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Synopsis (from Goodreads):
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.
Review:
A Far Wilder Magic, by Allison Saft is a wonderful mix of the real and the magical. There are automobiles and radios, alongside mythical creatures and magic. There's a complex fictional society, but it is one rife with all too real discrimination and repression. And it is filled with two strong main characters, Wes and Margaret, who will steal your heart. With wonderful world-building, real-life themes, characters, and a wonderful romance, this novel was a treat. I highly recommend this YA fantasy. But, with some elements of abuse, and a romance that gets mildly spicy, I would recommend this to high school students and older.
What I Liked:
World-Building:
The world-building in this novel is a wonderful mix of the modern (there are cars, and radios), alongside the old-fashioned (the clothing, the lack of certain technologies). This gave the novel a timelessness that helped me to focus on the story.
Besides the setting, there are some scary stuff going on with the Hala (the mythical fox who wreaks havoc on the countryside). It comes once in a generation, triggering The Hunt. In the lead-up to The Hunt, the Hala starts by killing livestock, then gradually moves on to destroying crops, and even murdering people. The only way to kill the Hala is during the full moon of The Hunt, and must be done by a team of a marksman, and an alchemist.
Along with mythical creatures, magic plays important roles in the story. Wes wants to become an alchemist. He can perform small feats of alchemy (starting a fire), but more complicated magic seems to be beyond him. While he struggles to learn as quickly as he can, other teams are using enchantments to get a leg up on the competition.
Themes:
I love how fantasy novels are able to incorporate real-life issues into a story. This world (sadly) mirrors real life in that both Wes and Margaret face discrimination due to their family's religions. Wes's job prospects are limited due to prejudice, making him even more desperate to become an alchemist. Margaret is made to feel small in her little village for her father's religion. She has learned to ignore the taunts, the sneers, and even the threats. She thinks that if she shies away from attention, people will leave her alone. But there are people who are looking out for them, who do see Wes and Margaret as people worthy of kindness. And that gave me hope.
Characters:
Margaret is a lonely reclusive eighteen year-old, alone in a small village. While her mother Evelyn, a famous alchemist, is away, she must survive on her own. While she has people who are kind to her, the vast majority of people in the village are openly hostile to her due to her father's religion. Even though she is lethal with a firearm, she doesn't get along with people. And she never seems to do things correctly as far as her mother is concerned. She clings to the idea that if she just tries hard enough, her mother will love her.
Wes is the same age as Margaret, but he does come from a house full of love. He is desperate to become an alchemist and then have a successful career. One that would provide for his mother and many siblings. In order to do that he has to convince Margaret's mother, Evelyn to take him on as her apprentice.
We hear a lot about Evelyn long before we meet her. And none of it is good. Since the death of Margaret's brother, Evelyn has become obsessed with her work, and has become cruel towards her daughter. Her actions towards Margaret are emotional abuse. And it has left Margaret with plenty of scars.
Romance:
The true heart of the book is the relationship between Wes and Margaret. Initially, Wes finds Margaret to be plain, and not worthy of a second look. Margaret sees him as annoying and spoiled, always relying on his charm to get what he wants. But as they team up for The Hunt, they both get to see each other for who they really are. And then, the attraction sparks its own kind of magic!
I really appreciated that the author shows how hard it is for Margaret to trust Wes, due to her mother's emotional abuse. It takes a long time for her to see that Wes could like her. And Wes has to also start to see how his fake charm leads to fake connections. When he stops this habit, he starts to see what a true connection with another person is, and also how rewarding it can be.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Release Date: March 8th, 2022
Author: Allison Saft
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Genre: YA Fantasy
Page Length: 384 Pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: A wonderfully written YA Fantasy. I highly recommend it. There are some mildly spicy scenes, so I would not recommend this for young teens. It would be fine for high school age and up.
