*Arc provided by Netgalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.*

A Far Wilder Magic spun a tale of magic and alchemy on the back drop of a world on the cusp of social change. Protagonists Margaret and Weston team up to accomplish their personal goals and casually end up falling in love. Weston in a last ditch effort to become an alchemist agrees to sign up for the Halfmoon Hunt with Margaret in an attempt to convince her mother to take him on as a student. Margaret just wants her mom to show up in her life again and if Weston securing the one thing Margaret's mother wants more than anything is what it will take so be it.

The story moved pretty steadily but I really couldn't connect with Weston. I found him to be really arrogant and a jerk for most of the book which is saying a lot since the town is basically full of bigots. Margaret was incredibly sad just constantly striving for the attention of someone who just wasn't mentally or physically present.

This book reminded me of why I love reading gothic romance. Allison Saft has definitely become an author to look out for and I know for sure I’ll be reading anything she writes. A super enjoyable, dual pov read that, even though it took me a little while to get fully invested, I ended up really liking it it by the end. I loved the concept of alchemy involved in the book and how it was used but especially the character dynamics at play. Definitely recommend reading this one.

FIVE MASSIVE STARS!

This book was whimsical, atmospheric and achingly gorgeous. I loved the exploration and reckoning of relationships: between Margaret and her mother, Margaret and Wes, Margaret and the hala, and Margaret, Wes and society. It dealt with heavy themes without sacrificing romance and the hope for a better world, both personally and at a societal level.

If you love the vivid worldbuilding of Margaret Rogerson and the folkloric romance of Ava Reid, you'll love A Far Wilder Magic.

A Magic Alchemical Fox Hunt? Why Yes, Very Much So!

A Far Wilder Magic has undoubtedly been one of my favourite reads of 2022. Allison never ceases to create real, beautifully flawed, relatable characters who make you laugh and cry all in one paragraph.

Margaret is an aloof outcast who prefers guns and her dog Trouble to any of the townsfolk. She has this extremely complicated relationship with her mother and you can’t help but to have your heart crack a little at the hope she still holds for her. Overall I love her character and her fierce personality when it comes to certain people. Watching her crumble under her mother’s thumb is something I’m sure anyone who has been in a toxic relationship can relate to and I feel Allison did a fantastic job at tackling the sensitivity of it.

Now on to Wes, glorious Wes. He’s a family driven young man with a bit of complex, but what’s not to love? Not to mention, he has ADHD so watching his chaotic patterns on the page was a real hit home for me as someone with ADHD. He means well, but he comes off as a little persistent at times, which I think makes him all the more charming. Why kill ’em with kindness when you can kill ’em with charisma.

The world building and pacing for this one had me gripped right from the first page. I could feel the chill from the fog and scent the salt on the sea. I could feel the Hala’s burning gaze fixed between my shoulders as I read, falling deeper and deeper into into Allison’s enchanting prose.

Saft has this remarkable way of writing the reader into the scene with her characters. It’s like you’re not only watching the events play out, but you’re also right in the thick of it, fully immersed in her world.

This may be a standalone, but it’s one of few that I can say does not leave me feeling empty and hollow at the end. Allison creates these beautiful full bodied characters and has them grow and develop the perfect amount so when you read that last sentence, you feel fulfilled. Her ability to storytell is unparalleled and the proof of that shines in this book.

If you love a high stakes, fast-paced, picturesque story that compliments the 1920’s with a dash of magic this book is not to missed!

REVIEW: A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft

Rating: 3.5 Stars (rounded up to 4)
Would I recommend? Yes

Publication Date: March 8, 2022
Publisher: Wednesday Books

Synopsis: Margaret’s mother, a famous alchemist, has been gone for months on a research trip leaving Margaret to fend for herself in their small, bigoted town. Weston is a wannabe alchemist who believes Margaret’s mother is his last chance for an apprenticeship to prove himself in alchemy and help his poverty-stricken family. At the same time Weston arrives in town, the legendary magical creature called the hala is spotted. The Halfmoon Hunt is declared and teams of two must compete to kill the beast. Margaret and Weston both need to succeed for their own reasons and realize the other is their best chance to win but they both get more than they bargained for in more ways than one.

Review: This story was not what I expected (mostly in good ways). First, the story felt more YA at the outset but then felt more NA as the story progressed. (Are we still saying “NA” btw?) The protagonists are 18 and there is sex on the page but it is not totally open door so not super graphic. Second, this story is much more character driven than I anticipated. The personal growth of the characters and their relationships (with themselves, each other, and their families) are the center of the story. The plot is secondary which makes the first half of the book somewhat slow but still interesting. For example, the actual Halfmoon Hunt does not actually happen until the last 10-20% of the story, which surprised me as I expected the hunt to be a main event of the book.

Also, the setting of this book is a fictional world with fictional religions. The setting/timeframe seems to be comparable to the United States in the 1920s, given the technology, clothing, and current events mentioned. However, the religions are clearly based on real world religions, two being Judaism and Catholicism. The Jewish and Catholic characters are discriminated against in horrible ways, particularly the Jewish characters. I appreciated the authentic way the religions of the characters and their relationships with their religions were depicted and I even appreciated that the discrimination against them was handled authentically, with some of the secondary characters being outwardly hostile and some just quietly ignoring the bigotry. But I did question the choice to make these religions fictional while they were clearly Catholicism and Judaism. For instance, the Jewish character mentions Shabbat and tikkun olam (which is Hebrew for “repair of the world”). I found it distracting to depict antisemitism so clearly but to sort of hide it at the same time by calling it something else. I love seeing Jewish characters in the books I read so I was frustrated to see a Jewish character somewhat hidden in plain sight. What I mean by that, is that I am not sure that a person who isn’t Jewish would understand all of the Jewish references and see that the discrimination against the Jewish characters in this story is antisemitism.

With all that being said, I enjoyed reading this book. The characters are deep and interesting and I felt like they were real people who grew and changed and continued making mistakes but were learning and evolving. The writing was great and I enjoyed the story. I look forward to reading more from this author.

A Far Wilder Magic was a book about Wes and Maggie. Maggie was abandoned more or less by her mother who ran off to discover the secrets of alchemy. Meanwhile, the handsome Wes knocks on the manor's door seeking an alchemy internship with Evelyn (Maggie's mother) and Maggie is charmed into allowing Wes to stay. What unfolds is a slow burn crackling YA slow friends to slow romance as the two become partners in the magical hunt for the legendary hala,,a fox-like creature.

When I type out that seemingly long-winded description, its because the book was extremely long-winded to describe the not very magical YA romance, not very magical fantasy hunt for the hala which is what the summary pitches the book to be about. What kept me reading? The writing was great! I did want to know how things would turn out and how the story lines would play out and the hala hunt would resolve. I just wanted more magic and less wishy washy.

An absolute masterpiece! Allison Saft has quickly cemented herself as one of the best writers of this generation, and I adored getting to revisit her immaculate characterization in AFWM after reading DCTN (her debut). The political and religious themes were expertly explored, and I am so excited to see what she comes out with next!

The first thing to capture my attention was the beautiful cover. Then I was spell-bound by the characters. Never have I ever rooted for a fictional relationship such as this. Highly recommend for those who are interested in a little adventure, magic, and unlikely heroes.

Beautiful cover & dreamy descriptions 🕯

I wanted to love this, but unfortunately for me it dragged on & felt way too long. I enjoyed the well written duel POV (Maggie, Wes) & the author’s magic system. I would even say the lush descriptions throughout kept me reading. However, Maggie & Wes weren’t the most interesting characters & the time frame in the novel was confusing / distracting. The romance was kind of flat 🤷🏻‍♀️ I think a lot of fantasy of readers will love this, but wasn’t for me ! 3 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC 🖤

The first half of this book was a little slow for me, but once it started picking up, I couldn't put this book down! I enjoyed the alchemy element, plus the 1920's feel was so fun! I loved Wes and Margaret, they were so interesting and I found myself excited to read both perspectives. The romance was slow burn and wonderfully written! Overall this book was very character driven but had just enough plot to keep it moving, especially in the second half. I'll definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys slow burn romance and/or alchemy in their books.

Another interesting take on magic by Allison Saft. Her, the magic is next best thing to science. It is even called Alchemy. I liked learning about it and about this interesting world. There is a season where there is a hunt - because what lurks in the woods is destorying nature and hurting people as it gets stronger. It must be destroyed.

There are 2 POV, 2 MC's - Maggie (or Margaret) and Wes. They are both a little on their own and making the best of their situation. Wes has family that loves him but he is constantly leaving to apprentice with alchemy mentors and getting dismissed. He's got one more shot - with Evenlyn, Maggie's mom. Maggie has been living in alone in her house for so long she can hardly remember having it full of family. Her mother is off doing alchemy research and Maggie has cut herself off from the small town around her.

It's an interesting time and place to meet these characters and I enjoyed getting to know them. I didn't mind the love triangles because the drama wasn't over the top or distracting. I feel like the plot was a bit predictable but I did enjoy some of the twists I didn't see coming.

I would say that the odd mentions of God and faith and what it all means were a bit odd and distracting and I could have done without it.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

A Far Wilder Magic was refreshingly unique, with a slow burning romance that consumes you past the pages. The combination between a world whose politics parallel to ours, and a distinct magic system based in alchemy. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to discover one of my favorite new reads.

There was something nice about reading this book while holed up in a cabin in the middle of the Hocking Hills. Disconnected from the digital world and surrounded by nature, where I read this book really helped to heighten the reading experience for me. This was another book that I read rather quickly, in just a few hours. It was a nice time.

I didn’t feel as drawn in and compelled to keep reading with this second novel by Saft. I was pretty much obsessed with Saft’s first novel, but both books have a different vibe to them. The first book was a bit spooky, a bit mysterious. This one felt more pastoral, more rustic, and simpler. Not that it didn’t have its complexities. It just felt a bit simpler, a bit smaller in scale than the other book.

But I still really enjoyed it. Would I have liked to have delved deeper into the alchemical nature of the world, and learn more about the mechanics and steps of alchemy, but it was still interesting.

This book also dealt with bullying and in essence hate crimes. Both Margaret and Weston were from minority cultures within the world, although Margaret definitely had to deal with a lot more of the vile words and deeds than Wes did.

And this book was a romantic one, although I wouldn’t say that was the main focus. It happened slowly, with both characters growing closer while holding themselves apart and longing for most of the book. I do enjoy that extended longing and slow burn. It makes it more rewarding when the couple does finally get together.

Overall though, I liked this book, and I’m looking forward to seeing what Allison Saft writes next.

This book has been added to our library collection! Beautiful cover and a good addition to the library.

This book was amazing. I coudn't put it down. It was magical. Higly recommended! The characters, the plots, the writting: wonderful and perfect.

I really liked this book. I've read a previous title by the author and I really enjoy how they meld the romantic pairs in their books. The spiciness is definitely there, but It's tastefully handled, in my opinion. My only complaint is I wish the created heritage for the MCs we're more fleshed out. I kept getting them confused and I was a bit confused why the racism for them existed. A little more world building would've been nice, but still a nice read if you enjoy romance and a bit of alchemic fantasy.

Rating: 4/5

A Far Wilder Magic was a surprisingly soft, atmospheric read, and I was surprised by how much I fell in love with this book. The prose was direct and captivating, the worldbuilding was nuanced and fascinating to follow, and the characters were ultimately its heart.

The book follows Margaret and Weston, two outsiders who join the Halfmoon Hunt to kill the last surviving hala, a mythical creature. Despite this tournament plot, the story is less action-filled and more character-driven, exploring Margaret and Wes’s isolation in a world that looks down on them. Both were interesting characters that held up on their own from the moment they were introduced as we see them coping and navigating their respective ostracism. The way the characters move towards not just surviving but thriving was incredibly touching and well done.

The development of Wes and Maggie’s relationship was also amazing. It was sweet and entertaining, while full of depth as they gave each other a sense of belonging and pushed each other. I loved the sense of it being them against the world, and the overall protectiveness and compassion they grow to have for each other.

Worldbuilding was also done with a lot of care. It was complex yet did not shy away from this complexity. It was definitely inspired by early-1900s U.S. history, considering the immigration patterns and religious groups and their interactions, and the author did a wonderful job of capturing those tensions. I think the one place where the book fell short, though, is that it presented this settler-colonial state, but the indigenous population was not present at all. The settler colonialism was emphasized, yet this was not really examined. I get that it might have been outside the scope of the book considering which conflicts it was focused on, but I still wonder if that could have been incorporated somehow.

Overall, A Far Wilder Magic was a beautiful journey about discovering your worth in a hostile world, and I would definitely recommend it for those of you who love atmospheric fantasy and a soft romance.

This book was magical, and compelling, and completely fascinating. The story was captivating from start to finish.

I really enjoyed this book! It captivated me from the very beginning. Maggie and this whole book will absolutely hold a special place in my heart for years to come, and I’ve already bought a couple copies as gifts for friends!

I loved Allison Saft's debut, DOWN COMES THE NIGHT, and was hoping this would be just as good. Fortunately, it was, and I adored absolutely everything about this book.

Saft wove together so many different elements in this book, and they all worked so well together. Like her other book, this one has a romance between two outcasts at the heart of it, with a setting that could be its own character, and high stakes driving the plot forward. But it also grapples with topics like religion, xenophobia, and abuse. None of the aforementioned elements detracted from the others, or felt unnecessary; it all blended together very effectively to tell a complete story.

And speaking of our main characters, they each had their own traumas to work through, and helped each other while maintaining their independence. I also appreciated Wes for his excellent neurodivergent representation -- he read as having ADHD, and maybe dyslexia. As someone with ADHD, I felt it was handled very authentically, and my heart ached for him because I've gone through many of the emotions (failure, inadequacy, etc.) that he did.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.