Scan barcode
readwithria's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? Yes
3.5
I really enjoyed A Far Wilder Magic. It was lovely to read about Margaret and Wes, and their trials and tribulations together.
I will say that something about the pacing of this book didn’t quite click with me, and I don’t love how little time there was for resolution at the end, but otherwise this was really enjoyable! Definitely a good spooky season read for people who enjoy reading seasonally. 3.5 stars.
I will say that something about the pacing of this book didn’t quite click with me, and I don’t love how little time there was for resolution at the end, but otherwise this was really enjoyable! Definitely a good spooky season read for people who enjoy reading seasonally. 3.5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Violence, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Cursing, and Panic attacks/disorders
samflowerv6's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
I fell in love with Wes & Margaret as individual characters and together. Allison Saft's prose is poetic and is saturated with mystical imagery.
The was uniquely beautiful and mysterious. If you like A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid, I am certain this will hit in a similar way. I love grumpy sunshine when the boy is sunshine. They are just perfect to me. Creatures with glowing eyes in the dark, alchemy, trauma, lonely seaside manor and prejudice are some main points in the story. An overall beautiful tale of finding the people who love you as you truly are and believe in your future.
“When she looks like this, flushed and hazy and haloed by the moon, he truly can believe God exists, and her name is Margaret Welty.” '
“In the dim porchlight, she looks like something out of a poem he read in school before he dropped out.”
“How many times will she watch someone leave this place and never look back, while she is left here like a ghost to haunt it?”
“Weston, with his foppish hair and calculating smile
“If he can’t grieve his father or his impossible dreams without hurting his family or himself, what other choice does he have but to keep things light? To dazzle people so they can’t look for the cracks? He’s survived this long by letting everyone believe he’s selfish and shallow. It’s better that way. No one knows how to hurt you if you always play the fool.”
“Love is not the sharp-edged thing she's always believed it to be. It's not like the sea, liable to slip through her fingers if she holds on too tight. It's not a currency, something to be earned or denied or bartered for. Love can be steadfast. It can be certain and safe, or as wild as an open flame.”
“But if lust is so perverse, why would God make girls”
“There are punishments far worse than being struck. To be forsaken and unloved - that is the worst fate of all.”
The was uniquely beautiful and mysterious. If you like A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid, I am certain this will hit in a similar way. I love grumpy sunshine when the boy is sunshine. They are just perfect to me. Creatures with glowing eyes in the dark, alchemy, trauma, lonely seaside manor and prejudice are some main points in the story. An overall beautiful tale of finding the people who love you as you truly are and believe in your future.
“When she looks like this, flushed and hazy and haloed by the moon, he truly can believe God exists, and her name is Margaret Welty.” '
“In the dim porchlight, she looks like something out of a poem he read in school before he dropped out.”
“How many times will she watch someone leave this place and never look back, while she is left here like a ghost to haunt it?”
“Weston, with his foppish hair and calculating smile
“If he can’t grieve his father or his impossible dreams without hurting his family or himself, what other choice does he have but to keep things light? To dazzle people so they can’t look for the cracks? He’s survived this long by letting everyone believe he’s selfish and shallow. It’s better that way. No one knows how to hurt you if you always play the fool.”
“Love is not the sharp-edged thing she's always believed it to be. It's not like the sea, liable to slip through her fingers if she holds on too tight. It's not a currency, something to be earned or denied or bartered for. Love can be steadfast. It can be certain and safe, or as wild as an open flame.”
“But if lust is so perverse, why would God make girls”
“There are punishments far worse than being struck. To be forsaken and unloved - that is the worst fate of all.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Cursing
Moderate: Abandonment, Animal death, Blood, and Gun violence
Minor: Sexual content, Alcohol, and Death
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
johnstonsami's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Cursing, Blood, Bullying, Grief, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Classism, Abandonment, Antisemitism, Child death, and Death
naomidanae's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
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? No
4.5
There's a lot to love about this book. The world building is well rounded—an economy built around alchemy, religious points of view on alchemy's consequences, and a built history around a cultural hunt. There are plenty of real-world analogues to the religions, which does prove to be an interesting discussion point. There's a clear connection between the Yu'adir and Judaism, the Sumic religion and Catholicism, and Katharists and Protestants. It offers a timely discussion of antisemitism. The romance felt believable and slowly developed through the course of the book.
I think my only issue with this book is how unclear the time period of the book is. There are phones and cars and all, but then 25 cents is apparently a lot of money. And the rifle has a magazine? Otherwise, this is a great book.
A few quotes:
"Love is not the sharp-edged thing she’s always believed it to be. It’s not like the sea, liable to slip through her fingers if she holds on too tight. It’s not a currency, something to be earned or denied or bartered for. Love can be steadfast. It can be certain and safe, or as wild as an open flame. It’s a slice of buttered bread at a dinner table. It’s a grudge born of worry. It’s broken skin pulled over swelling knuckles."
"All I know for sure is that if God or the truth or whatever you want to call it is out there and we can reach it, we’re not going to find it in that box. We’ll find it in other people.”
“Loneliness is a terrible thing. Maybe the most terrible thing.”
I think my only issue with this book is how unclear the time period of the book is. There are phones and cars and all, but then 25 cents is apparently a lot of money. And the rifle has a magazine? Otherwise, this is a great book.
A few quotes:
"Love is not the sharp-edged thing she’s always believed it to be. It’s not like the sea, liable to slip through her fingers if she holds on too tight. It’s not a currency, something to be earned or denied or bartered for. Love can be steadfast. It can be certain and safe, or as wild as an open flame. It’s a slice of buttered bread at a dinner table. It’s a grudge born of worry. It’s broken skin pulled over swelling knuckles."
"All I know for sure is that if God or the truth or whatever you want to call it is out there and we can reach it, we’re not going to find it in that box. We’ll find it in other people.”
“Loneliness is a terrible thing. Maybe the most terrible thing.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
kristinallard's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Blood, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Child death, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders
alexijai98's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
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
Solid YA romantasy! Give me more stories with a scary girl and her sad wet bf!
Be warned, this is definitely a ROMANtasy. The fantasy aspects are throughout the whole book, but the action mostly revolves around the protagonists’ romance - which I didn’t mind because I loved them both! Reading this made me feel fuzzy inside, the way it felt to read a stunning fanfiction back in 2014 (you know the ones with the titles in all lowercase, don’t pretend not to!). There is also some heavy-hitting Mommy Issue content in here that had my feeling some kind of way, so keep that in mind!
Be warned, this is definitely a ROMANtasy. The fantasy aspects are throughout the whole book, but the action mostly revolves around the protagonists’ romance - which I didn’t mind because I loved them both! Reading this made me feel fuzzy inside, the way it felt to read a stunning fanfiction back in 2014 (you know the ones with the titles in all lowercase, don’t pretend not to!). There is also some heavy-hitting Mommy Issue content in here that had my feeling some kind of way, so keep that in mind!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Religious bigotry, Violence, Alcohol, Xenophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Abandonment, Animal death, Classism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Colonisation
mpbookreviews's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Blood, Death, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, and Grief
Minor: Sexual content and Child death
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
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.
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.
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