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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
kryzysowa_narzeczona's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Emotional abuse
ackopec's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
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
Very heavy TSR vibes, but without the depth TSR has. Perhaps because it has less of a sense of place?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia and Emotional abuse
mad_is_rad's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Gaslighting, Hate crime, and Abandonment
owl_eerie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
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
I'm unsure about this book. I found the characters to be engaging and the storyline both interesting and well-paced. Wes was incredibly frustrating to read at some points, but that made his growth rewarding. Maggie growing past her trauma was well done.
I'm not sure I jive with the author's writing style (a simile or 3 in every paragraph...) but her character work was good. My only real complaint was the lack of grounding in the setting--It was very obviously Jewish/Protestant/Irish Catholic religious strife planted in a post WW1 America, shifted out of plane. Would have enjoyed it to take a firmer step further from known history instead of just... changing names but keeping things like microphones.
Listen to the audiobook; I kind of liked Wes's bad NY/Boston accent.
I'm not sure I jive with the author's writing style (a simile or 3 in every paragraph...) but her character work was good. My only real complaint was the lack of grounding in the setting--It was very obviously Jewish/Protestant/Irish Catholic religious strife planted in a post WW1 America, shifted out of plane. Would have enjoyed it to take a firmer step further from known history instead of just... changing names but keeping things like microphones.
Listen to the audiobook; I kind of liked Wes's bad NY/Boston accent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Animal death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Antisemitism, and Bullying
Moderate: Grief, Xenophobia, and Gore
Minor: Hate crime
kate_den_herder's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I picked this up on a whim because the cover was pretty and it sounded like my type of book. I was not disappointed. I love Margaret and Wes. The characters are complex (some more than others) and while the plot was slow to develop, it was nice to just dig into each of the main characters’ heads while they prepare for the hunt. I thought we would get more about the hala- like why it called their names— so I was a bit disappointed there. However I think it makes sense to not explain the hala’s divinity in any way. Overall, a good read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Xenophobia, Bullying, Religious bigotry, and Mental illness
Minor: Child death
Margaret has some undiagnosed PTSD, so there are some flashbacksannasneddon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-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
Graphic: Abandonment, Antisemitism, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Cursing, and Emotional abuse
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.pointeshoebookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.5
. . . I still don't know what to even think about this book . . .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Gore, Religious bigotry, Violence, Abandonment, Bullying, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Sexual content, Animal death, Child death, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Alcohol and Emotional abuse
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