Not sure exactly why but I just could not get into this one... I picked it up and put it down multiple times, as I was intrigued by the blurb and looking forward to reading it - but each time i found myself floundering to keep flipping pages. For some reason I never developed any connection to the characters and found the dynamic between Pike and Iris to be irritating rather than engaging, which significantly contributed to my lack of interest. I felt like I didn't fully engage with the magic system, and that more evocative world-building early on might have helped me develop a better connection to the story. Despite multiple attempts, I ultimately didn't finish...

Thank you NetGalley, Sourcebooks Fire, and Rachel Griffin for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! This is a unique book that follows Iris, a witch, as she must work with her enemy Pike to stop a curse from destroying everything. It’s a very atmospheric book and describes the Pacific Northwest beautifully. I also loved how animals and magic were described. The magic system is really unique in this world, which is a plus, and the relationship between Iris and Pike is really sweet. However, I never completely got hooked by this one, so I’m giving it 3 stars.

This book was written beautifully.. I loved the plot and the story line. The characters kept me entertained throughout the book.

Seriously, this was so cute and sweet. I read it in just a few hours, and I enjoyed every second. I love how much these books (The Nature of Witches) connect with nature and life, and are all about accepting yourself and loving yourself. For a YA novel, Pike was so emotionally intelligent and mature. And Iris, even with her anxiety, handled everything so well. I’m so glad they got a happy ending. Easy 5 star rating!

While the start was a little slow for my taste, I liked the premise of this book. The main characters were well thought out and their personality showed through the dialogue. The scenes were so well narrated that I could imagine each scene as clearly as if I was there

This is one of the most atmospheric books I’ve ever read in my life. Though I’ve never visited the Pacific Northwest, Wild is the Witch made me feel as though I had. The imagery painted throughout the story was so vivid that I could practically feel the rain on my skin, smell the woodsy scent of the forest in the air, and hear the call of the northern spotted owl in the night. There’s something about Rachel’s writing that makes me, a person who truly dislikes being outdoors most days, have the strongest desire to be amidst the trees.

While this book is relatively short, it is certainly not lacking in poignancy and incredible storytelling. I wasn’t expecting to highlight so many quotes in my ebook, but here I am, scrolling through my notes and seeing one gorgeous passage after another. It honestly makes me want to read it all over again (so, I sure am glad that I pre-ordered a copy)!

I consider myself lucky that I was able to read the ARC of this novel during a really difficult time in my life. While the rest of the world felt as though it was being turned on its head around me, I was able to truly escape into Wild is the Witch. I’ve struggled with getting into a lot of fantasy books lately, especially low fantasy. However, that was definitely not a problem I faced with this. It wasn’t confusing, cyclical, or lacking ingenuity. Instead, it was creative, relatable, and absolutely magical.

Enemies-to-lovers isn’t my preferred trope. In fact, I tend to avoid it, if possible. I’ve been scarred by my own past and this particular theme can often come across as toxic. Rather than that being the case in this book, the rivals-to-lovers element was not only understandable (due to Pike’s distaste for witches and Iris wanting to defend herself and her loved ones), but it was playful (the banter reminded me of an old married couple) and dare I even say meaningful (the breakthrough and communication these two have is really wonderfully written)? It made me appreciate the trope rather than resent it.

I loved the way the magic was written. From the start, it was very well-explained. I never found myself confused by how Iris’s abilities worked. This reminded me a lot of The Nature of Witches and how easy it was to understand the elemental powers in that book. Huge props to Rachel for creating systems that make sense! In fact, the magic was so beautiful that the quotes about it were the ones I highlighted the most. It definitely solidified my love for the beautifully witchy. I don’t prefer spooky books, but I could read stories like Wild is the Witch forever.

While the romance is a massive part of the plot, it didn’t take front-and-center for me. Obviously, I already raved about the magic, which is what stood out the most. But I also loved the focus on the animals and Iris’s huge heart for taking care of all wild things. There was also a subtle-yet-meaningful undercurrent regarding justice and not lumping people together in stereotypical categories unnecessarily. In addition to all of that, there was a beautiful spotlight on finding yourself – for both Iris and Pike. Despite the majority of the story only taking place over a couple of days, the growth was really beautiful.

I truly can’t recommend this book enough. You won’t want to miss out on it.

[CW: (major) Blood and Animal death, (moderate) Cancer, Child death, Grief, and Terminal illness, (minor) Cursing]

This book truly transported me. The Pacific Northwest is my favorite place and the writing really captured the feeling of being there. The sights, smells, and sounds the author was able to convey were remarkable. I also loved how witchcraft is so entwined with nature and how witches and humans coexist together. Iris and Pike's banter was so enjoyable and I loved watching their relationship grow throughout the book. Overall this book is perfect for anyone who wants easy-to-understand fantasy, beautiful and transportive writing, and main characters you want to root for.

When you're a witch who lives in the closet because you watched your best friend make a horrible choice? What happens when *you* make a mistake that could cause you to be forced to lose your powers? Iris Gray has already seen what happens when a witch breaks the rules - and she is determined it will not be her. So she stays under the radar after a move. All is fine until a co-worker at her mom's rescue makes it clear that he hates witches, and she accidentally curses him. What will she do to try and fix the mistake, and what happens if she isn't able to?

Griffin created a space where witchcraft in today's world is real, though not what we've always known it. It's accepted - to a degree - because normal people realize they can't be magic'd without knowing. The story has a good flow and interesting characters, and surprised me with how much I enjoyed it. It feels true to the heart of both the magic within, and to the people embodying it. I would definitely read another book in this world.

I had read the Nature of Witches some time ago, so I was unsure of whether I’d be gripped by Wild Is the Witch right away. Luckily, Rachel Griffin is extremely talented and pulled me into the story immediately. I’ve read a ton of books based on witchcraft, but this series is so different. The magical elements almost feel realistic and are very based in nature. I was unsure about the romance at first, but I ended up loving it. Although this book is YA, it appeals to adults too. Five star read for me.

New to me author ( check) , witches , magic, ( check) , Different types of magic ( check), what magic would I want if I was a witch (to work with animals).
Strong characters that I loved from the start , with one character I sadly didn't like .As for world building itself it was rich and so alive, to the point that you could almost see it come off rhe page .

This is a refreshing young adult tale about witches. Witches live among us, but they are rarely the scary creatures of nightmare stories. They work with nature and in the case of our protagonist, Iris, she works with animals and can connect with them. The description of magic and how she uses it is magical in its own sense and quite poetic in the story. You can feel it sweeping around you. Iris works with a man she can't get along with and they constantly snipe at each other. Then, a recalcitrant owl (yup, an owl) forces them to work together and discover the truth about each other. This story is magical in more ways than one.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

While Wild is the Witch wasn't a bad read per se, it definitely fell into the category of utterly forgettable books for me. There wasn't anything about the book that really stood out to me, neither in a positive nor in a negative way.

The characters were alright. I didn't particularly like Pike (also, what kind of name is Pike?!) since he seemed unnecessarily rude in the first part of the book, but at some point he got better.

I liked that Iris and Pike talked with each other quite a lot. It was nice to actually see characters change their opinions of each other throughout conversations instead of just getting told that they spent time with each other and now they get along. They didn't really have chemistry though.

The writing was okay. Nothing extraordinary I guess. Same with the plot.

In the end I don't have any strong feelings about this book, but if you enjoyed the author's previous book (which I didn't), you will probably like this one as well.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the early copy of Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin in exchange for an honest review.
I didn’t quite know how to rate this book so I rounded up from 3.5 stars to 4. This was a good easy read set in a world where magic is freely accepted and Witches are carefully governed to ensure any magic use is safe. I really liked this idea. I also really liked all the area descriptions of the Pacific Northwest where this book is set. I really want to visit more now than ever before. It was very atmospheric, and I enjoyed that too.
I loved the characters, including the animals, but what brings my score down a bit is that it was a little bit predictable with the relationship between the main characters.
This is a nice book, definitely worth a read if it sounds like something you might enjoy, and it’s out in August 2022!

Brilliant new YA book! Witches, curses, love and loss, what’s not to love?
Wild is the Witch is fast paced and incredibly hard to put down once you’ve started.
The world building was rich and comforting, very immersive thanks to Rachel’s incredible writing.
Beautifully written story which fantasy and romance readers will enjoy.

I thought this was overall such a refreshing read. I very much enjoyed the forced proximity trope. The pacing was quick and the characters were both relatable!

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC!
I thought this book was very beautiful and romantic! Iris is a wonderfully written character that is just full of passion and spark. The author really draws you in and makes you care for the characters, especially Iris. The romance is wonderful and has one of everyone's favorite tropes.
What really makes this book feel so amazing is the magic in the world-building is so detailed and thought out. The story flows really well and everything is very cohesive. I would definitely recommend this if you want an engaging and well-written story.

If you loved the nature of witches you might love this book. 🌲🦉🐺✨❤️
It is set in the woods, has magic, animals, romance and adventure. It definitely gave some of the feeling i have been missing since reading The Nature Of Witches.

Loved this!
I love books sets in the Pacific Northwest - all that gray skies, fog and moody atmosphere. This was a brilliantly written story. I loved Rachel Griffins idea of how a witch uses magic. That connection to the earth, animals and almost the atoms of the air to draw in to help heal, sooth, and engage. Iris and Pikes relationship starts brittle and cranky and ends sarcastic and teasing. What happens in between is something you will have to read to find out!
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC. Now I’m off to find this authors other titles!

My new favorite book! Rachel’s writing is just perfection. I love her world building, the angst, and I really just love that owl! This is definitely in my top 10 books of the year!

This book was good, but The ending is what really made it. It wasn’t quite what I had expected, but it was exactly what the story needed (duh, that’s why the author wrote it that way). I felt Amy was a huge part of the book, but we never really got any closure there. Maybe this is a series and we just don’t see it until the next book. But overall, this was a good book with great characters and an interesting spin on magic and witches.