Clara is a 17-year-old Everwitch, which means she is a rare witch whose magic is tied to all 4 seasons, rather than just one. Each season comes with changes to both her magic and herself, and she's struggling to control her magic, as it has a tendency to endanger the people she cares about most.

I struggled a little with getting into this book, but by the end I had really enjoyed it. I love the unique magic system of being tied to a specific season, and I enjoyed seeing how Clara's character changed with each season. Climate change directly affects the story as well, as shaders (humans with no magic) are causing climate change, which is killing off witches because they're having to use their magic during their off-season (like summer witches having to deal with a heat wave in winter, when they're at their weakest), which depletes them. I loved that touch.

Clara is at times very woe-is-me because she's so afraid of her magic and afraid to endanger the people around her, which was a bit frustrating and sometimes repetitive. But slowly, she grows to appreciate her magic and fear herself less.

Of course, I loved the romance. Usually, for Clara, she has summer flings, when her romantic feelings are at their highest, and those relationships are gone by autumn. But she meets Sang in Winter and has a partner as she learns to develop her magic through the seasons, which I adored. I loved that her character growth didn't rely on him, either--he helped her realize how to accept and love her power, but ultimately she came to that conclusion on her own, which we love to see.

All in all, I enjoyed this book! And I love that it was an urban fantasy standalone--I feel like that's a rarity. I'd recommend picking this one up if you're a fan of urban fantasy, especially if you're looking for something a little different.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of The Nature of Witches!

The Nature of Witches is a lyrically written novel that weaves a story of healing and learning to love yourself with an important message on the impacts of climate change on the world. In this world, witches have helped maintain the climate for centuries but as shaders (humans without magic) have continued to expand their grasp on nature the impact begins to be more apparent as the weather begins to become increasingly unpredictable. We follow Clara, an Everwitch who, instead of gaining her powers from the season she was born in, can harness powers from each of the seasons. Her powers are not easy to control and pose a danger to anyone she begins to care for which has caused a lot of loss and trauma.

The book is sectioned off by season and as I previously mentioned the writing was lyrical. Since Clara is an Everwitch her affinity for each season shifts as the book does, always referring to her power in the first person. I adored this aspect of how the story was written because the author painted so many beautiful lines into the writing. Clara would so lovingly describe each season that it made me continuously fall in love with nature. There were so many descriptions not only about nature but also about Clara's own healing that made me look forward to rereading with my physical copy so that I can highlight all the parts I want to remember. I think that the way that this book framed how wonderful the natural world can be with the overarching stress of imminent climate change drove home how important it is to fight for the world we live in. We can take the beauty for granted sometimes without realizing that it is up to humans to protect and fix what we have ultimately damaged.

As the seasons changed and the plot progressed Clara underwent her own transformation. She began the book incredibly closed off and terrified of what could potentially happen to anyone that she might accidentally get too close to. Her magic has caused a lot of pain and grief and by losing people she loved Clara feels that the only way she can protect those around her is by bottling up her magic and her emotions. Enter Sang, a student from another school who ends up befriending Clara and helping her learn how to navigate her fears. This portion of the plot was heartwarming. It was lovely to see Clara begin to become unapologetically herself and accept herself, her past, and her magic for exactly what it is. Not only this but I loved seeing how Sang was so communicative because it was a fresh take on a romance. I found this honesty and communication to be a wonderful addition to the story and I think it did wonders for helping show how Clara evolved over the course of the book.

This was an amazing debut from Rachel Griffin. The Nature of Witches was beautiful and heartwarming and I quickly fell in love with the story. It has a strong message of not only the healing power of nature but also how important inner healing and self acceptance are. It tied magical aspects into the real world problem of climate change and had a powerful message about how important it is that humans need to work on a way to combat this. I'm already looking forward to rereading this.

In a recent author panel Rachel Griffin described this as a "love letter to the Earth" and that is the most perfect description of this book.

This is easily one of the most unique, witchy fantasies I've ever read! I love urban fantasy (fantastical stories set in the real world) and I absolutely devoured this one. This story has it all - a chosen one who wants nothing to do with their destiny, the sweetest cinnamon role love interest, commentary on global warming, and beautiful depictions of a nature. You can really feel Rachel Griffin's wonderment for the world and nature throughout this entire book.

I really loved the twist of the chosen one trope in the books because Clara clearly wants nothing to do with her destiny. And I loved the growth the heroine goes through as she discovers to love and accept herself and her place in the world. She changes with every season and must learn to embrace that change - which is an arc I think a lot of readers will be able to relate to. And overall the way the author was able to weave in these impactful themes was expertly done.

Sang stole my dang heart. He is so soft and sweet and wonderful. He is the cinnamon role hero we all need. I really loved the slow burn romance between these two. It was extremely heartfelt and beautiful.

Overall I was completely swept away by this debut fantasy. And I'm so excited to see what Rachel Griffin writes next!

This review is live on Goodreads and will be posted to my blog on 6/11 @ 9am!

This isn't my typical kind of book, but I really enjoyed reading this and have already recommended it to so many coworkers and friends who are looking for books like this! (And bonus points for a stunning IRL cover under the dust jacket!)

Little late on reviewing but this one was just okay to me. I enjoyed the magic system and how witches were linked to weather. That’s something I found unique and haven’t read a whole lot of. However, the main character increasingly annoyed me. That’s more of a personal preference though. I thought the ideas were great but it just fell flat for me.

A beautiful examination of the wonders of the changing seasons. I loved the magic in this book. The main character, Clara, was written so poignantly, it was remarkably easy to sink into her shoes and connect with her. The love story was beautiful. An utterly spectacular debut by Rachel Griffin!

After listening to an interview with Rachel Griffin, I was so excited to begin The Nature of Witches. One of my favorite elements had to be the magical systems. I loved the idea of weather magic paired with climate change. The ways that greed has wrecked havoc on the Earth. Where we're pushed nature to its limits and it's fighting back. The Nature of Witches weaves the climate change threads from the beginning. And I just love the concept so much! One of the other themes that Griffin wanted readers to take away from The Nature of Witches was the positivity of change.

How we can think of change as bad. As "you've really changed", but it's a part of nature. Seasons change, plants die, and new life forms. While I loved what Griffin was saying in the panel, I wish that I had seen this more in Clara. I felt like this theme - which I love the idea of because I think that for girls especially change can be weaponized against them - was eclipsed by other elements of Clara's character. Additionally, I thought the necessity of her healing from her trauma and the loss of her best friend took a smaller role than I would have liked as well.

The story here is about a girl who is an Ever witch. The only one born after centuries. An Ever witch is a witch who can manipulate all the seasons; Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring. The personality and feelings of every seasonal witch depends on the season they belong to and they are considerably weaker in the months that don’t belong to their season.
In this reimagined Earth witches and humans here known as the Shaders, live peacefully together. Witches are responsible for taking care of the atmosphere, the Earth itself. On every corner of the world there are witches keeping check of the environment, keeping balance for all the new changes the shaders make.

Day by day witches are dying because of the depletion of their powers. The weather is constantly and rapidly changing. No matter how much they warn the Shaders about the consequences of their actions, they brush it off saying that they would handle it.

The Ever witch being the most powerful witch, it is her responsibility to help the witches control the weather and protect the world.

Clara, our female protagonist, is the Ever witch. She stays in isolation in a cabin near her school. She pushes everyone away because she thinks that if she gets close to any person then her untamed magic would go after someone and hurt them. The death of her parents and best friend because of her magic, has traumatised her very badly. She also feared that, as she is an Ever witch and that her personality and feelings change as the season changes, so she might not be able to have a proper relationship with anyone.
Clara’s character is very weak, she shows no confidence or any reluctance to try to learn to control her magic. Until she is forced to do so when her teacher and her training process is changed.
She shows some growth at the end of the book. She learns to control her magic and once again interacts with her friends and classmates.

Sang is the transfer student who, under his mentor’s orders, starts to oversee Clara’s training. At first Clara does not like the idea of new way training and that she was forced into the situation. However , Sang slowly coaxes her to use her powers and help her.
The training does help her a lot and both Sang and Clara form a bond, have feelings for each other.

Sang and Clara’s relationship was sweet. Sang is supportive and protective. Together they were really great but I just couldn’t picture it. I found it to be too instant, there was very little buildup. That's why I just couldn’t think of it being real.

The plot of the book was quite interesting and imaginative. I enjoyed it but it was really hard for me to connect with the characters. The writing felt flat and it wasn’t engaging enough. The author has tried to convey an important message about the way our environment is changing and it’s adverse effects. I had high hopes for this book when I first started reading it but it was just too simple, there wasn’t a lot of action, the plot twists were predictable and it felt boring in some places. The ending may have been the only part that was engaging and a little fast paced.

This is an awesome book! I liked the writing style. The magic system is fascinating.

I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review.

Thanks to Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book. Witches that deal with seasonal magic, each one having a season they belong to. All except Clara who is an Ever witch. A witch who can harness all seasons and change with each one. Clara is afraid to fully use her magic due to it unintentionally killing her parents and friend. She has isolated herself from everyone and refuses to form any lasting relationships, so no one else will get hurt. That is until Sang comes to help her control her magic. Can she get close to this boy without putting him in harms way? This story is her struggle to find balance, normalcy, and peace, and to harness her powers to help the planet’s climate changes. A fun read! The author put so much into this world building and it was great! It was such a different take on magic and witches! I also loved the romance too! This book kept me intrigued from start to finish! Would definitely read more by this author!

Gosh, I loved the beginning of this book. It started with such promise and really pulled me into the story. I loved the imagery that Rachel Griffin brought through her writing as well as the creative message of global warming in the world. As the book went on it became really repetitive, though. The romance story was sweet, but I didn't really grow that attached to the characters. This book has promise and I liked it - I just wasn't able to get to the "I love this book!" phase.

First and foremost, the central issue in this book is climate change. Specifically, human made climate change. If you have any strong feelings about that topic, just be warned that it is the central focus. Personally, I know that humans have a direct impact on the environment and the current catastrophes and anomalies we're facing are a result of rapid industrialization and consumerism. Basically - humans didn't create climate change, but we sure as hell made it worse. 

If you don't agree with me, that's fine. But it doesn't change the fact that this book talks about that and takes the stance that humans are the direct cause for worsening climate change and direct damage to the Earth. 

Our main character, Clara, is an Everwitch, or a witch who can tap into each seasonal magic as the Earth makes it trek around the sun. In the summertime, she is a summer witch, and can harness the powers of a summer witch. But when the autumnal equinox hits and summer magic fades into autumn magic, she becomes an autumn witch. Being an Ever means you're more powerful than any seasonal witch, but Clara is the only one, and it has its price. Since her power is so moved by the seasons, so is her personality and her life. Summer is the height for romance, but autumn leaves her feeling sullen and dull. And it means that anyone close to her is at risk of her powers. 

Clara has already experienced great loss because of her power - accidentally killing her parents and her best friend Nikki. Her power seeks out those she loves, which means she has to keep everyone at a distance. But that changes when Sang arrives. 

Honestly, this book wasn't bad. I liked the commentary on climate change and the fact that the author brings hope if we can work together to reverse the effects. The world is interesting and the characters were okay. Clara, understandably, is kind of reserved and almost whiny. If by whiny, I mean constantly anxious that she is going to hurt someone and pushes people away to avoid that situation. But over time, it started to become annoying. I found myself sympathizing with her less and less as she continues to isolate herself and not even try to find a way to work it out with the people it might affect. 

And that was something that really bothered me about Clara as a person - she's so focused on protecting the people she loves that she fails to include them in the conversation. It's always her decision, her need to protect, her choice in the matter, and she fails to allow the other person to make a decision for themselves. 

Honestly, the biggest disappointment with this book is the lagging plot line. I could enjoy the emotional journey Clara goes on, but it terms of action and plot, it's pretty lacking. There were some intense action moments, but they last a paragraph or two, and it just felt too short. From the reviews I'd been reading, this book sounded way more intense and action filled than it actually was. And the romance wasn't as intense as some said it was. Was there conflict and pressure on their relationship? Yes, but that didn't mean the romance was intense or worth noting. Sang was sweet and seemed like a good guy, but the moments we see between them are soft and sweet. Not super emotional like it was described. 

Overall, it wasn't a bad book. There were some things that I liked about it, but it didn't fit the vibe that I was going for. This is a more relaxed book with some moments of intensity, but not the intense, emotional rollercoaster I was promised. I wanted something more whirlwind and this book wasn't that. All in all, good story, good introspective journey, but wasn't what I was promised.

What isn't there to love about a book that deals with witches and climate change!? Honestly, this book has a little bit of everything for a wide range of readers. A great plot, enjoyable characters, themes about protecting nature, sweet romance, and let's not forget about a story about witches. I will be rereading this again in the fall. The cover alone brings me back to a crisp fall day. So basically if you enjoy anything about witches, nature, or just a well-crafted story, you should pick up The Nature of Witches ASAP!

This book has such a unique perspective on witches and nature, and I love it! I’ve read a lot of books with witches, and haven’t seen this concept before. The characters are really well written - I particularity loved Sang, the love interest. He is a soft boy in every way, except for when it comes to fighting for what (and who) he believes in. The main character is great too. She struggles a lot throughout the book, which is to be expected with the things she has experienced in life so far. As a stand-alone, I was afraid the ending would be too open ended for me, but I was actually very satisfied with it.

I look forward to reading other books by this author!

3.5*

I think I have never read a fantasy book centered around climate change, and I thought it was very original! Although, the first half of The Nature of Witches was fast paced and intriguing, but then it really slowed down and I was disappointed. Other than that, I liked the characters and the plot, even though I do not feel satiated by it. I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a free ebook copy in exchange for a honest review.

I was so excited to read The Nature of Witches but it turned out to be one of my least favorite reads this year. It's a novel that centers witches who are each connected to one of the four seasons. The witches maintain the climate, which has only become more volatile as the years go on, and as "shaders" (non-magical humans) have done their worst to harm the climate. Clara is an Everwitch, a witch whose magic is connected to all four seasons. It is in Clara that all hope rests. Clara, however, is afraid of her magic, as the people she cares about get hurt as a result of her magic.

The biggest issue in the writing of this novel is how much telling vs. showing that takes place. We are told how afraid Clara is for the people she cares about, but the stakes are not set. We are told her parents and her best friend died but it would have been stronger if readers had been shown one of those instances set the stakes high right from the start. Give me a heart-wrenching prologue.

The magic system in particular and the world-building in general are vague and weak. The school that the witches study at is not fully fleshed out. How old are the students? How old is Clara? When do they start school? Do they stay year-round? Are there breaks to see families/parents? When do they graduate? What will they do after they graduate? If witches are connected to the earth and working to battle climate change, does the school grow its own food? What do they do with their own trash? I know these details seem small, but the school is almost the entire setting for the novel. TELL ME MORE.

In The Nature of Witches, there is a lot of talk about the witches having to fix the shaders' mess, but there wasn't a lot of showing how the witches were any different or better. The absence of this was only emphasized by the almost total separation between shaders and witches. It's difficult to read a book where you are only reading the protagonists' opinions on how good they are.

Which brings me to the conflict. Who are the antagonists? Is it Clara's teachers? Is it the shaders that readers never really see, shaders who perpetuate and exacerbate climate change? Is it climate change itself?

I suppose it is a bit of all of these, but the biggest conflict seems to be the battle Clara has against herself, on whether to use her magic or not. And I just. didn't. care. She felt one-dimensional, and the romance lacked all chemistry. The most interesting character is the ex-girlfriend, and unfortunately she is someone the readers rarely get to see.

Overall, a wholly disappointing read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for letting me read an eARC of the Nature of Witches! This past week or so have been so busy so even though The Nature of Witches came out on June 1st, I wasn't able to finish reading it/get this review out until now (man, my day job is getting in the way of books haha).

The Nature of Witches 4/5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads:
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.
Practical Magic meets Twister in this debut contemporary fantasy standalone about heartbreaking power, the terror of our collapsing atmosphere, and the ways we unknowingly change our fate.

Man y'all, this book was so cool! I really liked the whole magic system that Rachel Griffin built in The Nature of Witches and I really liked Clara as a main character. I think it's so cool how much of her emotions and personality (and the emotions/personality of the other witches) are based upon what season we're in/what season they're tied to. I think the idea of non-magical people (shaders) knowing about witches and them keeping the weather/seasons in check was really interesting and it was a cool critique of how much we're overburdening the world with our polluting ways. I think Clara and Sang working together and then falling for each other was super cute and the way that it gradually happens and the way that he helps her deal with the trauma of her magic and the power that she holds within her (that she thinks is the reason anyone she cares about dies) was so great and thoughtfully done. I really, really liked that. Pacing wise, I'm a really plot driven person and The Nature of Witches was the not the fastest paced book, which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5, but overall, it was a really great read and I highly recommend it for a different take on witchy magic!

Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the early release read.
Clara is born an Everwitch a very rare kind that can harness power from the sun during every season. Witches help control the climate but as shaders (humans) have made choices without the Earth in mind the atmosphere is more chaotic and harder to control. Clara wants nothing to do with her powerful magic as it has caused harm to those around her. Clara through training with Sang realizes that control of her power can help control the atmosphere but she must make the decision of her power or her happiness.
I was between a 3 and a 4 for this book- settling on 3.5 Stars. I was pulled towards the relationship of Clara and Sang and felt many emotions towards their predicament- Clara's power causes harm to those she loves. I was captivated by the botany and power that witches had over flowers and how growth was connected to emotion. A fascinating read that at times seems simplistic.

This was fantastic!
I love me a witchy read, and this was certainly that.
Highly recommend it to anyone who loves witchy stories, or just needs to get lost for a while.
Much love to NetGalley & Sourcebooks Fire for my DRC.

The Nature of Witches is a perfect book to read outside as sunlight dances through the leaves, while listening to the whispers of the wind in the trees.

Clara is an Ever, a rare witch with powers tied to the four seasons. But in a world where learning to harness her magic could restore balance to the earth, mastering her magic comes at the risk of harming those she loves.

Rachel Griffin transports us into an immersive world teeming with atmosphere—in each season, I could taste the apple cider or feel the spring rain, the summer sun or the bite of winter. The descriptions of witches warring with weather is enthralling—the technological details are incredibly well-researched. Clara is a deeply flawed character, struggling to find her place in the world, and while at times she was frustrating, I appreciate her growth. The other characters responded to her in realistic ways, calling out h Her relationship with botanist Sang aka The Cinnamon Roll is refreshing and wholesome.

As for cons, the book is somewhat of an ecological commentary, which came across pretty pointedly at times. The message of self-discovery and self-acceptance, while it has some merits, was a little… too much at times. Clara does have an ex-girlfriend, who features quite a bit. I would have loved to get to know more of the students (Clara, Sang, and Paige at the only ones we get to know), and to see more of this world of witches and shaders. Most of the story was confined to one location, and I was left wanting more of this urban-fantasy world.

On the whole, this atmospheric story of discovering your place in the world was refreshing, uplifting, and fun, if the messages are a little pointed at times. If you liked Winterwood or Seasons of the Storm, give The Nature of Witches a go.

Grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-arc!

3.5 stars

-Ande