When Margaret Welty spots the legendary hala, the last living mythical creature, she knows the Halfmoon Hunt will soon follow.
I was granted eARC access to A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the approval! My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.
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About the Book
A Far Wilder Magic
by Allison Saft
Published 8 March 2022
Wednesday Books
Genre: YA Fantasy
Page Count: 384
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When Margaret Welty spots the legendary hala, the last living mythical creature, she knows the Halfmoon Hunt will soon follow. Whoever is able to kill the hala will earn fame and riches, and unlock an ancient magical secret. If Margaret wins the hunt, it may finally bring her mother home. While Margaret is the best sharpshooter in town, only teams of two can register, and she needs an alchemist.
Weston Winters isn’t an alchemist–yet. Fired from every apprenticeship he’s landed, his last chance hinges on Master Welty taking him in. But when Wes arrives at Welty Manor, he finds only Margaret and her bloodhound Trouble. Margaret begrudgingly allows him to stay, but on one condition: he must join the hunt with her.
Although they make an unlikely team, Wes is in awe of the girl who has endured alone on the outskirts of a town that doesn’t want her, in this creaking house of ghosts and sorrow. And even though Wes disrupts every aspect of her life, Margaret is drawn to him. He, too, knows what it’s like to be an outsider. As the hunt looms closer and tensions rise, Margaret and Wes uncover dark magic that could be the key to winning the hunt – if they survive that long.
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In A Far Wilder Magic, Allison Saft has written an achingly tender love story set against a deadly hunt in an atmospheric, rich fantasy world that will sweep you away.
My Review
My Rating: 4 Stars
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I was granted eARC access to A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the approval! My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.
A Far Wilder Magic is an interesting unlikely lovers sort of fantasy adventure between two teenagers in a world similar to UK several centuries ago, but one where alchemy is real magic and demonic creatures haunt small towns on a periodic basis. Weston is determined to be taken on as an alchemy apprentice when he turns up at Margaret’s doorstep hoping to petition her mother for that student position. Margaret tries to make him leave lest he realize what she’s hiding from everyone: her mother hasn’t been home in a very long time and she doesn’t know when, or even if, she’s coming back. Weston proves extremely stubborn, though, and Margaret happens to need an alchemist partner to enter the Halfmoon Hunt…
This book is full of complex, real characters in a beautiful world with tragic circumstances that demand to be felt and experienced to the fullest. I both couldn’t help but devour this book as fast as possible and yet wished I could make myself slow down and savour it. The human element in this plot is spot-on and tells a very genuine teenage story in the sort of setting that usually treats everyone over the age of 12 as a mature adult. It’s so refreshing and welcome!
With that said, magic is in the title and the magic in this story felt very secondary. I understand and accept that love is the “far wilder magic,” but despite a big part of the plot leaning on Weston’s ability to perform the actual magic it really didn’t spend nearly as much time as I wanted on exploring, explaining, and perfecting said magic. I wanted more on that front. I’d be really interested to read a sequel, if a compelling plot conflict could be dreamed up for them some time in the next couple of years after the point where this story ends, and really explore Weston as a student under proper instruction.
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