A Far Wilder Magic took me by complete surprise - I was drawn in by the premise and that gorgeous cover but I stayed for the Margaret and Wes and their palpable chemistry and their budding romance as well as the stunning exploration of family dynamics, notably between Margaret and her mother.
There was so much depth here when it comes to this dynamic specifically and the sense of identity, belonging and loss was so well done. Every emotion was so visceral and the entire book is cloaked in this heavy atmosphere which only seems to lighten when our main characters find moments of joy and makes said moments even more significant.

I really felt each moment of isolation Margaret experiences prior to Wes's arrival and then the subsequent journey she goes through in opening herself up to friendship and more is so beautiful to read. Having been an outsider in the town her whole life, meeting Wes, a person who can relate to her and has the desire to connect with her and sees her for who she truly is? Alison Saft delivers some truly heart wrenching moments and it's such a pleasure to read.

I think my least favourite portion / elements within the book was the whole 'hunt' element - which certainly takes up a great deal of the novel and understandably so but I just didn't really care for it much. I think this part could have been reworked in some way to be more interesting but I just didn't fully get how the alchemy element worked in the book + the importance of it all, it felt a bit shoehorned in at times to provide another element in the story rather than feeling like a seamless merging between this and the romance element.

Overall - I really did enjoy this book and would definitely recommend it to fans of fantasy which has a central, compelling romance.

I adored this book!

It can be a bit of a slow burner, the romance builds up slowly throughout the novel. There’s also a lot of information given to the reader in quite a short space of time so it requires your full attention so that you understand the history and context.

The actual hunt doesn’t take up any of the book really, considering how much build up there is to it, this seems quite strange. However I loved the character development and I feel the author managed to capture what a narcissistic parent looks like perfectly.

I couldn’t put this down, and would recommend it.

I’m not entirely sure what kind of book I expected, but an excruciatingly slow family melodrama wasn’t it. The hunt mentioned in the book description didn’t happen until 90% mark and was over in a blink.

The world was odd; maybe 1920s England with magic, but then again maybe America, as there were dollars, senators, and yams and coon hounds. And in the end, the magic wasn’t as important as the religious divides and sorting people based on their believes.

I felt sorry for Margaret and wanted to like her, but quite couldn’t. At least she had a good character arc and she ended at a good place. Wes was easier to like, but I didn’t feel their romance at all.

The writing was good enough, so if you’re into fantasy with family issues, this is for you.

“Whoever is able to kill the hala will earn fame and riches, and unlock an ancient magical secret.”

#FarWilderMagic #AllisonSaft

Genre: #Fantasy #YA #Romance

Books: 1/1

I can’t say that I've been disappointed, because I had no expectations from this book.

I was curious about the mix of alchemy and different religious aspects.

I won’t be writing books description here; I will shortly talk about my feelings towards this book.

“Far wilder magic” is one of those books, where author had a grand idea, but in my opinion, she wasn’t able to complete it.

We have a girl Margaret, who has a lot of childhood traumas, believes that she is worthless and constantly is trying to prove her worth to her mother – The Great Alchemist. She is also hated by her towns people, because of her religion.

Boy Wes, who is descendant of an Irish family descendant and an immigrant. And also represents different religion. He wants to become an apprentice of the “Great Alchemist”.

I don’t understand the point involving Protestants, Catholics and Jews, when religion conflict is not properly explained. Great idea, but all we get that people are not liked/accepted, because they are different.

I had big hopes for mythology, and hala explained more, but no, we just know that it has been created by (The One) and that everyone is hunting it for the power.

Alchemy, hardly explained at all.... Just some thins “are done”, how they are done? What has been used?

Great for those who love Romance books are not too much bothered about the details/other events.

An average YA/Romance book, with a couple trying to heal each other wound.

Love/Hate relationship.

the insta love and not like other girls employed by this are not to my taste at all. it's a pity because the cover is very pretty. the 'alternate' setting also was very lazy.

This story was a bit hard for me to get into but once I got into it, I flew through it. We follow Maggie who lives alone in a ghostly Manor after being 'abandoned' by her mother who is an alchemist. Maggie is basically the outcast in this small town and has adjusted her life to her invisibility and sometimes hypervisibility. Then we meet Wes Winters who have just arrived in town to learn alchemy from Maggie's mother only to find out that she has not been home in a long time.

He manages to convince Maggie to allow him to stay with her in the house and before long Maggie invites him to join her in signing up for the Halfmoon hunt to catch and kill the mystical hala and win the prize. Maggie wants the hala for her mother hoping that this would make her mother stay with her. Wes needs the money from the hunt to pay for his mother's surgery and to take care of his sisters.

They form a team and sign up for the hunt. I enjoyed the little snarky interactions that they had. Maggie realizing that she did not need to live her life waiting for her mother who held no regard for her was quite eye-opening and not something that we see enough in young adult/new adult literature. I also loved the relationship between Wes and Maggie which started on distrust and fear but grew into that of a deeper understanding of each other. It was quite nice to see.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Where do I start? I did not know what to expect from A Far Wilder Magic, but it proved to be the book I didn't know I needed.

What I loved:
- The romance was so spot on in this; we have awkward (and sort of cringey at times) teenage feelings that are captured brilliantly by Saft.
- The 20s-esque era that is conjured is truly magical. The world building is subtle and I found myself easily submerged. From the description of the town/city to the description of Wes' sisters. Such fine attention to detail.
- The dark academia/gothic feel; this is weaved intricately throughout and I am here for it!
- The complex familial relations. Wes and Maggie come from very different circumstances and whilst one envies the other to an extent, each has their own cross to bear when it comes to strained relations with parents and/or siblings. This felt really authentic to me.
- Wes. I just love Wes.

Things I disliked:
Nothing. 5 stars.

Will I reread?
Yes. I already kind of have... This is fast becoming a comfort read for me, and if it's not already on your TBR I demand* you add it immediately.


*If you want to of course!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This book is heavy on the romance, so if that's not your thing, this book probably isn't for you. But the romance element is well done - you do believe Margaret and Wes are attracted to each other and the slow burn element makes it more believable. However, this is perhaps to the detriment of the world-building. There isn't a lot of detail about how alchemy actually works or how New Albion functions if all its politicians and diplomats are selfish, cold-hearted alchemists - instead we get a snapshot of the world, which is enough for the story to function but might leave some people unsatisfied.

Despite this, Saft deals with some sensitive issues such as prejudice and child neglect well, and the plot moves along at a satisfying pace. If you want a romance novel with a touch of fantasy, you could do a lot worse!

This book felt so much longer than it needed to be, dragging the sexual tension out an excruciating amount even for this asexual, and I'm glad I was pretty invested in Margaret and Wes's relationship because the main plot of the Hala hunt and alchemists was a little boring, and I felt like I was waiting for the next part of the hunt for far too long, and each stage went by too quickly.

I think my problem was the story was secondary to the relationship, so the nuances of how alchemy works, why Wes can use it and others can't isn't really explained enough and the world building could have been expended, as we spent the entire time in Margaret's small town.

What was truly interesting was the technology. Cabs, phoneboxes and even condoms have been invented in this world, giving the story a early 1900s vibe which did make the setting a little harder to picture for me, instead of easier. I was never quite sure if I was supposed to be picturing houses styled in the traditional countryside style I was used to, or something more akin to art deco.

The romance, if you're fully invested in it and only it, was phenomenal. Just when you think they're finally, finally going to get together the story throws us for a loop and it was INTENSE. Margaret and Wes make so much sense as a couple too, they challenge each other but also relate to each other, making them one of YA's strongest couples.

I was such a fan of Allison’s first novel Down Comes The Night that this automatically was one of my most anticipated reads of the year… And I was not disappointed!!!

This book was everything I hoped for and more! A sweet, slow burn romance set against a stunning backdrop with some of my favourite tropes - sunshine/ grumpy romance, strong family relationships, overcoming troubled pasts/forgiveness/acceptance. Beautiful setting with the perfect mix of funny and serious moments that fully immersed me into this world.

I think my only criticism would be I felt the ending was a tad rushed in comparison with the pacing of the rest of the book but honestly I’m just being nit picky because it didn’t take away from the story at all! Or maybe that’s just me not wanting the book to end.

I highly, highly recommend this! Even if you don’t normally read romance (which I don’t). You’ll be left with a beaming smile across your face regardless.

A Far Wilder Magic is the story of Margaret, a lonely hunter who lives in a crumbling manor on the outskirts of town, and Weston, an alchemist who has been expelled from all of his apprenticeships so far. Together they compete in a legendary hunt in the hopes it'll make their dreams reality, although the danger is very real and their initial animosity slowly changes as they fight for their lives.

This is such a beautifully written book, the atmosphere is almost a character in itself. There is almost a gothic feeling to AFWM, the world building, whilst not too complex, is authentic and wonderfully realised, you really get the feel for the 1920s setting. The characters themselves are brilliant, each flawed in their own way and with their own wants and needs. Margaret's loneliness in the beginning was so stark it made me ache for her, and I instantly fell for Wes and his charming ways. The way their relationship grows is slow, it starts with them initially hating each other but over time they have a grudging respect that eventually forms into a beautiful love story.

The alchemy and the science behind it is absolutely fascinating. Saft did an amazing job of describing it, and it was such an imaginative way to add magic into the story.

I haven't had the pleasure of reading Saft's debut novel but based on my enjoyment of this one I'll be adding it to my tbr very soon!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Orion Children's book for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNF at 50%. Top marks for the premise: alchemist and sharpshooter in a competitive hunt for a mostly mythical creature. I really gave this one a good go, because it definitely has its moments but, ultimately, its not for me. If you enjoy slow burn, very character driven novels, it'd likely be a much better fit.

Sadly I couldn't finish this one. The character interactions are barely there. They are one dimentional. The worldbuilding is not good. It simply wasn't engaging to me.

Wow, what a wild ride.

This book was whimsical and lyrical, and I really enjoyed it. Margaret and Wes had such a great dynamic and I really enjoyed their character development. Alchemy and danger unite in this book that follows a deadly hunt. The writing is so atmospheric, and the descriptions were vivid and amazing. The pacing is slow, but it adds to the story- it's definitely more of a book to read on a rainy day.
Overall, enjoyable! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an e-arc!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: animal death, parental abuse

A Far Wilder Magic is a gorgeous and romantic fantasy written by one of my favourite debut authors from 2021, Allison Saft. This book is beautifully written but also incredibly harsh in the world it takes place in, based around a magical fox hunt to kill one of the final relics of an ancient world. The characters of Margaret and Wes were so complex and well written, from their internal doubts (Margaret having grown up ostracized in a small town, Wes experiencing much the same in a large city) to their blossoming romance. I loved the magical system in place here, showing that alchemy does have a cost far greater than magicians might realise.

What really stuck with me from this book is the overall message that loving the right people will make things easier. Margaret's relationship with her mother was heart breaking and difficult to read, especially as she sat waiting for the mother she'd once known to return to her. Her journey into acceptance, bordered by her growing romance with Wes, was my favourite part. Allison Saft is an incredible writer and I can't wait to see what she might write next.

an absolutely brilliant debut with gripping story and interesting characters, would recommend to everyone who likes fantasy . thank you so much for an early arc !!!

A huge huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this eArc!!

I can’t express how happy I was when I saw I was approved for this arc- and it definitely didn’t disappoint! I read Saft’s first novel last year and adored it, this lived up to everything I wanted and more. I’m so happy I was able to read this early!

Such a beautiful book!

3-3.5 STARS

(Was slightly in a reading slump whilst reading which may have affected my rating.)

The writing in this one is gorgeous it sets the atmosphere perfectly.

I loved the slow burn and grumpy-sunshine aspect of the romance and getting to see both the main characters come together.

The main aspect that affected my enjoyment was the competition/plot as it felt like it was building up to it the entire book then was rushed towards the end.

But overall it's a fantasy standalone that I think many will like!

I'll be honest that this book was slightly different to what I envisioned, but I actually really enjoyed it for the latter part. It took me a while to get sucked in to the world that Allison Saft had created within these pages but I found Wes a very amicable character and was one of the reasons i felt compelled to continue.
Much of the book felt a little slow and sluggish and on the whole I could say there wasn't much action, but it was a nice change from the usual books I read and I was pleasantly surprised by the subtle slow-burn romance that blossomed throughout these pages. I was sad that there wasn't much in the way of world building, and I still was left with a question or two by the books closure, but overall I was satisfied.
I feel like the way the book built this race up to be so important made the actuality of it fall kind of flat for me, and it spent so long trying to highlight its importance I felt a bit letdown, but in the end I really liked the ending and the fact that the angst was minimal.
I'd definitely be able to recommend this book to those wanting a nice laid-back read with some magical undertones and an intriguing romance, even if I didn't fully feel like the book explored it's topics to the extent it could have.

I was full of cold this weekend and retreated from the world (the noisy family) with this book and I'm so glad that I did. It was the perfect comfort blanket to soothe me and keep me company. The storyline is interesting, the romance wonderful and the world building enough to draw you in. I know that eventually I will have to read it again with the family but for now I'm keeping it to myself (and Goodreads).