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. 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. He's been fired from every apprenticeship he's landed, and his last chance hinges on Master Welty taking him in. But when Wes arrives at Welty Manor, he finds only Margaret. She begrudgingly allows him to stay, but on one condition: he must join the hunt with her.
Plot
This book starts out fairly slow for the genre. There is a lot of time spent introducing the characters, the town (which is a character of its own), and the hunt. However, if you can get through the first quarter of the book, the plot really picks up and is riveting. When I started the book, I thought the majority would be dedicated to the hunt, and while it’s always present in the background, the majority of the plot is focused on the relationships of the characters. It’s a dynamic that works well but was not what I expected when I started the novel.
Characters
The book alternates perspectives from Margaret and Wes. They’re both scarred and complex characters who bring unique perspectives to the YA Fantasy genre. I will admit that they were initially difficult to get to know due to their tough exteriors, but watching them open up to the reader and to each other is a journey that I absolutely loved. There are also a variety of secondary characters that I enjoyed exploring and getting to know.
Setting
The world this book is set in has been well developed and thought out in detail. There are parallels to mid-1800s America that the author has adapted with magical elements. I especially appreciated the descriptive detail about the small sea side town the story is set in. There is a life to the world created that makes it a character of it’s own. The magic system established is reminiscent of other alchemical stories, such as Full Metal Alchemist but with some fun, unique twists that fans of this magic style will love.
My Recommendation
A Far Wilder Magic is the second Young Adult Fantasy novel from Allison Saft, the author of Down Comes The Night. While this book is not a sequel to her critically acclaimed debut novel, it is a beautifully written fantasy story with complex characters and a beautifully detailed setting. While the plot is slower than her previous novel, the tension picks up soon after the first quarter of the novel. I highly recommend it for fans of Full Metal Alchemist and White Stag.
