Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / BAM / Book Depository

 

Description:
When eighteen-year-old witch Iris Gray accidentally enacts a curse that could have dire consequences, she must team up with a boy who hates witches to make sure her magic isn’t unleashed on the world.

Iris Gray knows witches aren’t welcome in most towns. When she was forced to leave her last home, she left behind a father who was no longer willing to start over. And while the Witches’ Council was lenient in their punishment, Iris knows they’re keeping tabs on her. Now settled in Washington, Iris never lets anyone see who she really is; instead, she vents her frustrations by writing curses she never intends to cast. Otherwise, she spends her days at the wildlife refuge which would be the perfect job if not for Pike Alder, the witch-hating aspiring ornithologist who interns with them.

Iris concocts the perfect curse for Pike: one that will turn him into a witch. But just as she’s about to dispel it, a bird swoops down and steals the curse before flying away. If the bird dies, the curse will be unleashed―and the bird is a powerful amplifier, and unleashing the curse would turn not just Pike, but everyone in the region, into a witch.

New witches have no idea how to control their magic and the consequences would be dire. And the Witches’ Council does not look kindly on multiple offenses; if they found out, Iris could be stripped of her magic for good. Iris begs Pike to help her track the bird, and they set out on a trek through the Pacific Northwest looking for a single bird that could destroy everything.

 

Review:

Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin is another one of her excellent Fantasy novels. The story centers on Iris Gray, a young witch, who lives with her mom in Washington, as they run a wildlife refuge. Iris and her mom are both witches, who have elemental abilities, especially to heal with their magic. Iris, having recently been cleared by the witch council, of wrongdoing by a friend, tries not to let anyone know she is a witch.  She does love her magical powers, always helping with healing and the climate.  Pike Alder, works at the refuge with Iris, and she hates him, as he is arrogant, and hates witches, though he doesn’t know she is one.

When Pike constantly infuriates her, she decides on her own to create a curse for him, which will turn him into a witch; only to be sidetracked when an injured owl flies in front of her, when she releases the curse, which enters the owl.  Iris must find a way to get the owl, to remove the curse, especially if the injured owl dies, it will affect Pike and others.

With her mother’s insistence, Iris and Pike head out to the woods to find the injured Owl, though he does not know about the curse. As they hike to find the owl, their constant bickering changes, when Pike begins to grow on Iris, and an enemy to lovers’ romance begins.  It was fun to watch them, and I really began to like Pike more, when he was always there for Iris when she had her anxiety attacks. I did enjoy Iris’s mother and her girlfriend, Sarah. The story escalated as Iris was desperate to find the owl, and save Pike. To tell too much more would be spoilers, and I do not want to ruin it for you.

Wild is the Witch was an emotional story, that had a bit of everything; forgiveness, family, anxiety, romance, witches and elemental magic. I really loved Iris and Pike’s slow burn romance.   The last third of the book was very exciting, keeping me glued to my kindle.   Wild is the Witch was very well written by Rachel Griffin.  If you enjoy elemental magic, climate and witches, I suggest you read this book.

---

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Book Depository

 

Description:
For centuries, witches have maintained the climate, their power from the sun peaking in the season of their birth. But now their control is faltering as the atmosphere becomes more erratic. All hope lies with Clara, an Everwitch whose rare magic is tied to every season.

In Autumn, Clara wants nothing to do with her power. It’s wild and volatile, and the price of her magic―losing the ones she loves―is too high, despite the need to control the increasingly dangerous weather.

In Winter, the world is on the precipice of disaster. Fires burn, storms rage, and Clara accepts that she’s the only one who can make a difference.

In Spring, she falls for Sang, the witch training her. As her magic grows, so do her feelings, until she’s terrified Sang will be the next one she loses.

In Summer, Clara must choose between her power and her happiness, her duty and the people she loves… before she loses Sang, her magic, and thrusts the world into chaos.

 

Review:

The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin is a standalone Fantasy novel. The story centers on witches, who for centuries, help maintain the climate, using their elemental powers. The Nature of Witches is a different kind of fantasy, based on the unique abilities for all the witches who were born to perform their magic in controlling the climate for each of the seasons; spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Our heroine, Clara Densmore, attends a magical academy to hone her skills, with many young witches being trained, but each of their strengths are for a season only.  Clara is an Everwitch, the only person in many years, who can control all seasons.  With the climate beginning to falter, the onus on teaching Clara how to control her powers has become imperative. Clara feels her powers are too wild and volatile, and doesn’t really want to use it, as she lost her parents and a friend to the magic, which she feels always points to those she loves.  With the climate becoming erratic, another trainer and his assistant comes to train Clara; as the importance of her learning to control her magic becomes more imperative when other seasonal witches are dying.

We meet Sang, a spring witch, who is a botanist, as well as the assistant of the lead trainer, and is assigned to train Clara, using his ability to calm her fiery nature.  I totally loved Sang, as he was sweet, caring and amazing in working with Clara.  In a short time, Clara begins to have feelings for Sang, who has done wonders in training her. Their slow burn romance escalates, causing Clara to worry about using her powers, which could hurt Sang. Will she walk away from her feelings for Sang, to protect him?

The Nature of Witches was a wonderful fantasy novel, that had a bit of everything; mystery, thriller, romance and the elemental magic detailing all the changes in the weather conditions. I really loved Clara and Sang together, as well as some of the other secondary characters, including Paige.  The last third of the books was very exciting, keeping me glued to my kindle.   The Nature of Witches was very well written by Rachel Griffin.  If you enjoy elemental magic, climate and witches, I suggest you read this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copies provided by Publisher