A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft Review

Title: A Far Wilder Magic

Author: Allison Saft

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publisher: Orion (UK), Wednesday Books (US)

Pages: 432

Release Date: 17 March 2022 (UK), 8 March 2022 (US&CA)

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Captivatingly haunting and visually atmospheric, Allison Saft’s A Far Wilder Magic is a beautifully immersive and evocative exploration of acceptance & loneliness with a spellbindingly sweet, slow burn romance that I literally couldn’t get enough of. A massive thank you to Orion Childrens Books and Netgalley for the e-arc.

Synopsis

A MAGICAL SECRET. A MYTHICAL HUNT. AND A LOVE THAT COULD RISK EVERYTHING.

In the dark, gothic town of Wickdon, Maggie Welty lives in an old creaking manor. Maggie's mother is an alchemist who has recently left town, leaving Maggie with just her bloodhound for company. But when Maggie spots a legendary ancient fox-creature on her porch, her fate is changed forever. Whoever tracks down and kills the hala in the Halfmoon Hunt will earn fame and riches - and if Maggie wins the hunt, she knows her mother will want to celebrate her. This is her chance to bring her home.

But the rules state that only teams of two can join the hunt, and while Maggie is known as the best sharpshooter in town, she needs an alchemist.

Enter Wes Winters. He isn't an alchemist ... yet. Fired from every apprenticeship he's landed, this is his last chance.

Maggie and Wes make an unlikely team - a charismatic but troubled boy, and a girl who has endured life on the outskirts of a town that never welcomed her. But as the hunt takes over, the pair are drawn together as they uncover a darker magic that may put everything they hold dear in peril...

A rich and tender YA fantasy love story. Perfect for fans of Sorcery of Thorns and Finbar Hawkins.

Review

I honestly loved just how delicately crafted and exquisitely woven every element of this story was, first we have the vividly detailed setting which gave off gothic, autumnal 1920s vibes which were utterly transportive—the crumbling, Manor House left languishing outside of town was also instrumental in building up the haunting ambience I loved soo much. In fact the lore surrounding alchemy and the Hala was also helpful in bringing the richly detailed and atmospheric world to life.

I loved Margaret who was such a fascinating character, she comes across and standoffish at first but, her independent and reclusive nature is really just her way of coping with her crushing loneliness amidst the towns prejudices against her—waiting for her mother to return and be a family again. Her quiet determination to succeed despite her status as an outsider was also one of the reasons I loved her soo much.

Wes is the complete opposite to Margaret personality-wise; he’s outgoing and at first glance appears to be nothing but a flirt who takes nothing seriously, but beyond his easy going exterior we’re treated to the smart, hardworking and loyal boy beneath. As the son of immigrants he’s also (like Margaret) felt his fair share of prejudice something that marks him as an outcast too.

I thought Wes and Margaret were perfect together, they were the epitome of the sunshine/grump trope (he being the sunny one and she the grump) and the heartwarmingly slowburn relationship was so well written—It felt organic (no insta love here) and the level of detail—including heated, longing looks and expert level pining—was just beautiful. I do however wish we’d spent a bit more time within the hunt itself as, it did feel a little anticlimactic after all that buildup.

Overall this was an exquisitely written and beautifully compelling story that I absolutely fell in love with, the inclusion of Dyslexia rep of a main character (Wes) was sensitively explored and really lovely, I hope to see more rep like this in future.

So, if you loved the sweepingly magical prose of Margaret Rogerson’s Sorcery of Thorns then I definitely recommend you check this out!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

About The Author

Photo © Lisa DeNeffe Photography

Allison Saft is the author of eerie and critically acclaimed romantic fantasies, Down Comes the Night and A Far Wilder Magic. After receiving her MA in English Literature from Tulane University, she moved from the Gulf Coast to the West Coast, where she spends her time hiking the redwoods and practicing aerial silks.

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