A Far Wilder Magic Published by Wednesday Books on March 2022
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 384
Format: eBook
Source: Publisher
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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.
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.
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.
A lush and beautifully written fable. I love the gradual unfolding of this story. Margaret is so incredibly resourceful and strong. I really admired her and enjoyed her sickly attitude. She wasn’t brash or headstrong. She was more bitter, reserved, careful of being hurt. It was easy to See Margaret, out there on the fields or in the house silently doing around through the empty rooms. Living alone as her mother has gone off into the world outside to pursue her own priorities, Margaret is left alone to fend for herself. This involves taking care of herself, the house and grounds hunting. And then it involves turning away potential alchemists who appear at her door, seeking her mother. This includes Weston Winters. This is Weston’s last chance. If her mother doesn’t take him on as a student, he will her be able to become an alchemist and run for office. And he will have to go back to his home to get a job and take care of his family.
Margaret lets him stay and they enter into an age old tradition – the Hunt.
Weston is more friendly, more outgoing and an outsider in her small town. I really liked his fish out of water feeling. He seemed like a big colorful blog set down in the dreary atmosphere. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a darkness or a substance. But he definitely seems like a colorful sun that shines suddenly into Margaret’s life and invigorates the town.
That said, this is no install. They really don’t like each other and it’s only slowly grown through the book that they feel mutual understanding and respect. I really liked this aspect of the story because it was focused on them as characters and first and how they made each other better and more complex.
The tone and setting is also a fantastic character in this story. The reader is really with them on the hunt, in the woods, walking about the falling down house. Feeling Margaret’s intense emotions and sensing her family’s deep rooted grief was well written, the heaviness becoming a real motivator to the characters in the story as well as being a rich setting.
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed this story. It’s a slow build and totally worth it and by the end, you’re rooting for both of them. There’s real danger, both magical and human, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure how it would end.
A quick note too – that cover is gorgeous and once you read the book, it’s a remarkably accurate representation of those two characters and the world around them. Whimsical, murky and dark.
Go grab your copy.
Kimberly majored in Songwriting and currently works full time in the music industry. When she's not listening to music, knitting or writing, you can find her outside reading her favorite genres: Young Adult, Adult Fiction, Mystery, and Romance.
