory, money, and so much more. Margaret Welty is an outcast in her town, and with a famous alchemist mother who is always traveling and a devastating family past, Margaret is just trying to survive day by day. She lives alone in the Welty Manor with her dog Trouble, waiting for her mother to come back, waiting just for some kind of reciprocation of love from her mother who has grown distant after the death of her brother. Weston Winters dreams about becoming an alchemist and becoming a politician in order to support his family after the death of his father. Weston dreams of more, of being more, of having more, but he’s been fired from every apprenticeship he’s landed and his last chance hinges on Master Welty (aka Margaret’s mother). When Weston arrives at the manor to only find Margaret the two strike up a tenuous deal, the hunt requires one person and one alchemist in order to join and they both agree to team up in order to make both their dreams come true. Margaret hopes to win her mother’s affection by killing the hala and Weston dreams of finally winning the apprenticeship and fame he’s dreamed up. Throw in complicated prejudice from the townspeople, a magical creature killing people, and a slow burn romance that just sinks into you and what you get is a beautiful magical story about two people who have endured so much, who care and love so much, but have a hard time showing and saying it, who find that they just might be what the other has always needed. It’s about finding a family who will love you for you and enjoying the quiet peaceful moments. Margaret and Weston are opposites but they come to appreciate and love the different aspects of one another and its really just so endearing. This was a stunning story with a wonderful atmosphere, the perfect read with a cozy cup of coffee on a misty foggy day wrapped up in a blanket.

*Thanks Netgalley for sending me an arc and to Allison Saft for letting me part of her street team. All my opinions are my own.*

I was so invested in the plot and setting I completely forgot I was reading.

The science/alchemy parts of this book were so interesting.

The characters are so amazing; someone give Maggie a hug, I would die for Wes and his family, and of course you can't forget Trouble.
The Sunshine X Grumpy character dynamic made me smile so often.

Guys, do yourself a favour and read this book.

This was an absorbing take on an alchemy plot that felt fresh. This book is about so much more than just the philosopher's stone. I loved the characters and Margaret's journey on learning what she truly wants instead of what her mother wants. I feel like a lot of YA books have neglectful parents to give the teens space to act on their own, and I loved having the neglect get addressed in this book and seeing how it played into Margaret's character instead of acting like that neglect is okay. I loved the hunt, but the character journeys really made this story shine.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this. Hard to put down and kept me up past my bedtime reading it.