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.

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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.

Per usual, Rachel Griffin has written a beautiful story. It is full of compassion and learning and love. Her books, while always deep and meaningful, always feel like falling into a cozy blanket.

Iris Gray is a witch, but because of a tragic and deadly incident at a lakeside involving her best friend and her best friend's boyfriend, Iris and her mother leave her father behind to live in Washington and run an animal sanctuary. Nestled in a forested slice of the Pacific Northwest, Iris will do anything to protect her life here. That includes keeping the witch in her a secret. But when Iris creates a seemingly innocuous curse—that was never supposed to be released—to turn her work rival, Pike Alder, into a witch, an owl swoops in and steals the curse and flies away. The curse is safe in the owl, that is as long as the owl doesn't die. If the owl does die, Pike will be turned into a witch and the entire region could reap the fallout. Iris must venture into the forest she loves with a boy she loathes—who has no idea he's been cursed—in order to save his life and her own. What follows is a lesson in love, in acceptance, in grief, and in learning to embrace who you are.

Rachel Griffin has a way of writing that makes reading effortless. Her words play like a movie in my head, her metaphors and atmosphere and sentence structure make for beautiful writing that I'll never tire of. The Nature of Witches was her brilliant debut, which quickly found its way onto my all-time favourites list. Wild is the Witch, Griffin's sophomore novel, earned five stars from me from the very first page right to the last.

Iris is just as flawed as Pike, both of them are finding their way, fighting for what they believe in. And somewhere along the way, our misconceptions of these characters transform into love. At some point, the jibes between these two people become flirtations and this trust that has taken root blossoms into something more. It's a natural progression all pointed in one direction—truth. One of the main things that carry this narrative forward are these huge secrets that Iris is carrying. Secrets that could threaten to decimate her life and this new ground she finds herself on with Pike.

I will never tire of Griffin's ability to evoke the most real, sensory atmosphere. The Pacific Northwest became a character in itself too. Not to mention, MacGuffin; no spoilers.

Wild is the Witch is a new favourite of mine—if you can't tell from this haphazard, glowing review.

This is the second Rachel Griffin book I've read, after her debut The Nature of Witches, and both books I found to have both a beautiful writing style along with being quick and engaging reads, not all that frequent a combo! Griffin writes urban fantasy well, particularly here, where it feels perfectly natural that witches like Iris have always existed, with balances and checks on power that feel real and logical. The description of magic here is written in a frame of being an inherent part of one's self, and I particularly loved Iris's connection to the wildlife and how she's able to incorporate it into her work and daily life.

The only major issue I had with the book and what lowered it a star is my frustration with aspects of Iris's character, while she's not ill-intentioned she is incredibly reckless at the start of the book in a way that to me doesn't reconcile with the rest of her character. I would have also liked to see more an explanation of how the extended world worked, in particular the Witches Council, but can see how too much explanation or exposition would have pulled away from the rest of the story. But still an enjoyable read nonetheless, and in particular makes me desperate to visit the Pacific Northwest again, a setting so well drawn in the book. Will check out further works by Rachel Griffin for sure.

For more reviews, follow me @literaturewithalatte

✨Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin✨

Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 320

📚 After a night of magic turns deadly, Iris Gray vows to never let another person learn she's a witch. It doesn't matter that the Witches' Council found her innocent or that her magic was once viewed as a marvel—that night on the lake changed everything. Now settled in Washington, Iris hides who she really is and vents her frustrations by writing curses she never intends to cast. And while she loves working at the wildlife refuge she runs with her mother, she loathes Pike Alder, the witch-hating aspiring ornithologist who interns with them.

When Pike makes a particularly hurtful comment, Iris concocts a cruel curse for him. But just as she's about to dispel it, an owl swoops down and steals the curse before flying far away from the refuge. The owl is a powerful amplifier, and if it dies, Iris's dark spell will be unleashed not only on Pike but on everyone in the region.

Forced to work together, Iris and Pike trek through the wilderness in search of the bird that could cost Pike his life. But Pike doesn't know the truth, and as more dangers arise in the woods, Iris must decide how far she's willing to go to keep her secrets safe.

📝As y’all know, I have a special love for all things related to magic and witches. Throw in an enemies to lovers romance, an owl rescue and a wilderness setting, my heart was full.

This book avoided all the things I dislike in YA fantasy books: unnecessary subplots, undeveloped characters and insta romance.

A unique, well-executed YA book. Looking forward to the author’s next book!

💫Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for my copy💫

This is a MUST read. Easily one of my favorite books of all time. It was the perfect YA fantasy and had everything I could have wanted in a YA book. There is magic, there is love, and a coming of age. This was amazing. 5⭐️ 0🌶…just wow.

This is my first Rachel Griffin book and I loved it. This story is about witches but it's so much more than that. It showed such a deep connection with nature and how important it is to stay balanced. I loved the main characters and the dynamic that they had together. The plot of this book was so beautifully thought out and written. I absolutely loved it and I can't wait to read more from her.

Rachel Griffin created a world of magic filled with realism. It was rooted in the deep forests of the PNW, so much so I could feel the water in the soil and hear the crackle of twigs beneath feet. I felt like I could breathe in the cool air of the woods and found myself walking along side her characters. Wild is the Witch is a wonderful book that takes the reader on an adventure, a curse looming in the air. I couldn’t put it down, wanting so desperately to know if everything would be alright, if Iris’ world would be destroyed or grow stronger than ever. The relationship between her and Pike was a mix between everything I adore in a YA romance and realistic expectations- the perfect balance. I hope you pick this book up and discover how much magic is in the world we already live in, hidden in the trees and the bonds that tie us all together.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

rating: 5 stars

when I started reading “wild is the witch” i honestly had zero expectations because i never read any of this author’s works before and had only seen a couple of people talk about it. let’s just say that i was pleasantly surprised by how much i loved and enjoyed this.

the story follows iris gray, a young witch who was forced to move out of her town with her mom after a devastating accident that she was involved in. now she hides her true nature while working at her mother’s wildlife refuge together with pike alder, an intern who hates witches. one day iris creates a curse that will turn pike into a witch but before she can dispel the curse it gets stolen by an amplifier owl. if the bird dies the curse could end up being deadly not just for pike but many people in the region. the only way to stop that from happening is if she works together with her enemy and if they find the cursed owl.

the writing was absolutely amazing and i was completely immersed in the story and the characters from first to last chapter. it was also very fast paced and easy to read.

it’s important to note that this book had all the amazing tropes that i and many others love so much, for example enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity and one tent/one bed. all of these were executed in such a perfect way and it gave me so much serotonin.

the constant bickering and fighting between iris and pike had me screaming, crying, throwing up!! the tension was unbearable + they were also really adorable and cute and it warms my heart just thinking about them. they had so much growth and if i could i would read this book again just for those two.

overall, an amazing book featuring witches and nature and most importantly amazing characters. i will never stop raving about how good it was and it officially entered the list of my all time favorite books. if i had more free time i would write a much better review but it is what it is i guess.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. This story follows Iris, a witch who recently had to move to the Pacific Northwest. She’s gotten in trouble with her magic in the past, and likes to make curses then toss them away. One of those curses accidentally gets tied to an owl and if the bird dies then the curse will come to fruition. She hikes with a boy who hates witches to do what she can to keep the owl, and thus the town, safe. I love a good witch story, whether it’s historical or contemporary like this one. The combination of the PNW setting and a lore that is simple to understand makes this an easy recommendation.

Iris, a teenage witch despises, Pike, her mom's intern, so intensely she conjures a curse on him that she planed to burn, but it gets intercepted by an amplifier owl who carries it away, despite having an injured wing. This inciting event forces Pike and Iris on a quest to find the injured owl in the Pacific Northwest forest before he gets killed by predators. If the owl dies - the curse is released. While all along Iris must kept silent about the curse, which is so dangerous it could not only kill Pike but also so many other innocent victims. An enemies to lovers troupe, involving witches, a misdirected curse, an endearing owl, a precocious college intern and a headstrong teenage witch. Set in the Pacific Northwest an atmospheric, woodsy read. Strong characters, satirical banter between the two main characters and a suspenseful plot that kept the pages turning. Enjoyable, realistic writing an excellent new spin on witches. Instead Strongly recommend this to young adult readers. Adults will enjoy this too, just may not appreciate the angsty teenagers as much as the target audience.

Wild is the Witch is a great novel to follow Rachel Griffin's debut, The Nature of Witches. WITW 's enchanting setting and high stakes premise kept me hooked and definitely fueled the nostalgia for a dreamy setting like Twilight's Forks, Washington (oh, past middle-school me was totally here for this magical journey into the rainy evergreens). This book is perfect for Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic fans. If you like pretty writing, a sweet enemies to lovers romance, witchy settings and low magic, this is a great book for you, but if you were anticipating this book to have a bit more action and liveliness, it may fall short. Nonetheless, Rachel Griffin is a superb writer, and I will continue to keep an eye out for what she puts out into the world.

This was sos so good!!! I love this nature magic theme so much I could not get enough! 1000000 stars!!!