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zoiejanelle's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
PHENOMENAL BOOK. the romance made my heart flutter, the plot was thrilling, the world building was just my type (surface level, well-explained, implications of deeper lore), and the characters were oh-so-relatable. this should be at the top of all YA fantasy readers’ lists!
a few qualms: and listen, i’m not trying to get cancelled here or make any accusations… but at times i truly felt like some scenes were lifted directly out of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood or Roy Mustang/Riza Hawkeye fanfiction i’ve read. an alchemist and a sharpshooter? the sharpshooter has a mad scientist/absentee parent? the alchemist wants to become a politician? blonde and black hair (actually, their whole physical descriptions honestly)? set in the same fantasy time period? (spoilers) the alchemist’s large family of all sisters/women? the sharpshooter’s loyal dog? the alchemist burns/destroys the dangerous research at the end? she’ll “follow him into hell”? the whole supporting him on his mission to become a politician? and so much more with the lab and the tragic incidents in the house!!! this is one of the reasons i gave it a 4… because i was feeling very Exile by Taylor Swift about the whole thing. if not inspired by FMAB, still super, super odd how similar they are. enough that someone should have caught it in a general “books/shows/movies about alchemy” google search, to be honest.
also i can’t give it a 5 because i don’t think explicit sex scenes should be included in the YA category but i guess i’m the only one who thinks that. yikes.
ANYWAY i loved this book, seriously. it was so well-paced, no major plot holes, the writing was actually GOOD and tasteful, there were clear allegories to current world issues, i loved all the characters and thought they were all believable and enjoyable, and the ending was very satisfying.
a few qualms: and listen, i’m not trying to get cancelled here or make any accusations… but at times i truly felt like some scenes were lifted directly out of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood or Roy Mustang/Riza Hawkeye fanfiction i’ve read. an alchemist and a sharpshooter? the sharpshooter has a mad scientist/absentee parent? the alchemist wants to become a politician? blonde and black hair (actually, their whole physical descriptions honestly)? set in the same fantasy time period? (spoilers)
also i can’t give it a 5 because
ANYWAY i loved this book, seriously. it was so well-paced, no major plot holes, the writing was actually GOOD and tasteful, there were clear allegories to current world issues, i loved all the characters and thought they were all believable and enjoyable, and the ending was very satisfying.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
neera_duke's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Reading this book was like watching a flower bloom, but the video is speedup so that every moment brings a new change and you can't afford to look away. The video so high-def you'd swear you could smell it.
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!
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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Antisemitism
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Death of parent
onemamareads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.25
Read my full review here: https://onemamassummer.weebly.com/book-reviews/a-far-wilder-magic
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
boookishbrit's review
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
valiiidus's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Moderate: Blood, Grief, and Alcohol
thecourtofreading's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
why did this feel like it was wuthering heights inspired, despite me not having read wuthering heights. maybe it’s the artwork on the cover i fully thought the boy looked like healthcliff.
anyway, this book did start off a little slow, but allison saft definitely knows how to create delicate settings and atmospheres and it was very vivid and enticing. the alchemy was a really interesting magic system alongside the halla.
anyway, this book did start off a little slow, but allison saft definitely knows how to create delicate settings and atmospheres and it was very vivid and enticing. the alchemy was a really interesting magic system alongside the halla.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Sexual content
glass_carousel's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Classism
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
gjkennedy's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Very sweet (but not light lighthearted). This is the most I've liked a YA romance. They had great chemistry, I liked all the characters, could've very well done with more of them even though this book really was its own perfect length. Really sweet and fun. I will repeat the warning that this book is scarcely about the hunt and more about the romance, but I still found the magic really wonderful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Moderate: Gore and Hate crime
Minor: Death
sunlit_music's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.5
I feel so lucky to have read this beautiful book. It really is one of the best books I have read this year, and well worth checking if you love historical fantasy or romance.
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. :)
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. :)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Racism, Violence, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Classism
sallenreads's review
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- 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
I loved Allison Saft's debut, DOWN COMES THE NIGHT, and was hoping this would be just as good. Fortunately, it was, and I adored absolutely everything about this book.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Animal death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Antisemitism, and Abandonment
Minor: Child death, Cursing, Hate crime, Sexual content, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol