I was completely drawn in from the cover, and was won over by the plot. Margaret and Wes were such solid characters. It was well written and the story flowed so perfectly. Each character added more depth to the story. Nothing felt out of place, and it was beautifully written.

From the first chapter, I knew I was going to love this book. The world felt lived-in, the characters real and human. The side characters added to the story and were fully fleshed out people alongside the main cast. I loved the importance of family, but also of moving on and not allowing blood to have a strong hold on you. Both Wes and Margaret were crafted with such vitality and they leapt off the page with each page. The writing style was easy and beautiful, interlaced with commentary on identity and belonging and how the world is cruel, but not everyone is. I loved the kinship and the blossoming relationship between Wes and Margaret and every interaction left me wanting more. I was cheering for them since the beginning and they, more than anymone, deserve the ending that they fought for. I had no doubt that it would end the way that it did, but never was it predictable. I think more than anything, I hoped for that ended for them and I wanted it so badly, I made it real in my head before they got their themselves. This book is such a beautiful portrait of character and pacing and I loved every minute. I had a few small gripes about length (I think there were a few small sections that could have been scaled back/a few plot points that stuck around too long), however they didn't damage the experience. Still one that i"m looking forward to recommending and displaying when it comes out.

Thank you again to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me a chance to read and review early.

This book had a refreshing take on mixing up genres and the synopsis completely had me sold! The characters of Margaret and Wes were so well done that they truly felt like real people. I adored their relationship. It was so beautifully written and the descriptive language in the book was so well done.
Overall a fantastic read. I will definitely be reading anything that Allison Saft writes in the future.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I knew within the first few pages that I could never fully love this book.

Nowhere in the description does it describe the hala, this mythical beast the characters set out to slay. Readers have to actually pick up the book and read its first chapter to learn that the hala is a fox.

Foxes are my favorite animal.

This is a book all about killing a fox.

Nevertheless, I trudged through this ARC. I couldn’t love it, but I could at least give it an analytical review and push my feelings aside.

All in all, my hurt didn’t really matter that much, because I still found this book to be amazing.

We follow Margaret and Wes in this competition to kill the hala. Margaret is a teen abandoned for months on end while her mother explores the world, while Wes has only ever known the love of his large family.

This book focuses a lot on the decision to do the things your family wants you to do versus the things you want to do in your life. Both main characters struggle with this in different ways as they try to figure out what they should do with their lives.

We also focus on real-world racism in a way that fits this fantasy. Both main characters are looked down on for being different from the majority of the population. A lot of the real-world tie-in is hinted by language use–Margaret occasionally uses Hebrew phrases, while Wes throws a few Irish phrases in–but the hints were very obvious what exactly we were working with under the surface.

Strangely, I couldn’t quite get a feel for the time period of this book. It felt very 1920s at times, but I wouldn’t like to pinpoint this book exactly in that decade. Of course, I realize this is a fantasy book and therefore isn’t similar to the world as we know it, but the setting definitely had a bit of a historical feel, and I would definitely gesture vaguely to the 1920s as reference.

I think any reader can agree that the ending to this book is very bittersweet. The actions the characters take to resolve the plot will leave any reader upset, but it’s also very obvious that it’s for the best. While there are details that may make a reader assume that things will get better soon after the end of this book, the way the actual book ends feels pretty depressing.

That being said, I liked this book a lot more than I originally thought with such a hurtful (and unexpected) beginning, and while I personally can’t rate it a perfect five stars, I can definitely see a lot of other readers absolutely loving this book.

This may be my new comfort read. The author perfectly captured that cozy, comforting feeling while simultaneously getting the reader to think about some heavy topics. It gave me the same feelings I had while reading/watching Tuck Everlasting or Bridge to Terabithia. However, I would not say this is meant for young readers. There are a few scenes with some mild spice. Like it doesn’t exactly fade to black, but it doesn’t not fade to black.

And the main characters! Oh my god, I loved Margaret and Wes. First off, they felt like two sides of the same coin. They both have these similar experiences with discrimination and bigotry, but one is the coin’s heads, putting on on a good face in hopes of gettnig into politics and making changes. While the other is the tails, preferring to make themself invisible in an attempt to avoid unwanted comments. But I also loved how Margaret was the series hunter and Wes was the golden-retriever alchemist.

In general, I adored this story. I loved that this is a fantasy story with the elements of a mythical creature being hunted and those who are alchemists, although the author makes it feel more like they are doing chemistry than magic (which I enjoyed). And I loved that this was like an alternative version of Gilded-age/Gatsby-esq America. Like with turn of the century America, this fantasy world of New Albion had the polarizing worlds of the country still stuck in the last century while the cities were vastly modernizing.

But the biggest conflict in this story is what we saw in 1900s America with the discrimination against Jewish communities and especially new immigrants, believing that they would ruin America with their religions and customs. This author does a wonderful job illustrating how toxic those beliefs (that sadly still exist) with one antagonist who is very Draco Malfoy-like, while not shoving it in your face.

Overall, the story was beautifully done and I am absolutely amazed with how Allison Shaft showed us the ugly-side of discrimination and bigotry while giving this heart-warming tale that will definitely become one of my new comfort reads.

“He grins at her. ‘It’s you and me against the world, Margaret.’ ”

A legendary, mystical creature is hunted each year in the historic Halfmoon Hunt. This tradition combines hunting skills and alchemy. Outcasts Margaret and Wes enter the competition together - each with their own desire to prove themselves. The intricate world of Wickdon is a constant tension of a complex class system, religious differences, and long-held beliefs on science + magic. Woven throughout is a slow-burn love story that is so sweet and tender. Much of the story will have your heart pounding and rooting for these two unlikely heroes.

Read if you like
- Strong heroine
- Dual POVs
- Spooky woods
- Slow-burn YA love
- Alchemy
- Magic
- Character growth
- Underdogs

“Like this, she looks more wolf than girl - like some magic far wilder than alchemy runs through her.”

Honestly, I was unable to finish the entire book. I love a good YA Fantasy Romance read, but the writing style here was just not for me. I did however appreciate the unique premise and the romance aspect. I think I went into this expecting more magic/fantasy, so I could have had too high of expectations from this book. Still giving it 4/5 because of the unique storyline, not to mention the gorgeous cover.

Well written book but not what I expected in the setting. I thought this would be a fantasy set in a Victorian or earlier time period. It at times feels that way but it isn't. I also had a hard time connecting with the characters.

YOU MUST READ THIS!

First of all, the premise is original and intriguing, and the author releases just enough information at just the right intervals to keep my hooked the entire way through. This is especially impressive when the intricate dynamic between the two main characters is taken into account--and we get both of their POVs, so their distinct voices add greatly to the reader's insight.

Then you add magic. And a hunt. And high stakes. And an enemies-to-something-else arc (no spoilers!). And internal character development beyond what is usually seen in the genre.

READ IT.

Thank you to Netgally for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a work of art. Allison writes the most beautiful prose. It's like a flannel blanket on an icy night--a comfort and everything you want as you watch the snowflakes swirl.
The emotion in this story was so intense, but also soft and gentle. It was both breathtaking and soothing. Margaret's life is a tale of heartache and loss and Weston, sweet Weston, is as complicated as he is charming. I loved the way myth and alchemy and religion were interwoven seamlessly in a sleepy sea-side town with a mysterious forest. The world of A Far Wilder Magic is a place I could get lost in, happily.

I feel like there's zero chance that I can do this book justice, but here goes nothing...

First of all, I'd like to take a moment to appreciate Allison Saft's descriptive genius. Each new setting and emotion is a delight. Several times, I stopped reading entirely just to let the words wash over me. *happy sigh*

Next up is the atmosphere. No one does hauntingly isolated like Saft. Even in the city, there's a loneliness that can't be shaken. It's stunning!

And those characters! If anyone knows where I can find my own version of Weston, please tell. Both Margaret and Weston are perfectly imperfect and yet so very strong in their own ways. If they don't melt your heart, then I'm not sure you ever had one. They are tormented by everyday villains who made me incredibly angry, so beware the enemy you know.

Finally, there's the magic. It's dark, cyclical magic that is tangled up with religious beliefs and alchemy. A fox is featured and manages to be both terrifying and wondrous. I was caught up in It's beauty, but also the questions that it posed.

I 100% will be buying a finished copy for a second (and probably third) read-through. This book is the magic!

A young woman, living alone in the countryside, finds her fate intertwined with a man from the city when she spots a dreaded omen of religious significance in her town. The Hala, an immortal creature leaving death and decay in its wake, invokes a feverish hunt to finally kill it and rid the country of its presence. As Margaret decides to take part, she has no choice but to ask Wes to be her alchemist, as decreed by the guidelines of the Half Moon Hunt and as the pair grow closer they discover they have more to gain than they ever imagined.

This was a really lovely story with a rustic, dark and ambivalent tone that really amplified the plot. I really enjoyed it and I'd highly recommend it!

I was really excited about this book and overall pleasantly surprised.

I loved Margaret in this book! I love books when the MC doesn’t have the best life situation, but still manages to be brave and strong in a different way. This is something that sucks me into a book.

I, of course, loved the romance. I love any romance and I was IN LOVE with the MC’s in this book.

This book was truly unique and different and I haven’t read many books like it. I’m overall very pleased with this book and the characters.

This was so so perfect. I loved every second of this. It was just so whimsical and perfectly written I loved it so much. First of all, this is one of my most anticipated reads of 2022 and to be able to read it was an honour.

This was absolutely magical and Margaret and Wes were stunning characters that I couldn’t get enough of I had so much fun in every aspect of this story and loved it, in fact devoured it. I will surely be on the watch out for anymore books written by this author in the future and just cannot wait! 5 out of 5 stars!

First and foremost I'd like to say that this book has reduced me to a puddle of emotional goo and I may never recover.

A Far Wilder Magic is an absolute treat, and it really delivers on all fronts; the worldbuilding is charming and lush, the prose is stunning, Margaret and Wes stole my heart and I absolutely melted watching them steal each other's.

After loving Down Comes the Night I was going to be excited for whatever Allison did next no matter what, but I was so hyped for the Scorpio Races comp and AFWM absolutely delivered. Wickdon captures that illusive magic of a small town loosed from the shackles of time, and you eagerly anticipate and dread the fox hunt with equal measure. At the risk of being corny, I feel like the reader's heart was the fox we were hunting all along, and AFWM absolutely caught it. It treats your heart gently though, and I'm very grateful for that.

Like DCTN, it balances science and magic in a really appealing way, where the two build upon each other rather than being antithetical. It pairs the grounded 1920s setting with Wickdon's whimsey brilliantly, creating a fantasy novel unlike any other. The book is bittersweet in the best way, compassionate and genuine and timely, and I shed real human tears at the ending.

Altogether, I think A Far Wilder Magic is everything a YA book should be. I so enjoyed watching Maggie and Wes come into their own as characters and people and I will be thinking about them non-stop for the foreseeable future. It takes no time at all for the magical setting to whisk you away, and the story warms you up inside like a campfire on a cold night.

A Far Wilder Magic has so much heart and I truly believe that it will make a difference in the hands of young readers. It handles difficult decisions, self-care, and self-love so gracefully and insightfully--I wish I'd had a book like it when I was a teen. I feel so privileged to have gotten the chance to read it and I can't wait to see what Allison does next.

All of which to say, get your preorders in now! It's so worth it.

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft

9781250623652

400 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: March 8, 2022

Fiction, Sci Fi, Fantasy, Teen & Young Adult, Magic, Alchemy

Margaret (Maggie) Welty has been living alone since her mother, Evelyn, left her three months or so ago. Her mother, a famous alchemist, has been losing touch with reality after the death of Maggie’s brother which drove away Maggie’s father. She is used to being by herself but one evening she sees silver eyes in the forest and knows it means the mythical Hala has returned for the Wild Hunt.

Weston (Wes) Winters is a young man with aspirations of becoming an alchemist. His father died leaving his mother the sole provider for him and his sisters. He has failed several alchemists already, so Mrs. Welty is his last hope. He writes to her to inquire about studying under her but doesn’t know she is not home. He arrives at the house completely unannounced, and Maggie is unsure what to do.

This book is written as if it was the 19th century. The author writes with a descriptive style, so the reader is immersed in the story. The story has a steady pace, the characters are developed, and it is written in third person point of view. To me, the story felt like an adult fairy tale. I really enjoyed the story and highly recommend it to others.

I really struggled connecting to this book as a whole. The writing style felt very formal and distant, so it wasn't inviting connections from the reader. I enjoyed the overall plot, but was wanting more from the overall world building in the story

Just going to start with how that cover is everything. It left me desperately wanting to check this book out. However, I just could not get into the story. Although well written, I wasn’t a fan of the voice. It was a little too formal and came across stiff. I also had a difficult time figuring out the setting. Maybe if I knew a little more about it then I would understand more of the motivations of both characters. Some things felt a little too convenient. I also thought there would be more fantasy and magic aspects. Clearly I am in the minority as many others seem to enjoy this book so I would still recommend others check it out, but it wasn’t for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

I read the author's debut Down Comes the Night last year, and really enjoyed it. So, I was really interested in reading Saft's sophomore A Far Wilder Magic. I must say, I think I liked this book even better than the first! (Also, that cover is absolutely gorgeous!)

A Far Wilder Magic tells the story of Margaret Welty and Weston Winters, two outcasts who must join together to kill the legendary hala and achieve their goals. Margaret wants the hala to win her mother's love, once and for all; Wes hopes to use the hala for an apprenticeship with the legendary Evelyn Welty. They must learn to trust one another if they have any chance at success...

I really liked the 1920s fantasy setting. It definitely fit the tone perfectly.

The magic system was really interesting and unique. I really liked that it was based on science! Although it wasn't described as thoroughly as I would have liked, it was just enough so everything made sense.

This book, at it's core, was a romance between a grump/sunshine pair. It was about finding someone who understands and supports you, giving you room to breathe but also grow, and about not being afraid to take up space and follow your own path in life.

But it was also about being an outsider in society, due to one's differences in religion and ethnicity, and about dealing with bigots who continually try to push you down. It was also about trying to win the love from a toxic parent and learning to set boundaries.

This book was a lot of things that the author wove together into a beautiful story. I can't wait to read what the author writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday books for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed Allison Saft's previous work, although I thought the plot was a little predictable in Down Comes the Night. However I enjoyed A Far Wilder Magic so much more! Everything had more magic and fantasy elements. I adore the romance as well!