I LOVED IT!
I loved the unique mechanism of Magic’s working around the witches!
I loved the air pollution, climate change messages of the story!
I loved the Hogwarts school of magic for witches premise meets Practical Magic books with sweet, romantic vibes and resemblances of Jan De Bont’s terrifying Twister movie scenes !

I loved Clara even though I found her too stubborn and I pissed off the way of her never stopping self pitying!

I loved badass, loyal friend Paige!

But I mostly loved the charming, sweetest botanist who melt our hearts with his genuineness! Yes, Sang was amazing. At some parts I thought Clara didn’t deserve him! Didn’t she act so paranoid around him when only thing he did was treating her so kindly! Anyway this Korean, romantic botanist who can whisper to the flowers stole my heart!!!

After seeing mesmerizing cover, I knew I would truly fall hard for this book!

I can hear you may ask me what this is about if you are too lazy to read the blurb. Don’t worry, I’d love to talk more about the story line. Here we go:
An ecological, thought provoking, unconventional fantasy with witches who have their unique abilities based on each season’s strengths and weaknesses and an Ever Witch who holds the powers of entire seasons who needs to learn controlling them without hurting her loved ones, not making the same mistakes again!

17 years old Clara is the Everwitch whose magic tied at every season. When the autumn’s equinox comes, she forgets her feelings about someone she truly cared before. She’s evolving, changing. And her past traumas which lasted the death of her family and her close friend Nikki forces her to put barriers between her and other people.

She’s still suffering with guilt feelings, pain to lose loved ones. She’s afraid of channeling her real power even though she is forced by her instructors, she keeps holding herself back!

But as an ecological disaster starts to raise and the witches’ population at the risk of extinction, she’s the last one who can solve the problem and brings the balance nature needs for healing!

She’s paired with botanist Sang who is spring witch, can soothe her fiery nature down and help her fulfill her potential. But as they practice more, Clara not only learns to put her guard down, using her magic with its full potential, she also lowers down her emotional barriers and not only their powers merge, but their hearts crush and fall for each other!

Now Clara faces her most excruciating dilemma: she can strip down her powers at eclipse to chase her HEA with Sang or she can leave him not to put his life in danger and resumes her plan to save the lives of witches!
But there must be other way! She can save lives and she can be with her love of her life. But how!? What if she kills Sang as like she’d done to her parents, her friend Nikki.

Overall: a quick, gripping, lovely fantasy with amazing hero and tolerable heroine and unique depictions which remind us of real power and beauty of each season earned my five equinox, witchy, conjuring, eclipse stars!

Special thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

I found the premise of magic being tied to the seasons intriguing along with the story taking place in a modern setting. Normally those with magic have full power during the season that they were born into, but in Clara's case she is the first Ever in 200 years. Her power is strong in each season, though tied to which season it currently is. She is in her last year of school and is still trying to figure out how to use her magic while coping with the losses of those she loves to her magic.

I received a copy of this book to review through NetGalley and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed The Nature of Witches! I was hooked from the very beginning to the very last word. I absolutely loved Rachel Griffin’s writing. It was beautiful, descriptive and so atmospheric! I cannot wait to read more from her in the future.

The magic system was so intriguing. In this book witches can control the atmosphere. Each witch is tied to one of the four seasons. I’ve never read anything like this before so I was very invested and I enjoyed learning about how each season’s magic worked. I also think that the author did a great job discussing climate change and how it’s impacting the world around us.

The main character Clara was fantastic. She is an Everwitch, which means she is connected to all four seasons. These type of witches are extremely rare and very powerful. Throughout the story Clara really struggles with her magic. It has caused her so much pain and heartbreak so of course she is afraid of losing control. Clara goes on a beautiful journey to not only trust her magic, but herself as well. It’s an emotional rollercoaster for sure but it is by far the best part of this book!

The romance was oh so cute. I really loved Sang. He was so sweet and supportive. He really believed in Clara and he helped her connect with her powers on a level that she didn’t even know was possible. Definitely one of my favorite relationships for sure!

Overall, The Nature of Witches was fantastic! Between the writing, magic and characters, I couldn’t get enough! I’m honestly ready for a reread. I really hope that one day Rachel Griffin decides to write more books set in this world. I would read them in a heartbeat!

I really enjoyed the magical system in The Nature of Witches. The connection to nature and the seasons reminded me of Practical Magic, but with a more modern twist due to the climate change message. Rachels Griffin's writing was also beautiful and lyrical.

However, I didn't love Clara. I had a hard time rooting for her and connecting with her. I loved Sang and I felt that she changed for the better once he came into her life, which was obviously the point the author was trying to convey because Clara's magic also improved. However, their connection was a little lackluster because I wasn't rooting for her from the beginning and it felt disingenuous to who she was before he entered her life.

I would definitely still recommend this book to other readers who love witch-themed books.

Honestly, I could not get drawn in. I've put this book down and revisited later thinking perhaps it was the mood I was in, or maybe I was looking for something else and just didn't know it. But I just couldn't get sucked in. I'm sorry to say, I think this one just isn't for me. It may be exactly the book for you, so give it a go.

I enjoyed this book because it made you think without knowing you were thinking.

The theme of climate change is very poignant and I think this book tackled it in an interesting way.
I also feel that being an ‘Ever’ witch and having moods that change with the season is very similar to having Seasonal Affective Disorder and that the moods of the seasons were written beautifully.

I seriously questioned the weight of ‘doing the right thing,’ in a dilemma, and couldn’t decide how I felt about our protagonist Clara when she wanted to strip herself of her powers, despite the witches she could save by retaining it. I felt torn. Why should she personally have to live a life in isolation for the sake of others? Why should anyone have to die so that she may experience love? Can anyone honestly say they’d save themselves over saving many? On the contrary, can anyone honestly say they’d save many over themselves? (I wasn’t lying when I said this book made you think).

The book wasn’t plot heavy. The progression of the story was measured by the improvement of Clara’s magic for the first 80%. I feel a little more plot would of made this is a higher star rated book for me. Chapters 16 & 17 specifically perplexed me! I felt they were inconsequential and problematic.

Having said that, I love the quotes at the beginning of every chapter. I especially love that they come from “A Season for Everything.” (If you know, you know) Enjoyable read.

Thank you for my copy of the ARC.

Actual star rating: 3 1/2 stars

Note: This Review contains NO spoilers

An intriguing synopsis. A beautiful cover. These are the two that caught my attention. Thank you to Netgalley for the advance reader copy (ARC). A captivating story of magic and nature which also intertwined the real issue of climate change. I also enjoyed the subtle romance that developed throughout the story. I also liked the thorough and descriptive writing of the main character, Clara, from her magic to her struggle/journey to accepting who she is and what she becomes in the end.

I was fascinated by the way the author divided up the book by seasons which made for an eloquent story. The flow of the book was... eh, it felt slow. Every so many chapters, I would lose interest, but the appeal of magic and nature kept me interested. I also felt that Clara's drama and insecurities was a bit... much. I pretty much kept "rolling my eyes" every time Clara kept being so over-dramatic about herself.

All in all, I found The Nature of Witches a captivating and dramatic story of growth and acceptance of oneself with nature and magic woven in. Moreover, I think that readers that enjoy this genre should read it.

Thank you for this ARC! The story was super engaging and I couldn’t put it down. I appreciated that while it was a ‘magic school’ trope, this book didn’t overwhelm with characters and instead focused intensely on the main protagonist. Love the representation for bisexuality, loved the writing style, loved the earthy connection vibe.

I really enjoyed this fresh take on a world with witches. I have read a lot of paranormal YA and sometimes it can all sound similar, but Rachel Griffin has found a way to make her world of witches and shaders unlike any other I've read before. I loved that there was also a underlying message on sustainability and how the overuse of natural resources, even witch power, can have devastating consequences.. This book had everything I look for in a book, a great story, a romance and a search to find and accept oneself.

This book was absolutely beautiful. I loved Clara and her struggle to gain control of her power. Her connection with Mr. Hart legitimately made me cry. Magic is out there!

I wasn't really sure what I was expecting this book to be. I see a book about witches and I read it.

Clara was a great character. We're in her head for the whole book, and I don't think the book could have worked any other way. Going through her development with her as she's experiencing things is the heart of this book. This book has a strong focus on climate change, with the witches and regular humans (who they call shaders) having worked together for centuries on maintaining the climate. But with expanding resources and the use of fossil fuels, there aren't enough witches to maintain the atmosphere witches start dying from using too much magic.

The witches in this book are connected to certain seasons, except Clara, she's a very rare Everwitch. A witch who can connect to every season. The last Ever was alive over 200 years before and very little is known about them. Clara has had a rough time with her magic, it's wild and not fully in her control. Her magic has taken people from her and has left her both hating and afraid of her magic.

Sang is a great character. His presence has a way to calm Clara's magic, and at first, she takes it as a relief. And their romance is probably one of the best in a YA book I've read in a while. It's sweet and romantic. There is a small measure of drama, but considering the situation, they're in it's not angsty. Clara is scared of her magic for 90% of this book, her magic has taken people from her. As her feelings for Sang grow, she gets more terrified of her magic hurting him.

The one, small, thing in this book that I have a complaint about is, the whole four-seasons thing. Four seasons is a very Northern Hemisphere thing. And even then winter doesn't look the same everywhere in the continental US, where this book is set. It would have been interesting seeing something about this mentioned, at least in passing. But other than that the worldbuilding was very well done. And for the setting focusing on the distinct four seasons, works.

I really love the way this author writes, and can't wait to read future books.

The Quick Cut: A female witch with a rare ability for every season's powers feels tortured by her unique gifts.

A Real Review:
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for providing the ARC for an honest review.

It's a more than cliche thing to say you should own your power, but let's be honest: what does that really look like? Is this phrase something that applies to everyone or only to a certain few? This may seem like a small detail to remember about life, but it is something very important to Clara the Everwitch.

Clara is the first Everwitch to appear in 200 years and right when the world needs it. For far too long, the shaders (non witches) have pushed the planet to its breaking point. Now, the witches who have been able to work in the past to hold back the tide of climate chaos cannot keep it in check anymore. The planet wants its environment back and it will create wildfires, tornadoes, and horrific storms until it gets what it wants. While most witches, they are born with the ability to control the season that they are born into on the equinox. Clara as an Everwitch can control all 4... or should be able to. She has many times lost control of her power and killed those she loves most. How can she save us all when she can't even save the people she loves?

I did not expect to love this one as much as I did! Witches who control the weather of each climate seems like such an odd choice, but the author really does make it work in a very believable way. She managed to create a story and characters that are not only unique, but you can almost feel. Once I started reading, I didn't want it to end (and I wish so badly this wasn't a standalone because I would love to see more of this one).

Clara has watched her abilities kill her parents and her best friend. So it makes sense that she is broken on a deep level and terrified of her own power. No one can explain why she can control all 4 seasons and everyone expects her to save the planet. That is such an extreme level of pressure that I'm sure anyone would buckle to it. You spend the book watching this girl transform from a terrified and lonely person to someone who knows her limits. I couldn't stop rooting for her to stand up and take what scares her most and turn that into her strength.

Sang is the perfect counterbalance to Clara for so many reasons. Sure, his ability to calm her certainly gives him an advantage. Their connection is about so much more than that though. From the moment he is introduced, he believes in her ability to control her powers and be what everyone needs her to be. While everyone else sees Clara as a problem that could end life as they know it, he sees her as an untapped potential who just needs somebody to believe in her.

In the end, it's the overarching point of the story that captured my interest. Yes, there are witches and powers and end of the world stuff happening. However, the moral is something very relatable to us all. The book is really about trusting in your own power and owning that in order to be your best self. Albeit, that tends to be something for us that is more down to earth - but its a moral well worth hearing. Even as an adult, I struggle with owning my abilities instead of wishing I had others. This is exactly the type of book that can help someone realize that who you are is unique and well worth the time. Just embrace it.

A story that will empower you on every level.

My rating: 5 out of 5

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review of, The Nature of Witches, by Rachel Griffin.

Wow! What a great book. I couldn't put it down, it was so beautifully written with such loving details that you could just feel the author's love for nature. I stayed up til 5:30 to finish and I don't regret it at all. I ended the book with the biggest smile on my face and such a warmth in my soul.

The MC, is just brilliant. A young woman thrust into a challenging situation to save the world from itself basically or save herself and the loved ones she has left from the power deep inside her. The struggles she goes through are real, riveting and painful not only to her but to everyone that is counting on her power. But, what remains to be seen is for her to be seen. " ...the thing that terrifies me, that makes me want to run..isn't that Sang feels seen by me. It's that I feel seen by him." Powerful quotes are all through the book reinforcing the underlying truth...global warming and our desire to continue to build is destroying our foundation, our peace with nature.

The rest of the cast play perfectly to the MC, Clara. She is an Everwitch, she controls all four seasons. Their harmony resonates with nature and you can actually feel the highs and lows that she deals with. I highly recommend this book and really wish there was another book or three about these amazing characters and this world created with such a clever magic system.

I'm a summer witch, constant, strong and powerful. What are you?!

“When in doubt, plant something."

/

Trigger/content warnings: grief, fire, numbing, sexual content, death, depression.

Note: all quotes from unfinished version and may be changed before publication. Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the ARC of The Nature of Witches, a new contemporary fantasy releasing June 1st, 2021. In an intriguing alternate universe, witches regulate the climate and protect humans from extreme weather. But the climate is increasingly raging out of control and witches, with powers based on the season they were born, can no longer keep things in check. Clara, an Everwitch with the powers of all four seasons, is humanity’s last hope. However, her powers have only resulted in the deaths of everyone she loves and she fears magic. To save humanity, she must conquer her grief and learn to control her magic.

This book contains one of the most unique and clever magic systems I’ve ever seen. I absolutely adored the concept of seasonal magic. Fall witches can ripen crops and change leaves, winter witches can bring cold and snow, summer witches control heat and storms, and spring witches sprout plants and create growth according to their emotions. The way the author described each power made me long for some seasonal magic of my own. I mean, wouldn’t it be amazing to create flowers that expressed your emotions?? Such a cool concept.

My love for the world-building was tempered by some other weaknesses in the characters and plot. In one of the earliest scenes, Clara is depicted engaging in behavior that I honestly dislike reading about. It took me a long time to come around to her. Likewise, the romance, while primarily sweet, had a few sour notes that I didn’t enjoy. The dramatic finale of the book also hinged on an extremely convenient plot twist that stretched my credulity. The only reason why Clara’s behavior works out in the end is because it’s fiction. The dea ex machina vibes were strong.

My reservations about the plot keep me from rating this book beyond 3 out of 5 stars but I’m still so in love with the concept that I can still recommend it if you’re willing to muddle through a few contrivances. It has enough sunshine, plant, and weather magic to warm the hearts of my fellow fantasy fans. Based on the mature content, I would say it’s suitable for 17+.

I've been really looking forward to Rachel Griffin's debut--an interesting new spin on witchcraft, a timely story on climate change...everything going in felt like it would be right up my alley. This is billed as Practical Magic meets Twister, but it's really more like a weather version of the WINX Saga.

Clara is an Everwitch in an alternate version of our world where witches aligned with seasons help control the weather. Unfortunately, she's scared of her power after having killed her best friend and her parents, and wants nothing more than to strip her magic during the upcoming solar eclipse. However, because regular humans (shaders) have pushed earth to its limits, climate change is out of control and only Clara can save us all from the unusual weather that threatens to deplete the witches' power and ultimately the entire world.

So, there's a lot going on! Great! I just could not really get into it? While the magical system was certainly a new spin on the witchy stories out there, it also felt nebulous and difficult to grasp. Initially, we see Clara fighting a thunderstorm, only wait! There's a second storm! Only wait, a third storm no one saw! I...really? And then at some point she explains how tornadoes work, and I am fairly sure that is not how tornadoes work? And then she claims the storm is angry, and...again...are we fighting thunderstorms? Are they sentient? There's a lot of weird language around the weather that didn't make sense to me, or at the very least didn't seem to mesh with the contemporary setting. I equally had a hard time connecting with Clara. Sure, she liked her cat, but otherwise she was so prickly it was difficult to really want to be in her thoughts. I'm equally not really into mentor/student relationships, but this is totally a personal preference.

Ultimately, I had to put this down, and that really disappointed me, but I'll be looking out for Griffin's next book.

This is a gorgeously written book with a fresh magic system and characters that gripped me from the first page and wouldn't let me go. I loved the witches' magic being tied to seasons and the running theme of climate change was so topical. I'm not usually a huge fan of urban fantasy, but this book was so unique that I really got into it and wanted to stay in the world. Definitely add this one to your TBR!!

The organization of the story in the seasons as the paranormal romance unfolds with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that the main character has is sweet, treacherous, and lovely. And as a standalone, it's even sweeter because the debut works in a neat package with a unique approach to witchcraft.

This book was the perfect contemporary fantasy! The nature magic system had me hooked from page 1! I also loved the romance and how it subtly added to the plot. Highly recommend!

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All comments and opinions are my own.
Clara is an Everwitch. In a world where seasons dictate what powers you’re born with, Everwitches can control the powers of every season. The Nature of Witches is Clara’s journey to gain control of these powers where losing control could mean killing someone she cares about.
I enjoyed the atmosphere, writing style, and plot of this story. I didn’t have any strong feelings for Clara, but she was likable enough. On the one hand, I want to admire Clara’s caution, but on the other hand, even in controlled environments she seemed hesitant to try to use her magic. I felt she had the support system in place to trust herself and her magic. Sang, the love interest, was a more likable character in my opinion. I loved his confidence in Clara and his support as well as his emotional vulnerability.
The logic of the story made sense to me. Every witch is born on the first day of the season which determines what type of powers they have. Spring witches are strongest to help flowers grow and winter witches are strongest to control the snow. Clara, being an Everwitch, can control all the elements. Everwitches are rare, so she’s kind of a big deal.
I was interested to see how Carla’s story progressed and if/how she managed to control her power. I also enjoyed watching her relationship with Sang blossom. Overall I gave this book 4 stars. I really liked the overall plot and how the story progressed.

It starts off slow and kind of dense, but once the action begins, it's hard to resist the story as it drives forward. It reads as a true epic, one that makes you feel the world really has been reshaped as you read it. Would recommend.