Climate Change meets Climate Witches in this Contemporary Fantasy/Paranormal Young Adult debut novel.

Witches have been maintaining the climate for a very long time. Their powers are the powers of the seasons. With the sun peaking in the season they are born.

But the humans or shaders have gotten greedy and off-track wanting more of everything without a thought as to how to it will affect the planet or the weather. They aren’t holding up their end of the bargain. Now the witches' control over the weather is getting spotty. Witches are being depleted just trying to hold things together while the weather is acting like an out-of-control toddler.

But there may be hope. Clara is an Everwitch, she is rare and encompasses all of the seasons. But in Autumn Clara wants nothing more than to lose her magic. The power she has is out of control. She has already hurt people she loved. She just wants it gone so no one will be hurt. But the weather is hurting everyone.

When Winter comes and the world is raging as disaster after disaster kills more witches Clara finally understands that only she holds the power and answers that may save them all. But first, she needs to get control of her emotions and her magic.

Sang, is helping her with that. Big problem. He’s hot. She’s hot. He’s training her and he has a strangely calming effect on her magic. But will that keep him safe if she loses control?

And when Summer comes she will have to choose between her powers and love. Her responsibility to her fellow witches and her own personal happiness.

First, I don’t read YA. So much angst. Not so for this book. I could have kept on reading if only the author hadn’t stopped writing. I loved Clara. A strong female lead and strong female characters. I adored every person in this book. I look forward to the next one.

June 1st, 2021 by Sourcebooks Fire/ NetGalley Review

The Nature of Witches was gratefully provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Nature of Witches follows Clara, an Everwitch, at her magical school throughout about a year. We learn how Everwitches are different from other witches, how witches are connected to nature, There is also a tragic backstory, some light romance, and learning to accept yourself.

One of the things that I enjoyed most about this book was the interaction between witches and humans. Especially the sections where Clara describes how witches have been working with humans on climate control issues. I thought it was a departure from so many magic YA novels in which the protagonist must hide their magic.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. The characters were interesting, the plot flowed smoothly, and I was hooked wondering what would happen next.

Witches control the weather. There are Summer Witches, Spring Witches, Autumn Witches, Winter Witches, and every era has an Ever Witch, that has the ability to control all of the seasons. At the Eastern school, Clara is in training to improve her ability and control as an Ever.

Being a witch, in general, has its challenges but being an Ever and the only Ever can be isolating. Clara's magic has hurt and killed people close to her making her fearful of her power and also desperate to get it under control. Until she has complete control of it, her magic seems to have a bit of a mind of its own. Whoever she is close to emotionally, her magic seeks out that person and will hurt or destroy. She has already lost so much.

As the weather starts to get more and more erratic due to climate change and cold weather displays in summer and heat displays in winter, regular witches are being depleted of their magic and dying. Ever is the only one who can have the power to save everyone and everything.

There are obstacles, friends, and loves as in any YA fantasy book, but the journey that I loved in this book was Clara's own. Clara's journey is special because it's a true journey of self-love, self-respect, and acceptance - true deep in your bones acceptance.

Before diving into this book, I had previously read two reviews at opposites (one being five stars and the other one star) so I was curious to see how I would feel about this ARC. Turns out, it's a middle of the road kind of book for me. Not amazing but not horrible either.

Overall, I enjoyed it and for some reason I flew through this book which helped but sometimes, I wished we had a bigger plot. It did feel like nothing much happened other than the FMC's training to be an Everwitch, meaning a witch that can use all four types of magic : Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Also, every time a new season comes, she sorts of become a bit different in her personality but I didn't feel like that part of the story worked very well, I'm not sure how to explain it. The romance was nice but part of me wanted her to end up with her best friend (and ex-lover/ex-girlfriend) Paige but sadly, that didn't happen. I also appreciated what the author tried to do with the environment theme and how she said that humans without magic (I can't remember the term, sorry) needed to basically, get their sh*t together because magic wasn't a solution.

(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)

Magic. Romance. Danger When They Mix
Will She Choose Herself, Her Love, or The World?

Dear Readers,

When I was in high school, I cross-stitched a huge picture that said, "We only have one planet," and then I did another that depicted the rainforest. I was very aware, even then, that our earth was in danger from climate change.

So when I got (via NetGalley), an advance copy of a novel that mixes magic and a fight to save the earth from the horrors that us humans wreak on it, I knew I was going to like it . . . and I LOVED it.

The Nature of Witches doesn't come out until June 1, and I normally don't recommend books that are that far from publication. . . but this one is so good that I can't wait.

Clara is an Ever witch, so when the seasons change, her powers change with them, unlike the rest of the witch world, whose powers are linked to only one season. But her magic comes with a real danger - it goes after anyone she loves. Three of her most loved people have already died, and now, she's fallen hard and has to contend with whether her magic with kill the man she loves.

But if she doesn't use it, the world may collapse under a climate crisis that the other witches cannot stop, even with all their weather-related power. And the Shaders (that's us humans) aren't helping with their over-reliance on magic to save them from their own poor choices.

Clara has a big choice to make, and there are a lot of people who want her to choose the way they think best. It's a dilemma true and deep. . . and this book is fresh and unique . . . and honest without being preachy.

If you're looking for a great read to pick-up this summer, pre-order this one.

A new and interesting take on magic and how it is tied to seasons. I really enjoyed the imagery and description. Clara was a great character and Sang fit her perfectly. Note/warning: Clara is bisexual, but it isn’t said directly, just that she had a previous relationship with another female student.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Could we stop global warming if we had witches to control the weather?

The nature of witches by Rachel Griffin is a wonderful YA fantasy romance novel about extreme weather, And how witches are taught to deal with it. The cover gives it the look of a classic, there is something both compelling and comforting about it, I wasn’t even sure if it was really a young adult book when I looked at it, but I knew I wanted to give it a try. I did well.

We follow the adventures of Clara, an exceptional witch who can control all the seasons, but her unusual power comes at a heavy cost, when she gets overwhelmed, her powers seek the people she loves and kills them. And so she builds herself an iron tower that she blocks tight to stop all emotions and plans to get rid of her power. But can she in all conscious do that when she might just be the only solution to global warming and can save countless lives? Shouldn’t she choose self sacrifice?

The book is really a declaration of love to nature, the weather, flowers, and there is something very anchoring about it. I am sure many younger readers will find it comforting and it will talk to many of their conflicting emotions. I loved Sang’s kindness and he made for a truly sweet love interest. Because it is a book heavily about emotions it talks to everyone, especially self-doubt, the fear of blooming emotions and hurting someone when you are not in the same places as them. There are many analogies that can be made.

I really enjoyed that this book addressed global warming. It is not a topic we see enough in fiction. But we are creating a terrible world right now, we are beyond the turnaround point, and the fact it is not a priority for most people is the most terrifying of all. When we see the extent of the damage, that is when we regret that the world is managed by elderly people. They obviously don’t expect to live in what they are leaving behind. This book talks a lot about responsibility, and I think this is a debate everyone should have.

There is no real antagonist in this novel either, so while there is many ups and downs and blames, this is rather a relaxing read. While the stakes are high they are not brought up in a sensationalist way, and I think that’s the power of the book. There is something that almost reminds me of Jo Walton’s books, and if you liked Among Others you will certainly enjoy this.

This book surprised me with its originality and modern take on a witch’s place in the world of today. Rather than having manipulative powers like Bewitched, these witches work in concert with nature to keep the natural world in harmony. In a world of witches who have a season of power each according to the four seasons, the main character, Clara, is a rare Ever witch who retains her powers all year. Her past experiences with her extreme power have resulted in the deaths of those close to her, so we follow her on a journey of trying to learn to control her power without causing further injury to anyone for whom she cares.

I loved that the plot is intertwined with the current issue of global warming and its negative effects on the planet and humanity. It was interesting and fun to imagine a world in which these seasonal witches can help to control or negate the extreme out of season weather swings. I loved the imagery as well and think the author did a great job describing some of the vivid events that can happen in nature. I loved that it kept me guessing until the end and was quite satisfying in its conclusion.

Can work in upper MG or YA collection.

Creative climate based magic system. The science of it all is convincing as well.

Some moments made me roll my eyes as an adult reader but I think teens will enjoy the melodrama.

I liked the cast of characters and the structure of the book.

Book Review for The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin
Full review for this title can be found at: @fyebooks on Instagram!

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Nature of Witches was such a fun book to dive into. After first meeting Clara, I had a feeling that I was going to fall in love with her pretty quickly. Well, that sort of happened because at first she was kind of annoying. Mostly because she just kept pushing people away and looking for acceptance and approval from people.. when she should've been doing the complete opposite.

The reason why I saw this is because she is a powerful ass witch. So even though she is at this place to practice and grow with her magic.. she shouldn't act like someone who was weak. At least in my eyes. Then again, she does have some inner demons and insecurities.. that she just had to deal with herself head on.

Eventually she got a lot better once Sang entered the picture. Now these two were really cute and I liked their chemistry a whole bunch. Plus the magic was just really cool and I just wanted to know what made Clara special. Throughout the book, you go through seasons and see everyone adapt to new threats and such. Some of them were pretty interesting and put people in danger. Yet, the outcome was Clara becoming a better witch and one with her own magic.

In the end, the little drama was cute and so was the ending. I just kind of wish one thing was a bit more.. not sure what though. More dramatic? More action? Something. It was still a really good book and I definitely enjoyed getting the chance to dive into it.

I could not put this down once I started to read. I thought the magic system was so unique and I loved the ideas with the seasonal powers. I think that the underlying main ideas of climate change was such a nice touch. I also loved the amount of romance it wasn’t heavily slathered into the book but was just the right amount. Overall, a fantastic debut.

A fun, different take on witches. Cool idea about the seasonal powers. Not too romancy - sometimes YA books don’t get that right but this one did. Only thing I don’t like is the name Clara, kind of clunky. Doesn’t fit the character. But super good! More???

The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin is a coming-of-age tale set in a world where non-magical humans (referred to as "shaders" by the witches in the book) have pushed the bounds of overdevelopment and nature so far that even cadres of trained witches can barely mitigate the increasingly erratic and dangerous weather conditions of the planet. The heroine, Clara, is a once-in-a-lifetime talent, an Everwitch, connected to not just one of the four seasons, but to all of them. Unfortunately, it's been more than a lifetime since the world last had an Everwitch, leaving Clara's mentors to train her through trial and error. But after Clara's mistakes turn fatal, she loses confidence in herself and her abilities as an Everwitch. Griffin's tale combines a unique system of magic with a potent vision of a future where climate change has real and terrifying consequences. The story carries you along as Clara reluctantly learns to trust herself and those around her, and it's a pleasure to spend time in a world so thoughtfully filled with touches of magic. The final resolution is not unexpected, but neither is it unearned, and Clara's journey is one worth reading for anyone still trying to figure themselves out in the face of who the world expects them to be.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC!

In The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin, witches control the weather. Their magic is each tied to a season, and while in that season their powers reach their full potential. Climate change is threatening and depleting witches, leaving the world’s safety in the balance.

Clara is the exception, she is an Ever Witch. Clara’s powers are limitless, she feeds off the power of different witches, as well as her own strength changing with the different seasons. However Clara is young, passionate, and has seen the power of her magic kill those she loves most.

Under a new tutor, Clara starts rigorous training. When an upcoming lunar eclipse threatens to deplete witches all over the world, Clara’s powers will need to not only be utilized but controlled. Is she up for the task?

I am not a huge reader of YA Fantasy, but I found this book refreshing. I loved the idea of tying ones magic into the ebbs and flows of the seasons. Clara was at times frustrating, but overall a great narrator and leading lady. The character of Sang was just amazing. His ideas about botany and respecting nature drew me in.

Overall, I loved this book. It was a quick read, a fun concept and I loved the writing style. Definitely check out The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin!

This book blew me away! I was unable to but it down. Perfect, dazzlingly, very well written. The details the author described throughout the book was so amazing. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

"Witches have controlled the atmosphere for hundreds of years, keeping everything steady and calm. We've always succeeded. We've always been strong enough.
But the shaders -those without magic-were swept away by the possibilities of a world protected by magic, of a world where every square inch could be used for gain. They began to push the limits of our power and our atmosphere. At first we went along with it, caught up in their excitement. Then their excitement turned to greed, and they refused to slow down ignoring, our warnings and charging ahead, behaving as if magic were infinite. As if this planet were infinite. Now they've overplayed their hand.
When we realized that what the world needed was rest, we pleaded with the shaders and pleaded for our home. But we were outnumbered. the shaders couldn't see past their desire for more, developing land that humans were never meant to touch, requiring control in areas that were only ever meant to be wild.
There isn't enough magic to support it all.
And now the atmosphere is collapsing around us."
~~~~
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.
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Clara is the most powerful witch to live in over a hundred years. But with great power comes great responsibility and in Clara's case, even greater risk. Like the weather she is destined to control, her magic is volatile and manic, unharnessed and striking out against those she loves the most. Twice before she has made the mistake of loving someone, and twice before it has cost them their lives.

Never again.

Now Clara has isolated herself, unwilling to let anyone close until she can either learn to control her magic or the summer eclipse, when she can strip powers forever.
~~~~
I really enjoyed that this book is equal parts magical realism and social commentary on global warming. There is something rather hopeful about Clara's journey, her relationship with magic and with the sweet botanist boy, Sang, even as she struggles with the decision of being selfless with her magic or selfish with her desires. I also found the magic itself to be beautiful, particularly the way that Sang and Clara used flowers to communicate their emotions.

This is quite possibly the most beautiful book I have EVER read.
I highlighted SO many quotes throughout this story and the end left me in TEARS.
The development was absolutely PHENOMENAL.
This is a book about acceptance, hope, love, and learning to fully trust yourself.
Griffin wove a beautiful story that brings awareness to the truth about climate change while adding the element of witchy magic that I LOVED.
This book follows our protagonist- Clara. In a world where witches have elemental magic based on one season and are therefore in charge of bringing balance to the earth and atmosphere, Clara is an ever witch and is able to control all four seasons. However, Clara resents and is afraid of her magic after accidentally killing her parents and her best friend.
With the looming threat of climate change on the horizon, Clara is the world’s only hope (as the only Everwitch) and must learn to use her magic to save them all. Filled with fear and uncertainty, Clara is partnered with Sang- a spring witch and botanist (who made my heart SWOON). His love for plants and calm magic helps Clara , but as she starts to realize her feelings for him are growing she starts to doubt herself and becomes afraid of hurting him. Will Clara be able to control her magic and stop doubting herself in order to bring balance? Or will she succumb to fear and doom them all?
An excellent debut, this book has become a favorite OF ALL TIME. All the stars!

This was great for a debut! I’m a big fan of witches and the occult, so this immediately intrigued me. This was well-written and the descriptiveness was beautiful. I loved the climate change sub-plot. Overall, an amazing story!

I finished this book in one day. I loved everything about it. The climate change theme was a timely one. The descriptions of the natural world and the witch's powers were so beautiful. The love story was sweet and full of tension. A great read.