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!

Iris is a witch.
Pike hates witches.
Iris accidentally curses Pike.
Iris needs to work with Pike to catch the curse without Pike realizing she is a witch who cast a curse on him.

What could go wrong?

I really liked Iris's character, even as she frustrated me endlessly. The poor witch was traumatized by an event in her past and deals with constant anxiety and now she anciently lost the curse she did not really mean to cast on Pike - the cute boy she kind of hates. Iris reluctantly seeks Pike's help but does not mention the whole witch and curse thing. To complicate things further she begins to realize that Pike is not just the prejudice jerk she believed him to be. Unfortunately, Iris holds her secrets as close as she does her anxiety and is stubborn until pretty much everything goes wrong.

Pike's character is lovable, but Wild Is the Witch is more Iris's story. She had to learn to let go of her fear, to once again find joy in her magic, and to believe that she could be worthy of love as a witch.

Wild Is the Witch worked well for what it was: a young adult novel about witches and magic, with a side of teenage angst and romance.

Pike's character is lovable, but Wild Is the Witch is more Iris's story. She had to learn to let go of her fear, to find joy in her magic once again, and believe that she could be worthy of love as a witch.

The first thing that impressed me about Rachel Griffin's WILD IS THE WITCH is the quality of the prose and how captivating the voice is. It really is a compelling opening. Next was how immediately drawn I was to Iris's story. There is no shortage of YA literature about witches, but Griffin's take felt really fresh. Her descriptions of how magic works in this world is just so beautiful; and how witches/mages and magic are integrated into the contemporary world is done in such a way that it feels believable. I love that Iris and her mom have an animal sanctuary.

Overall, WILD IS THE WITCH is a brilliant standalone. The relationship arc between Iris and Pike is perfect; the enemies-to-lovers trope is executed really well and it's just wonderful how you can see them eventually fall for each other. Despite how prickly they are to each other--especially at the start of the novel--you can't help but cheer both of them on. There is a lot of drama at the climax, but Griffin manages to tie all the loose ends together without rushing the pacing. The ending is very satisfying. Definitely a story I will be recommending for ages!

This is a fantastic book. It has the same super enjoyable vibes of Rachel's first book, but is very unique on it's own.

I really liked how the book started, it sets the perfect backdrop for what's at stake here and how stepping outside of the rules, even just briefly, can make such a big impact.

The characters here are so well developed and the storyline is so unique, I don't think I've ever read anything like this before. The setting is described so well that you can really picture the beauty and amaziingness around them.

This is definitely a great book for those who like witchy, adventure feeling books.

Iris Gray is a witch.
And no one can know.
After a devastating accident involving magic killed one of her friends, Iris and her mother were drive from their home. Even her own father no longer wanted to be with them.
Iris and her mother moved to the Pacific Northwest where they opened a wildlife refuge for injured animals. Despite their reasons for leaving, Iris loves her new life and will do anything to protect it.
So when the wildlife refuge’s intern Pike Alder makes his hatred of witches known, Iris panics. Terrified that Pike will find out and Iris and her mother will be forced to leave their home, Iris creates a curse. Growing up, her grandmother had taught her to create spells and release them in the earth, a ritual to ease her anxiety. Iris creates the curse with the purpose of releasing it, and her fear, into the earth. But when an injured owl flies in between her and her ingredients, the curse latches onto it.
Owls are scared to witches and Iris’ mother sends her out into the wilderness to find the injured animal and bring it back to be healed, unknowing of the curse it carries. But Iris’ mother doesn't want her to go alone. Pike and Iris travel into the wilds of the Pacific northwest to find the owl and the more they learn about each other along the way, the more Iris is desperate to stop the curse from being fulfilled.
I absolutely adored this book about love and grief. Wild is the Witch is the first book I’ve read by Rachel Griffin, and I look forward to reading more.

CW:
Grief and loss
Loss of parent
Death

Thank you, Rachel Griffin, Sourcefire books, and NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
This is a young adult book. It does discuss some heavy topics. It is a book about first love and personal growth set in the woods of the pacific northwest. The magic system is interesting, I enjoyed the explanations. Iris is independent and I loved her growth in this story. It was a delightful easy read. I will read again and recommend.

A very whimsical light fantasy plot.
I love the air and vibe of witches within Rachel Griffin's books, nature being so tied and balanced in the magic world, and the world knows about it.

However, this story did not have enough substance to keep my love, which made me sad. Also didn't help that I didn't love Pike, and not valuing the love interest hindered my enjoyment and the story. Her writing and worlds are beautiful, but the story wasn't.

Also, I couldn't forgive the MC for her dumb mistakes, especially after she had seen the effects of a bad choice first-hand.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for an advanced copy of Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin. I originally thought this was a sequel to Nature of the Witches and was confused as to how that would work but was pleasantly surprised to find out it wasn't a sequel and a whole new story.

Iris and her mom run a wildlife refuge and have a summer intern named Pike Adler. Iris is a witch and vows to never let anyone know this after an incident with her friend a couple of years prior. Pike and Iris pretty much hate each other so of course, you know they fall in love. Enemies to lovers? Yes please.

After Iris has a misfortune with a curse and it escapes into an owl who then flees, she knows she has to go find the owl. Pike comes along because of course he does and the two set off into the woods to find the sassy owl before any damage is done.

I find something incredibly comforting about Rachel's writing. It's like someone gave me a hug, wrapped me up in a blanket and gave me a kiss on the forehead. I love how she writes relationships and banter and just everything. One of the scenes in this book that I loved was Pike and Iris having an honest conversation about why they don't like each other. They knew that it wasn't going to be easy to hear the feedback but they did it anyway and moved through the hatred. It was really well done.

If you haven't picked up anything by this author yet, please do yourself a favor and give her a try. Wild is the Witch comes out on August 2, 2022 and is available for pre-order wherever you buy books. And the cover is gorgeous!

A very enjoyable read, full of life lessons and of course my fave...enemies having to work together and a one tent situation....if you know what I mean. I love any witchy reads and this one is definitely on the list of faves now!

The writing was immersive and so well written, hooking me in from the first page. I have not read a book by Rachel Griffin before but I will definitely be picking up her other book very soon.

I loved the character's arcs and growth, the banter and bickering and...the owl!!!

Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin was a book that I was looking forward to reading since I finished Nature of Witches.  This one did not disappoint and I was sucked in from page one yet again!  Rachel Griffin is officially on my auto-buy list!

✨𝑷𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑫𝒂𝒕𝒆: August 2, 2022

Synopsis:
Iris Gray’s past is filled with tragedy which is why she has made a promise to herself to keep the fact that she’s a witch a secret. With her and her mother’s recent move to Washington, Iris can really hide who she is. But, iris still practices magic, especially when she is hurt or frustrated. Which is exactly how she feels around Pike Adler, an intern at the wildlife refuge her and her mother work at.

After an intense interaction with Pike, Iris creates a curse for Pike. She doesn’t intend to send it his way. She plans on using her grandmother’s trick of putting the curse back into the Earth. But when an owl swoops down and steals the curse Iris is left needed Pike’s help even though he doesn’t know the complete truth as to why he is needed.

Thoughts:
✨I absolutely love a book about witches.

✨Beautiful writing that hooks you from page one.

✨I knew I would devour this book so I was glad I set time side to read it. I could not put it down

✨A YA novel that is age appropriate but entertaining for all ages!

✨Loved all the magical elements

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Five big bright stars for Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin.

👏🏼Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

After reading Wild Is The Witch, I'm convinced that Rachel Griffin can do no wrong! This is a beautifully written sophomore young adult novel!

This book opens to a scene that sets the story in motion, and propels our main characters' fears and apprehensions. This one event shapes and influences who Iris is. It was also a fantastic way to enter this new witch world with a big bang!

Griffin is a master at making the Pacific Northwest come alive in your mind with her descriptions of the fog and rain, as well as the sights and sounds of the forest. You almost expect the pages to be damp from the humid climate - that is how strong the atmosphere comes across.

As this is a young adult, there is a subtle approach to any sexual references, and it is are pure perfection; these innuendos are done in such a stunning way, and I think if you didn't fully understand these more adult references - the reader could skirt over them without losing anything from the story line. How Griffin does this is brilliant to me! Also, Iris deals with anxiety, and I love how Griffin both handles and describes this for her character. It is something I found to be handled incredibly well.

I've kept this review away from being a comparison between Wild Is The Witch and Griffin's first novel, The Nature Of Witches - but I feel compelled to say that they both feel so very different. This one feels very romance forward, whereas The Nature Of Witches was more of a coming of age, with a romance element on the side. Know that you can't go wrong with either book!

Griffin writes books that makes sense in the world we live in; it's written in a way that makes you a believer. A believer in the magic that is clearly all around us; because after all there are signs and coincidences everywhere.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the complimentary copies to read and review.