Release Date: March 8th, 2022

Genre(s): Young Adult, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Romance

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Pages: 384

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis

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.

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. 

Review

Covers can often influence my interest, but it’s got to have a synopsis that I’m still thinking about well after reading it. A Far Wilder Magic was one of those books – and the writing of this was absolutely gorgeous as well.

One of my favorite aspects of this book is that, while it has a distinct storyline, the characters drive this book just as much. I found this book to be a beautiful example of how people can bring out the best in each other, and help each other grow.

The way that A Far Wilder Magic was set did so much for the story as well. I love the way that, despite the elements of alchemy and fictional creatures, this book still managed to feel like it could be real. And I think that the addition of religion and their differences on how to embrace creatures like the hala added so much depth to the conflict at hand. Despite the fact that this book takes place in basically two places, it felt so vast and real, and I’m amazed at how that was executed in Saft’s writing.

I’m also just realizing that Saft also wrote Down Comes the Night, which has also been on my radar – I think I know what to add to my TBR next!

Goodreads |Bookshop