A review by bree_h_reads
A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft

dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I really enjoyed most of this book. I found the relationship extremely compelling and every character in the book felt very real and alive. The prose made everything feel very cozy, but instilled a wonderful sense of dread in the scenes it really needed it.

To start, I thought the introduction to the world was very well done and didn’t feel like a long, rambling info dump for most of the early chapters. I thought Maggie’s introduction chapter was beautifully written and captured a melancholic nostalgia. Meanwhile Wes’ really captured the feeling of being out of place and anxious very well. I also enjoyed the difference in their perspectives. Maggie’s chapter made the manor feel comfortable and homey, while Wes’ chapter made it feel cold and eerie. I thought there was a well done, clear distinction between POVs and how different places and circumstances felt different depending on the POV you were in.

I also really enjoyed the relationship, watching Maggie and Wes slowly warm up to each other and come together as friends as they catch feelings was sweet and well executed. Relationships outside of theirs was also amazing. Maggie’s relationship with her mom was so sad, but you could totally understand why she was still so loyal to her mother. Meanwhile Wes’ relationship with his sisters felt so dead on and accurate. There were conversations with his sisters that felt exactly like conversations I’ve had with my two younger brothers and it was all so fun and sweet. Relationships outside of family were also really interesting, watching Maggie and Wes grapple with their identities from religious/ethnic groups outside of the norm felt (unfortunately) very real as well. It was sad and painful to watch them be pushed to the fringes of society and attacked.

The romance too was just so wonderful. I was giggling, kicking my feet, screaming, and freaking out the entire time. The pining and longing and refusal to admit feelings was just so yummy. It never felt ridiculous or overdone for their hesitations to be together, especially Maggie’s. I was also pleasantly surprised by their conflict resolution and that the brief third act break up was an outside force and an overblown miscommunication. I think my only issue with the romance was that I felt two of the really big moments happened at really strange times and it took me out of it a little bit. My other issue with the romance was the spice. Salt and sand on his lips? Wes. Stop. You’re going to give Maggie an infection. (That also took me out of the book.)

Otherwise it was amazing! I think if those had been handled a little bit better I would have easily given this 5 stars. Not rating it 5 stars was already hard, but I couldn’t look past those smaller flubs with the romance.
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