A review by discarded_dust_jacket
A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft

adventurous dark emotional mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

I will die on the hill that says a 3-star rating is a good rating. I liked this book! I enjoyed the Jewish folklore element (if you liked The Wolf and the Woodsman, you’ll love this book), I thought the plot was unique and the romance was sweet. 

I didn’t know much about it going in, and it threw me for a bit of a loop when the world was far more “modern” than I was expecting (they drive cars and use phones). I thought it was going to be a full-blown fantasy story with like horses and swords for some reason, so it confused me for a second before I got my bearings. 

I found it especially moving to witness the protagonist, Margaret, journey towards healing the toxic views of love she has based on her relationship with her emotionally abusive mother:

“Love is not the sharp-edged thing [Margaret] 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…”

The only reason it didn’t get a higher rating from me was because the pacing for the middle 1/3 of the book was a bit slow for my taste. It kind of lagged a little bit, but found it’s stride eventually. I definitely enjoyed it, but it didn’t blow me away.
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