This was a delightful, easy YA read. I loved the idea of magic as an extension of and in harmony with the natural world. It felt so accessible, like it could be real somewhere. I also really enjoyed the moody Pacific Northwest Forest setting. It was definitely a character in it’s own right. I liked the two main characters but wasn’t totally invested in them or their building relationship. It was cute, but too simple. I would have appreciated a story as complex and layered as the world of magic that the author created.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"From the New York Times bestselling author of The Nature of Witches comes an immersive, enemies-to-lovers contemporary fantasy standalone.

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."

Be careful who you curse!

“I lie down on my back and look up at the stars, thousands of white lights in a sea of darkness. Sometimes I'm overwhelmed by it all, the vastness of this life, the absolute miracle it is that I exist in this moment in time. How much magic is out in the universe, stretching beyond what the eye can see, reaching distances the mind can't even comprehend?”
Wild is the Wild by Rachel Griffin

There is just something so comforting about Rachels books. I loved The Nature of Witches & loved Wild is the Witch just as much. They’re like being wrapped up in a snuggly heated blanket with a delicious hot cup of tea coursing through my body while I can hear the rain pattering against the windowpanes. It’s one of those books you can read on a day that’s been rough & you just need a lovely slow burn, gentle romance with the added bonus of magic & witches that work in balance with the world, trying to protect it & heal it. Iris was a wonderful character & I greatly enjoyed following her journey of self-discovery. I loved her ability to commune with animals, to let them know she was there to help, as was her mother, both working at the animal refuge they have created to help rehabilitate the wild animals of the area. The atmosphere of the whole book was wonderful, I loved the descriptions of nature & how Iris sees the world, it makes me dream of a time I could connect that closely & makes me want to go camping again as soon as I can. The adversaries to friends to more trope was done well, & I loved the twist on the one bed trope with the one small tent twist. It’s an easy read that I binged in one sitting. Her genre of witchy, fantasy stories packed with plenty of emotion just feel like they hit me right in my soul. The anxiety & self-doubts Iris experiences are so relatable on a personal level to me; her courage, compassion & kindness were written perfectly. There is also so many quotable passages in this book it was hard to choose just one! Thank you to NetGalley and SourceBooks Fire for sending me a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. It was a joy to read.

I don’t even know where to start with how much I loved this story. It felt like a fresh of fresh air in the woods on an autumn day. It’s so beautiful. Gorgeous writing, magical landscapes and an immersive story. Reading it felt so comforting and cosy yet there was an element of wildness present which I adored. I found it to be incredibly atmospheric and a delight to all of my senses. This was a book I happily fell into and didn’t want to come out of until I was done.

Iris and her mum are both witches and lunars - which means their magic is best used on animals. They share a special connection to animals which allows them to heal their wounds. This was so beautiful to witness and their relationship was also very sweet.

I loved the banter between Iris and Pike. There’s a fun enemies to lovers dynamic going on here and I’m all for it.

And the owl! The cutest! Such a cheeky little thing!

Be aware there isn’t a huge amount of fantasy or world building in this book. Witches are simply accepted as a natural occurrence. Overall it does feel very magical and atmospheric though. Every day magic simply shines in this story.

One thing I also observed is Rachel’s growth as an author since her previous book. It’s so lovely to see.

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Some of my favourite quotes from the book:
“There is magic in my blood, but this place has its own kind of magic. I feel it every time the evergreens sway in the wind and whenever the treetops are swallowed by fog. I can feel it in the salty air and the fern-covered ground.. this is where I’m meant to be.”

“Magic is always present, always close. It exists along with all the atoms and particles of the universe, and when enough of it is brought together, it produces a reaction most would call extraordinary.”

“Being a witch isn’t just casting an occasional spell. It’s seeing the world differently than the ways others see it.”

“The smell of rain is one of my salves. The sound of rushing water is another.”

“I wonder at all the magic held in these trees, all the magic that has been absorbed over hundreds of years.”

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Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars

<b> Thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.</b>

<b> A young witch unintentionally releases a fatal curse in this frenemies-to-lovers romance.</b> Publisher


Awww.... Iris Gray who loves animals yet cannot stand college intern, Pike Alder. She and her mother are witches living in the Foggy Mountain Wildlife Range. While her mother has found love, Iris is content with her animals and trying to survive as a witch in the modern world. But when an injured owl takes off on its own, Iris and Pike are going to have to put aside their differences.


This was a cute YA romance and I imagine it will be a wild hit with young readers that enjoy the enemies to lovers trope. I did enjoy it but was more interested in the magic and the owls.


Goodreads review published 21/06/22
Expected publication date 02/08/22

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for an eARC of this book. I’m usually a high/epic fantasy reader so this isn’t my typical fantasy read. However, it was so good. It has an interesting take on magic and how it works with nature and isn’t a cure all problem solver. The MC is a girl named Iris who is a witch more in tune with animals and nature. She can read animals and find out what ails them as she works at a nature reserve with her mom. She also works with a boy named Pike that really annoys her and is her “enemy.” She creates a curse for Pike to blow off steam and instead of binding it to herbs so it disappears she accidentally places it in an owl at the reserve. The owl flies off and Iris must track it down and remove the curse before it is released into the world. To make matters worse, she has to go on the hike/camping trip to track down the owl with none other than Pike. Pike who hates witches and has no idea what Iris is or has done!! I’m impressed with how much I actually enjoyed this one. 4 stars for sure

Super cute fantasy romance with a witch in hiding and a boy who despises witches. I thought it was super precious, easy to read, and I really enjoyed this one. (sorry for the lack of excitement in this one, chronic illness does that to you, but please don't think this wasn't a magical read in every sense of the word <3 )

This book was so fun! I loved the adventure that the main characters went on, I think the pacing really helped create good forward momentum that kept me interested.

Like Rachel Griffin's last book, this one is very atmospheric and the integration of magic into every day life is done expertly. My one gripe with the book is that I wanted more from it. The characters could've been developed more and the plot left me wanting more surprises or twists.

Overall, a really solid and quick read. The romance is really cute and who can resist animal magic?

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This title is ideal for anyone who loves magical realism, appreciates the magic of nature, and who understands the way grief and trauma can impact everything.

The story is beautiful and rich with quiet passion and suspense, but it's the main character's relationship with nature that had my heart.

Highly recommended.

"Wild Is the Witch" was a super easy, light fantasy read that also felt like a sweet love letter to nature and wildlife. I thought Rachel Griffin did an impeccable job of creating dynamic characters and understandable struggles and behaviors. I love a wholly believable fantasy story and this definitely delivered.

This is a fantasy romance between a witch-in-hiding and a boy who hates witches! It's very light fantasy so it was very easy to read for me, a contemporary reader. I loved how they had to camp together and how the hate-to-love romance bloomed in this story. I felt bad for the "curse" and it took majority of the story to get resolved. If you want to read a light, cosy fantasy on a rainy day then this is the book for you!

Wild Is The Witch is delightful. It manages to capture such a beauty in magic, a beauty that is so present and alive and full, that it feels like something real. It feels like it could exist as much a nature exists outside my windows.

And I loved the way the magic mixed with the real world. It felt completely natural, like magic truly was just a part of our world, instead of something laid on top of it. And the gorgeous scenery of the forest; it made it feel like inhaling a lungful of fresh air. The way that both the magic of nature and true nature intertwine was one of the best things about this book. It just brims with a love for everything around it, and it makes the story all the stronger.

And then packing it full of animal friends and some top notch enemies to lovers just makes it all the better.

Wild Is the Witch by Rachel Griffin is an amazing story! I loved every moment of it, Rachel Griffin is truly a talent.

Wild is the Witch was an enjoyable, fun, easy to read novel. I like storylines that are more layered than this one and I would've liked the characters to have more depth. I just didn't feel connected to either Iris or Pike but it was a nice story and good writing. I think will be a success with most readers.

Wild is the Witch was amazing! I loved the atmosphere so much. It's been hit or miss for me with YA books lately.. I think my tastes are just veering into more mature characters and less teen protagonists because I often find the characters or situations too immature, so I LOVE when I stumble upon a YA book that doesn't make me feel like I'm too old to be reading it. I recently moved to the Pacific Northwest, so the setting was perfect.. it was one of the first books I read in my new area and it was nice and misty and rainy when I curled up with this book.
The magic system felt authentic, as if the way it worked could really be true in this world, so I enjoyed that aspect.
I enjoyed Iris's quest to find the owl and undo her actions.. I loved that Pike was forced to join her and embark on a hike through the forest while Iris tried to hide her abilities after Pike made some offhand comment about witches. This book wasn't overly romantic, but I always enjoy a good enemies to lovers plot and this one didn't disappoint. I loved watching the characters bicker on their journey and slowly realize maybe they liked each other a bit more than they thought they did.
I highly recommend this one! It has the perfect cover that I feel really conveys the way it felt reading it.

I’ve recently become really interested in books about witches, and I love the Pacific Northwest, so I was excited to give this book a try. It took a few chapters to feel like it got going but once it hooked me I couldn’t stop reading, and the last half especially flew by! The writing was so atmospheric, making you feel like you were really immersed in the pnw setting. It did take me a while to believe the attraction between Iris and Pike, but by the end when their different backgrounds were fully explained it made sense. A really fun, witchy read that I finished in a day! Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC and for introducing me to this author. I’m adding her other book to my tbr list!

I really enjoyed this read. I’m not usually a fan of enemy to lover but the relationship between Iris and Pike are guilt in such a natural way that I really felt invested. The chapters are short but written in a way that allows for a lot to happen in the story without it being over stimulating. Both leads feel flushed out and I really enjoyed the journey of them both coming out of their shells and become more three dimensional characters. My only complaints come from the end the first being that Iris getting lost her thoughts occasionally feels like an exposition dump in the middle of high intensity scenes (particularly around the owl) that really throws off the pacing. The other is how easy Pike is with the events around the ending. I can appreciate that time has passed and he’s grown to the situation but for all conflict to be resolved off the written page to the point of him having no real reaction and immediately into acceptance makes it feel a little undeserved. That said I still found the ending to be satisfying and the read to be overall very enjoyable.

I absolutely loved this title and ended up devouring it in an evening. Tightly written and beautifully atmospheric, it kept me riveted from start to finish. The writing is absolutely beautiful and the pacing is perfect.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC. I loved this novel set in the Pacific Northwest. It was so atmospheric and beautifully written. The main character Iris was easy to love and I enjoyed the development of the relationship between her and Pike. The storyline was intriguing and kept me turning the pages. This is a gorgeous novel with themes of forgiveness, acceptance, and love. Highly recommend!

Netgalley's ARC is my entire personality now😂. Forever grateful for the whole bundle of joy I've had diving into ARCs.

On to the review!!

Let's start with how absolutely stunning the cover looks like😍♥️. I for sure want to own a physical copy once its released.

Wild is the Witch was so much fun to read. It brought this cool, fresh concept of magic being an extension of the natural world. Absolute highlight of the entire book.

Iris is really endearing as a main character. Its so easy to fall for her, to understand why she does things, to really feel for her when her anxiety hits. Her reaction to situations seems organic and not forced. I respect her boundless love for animals and nature.

Pike obviously has the best character development. It's impossible not to like him towards the end of the book. And I totally understand him using jokes and sarcasms almost as a defence mechanism. His playful bickering with Iris truly made the book enjoyable. The way I'm such a sucker for sweet banters 🥺♥️.

A major fun light read!! I had the greatest time.