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bananja's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty
campisforever's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? No
3.75
I’ve labeled this one with several content warnings. One of the major points of this book surrounds fantasy-setting correlates to antisemitism and xenophobia. The story centers on a hunt, thus the animal cruelty, and the plot deals with parental abandonment, gaslighting, emotional manipulation, etc. One MC experiences clearly described dissociative episodes as a result of trauma. The book is good, yes, but it does describe these things—including the hate crime, which only stops short of naming the actual slurs scrawled into a floor. One character in particular is a voice piece for bigoted, racist sentiments. Take care of yourselves, please.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Animal cruelty, Racism, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Animal death, Antisemitism, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia
celestialpursuits's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
This was one of my most anticipated books for the year and, honestly, it did not disappoint.
I loved the atmospheric writing. I loved the exploration of feelings of loneliness, grief and abandonment, and how often it is in our denial of these feeling that lead us to deny love. The story of Margaret and Weston warms my heart, for it is a story that is filled with such tenderness and love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Religious bigotry, and Animal cruelty
maliap's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Animal cruelty, Blood, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Animal death, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual content
beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Abandonment, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Antisemitism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, and Child death
Minor: War
Anti-Irish sentiments expressed.alite428's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Antisemitism, Abandonment, Religious bigotry, Animal cruelty, Racism, and Blood
Minor: Sexual content
melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for an ALC of this book.
Maggie wants nothing more than to live a safe and simple life with her alchemist mother--who is never home. Wes dreams of becoming an alchemist politician to make the world a better place, and to do that, he needs to become Maggie's mother's apprentice. But since her mother isn't home, Maggie and Wes concoct a plan to catch a magical creature during the Halfmoon Hunt to impress Evelyn.
This book is a little bit The Scorpio Races, a little bit Shadow & Bone. I really liked the plot and found the world building and magic systems very interesting. I was not a big fan of the characters or relationship. I had issues with some of the things that happened in the romance between Maggie and Wes. Nothing so bad it would ruin the book but definitely knocked it down a peg in my mind. Characters are really important to me in a story, so even though I loved this plot, the lack-luster character building hurt this for my rating.
Maggie wants nothing more than to live a safe and simple life with her alchemist mother--who is never home. Wes dreams of becoming an alchemist politician to make the world a better place, and to do that, he needs to become Maggie's mother's apprentice. But since her mother isn't home, Maggie and Wes concoct a plan to catch a magical creature during the Halfmoon Hunt to impress Evelyn.
This book is a little bit The Scorpio Races, a little bit Shadow & Bone. I really liked the plot and found the world building and magic systems very interesting. I was not a big fan of the characters or relationship. I had issues with some of the things that happened in the romance between Maggie and Wes. Nothing so bad it would ruin the book but definitely knocked it down a peg in my mind. Characters are really important to me in a story, so even though I loved this plot, the lack-luster character building hurt this for my rating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Grief, Death of parent, and Sexual content
tales_of_1001_books's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This beautifully written new YA title is everything I'd want in a book. At times adventure-packed, with references to history and myths that are at once brand-new and yet familiar, a slow-burning romance between two people trying to find their way in a difficult world, and I was hooked from the beginning. Saft skillfully blends a world filled with alchemical magic with the struggles that anyone in today's world can relate to, and immediately immerses the reader in a world filled with both beauty and sorrow.
The two main characters, Margaret (Maggie) and Weston (Wes), are seemingly polar opposites. She is tight-laced, controlled and physically in command of herself (she's an expert shot), while internally, she mourns the loss of her family and in particular, her mother, whose approval she desperately wants but never seems to get. He is an aspiring alchemist, who spends time pouring over ancient books and texts, although he just cannot seem to get ahead or succeed in his chosen profession. His charming looks and cavalier attitude conceal someone who is filled with self-doubts about his skills and worries constantly about his family, who are depending on him to succeed. The Halfmoon Hunt, which brings the two of them together, is the perfect catalyst for this pairing of two unlikely heros.
Saft's writing vividly brings the landscape and the creepy old house where Maggie waits for her mother to return into life. I really liked how so many things about the town and the time period and the culture seemed very similar to things we know in real life so as to be relatable, but at the same time embued with just enough detail about their "otherworldliness" to bring the fantasy and magic aspects to life. I really appreciated that she brought out Wes's struggles with reading and attention difficulties. Without calling them out as specifically as ADHD and/or dyslexia, I certainly know people who will strongly relate to these descriptions. It made him even more human, despite being the "magical" one of the pair with his alchemical skills.
A note that there is some violence in the book, particularly in regards to animals. (The plot revolves around a hunt for a fox, and there is another animal death, as well as some minor violence between humans in the plot.) There are also some child neglect triggers, so be aware before you start to read if these are issues for you at all.
Overall, I wholeheartedly enjoyed this book, rating it 4-1/4 out of 5 stars for plot, character development, world-building and a creative magical system.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Classism, and Religious bigotry
nemorensis's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.0
Thank you, Wednesday Books for sending me a copy! It was so very cool! Thank you!
I made this brief and spoiler-free:
Meet the dream-team joining the infamous Halfmoon Hunt:
Wes, a neurodivergent dyslexic wannabe alchemist who has a bit too much energy for his own good, with big dreams and even bigger charming skills, and Margaret, a calm girl who just wants to sit by the window and read some good ol’ smut while waiting for her mother to come home. Perfect.
While hunting a magical beast that is both a threat and a gift from God (and that I would most definitely try to pet), these two wonderful young people try to discover their place in a world that does not accept them. Wes wants to change all that is unjust, while Maggie wants hide from anything that might hurt her. They discover that love is complicated, sometimes unstoppable and other times undeserved. AND there’s a good boy doggo named Trouble.
I had a fun time reading this book. The writing is beautiful and the characters are *chef kiss* amazing 10/10. Their slow burn romance made me screech from time to time and I was rooting for them from page 1. Both of them have such complex personalities and the way they balance each other’s fears and dreams… ah, wonderful. I don’t want to say too much and spoil the book for you but the “Treat me gently. I’m delicate.” (Wes) – “Shut up and drink your water.” (Maggie) dynamic is high-quality content. I recommend.
My only tiny little complaint is the pacing. It’s almost as if nothing really happens in this book yet A LOT is happening, so I’m a bit confused here. Don’t get me wrong, I really liked the book. It’s an excellent story but I think I expected a bit more from the fox (maybe I’m bitter because I was not allowed to pet it, who knows).
All in all, it’s a great book and a great story. If you like alchemy, slow-paced romance, and excellent characters (gosh I love them), this book is definitely for you.
(I just want to add that the cover is ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Religious bigotry
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