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sj_54's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Summary: A decent YA fantasy with a nice romance, but with an odd amount of Irish Catholic trauma??
Pros: The use of the magic system was well-developed and blended into the storyline nicely. The characters had a lot of depth which is always nice to see in YA, with a good amount of slow burn romance.
The family trauma was heart-rending and really well-written.
Cons: What was with the world-building?? The countries and world are made-up, but the religious systems are just Protestantism, Catholicism, and Judaism renamed?? Like I get it, the Protestants were terrible to Jewish and Catholic Irish immigrants and and you have a bone to pick about that. But this would have been the exact same story if you kept the anti-immigration sentiment, but removed the random references to the pope and Shabbos. It impacted the story in NO way at all, and felt like it was thrown in just to make a 'STATEMENT' about it.
If you wanted to write a book about 1920s immigration issues but with alchemy... Why did you rename everything to make it a different world setting??
If you wanted to write about a fantasy world with alchemy and political issues... Why did you copy paste our religious systems and add 'oh and everyone believes in magical foxes'?
Also how come when Trouble gets half-eaten by the hala do MARGARET AND WES HAVE A PAGES-LONG CONVERSATION INSTEAD OF STITCHING HIM UP FIRST.
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for access to the eBook ARC.
Pros: The use of the magic system was well-developed and blended into the storyline nicely. The characters had a lot of depth which is always nice to see in YA, with a good amount of slow burn romance.
The family trauma was heart-rending and really well-written.
Cons: What was with the world-building?? The countries and world are made-up, but the religious systems are just Protestantism, Catholicism, and Judaism renamed?? Like I get it, the Protestants were terrible to Jewish and Catholic Irish immigrants and and you have a bone to pick about that. But this would have been the exact same story if you kept the anti-immigration sentiment, but removed the random references to the pope and Shabbos. It impacted the story in NO way at all, and felt like it was thrown in just to make a 'STATEMENT' about it.
If you wanted to write a book about 1920s immigration issues but with alchemy... Why did you rename everything to make it a different world setting??
If you wanted to write about a fantasy world with alchemy and political issues... Why did you copy paste our religious systems and add 'oh and everyone believes in magical foxes'?
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for access to the eBook ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Gore, Animal death, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Sexual content
beforeviolets's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
CW: animal death, death of father (past), death of brother (past), parental abandonment, sexual content (onscreen, not graphic), blood, trauma, emotionally abusive parent, religious bigotry, PTSD, alcohol consumption, hate crime, anti-semitism, death, gore
Thank you to Wednesday books for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Built upon a rich tapestry of religiopolitical metaphor, and steeped in a charged atmosphere that will fill your senses, A Far Wilder Magic paints a romance between two characters that you just can't help but fall for.
Allison's Saft's writing is nothing less than golden.
If you like:
-slow burn
-grumpy girl/sunshine boy
-dorks helplessly in love
-casual queer side characters
-bigots getting punched in the face
-jewish rep
then you should get your hands on this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Mental illness, Antisemitism, Animal death, Blood, Emotional abuse, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Gore
Minor: Death of parent
themoonlightarchive's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft follows Margaret Welty who has been living in the rotting, isolated home of her family on the outskirts of town, longing for her mother to return. One evening, she spots the legendary Hala, the last living mythical creature, regarding her from the woods with it’s eerie eyes and white fur. The Halfmoon Hunt is sure to follow and whoever wins by killing the Hala will receive it’s power, the knowledge that comes from it and riches beyond belief. Margaret thinks winning the hunt is exactly what she needs to bring her mother home for good. The problem is that only teams of two can enter - one hunter and one alchemist.
When Weston Winters appears on her doorstep, desperate for an apprenticeship from her mother, Margaret soon realizes that Wes is exactly what she needs. They are an unlikely duo. Margaret is a lonely outcast and excellent sharpshooter, enduring all that life has dealt her until it hardens her through and through. Wes, while the biggest flirt Margaret has ever encountered, is uneducated and has his mother and sister’s to take care of. What will happen when these two pair up to take on a centuries old fox?
What I loved:
• The magic system was truly intriguing. I loved the all around vibes of it. I loved the incorporation of alchemy and science, the existence of mythical creatures, the use of religion paired with some of the different aspects of magic. It was brilliant!
• The dual POVs with distinctive voices for each main character. This is something that I really struggle with as a writer and seeing it play out so well is inspiring.
• I’m a sucker for well done world building, especially when it isn’t a massive info dump all at once. Saft did an excellent job of peppering information throughout the story in a way that wasn’t overwhelming. I truly adored the historical aspects of everything even though that isn’t something I typically enjoy.
• The characters were well-rounded and written beautifully. Even the side characters were intriguing and played their roles. Of course, my favourite characters were Margaret and Wes. Their depths, their growth, their journey together - all of it was wonderful!
• The themes of religious persecution and reverence, loneliness, finding a sense of belonging, found family, and the many facets of love.
What I wish were different:
• The hunt was clearly something that played a big part in society, in each culture and in the story in general. The hala too as both are directly connected. It seemed like these parts were glossed over or rushed. The hunt was crammed into the last part of the book with preparation for it taking up more time. I believe Saft could have done a better job with it.
• I loved the relationship between Margaret and Wes and truly enjoyed witnessing it unfold (hello, slow burn!). However, I wish there had been more scenes with them getting to know one another and spending time together. It would have made everything all the more believable.
Overall, A Far Wilder Magic is a must read! It was beautifully written, captivating and heart-pounding. If you enjoy slow burn relationships, found family, magical fox hunts and alchemy, this book is definitely for you.
I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Bullying, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Sexual content
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
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Antisemitism, Xenophobia, Animal death, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Child death and Injury/Injury detail
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
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