I thoroughly enjoyed reading this! The writing sucked me in, and I couldn't put it down until I reached the last page. After finishing it I immediately preordered it, and will definitely be picking up Rachel Griffin's other book!

After something that happened a couple of years ago that cause Iris and her mother to move, Iris has been closed off. She is a witch with an affinity for animals, which is exactly what I would want to have if I was a witch... Animals are way better than people. She works with a boy named Pike, who possesses the unique ability to get under her skin every moment they spend together. But, when she accidentally curses an owl, she has to enlist Pike's help to track it down.

When we first see Pike and Ivy together I loved the banter between them, filled with sarcasm and insults I knew that this was going to be so satisfying when they finally have to spend some uninterrupted time together in the woods. Ivy also has her work cut out for her trying to keep the fact that she's a witch from Pike, he hates them, so of course, there are a few opportunities where Ivy has to use her powers, and just pray that Pike doesn't realize what's going on.

I loved Ivy's relationship with her mom and Winter .and her and PIkes enemies-to-lovers, will they, won't they thing. It was just what I wanted it to be! , and while it didn't end how I expected, it was a perfect ending and I loved it...

After her best friend loses her ability to sense magic as consequence for a spell gone wrong, Iris takes to hiding her magic, fearful of those who do not understand witches. Pike, an intern at her family’s nature refuge, is one such person. The two end up forced to go on an adventure together after Iris unwittingly ties a curse meant for Pike to an escaped owl. The two must find the owl before the curse is set free. Can Iris overcome her fears and learn to trust Pike? Success of the mission may very well hinge on their ability to find common ground.

I adored the creativity and simplicity of Rachel Griffin’s debut novel, The Nature of Witches, and was so excited to have the opportunity to read Wild is the Witch. Griffin’s sophomore book is even better than her first! Beautifully written and deeply atmospheric, this novel, at its core, deals with overcoming past trauma and learning to trust again.

The magic system is so well thought out. Magic is everywhere in the world and witches are able to sense it to direct it to people, animals, or nature. Iris and her mom are Lunars, those whose magic works best on animals. Iris’s relationships with Winter, a wolf, and MacGuffin, the escaped owl, are some of the highlights of the story. Additionally, I loved watching Iris and Pike grow closer during their journey. Their witty and sarcastic banter was everything!

I loved literally everything about this book. The writing, the characters, the magic system, the animals, the setting. And I’m always game for the enemies to lovers trope. Rachel Griffin proves she is a masterful YA storyteller and joins other authors in this genre (Adrienne Young, Adalyn Grace, Mara Rutherford) as an auto-buy author for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Last year, I was privileged to be permitted to read and review Rachel Griffin’s debut novel, The Nature of Witches. It was a 5-star read for me and so when I saw her second novel, Wild is the Witch, on NetGalley, I knew I had to request it. The problem was, it wasn’t available for request – I had to wish for it. To my great surprise and joy, my wish was granted!

Wild is the Witch is a standalone novel and is in no way tied to The Nature of Witches. The only way you could say it was tied to her first novel is that both books are about witches. Other than that, there are few similarities.

First, I have to say this – I think the cover is absolutely beautiful. I loved the cover to The Nature of Witches and I love the cover to Wild is the Witch. I swear, I’d buy these books for the covers alone, but let me tell you, these books are more than just a gorgeous cover.

So let’s talk about Wild is the Witch, shall we?

characters
I’m only going to detail the two main characters that we deal with for the majority of the book.

iris
Our sweet witch who had to endure an unspeakable tragedy involving her best friend, Amy, and Amy’s boyfriend, Alex. She’s emotionally scarred from said tragedy and its aftermath, making her wary of telling anyone she is a witch. She’s a true animal lover and her connection with animals is so strong and so evident. I love this character. She has depth and layers – she’s emotional, stronger than she thinks, and she tries her best to do the right thing, always.

pike
Pike is the intern at the wildlife refuge that Iris’ mother owns. He’s obnoxious, arrogant, know-it-all. He always thinks his way is the right way. Iris doesn’t like him much and honestly, at the start of the story, I didn’t like him much either. But he grew on me as the story went along and won me over completely toward the end of the book. He’s a great guy in disguise.

atomsphere
Our story is set in the beautiful, if not a tad wet, Pacific Northwest – Washington state to be precise. While I’ve never been there, I’ve seen enough photos and videos to know that if I weren’t such a city girl, I’d absolutely want to be there. These old forests are the perfect backdrop for stories about magic and for the events that unfold in our book.

writing style
Rachel Griffin’s writing style isn’t something I can fully describe. Her books are beautifully written, each word chosen with care. It is easy to follow along with the story and the way in which the story flows makes you just lose yourself in the book. I read half the book in one sitting, and barely wanted to pull myself away to sleep.

plot
I love the plot for this book – a curse never intended to be sent to its recipient, but to be given to the earth, escapes and it is up to Iris to stop it from taking hold. The adventures that ensue in the pursuit of directing the curse where it can do the least harm are in some places hilarious, others heartstopping, and finally heartbreaking. You’ll understand when you read the book, because I’m not going to give it away here.

intrigue
For me, the intrigue of this book was great. I was constantly on the edge of my seat, wondering if this was when everything would fall apart or fall into place. Never knowing what was coming, always needing to know what was next. This is the way a book should be – unpredictable and highly entertaining.

logic/relationships
The relationship between Iris and Pike is a great one. They dislike each other – at least it seems that way – from the beginning, but as they grow as people, they start to grow toward each other. It’s a great dynamic and it has the kind of ups and downs that make it seem real, not just a trope.

enjoyment
I loved this book. No, I love this book. It’s just as good, if not possibly a little better, than The Nature of Witches. I was so invested in the book, I didn’t want to put it down. I also didn’t want it to end, but of course, all books must end at some point.

If you’re into witches, real-world fantasy, and a hint of romance, I definitely recommend Wild is the Witch.

A Powerful five-star read. I hadn’t read this author before, but the talent they have has left me wanting more and left me wanting this author on my one click list. I know I won’t do any justice to the writing no matter what I write here, so I am going to leave it short and simple, you need to read this story as it will blow you away, and leave you needing more.

Wild is the Witch

This book is a real treasure. I had a feeling I would like it, what I did not know was how much it would touch my heart.


Iris is a witch. Her mother and her were forced to leave there old home when the town after a disaster involving another witch who happened to be her best friend. Even her father turned his back on her. Now, her mother and her run a wildlife refuge while she hides her true nature. Things are pretty good except for Pike the intern. He has attitude, loves to aggravate her, and also happens to hate witches. One day, Iris writes a curse a form of therapy. She never intended to actually cast the curse, but it finds it’s way into a bird. Now, to save herself, Pike, and possibly the town she must go into the mountings, with Pike to find the bird.

This book was really fun and totally engaging! The magic system is very nature based and for those who like to understand the magic in books this is perfect do you! Iris felt so real, her struggle felt so real. The pull and angst between her and Pike was perfection! I really enjoyed watching them interact with each other.

The story moves quickly. I felt like I was in the mountains with them! I could feel, taste, and touch everything that was happening. These two had really struggles and real emotions that were so relatable. They are also so fun and there was a moment I squealed with delight!

This is an amazing witchy standalone that will be available August 2nd. I’m definitely preordering a copy of this because I’m going to reread it once fall arrives! I already miss Iris and Pike! I want more! I want to be back in the magical world ❤️ This is a touching story and will be in my heart for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this eARC!

Wow!!! What a great read! 5 ecstatic stars for this enemies to lovers journey. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wild is the Witch is set in the lush Pacific Northwest, a place where I reside(just one state lower) and absolutely love. Iris, a young Lunar witch(which means she's good with animals) helps her mom run an animal refuge in Washington. She loves everything about getting to work with animals and lead tours; except her fellow intern, Pike. Pike is a know it all, sarcastic, and totally annoying. So much so that Iris decides to vent her frustrations by writing a curse for Pike, then burning the herbs she intends to bind it to. Her plan goes awry when and owl swoops in and absorbs the curse, flying off with it. Can Iris, with the help of Pike, get to the owl(and secretly unbind the curse) before anything can happen to it?

What a great read!!! It was well thought out, well executed, and beautifully written. It just felt like a complete novel in the sense that the author knew exactly where she was going with every detail. I adore books like this one! Enemies to lovers is always fun, but with the added dangers, both magical and not, Iris and Pike must face on their journey make this novel rich and exciting. It has something for everyone and the readers will be blown away by the best ending I've read all year. Iris and Pike are perfectly imperfect; the author working in an anxiety coping piece really resonated with me.

If you let this one pass you by you're doing yourself a disservice. Recommended for ages 14+, for fantasy lovers, enemies to lovers lovers, and lovers of a well thought out story.

Wild Is The Witch was a very good book. The book was fast paced and easy to read. The characters were very well written and layered. I really enjoy books about witches and this book did not disappoint. I also really enjoyed the main characters banter. I would recommend this book to others.

I was expecting this book to be good but I wasn't expecting it to make me feel so.. Magical! I will definitely be recommending this book to people at my store! While I was reading this book me and my friend went to a Lavender farm to pick lavender and I felt so empowered and witchy it was great. My favorite thing about this book was how she describes magic, I could feel how much she loved and enjoyed being a witch and it made me feel great reading it.
I love the idea of creating spells out of negative emotions to give it to the earth ridding yourself of feeling that way. I can imagine its a great ritual to utilize and help you feel calmer, I definitely won't be creating any curses though just in case an owl decides to steal it from me, although the idea of walking around in the woods in search of an owl sounds amazing.
Iris and Pikes story was so fun to read, thank you for letting me read it in advance!

I LOVED this book. Teen angst, witches, warlocks, animal sanctuary... what else could you want in a great story?? Iris is a teenage witch hiding her magic after her best friend gets put in jail for love and a spell gone wrong. Her family fell apart and she was judged even though she was found innocent of any wrong doing. Iris and her mother move to Washington and start an animal sanctuary. Iris hides who she is from everyone, especially Pike Alder who HATES witches. When Iris casts a spell against Pike that she never intends to use, something goes terribly wrong. The two of them end up on an adventure together, where each learns the other isn't who they thought. Well thought out and so well written. Beautiful. I loved every page.

Wild is the Witch takes you on a journey with Iris Gray and her frenemy/intern/co-worker Pike Alder to save a curse that Iris did not mean to get out before it unleashes on Pike and anyone who lives nearby. The only kicker is that Pike does not know that Iris is a witch, and if he did, things wouldn’t go over so well because Pike openly dislikes witches.
I absolutely loved this story from the first page to the last. Rachel has a very melodious writing style that entrances you to read her books in one sitting. This story made me want to re-live my childhood dream of talking with animals and the overall notion of being one with nature. It was easy to fall into and get swept away by Rachel’s easy storytelling rhythm.

I love that Rachel incorporates where she lives in her work, and I truly love the atmosphere. I felt like I was there with Iris, and I have never wanted to work at an animal sanctuary more than after reading this book. Also, sign me up to be a stellar witch while we are at it!

If I thought I couldn’t love the book and Rachel more than I already did, her Twilight mention has me swooning big time. I appreciate any author who name-drops Twilight; it adds so many bonus points. Also, Rachel’s preorder campaign with Wild Care to support a northern spotted owl named Sequoia is such an amazing thing to do and makes my heart melt!

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for sharing the opportunity to read an ARC of Wild is the Witch in exchange for an honest review!

ARC was given by NetGalley & Sourcebooks Fire in exchange for an honest review.

This review is being published before the release date (August 2nd, 2022)

Content/Trigger Warnings: Death, loss of a loved one, grief, mentions of cancer (in the past), trauma/PTSD. mentions of divorce, injured animals, death of an animal, depictions of blood, graphic injuries, panic/anxiety attacks, brief scenes of bigotry (towards witches)



Friends, I can’t believe I read this book in only one day! I’m truly shocked. Aside from graphic novels, I haven’t come across a book that captured my attention the way this book did. Even when I sat this book down to go do little mundane things or even to take a reading break, my thoughts were occupied with the content of this books. It must have been the owl or perhaps the loathe to love romance, or maybe it was an impending curse that was on the verge of unleashing chaos. Well, I guess you’ll just have to find out which one it is.

“There is magic in my blood, but this place has its own kind of magic.”

With the past constantly hanging over her head, Iris Gray just wants to start over with her mother, in a small town in Washington with their wildlife refuge, Foggy Mountain Wildlife Refuge. However, even starting over can have it’s challenges and it comes in the form of one person named Pike Alder. These two don’t see eye to eye and when one day the news talks about a person from Iris’s past, the commentary from Pike leaves Iris chilled to her core. With fear seeping into her bones every second, Iris decides to do an old ritual her grandmother used to do and give a curse to the earth. But fate has other plans when a northern spotted owl interferes with her ritual, Iris is thrown into an adventure unlike any other to prevent the curse from being unleashed.

“This doesn’t have to end in darkness, in a vote that will make all the magic of the universe flicker and dim, until it finally goes out. There are other endings, and I will find one.”

One of my all time favorite things is when a character is morally grey, they’re flawed, make mistakes, and we get to see the multitudes that character contains. The author does that with our main character, Iris. Iris was such a easy character for me to love because there were so many moments where I saw myself reflected in Iris. And the thing that stuck out to me the most was how protective Iris is of everyone and everything she cares about. That just did me in with my love for her. I’m a very protective person myself and seeing that reflected in Iris just solidified my draw to her as a main character. Pike, on the other hand, was a different story. I wish we saw more of Pike’s character or at least saw more layers to him. He almost felt flat to me due to lack of details and that’s excluding the major key moments with him. Outside of the major scenes between Iris and Pike, Pike just didn’t have enough details to him as I would have liked and he kind of came off as a jerk the majority of the time. What ultimately made me like Pike was the details that were poured into his love for birds. I have a big soft spot for bird lovers for sentimental reasons and throughout this book we see Pike’s devotion to birds and how much he truly values them. However, together the build of the chemistry between one another was something to savor and that’s all I’ll say on that.

Speaking of characters, there’s also a sapphic relationship in this story. Iris’s mother, Isobel is in a relationship with her long-time friend, Sarah. Sarah actually runs a local breakfast café in the same town. And I don’t know about anyone else, but I love a good story with a café and wildlife refuge with some small town vibes. Seeing Isobel and Sarah in little moments sprinkled throughout the book was a lovely touch, but I really wish we could have had more moments. However, I loved the chemistry between them and it the small moments we see them together, they just feel perfect for one another.

“I want to forget it. I want to forget because it was so heartbreakingly kind, because for a single second, it made me wonder what it might be like to be fully accepted. Fully known.”

I will say the magic and magic classes were fascinating to read about. I’ve read a lot of books that have witches in them and to me, this book feels very accurate to how I picture witches. In this book, there are three different classes of witches and there is a council of witches who maintain the balance with witches, and regular society. The first class of witches are the Solars. Solars are witches who work with plants and you can usually find them working jobs in agriculture or like Sarah who runs her own café. The second class are Lunars, who are witches that work with animals like our main character and her mother. And the final class are the Stellars. This particular class are highly powerful and considered dangerous as their powers center around people. Mostly, Stellars are all part of the witch council and we also have a side character, Cassandra who is not only an old family friend of Iris and Isobel, but also plays a role in key moments throughout this story. As I said, the magic system was fascinating and we learn how there’s a natural balance that’s bigger than people and witches themselves. Plus, the little pieces we get about how witches view owls just sent my heart flying to the moon.

“That’s the thing about magic: people want to see it and feel it almost as much as they want to dismiss it entirely.”

Speaking of owls, let’s talk about our little mischievous friend. One of my all time favorite elements any author can do in a book is have an animal side character who interferes with everything. As a lover of owls and as someone who has worked with them, I was in absolute heaven! This little owl was an absolute delight throughout this entire story and I love how the owl kind of throws our main character into a whirlwind of chaos, and just thrusts her into an unexpected adventure that forces Iris to work with Pike. Seeing the owl’s full plan and intentions come full circle at the end was truly everything and honestly, I think the owl was my favorite character of the book. Plus, the name the mc and Pike gave to him, MacGuffin! Ugh, my heart is just so full from this owl.

“I have to squint to see him, his shape nothing more than a shadow in the dusty twilight, but sitting in an old spruce tree is the northern spotted owl. Silent, still, and watching. Always watching.”

Also, before I forget to mention, the themes of grief that are laced throughout this book were chef’s kiss. Truly, it was fantastic. We not only see the side of grief from the loss of a loved one and how that can stay with us for years, but we also see the side of mourning the living and how we can harbor the grief from the painful things the living can do to us or have happened to us. I loved that we get to see both sides of grief and I also love how we see grief and trauma/PTSD laced in together with one another. I thought all of this was really well done and well written, and these themes are laced throughout this entire book. So anticipate seeing these themes frequently and how those themes impact Pike and Iris.

“That’s one of the worst casualties of being hurt by someone who was never supposed to hurt you: you start to question all the beautiful things that led up to the ugliness, start to wonder if some of the moments you thought were perfect were actually painted with a dirty brush.”

I know I’ve been kind of gushing about the things I loved, but I do want to talk about some of the things I wish were left out or just not in to begin with. One of those things being second-hand embarrassment which is a dead zone for me in books. Second-hand embarrassment truly is a mood killer for me when reading and can be really hard for me to recover from. There were two moments revolving around a condom and while I praise safe coitus, the way those two particular scenes were handled in a joking manner really had me cringing. Not only was the main character mortified and embarrassed both times, but that embarrassment overlapped into my own mortification and second-hand embarrassment while reading. Now this isn’t going to be the case for everyone. I’m a very serious person with majority of things. So I don’t really hold it against the author for including these two scenes, but I definitely wish they weren’t in or just left out from the beginning. Circling back to what I mentioned previously, Pike’s character was the other thing that bothered me the most. I really wanted more from his character and as I said, majority of the time his character came off as a jerk despite the few sweet moments and the major key scenes where we’re learning things about Pike. I think his character could have had more depth to him and he just felt closed off the majority of the time.

Overall, I’m still long-winded from this book and how much I adored it. There was so much to love in this book from the small town vibes to the magic, and of course you have the trope of loathe to love. There’s just so much this book did and it delivered it so well. I think this is going to be one of those books that makes a lot of top books of 2022 (spoiler, it made mine) and I think a lot of readers are going to be anticipating this book’s release. If you’re looking for a book that’s whimsical, magical, and has an adventure that’s sure to suck you in, then I recommend this book with my whole chest. Plus the cover is just stunning!


The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

CONTENT WARNING: blood, off-page unintentional harm to a wild animal, bullying, divorce, violence, anxiety, death

I was really looking forward to reading this, especially after how much I enjoyed Griffin’s last book. And while this one was somewhat reminiscent, there were enough differences to keep it fresh and unique.

Iris is a witch who is dealing with trauma from her past—she left behind everything she knew and started her life over with her mom in the Pacific Northwest. And although she’s settled into a routine, her past keeps her stuck, always tucking away a part of herself and keeping her apart from others and preventing her from making meaningful connections with the people around her. Her mother runs an animal sanctuary, which she loves to work at, since it allows her to use her magic to the best of her ability, and for the best possible reasons. But she still feels like it is a secret that she needs to hide, especially from Pike, her coworker.

Pike is an aspiring ornithologist who interns at her mom’s sanctuary, but he comes across as super obnoxious for the first part of the book. I couldn’t help but dislike him at first, but once I got to know him, he definitely grew on me. Like Iris, he puts on a front to hide his vulnerability and hurt, and there’s so much more to him beneath the surface.

I loved the magic system in this story, and the way it explores how magic and nature coexist. It also talks about how magic and witches could exist in today’s society, and could be both regulated and misused, and how prejudices and fear could occur. It did a great job of talking about this from both sides of the situation, looking at it from the perspective of witches and people without magic. And I loved the fact that Iris struggled with both anxiety and asthma, both of which were represented in the story.

The story itself is fast-paced and interested, if not a tiny bit predictable as to what was going to happen between Iris and Pike, but it wasn’t any less enjoyable. I wasn’t as sure what was going to happen with the owl, and the consequences of that, and the story was a very fast read. I quickly became emotionally invested in the characters, although I was definitely more sensitive to Iris, but as I said, Pike’s character grew on me over the course of the story and I absolutely was tearing up by the end.

I normally don't care for YA romance fiction. ( Cue eye rolls at the intense, awkward interactions!) However, this book was different. Yes, the two main characters were awkward. However, that awkwardness was portrayed believably and sensitively. Each had vulnerabilities, coping strategies, and emotional strengths that are gradually revealed as the characters faced various difficult challenges. Additionally, each responded to events in ways that seemed consistent with the characterization created by the author.

The fantasy element of witches was described in such detail that it all seemed plausible. (I had to look up the author's bio to see if she identified as a witch because of all the significant detail!) The typical YA “coming of age” theme was positioned within the norms and expectations of the witch community which made the development of this theme more original than in other YA novels.

I can see a number of female teen readers really enjoying this book.

--

Yet another wonderfully witchy story from Rachel Griffin, this YA novel tells the tale of a young witch whose curse to make a witch-hater into a witch goes wrong after an owl, a magic amplifier, swoops into the curse just as its caster sought to dissipate it harmlessly. Fearing the worst outcome she sets off to recapture the owl and render the curse harmless, accompanied by its intended target. This is a romantic tale of two people at cross purposes striving to be understood and accepted as they face harsh situations in deep forest. Moving and taut. Highly recommend.

Wild is the Witch is the perfect book for fall - like getting cozy with a blanket and cup of tea. I really felt for Iris and her struggles with control and anxiety. She felt very real to me, even though she's also magical. I loved the Pacific Northwest setting and the focus on animals and the natural world as part of the magic system. A lovely little read that I'll be recommending.

If “frenemies” is your favorite trope, you’ll love Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin.
After Iris is implicated in an act of magic gone fatally wrong, she is one step away from being stripped of her powers. Getting a fresh start seems like a good idea so she and her mom move from Nebraska to the Pacific Northwest to open the Foggy Mountain Wildlife Refuge. Iris loves the animals with whom she shares a psychic connection, especially her wolf, Winter. Life isn’t perfect, but it’s pretty good. Except for Pike Adler, the ornithology student and refuge intern. Everything from his wavy brown hair to his arrogant demeanor annoys Iris. When she discovers Pike hates witches, Iris decides to vent her anger by dreaming up a faux-curse to make him a mage. But, before she can destroy the spell, something goes terribly wrong and the curse is transferred to a wounded owl who escapes into the wilderness. Iris knows when the owl dies, in all likelihood, Pike will too.
Determined to cancel the curse, save Pike from a painful death, and prevent herself from being involved in another magical fatality, Iris sets out to track the owl up the mountain. She has a long list of problems, but Pike volunteering to hike along with her is definitely the worst. It’s hard to keep hating a guy who wears such cute pajamas.

A gorgeous, well-paced story with such incredible atmosphere. I loved the Nature of Witches so much and really looked forward to this next book.

Overall, I liked so many things, including how the author showed the character growth and healing over emotional trauma, especially on anxiety. It was also nice to actually see a positive parent and child relationship. I'm tired of absent parents in YA. And that twist - wow!

What an amazing read. I finished it in less than a day. I could not stop reading it. A very heart warming story and beautifully written

I absolutely LOVED Rachel Griffin’s debut The Nature of Witches and when she announced that Wild is the Witch was also going to be filled with magical moments, whimsical storytelling and all the healing my heart craved (thank-you current state of the world), I was IN!

With all that said, Wild is the Witch might just be one of my favorite YA enemies to lovers ever! This story contains a camping adventure, a cursed owl, forced proximity and a duo that was everything I could have hoped for!

Iris is introverted and sassy (we love to see it 👏🏻). A traumatic past has caused Iris severe trust issues and her internal monologue runs a hundred miles a minute, but I felt this character in my soul. She felt different than other YA protagonists, special in a way that I haven’t felt about a character in a while. I appreciated seeing Iris’s on page anxiety and asthma. As someone who suffers from both, I felt Griffin’s descriptions were spot on.

Enter, Pike. The outdoor loving, ultra-competitive, witch-hating, ornithologist. He was fun (with a dark side)! Lighthearted in all of the places where Iris’s heaviness could feel overwhelming. His jabs and jokes cut the tension. He was a likeable and adorable stick in the side.

Now, Iris and Pike together… A+ banter that was *chef’s kiss! Case and point:

“You look terrified.” “Oh,” I say, waving a hand through the air as if it’s nothing. “I was just thinking about the sheer terror of spending several days in the woods with you.”

“There’s nothing more terrifying than backpacking with an experienced hiker who is always prepared and has a vast array of bird knowledge.” “I was factoring your personality into the equation as well,”


Iris’s responses to Pike throughout the book were everything I could have hoped for. She is so salty I loved it! Her introspective soul felt like a kindred spirit.


Since I know reviews can sometimes become long and tedious here are some of the things I adored about this story:

• BOTH of the main characters have suffered severe emotional trauma in the past that still affects their everyday life
• The constant race against the clock feeling that will keep you tearing through the pages
• Character growth that was wonderfully healing to watch
• LGBTQ+ representation
• Extremely well written (imo) anxiety rep
• The relationship between Iris and the animals is like a giant soul hug
• That little seed of hope was always there, just within reach
• A loving parent/child relationship. We all know this is basically non-existent in YA so I love to see it!
• Scene descriptions that will transport you
• A twist that may shock and surprise!


One of my favorite quotes:

“…maybe I’ve worked so hard to fit my life into a tidy, well-defined box that I’ve forgotten the most important thing: I’m as wild as the magic in my veins and the dust of the stars...”

My only struggle with this book was purely logistical. I sometimes felt as if the characters had forgotten about their prior injuries and although adrenaline can make a person do crazy things, it just didn’t feel believable in spots.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book for all kinds (and ages) of readers! It was a wonderful dose of joy and I looked forward to picking by up each day.



Thank you so much NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Wild is the Witch is Rachel Griffin's second novel, and my personal favorite. I sat down to start it one evening and ended up finishing it in one go. The book is filled with compelling characters and great atmospheric world building.

After a huge life change, Iris accidentally unleashes a curse upon the boy she hates, sending them both on a journey through the forests of the Pacific Northwest. Iris loves animals, which is a huge point in her favor, and uses her powers to help save and rehabilitate injured animals on a refuge where she lives with her mother. I was hooked from page one where we see Iris attending a mysterious council meeting. How does it all tie together? Why does Pike hate witches so much?

The world Rachel created shows witches living openly and freely.. However, they are bound by certain laws/rules to keep them regulated. As expected, certain individuals resent them for different reasons or are fearful. They can get away with some things, but certain transgressions are not ignored.

Things I loved:
- world building
- interesting characters - both main and secondary
- compelling quest (I should say that I'm not usually a fan of journey books, but I LOVED this one!!!)
- a fully completed stand alone novel
- getting Pike's views on Twilight

Things I didn't love:
- not a thing

I highly recommend this book if you're looking for a fun, atmospheric read with some intriguing vulnerable characters. Also, if you love owls.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC. They did not influence my review - I ordered my own personal copy because I'll be reading this again.