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aklovekorn's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Gore, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Bullying, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Blood, and Xenophobia
miagic_tome's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
3.75
This was a fun and unique fantasy book that is pretty east to read. I thoroughly enjoyed it but there were some parts that I really thought could've used another round or two of editing, mostly in the world building parts.
The Sumic, Yu'adir, and Kathartist religions were interesting in their differing interpretations on the same topics, like the Demiurge. But the almost one to one comparisons of language and practices to real life religions was so off putting it took me out of immersion. Reading words like Bible and confession felt so out of place in this story that tries so hard to be fantastical. Not to mention the very blatant antisemitic conspiracy theories that occurred within the world. How many religious groups can be hated for secretly controlling all the banks? At least two apparently. Considering how important it was that the main characters were religious minorities, these uncanny mentions happen quite a few times and it really struck me as odd every time, I feel like there are new practices and forms of hatred that could've taken place.
Despite the above, I really enjoyed the interactions between all the characters, good and bad. Margaret and Wes's inner monologues were immersive I loved both of them going from hate/indifference to begrudging companionship to.... more. Oh but it was like deja vu to seethe two of them having a heart to heart next to an injured dying animal while she points her gun at him for seemingly no reason than to raise the tension? twice. How did that exact situation happen twice?
As complainy as this review has been, I did enjoy this book and am open to reading more works from this author at some point.
The Sumic, Yu'adir, and Kathartist religions were interesting in their differing interpretations on the same topics, like the Demiurge. But the almost one to one comparisons of language and practices to real life religions was so off putting it took me out of immersion. Reading words like Bible and confession felt so out of place in this story that tries so hard to be fantastical. Not to mention the very blatant antisemitic conspiracy theories that occurred within the world. How many religious groups can be hated for secretly controlling all the banks? At least two apparently. Considering how important it was that the main characters were religious minorities, these uncanny mentions happen quite a few times and it really struck me as odd every time, I feel like there are new practices and forms of hatred that could've taken place.
Despite the above, I really enjoyed the interactions between all the characters, good and bad. Margaret and Wes's inner monologues were immersive I loved both of them going from hate/indifference to begrudging companionship to.... more. Oh but it was like deja vu to see
As complainy as this review has been, I did enjoy this book and am open to reading more works from this author at some point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, and Grief
Moderate: Religious bigotry
Minor: Sexual content and Death of parent
cha_len_novels's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
2.75
“For those with impossible dreams and for those who feel dreaming is impossible. There is so much waiting for you on the horizon.”
― Allison Saft, A Far Wilder Magic
This novel is a historical fantasy..urban fantasy? A fantasy world with a strong emphasis on political and religious themes (much to my distaste) and fair attempts to enchant. The novel lured me with its synopsis; inspiring thoughts to be transported into a FMA atmosphere following a wicked hunt. Instead the "romance" was in the foreground, if you can even call it that, and all other plots became secondary. Perhaps the YA label impacted the enjoyment of this one.
rating: 2.5-3/5⭐
― Allison Saft, A Far Wilder Magic
This novel is a historical fantasy..urban fantasy? A fantasy world with a strong emphasis on political and religious themes (much to my distaste) and fair attempts to enchant. The novel lured me with its synopsis; inspiring thoughts to be transported into a FMA atmosphere following a wicked hunt. Instead the "romance" was in the foreground, if you can even call it that, and all other plots became secondary. Perhaps the YA label impacted the enjoyment of this one.
rating: 2.5-3/5⭐
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Bullying
maresuju's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-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: Animal death, Abandonment, Religious bigotry, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
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
spellboundreader's review against another edition
adventurous
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
“Girls like her don’t get to dream. Girls like her get to survive. Most days, that’s enough. Today, she doesn’t think it is.”
*
For fans of ‘The Scorpio Races’ and other cozy YA fantasies.
*
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Every year a magical creature called the hala brings chaos and violence wherever it wanders. Every year there is a competition to capture and kill the beast. Only the wealthy enter the hunt. The wealthy and the desperate.
A boy whose downtrodden family is in need of the prize money. A girl who needs the corpse of the ancient creature to salvage what is left of her family. What will come of them if they work together? If they fail, they lose more than the competition… but if they win, it could change everything.
*
*
Wow. Let me start my saying that I adore these characters. Margaret and Wes’ growth throughout the story was amazing to watch. They are so flawed, yet complement each other so well. TBH they are probably one of the healthiest YA relationships I’ve read in ages. So many green flags!
The actual hunt itself takes up a small portion of the read. We spend most of the book prepping for the actual event. So lower your expectations when it comes to the competition aspect of the story. The few characters where the hunt actually takes place are action packed, but there is a lot of buildup before that point.
The world building could have been a bit more fleshed out. I wouldn’t mind learning more about their folklore and religions. The world is so similar to ours in every way, except for the existence of alchemy and magical creatures.
The ending of this book 🤌🏼 was perfection. Without spoiling anything, characters cutting toxic people out of their lives is a trope we need to use more often.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, Antisemitism, Classism, and Religious bigotry
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
erinreadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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
4.5
I liked the character-focused storyline of this book—I found both main characters very compelling and I like that the reader is given a lot of time with them to truly know them before they fall for each other, which makes their happy ending all the more believable and rewarding . Some of the worldbuilding is a little vague (the different religious sects, the rules/history behind the hunt, etc.) which was a bit distracting at times but didn’t detract hugely from my enjoyment and investment in the story.
Read if you like satisfying, emotional, character-based romance.
Read if you like satisfying, emotional, character-based romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent, Gun violence, Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Grief
alexijai98's review against another edition
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
jessereadsthings's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Xenophobia
Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Animal death