RelationDigest: [New post] A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft

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A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft – ARC Review

by Lydia - The Fiction Feature

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books and Allison Saft for providing this book as a physical galley in exchange for an honest review!

One-Sentence Summary:

Sharpshooter Margaret Welty teams up with aspiring alchemist Wes Winters to participate in the hunt for the magical hala and prove themselves.

My Review:

I loved Allison Saft's debut, but A Far Wilder Magic is even better. This book is a 1910-20s inspired fantasy in which Margaret, the daughter of a famous alchemist, must team up with Wes, an aspiring alchemist in need of a chance, to kill the legendary hala, a magic fox meant to destroy villages unless hunted down.

First of all, let's talk characters! While I don't believe Allison Saft has any weaknesses, I can definitely say her characters are a strength. Margaret and Wes are so full of life and depth that it's impossible not to love them. Even with background characters, their emotions, pasts, and motivations are easy to see on the surface of the character, making them that much more realistic to read about. This includes even the horrible characters, like Jaime Harrington, bigot and d*ck.

This book is dual POV, which helps with both the romance and other interpersonal relationships. Between the enemies and the families, it's so clear how every relationship has progressed and continues to do so. Again, Saft does an amazing job writing her characters to the point where it seems like I'm watching friends interact. The gravity of every situation is understood exactly how she wants it to be, whether it's about romance or suspense.

The plot in this book makes it so engaging and readable. Since the overarching concept is relatively simple (a future for Wes, an active mother for Margaret, and a magical hunt to help them get them), it's definitely a great introduction to YA fantasy and amazing for reading slumps. This book has everything: magic, trials, competition, and more. You're never sure of what will happen next, but everything flows so easily!

I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants a 1920s inspired fantasy (something I think should be more common) with subjects touching on bigotry, tough family dynamics, and lighter ones like magic and competitions we all love to see. This book is so readable and accessible, and I think everyone should read it! Fans of Down Comes the Night won't be disappointed at all! I couldn't put this down.