I'm definitely going to be in the minority of readers with my opinions on this book but, for what it's worth, I did try to enjoy this.

I think magical witches connected to a season and weather is a really interesting concept. But urban fantasy is not my genre, so I can't help but feel that this story could have improved had it been true fantasy. Setting this in modern day America threw me off and gave the story a vibe I thought was odd. I understand that this serves as a message regarding climate change, which is applicable to today, but I think that message could have been just as effective without it being urban fantasy.

Also, the MC really started to get on my nerves. There are a couple of characters who call her out on her bratty behaviour, so I appreciated that, but man. I wanted to strangle her throughout most of the book and homicidal thoughts are never a good sign.

So maybe I just wasn't invested in this from the beginning. I think the idea and message is actually really cool, but I unfortunately just didn't quite like the execution of it.

I knew I wanted to read this book just based on the description, and it did not disappoint! A book about self-acceptance and companionship, mixed with nature magic, The Nature of Witches was fun and well-paced. I often skip reading descriptions (of scenery, architecture, etc), but I found myself reading them in this book.

The writing in this one was awesome and the story was unique but it was hard for me to connect with the mc. I definitely recommend this for a different story though.

I really had no idea what to expect from The Nature of Witches, but I loved how Griffin brilliantly took on climate change. There is more than a small touch of reality in this fantasy book, as humans use and abuse the planet until witches are no longer able to control the weather. All hopes are pinned on Clara, because she is a rare Everwitch whose magic is connected to every season. Because Clara hasn't learned to control her powerful magic, she has lost several loved ones when her magic turned destructive. Understandably scarred by those losses, she is struggling with embracing her power or abandoning it altogether.

My heart went out to Clara and how truly alone and isolated she was while trying to learn how to control her magic. Her love for the environment, the sun and for her power is obvious, but she is so torn up and afraid of losing anyone else. I enjoyed being in this world where the witches truly loved their seasons and cared for the environment and climate. I loved watching Clara blossom after meeting Sang and become strong enough to make her own decision regarding her future. Great book!

I really enjoyed this book. An interesting twist on YA fantasy with a focus on environmental destruction, as a scientist it rang true to me with the expectation that people will just 'fix' the problem, preferably at some later date. I am hoping this is the beginning of a series, as I want to see what happens next now that Cassandra has accessed her power (and what happens to some of the other characters who got in her way!)

This book was okay Rachel's take on witches was interesting enough but the plot did not entice me, meaning that I was not as invested as I would have liked to be.

The world has always relied on witches to maintain the climate. Most witches have their powers tied to a specific season they control, but as the climate becomes more unpredictable this becomes a difficult task. Clara, an Everwitch, whose rare powers are tied to every season must learn to understand her potential in order to save the world.

The Nature of Witches was enjoyable and fast-paced. Climate change is an important issue that many of my students care about, so I loved that it was the main plot point in a fantasy book with witches. The characters were also endearing and I was cheering for their happiness and success throughout the book.

Clara goes through a journey of discovering herself, which is a powerful theme for young adult readers. As an educator, I love helping students find their passions and I’m grateful whenever a book sends the same message. At the end of the book Clara says, “Long enough to reaffirm over and over and over again that this is the life I want.” This is a beautiful message that I hope resonates with readers.

This a wonderful contemporary fantasy novel that kept me engaged from start to finish! I will highly recommend The Nature of Witches to my students. If you enjoy reading fantasy novels and the topic of climate change, you should read it too!

Finally, a huge thanks to Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for this ARC copy of The Nature of Witches. I loved this book and can’t wait to hear what other readers think!

Rachel's writing is beautiful, which is nothing less than I expected after seeing the captions crafted on Instagram. She is an author who knows her voice and is confident in wielding it. The setting came alive, as the narrative, and the seasons progressed. Whereas the magic weaves through the carefully outlined manuscript moving the story forward.

Clara is a character who is constantly changing and evolving, a slightly different version of herself each season, at least until she comes to accept herself for what she is. Whereas the characters around her, comfortable in their magic type, stay carefully within the boundaries of their expected characteristics. The complexity of Clara when set against the rest of the cast provides a striking contrast of who we are as people and how we find ourselves. I appreciate the fact there is no overt antagonist, but instead, Clara needs to battle and overcome her own demons if she is to embrace her future.

I'm so thankful to have had the opportunity to read this early.

The take on climate change being tied to magic was an interesting twist. The main character, Clara, was a bit too moody for my taste but I enjoy the story.

I'd have liked this story better if the big events were told at the time of happening, with drama and heartbreak, instead of passively part of Clara's traumatic remembrances. Even events within the timeline of the story are often told in a short summary after the fact. It's frustrating. However, I enjoyed the author's writing style; it's easy to read, and smooth, almost lyrical, and carried me through the narrative.
The title feels misleading since, honestly, the witches aren't actually tuned into nature. They're interested in weather alone and how to affect it. In fact, the entire magical premise of this world, is their power to affect weather. The world is just like our world and the main character, Clara, attends a private school with a large field that is surrounded by a forest, but the trees are rather like a distant set of equipment. I think this might appeal to kids who like sports. The witches train on a field, throwing their power as far as they can, or attempting to act as a team to affect the weather patterns that are out of control. If kids aren't already tuned into the reality of global warming, maybe this story will wake them up? In that sense, it's a fine book. The romance between Clara and Sang is also sweet and it's nice to see a male character who is truly sensitive and more in touch with his emotions than the female MC.

A new view of witches and how they interact with the world combined with a beautiful love story. I really enjoyed the fact that it was a self-discovery book with power, instead of someone lacking power.

I read the entire book in one sitting. From California to New York. I adored it so much! I love reading about witches and romance. The writing was absolutely beautiful. I can’t wait for the book cover to be revealed . I am sure I will love it. Can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy.

Beautiful, evocative and immersive, this was a treat to read. It’s contemporary fantasy so don’t expect the bells and whistles you get in high fantasy or urban fantasy. However it is extremely connected to the feel of nature and the turning of the seasons and storms. A lovely book.

The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin features an interesting take on witches and their magic. In this world, most witches are tied to one of the four seasons, and their magic is strongest in that season. Clara, the main character, is different though. She is a rare Ever meaning that her magic is tied to all of the seasons, but the magic of Evers is dangerous and often targets those the wilder loves the most with disastrous consequences. The world that the witches inhabit is interesting and unique, since the magic of the witches is tied to seasons the witches are also tied to the health of the planet, which is being pushed to the brink of disaster with overdevelopment and climate change. This is mainly what the witches use their magic for, to help offset the damage to the earth and Clara is training as a rare ever to assist with this as well. My one complaint with this novel, and what ultimately led me to not enjoy it quiet as much as I had hoped when I first started the novel, was that I found the romance between Clara and Sang to be a little to formulaic and unoriginal. That is why I have given this 3 stars, it is a fine book, just not a very exciting one once you get past how the magic works. I think fans of romance who like their love stories with a touch of magic would most enjoy this title.