A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft

A Far Wilder Magic

by Allison Saft

"An utterly transportive read, unfolding into a world of crumbling manors and ancient forests. Allison Saft crafts a deliberate, intricate romance that will have you as unmoored as the characters." - Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights

A romantic YA fantasy perfect for fans of Erin A. Craig and Margaret Rogerson, about two people who find themselves competing for glory - and each other's hearts – in a magical fox hunt.

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.

Reviewed by ambiancereads on

3 of 5 stars

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Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for this arc.

Super excited to get my hands on this one. And quite frankly I’m torn about this one.

In a way, it’s a bit like historical fantasy. It’s set against the backdrop of religious persecution and politics.

Maggie Welty is a child of a famed alchemist whose been abandoned by her mother. She’s stuck taking care of the worn down manor when she meets Weston Winters. Winters is desperate for an alchemist apprenticeship to help his family. So he makes a deal with Maggie to participate in the hunt for the wild Hala.

It’s a slow burn romance the kind that makes you scream “GET IT TOGETHER! KISS HER”. It’s also full of magic. The struggles each of the characters have really make the story. Their different family dynamics and the way they’ve handled their struggles is great. It’s definitely very teenage angsty.

I think I struggled with the historical aspect of it. And the religious side of it as well. I’m not entirely sure I enjoyed it. But I loved the concept of the hunt that kept me reading. And the writing I found was beautiful. Saft creates such a eerie setting and I found myself rooting for the two characters through it all.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 5 March, 2022: Finished reading
  • 5 March, 2022: Reviewed