Saft does an incredible job building characters with personality, heart, and history. The use of two different perspectives allowed the reader to deeply invest in both main characters. Their truly different personalities played well between each other. While I felt that the first third of the book built up a little slowly to the actual action of the book, I enjoyed seeing the world and family that both characters lived in. The build up of their relationship felt genuine and heartwarming. Beautifully written prose throughout.

Allison Saft's sophomore novel is even more magical than her first. A FAR WILDER MAGIC pulls the reader in from very beginning with promises of mythic creatures, dangerous alchemy, and a whimsical coastal town set in a fantasy 1920s. However, it is Maggie and Wes in their motives, desires, and flaws that will keep the reader ensnared. In the novel, love is just not something that can be declared once and let be, but something that must be earned continually through genuine care and understanding. A FAR WILDER MAGIC is perfect for fans of Maggie Stiefvater or Margaret Rogerson. Five stars.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC.

Thank you for my copy of A Far Wilder Magic. I really enjoyed this magical read and I am a sucker for a slow burn romance! I loved that it was told from dual perspectives and enjoyed the ending! I can't wait to read more from this author!

Thank you, Wednesday Books for sending me a copy! It was so very cool! Thank you!

I made this brief and spoiler-free:

Meet the dream-team joining the infamous Halfmoon Hunt:
Wes, a neurodivergent dyslexic wannabe alchemist who has a bit too much energy for his own good, with big dreams and even bigger charming skills, and Margaret, a calm girl who just wants to sit by the window and read some good ol’ smut while waiting for her mother to come home. Perfect.

While hunting a magical beast that is both a threat and a gift from God (and that I would most definitely try to pet), these two wonderful young people try to discover their place in a world that does not accept them. Wes wants to change all that is unjust, while Maggie wants hide from anything that might hurt her. They discover that love is complicated, sometimes unstoppable and other times undeserved. AND there’s a good boy doggo named Trouble.

I had a fun time reading this book. The writing is beautiful and the characters are *chef kiss* amazing 10/10. Their slow burn romance made me screech from time to time and I was rooting for them from page 1. Both of them have such complex personalities and the way they balance each other’s fears and dreams… ah, wonderful. I don’t want to say too much and spoil the book for you but the “Treat me gently. I’m delicate.” (Wes) – “Shut up and drink your water.” (Maggie) dynamic is high-quality content. I recommend.

My only tiny little complaint is the pacing. It’s almost as if nothing really happens in this book yet A LOT is happening, so I’m a bit confused here. Don’t get me wrong, I really liked the book. It’s an excellent story but I think I expected a bit more from the fox (maybe I’m bitter because I was not allowed to pet it, who knows).

All in all, it’s a great book and a great story. If you like alchemy, slow-paced romance, and excellent characters (gosh I love them), this book is definitely for you.

(I just want to add that the cover is ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.)

A Far Wilder Magic is the story of a hunt for the magical hala, the last mythical creature. Weston wants nothing more than to become an alchemist, but he desperately needs a teacher. While her mother may be a renowned alchemist, Margaret wants nothing to do with alchemy. Margaret’s mother Evelyn has always wanted access to the hala. It just might be the thing to bring her home from her lengthy research trips. To participate in the hunt, Margaret must find an alchemist partner. As an unlikely pair, Wes and Margaret team up, only to discover that the most fearsome monsters are human.

A Far Wilder Magic is very character-driven, with gorgeous lyrical writing. Allison Saft really pays attention to all five senses, choosing poignant details that make for vivid scenes. While Wes and Margaret must prepare magically for the hunt, they must mentally prepare as well. Margaret’s character growth in particular was so satisfying to see. This story has a powerful focus on boundaries, familial sacrifice, and fighting against bigotry. One of my favorite parts of the story is Weston’s family dynamics. I loved how they could fight fiercely, but at the end of the day were always there for each other no matter what.

The romance is yearning and soulful, with a delightful grump/sunshine dynamic. The themes of being an outsider and looking to find belonging are communicated so well. Plenty of representation to be found here including what I interpreted as Irish Catholic, Jewish, dyslexia, and panic/anxiety rep. The religions are not called that specific name, but the parallels seem clear for the 1920-ish world. This feels like the perfect read for when you want to be lost in the magic of autumn, the search for belonging, and yearning romance.

I would highly recommend this, especially for fans of Erin A. Craig and Margaret Rogerson! A Far Wilder Magic releases on March 8, 2022. Thank you to Allison Saft, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on the publication date and I will publish it on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble etc

This may very well be the best book I have read this year, thus far. This was beautiful and magical and wonderful in all the ways that count. I found the beginning to be rather slow, but, over time, it sunk its hooks into me and I was absolutely captivated.

What I adored most about this book was the relationship between Margaret and Wes. Their slow burn romance was done masterfully (to the extent that at some points I wanted to tear my hair out).

Beyond the romance, there is beautiful world building, a memorable cast of characters, and a brilliant story featuring magic, family, and adventure. I would definitely recommend this!!

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Alison Saft has become one of my new favorite authors, and I honestly am so pleased that I was allowed a chance to read her upcoming book.

If you have not read an Alison Saft book you should read Down Comes the Night. I loved her characters there and I loved the slow burn relationship between them. I also really enjoyed the prose and how I could imagine the actions and setting clearly in my mind.

With A Far Wilder Magic, I could also imagine the world in my mind but also feel the pain of the lead characters. Margaret, the strong willed girl who is afraid to show weakness since her mother had left. Wes, who feels defeated but does not want to give up hope that his strive in alchemy would one day lead to a role in politics. Both of them want to clearly help people but first have to help themselves.

By the summary, you can tell that they have a task ahead of them. The task was a bit confusing at first, and that's probably why I'd rate it one star less. I felt that the fox was more or less something itself that had little to no importance, and when the end came about I wanted a different decision than the one they made. Or if not that decision, I guess something a little more stronger and linked with their personalities and the weight of what they went through.

Still, it's a gorgeous book and this has me really recommending it to other readers when it gets closer to publication date. I will be sure to check out more books by her in the future.

with Saft's atmospheric writing and emotionally investing characters A Far Wilder Magic is charming and magical (full rtc closer to release date)

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of A Far Wilder Magic in exchange for an honest review.

Allison Saft kicked her sophomore novel out of the park (as we all knew she would). In this one, we get: more magic, a slow burn annoyance to tolerance to friends to lovers main couple, commentary on real world bigotry(the vibe I got was antisemitism but I'm not sure if that was the intended group to be featured and since the religions in this are all magical, it could probably be applied to other things), and some kickass protagonists defeating monsters and mommy issues with math and magic.

Also, brief shoutout to literally all of Wes's siblings for absolutely stealing the show. They all have unique yet real sibling dynamics with Wes which is normally rare in YA fantasy romance so I loved this.

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft is a gritty low fantasy that starts slow before picking up in the last 2/3 of the novel. It was a struggle to keep reading during the growing pains of the beginning, but I'm so glad I stuck with it. The protagonists, Margaret and Wes, are wonderfully rich and human, and they faithfully carry the story to its magical, triumphant end. Saft writes wisely and poetically, creating beautiful imagery and utterly heartbreaking emotions.

While the book is shelved as YA, the themes it discusses are complicated and dark. This novel straddles the line between teen and adult, and is sure to captivate both age groups.

The world building involved in the novel was tricky to understand and was the primary culprit in my lack of interest in the beginning, but I now appreciate its complexity and Saft's dedication to it. I still believe more time could have been given to explaining the politics of the novel's world and to drawing more concrete boundaries around the novel's precise time period, but the analogies that Saft constructs are meaningful and avoid being overly didactic.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I plan to post this review to my Goodreads and to my book review blog.

Adored this! This is told from dual perspectives, so you get an even more enriching story and romance experience

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft is a romance set in a fantasy world that will appeal to everyone who loved her first book, Down Comes the Night. When I saw that the author had written a new book, I knew that I had to add it to my TBR list right away. The gothic romance vibes of Down Comes the Night were amazing and original, and it was one of my most anticipated releases of 2021. In her second book, the author continues writing about old, dilapidated manors, but also brings us into a new world with its own mythology and magic system. I was so excited to get approved for this ARC! Thank you again to the publisher for this opportunity!

The story revolves around two young people who couldn't be more different. In fact, they butt heads a bit at the beginning and only reluctantly work together when it turns out they have a similar goal. Margaret Welty is the daughter of a famed alchemist who often leaves her alone in the house. She also has PTSD or a similar issue that comes up when she's in stressful situations. Weston Winters is the son of immigrants / a minority in their fantasy country, and also has dyslexia or a similar issue, which has resulted in name-calling and him being fired from every alchemy apprenticeship he has ever applied for. The two of them meet when Weston shows up at Margaret's house to beg Margaret's mother Evelyn to take him in as an apprentice. Though Margaret initially turns him away, she soon realizes that she needs Wes's help to win the Halfmoon Hunt, a hunt for a magical creature that will leave the winners with fame, money, and ancient magic.

Here is an excerpt from Chapter 2 that introduces Wes's disability to us:

"Most nights, he lies awake wondering what’s wrong with him: why he can’t retain more than half of what he reads, why he can’t seem to translate unfamiliar words on the page into meaning, why no amount of natural talent or passion can compensate for his “limitations” in his teachers’ eyes. It all makes him sick with anger and worry and self-loathing."

And here is an excerpt from Chapter 1 that explains Margaret's motivations for entering the Halfmoon Hunt:

"When she closes her eyes, an image of Evelyn silhouetted against the sun fills the darkness. Her back to the manor, suitcases in hand, her hair a golden ribbon unfurling in the breeze. Leaving. Always leaving.
But if Margaret wins, maybe it’ll be enough to make her stay.
The grand prize is money, glory, and the hala’s carcass. Most hunters would treat it as a trophy, a thing to be stuffed and mounted. But Evelyn needs it for her research on the alchemical magnum opus."

Overall, A Far Wilder Magic is an amazing fantasy romance that will appeal to fans of A Curse So Dark and Lonely or Serpent & Dove. At its core, this is a love story between two really great characters. You get to see Margaret and Wes first meet, and then when they agree to team up for the sake of winning the Halfmoon Hunt. Along the way, there are obstacles - both human and material - that threaten their relationship, but the two get closer and closer as a result. The hunt itself doesn't start until halfway into the book, so if you're reading this book solely for the adventure, you might get disappointed. However, if you're in the mood for an epic romance in a fantasy setting, then this is the book for you! If you're intrigued by the excerpts above, or if you're a fan of the fantasy romance genre, then I highly you check out this book when it comes out in March 2022!

You may now refer to me as an Allison Saft simp.

The Halfmoon hunt occurs once a year throughout the region, and the proceedings begin whenever the legendary hala is spotted. A vicious and magical beast, it is the very last of its kind. Sharpshooter Margaret Welty is the first to see it, and she enters the hunt with Weston Winters, the boy who showed up at her doorstep hoping to apprentice with her alchemist mother. Both have their own reasons for entering, but as they get to know each other and the world teams up against them, their priorities begin to shift.

After falling head over heels in love with Down Comes the Night, I truly didn't think it possible for Allison to top it. What a fool I was to doubt her. A Far Wilder Magic is a stunning story from start to finish. It is downright magical, romantic, evocative and oh so compelling. I found it next to impossible to put down. Her writing is such a joy to read. To me, it feels like coming home. Warm and familiar, but then she throws out an effortless line of imagery that just takes your breath away. The family dynamics in this are incredible and so realistic, with a big, loving family falling on hard times and a family of two that can't figure out how to love in a healthy way. But where the true magic lies for this book is in its main characters.

Margaret is a bit of a recluse and very much a serious individual. Her mother is one of the greatest alchemists alive, but she leaves Margaret alone in a rickety old house for months on end in her quest to create the philosopher's stone, which she intends to use to resurrect Margaret's long dead brother. Lots to unpack there. All Margaret has for company is a hound named Trouble. I love girls like this. The ones who feel like they have no one to care about but in turn care so deeply for the people they do have in their lives. She is desperate to kill the Hala because to give the magical beast to her mother will be all thats needed to create the stone and she can love Margaret again. Her character development was phenomenal, and watching how she shifted in her relationship with Wes was exactly as tender as the synopsis promises. She is jewish-coded, and how she chooses to navigate the bigotry levelled at her is so heartbreaking.

Wes is a witty charmer and an incorrigible flirt, but it's all a front to hide what he really feels. After losing his dad a few years ago, his large family needs him to support them, but he has to leave in order to help the way he wants. If he can become an alchemist, he can go to the fancy schools, get into politics, and make true change for his family and people like them. Like Margaret, he is part of an ostracized community and deserves none of the hate he gets. He is such an endearing character, who feels so much yet can't quite seem to say it when it counts. He is dyslexic, which causes him problems with reading and absorbing the information he needs to succeed in at least one apprenticeship. His determination is so admirable, and I couldn't be happier with how he and Margaret were able to help each other out.

Alchemy and religion play very interesting roles in this story. While the core of the story is built around Margaret, Wes, and the lead-up to the Halfmoon Hunt, there are a lot of influences on the periphery that develop their characters. The hunts for these magical beasts is a heritage the people of New Albion lay claim to, and as Yu'adir and Sumic respectively, Margaret and Wes threaten the pure sanctity of the event. It feels very white conservatives getting up in arms about Black people entering "their" spaces. Utterly ridiculous but a true threat to the safety of those deemed as "other."

The hunt itself doesn't take place until the last 10%, but there's a lot of preparation alchemy-wise that occurs beforehand. Alchemically-enhanced items are the only way the hala will be killed, and it's so cool how alchemy is applied to everyday things. Ways to make bullets incendiary, threads in saddle blankets to make the weight of a person more bearable on a horse, and so on. The hala itself is actually quite terrifying and something of a conundrum. A monstrous, all-white fox, it is the last of its kind and a horribly vicious thing. Once spotted, its powers grow over the next month. It destroys entire crops and livestock herd before eventually turning on humans. On the one hand, you want it to be left alone, but also it really needs to be stopped. I never knew how this was going to go but I will admit that I am satisfied.

It goes without saying that I will read anything Allison writes. Anything. I can't believe I got to read this as early as I did but that's okay, because by the time it releases I will be itching to reread it.

I really enjoyed this one! The cover is what caught my eye at first (so gorgeous!). I liked the writing style and pacing, and overall the plot/story was really unique and interesting. I haven't read Allison Saft's debut novel, but I definitely want to check it out now.

Working on a more in depth review to share once the pub date gets closer!!

allison saft is one of my new favorite authors. her writing is so beautiful and i love her storytelling. this was such a beautiful story

First, thanks so much to Wednesday Books for sending me an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

So there were a lot of things I liked, and some things that bothered me.
I liked the characters, the story, the action, the conflict, the romance (hate to love), and the resolution. The story delves into religious bigotry and prejudice, prejudice against immigrants, struggles of poverty and fitting in, and the pain of loss. The religions in the book are obvious stand-ins for Judaism and Catholicism. I also interpreted Banvishmen to be a stand-in for Irishmen.
I really liked Wes and Margaret and how they grew together and overcame prejudice and obstacles together. And my heart ached for Margaret’s treatment by her own mother, much less Jaime.

What I had a hard time with is the technology and money references that were “real life”. It felt like the story was set in a quasi-1920s era with cars and telephones and dollars. But in a fictional setting with alchemy and a mystical beast and fictional religions. I think it would have been more effective to keep everything completely fictional because it kept taking me out of the story. Maybe it won’t bother other readers?

Overall I think I’ll go with 3.5 stars

I enjoyed reading this book. I thought the characters were well developed and the plot moved at a pace that felt appropriate. I would like to read other books by this author in the future.

I was so excited that I got approved to review this one because I adored Down Comes the Night and knew I would love A Far Wilder Magic as well.

The setting was so so amazing. The aesthetic that went with 1920s seaside town was immaculate. The magic system rooted in science and engineering was so interesting and easy to understand.

Wes and Margaret were such a good sunshine/grump relationship but also touched on the deeper issues that come along with those personalities. As someone who finds herself in the middle of those two, seeing each side was my favorite.

The fox hunt was so unique as a backdrop for the novel. Adding in religious intolerance was very timely and although it was a fantasy world, where the religions were drawn from was clear and very well done in my opinion.

And the writing, my goodness, I loved it just as much as in DCTN. There were so many passages where Saft just hit me right in the soul and I loved every minute of it.

Highly, highly recommend this one!

So, I’ve actually not read a book by this author before although I have seen her debut novel floating around the bookish world quite a lot! I’m not sure why I hadn’t picked it up yet but I believe it is on my ever-growing tbr, haha. For this specific book, the blurb and the cover pulled me in. The cover is breathtaking! Although there were things I liked about the book, it still didn’t grab me like I wanted it to. I don’t think there is anything wrong with the book and so with that said, take this review as you like!

The book is told from two point-of-views: Margaret (Maggie) and Weston (Wes). They both had an interesting point-of-view and I can’t say I liked one over the other. Maggie is a pretty bitter character and even though that is the case I didn’t dislike her because of it. Sometimes bitterness can be a bit much but it really worked well for this story as it wasn’t overbearing and she had valid reasons for being the way that she was.

Wes has his own issues to deal with and because of that I feel like they are both bitter and hide their resentment, more so him than her, for how things have went with their families. I do appreciate Wes’s family though. His sisters were great and their interactions over the phone was hilarious.

There is romance between them but it is a slow-burning one which is always nice to see. They have to work through a bit before it happens but I think that’s what makes it so sweet.

One thing I struggled with when it came to the book was the time period. At times it felt much older than it was until you realize they have phones and taxis. I guess because of the hunt I was just not expecting those things to pop up and it kind of threw me for a loop.

Another thing was just the lack of connection. I understood the characters but my feelings for them was just surface level. I also didn’t fully connect with the story either and maybe it was just my mood at the time. It’s not that it wasn’t good but it was one that also didn’t keep my attention for long.

Overall, this was good. I do wish I would have enjoyed it more but I feel like it’s just a me thing. I know others will enjoy this and it will definitely make a perfect read for the fall.

Thank you to Wenesday Books, Allison Saft, and Netgalley for providing me with a E-ARC of "A Far Wilder Magic" in exchange for an honest review. *

This was such an fall book, I could totally see myself curled up under a blanket with this. I think Ms. Saft does romantic tension really well.