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sunlit_music's review
- 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
Themes of racism and classism: Allison Saft examines the harm done by racism and classism with thoughtfulness and empathy, through Wes' and Margaret's eyes. Wes experiences racism for being a Banvishman, and Margaret has suffered racism for being Yuadir, and lives a solitary life for her own safety, to avoid harassment and violence.
Wes has also suffered classism for being working class, and this is handled well, with realism and compassion.
Disability representation: The author also writes about Wes's struggles in finding work due to his dyslexia with tact and understanding. Reading those passages moved me to tears (in a good way).
The romance: Wes' and Margaret's romance is beautifully touching and sweet, and makes a lot of sense. They complement each other's strengths and weaknesses, and help each other become braver, kinder, better people. The more Wes comes to understand Margaret, the more he finds her beautiful on the outside and the inside, which also rang true to me.
The plot: The plot makes sense and is unique and interesting enough to hold my attention. Wes and Margaret enter a hunting competition to find the last mythical and magical fox, the Hala - to stop it from destroying crops and killing people and animals. The prize money for winning the hunt will be enough to help Wes achieve his dreams of becoming a politician so he can make things better for poor people and his own family. Margaret wants to win the hunt in order to bring her mother home. Together, Wes and Margaret team up to help each other - and end up falling in love.
Pacing: the plot moves at a medium pace. The parts on the hunt are fast paced, and the action definitely speeds up a lot near the end. Pacing never feels too slow or too rushed, I always felt so invested in the story I didn't notice how much time had passed, and that is how you know you're reading an excellent book. When I listened to the audiobook, I always look forward to it, and never lost attention or focus.
Prose: the prose is gorgeous and magnetic, and reads like poetry. I mean that in the best possible way. Prose in the book makes the setting come to life, and the forest feels like a living, breathing entity, while the Hala fox feels like a monster out of a nightmare. The descriptions where Wes and Margaret slowly come to realise they love each other are so touching and achingly lovely, they feel like real people.
Characterisation: All characters in the book are realistic, and Wes and Margaret experience so much character growth - especially Wes! Wes grows more mature and understanding as the book goes on, and Margaret learns to open up emotionally and to trust people. I was so happy when Margaret found acceptance and familial platonic love with Wes's family, along with romantic love with Wes.
Ending: The ending is optimistic, and feels hard earned and uplifting.
I definitely recommend this book, and look forward to reading more books from the author. :)
Moderate: Violence, Abandonment, Animal death, Grief, and Racism
Minor: Classism
campisforever's review
- 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
joisaddler's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Classism, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Violence, and Abandonment
starlesscircus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Religious bigotry
Minor: Classism and Violence
taynicole2698's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Antisemitism, Blood, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Racism, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Violence, Classism, and Gaslighting
bookishflower'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
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal death, Antisemitism, Bullying, Racism, Religious bigotry, Violence, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Grief, and Hate crime
Moderate: Blood, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent and Child death
tales_of_1001_books's review
- 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.
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Classism, and Religious bigotry