Rachel's style of writing speaks to my soul. I love the adventures she takes us on in her books. Wild is the Witch was just that, an adventure that took us for a wild ride. The flow of the story was perfect and it kept me interested the whole time. Can't wait to see what Rachel writes next.

Oh. My gosh. I adored this book. I loved everything about it. The vibes. The setting. The characters. I loved the Magic system and how it works with nature rather than against it. Iris was a wholly relatable character and it was fantastic seeing her internal and mental struggles in the form of a strong female lead. And the relationship with Pike and Iris was a treat to watch as it developed. They were both so different and it was modern day enemies to lovers.

This book was fantastical and yet so grounded in the way the fantasy elements were presented and I found myself lost in the woods with the characters.

It also had a perfect ending and I could not have been happier.

So well done. I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a good book with natural witchy vibes.

When I first laid eyes on this book, I fell head over heels for the cover. I mean it is just stunning.

Wild Is the Witch is the latest release from author Rachel Griffin and is the first book I've read by this author. I found this book to be written well, and entertaining. I'm a huge paranormal romance fan but haven't read many books dealing with witches, so it was fun to mix things up.

I will say there were some elements that were a bit hit or miss for me, but overall, I had fun reading this book. It was easy and not overly complicated. And sometimes that's just what you need when you're reading a young adult romance.

I think this book would be perfect for younger readers who enjoy not only the enemies-to-lovers trope but also enjoy paranormal romances.

Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin

Iris Gray is an 18 year old witch who was forced to flee her hometown with her mother, now fully embracing their new life at an animal rescue. Iris struggles with letting anyone in and feels most comfortable with the animals. Until she’s forced to welcome the annoying Pike into her world when she needs his help to capture an injured and cursed owl.

Similar to Nature of Witches, I love how the writing makes witches seem reasonable and realistic in todays world. The way nature is described is truly magnificent. The entire book is like being transported to an incredible forest.

Although I enjoyed it, it was missing something, it never became the amazing wonder that Nature of Witches was for me. There were no jaw dropping lines or stay up till 2 am because I have to finish these chapters. But it was still a great magical YA novel. I really loved Pike and he made the book for me. Iris fell a little flat unfortunately.

I’m super disappointed that I didn’t absolutely love this one, but I just don’t think much will top my love for Nature of Witches. I’m sure this one will still be so loved and appreciated.

Thank you to @sourcebooksfire and @netgalley for my advanced copy, I squealed when my wish was granted. This one is out on August 2nd.

What did you all do for the long weekend? We were in Gull Lake which was really fun and I didn’t even mind the rain since we were able to relax, read and play games.

#yabooks #bookish #booksandnature #reading #gifted #books #bookthoughts #bookreviews #booksbooksbooks #ebooks #netgalley #sourcebooksfire #readmore #readoutside #booksta #canadianbookstagram #alberta #albertabookstagrammers #summerbooks #summerreading

Wild is the Witch is the first book I read by Rachel Griffin, a well-executed enemies-to-lovers romance with the curse of being a witch in secret laying between them. The backdrop for this story is the pacific northwest as a wildlife refugee. Iris's family has a magical solid connection with the animals and the desire to keep endangered species from becoming nonexistent. While working at the refugee, Iris meets a young intern who reveals he hates witches. Of course, this creates automatic tension between Iris and Piper, but Piper has no idea that she is a witch for most of the story.
The mixture of the hunt to save an owl who unknowingly carries a curse, the slow burn romance of the enemies letting down their guards, and revealing secrets is the perfect story to be told in an old age forest. I think the author executed the story in a way that can touch many people who love animals, family, and watching enemies become at the least friends but sometimes more.

Another beautiful serenade of a story that truly surrounds your imagination in nature.
Similar yet, completely different from Rachel's first novel, "The Nature of Witches," it was a delightful read that kept me intrigued throughout the whole book.

YA paranormal adventure / contemporary fantasy / MF - Overall 5/5

A big thank you to NetGalley, SOURCEBOOKS Fire and Rachel Griffin for granting me an ARC.

I truly loved this book of a young woman's adventures though magic, intense emotion and the world. The way you are pulled through the emotions and the way magic is described is just enchanting. There is a very nature / animal / woodsy vibe throughout with a splash of secrets and anxiety too.

It was hard for me to put this book down following Iris through her journey of worry, issues and finding herself. The characters personalities complemented each other and the banter with Pike is so entertaining it had me smiling. Where Pike and Iris push each others buttons, they also challenge each other to grow.

Here you will find some things like: magic, witches, secrets, forced proximity, anxiety, cheeky animals and personal growth just to name a few.

The after effects of this book had me pausing, breathing in deep and appreciating everything around me a little more.

** Always check age ratings and trigger warning.

"What is coincidence if not a subtle form of magic?"

Just the same as Rachel Griffin's debut novel, The Nature of Witches, Wild is the Witch sparkles with magic, adventure, and romance. I absolutely LOVE Rachel's unique twist on witches, how it's grounded enough to be believable, but she throws in just a pinch of something unexpected making it completely new, exciting, and wonderfully refreshing!

The plot of Wild really draws you in. Being a YA novel, you kind of expect to be able to guess what might happen as the story progresses, but, for me, that wasn't the case. I was thoroughly surprised turning each page. Iris and Pike are both lovely characters, written with heart and it shines through on their journey.

An absolutely beautifully written YA Fantasy! I will read anything Rachel Griffin writes at this point.


BIG THANK YOU to SourceBooks Fire for the ARC to read, review, and enjoy!

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.