Scan barcode
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
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
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.
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
the_wandering_wisp's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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
3.5
I have mixed feelings about this book. For about the first half of the novel I liked both characters, but as the novel progressed I lost interest in them. I'm not sure if it was because of the romance element or something else. The book felt like it dragged out for way too long, like it was avoiding the ending. Especially because the majority of the novel is building up the entire time to the main event of the hunt, but then it only lasted a few chapters and ended really quickly. I was hoping that the hunt would last for days and there would be more struggle for all involved. The Hala didn't put up much of a fight and for such a strong and magical being, I expected it to be stronger and smarter. They mention it's growing strength on multiple occasions throughout the novel. They keep remarking that it's the last of it's kind and that no one has been able to catch it or kill it for years and yet 2 young people with little experiance succeed so quickly? It just didn't add up for me, it felt too easy after all the build up.
I really like the idea of this world, the magical Hala, and the alchemy, but the magic of this realm leaves something to be desired. I wanted to know more about the legends and history of this world. I was confused about the voice that Maggie and Wes kept hearing, but at this point I'm guessing it was the hala. I'm guessing because the hala is so in tune with the earth and the woods that it can speak through the wind. But if it can communicate, why would it not say more or use that ability to mess with people? It seemed like an odd addition that ended up being kind of useless. I love a good mystery voice, but when there is no explanation to the mystery, it looses it's appeal.
I was genuinely shocked what Maggie's mother came back, I honestly didn't expect her to at all, and liked that addition to the story. However, the timing felt off. I'm glad Maggie could get resolution though.
I really like the idea of this world, the magical Hala, and the alchemy, but the magic of this realm leaves something to be desired. I wanted to know more about the legends and history of this world.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Racism, and Abandonment
spellboundreader's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“Girls like her don’t get to dream. Girls like her get to survive. Most days, that’s enough. Today, she doesn’t think it is.”
*
For fans of ‘The Scorpio Races’ and other cozy YA fantasies.
*
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Every year a magical creature called the hala brings chaos and violence wherever it wanders. Every year there is a competition to capture and kill the beast. Only the wealthy enter the hunt. The wealthy and the desperate.
A boy whose downtrodden family is in need of the prize money. A girl who needs the corpse of the ancient creature to salvage what is left of her family. What will come of them if they work together? If they fail, they lose more than the competition… but if they win, it could change everything.
*
*
Wow. Let me start my saying that I adore these characters. Margaret and Wes’ growth throughout the story was amazing to watch. They are so flawed, yet complement each other so well. TBH they are probably one of the healthiest YA relationships I’ve read in ages. So many green flags!
The actual hunt itself takes up a small portion of the read. We spend most of the book prepping for the actual event. So lower your expectations when it comes to the competition aspect of the story. The few characters where the hunt actually takes place are action packed, but there is a lot of buildup before that point.
The world building could have been a bit more fleshed out. I wouldn’t mind learning more about their folklore and religions. The world is so similar to ours in every way, except for the existence of alchemy and magical creatures.
The ending of this book 🤌🏼 was perfection. Without spoiling anything, characters cutting toxic people out of their lives is a trope we need to use more often.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, Antisemitism, Classism, and Religious bigotry
ctara2123's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Abandonment, Death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, and Animal death
Moderate: Death of parent, Child death, 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.
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
laequiem's review against another edition
adventurous
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
Moderate: Classism and Animal death
mfrank's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
blackcatkai's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
CW: animal death on page (especially in regards to hunting), child death mentioned, gun violence, abandonment, gore, body horror, death, racism, classism, some sexual content, antisemitism, emotional abuse from a parent, blood, injury/wounds (animals & people), nationalism, xenophobia, ptsd & mental illness, alcohol, grief
this was such a cute, sweet, slow burn romance with a bit of magic thrown in. it's written beautifully while also dealing with quite a few heavy topics. I loved it and would absolutely read from Saft again!
this was such a cute, sweet, slow burn romance with a bit of magic thrown in. it's written beautifully while also dealing with quite a few heavy topics. I loved it and would absolutely read from Saft again!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Xenophobia, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Alcohol, Antisemitism, and Death
Moderate: Body horror, Gun violence, Grief, Mental illness, Abandonment, Violence, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexual content and Ableism
ka_ke's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
It’s very mediocre, if I put it down, i found it took a lot to pick it back up and start reading again.
It’s got good alchemy lore but oddly a significant amount of walmart brand christianity? I guess maybe it’s the authors way of recovering from some religious trauma.
It’s got good alchemy lore but oddly a significant amount of walmart brand christianity? I guess maybe it’s the authors way of recovering from some religious trauma.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Grief, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, and Gun violence
Minor: Sexual content, Child death, Toxic friendship, and Xenophobia