An entertaining read with a new take on magic and witches.
Clara is special. In her last year of school, she lives quietly in a cabin by herself rather than the four dorms. Each dorm full of witches that have a special type of magic that is at strength during their season: spring, summer, autumn, winter. But Clara is an Ever. Actually THE Ever. The only witch in centuries to have powers of each season during that time of year. The problem is with her power comes danger, as her magic lashes out at those she loves the most. Can she learn to harness her power to help save the world from the increasing disasters it’s facing, and to explore what her feelings for the handsome new student on campus? Read to find out!

Rachel Griffin's "The Nature of Witches" is timely and creatively written. It ushers in a world of unspoken heroes who are striving to lend a balancing hand using their seasonal powers to counteract the damages being done to the earth by Shaders who take what they want from the Earth without giving thought to the damage it causes to its climate.

Clara, an Ever Witch, has the potential to save lives and the world's climate, if she can learn to accept and control her powers. That same power to save can also destroy and Clara has to decide if using her powers is worth the sacrifice of loss of human lives and loves that she has experienced.

"The Nature of Witches" is a testament to challenging and overcoming fears set in a world that is too close to our own climate changing weather reality. The diversity of the characters and their interactions are masterfully written and I could not stop reading this book.

Here's hoping there is a sequel in the works and that Season Witches really do exist. But just maybe we already have them. They're us and we can improve our own world if we truly believe in our own power and work together..

Elemental witches battling climate change? Yes, please! The magic system was so unique and watching our "chosen one" grow was such a fantastic experience. The Nature of Witches had me hooked from the first page and I cannot recommend it enough.

Rachel Griffin has created a believable world where witches help control the weather. Each witch is born with power that stems from one particular season. Clara is an Everwitch, the first witch in a couple hundred years to be born with the power of all four seasons. The problem is that her power is too volatile and has been the cause of losing too many people she loves. Clara must decide if she wants to embrace her power and help save our world or if she wants to give up her power and live a life without magic. The Nature of Witches is a perfectly blended story of magic, love and nature. Once you start reading, you will not be able to put this book down.

Thank you to NetGalley for an E-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I don’t usually read stories about witches, so I started reading with no expectations, The Nature of Witches is a well written debut novel by Rachel Griffin, It was entertaining and while it is not my usual genre I like to read, I found myself speeding through to find out what was going to happen.

The Nature of Witches takes place in a world where witches are tied to the seasons and help control the climate. Clara is a very rare Ever, who has powers from all seasons. People are counting on her to help save the world with her unique powers, but she is not confident in her talents because she has hurt loved ones in the past.

The concept was unique and the plot was involving. Magical realism is not really what I enjoy reading, but this was pretty good.

Witches, elemental magic and the changing of the seasons did a whole lot of nothing for me.

“The Nature of Witches” follows Clara, the lone witch tied to each season, as she struggles to own her power and use it to combat the unpredictable weather following the death of her friend. When it all becomes too much her teachers give her a tutor and hope she can end the year better than it began.

I had never been so bored in my entire life while reading a book!

I love any sort of witch book and the concept of the seasons being split amongst the students with them being in control of as well as embodying personality traits of their season seemed like room for a lot of fun unfortunately our main character Clara was so dull I couldn’t keep my eyes open.

She’s dealing with the death of her friend as a result of her misfiring gifts, a death that repeated to us over and over on the off chance we have forgotten, and since then she has too much fear to fully embrace her talents which is fine. That being said she does nothing really to try and change anything? She talks a lot about putting herself into these situations to improve and then quits halfway through which was so frustrating to read over and over again.

I don’t know I feel like had we reworked Clara a bit or even spent less time on her and more on the world building itself I might have been able to squeeze out a three star but I spent more time checking my progress than actually caring about how her story ended.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

I loved this a whole lot! The world the author built, the characters, the writing. I flew through this book because it was just great.

*zombie-like groaning*

I am in agony. Pure, blissful agony.

Hopefully, I will be able to be somewhat coherent, but uh… no promises. I will do my best, though. So, there I was, living my life, my heart free from the beauty and suffering that is The Nature of Witches, when the book all but catapulted itself into my life. And, oh boy, was I unprepared.

I mean… I did my due diligence before I started reading–to an extent. I scanned the synopsis, read the reviews that were available, but nowhere did it say, This book will break your heart, put it back together, but you’ll never be the same again. Because first of all, the synopsis did not do any justice for what lies under the cover. I thought I’d be able to read this casually, no-strings-attached, and get this review out after I finished Odin’s Child (so sorry, OC, I promise I will get to you next!) Spoiler alert: nope, I drop-kicked that book as fast as I picked up this one (again… so sorry).

At this point, you may be wondering, What makes TNOW so special? Excellent question! And while I do feel adequately prepared to give you a 5 hour PowerPoint Presentation on why you need this book and why you need it now, I will settle for a short and sweet review in my usual rambling style. *awkward laugh*

So!

I feel like I should get this out of the way now, but Clara is a queer queen and I *clap* am *clap* here *clap* for *clap* it *claps myself out the window*. I was definitely getting pan vibes from her, which definitely fits the summer passion thing, but if I’m wrong, be sure to let me know! Some of you may be disappointed about *panics in spoilers* the thing with Paige, but personally, I think Clara and Sang are utterly perfect for each other and I will keep singing this tune until I’m blue in the face. (Though I must say, *certain* scenes with Paige and Clara did get me right in the feels.)

*ahem* Moving on! If you’ve read the other reviews, you’ll probably already be aware that the underlying current/ problem of this book is something we have to deal with everyday. It affects all of us and it only gets worse over time.

Climate change.

And Griffin weaves this heavy topic with the countless other threads, resulting in a beautiful tapestry of interconnecting stories. The narrative never comes across as preachy, and the topic doesn’t dominate the other subplots, but you know it’s there.

*consults notes* Clara is a rare, all-powerful Everwitch, the first of her kind in almost two centuries. What makes her so powerful? Normal witches harness the power of one season; they can experience the full, no-holds-barred brunt of their power for three months out of the year. The other nine months? They are almost a shadow of their on-season selves. Clara, on the other hand, changes with the seasons; she never has an off-season. And my sun, reading about how she harnesses the power of each season throughout the year is reason enough to read the book in my opinion.

“Autumn magic rises up inside me, its melancholic song pouring from my fingers and into the space in front of me, building up the wind as it goes.”

*shivers* The catch? Surely one can’t have limitless power without someone paying the consequences. Unfortunately, in Clara’s case, that “someone” is anyone whom is lucky (or unlucky, depending how you look at it) enough to be on the receiving end of her love. That is why, when we are introduced to her at the beginning of the book, she is ready–more than ready–to sever her connection to the sun and give up that which makes Clara, Clara. Until, that is, she meets a handsome spring witch by the name of Sang Park *gets emotional*.

“You are the most magnificently disruptive thing that’s ever entered my life.”

Seriously, though, every time this man opens his mouth to say anything, I’m already like, “Get me the tissues and some ice cream because my heart is going through the wringer already and he’s literally just breathing.” (But in all honesty, I did cry on more than one occasion.) Never in all my life have I ever wished so much that I could read just a little part of a book in a different perspective. And yet, I found myself fervently hoping that, in just the next chapter, I would be able to see the world through Sang’s eyes.

I mean… you’ll probably be able to guess his thoughts because he’s not the–erm–most secretive person, but still. I want his words in his exact word order as they come into his head and I need it yesterday. (Please.)

Before I wrap up this review with the stats and my rating, I want to quickly mention how much Griffin’s writing made me just… love the earth. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest (southwest Washington, to be exact) and let me tell you, the descriptions of the changing seasons, the weather–the sights, the smells, the bite of the winter wind, the unrelenting gaze of the sun in summer–everything was just so perfect. I’ve been living in a big city for the past four (almost five years) and that one description of the smell of the earth after rainfall was enough to get me a bit misty-eyed.

(And also, her writing style? Stunning. Gorgeous. Sometimes I re-read certain passages just because I wanted to soak up her words.)

So… the stats:

Feels: So many. If you’re not a sentimental pansy like me, you can probably get away without breaking down in tears, but if you are more on the sensitive side, I’d recommend at least one tissue.

Funnies: Sang is a humorous queen and I love him all the more for it.

Re-readability: Oh, you know I’m going to have to pick up a physical copy of this book, so, yeah. Definitely.

Cuteness: It’s pretty much all Sang and Nox, so 11/10.

My rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
(And she deserves it!)

Thank you to NetGalley for an E-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Ok, wow. This book was a total wonderful surprise!
When I started reading I was worried it was going to be a thinly veiled attempt to talk about climate change (and climate change is a big part of the story, but it doesn’t get too preachy and I appreciate the way it’s infused throughout the story) but by the end of the first “season” I was hooked.
The characters are vivid, the romance well done, and the setting is so well put together. The plot is interesting and captivating as well, without being too predictable! I was crying by the end (in a good way), and might even be tempted to read it again, even though I’m not a big re-reader, It’s a wonderful stand-alone that’s a cross between Carry On by Rainbow Rowell and Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw. Highly recommend giving it a try if you enjoyed either of those books.

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.