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pvbobrien's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Blood, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
sj_54's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Summary: A decent YA fantasy with a nice romance, but with an odd amount of Irish Catholic trauma??
Pros: The use of the magic system was well-developed and blended into the storyline nicely. The characters had a lot of depth which is always nice to see in YA, with a good amount of slow burn romance.
The family trauma was heart-rending and really well-written.
Cons: What was with the world-building?? The countries and world are made-up, but the religious systems are just Protestantism, Catholicism, and Judaism renamed?? Like I get it, the Protestants were terrible to Jewish and Catholic Irish immigrants and and you have a bone to pick about that. But this would have been the exact same story if you kept the anti-immigration sentiment, but removed the random references to the pope and Shabbos. It impacted the story in NO way at all, and felt like it was thrown in just to make a 'STATEMENT' about it.
If you wanted to write a book about 1920s immigration issues but with alchemy... Why did you rename everything to make it a different world setting??
If you wanted to write about a fantasy world with alchemy and political issues... Why did you copy paste our religious systems and add 'oh and everyone believes in magical foxes'?
Also how come when Trouble gets half-eaten by the hala do MARGARET AND WES HAVE A PAGES-LONG CONVERSATION INSTEAD OF STITCHING HIM UP FIRST.
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for access to the eBook ARC.
Pros: The use of the magic system was well-developed and blended into the storyline nicely. The characters had a lot of depth which is always nice to see in YA, with a good amount of slow burn romance.
The family trauma was heart-rending and really well-written.
Cons: What was with the world-building?? The countries and world are made-up, but the religious systems are just Protestantism, Catholicism, and Judaism renamed?? Like I get it, the Protestants were terrible to Jewish and Catholic Irish immigrants and and you have a bone to pick about that. But this would have been the exact same story if you kept the anti-immigration sentiment, but removed the random references to the pope and Shabbos. It impacted the story in NO way at all, and felt like it was thrown in just to make a 'STATEMENT' about it.
If you wanted to write a book about 1920s immigration issues but with alchemy... Why did you rename everything to make it a different world setting??
If you wanted to write about a fantasy world with alchemy and political issues... Why did you copy paste our religious systems and add 'oh and everyone believes in magical foxes'?
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for access to the eBook ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Antisemitism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexual content
bookishflower's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
“Besides, dreams don’t always have to be practical. That’s why they’re dreams. And now ours live and die together.”
“It’s you and me against the world, Margaret.”
Firstly, it needs to be said that that cover is so incredibly beautiful and captures the atmosphere of this book perfectly! (The perfect autumnal book to read with a blanket and cup of tea!)
A Far Wilder Magic follows the life-weary, headstrong Margaret and the flirtatiously optimistic Wes in their quest to win the mythical half-moon hunt as begrudgingly allies for her to win the favour of her mother and for him to gain the magical training he needs to make a difference in the world.
This ya stand-alone fantasy romance is such an effortless intricately crafted book from it’s gorgeous writing style and bewitching world building.
The scientific-based magic system, Jewish and Irish myth influence, and alternative 1920s America setting of this book is one that feels fresh and unique, a flawless blend of dark academia, whimsy and heart that I haven’t felt since Sorcery of Thorns.
The slow-burn grumpy x sunshine romance won me over straight away, the pining, character development and I-definitely-still-hate-your-face-even-if-I’m-staring vibes! Ahhh!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual content, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
ertisa's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
beforeviolets's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
5.0
CW: animal death, death of father (past), death of brother (past), parental abandonment, sexual content (onscreen, not graphic), blood, trauma, emotionally abusive parent, religious bigotry, PTSD, alcohol consumption, hate crime, anti-semitism, death, gore
Thank you to Wednesday books for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Built upon a rich tapestry of religiopolitical metaphor, and steeped in a charged atmosphere that will fill your senses, A Far Wilder Magic paints a romance between two characters that you just can't help but fall for.
Allison's Saft's writing is nothing less than golden.
If you like:
-slow burn
-grumpy girl/sunshine boy
-dorks helplessly in love
-casual queer side characters
-bigots getting punched in the face
-jewish rep
then you should get your hands on this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Blood, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Gore, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent
utopiastateofmind's review against another edition
4.5
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
You'll always be able to summon me when you tell me about a girl who is a sharpshooter and a boy who is experimenting with alchemy. Alchemy is a topic I will always read about - because hello magic and science - so I instantly loved this element in A Far Wilder Magic. However that was just the beginning. Because the characters in A Far Wilder Magic utterly betwiched me. Talk about such a precious cinnamon roll character of Wes. This book is dual POV so we're able to see his layers, how fiercely protective he is, but also how idealistic he is.
At the same time, Margaret is isolated and scared of leaving what shreds of security she has. Her relationship with her mom is complex with a capital C. And watching these characters get to know each other, as they're partnered for a chance at a future, was heart warming. A Far Wilder Magic also features anti-semitism and just a whole heaping load of prejudice against both of them. My heart broke for the ways this treatment of Margaret has forced her to bear it, to harden her heart. All while also feeling Wes' desire to even the scales, to fight back against the cruelty.
You'll always be able to summon me when you tell me about a girl who is a sharpshooter and a boy who is experimenting with alchemy. Alchemy is a topic I will always read about - because hello magic and science - so I instantly loved this element in A Far Wilder Magic. However that was just the beginning. Because the characters in A Far Wilder Magic utterly betwiched me. Talk about such a precious cinnamon roll character of Wes. This book is dual POV so we're able to see his layers, how fiercely protective he is, but also how idealistic he is.
At the same time, Margaret is isolated and scared of leaving what shreds of security she has. Her relationship with her mom is complex with a capital C. And watching these characters get to know each other, as they're partnered for a chance at a future, was heart warming. A Far Wilder Magic also features anti-semitism and just a whole heaping load of prejudice against both of them. My heart broke for the ways this treatment of Margaret has forced her to bear it, to harden her heart. All while also feeling Wes' desire to even the scales, to fight back against the cruelty.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism
hownovelofher's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Actual rating: 3.5
I’d like to start by saying how torn I have been on rating this. I quarreled with myself back and forth on whether to rate it higher or lower but finally settled on 3.5 being fair. While I absolutely loved the atmosphere of this book, it fell short in enough ways that I couldn’t ignore the pang of dissatisfaction I had when it came to its conclusion.
Margaret Welty lives alone in a decaying countryside manor on the edge of the town of Wickdon. Abandoned by her mother after the loss of her brother, and the fleeing of her father, she lives a quiet and sheltered life…much preferring the company of her hound Trouble to the company of…well, anyone else.
When the arrival of the much feared, and equally exalted hala throws the town into a frenzy, Margaret is even more aghast when a prospective alchemical apprentice shows up at her door in search of her mother’s tutelage. Enter Weston Winters.
Together, Margaret and Weston make an unlikely pair, and eventually team up in hopes of slaying the powerful and destructive hala in hopes of winning something they each need desperately. For Weston, this is money and notoriety; for Margaret, her mother’s approval and love.
The time period seems to settle around the 1920s-1940s and leans heavily on elements of magical realism and religious reverence.
Speaking of, the religious elements are part of what drove me to rate this book lower than I initially thought I would. Throughout the book we are constantly reminded about both Margaret and Wes’s heritage/religion and how most of New Albian is both xenophobic and religiously bigoted.
I used context clues to assume what real-world religions and ethnic backgrounds Saft was drawing inspiration from but, truly it wasn’t hard. She makes it painfully obvious what she’s borrowed from. I had the keen feeling that perhaps she just couldn’t commit to calling a real-world religion by its name so as not to offend…but it would have been better, in my opinion, if she had done so…or simply created her own religion from scratch.
Instead, we’re left with clumsily monikered substitutes such as Katharist peoples (interpreted as Christian, to me) + Wes and his Banvish (Irish) heritage and Sumic (Catholic) religion. Meanwhile, Margaret is Yu’adir (Jewish). There are many a reference to real-world religious practices that help you draw these conclusions. At one point the author even uses the term Shabbos for an assumed Yu’adir (Jewish) religious observance. For those who don’t know, Shabbat is an actual Jewish observance.
In short, it was off-putting and distracting from the plot of the story. I could have done with a less intensely religious overtone, along with less frequent reminders of their inferiority in the eyes of others.
Parental neglect also has a very large and very bright spotlight on it in this book. It’s a theme that is repeated through the book over and over and truthfully was a bit of a bummer. Not to say that books can’t be sad and difficult to read, it’s just not what I was expecting. And when coupled with the other harsh elements of the book, made it heavier than its description promised.
Aside from that, I had a lot of unanswered questions towards the end, and a few frustrations with the characters. Some of the issues were resolved too easily and some not easily enough. For instance, the Halfmoon Hunt was a major plot point, but literally lasted like less than 20 pages which was a really big wtf moment in terms of built-up anticipation.
But let me end on a good note: I saw some people saying that Wes is obnoxious/sleazy and Maggie is unlikeable…and I’ll agree that they aren’t a likable pair at first…but they did grow on me. I enjoyed the contrast of a sunshine boy and a grumpy girl instead of the other way around which is sort of the norm in lit these days. They both had a decent amount of character development, and it wasn’t like they were suddenly perfect…they were just subtly a little bit freer than before. A little less broken.
The slow, torturous burn of their love for each other and their sweetness once it fully bloomed was pleasantly unexpected. It felt a bit more realistic because Maggie’s love truly had to be earned by Wes, and she made a besotted man out of him, which is always cute. I love that she scared him shitless and he loved her the more for it.
Mental illness and vulnerability were also two unexpected elements that I appreciated. As someone who suffers from panic attacks, it was comforting to see them portrayed in a way that wasn’t stigmatized, but honest and fair.
All in all, I did actually enjoy this book very much. Yes, I had my qualms with it, but at the end of the day I see what the author was trying to do, and I admire her writing and her approach to a great many difficult subjects. I think maybe she pulled too many into one single book, but I’m still very much glad I decided to read A Far Wilder Magic.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
I’d like to start by saying how torn I have been on rating this. I quarreled with myself back and forth on whether to rate it higher or lower but finally settled on 3.5 being fair. While I absolutely loved the atmosphere of this book, it fell short in enough ways that I couldn’t ignore the pang of dissatisfaction I had when it came to its conclusion.
Margaret Welty lives alone in a decaying countryside manor on the edge of the town of Wickdon. Abandoned by her mother after the loss of her brother, and the fleeing of her father, she lives a quiet and sheltered life…much preferring the company of her hound Trouble to the company of…well, anyone else.
When the arrival of the much feared, and equally exalted hala throws the town into a frenzy, Margaret is even more aghast when a prospective alchemical apprentice shows up at her door in search of her mother’s tutelage. Enter Weston Winters.
Together, Margaret and Weston make an unlikely pair, and eventually team up in hopes of slaying the powerful and destructive hala in hopes of winning something they each need desperately. For Weston, this is money and notoriety; for Margaret, her mother’s approval and love.
The time period seems to settle around the 1920s-1940s and leans heavily on elements of magical realism and religious reverence.
Speaking of, the religious elements are part of what drove me to rate this book lower than I initially thought I would. Throughout the book we are constantly reminded about both Margaret and Wes’s heritage/religion and how most of New Albian is both xenophobic and religiously bigoted.
I used context clues to assume what real-world religions and ethnic backgrounds Saft was drawing inspiration from but, truly it wasn’t hard. She makes it painfully obvious what she’s borrowed from. I had the keen feeling that perhaps she just couldn’t commit to calling a real-world religion by its name so as not to offend…but it would have been better, in my opinion, if she had done so…or simply created her own religion from scratch.
Instead, we’re left with clumsily monikered substitutes such as Katharist peoples (interpreted as Christian, to me) + Wes and his Banvish (Irish) heritage and Sumic (Catholic) religion. Meanwhile, Margaret is Yu’adir (Jewish). There are many a reference to real-world religious practices that help you draw these conclusions. At one point the author even uses the term Shabbos for an assumed Yu’adir (Jewish) religious observance. For those who don’t know, Shabbat is an actual Jewish observance.
In short, it was off-putting and distracting from the plot of the story. I could have done with a less intensely religious overtone, along with less frequent reminders of their inferiority in the eyes of others.
Parental neglect also has a very large and very bright spotlight on it in this book. It’s a theme that is repeated through the book over and over and truthfully was a bit of a bummer. Not to say that books can’t be sad and difficult to read, it’s just not what I was expecting. And when coupled with the other harsh elements of the book, made it heavier than its description promised.
Aside from that, I had a lot of unanswered questions towards the end, and a few frustrations with the characters. Some of the issues were resolved too easily and some not easily enough. For instance, the Halfmoon Hunt was a major plot point, but literally lasted like less than 20 pages which was a really big wtf moment in terms of built-up anticipation.
But let me end on a good note: I saw some people saying that Wes is obnoxious/sleazy and Maggie is unlikeable…and I’ll agree that they aren’t a likable pair at first…but they did grow on me. I enjoyed the contrast of a sunshine boy and a grumpy girl instead of the other way around which is sort of the norm in lit these days. They both had a decent amount of character development, and it wasn’t like they were suddenly perfect…they were just subtly a little bit freer than before. A little less broken.
The slow, torturous burn of their love for each other and their sweetness once it fully bloomed was pleasantly unexpected. It felt a bit more realistic because Maggie’s love truly had to be earned by Wes, and she made a besotted man out of him, which is always cute. I love that she scared him shitless and he loved her the more for it.
Mental illness and vulnerability were also two unexpected elements that I appreciated. As someone who suffers from panic attacks, it was comforting to see them portrayed in a way that wasn’t stigmatized, but honest and fair.
All in all, I did actually enjoy this book very much. Yes, I had my qualms with it, but at the end of the day I see what the author was trying to do, and I admire her writing and her approach to a great many difficult subjects. I think maybe she pulled too many into one single book, but I’m still very much glad I decided to read A Far Wilder Magic.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Xenophobia, Blood, and Antisemitism
Minor: Child death and Injury/Injury detail
thesatellitecafe's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Blood, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Death of parent
enasbookshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
Many thanks to the author Allison Saft for giving me an eARC as part of her street team. My conversation with Allison about how this book came to be is up on my blog!
AFWM was one of those books I tried to start, put down after the first page, then finished in one sitting the next time. By the time I was ten pages into this romantic fantasy, I knew I was not going to return to the real world until I had reached the very end of the story. By the time I was ten chapters in, I’d fallen completely in love with the underdog characters Margaret and Wes. They were utterly imperfect, and thus so utterly real. Their respective journeys were made all the more engrossing with the author’s descriptive, immersive storytelling: autumn is a nonexistent phenomenon in my corner of the planet, but even I felt every stray sunbeam, every gust of wind, every scent of wild animal.
The book was very rich in detail about alchemy, hunting, different religious denominations. It had a lot to say in the romance aspect, but it had just as much to say on family, identity, and belonging. What an honor it’s been to hype this book to the rest of the world!
AFWM was one of those books I tried to start, put down after the first page, then finished in one sitting the next time. By the time I was ten pages into this romantic fantasy, I knew I was not going to return to the real world until I had reached the very end of the story. By the time I was ten chapters in, I’d fallen completely in love with the underdog characters Margaret and Wes. They were utterly imperfect, and thus so utterly real. Their respective journeys were made all the more engrossing with the author’s descriptive, immersive storytelling: autumn is a nonexistent phenomenon in my corner of the planet, but even I felt every stray sunbeam, every gust of wind, every scent of wild animal.
The book was very rich in detail about alchemy, hunting, different religious denominations. It had a lot to say in the romance aspect, but it had just as much to say on family, identity, and belonging. What an honor it’s been to hype this book to the rest of the world!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, and Religious bigotry