Trouble shakes his ears out indignantly when she finally releases him, then dances out of her reach. He stands there, regal head lifted, tongue lolling, one pink ear turned inside out. For the first time in days, she laughs. He does love her; he just hides it well, the proud, dramatic thing. But Margaret loves him plainly and far more than anything else in the world. Every autumn, the hala emerges somewhere in the coastal wood. And there it stays for five weeks, terrorizing its chosen territory until it vanishes again on the morning after the Cold Moon. No one knows exactly why it lingers, or where it goes, or why its power grows stronger with the waxing of the moon, but the wealthiest people of New Albion have made a national sport of its appearance. I loved her debut, DOWN COMES THE NIGHT last year. But if DCTN was "gothic winter" embodied, then A FAR WILDER MAGIC is a dream of "dark fantasy autumn." It has a more historical tone than its predecessor, with a setting that reminded me of the 1920's or 30's ... minus the alchemy and hunt for a magical monster, of course.

A consuming character-driven read, A Far Wilder Magic is an enchanting YA fantasy romance about family, finding yourself, and falling in love. Highly recommend for fans of Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves and The White Stag.” —YA Books Central 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. This book was beautiful. I loved the storyline, but I loved all the themes that were woven throughout. It explored what love really looks like, what it means to chase your dreams, and to fight for what you believe in. It explored what it means to be different and alone, and how it is okay to lean on people and that there are good people in the world. If simmering romance between two people with their walls all the way up is your jam, then this book will win your heart…When they eventually let each other in, it’s as satisfying as these things get. …Romantic but not romanticized, A Far Wilder Magic suggests that the true quest isn't hunting the mythical beast, it's finding the truth within yourself.” —NPR.org ONE OF 2022'S MOST ANTICIPATED READS: * BUZZFEED * EPIC READS * GOODREADS * THE NERD DAILY * UNITED BY POP *Normally she would’ve prepared better for the winter, but her mother’s been gone for three months now and the chores have piled up. There are windows to caulk, shingles to replace, pelts to prepare. It’d be far easier if she learned alchemy like her mother always wanted, but no matter how hungry or desperate she gets, it will never come to that. Hohn is a middle-aged man with a kind, wind-chapped face and a blond mustache that spirals neatly at its ends. It cost Wes nearly everything he’d saved to pay him for the ride. If all goes to plan, his return trip to the city won’t be for a good long while. Let’s just say reading this on the bus wasn’t the greatest idea because 1) I was freaking out because Wes + Maggie <3 2) there were tears in my eyes and 3) I needed to catch another bus right when I reached a little cliffhanger so I was STRESSED.

Tender, intimate, and atmospheric, yet written with a taut propulsion that bewitches and compels you, A Far Wilder Magic is unlike anything on the YA shelf. Wes and Margaret are by turns charming and infuriating, drawn together by a shared desire to find their home in a bewildering and forbidding world. With devastatingly gorgeous prose, intricate worldbuilding, and an utterly original plot, Saft weaves a love story that will tear you apart and then stitch you whole again." —Ava Reid, author of The Wolf & The WoodsmanPlease know that what I’m about to say, I don’t say often: A Far Wilder Magic felt so original, and it was so good to read. Reading this was like breaking open freshly baked bread—both comforting and complex at the same time. Allison Saft has crafted a romantic fantasy with a genuinely swoon-worthy male lead, and the enemies to begrudging partners to lovers storyline is based on mutual respect and a real connection. It’s about family and belonging, loneliness, and finding ones own path. And it’s just a delight through and through." — Tor.com, "The 30 Most Anticipated SFF Books of 2022" As you can imagine, when two young people living, and working, together under the same roof, sparks are most likely going to fly. It's not immediate and certainly not discussed between them, but as Margaret and Wes learn more about each other, they discover they may be more alike than they initially thought.