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aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition
3.5
I'm also not a fan of white, raised Christian people writing about marginalized people when they haven't had those experiences. I know the author is LGBT+ and probably has faced prejudice because of it, but the discrimination and oppression one experiences based on religion and race/ethnicity is quite different. I don't like white authors saying that racial and religious minorities need to take the high road to be better than their oppressors like what has been illustrated in this book.
Graphic: Blood, Grief, Violence, Xenophobia, Bullying, Child death, Hate crime, Mental illness, Racism, Alcohol, Animal death, Antisemitism, Classism, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Religious bigotry
halfelfschollar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The setting is atmospheric and the Hala is fascinating, despite not being the greatest obstacle for the protagonists.
Graphic: Sexual content, Antisemitism, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Gaslighting, and Gore
Moderate: Child death
lujisa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Bullying, and Hate crime
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Child death, and Religious bigotry
neera_duke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Don't usually go for fantasy, let alone a YA fantasy, but I highly recommend this book to everyone. It's long, but no event or detail is unnecessary and the author approaches the plot with an almost reverent touch. Also, the slow-burn/yearning is top notch!
Graphic: Antisemitism and Animal death
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Death of parent
glass_carousel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Antisemitism, Abandonment, and Animal death
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Classism
Minor: Death of parent and Child death
sallenreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
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.
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Animal death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, and Antisemitism
Minor: Alcohol, Hate crime, Grief, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Child death, and Cursing
megj23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal death, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content and Blood
campisforever's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Moderate: Classism, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Animal cruelty, Racism, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Animal death, Antisemitism, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia
maliap's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Animal cruelty, Blood, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Animal death, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual content
literarypenguin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The writing was very good and I loved how the author described the sights and sounds of the different locations. How Margaret’s hometown was vastly different from the city Weston grew up in. The pacing was good as well and it took its time building up The Hunt and the romance between Wes and Margaret. It kept itself consistent and things happened that made sense to the story and its characters. I really liked the buildup of the Hunt and the action-packed writing and tension the Hunt gave. It felt tense and felt like the stakes were high at this part of the book.
This book was about Margaret and Weston and their journey in getting ready for the Hunt and learning to trust each other and themselves during this Hunt. I felt like the story was very interesting and as you go further in the book you learn more about the Hunt and its true significance begins to unravel. What I liked the most about the story was Weston and Margaret's both learning more about themselves and bonding over some shared experiences they both have had. The Alchemy was very interesting to me and learning how it worked and what it took to use this kind of magic. Its strength was in its characters and the bond between Margaret and Weston. The Hunt and people hunting this mythical creature were also very interesting and thought-provoking. It made you think if hunting this creature was truly right or was it wrong.
The two main characters were Margaret and Weston, Margaret is an independent and hardworking young woman with a famous Alchemist mother who is constantly leaving her home alone by herself with her dog. She also has some past trauma with her mother that has grown into severe PTSD and trust issues with people. She also has a Jewish heritage that makes people untrusting of her and her family which isolates her in her small town. Weston is an Irish Catholic young man with a big family who tries very hard to support and care for his family but has failed numerous times to become an Alchemist. He doesn’t give up though and won’t give up. The representation is excellent in this book and this is the first book I have seen in a while with Jewish representation! The development was excellent, especially with Margaret. Weston was my favorite character by far because of his love for his family and his determination to achieve his dream of becoming an Alchemist. I loved the romance between Weston and Margaret it was so beautiful and organic. It felt natural and the bond between them felt real. They bonded between their shared discrimination and hardships they have dealt with in their life. I also loved the bond between Wes and his sisters. They felt like such interesting and great characters just on their own as well!
The book is set in what I think is the 1920s in two different places one in the city and another in a small rural town. The world is definitely another favorite part of the book for me because the era this book takes place in is perfect for this book and for the themes it presents to us. Each place is different and unique on its own, the character’s in these places all fit into the location and were very interesting background characters. I think this world is very important to the story and the magic actually fits in very well with it. The use of Alchemy in this world is great and explained well but also with a bit of resistance from certain people at this time.
The themes they explored in this book were parental abuse because of how Margaret’s mother treated her and how Margaret felt she had to impress her mother in order for her mother to love her or pay attention to her. After trying so hard to impress her mother she still wouldn’t get that no matter how hard she tried. I felt so bad for her in these moments and understood her trauma and felt the idea of PTSD was portrayed extremely well! I loved Weston and the portrayal of learning disabilities and the struggle people who have them face every single day. The feeling of being a failure and never succeeding hits hard for all of us. The subtlety of the theme of discrimination and prejudice against different races was portrayed very well and didn’t feel forced or take over the story.
I loved this book and it has become one of my favorite romances I hope that people give this book a chance! I feel like it worked perfectly for a standalone and I think it is worth a read if not just for the cover but the lovely characters and the beautiful stories and themes that it tells!
Graphic: Animal death and Blood
Moderate: Antisemitism
Minor: Death of parent and Child abuse