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A review by annierose
A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft
adventurous
emotional
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
4.25
I'm surprised at how much I liked this little book. Going into it, I thought it would just be another YA fantasy and in a way it is – the main focus is the budding romance between the two protagonists, Margaret and Weston, and in places I found myself wishing some of the world building and magic system (or alchemy, in this case) would be a tad bit more detailed. Especially placing the book in a certain period felt a little difficult for me. Even though this is a fictional world I got a little confused when I discovered there were things like cars, radios, iceboxes, and condoms etc. in a setting I'd assumed to be Victorian-ish at first, but then, there was no mention of TVs and cellphones... so I'm still a little unclear in this aspect.
However, the slowburn, the pining and the playful banter hit the right spot for me and I found myself turning the pages, eager for more interactions between the two leads. Maggie and Wes do feel like real people with their desires and dreams and anxieties, so it's easy to get invested in their blooming relationships and their vastly different family dynamics. And despite the story including some more mature themes like xenophobia, religious bigotry, emotional abuse, and child abandonment that have the characters going through complex emotions, the sweet romance at the centre of it makes the story feel light-hearted and addictive to read. And sometimes that's all you need from a book.
However, the slowburn, the pining and the playful banter hit the right spot for me and I found myself turning the pages, eager for more interactions between the two leads. Maggie and Wes do feel like real people with their desires and dreams and anxieties, so it's easy to get invested in their blooming relationships and their vastly different family dynamics. And despite the story including some more mature themes like xenophobia, religious bigotry, emotional abuse, and child abandonment that have the characters going through complex emotions, the sweet romance at the centre of it makes the story feel light-hearted and addictive to read. And sometimes that's all you need from a book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Religious bigotry, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Child abuse
Minor: Sexual content