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tales_of_1001_books's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This beautifully written new YA title is everything I'd want in a book. At times adventure-packed, with references to history and myths that are at once brand-new and yet familiar, a slow-burning romance between two people trying to find their way in a difficult world, and I was hooked from the beginning. Saft skillfully blends a world filled with alchemical magic with the struggles that anyone in today's world can relate to, and immediately immerses the reader in a world filled with both beauty and sorrow.
The two main characters, Margaret (Maggie) and Weston (Wes), are seemingly polar opposites. She is tight-laced, controlled and physically in command of herself (she's an expert shot), while internally, she mourns the loss of her family and in particular, her mother, whose approval she desperately wants but never seems to get. He is an aspiring alchemist, who spends time pouring over ancient books and texts, although he just cannot seem to get ahead or succeed in his chosen profession. His charming looks and cavalier attitude conceal someone who is filled with self-doubts about his skills and worries constantly about his family, who are depending on him to succeed. The Halfmoon Hunt, which brings the two of them together, is the perfect catalyst for this pairing of two unlikely heros.
Saft's writing vividly brings the landscape and the creepy old house where Maggie waits for her mother to return into life. I really liked how so many things about the town and the time period and the culture seemed very similar to things we know in real life so as to be relatable, but at the same time embued with just enough detail about their "otherworldliness" to bring the fantasy and magic aspects to life. I really appreciated that she brought out Wes's struggles with reading and attention difficulties. Without calling them out as specifically as ADHD and/or dyslexia, I certainly know people who will strongly relate to these descriptions. It made him even more human, despite being the "magical" one of the pair with his alchemical skills.
A note that there is some violence in the book, particularly in regards to animals. (The plot revolves around a hunt for a fox, and there is another animal death, as well as some minor violence between humans in the plot.) There are also some child neglect triggers, so be aware before you start to read if these are issues for you at all.
Overall, I wholeheartedly enjoyed this book, rating it 4-1/4 out of 5 stars for plot, character development, world-building and a creative magical system.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Classism, and Religious bigotry
foreverinastory's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was fun. Was a little sad the MC didn't seem to be queer but oh well. The religious diversity was really well done in this. I also loved that Wes was an immigrant!
I don't want to put antisemitism as a CW because there are not Jewish characters in this, but the impression I got from the treatment of Sumic people closely resembles the treatment of Jewish people.
Rep: white half Yu'adir cishet female MC, Banvish immigrant dyslexic Sumic cishet male MC (also likely ADHD), Banvish immigrant sapphic Sumic female side character, side MLM pairing.
CWs: parental neglect, emotional abuse, bullying, religious bigotry, violence, gun violence, animal death, blood, xenophobia, panic attack, toxic relationship, grief, past death of parent, abandonment, injury/injury detail. Moderate: gore, sexual content, ableism, racial/religious slurs, hate crime.
This was fun. Was a little sad the MC didn't seem to be queer but oh well. The religious diversity was really well done in this. I also loved that Wes was an immigrant!
I don't want to put antisemitism as a CW because there are not Jewish characters in this, but the impression I got from the treatment of Sumic people closely resembles the treatment of Jewish people.
Rep: white half Yu'adir cishet female MC, Banvish immigrant dyslexic Sumic cishet male MC (also likely ADHD), Banvish immigrant sapphic Sumic female side character, side MLM pairing.
CWs: parental neglect, emotional abuse, bullying, religious bigotry, violence, gun violence, animal death, blood, xenophobia, panic attack, toxic relationship, grief, past death of parent, abandonment, injury/injury detail. Moderate: gore, sexual content, ableism, racial/religious slurs, hate crime.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Religious bigotry, Violence, Gun violence, Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Abandonment
Moderate: Ableism, Hate crime, Gore, Sexual content, and Racial slurs
theknitpick's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Keyword descriptors: dramatic, family oriented, magical.
This book was not as engrossing as I was hoping it would be based on description. I was not prepared for the majority of the book to be focused on the MC having to overcome years of emotional abuse at the hands of her mother, or the other MC having to face his own commitment issues stemming from losing his father and having to grow up sooner than other children.
I think the depth of the characters is truly the main focus of the story, with both struggling to overcome their own hang-ups and emotional blocks in order to embrace a better life, to choose themselves over the ones they've been struggling to hold up. Now, I think this is done well, but I think that most readers entering this book not expecting this will be disappointed. The book is billed as a mysterious, adventurous, magical hunt to take down a god-like creature. This takes up probably only 10% of the actual story.
I've seen reviews that are about being disappointed with the world building, that the author was lazy and just used real-world systems and changed the names. There are characters coded as Jewish and Irish immigrant, the Christianity/Catholic system is also revamped into something fantasy-esque. It feels very much like a 1920s-30s period, just with fantasy elements, mostly the use of alchemy. Would I say this is laziness...I guess? I do think there could have been more worldbuilding, especially when it comes to how alchemy is used in day-to-day life. I don't mind that I could trace real-world elements underneath the fantasy ones, but maybe I'm just not generally ruffled by that kind of thing.
I would recommend the book, though it would have to be to readers who don't mind a slower pace, character-driven plots, and deeply emotional introspection.
This book was not as engrossing as I was hoping it would be based on description. I was not prepared for the majority of the book to be focused on the MC having to overcome years of emotional abuse at the hands of her mother, or the other MC having to face his own commitment issues stemming from losing his father and having to grow up sooner than other children.
I think the depth of the characters is truly the main focus of the story, with both struggling to overcome their own hang-ups and emotional blocks in order to embrace a better life, to choose themselves over the ones they've been struggling to hold up. Now, I think this is done well, but I think that most readers entering this book not expecting this will be disappointed. The book is billed as a mysterious, adventurous, magical hunt to take down a god-like creature. This takes up probably only 10% of the actual story.
I've seen reviews that are about being disappointed with the world building, that the author was lazy and just used real-world systems and changed the names. There are characters coded as Jewish and Irish immigrant, the Christianity/Catholic system is also revamped into something fantasy-esque. It feels very much like a 1920s-30s period, just with fantasy elements, mostly the use of alchemy. Would I say this is laziness...I guess? I do think there could have been more worldbuilding, especially when it comes to how alchemy is used in day-to-day life. I don't mind that I could trace real-world elements underneath the fantasy ones, but maybe I'm just not generally ruffled by that kind of thing.
I would recommend the book, though it would have to be to readers who don't mind a slower pace, character-driven plots, and deeply emotional introspection.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent and Gore
thoughttojot's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Xenophobia, Animal death, Blood, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Death of parent
sheafandink's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Minor: Abandonment, Antisemitism, Animal death, Xenophobia, and Death of parent
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