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u_0's review against another edition
I really loved the atmospheric writing of the first few chapters but once the plot started going it fell apart for me. Mostly, I think I don't enjoy YA anymore and I didn't know this was YA before reading. It was also surprising religious? I really liked the way alchemy worked in this world, I'll look for it in other books.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Racism, Bullying, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Mental illness, and Religious bigotry
rachelditty's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
Read this after Hannah (A Clockwork Reader) talked so highly about it. I really wanted this to be a 5-star read for me, but something about it was lacking, I just can't really put my finger on what. Regardless, I thought the story was interesting and the romance was very gripping. Like this a lot!
Some quotes I liked:
"Sometimes, it's hard to believe this house ever held more than one person," (1:33:38).
"Her hand, warm and roughened from work, fits into his like a gramophone needle in the grooves of a record," (8:54:50).
"Or did you always love the memory of him more than you loved the reality of me?" (14:14:54).
"Growing up with you, it felt like starving," (14:15:12).
Some quotes I liked:
"Sometimes, it's hard to believe this house ever held more than one person," (1:33:38).
"Her hand, warm and roughened from work, fits into his like a gramophone needle in the grooves of a record," (8:54:50).
"Or did you always love the memory of him more than you loved the reality of me?" (14:14:54).
"Growing up with you, it felt like starving," (14:15:12).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Hate crime, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Animal cruelty, Child death, Classism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Death of parent
sometimescjreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Racism
Minor: Emotional abuse
nafisa_tabassum's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-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? No
4.0
A Far Wilder Magic was a very enjoyable read that accompanied me through a difficult weekend. It dabbles into alchemy and takes a lot of inspiration from Full Metal Alchemist's magic system, including a harrowing reference that I won't go into detail about. For those who like Riza and Roy from FMA, there's a lot to like in this book. I wish it explored alchemy a bit further, but the book mainly deals with the two characters in the heart of the story and their growth.
The story is best when explores religious prejudice and bigotry from the perspective of two people descended from immigrants - the way it tackles the subject matter is nuanced and real. It shows the way bigotry can take different forms and the things people leave unsaid. The two characters are able to connect because of this shared experience and it really adds depth to their relationship. It's fully understandable why these two people are drawn to each other and what they give to each other. There are also themes of parental neglect and abuse, though not physical. It's handled very well and it's often quite heart-wrenching.
I did feel like I wanted more from the fantasy aspect of the book. The fantasy seems to be connected deeply to religion and the bigger world is teased in the story, but not fully explored. There is an act at the end of the book that is genuinely "world-changing". This story is definitely not the place to explore that change or the repercussions of that action, since it's huge and the story is personal, but I was left feeling like a very interesting part of the novel was left unresolved.
Still, it was a perfect light read and I really enjoyed it.
The story is best when explores religious prejudice and bigotry from the perspective of two people descended from immigrants - the way it tackles the subject matter is nuanced and real. It shows the way bigotry can take different forms and the things people leave unsaid. The two characters are able to connect because of this shared experience and it really adds depth to their relationship. It's fully understandable why these two people are drawn to each other and what they give to each other. There are also themes of parental neglect and abuse, though not physical. It's handled very well and it's often quite heart-wrenching.
I did feel like I wanted more from the fantasy aspect of the book. The fantasy seems to be connected deeply to religion and the bigger world is teased in the story, but not fully explored. There is an act at the end of the book that is genuinely "world-changing". This story is definitely not the place to explore that change or the repercussions of that action, since it's huge and the story is personal, but I was left feeling like a very interesting part of the novel was left unresolved.
Still, it was a perfect light read and I really enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Abandonment and Emotional abuse
baccou's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Blood, Animal death, Death, Racism, and Antisemitism
fairyreader75's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Racism, Racial slurs, and Religious bigotry
visorforavisor's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
A Far Wilder Magic is incredible. Allison Saft flawlessly weaves diaspora experiences, light fantasy, and late-1920s America together in this gripping adventure featuring two young adults.
Maggie Welty is the fantasy equivalent of Jewish, and Wes Winters is the fantasy equivalent of an Irish-diaspora Catholic. The way these religions, and the sectarianism imposed on them in early-20-th-century America, are blended into the exciting hunt plot is truly exceptional. The power held by the “White, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant” types is evidenced here beautifully.
I’m Irish, and I speak the language pretty well. As such, I think my favourite detail of this book may be the impeccable integration of (correctly grammared, which is rare in American books) Irish-language terms into the text. Wes’s mother refers to him as “a thaisce” and “a leanbh”, Wes himself thinks about the aos sí, and so on. I particularly found interesting (and accurate) the naming of Wes’s family. His mother is Aoife, and he and his siblings are Madeline, Christine, Weston, Colleen, and Edie (I think I have the order right). His mother’s name is much more Irish, while the children have more Anglicised names (especially Colleen, whose name is an Anglicisation of the Irish word for “girl”). The Irish history of famine and the like was also not skimmed over.
I’m not Jewish and I don’t know a huge amount about Judaism, so I can’t speak to the accuracy of its portrayal in this book, but I loved how the fantasy elements were woven into the beliefs of the various religions represented in the story.
I don’t know whether it was deliberate, but Maggie was pretty explicitly coded as autistic, and Wes as ADHD and dyslexic. I loved this very much and found the writing of this aspect both amusing and true-to-life.
Would recommend to everyone.
Maggie Welty is the fantasy equivalent of Jewish, and Wes Winters is the fantasy equivalent of an Irish-diaspora Catholic. The way these religions, and the sectarianism imposed on them in early-20-th-century America, are blended into the exciting hunt plot is truly exceptional. The power held by the “White, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant” types is evidenced here beautifully.
I’m Irish, and I speak the language pretty well. As such, I think my favourite detail of this book may be the impeccable integration of (correctly grammared, which is rare in American books) Irish-language terms into the text. Wes’s mother refers to him as “a thaisce” and “a leanbh”, Wes himself thinks about the aos sí, and so on. I particularly found interesting (and accurate) the naming of Wes’s family. His mother is Aoife, and he and his siblings are Madeline, Christine, Weston, Colleen, and Edie (I think I have the order right). His mother’s name is much more Irish, while the children have more Anglicised names (especially Colleen, whose name is an Anglicisation of the Irish word for “girl”). The Irish history of famine and the like was also not skimmed over.
I’m not Jewish and I don’t know a huge amount about Judaism, so I can’t speak to the accuracy of its portrayal in this book, but I loved how the fantasy elements were woven into the beliefs of the various religions represented in the story.
I don’t know whether it was deliberate, but Maggie was pretty explicitly coded as autistic, and Wes as ADHD and dyslexic. I loved this very much and found the writing of this aspect both amusing and true-to-life.
Would recommend to everyone.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism and Racism
areen's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Xenophobia
k0n0's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
medium-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
3.5
New Albion is a Victorian magical England, the author should have called it England. Race and religion play a huge part in this book and as much as I loved the way the author explored these hard concepts in a YA novel the fantasy names could have been dropped. I think just calling the different religions in the book what they were based off would have been helpful. After reading about halfway through I finally pieced it together Yu'adir=Judaism, Sumic=Catholicism, and Katharism=Protestant. The romance was super cute, supportive, there's some spicy inner monolog and satisfying tidbits towards the end. You really root for Wes and Margaret to be happy, ditch her toxic AF mom and grow together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Religious bigotry, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Self harm
Toxic parent and abandonment of teen child which obviously causes some trauma and a panic disorder. Lots and lots of religious bigotry and racism in this book.wildflowerleahg's review against another edition
5.0
Such an enchanting, cozy fantasy. A creepy house, alchemy, a competition AND a slow burn romance with a golden retriever boy. Like what more could you want?!?!
*There are major conversations about parental neglect/abuse and racism/antisemitism so people know that going in.*
This story was a bit on the slower side but I loved sipping on every single beautiful detail of the world and our main characters. I WISH there was more of the hung but I really enjoyed this author’s writing style.
*There are major conversations about parental neglect/abuse and racism/antisemitism so people know that going in.*
This story was a bit on the slower side but I loved sipping on every single beautiful detail of the world and our main characters. I WISH there was more of the hung but I really enjoyed this author’s writing style.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism and Racism
Moderate: Blood, Violence, and Emotional abuse