Wild is the Witch
by Rachel Griffin
5 stars

Iris Gray is well aware that many people aren't fond of witches. After she and her mother decide to leave her hometown to start fresh, she is worried about anyone finding out she is a witch. Iris and her mother opened a wildlife refuge and she spends her days with the animals everything is excellent that is except for Pike the intern. Iris gets her frustrations out by writing curses and binding them to a bunch of herbs, but one night while she's binding it to some herbs an owl decides to swoop in and steals the curse. It is now a race to try to get the owl to come back before anything bad can happen. Iris has no choice but to ask Pike to help her try to capture the owl, the tricky part is trying to hide her magic from Pike while searching.

This is my first Rachel Griffin book and I love her writing style I flew through this book.
I adore Iris, I am fascinated with the magic she is able to draw up and put out. Her connection with animals and being able to stop them and calm them down is perfect. Pike is just as misunderstood as Iris is, their bickering and arguing just made me laugh and say aww a lot. I knew they would grow fond of each other. I also enjoyed the owl it is very tricky and sneaky I would enjoy having Iris's gifts and being able to communicate with all those beautiful creatures.
Thank you, Net Galley and Source fire books for the eARC for an honest review.

A cute whitchy read it was fun and was definitely enjoyable. Its a quick read and a bit fast pace at times but overall a good time. I really love Rachel Griffin this is the second one of her books ive read and will definitely read more by this author. Thank you netgally and Sourcebooks Fire for a opportunity to read this book for an honest review.

Over the last couple years I have been disappointed by some of my favorite's sophomore novels. Maybe I just get too hyped up I don't know. So I was so nervous for picking this one up, knowing how highly I rated The Nature of Witches and how much I loved it. This book is even better than the first one and I am here for it. This book is so lushly written, with perfectly nuanced characters without making them into weird caricatures of tropes. I don't know how Rachel Griffin did this over the course of a year, but this book is absolutely magical and everyone needs to read it right now.

I loved this next in series novel! I think I read from one of the major reviewers that the book falls flat in some way, but I didn't feel that way about it at all. It was a great second novel. I also like that it didn't continue the same story as its predecessor.

After relocating to Washington state, Iris Gray never lets anyone know that she is a witch. Instead, at home and out of sight, she writes curses to release her frustrations, but never casts them. Apart from pain-in-the-ass Pike, an intern at her family’s wildlife refuge, things are going well for Iris. One evening, yet again angered by Pike, Iris decides for write a curse for him. Only before she can dispel it, an owl swoops down and carries it away. Now Iris must find that owl at all costs, before havoc is wrecked on not only Pike, but the whole region. 

After reading both Griffin’s debut novel The Nature of Witches and now Wild, I think Griffin’s writing style is just not my cup of tea. I love her concepts, the way she combines magic/witches with nature, but not the execution. I typically love YA even now as an adult, but feel her novels would find a better audience with a younger age group. 

For Wild specifically, I found myself bored with the writing and plot line that felt too simple. As mentioned above, I do think this would be perfect for a younger reader! While probably a very niche critique, as a born and raised Pacific Northwesterner, I found the repeated mention of Washington state, the PNW, the Pacific Ocean, etc and descriptions of it being wet, damp, and raining to be overkill. I think the goal was to build an atmospheric setting and have place be an important part of the story, but instead it left me exasperated.

All in all, Wild is the Witch contained so many elements that are right up my alley, but it ultimately fell flat for me. Thank you Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I totally got pulled in by the cover for this - it’s just soooo moody and has good movement. To my pleasant surprise I really enjoyed it! I’ve become much pickier about which Young Adult books I request ARCs for and this was an impulse download. I think it helps that the book definitely skews more toward an older young adult audience just based on the age and life experiences of the characters.
Iris Gray is a witch, though her once open love for magic is now something she holds as a close secret. Her dearest friend was stripped of her magic and jailed for unsuccessfully trying to turn her boyfriend into a witch and Iris was put on trial as well, since she was there that tragic night. In order to escape this traumatic event and the cruel fallout from their community in Nebraska, Iris and her mother move to the pacific northwest where they now run an animal sanctuary. This is where Pike Alder comes in - he’s the handsome intern that just grates on Iris’s nerves and then one day he reveals what seems to be a vitriolic hatred of witches. Iris turns to a tradition of casting spells onto objects to sort of cleanse herself of bad feelings, but when she goes to curse a bundle of herbs an owl swoops in and gets cursed instead. Now she has to go with her nemesis deep into the woods to catch the owl so it doesn’t die, thereby releasing the curse that would turn Pike into a witch.
Now that I’ve summarized practically the entire plot, let’s chat about it. I totally thought Pike was an asshole at first, as I think the reader is meant to feel toward him but it soon becomes apparent that though he’s a bit of an arse, he’s actually a very passionate, interesting person. He and Iris slowly begin to respect one another during their owl chasing trek, though it remains somewhat fraught on Iris’s end because she knows she’s been lying to him the entire time. The latter third of the book was pretty intense thanks to Iris’s internal conflict and external danger. I found myself really flying through the last little bit just so I could see how things turned out.
Overall, I thought this was a really well done book and it handled magic in an interestingly mundane way. Because witches are a normal part of the world they don’t have to hide from anyone, they exist alongside everyone else so that takes away a point of conflict that one usually finds in fantasy books. Now Pike just straight up doesn’t like witches thanks to a truly horrible experience several years prior, so it did still have that same overcoming preconceived notions vibe. I liked that this was focused on older characters - Pike is in college and I think Iris has already graduated high school. I also liked how the whole thing was resolved very cleanly and satisfyingly! I love the increase in standalone fantasy books lately!

Perfect for young readers who enjoy a wintery, wilderness setting, paranormal elements, and teen romance.

Thank you so much, Raincoast Books, for allowing me to read and review this e-arc. This review will be posted closer to the publication date on Goodreads, My Instagram, and Various Shops (Amazon Canada/Barnes & Noble/ Indigo Canada).

This book has made it onto my top 10 books of 2022 list. My favorite aspect of Wild is the Witch is Griffin's writing style. The author's writing style drew me in from the first chapter. This book had so many memorable quotes. If you're looking for a contemporary fantasy book with beautiful writing, look no further than Wild is the Witch. Griffin brings the Pacific Northwest to life. I could visualize the plot unfolding like a movie in my head. The author did an amazing job at balancing the romance, the plot, and the world of magic that Iris and Pike live in this book.

The romance has the enemies to lovers trope. I felt the romance was paced well for this standalone. The romance didn't happen too quickly, nor did it develop too slowly. The M/C is a witch - witches are a part of everyday society. The romantic lead hates witches. The characters, and their backstories, were well fleshed out in the novel. Griffin did a great job at including anxiety representation in Wild is the Witch.

The author did a great job at world-building. This book had a perfect balance between contemporary and fantasy. I could easily imagine the Pacific Northwest while also being aware of the magical components (witches/magic) that underline this fictional setting. The inclusion of animals and being able to use magic to connect with animals was a neat idea.

My only critique is the plot. While the story flowed and resolved beautifully, I wanted a larger ending. I kept wanting something bigger to happen, and it did not take place in this novel. Overall, the plot itself, kept me hooked from start to finish. I fell in love with these characters, the animals, the natural setting, and the magic that took these characters across the Pacific Northwest.

Overall, I highly recommend this standalone contemporary fantasy novel.

I know I am not going to be the last person to say that they enjoyed this book. This book had an amazing combination of Romance-Fantasy-Magic, it was just awesome to read and its a YA. There is an enemies to loves trope going on here, which is one of my fave tropes. This author makes me want to read more witchy reads. Worth the read. Thanks Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Picking up Wild Is the Witch immediately had me sucked in. I finished this in three sittings and the first two only because I was interrupted and had to stop to do other things. This was a book that from the first page you were immersed in Iris's world. I give resounding applause to Rachel for being able to create such an environment almost seamlessly.

There are two aspects (and I'll admit they are both the two main aspects of the book but..) that I think were incredibly well done. First is the magic. I appreciated how it was utilized in the story. It wasn't an overwhelming plot device but was always there and slowly unfurling throughout the book. We were given new information about the magic system slowly and at appropriate times. And this was a book about nature and wildlife and the environment and, to me, the magic here was a tool to highlight those themes (rather than this being a "book about magic") which I think was especially brilliant about how Rachel told this story. Second, I loved Iris and her story and her development throughout this book. I adored seeing Iris' development entwined with the nature and magic she loved and then the glimpses of Pike's development in tandem with hers.

This was my first Rachel Griffin book but will not be my last. I was blown away by this one and enjoyed every second.

Rachel Griffin always weaves an unusual take on witchcraft and how practitioners can be woven into the everyday world that I appreciate. Her newest work presents a new power division for witches but doesn't go too much into the particulars, rather magic is a driving factor for the story (spells and curses and such) without a lot of detail about the magical world in which the witches and mages function.

Positives: *The imagery made me feel like I was in the PNW. *The supporting characters have a nice little story arc of their own. *The conclusion that wraps everything up nicely. *Iris didn't bother me as much as I feared she would when I started the book because of how annoying Clara was in Griffin's "The Nature of Witches." *The story is engaging and kept me interested. *This book left me wanting more from the world it is set. *It is a quick read.

Negatives: *I prefer a bit more world-building than I got in this book. *The characters did not have a lot of depth. *The enemies to friends happened way too fast--yes, I get that the mother saw the relationship between the daughter and coworker but still one night alone and a switch flipped...too unbelievable.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and will be recommending it to many friends. Others that enjoy urban fantasy, interesting takes on old tropes, and a fun read will probably enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the dARC of this work in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

After a spell gone wrong, and being forced to move from her town, Iris Gray finds herself having to hide her true nature. She ends up working at her mother's wildlife refuge, with Pike Adler, an intern she despises. When its discovered that he hates witches, she decides to use her Grandmothers old trick of creating a curse, but never casting it, instead binding it to herbs and burning it to ash. Only her plan goes awry when a meddling owl swoops down and binds the curse to it instead. Now, Iris must work with the very boy she cursed, in order to save not only him, but the entire town.

I read Nature of Witches last year, and fell in love with Rachel Griffin's writing style. There's just something about it that is so comforting. This was such a fun read, filled with so many tropes I love! The forced proximity, and enemies to lovers had me sucked in instantly, not to mention there's ONLY ONE TENT. I loved the constant bickering and witty banter between Iris and Pike and loved watching them grow closer together as the story progressed. It was interesting how both were hiding things from one another, and I liked how they had to learn to trust one another before they felt comfortable revealing the deepest parts of themselves. I love any book that features animals as companions, so I really enjoyed seeing Iris and her mother's connection with the animals and what an integral part of the story it was. I'm also a big fan of that owl, what a meddling brat, I love him.

The writing in this book was like a breath of fresh air. Rachel has a wonderful way of telling the story, that makes you feel cozy in a way. This was definitely a cozy type of a fantasy.
While I enjoyed this book overall, I wish to have seen more of romance between Pike and Iris. The ending felt rushed in a way that didn't leave me as satisfied as I would've loved since this is a standalone. And the owl broke my heart. I am looking forward to reading what Rachel has for us next!

I wanted to like this book. I LOVE witchy novels. But this felt so cringey at multiple points, and I found myself just wanting to be done with the book. Pike was the most annoying love interest of all time (Iris wasn't great herself, but I do 100% understand her anxiety and how that contributed to her not doing things that would have made her life 1,000x times easier). Pike getting mad at Iris for unintentionally cursing him was so dumb and I didn't feel sympathy for him at all. Witches seem to be almost like a race in this novel, so to hate someone based off the actions of one person that identifies as a witch was such a stupid thing. I just did not like any of this except for the mom. ALSO WE COULD HAVE HAD COOL WITCH AND WOLF ADVENTURES BUT THEY DIDN'T EVEN ADD THE WOLF INTO ANY OF THE PLOT.

I love how descriptive the writing is. I felt as if I was there in the forest with Iris & Pike. The theme of oneness with nature including animals is beautiful. I felt for Iris as she wanted to be known and accepted---and how this carried throughout the book.

Really enjoyed this one!
It's a super fun and unique story. The magic system is probably my favorite part! It's so well thought out and explained in detail enough to tickle your brain, but not so complicated or info/dumped as to lose the reader's attention.
Solid characters and development, knowing this was YA I was expecting the typical female teenage protagonist, but Iris is a refreshing surprise!
Overall a good story, totally recommend!

I really enjoyed Rachel Griffin’s other book, The Nature of Witches, so when the synopsis of this particular book was revealed I was VERY excited!

This book follows Iris, who was forced to move with her mom after an accident that led to her best friend getting her magic taken away. After seeing how her magic made others treat her and those around her, Iris now hides the fact that she’s a witch from everyone around her. She turns to her grandmother’s ritual of writing spells and curses and dispelling them into the earth to sort through her feelings and calm herself. She works at her mother’s wildlife refuge with Pike, who is interning at the refuge. After he reveals that he hates witches, Iris creates a curse meant to turn Pike into a witch. Before she can dispel the curse, an owl swoops down and steals the curse. Iris must set out to track down the owl and dispel the curse before it gets loose and turns not just Pike into a witch, but everyone in the region.

Like The Nature of Witches, the writing in this book is gorgeous! There are tons of quotes that I highlighted, and while the writing was beautiful, it was still easy to read! The pacing was good, and I especially liked the scenes where Iris and Pike were camping on the mountain. The vibes of this book were perfect, and made me wish that I had read this while I was camping because that would’ve been the perfect setting to read this one!

I did like the bickering and banter between Iris and Pike, although I don’t think that the chemistry was really there between the two. They even say that when they’re at the refuge they are rivals, but once they leave the refuge it’s a different story. Even separately, I didn’t really like Iris or Pike as much as I wanted to, and of course that ended up impacting my enjoyment of the book. Iris was too nervous and worried about everything, and I never really felt like I got a good sense of who Pike was other than just kind of mean to Iris.

This is still a great book though, it’s just the romance between the two characters just didn’t work for me in this one. Definitely worth the read, and I’m looking forward to Rachel Griffin’s cozy witch book!

Transportive, atmospheric, and breathtakingly beautiful, Griffin’s writing will capture your soul with her vivid storytelling, nature-filled narrative, and witchy cast of characters.

After a traumatic experience, Iris and her mother relocate to the Pacific Northwest to start a new chapter of their lives, where Iris struggles to conceal her emotions about her dark past and conflicting present. To dispel these harboring thoughts, she crafts a curse never meant to be cast. But when an unexpected encounter causes her to lose control of the curse, Iris is determined to do whatever it takes to stop it, even if that means teaming up with the one person who gets under her skin the most.

Wow, just WOW. This book stole my heart and swept me away! I felt so connected to the main characters with their great love for animals and their relationship to the nature surrounding them. (I would most definitely be a Lunar witch!) Every aspect of the story, from the developed emotional journey of each character to the deep magical ties to the earth, and the balance of nature, was meticulously thought out with care and precision.

The romance also just made my heart melt and SOAR! Griffin writes romances so rich and intimately crafted, woven intricately into the story and balancing perfectly with the theme of the ‘push and pull’ of nature. The witty banter, wholesome characters, and sweet connection between the two were just EVERYTHING.

I LOVE that Griffin writes about nature and adds a witchy spin to an environmentally conscious story. The respect and love shine through with each tale, and I can’t WAIT to see what journey she will take us on next.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Wild is the Witch is an intriguing sophomore novel from Rachel Griffin. Somewhat stylistically similar to The Nature of Witches, it’s a stand-alone story which shares similar concepts and themes. Griffin once again brings her atmospheric writing to the table, creating an evocative, imaginative contemporary fantasy.
While I’m not fond of meanness or any type of prejudice, especially as the start of a romantic arc, Griffin makes it work here, especially as both parties involved have work to do. Pike is anti-witch, and that leads to the initial animosity, but Iris allows her hotheadedness in response to get her in over her head while attempting a revenge-curse. It could easily fall apart, but Griffin executes it deftly, creating a situation where enemies have to find common ground.
The tension is also well-executed, with a solid buildup to falling in love. Despite the precarious circumstances they were in (or perhaps in some ways because of it), they found a way to overcome their differences and see each other in a new light and their bond deepened.
Rachel Griffin has once again captured a compelling contemporary take on witches that stands out from the crowd. If you enjoy contemporary fantasy or witchy books, I recommend checking this one out.

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for giving me a chance to read this eARC!

On with the review!

- 3.5 Stars -

I love how prominent nature has been in both of Rachel Griffin’s books. Her descriptions of the places around her are vivid and clear. You can smell, hear, and see what she’s trying to convey, and it makes for an entrancing read. However, her descriptions of people seem to get a little lost or convoluted, almost taking a back seat to the description of different settings.

This book was unique in incorporating such a close and distinct relationship with animals. The animal lover that I am truly enjoyed it. The idea of having animals as friends, protectors, and in some cases, instigators, hit home for me. Their personalities really came through and they were such a joy to read.

While there was depth to the story, the tone seemed very sedate and calm, not unlike her first debut novel. And while I enjoy the tone, it connected but did not captivate. I also felt like there could have been more feeling to the story. At times I felt myself getting so lost within Iris’ anxiety/panic attacks—literally questioning everything a hundred times over—it made for a bit of a jerky read through. A bit like emotional whiplash, and sometimes a confusing read.

Overall, it was heartwarming. Once again, a tale of acceptance—finding it both for one’s self, and from those around you. Iris finds love, growth and appreciation. She goes from the lowest of lows, after facing her innermost fears and insecurities, accepting the possible consequences of loss and judgement, then is of course rewarded with strength, growth and acceptance, after accepting herself first.

A heartwarming read, and will be reading whatever this author decides to publish next!