DNF at 25%
I thought I’d get back to this book eventually hence the late late review here. When it’s been years and you’ve struggled to get back to this book after multiple attempts, it’s time to let it go.

I found the characters and the story unfortunately too uninteresting and unable to grasp my attention enough to care or read further.

I really wanted to read this and like this as at the time I enjoyed contemporary stories with magic mixed in. These days, this is a rare genre of mine that I enjoy.

Thank you anyways for letting me read and review

This is such a magical, tense, witchy read! I loved Iris — a girl trying to hide her magic and her heart — and the enemies-to-allies dynamic with Pike had me hooked. If you love spells, secrets, and a little slow-burn drama, this one’s for you. Definitely grabbing a copy for my classroom for all the girls who are into dark magic and messy feelings!

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! I just couldn't get in the mood for this one, but I do love this author!

Delightfully atmospheric and witchy, Rachel Griffin weaves magic with nature in a way that makes you look at your own backyard differently. Some areas of this book felt a bit underdeveloped, but overall an enjoyable read.

This is now my second book by this author, and I’m really enjoying the types of stories she writes. I love the way witches and magic are presented in this world, especially how closely they’re tied to nature. There’s always this close bond between the characters and the natural world, and it leads to some beautiful expressions of their magic. While The Nature of Witches focuses a bit more on nature magic, Wild is the Witch focuses more on animals and Iris’s relationship with them as a witch. It was a new angle of the magic system, but still written with the same depth and atmosphere.

I also really loved Iris as a main character, because she’s extremely sincere and full of love for her magic and her animals, but she’s also an extremely flawed character as well. The world has hurt her over and over, often due to her being a witch, and it creates this interesting relationship between Iris and her magic. We see her very closed off at the beginning of the story, both to new people and new experiences, and seeing her open up and grow throughout this book was amazing.

Overall, Wild is the Witch is another fantastic book from Griffin, and I can’t wait to read more of her work!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the eARC; the review is my own.*

I really enjoyed this book and feel it was well written. It's not always easy to bring magic into the real world and make it believable, but I think Griffin did it very successfully. I feel like there were slight continuity issues with the way magic works. (Example: Magic is powerful enough that Iris's curse, combined with the amplifier, would have turned everyone in the region into mages and possibly burned them all to death; however, it's not able to cure diseases like cancer.) But I'm willing to overlook that for the sake of the story and with the possibility that it just wasn't explained in a way that fully made sense to me.

I liked Iris (18) and Pike (18 or 19), even when I was somewhat irritated with them. They weren't quite enemies, nor would I call them rivals, but an animosity existed between them that prevented them from really being friends. Iris hated Pike because he hated witches and frequently teased her at work (not about being a witch--he didn't know), though I wouldn't say his teasing was really mean hearted. Being a witch isn't a big secret, but Iris's history and Pikes comments make her unwilling to share who she is. Pike's feelings towards witches are also understandable, considering a devastating experience his family had with one. So their combined pasts, which neither of them had shared, prevented them from anything close to friends because Iris is scared. I think the path from what they were at the beginning of the book to what they were at the end was very natural.

The thing I found least believable about the entire book was Iris's mother, to be honest. What mother insists that her teenage daughter take a teenage boy with her on a camping/hiking trip and sends her with a condom, just in case?

Note: Some language, including 5-10 f words. Two LGB side characters.

Griffin is always great at writing a atmospheric witchy tale. This book was no excpetion. A fun YA adeventure story between two teens. Rescuing an owl... banter and a mild romance. All great things.

The concept was good, the writing was good, it just felt very quick and a tad underdeveloped? I think this would've benefited from being 50 to 100 pages longer to truly build up the romance, the stakes, and the plot, before wrapping up everything at the end. I still enjoyed it and will read other books from this author but I left off feeling a bit underwhelmed and wanting more. 3.25 stars

This book was good. I don't know if I will read another of her books, but I will give it as a suggestion to friends.

Rachel Griffin can do no wrong. Wild is the Witch is an incredible and captivating YA novel that showcases her skill in weaving magic, emotion, and compelling characters. The story is beautifully crafted, with a strong, relatable protagonist navigating a world of magic, self-discovery, and complex relationships. Griffin's writing draws you in from the first page, creating an immersive atmosphere filled with tension and wonder. The themes of personal growth and the connection to nature are thoughtfully explored, making it not only an engaging read but a thought-provoking one as well. Truly a must-read for fans of magical realism.

Rachel Griffin does it again! Very entertaining well written young adult book. I was engaged fron the first chapter and didn't want to put it down.

Oh geez. I loved this book. I was so sad to learn that Rachel Griffin’s other witchy books were unrelated. They even had different rules to witchery. I do very much enjoyed Griffin’s writing though.

I know this wasn’t her first book, but it was the first I read, and I was deeply invested. I really enjoy the grumpy/sunshine type of trope, and this isn’t necessarily that, but could almost be. It’s always nice to see not-so-nice characters that are just misunderstood, especially if the not-so-nice traits are kind of just taken out of context and aren’t actually horrid.

I found the story to be unique in its premise and I loved the PNW setting. I appreciated the characters’ willingness to get to know each other, learn, and grow. There was just some really great development throughout the story, and by the end, I was sad the story was over. It was just a really great book!

I didn't like it as much as the authors debut but it still held me enough. I will keep an eye out for more from her.

This might be my favorite Rachel Griffin book. This was fast-paced with high stakes, a touching romance, a bit of magic, and lush, atmospheric writing. My biggest complaint is that it read more like a novella. I would have liked to spend more time in this setting and with these characters and relationships. It had all of the makings of a perfect book, but fell just a bit short. Overall, very enjoyable and devoured easily.

This book offers a captivating premise with its enchanting setting and intriguing magical elements. The story follows Iris, a young witch grappling with the repercussions of a curse gone wrong, set against the lush backdrop of the Pacific Northwest. While Griffin’s evocative descriptions and world-building shine, the plot occasionally feels predictable and lacks the depth found in her previous work. The romance subplot, though sweet, doesn't quite reach its full potential. Despite these shortcomings, the book’s themes of forgiveness and self-discovery are compelling, making it an enjoyable, if somewhat uneven, read. Wild Is the Witch is a pleasant, though not groundbreaking, follow-up novel.

DNF @ 40%

Another case of just not vibing with an authors writing and it took me out of the story. I really wanted to like this one but after its sat on my currently reading shelf for over a year I have to call it quits. I did like the way magic was incorporated into the story but I could not get into the characters.

Wild Is The Witch is a fast-paced, witchy romance that I loved. Iris is content with never finding love and just sticking with her and the animals, and I respect that! Until she accidentally sets a curse that may turn everyone in her region into a witch. Including, Pike Alder, a college intern, who hates witches, and gets on Iris's last nerve.
This story and original idea is so much fun. I was super excited to dive into this book and see where the author took the plot and the characters. After reading it I think people should definitely read this for the romance. I think the focus on the witchy side is there, but not as hyped up in the actual story, as it was in the synopsis. I still loved the book, but I think the romance is where this story hits it's mark. This story is perfect for the enemies-to-lover trope enthusiasts, and the extra witchy elements are just a bonus.

This is such an amazing book. I read it immediately after The Nature of Witches and it was so well done. It had such a cozy setting but with a little suspense and the unknown.

Rachel Griffin books and I have an interesting relationship in that I read all of her stuff and even if I don't love love them, they're so beautiful I still have a good time. The Nature of Witches was a powerhouse debut that was always going to be hard to live up to, but this is a solid effort. There's already some things that are becoming clear trademarks for Griffin - particularly climate/nature/conservatorship.

Also as a PNW native, I always love a book with that setting .

The perfect blend of magic and nature intertwined with a romance that will have you interested to read more.