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bookish_selkie
Small Favors is the story of Ellerie Downing, a young woman living in the isolated town of Amity Falls with her family. Old stories tell of monsters that once stalked the forests surrounding the town. The edges of the forest are still strung with the Bells, silver and brass trinkets to keep them at bay. When a supply train goes missing, townsfolk start to wonder if the monsters have returned. As mysterious and dark deeds begin to occur, Ellerie must decide who to trust in order to protect her family.
I absolutely loved Small Favors! From carefully chosen sensory details to the practicalities of living in an isolated location, Craig creates an intricate and immersive town in Amity Falls. As I raced to put together the clues and guess what would happen next, Craig was always one step ahead of me. The slow and devastating unraveling of the town and all social niceties is masterfully executed as the monsters close in. I found myself on the edge of my seat, unable to tear my eyes from the page!
One of my favorite parts of the story was Ellerie’s genuine relationship with her family, especially her sisters. No matter what occurred, Ellerie and her sisters remained resilient and loyal to each other. Ellerie’s struggle between needing to be in a parental role and also a sister was portrayed very well. I enjoyed the romantic love interest, he was mysterious and captivating! Ellerie and her family also keep bees and it was so interesting to learn about beekeeping, an extremely delicate art. Small Favors will make you gasp aloud as what lurks in the shadows of the town is brought to light. This was a spooky and delicious tale where every favor comes with a price. I would highly recommend you pick up a copy! Thank you so much to Erin A. Craig, Delacorte Press, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved Small Favors! From carefully chosen sensory details to the practicalities of living in an isolated location, Craig creates an intricate and immersive town in Amity Falls. As I raced to put together the clues and guess what would happen next, Craig was always one step ahead of me. The slow and devastating unraveling of the town and all social niceties is masterfully executed as the monsters close in. I found myself on the edge of my seat, unable to tear my eyes from the page!
One of my favorite parts of the story was Ellerie’s genuine relationship with her family, especially her sisters. No matter what occurred, Ellerie and her sisters remained resilient and loyal to each other. Ellerie’s struggle between needing to be in a parental role and also a sister was portrayed very well. I enjoyed the romantic love interest, he was mysterious and captivating! Ellerie and her family also keep bees and it was so interesting to learn about beekeeping, an extremely delicate art. Small Favors will make you gasp aloud as what lurks in the shadows of the town is brought to light. This was a spooky and delicious tale where every favor comes with a price. I would highly recommend you pick up a copy! Thank you so much to Erin A. Craig, Delacorte Press, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A Far Wilder Magic is the story of a hunt for the magical hala, the last mythical creature. Weston wants nothing more than to become an alchemist, but he desperately needs a teacher. While her mother may be a renowned alchemist, Margaret wants nothing to do with alchemy. Margaret’s mother Evelyn has always wanted access to the hala. It just might be the thing to bring her home from her lengthy research trips. To participate in the hunt, Margaret must find an alchemist partner. As an unlikely pair, Wes and Margaret team up, only to discover that the most fearsome monsters are human.
A Far Wilder Magic is very character-driven, with gorgeous lyrical writing. Allison Saft really pays attention to all five senses, choosing poignant details that make for vivid scenes. While Wes and Margaret must prepare magically for the hunt, they must mentally prepare as well. Margaret’s character growth in particular was so satisfying to see. This story has a powerful focus on boundaries, familial sacrifice, and fighting against bigotry. One of my favorite parts of the story is Weston’s family dynamics. I loved how they could fight fiercely, but at the end of the day were always there for each other no matter what.
The romance is yearning and soulful, with a delightful grump/sunshine dynamic. The themes of being an outsider and looking to find belonging are communicated so well. Plenty of representation to be found here including what I interpreted as Irish Catholic, Jewish, dyslexia, and panic/anxiety rep. The religions are not called that specific name, but the parallels seem clear for the 1920-ish world. This feels like the perfect read for when you want to be lost in the magic of autumn, the search for belonging, and yearning romance.
I would highly recommend this, especially for fans of Erin A. Craig and Margaret Rogerson! Thank you to Allison Saft, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A Far Wilder Magic is very character-driven, with gorgeous lyrical writing. Allison Saft really pays attention to all five senses, choosing poignant details that make for vivid scenes. While Wes and Margaret must prepare magically for the hunt, they must mentally prepare as well. Margaret’s character growth in particular was so satisfying to see. This story has a powerful focus on boundaries, familial sacrifice, and fighting against bigotry. One of my favorite parts of the story is Weston’s family dynamics. I loved how they could fight fiercely, but at the end of the day were always there for each other no matter what.
The romance is yearning and soulful, with a delightful grump/sunshine dynamic. The themes of being an outsider and looking to find belonging are communicated so well. Plenty of representation to be found here including what I interpreted as Irish Catholic, Jewish, dyslexia, and panic/anxiety rep. The religions are not called that specific name, but the parallels seem clear for the 1920-ish world. This feels like the perfect read for when you want to be lost in the magic of autumn, the search for belonging, and yearning romance.
I would highly recommend this, especially for fans of Erin A. Craig and Margaret Rogerson! Thank you to Allison Saft, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
