4.5. I was just transported to the Pacific Northwest for a few hundred pages and I loved it.

The magic in the book was beautiful and unique. Different than the witchy books I’ve read previously, and I rather enjoyed it.

Iris and Pike are both completely lovable in their own ways. The tension between them builds perfectly and they’re so good together. I want more of their story!

Excellent narration on the audiobook!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the chance to listen to an advance copy.

I loved this next in series novel! I think I read from one of the major reviewers that the book falls flat in some way, but I didn't feel that way about it at all. It was a great second novel. I also like that it didn't continue the same story as its predecessor.

4.5 stars
This book was so good! The plot is so simple yet I was tuned in the whole time needing to know what happened next.
Iris is a witch. After her best friend accidentally kills her boyfriend with her magic while Iris is asleep, Iris and her mom move to get a fresh start. Iris works with Pike and learns that he hates witches. She is fine with that since he is the most annoying person she has ever met. So Iris decides to write a curse for him, but to give it to the Earth instead of actually cursing him. Just to get it out of her system. A trick she learned from her grandmother. But an owl steals the curse and once the owl dies, the curse will be unleashed upon Pike and everyone around him. So Iris goes to find the owl who is injured in the woods of Washington. Pike goes with her and she learns that there is more to him than the annoying boy she thought he was.
I really loved both our main characters Iris and Pike. There was more to both of them than we first know and I just really enjoyed my time getting to know both of them. Iris through her inner thoughts and Pike as he was opening himself up to Iris. I honestly even got attached to the owl who they named McGuffin.
I really enjoyed the wildlife preserve Iris and Pike worked at and I loved the woods setting once they were going to look for the owl. The type of magic that Iris had and how it was described really matched the setting of the woods. It felt very earthy and it was very atmospheric.
The ending really wasn't what I was expecting, but when it was over it really seemed like it went with the rest of the book and was the best ending that could have been written. The last few sentences really got me!

3.5/5

Rachel Griffin writes some of the most beautifully realistic magic systems I have ever read. I love the way she intertwines the magic with nature in a way. With how realistic her magic systems are, I always find myself better able to imagine the feel of the magic than I typically do with the magic systems in other stories.

Another area Griffin really thrives in is writing emotion that really hits the reader on a deeper level. For both of her books, I have felt incredibly connected with the main character and the emotions felt by said character/s.

Not only is Wild of the Witch beautifully written, but the story carries some incredibly important lessons around forgiveness, letting go of prejudices and knowing when to ask for help. I think a lot of the content is incredibly relevant to all young adults who are still learning where they fit in this world.

My only complain with Wild is the Witch was that I really struggled with Iris's decision making skills. While I understand that she is young and impulsive, I simply cannot wrap my mind around some of the choices she made. That said, this certainly made her realistic because we do all make mistakes - some graver than others - and these poor decisions are the reason Griffin was able to work some of the lessons mentioned earlier into the story.

Despite my frustrations, I really enjoyed this story and cannot wait to see what Rachel writes next.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

After a spell gone wrong, and being forced to move from her town, Iris Gray finds herself having to hide her true nature. She ends up working at her mother's wildlife refuge, with Pike Adler, an intern she despises. When its discovered that he hates witches, she decides to use her Grandmothers old trick of creating a curse, but never casting it, instead binding it to herbs and burning it to ash. Only her plan goes awry when a meddling owl swoops down and binds the curse to it instead. Now, Iris must work with the very boy she cursed, in order to save not only him, but the entire town.

I read Nature of Witches last year, and fell in love with Rachel Griffin's writing style. There's just something about it that is so comforting. This was such a fun read, filled with so many tropes I love! The forced proximity, and enemies to lovers had me sucked in instantly, not to mention there's ONLY ONE TENT. I loved the constant bickering and witty banter between Iris and Pike and loved watching them grow closer together as the story progressed. It was interesting how both were hiding things from one another, and I liked how they had to learn to trust one another before they felt comfortable revealing the deepest parts of themselves. I love any book that features animals as companions, so I really enjoyed seeing Iris and her mother's connection with the animals and what an integral part of the story it was. I'm also a big fan of that owl, what a meddling brat, I love him.

Special thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for the ARC of this book!

This was such a cozy read. Rachel Griffin always writes in a way that it vivid and rich. The main character, Iris, loves animals and nature, the descriptions in this book made it an easy and comforting read.

Thank you to RB Media/Recorded Books, the publisher Sourcebooks FIRE, and NetGalley for this early audiobook for review.

50000/5 stars! I have NEVER gotten through an audiobook so quickly in my life. I legitimately couldn't stop listening! Rachel has a way of enveloping you into the story from the very start, and immersing you into the MC's world, emotions, and the problems that result from their actions in such a beautifully detailed way. The way she describes her worlds and the MC's environments is so lush, earthy, and breathtaking.

I immediately loved the MC, Iris, and saw myself in her almost immediately. Her inner turmoil combating with her love of her gift as a witch, along with the growing relationship with "antagonist" Pike, was interwoven along the story so beautifully. I also did not anticipate being as attached to a fictional owl in my life as I was with McGuffin!! McG had me wrapped around his elusive, scheming little talon the entire time. Seeing both Iris, Pike, and McGuffin grow as characters throughout the story was so well done. You FELT what they were all going through, and the chemistry was palpable. Also, I absolutely loved the narrator for this! She was fantastic!

I wanted to like this book. I LOVE witchy novels. But this felt so cringey at multiple points, and I found myself just wanting to be done with the book. Pike was the most annoying love interest of all time (Iris wasn't great herself, but I do 100% understand her anxiety and how that contributed to her not doing things that would have made her life 1,000x times easier). Pike getting mad at Iris for unintentionally cursing him was so dumb and I didn't feel sympathy for him at all. Witches seem to be almost like a race in this novel, so to hate someone based off the actions of one person that identifies as a witch was such a stupid thing. I just did not like any of this except for the mom. ALSO WE COULD HAVE HAD COOL WITCH AND WOLF ADVENTURES BUT THEY DIDN'T EVEN ADD THE WOLF INTO ANY OF THE PLOT.

I loved this book! After NATURE OF WITCHES, this felt like the perfect follow up for Rachel Griffin. It was full of love for the natural world, a witty banter, and such a quintessential witchy vibe! Highly recommended for anyone who loves the pacific northwest, magic, and hate to love romance!

A really fast paced book with a nice magical storyline. My inner witch did want a little more magic displays, but what we got was sufficient enough. I think this book would really go well with a sequel as it was so fast paced and short and needed a bit more to really build that world around the concept of this book.

Overall I enjoyed it and hope to see something similar in the future. Thank you Netgalley and RB Media for this ARC.

Rachel Griffin has snuck her way into my auto-read author list!!! Her unique take on magic, the characters she crafts are unique and interesting and the plot had me hooked the whole time!

The owl plot was great. Pike was so dreamy and Iris was so amazing! I loved it!

A sweet story about acceptance and forgiveness. Iris and her mother are witches. A harrowing event involving Iris’s best friend, Amy, resulted in a death and a move to the Pacific Northwest. Iris will protect her new life at all costs and when a curse goes wrong and threatens everything and everyone she loves, Iris will stop at nothing to save her way of life.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this e-audio version.*

I really enjoyed this book!
I liked it better than Nature of Witches.

Between the two, the worlds are different even though they are both about witches.

I enjoyed the premise and the tropes in this book!

Listened to the audio and it was good!

Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin was a book that I was looking forward to reading since I finished Nature of Witches.  This one did not disappoint and I was sucked in from page one yet again!  Rachel Griffin is officially on my auto-buy list!

✨𝑷𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑫𝒂𝒕𝒆: August 2, 2022

Synopsis:
Iris Gray’s past is filled with tragedy which is why she has made a promise to herself to keep the fact that she’s a witch a secret. With her and her mother’s recent move to Washington, Iris can really hide who she is. But, iris still practices magic, especially when she is hurt or frustrated. Which is exactly how she feels around Pike Adler, an intern at the wildlife refuge her and her mother work at.

After an intense interaction with Pike, Iris creates a curse for Pike. She doesn’t intend to send it his way. She plans on using her grandmother’s trick of putting the curse back into the Earth. But when an owl swoops down and steals the curse Iris is left needed Pike’s help even though he doesn’t know the complete truth as to why he is needed.

Thoughts:
✨I absolutely love a book about witches.

✨Beautiful writing that hooks you from page one.

✨I knew I would devour this book so I was glad I set time side to read it. I could not put it down

✨A YA novel that is age appropriate but entertaining for all ages!

✨Loved the narrator, Laura Knight Keating, for this audiobook!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Five big bright stars for Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin.

👏🏼Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to Recorded Books for the ALC!

A stunning YA fantasy novel combining witches, nature, and romance with vivid imagery in the PNW. I absolutely loved Iris Gray, our MC. She's a witch who uses her magic to connect with the world, working at a wildlife refuge and being able to feel and heal the animals there. Unfortunately, Pike Alder also works at the wildlife refuge and he's not only obnixious and cocky, he hates witches. To get out her anger toward Pike, Iris decides to create a curse that will turn him into a witch and dispel it in an inanimate object, but an owl swoops in and steals the curse before she can get rid of it. In the limbo of wondering what could happen with the curse out there, Iris and Pike head into the forest to try to get the owl back and set things straight. Their relationship develops, but Pike doesn't know about the curse or that Iris is a witch. This was such an atmospheric read and seeing everything play out was just beautiful and fun. The audiobook was so well narrated by Laura Knight Keating and I definitely recommend listening to this!

Another slam dunk from Rachel Griffin!

First off, Rachel has a way of writing about witches that makes it feel so life-like. Mixing the fantastical elements of witches with present-day "magic" like science and medicine is a terrific marriage, and I can't get enough of it. I feel like I'm stepping into a modern-day fairy tale whenever I pick up one of her books.

When I started reading Wild Is the Witch, I had no idea that I would not only be getting the whimsical, cozy story I now expect when reading a Rachel Griffin novel but also a delightful enemies to lovers romance.

The originality of this story blew me away! An accidental curse, forced proximity romance, all while chasing an adorably frustrating owl. The conflicts in this book are top-tier and pulled at my heartstrings more times than I expected. I stayed up WAY too late reading this one!

Rachel continues to impress me with her creativity and writing. I cannot wait to dive into more of her stories!

As for the narrator, Laura Knight Keating-- she knocked this one out of the park! I loved her narration for Rachel's first book, and she continues to do her stories justice with Wild Is the Witch. Perfect pacing, and narration!

I loved this so much!! I've been dying to read this I have the bookish box special edition coming but I'm so glad I got to listen to it I don't think I could of waited. I loved everything about this book it was such a good book I absolutely can't wait to read it as well!

This was a wonderful girl meets boy, enemies to lovers YA romance - with magic thrown in.

Iris and Pike work together at an animal refuge they both love - it’s each other they can’t stand. When one of Iris’s spells (a curse actually) goes awry and an owl (and Pike, though he doesn’t know it) are caught in the crossfire and then the owl flies off, Iris asks Pike to help her locate it so she can fix her mistake. Their close proximity to each other forces them to let their guards down and get to know each other. They are surprised to discover they like each other. When they finally locate the owl, and Iris’s betrayal is revealed, she isn’t sure if Pike can forgive her, or if either of them can survive the consequences of her magic.

Well written and good narration.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for allowing me a chance to listen to an advanced copy of this audiobook!

"That's the thing about anxiety, it doesn't care if something is rational or not. It takes hold of your mind and it squeezes, tighter and tighter until it can't be ignored, demanding your undivided attention. It turns from insignificant to all-consuming in the span of a breath, a fog so thick it's impossible to see through, and no amount of breathing or counting or visualization undoes it."
By: Rachel Griffin
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That's one of the parts I highlighted in the book because I relate to that a lot.
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First off I want to thank @netgalley and @sourcebooksfire for this alc of Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin.
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QUICK BLURB:
When eighteen-year-old witch Iris Gray accidentally enacts a curse that could have dire consequences, she must team up with a boy who hates witches to make sure her magic isn't unleashed on the world.
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MY REVIEW:
I don't think I ever been sad about a book to end. This book was well written, beautiful and I could really see this as a movie. I've never been so submerged in a ebook/book in a long time, so when i got approved for the audiobook I was so excited. It was a rollercoaster of emotions and never a dull moment. Brought to tears, that's the best kind of book to read. I'm not sure what more I can say without giving spoilers. The narrator also did a amazing, If you loved to all the boys i loved before, then you will definitely love wid is the witch.
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Rating:
NARRATOR:🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕
STORYLINE:🐕🐕🐕🐕🐶
OVERALL: 🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕

Wild is the Witch sucked me in and it was impossible to put down.

Iris is a witch who due to previous circumstances doesn't want anyone to know she's a witch. In order to do this successfully she follows her grandmothers ritual of writing curses she never intends to cast, however one day it all goes wrong. She writes a curse for Pike, one of the wildlife refugee employees and it gets picked up by an owl and the owl disappears. In order to not release the curse she must find the owl.

Iris and Pike go off to find the owl, though Pike doesn't know the real reason why. Their journey was a slow meander through the woods and their relationship (maybe they don't hate each other after all?). Despite the slow meander I was hooked and couldn't put the book down.

Iris did a lot of growing and discovery of who she is and who she wants to be. I enjoyed her journey through self discovery and learning what is important to her (more than just saving herself from trouble).