Reviews tagging 'Hate crime'

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft

41 reviews

hue's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Animal cruelty, Violence, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Sexual content, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, and Animal death

Moderate: Child death, Death, and Death of parent

maresuju's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Abandonment, Religious bigotry, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent

purnuhja's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful tense medium-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

4.0

I thought this was a lovely romantic fantasy that tries to tackle some complex themes! I liked the existence of different belief systems and seeing the way those politics interacted with each other. The mythology of the world and it's different interpretations by the varying belief systems was also really cool, I just wish we got to see more of it. The central focus of the story is our two main characters coming together to defeat their internal and external demons so I understand that certain elements are just there to service their story, but I still would've loved to explore the magic system and the hala lore more. It just felt like the story was left incomplete in some ways. It would've been nice to spend more time with the hunt as well, the ending felt a little rushed. But otherwise, I loved the two main characters and their chemistry together! I also enjoyed seeing Margaret overcome her trauma, it was frustrating at times, but I think those journeys in real life often are. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Hate crime, Religious bigotry, and Emotional abuse

recklessric's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring tense slow-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

3.5

This book was pitched to me as a cozy fall sweater and that's mostly what it is. I would say it didn't quite have the charm of Legends and Lattes which I think tries to fit in a similar vein but I think that's probably entirely dependent on how interested and invested you are in the romance that's central to this story. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Antisemitism, Racism, Classism, Animal death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, and Colonisation

Minor: Xenophobia and Sexual content

edamamebean's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

4.75

Wow, wow, wow I really loved this book. I truly did not want it to end, and I will be reading all of Allison Saft’s other books. I honestly think this would make a perfect Studio Ghibli movie—it’s so atmospheric and the characters are lovable. The only reason I haven’t rated this book 5 stars is because it becomes kind of clear while reading that their world is analogous of our own. The religions are sloppily painted over versions of Protestantism, Judaism, and Catholicism and the result was kind of jarring to read. Not only was it confusing, but it was also a little frustrating that the mental labor was put on me as the reader to fall back on my own knowledge of world religions instead of on her as the author to create a world that was unique to the story. That being said, I understand what she was trying to say about anti-immigrant and antisemitism in America and I can appreciate it. It’s easy to forgive when the rest of this book was an absolute delight. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Gun violence, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Violence, Religious bigotry, Grief, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Child death, Alcohol, and Abandonment

bohemianhermit04's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Antisemitism, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Alcohol

jessereadsthings's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry and Xenophobia

Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Animal death

florecita_lectora's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Animal death, Bullying, Hate crime, and Grief

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, and Abandonment

wilybooklover's review

adventurous dark emotional slow-paced

4.0

 Note: I don't ordinarily read YA these days so please read this review with that in mind. 

The writing in this was absolutely gorgeous. So lyrical — poetic, almost — and atmospheric. I highly recommend reading this in autumn because it has perfect spooky, gothic vibes. Margaret and Wes's slow-burn romance was so romantic and tender and full of pining. They both felt like fully fleshed-out characters with realistic flaws and issues. I also enjoyed that they were both poor; usually fantasy romances will have at least one of the pair be royalty or aristocratic or blindingly rich, and that was refreshingly not the case here.

This is a very character-driven and introspective book, and while I loved that aspect, I do wish there had been a little bit more focus on the hala and the hunt. It's mostly squashed into the last 10% and it felt a bit anticlimactic and rushed given the build-up of the previous 90% of the book.

The worldbuilding was also a little bit shaky for me. It's very clearly based on 1920s New England with direct parallels in terms of religion, ethnicity, real-world events and tensions, etc. but then there are some more modern concepts and theories mentioned as well. I know it's fantasy but I think it was too close to the real world to work in terms of cohesion. I think it would have flowed better for me if the world had been a bit more distinctly its own thing or if there were a few more magical/fantastical elements outside of the alchemy and the hala. 

Overall, though, this was a lovely heartfelt fantasy romance with some deftly explored themes of loneliness, persecution, trauma, and religion.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Blood, Bullying, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Animal death

Moderate: Ableism, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Classism, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Grief

Minor: Child death and Death of parent

miseryb32's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Animal death

Moderate: Abandonment, Death of parent, Death, and Hate crime