Author: Allison Saft
Publication Date: 8 March 2022
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Page Count: 384
Dates Read: March 7 – 11
Reading Method: Physical (thank you to the publisher!)
Review
This book was absolutely fantastic. I’ve been seeing all my friends reading and loving it, so I was a little hesitant going into it because of the hype. I am here to say I was pleasantly surprised and think the hype was well deserved.
The writing is lovely, lyrical, and atmospheric. The reader is immediately pulled into the magical, mysterious life of Margaret Welty and her unexpected houseguest, Weston Winters. The two must team up to partake in the legendary hunt of the hala – a fox and demiurge – to achieve their individual goals. Margaret is the hunter and Wes is an alchemist in training. Though their chances of winning are slim, the two discover much more than they bargained for on their path to hunting the hala, including dark magic and blooming feelings.
I was surprised by how many layers there are to this story. It’s complexities made it a little sluggish in pace at times, but the discussions were important. In New Albion, the people are divided into three religious groups (what seems to be Christian, Catholic, and Jewish) and tensions are high. Margaret and Weston face persecution because of their religious beliefs, bringing about many enemies in the hunt.
Margaret’s character was my favorite, but every super serious, focused individual needs a counterpart that’s a bit scattered and chaotic – enter Wes. One of my favorite small details is Margaret’s love of romance books. The relationship between Margaret and Wes blossoms oh so slowly, but their friendship feels like a fantastic pairing.
While I really loved this story, I knocked it down a star for the sometimes slow pacing and because of the excess of animal death and gore. I understand that it is necessary to the story and the advancement of the plot, it just makes me uncomfortable and I would rather not read about it in detail. I feel like that is something we could just gloss over or allude to without having to explore further. If animal death bothers you like it does me, this might not be the book for you. Proceed with caution.
I look forward to reading more by Allison Saft in the future!
About the Book
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.
Although they make an unlikely team, they soon find themselves drawn to each other. 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.
About the Author
Allison Saft is the New York Times bestselling author of eerie romantic fantasies, Down Comes the Night and A Far Wilder Magic. After receiving her MA in English Literature from Tulane University, she moved from the Gulf Coast to the West Coast, where she spends her time hiking the redwoods and practicing aerial silks.
