Or did you always love the memory of him more than you loved the reality of me?

Beautiful quote for a boring book. Adding this to my “The plot sounded fun until I started reading” list.

A Far Wilder Magic was a weird one. First of all, nothing happens for the entirety of the book. The story revolves around a hunting contest but WE DON’T SEE ANYONE HUNT ANYTHING UNTIL 90% INTO THE BOOK. I hate when books do this. The summary lures you with the promise of action and interesting stuff happening but then the book is the complete opposite of that. The pacing was so frustratingly slow. The plot was pretty much all over the place. I went into it expecting fierce competition and high stakes and spooky vibes. Instead I got a slow burn romance that fell incredibly flat and which essentially felt like every generic YA couple mashed into one with the competition as a backdrop.

Maggie’s character is quite boring. At first she comes of as very stuck up and prude, which I know was the intention, except the impression never really wears off over time. I know she has mommy issues but her arc is overall not interesting in the slightest. I guess you could call her the grumpy one in her grumpy x sunshine pairing, Wes being the sunshine. Speaking of Wes, I did enjoy reading about him a bit more, but one passable character isn’t enough to redeem the whole book. He reminds me a lot of Will Herondale, except less angsty and more goofy.

The one thing that kept bugging me was the world building. First of all, it was very vague and sloppy. Apparently this book is inspired by Jewish culture, but I was under the impression that it was set in the real world, like a historical fantasy. But obviously it’s not, because there is no city called Wickdon. Also they have phones and cars. I am confusion. I didn’t hate the writing, but it doesn’t do a particularly good job at drawing you in. There are a few scenes where Wes does alchemy. I have absolutely no idea what alchemy is. I’m assuming it’s science but with magic. But again, the author did such a poor job at building her world that I didn’t feel like reading a whole chapter describing Wes drawing runes and mixing stuff and doing incantations or whatever it is that he does.

There is honestly nothing special about this book. At times it was boring, other times it was slightly more enjoyable. It’s very mid.

Magic. Alchemy. Love.

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft is a YA book for lovers of fantasy.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I almost DNFed at 40%, but I really wanted to finish because of my reading goal. It was very dull in the beginning. Lots of descriptions, strange writing style and changing POVs made it hard to read. On top of that, I just found it really hard to get into the story- just not that interesting to me even though the synopsis sounded great.

What did I like about it? The eventual ending is good, I enjoyed the parts where Wes is with his family (seemed to have a better writing style there). I thought the changes in Margaret were good, even though I would still call her character underdeveloped.

All in all, I would read more from this author, but I wouldn’t go back and read this again.

I had really high hopes for this story, which was probably my mistake. Honestly, I can see why some people will love this story, but for me, it kept missing the mark in places and I found myself wishing for more. I will say that I quite enjoyed the alchemy, as I have always found alchemy a fascinating subject, and I enjoyed how the different religions of this story were explored and played a role in the hunt for the Beast.
I also really love Wes and Maggie. I found them to be dynamic, driven characters who were good leaders, had depth to them, and I wanted to see where their stories would lead me. I like how I could see their development over the course of the story.
All that being said, I don't like how I could never tell WHEN this story was taking place. Was it the past? The future? Medieval? Some steampunk world? I don't like not being able to visualize a time period, even if the world is completely made up and doesn't follow the same timeline as human history; I like to know WHEN I am. There were a few other plot issues I kept running into, but nothing major.
Above all, this was a fun, interesting read that I think many will enjoy and fall in love with.

I adored this book, it's become one of my comfort reads. It's the perfect blend of fantasy/ historical fiction.

A Far Wilder Magic is a beautifully written whimsical and atmospheric YA Fantasy book. I really enjoyed the unique story and the characters. The beginning of the book felt a little slow, but eventually it picked up and I was very invested! I really liked both Maggie and Wes and am so happy that the story was written dual POV.

I do think the story could have used more world building and description as I had trouble picturing certain things and found myself getting distracted by small details, taking me out of the actual story.

Thank you to NetGalley and for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very belated review for a book that I wish that I had saved for the shorter days of fall and winter.

Margaret Welty grows up isolated at the edges of society with a renowned yet absent alchemist for a mother, so she is less than thrilled when Wes shows up at her door in the hopes of becoming her mother’s newest apprentice and proving to his family and the world that he has what it takes to be an alchemist. Margaret forms an uneasy truce with West when she realizes that she needs his help to participate in the Halfmoon Hunt in the hopes that by capturing its mythic quarry will bring her mother home.

A Far Wilder Magic is a story of two outsiders finding an unexpected home in each other. Theirs is a slow burn romance of opposites, simmering gently underneath their preparations for the hunt. The story is highly atmospheric and with an anachronistic blend of the old fashioned with modernity that left me unable to place when in time the story takes place in what felt like steampunk’s second cousin. The settings range from rural village to industrial town, reflecting the stark differences and upbringings between Margaret and Wes.

The story explores themes of nationalism and xenophobia, ambition and self-belief, trust and overcoming the expectations of family. There is magic and mystery, though perhaps less magic than expected. Slow and subtle in spite of a fair amount of action, the experience of reading this story felt muted in the most atmospheric of ways—as though a heavy fog were between me and the contents of its pages.

Allison Saft sure can write beautiful and atmospheric stories. A Far Wilder Magic is a solid read, perfect for fans of Hannah Whitten and Ava Reid. I’m looking forward to what Allison writes next!

I really enjoyed every page of this dystopian mystical adventure love story! Margaret and Wes are a pair of fully developed characters in an epically imagined society that Allison Saft has thoughtfully developed with multiple hierarchical elements. I hope to see a sequel where we re-enter this world and continue the journey started here.

I wanted so badly to like this book, but alas, it was not for me. I tried repeatedly to get into it, only to put it down and read other things.

The story is an urban fantasy set in like a parallel universe of the present day, with representations of things in our world with different names and a twist. Most of the time I was just trying to figure out what was what and try to make it make sense with my understanding of history, language and time, which was confusing and frustrating. The pace was slow and I felt that there was more tell than show.

Great for fantasy/ YA romance fans. I found the alchemist angle to be a fresh take on the genre. I think it will be very popular in our library this fall!

I spent the better part of the beginning of this book up to my ears in the busyness of real life, and I can honestly say it kept me hooked even when I didn’t have the time to be reading it.

I had a hard time at first keeping the terms straight, and honestly I’m still not 100% sure what some of them were, but I liked that I didn’t have to worry about it so much that I missed out on the story.

I love a good underdog story. This one did not disappoint. I loved that both Wes and Margaret had to face their own demons to be able to see each other and to finally face their dreams. I love that finding each other helped them to heal and to surpass their brokenness they came together with.

Most of all, I loved the ending! Definitely recommend!

"How much suffering is worth the promise of glory?"

TW: Gore, animal gore, blood, bigotry, anti-semitic, xenophobic, death, parental abandonment, bullying & loss of a family member.

This book holds such wisps of magic while working through serious topics like xenophobia and anti-Semitism while we hunt for a creature that can bring glory and solve the problems of our two leads. The chemistry between them was truly beautiful while they worked through pain and trauma.

Bonus: I DIED when Weston found out about Margaret's smutty book and loved the silliness of the scene (I felt Margaret's cringe and pain for that as I cannot have someone catch me reading my obscene books, it feels so vulnerable).

I thought the plot was interesting because it was different from other fantasy books I have read in that it wasn't about a war. The idea of the hunt was much more original.
The characters were also pretty intriguing. I liked that you could feel their anxiety throughout the book and that we could see what caused it. I understood that Wes felt obligated to succeed despite his many past failures and I understood Margaret's anxiety about her mother not being there. With that being said the characters still felt that they were not fully developed. I couldn't see much outside of their anxieties. I also thought that the side characters added another level of anxiety because of how much disdain they had over the 2 main characters.
Overall I think that the book was pretty good. The vibes were dark and dreary and the monsters were creepy, it was definitely atmospheric.

Full review to be posted soonish.

I would like to thank the publisher and netgalley for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was fine - I liked the concept. I found the alchemy parts interesting and I enjoyed the hunt. I even liked the characters, though I forgot for quite a lot of the story how young they are meant to be. For some reason, they felt older.

What kept it from being great for me was that I found the time period confusing. There were telephones and cars, so it seems kind of modern, but other elements, such as the money ( for example: 25 cents buys all your groceries) made it seem more 1800s, or very early 1900s. But then there were also condoms in foil wrappers, which made me think it was more modern. This was all kind of confusing and kept pulling me out of the story.

The author also uses the discrimination of two specific groups as a major plot element, and while the names were made up, they clearly represent Irish Catholics and Jews. Why not just set this story in our world, in a specific time period, using Irish Catholics and Jews? Just add magic - it's urban fantasy, so it would have still worked and the story might have flowed better for me.

Honestly, I'm being nit-picky and these are things that probably wouldn't bother anyone else. Overall I thought the story was fun and it held my interest til the end. I just wish I could have given it a higher rating.

Maggie (Margaret) Welty has been left alone on her estate once again; her alchemist mother having left months ago on a research mission. The months are getting colder and when Maggie spots the fabled ancient fox spirit (hala) on her land, she knows that The Hunt will begin. Maybe if she can catch and kill the hala her mother will come back and stay for good, maybe they can be a proper loving family again. The only thing she needs is an alchemist to partner with, per The Hunt rules, but most of her town rejects Maggie's otherness (even when she is the best sharp shooter around). Luckily, Weston (Wes) Winters is looking for a new alchemical teacher after being fired by all those in the city, and his last hope is Maggie's mother. They cut a deal to help Wes's family and for Maggie to regain her mother. But, will entering The Hunt mean certain death? Not just from the hala, but from a town that hates the idea of two outsiders winning.

This book was phenomenal. The world building was so complete and intricate, loosely mirroring America of the early 20th century. Wes's family are Banvish-Sumic, a mirror of the Irish Catholic immigrants in New York at the turn of the century (often in terribly working conditions and with large families living in small spaces, all because they had to flee their homeland). Margaret's father is Yu’adir (a fantasy representation of Judaism), he was ostracized by New Albion (their predominantly Katharist (Protestant) hometown) because of his religious beliefs. Margaret is therefore treated, by many of the town, just as her father was, even with a famous alchemist mother. Wes and Margaret face continuous bigotry from certain townsfolk, and even those that are nice to them and try to help can never really stop or deter others from releasing their hate. The way the world of this novel weaves together these two outcasts, throws hate and anger at them for just existing, is horrifying and heartbreaking (and so realistic it is painful). I was so enraged for these two characters who were just trying to live in a world that wishes for them to cease existing.

It is also a story about needing to prove your worth, whether to the world or simply your family. Wes does not want to give up on his dreams of being an alchemist, because it is the only way he can make the world a better place for his people (the Banvish-Sumic). Margaret works hard to please her mother, who is never there and who never really sees her when she is. These two characters slowly begin to heal the hurt in each other, by defending and listening to one another. By seeing their faults and loving them anyways.

Familial bonds are also important. Especially when Margaret is introduced to Wes's chaotic, but loving, family. His eldest sister may fight with him constantly and not understand why he continues to follow the path of an alchemist, but she loves him none-the-less. Margaret is able to really understand that her life with her mother is unhealthy, that she is in an emotionally abusive home. It is through being with Wes's family that she realizes she has not felt her mother's true love in a long while, has not had the happinesses of a family and is instead living in a fantasy world of her own making (believing her mother can ever be the person she was before). This book really shines a light on the machinations of families and how easily they can both build a person up and tear a person down. Wes is able to pursue his dreams because of his family, while Margaret is stuck on her estate, unable to leave or grow or even dream, because of hers.

The romance is slow burn, but so beautiful. Wes is a charmer, it is what he does, so when he meets Margaret and cannot charm her he is confused. Margaret is a loner and mistrusts everyone outside of her home. The two of them collide and somehow manage to fall in love. The banter is spot on, there is a moment involving a smutty novel that had me howling and then aching for them. These two are just too vulnerable and adorable and you root for them the whole novel through, even when Margaret is being an unrelenting brick wall and when Wes is so obtuse to other women using him.

Another thing I loved was how each religion is so distinct and the book showing how each religion views the hala (the magical beasts who roam the world and destroy it). They all believe in them, but each religion has a slightly different idea of what they truly are, whether they were meant to be put on this Earth to help guide mankind, whether they are small Gods or whether they are demons meant to be killed. Just a perfect depiction of how religions can be so similar in their beliefs, with slight differences here or there, and yet how chasms of hate are formed between them.

If you are going to read this novel, I highly encourage you to check out the audiobook. The narrator did an amazing job bringing each character to life. The accents she used to depict Wes, as well as their Katharist foil (Jamie), was spot on. I was so entranced by the reading, I could not stop listening. I could imagine myself in a seaside village in New York around the 1920s, with magic streaming throughout and the wealthy walking around flaunting themselves. The novel sucks you in, so even while some moments were slow and the story is long, you feel that it is necessary for Wes and Margaret's growth as characters. They need to slowly come to terms with who they are and what they are willing to do in order to achieve their dreams.

I loved A Far Wilder Magic. It has just about everything I love in a great fantasy novel: beautiful world building, well-rounded characters and, subsequently, thoughtful relationships between characters, a magical tournament, alchemy, a love story that feels very natural.

I think what makes this book so special is the way the characters were written. I think more than the plot, I was motivated to keep reading because I wanted to watch the characters interact and grow, both separately and together.

Margaret is a quiet girl, living in the shadow of her recently deceased brother. Her mother, a gifted alchemist, travels all over the place as she is attempting to complete some alchemy that could help heal their family. Her mother has been totally consumed by her grief and neglects her daughter. It's terribly sad to see, and Margaret is broken and sheltered in ways she doesn't even quite understand.

Wes, a city boy to comes to Margaret's home as a last ditch effort to learn from Margaret's mother, is everything that Margaret isn't...but he's got his own familial tragedy he is trying to fix. Nothing he's done so far has been successful. Initially, Margaret hates him, but as they get to know one another, their love begins to grow. It is never rushed and it feels authentic. This love story was probably one of the most patient, most genuine love stories I've ever read. I would have loved this so much as a teen.

I think this book has a lot of great pieces that make it a truly lovely and rewarding book. I enjoyed every minute of it and I know several teens that will love it just as much as I did.

3.5⭐️

Margaret Welty wants nothing more than for her mother to return home. After losing her brother, her father left and Evelyn has been on research trips, leaving Margaret at home by herself. Then Margaret sees the hala, the last mystical creature. This sighting means that the Halfmoon Hunt will begin. Margaret hopes the hunt will bring her mother home, since whoever kills the hala will earn fame, riches and unlock the magical secret that her mother has been searching for.

Weston Winters has failed every apprenticeship for alchemy that he has ever had. Evelyn Welty is his last chance. But when Westin arrives at Welty Manor, he only finds Margaret. Margaret allows Westin to stay as long as he will join in the hunt with her. Working together, Weston and Margaret grow closer together and discover dark magic that might help them in the hunt for the hala.

I liked that this book brought up many things such as religious persecution and prejudice. Both Margaret and Weston are outsiders because they are different. The characters just weren’t very interesting to me. Maybe I just didn’t get enough of their back story to really get invested in what was happening to them. The story seemed to be very slow moving. I kept going because I just knew that it would start to pick up. I was just really disappointed in this one. It was okay but I felt it could have been so much better. More interaction with the hala, more backstory…just more.

I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a good YA read and has great vibes for fall! The magic system was great and I loved the tone and setting as they provided a unique texture that held my focus even in the slow parts. The world-building is so intricately done that I found it thoroughly compelling with its religious persecution, political system based on alchemy. If you are looking for an atmospheric and character is-driven fantasy that will touch your heart, then A Far Wilder Magic is just what you've been searching for!