I received this as an arc, thank you Net Galley and Allison Saft. I absolutely adored this story. It was captivating, romantic, magical, exciting, heartwarming as well as breaking and above all else it showed you the good in people can far outweigh their expected behavior.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and Allison Saft for the opportunity to read A Far Wilder Magic in exchange for an honest review.

After reading Saft's haunting debut novel, Down Comes the Night, I was definitely interested in what she would come up with next. Her writing craft is enjoyable and her storytelling is exquisite, and A Far Wilder Magic did not disappoint. While it doesn't have the same haunting allure as Down Comes the Night, it does have it's own allure with its mix of alchemy, romance, and religion.

Margaret's mother is an alchemist, but she disappeared on some journey a while ago, leaving her daughter with no notion of when her mother might return. Caring for the house and hunting is what keeps Margaret going, but when she sees the hala, the last known living mythical creature, she knows the Halfmoon Hunt will begin soon. It is said that whoever kills the legendary fox will become rich and famous, as well as unlocking some ancient magical secret. The hunt must be entered in pairs, one hunter and one alchemist. Because of her religious background, Margaret is not exactly favored by the people of Wickdon and often faces prejudice.

Weston arrives in Wickdon with the expectation that he will be taken on as an apprentice by Margaret Welty's alchemist mother. When he is turned away, all hopes of gaining a high position in society to provide for his family seem to fall short. As a last resort, Margaret asks Wes to join him in the Halfmoon Hunt with the expectation that, if they win, Weston would become famous and would certainly be able to have his apprenticeship under Evelyn Welty...if she ever returns.

Battling feelings they don't want to acknowledge, as well as the prejudice of the townspeople, Wes and Margaret have more at stake in the Halfmoon Hunt than most. The big question remains: what happens to their futures if they win?

This is an exquisitely written novel that sent flashes in my mind from the Fullmetal Alchemist anime and the consequences when tampering with magic when trying to bring someone back to life. This book is full of dynamic characters, religious conflict, and finding oneself in the midst of a world the judges one's backgrounds. Both main characters are intriguing and full of force, making the story flow with an abundant eagerness. My one qualm is the wait for the Halfmoon Hunt. I figured it would come much earlier in the book, but it actually came near the very end. Meanwhile, the setup of relationships among characters and the laws of alchemy and religion that guide this world are intriguing and uniquely interesting for the reader to learn about along the way. I would also consider this a slow-burn romance.

I highly recommend this book for a reader who seeks a book that has significant deeper meaning laying in wait beneath the words on the page. There is a lot to think about and analyze when it comes to ethics. Saft is such a brilliant writer, I will eagerly seek her next book, ready to devour whatever fantastically eloquent tale she writes next.

This book promised us alchemy, atmosphere and a dangerous hunt, unfortunately for me, it didn’t deliver on these promises.

In this story we are following Margaret, a teenager living on her own, desperately hoping that her mother will come home. She is shunned by the town and is really just going through the motions and trying to survive the best she can while denying that she has been abandoned. Her life is disrupted by the appearance of the legendary Hala, the last remaining demiurge, and the target of the annual Halfmoon Hunt. Desperate to win the hunt in the hopes of bringing her mother home, Margaret is forced to team up with Wes, a city boy who wants to be an alchemist who came looking for an apprenticeship with Margaret’s famous alchemist mother.

There were two things that didn’t work for me about this book. First was the slow and ponderous plot. I was expecting there to be more of the actual hunt involved, but most of the book takes place in the weeks leading up to the hunt and there just wasn’t much meat to the story. Most of the plot for the first two thirds of the book revolves around getting to know the two main characters, their families, and their communities. More character focused readers will likely appreciate this more than I did. I was bored.

The second thing I didn’t enjoy was the worldbuilding. I dislike when fantasy worlds are essentially carbon copies of the real world except with different names, and that it was we get in this book. I was also disoriented by some of the details. In particular I though the setting was meant to be roughly the 1930s but then there were some dates thrown around at one point that really threw me off. Also the alchemy that was included wasn’t very well developed and felt like an afterthought when the story would have been better served if more thought had been put into exploring what alchemy is and how it works.

I did really enjoy the relationship between Margaret and Wes, it felt a little more mature than many of the relationships I have read in YA fantasy. It helped that both characters were fairly down to earth so the angst that existed didn’t get annoying, it felt believable and not over the top.

Overall this is a slow and quiet read that will land better with character focused readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

DRC provided by Wednesday Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The book was not for me. I just could not connect with the characters and the pacing was not my favourite. I will try giving it a second chance in the future. Perhaps, I was not in the right mind-space at the time.

THIS BOOK WAS INCREDIBLE. I enjoyed Down Comes the Night, so I was expecting to enjoy this but I had no idea it was going to blow me away. If I hadn't had to work I would have read it in one sitting - as it was my brain spent my entire shift going "wes and margaret wes and margaret wes and margaret wes and margaret wes and margaret"

Both of these characters are IMPECCABLY done, each felt so heartbreakingly real and watching them come together was joyous. I also adored the setting, it really came to life and I felt the cold, the rain, and the ~vibes~.

I was worried about the premise being a fox hunt, but the fox is mythical so.....it felt not as bad?? And the only other characters who get hurt are people, which is fine.

I am now an Allison Saft STAN

A potential spoiler but one I wished I had to put my mind at ease: the dog doesn't die!! I was constantly nervous about Margaret's hound, Trouble, and I hope you're glad to know that the goodest boy makes it through the book.

First off, have you ever seen a more beautiful cover? SO. PRETTY. I had to find out the artist and follow her on Instagram - @rudebeetle for anyone interested.

This one took me a minute to get into, partly because of my own reading mood, but once I hit about 25% I did NOT want to stop! I ended up putting the ebook down and listening to it - which is new for me, I'm not typically an audiobook reader but lately it's what holds my attention best. I will say that I didn't like the narrator much - I wasn't crazy about her accents for Wes and his family, and her narration seemed frantic sometimes which was odd.

This was such a cool combination of YA historical romance and magical realism. The world felt so unique while alluding to the religious tensions of the early 20th century in the US. I loved the mix of alchemy and magic and would love to read more about its use in the political landscape of this world.

The growing trust between Margaret and Wes was EVERYTHING! When we first meet Margaret she is withdrawn and unrelenting in her routines, while Wes puts on a smiling face in every possible situation. This had that amazing grumpy/sunshine dynamic that I love, but went deeper than just a typical romance. They both were dealing with different types of grief and loss, and were able to bring out in each other just what they needed to grow and chase the lives they wanted.

While I wished the actual hunt portion of the book lasted a bit longer after all of the buildup, it turned much more sinister than I had anticipated which made up for it. While listening, I couldn't do anything else - I just sat and listened to the hunt and all its action.

“Love is not the sharp-edged thing she's
always believed it to be. It's not like the sea, liable to slip through her fingers if she holds on too tight. It's not a currency, something to be earned or denied or bartered for. Love can be steadfast. It can be certain and safe, or as wild as an open flame.” - Allison Saft

I loved this gothic romance by @allisonhsaft. Wes and Maggie enter into a magical fox hunt to kill the mythical Hala. Despised by the other participants for their immigrant status they will have to trust each other to succeed. The atmosphere of this novel reminded me of the films in Tomm Moore’s Irish folklore trilogy (Secret of Kells etc) I think fans of Naomi Novik will also enjoy. I absolutely want to read Saft’s other work now.

Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC.

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft was MAGIC. Pure MAGIC.

This book felt so original, unlike anything I've ever read, and it takes a lot for me to say that. It was refreshing. It wasn't just words on a page; this was storytelling at its finest. The type that pulls you in as a child and doesn't let you go (in the best possible way).

I remember reading it and being blown away. It was poetic and mesmerizing, and I felt as though I was transported to another world and time. Allison captures the readers with beautiful descriptions in a way I haven't seen an author do in many years.

This world of fantasy is gorgeous, just like the cover.

A Far Wilder Magic is character-driven, which I appreciate, with a dual POV that I love. Margaret and Wes are everything and more, and I wanted them to have everything. It was a journey, and tears were shed for these characters, but I regret nothing.

I connected with every part of this book, and I would 100% recommend it to all readers.

I feel gratitude and emotion as I say thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to receive an e-arc for my honest review. It was an honor.

Okay, I remember falling in love with this book because of the cover but as I started reading it I completely fell in love. The writing truly makes it feel like you're stepping into a new world. It was magical and lovely.

I had high expectations for A Far Wilder Magic...and unfortunately, it quite didn't live up. Margaret lives in a small coastal town, alone except for her dog and horse, waiting for her mother to return and enduring prejudice/discrimination from many townspeople due to her cultural/ethnic heritage. Wes is an aspiring alchemist desperate for one last chance to prove himself and provide for his family. When a hunt for a magic fox comes into town, their paths collide. I loved these characters and their complex, multi-faceted, personalities that grew throughout the narrative. The romance felt organic and built in a way that felt natural and true to human experience (no insta-love). I especially loved the portrayal of the heroine, Margaret, as the stronger/more capable one in the relationship, since many romances show the opposite. Wes and Margaret's dynamic was blend where they equally subverted and fit into aspects of traditional gender roles, making their relationship dynamic 3-dimensional and not bound by parameters often seen in the romance genre. The foxhunt story was unique and not something I've seen before, and the descriptions of the "hala" were a perfect blend of creepy and cryptic.

The reason this book disappointed me boils down to its trying to do too much. The premises were intriguing but there were so many threads that the focus was spread too thin across them all and the book couldn't seem to settle on what it wanted to be/convey. Here are some spoiler-free examples:
Genre -- A Far Wilder Magic is marketed as YA, but I would put it in the NA (New Adult) category. About halfway through, the slowburn becomes decidedly more mature and sexual in nature. This didn't bother me personally, but I did feel the tone switch was sudden and had little set-up.
Setting -- Atmospherically, the setting was worded beautifully. But I found the actual world-building to be lackluster, it is a strange blend of fantasy and reality that is clearly inspired by historical period pieces but also mentions modern inventions/objects. I also felt that religions/ethnicities felt too close to actual real-life groups, just slightly modified and names changed. I enjoy high-fantasy and for me, this just fell short of being vague enough to truly feel like fantasy without any heavy world-building.
Pace -- The first half of the book was very slow and while it picked up nicely in the middle, the ending felt rushed as all those thread were hurriedly tied up. Certain character dynamics and social themes were suddenly heavily emphasized all at the end when they had not been given the same weight throughout the novel. Although everything wrapped up nicely, it felt somewhat dissatisfying because it lacked the carefullness and gradual build-up that had been in the first half.

Overall, I give this book 3.5 stars. A Far Wilder Magic would best suit YA/NA readers looking for a slowburn romance set in a low-fantasy, atmospheric world.

Margaret Welty lives alone in the family manor on the outskirts of town. She mostly keeps to herself, until she spots the legendary Hala, the last of magical creatures. The person who kills the Hala is rewarded with a substantial monetary prize, magical secrets, and fame. Only problem is, in order to participate in the sanctioned hunt Margret must have an alchemist partner. Enter Weston Winters, an aspiring alchemist brave enough to join Margaret in the hunt. So begins a beautiful story about loneliness, learning to trust others, and trusting yourself. This is also a tender love story that is sure to tug at your heart strings. I truly enjoyed this book, rich with unique magic, strong female lead, and beautiful dialogue.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks so much to the publisher and NatGalley for the review copy! I was very excited to see Ava Reid blurb for this book, I’m a huge fan!

This was a slower burn than I anticipated, but I loved the alchemical magic system and the fact that this is a very different world than I’ve encountered in novels. Also the cover is gorgeous.

My one major gripe is this trendy “protagonist isn’t pretty” trope. I understand where it’s coming from, but in doing so we are still placing a value on appearance by explicitly stating female main characters aren’t pretty. I’m not sure why we are honoring men for living women “despite” their looks- I’d much rather read a book where characters fall in love without having to assign value to how one of them looks.

A FAR WILDER MAGIC was a book I was looking forward to, as I enjoyed the author's debut, but ultimately found rather disappointing overall.

Unlike DOWN COMES THE NIGHT, I never felt like there was anything between Margaret and Wes, not real chemistry, connection, or any real reason to like it each other. I felt like I was being told they were falling in love without getting a reason other than the plot wanted it. They lacked tension too, so the "drama" points in the relationship didn't feel set up or believable.

Given this book is primarily a romance, the fact that it felt so lacking in that area rather undercut the book for me. It didn't feel like there was enough plot to carry the book along without that central romance grabbing me. Instead it was two people rubbing along badly as they tried to prepare for a hunt. Or rather, he did alchemical experiments and she did... something? All while dealing with bigots from the small town.

I really enjoyed the representation in this book. Wes is an immigrant from a minority religious group, and I think he also had some ADHD and dyslexic traits too. Margaret's father was part of a minority ethnic group, and possibly had anxiety/panic attacks (potentially related to PTSD.) It was a nice mix of intersecting issues and both have to deal with prejudice over their ethnic and/or religious backgrounds, but it was never made the focus.

I love alchemy in books. I'm a scientist and though I've spent most of my degree on Physics, I've done a lot of chemistry too, and alchemy always feels like it's bringing some STEM ideas into fantasy. Naturally then, I loved that aspect of this book, loved the careful approach needed to make it work with accurate measurements and calculations to avoid messing up.

Nope. DNF'd at about 40%. It just never really felt "real" for me, nor did I care about anyone or the whole hunt thing.

eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.

This was not at all what I thought it would be, and I'm surprised I enjoyed it as much as I did.

I don't have the right words, but it felt much more *modern* that I anticipated. I normally don't enjoy that in my fantasy novels, but it really worked for me this time around. I really enjoyed Allison Saft's writing and our heroine, Margaret.

Also, this cover is absolutely stunning!

Oooh, atmosphere!

1910's/20's vibes, religion (and exploration of how this affects the way people view you), the grumpy one is soft for the sunshine one, magic, a precious dog and some very, very different types of parents make up the basic backbone of this A Far Wilder Magic.

The rest of Maggie being the grumpiest grump with the a slightly unexpected reading-preference, Wes being an actual ray of sunshine who can and will flirt with <s>anyone</s> Maggie at every chance, and Trouble being the Goodest Boy.

And a Hunt. And a nasty creature. And some really shitty people. And some really <i>great</i> people. And ATMOSPHERE. Gah. Loved this.

A lush and beautifully written fable. I love the gradual unfolding of this story. Margaret is so incredibly resourceful and strong. I really admired her and enjoyed her sickly attitude. She wasn’t brash or headstrong. She was more bitter, reserved, careful of being hurt. It was easy to See Margaret, out there on the fields or in the house silently doing around through the empty rooms. Living alone as her mother has gone off into the world outside to pursue her own priorities, Margaret is left alone to fend for herself. This involves taking care of herself, the house and grounds hunting. And then it involves turning away potential alchemists who appear at her door, seeking her mother. This includes Weston Winters. This is Weston’s last chance. If her mother doesn’t take him on as a student, he will her be able to become an alchemist and run for office. And he will have to go back to his home to get a job and take care of his family.
Margaret lets him stay and they enter into an age old tradition - the Hunt.
Weston is more friendly, more outgoing and an outsider in her small town. I really liked his fish out of water feeling. He seemed like a big colorful blog set down in the dreary atmosphere. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a darkness or a substance. But he definitely seems like a colorful sun that shines suddenly into Margaret’s life and invigorates the town.
That said, this is no install. They really don’t like each other and it’s only slowly grown through the book that they feel mutual understanding and respect. I really liked this aspect of the story because it was focused on them as characters and first and how they made each other better and more complex.
The tone and setting is also a fantastic character in this story. The reader is really with them on the hunt, in the woods, walking about the falling down house. Feeling Margaret’s intense emotions and sensing her family’s deep rooted grief was well written, the heaviness becoming a real motivator to the characters in the story as well as being a rich setting.
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed this story. It’s a slow build and totally worth it and by the end, you’re rooting for both of them. There’s real danger, both magical and human, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure how it would end.
A quick note too - that cover is gorgeous and once you read the book, it’s a remarkably accurate representation of those two characters and the world around them. Whimsical, murky and dark.
Go grab your copy.

** Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a beautiful adventure this turned out to be! I requested this book from the cover alone. It spoke to me, and for once that decision didn't come back to haunt me. A Far Wilder Magic is so unique to itself that it makes it hard to compare to other things. Its list of merits as a novel is extensive but I'll try my best.

For starters, this is either the first of a series or a stand-alone, so if you're in the mood for fantasy but don't want to commit yourself to 14+ books and thousands of pages, this is the perfect entrance for you. The page count is under 400, which is a rare find these days and very refreshing. It isn't dry. Allison Saft worked some real magic here in the world-building and fantasy elements without weighing down the book with a lot of exposition.

This is an emotional book. The setting is lush and lovely. The characters are believable and new. The ending was satisfying and the pacing hit the absolute jackpot. I adored this so so much that I purchased my own copy after reading the ARC, and I picked up Allison's debut as well, knowing absolutely nothing about it, just because I loved this one so much.

Definitely an author to keep your eye on. This book is a must-have for both fantasy and romance fans as it delivers in both departments. So so good.

WOW! I was blown away by this book. Everything from the writing to the world to the plot to the characters themselves was well done. I felt transported by the setting, captivated by the lyrical prose, and caught up in the very real and well developed struggles of the two leads. I loved pretty much every aspect of this book, and there's very little about it that I could criticize in all honesty. I will be buying a physical copy ASAP. And Allison Saft is now an author whose future releases I will be keeping an eager eye on.

I was fascinated by this book. I really enjoyed how Saft created a fantastical, alchemical world in what you could almost identify as an actual, historical place, blurring the lines of reality and unreality. I also enjoyed how she did the same with the faith of her characters, reshaping some of the traditional faiths into magical beliefs and systems, while retaining their inherent oppositions and prejudices to help create tension in her story.

But that wasn’t the only tension in the story. The constant build of pressure throughout the plot, between Margaret and Weston, between the hunters and the hala, between the locals and the outcasts, all of it lent for a wonderful story that made me want to know how it would all turn out. And it was pleasantly (refreshingly) not exactly as I expected.

I can easily give A Far Wilder Magic 4 out of 5 stars for creativity and readability. I’d recommend you check out this lovely fantasy for yourself.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the digital copy of this novel for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own! 🙂