rounded up from 4.5
Rachel Griffin has absolutely become one of my favorite authors. her writing is completely enchanting, her magic/world structures are uncomplicated yet still so interesting. I flew through this in less than 24 hours. I didn’t love this as much as Nature of Witches (one of my favorite books of all time), for a few reasons. the main conflict felt forced/like conflict just for the sake of plot. the magic felt secondary to the ~love story~ and I would have liked more detail on the magic. overall though, this was just lovely, and I highly recommend.

Wild is the Witch features, but is not limited to, the following themes:
○ YA fantasy
○ Witches
○ Enemies to lovers
○ Only one tent
○ Magic
○ Secrets

My overall rating for Wild is the Witch is...

5 Stars!

Wild is the Witch was such an unexpected delight! I honestly didn't think I would love this book as much as I did. Iris, the MC, was relatable and lovable. I loved her dedication and the way animals gravitated towards her was so cool! The enemies to lovers romance progressed at a generous rate, like you could feel the slow but steady change in their attitudes towards one another. I also found the emotions on the page were extremely expressive; at one point I even had tears in my eyes. Overall, this young adult fantasy is going to warm the hearts of readers all over the world, just like magic.

Rachel Griffin's magical writing casts yet another spell with Wild is the Witch. As a personal aside, I am not a fan of dark magic/occult-style witch stories, and I love the fresh way Griffin approaches the concept of magic in our everyday world without it going super dark.

Iris and Pike's story is compelling from the start, and I kept turning pages wondering what would happen to that marvelous northern spotted owl and how things would turn out for the crew at the Foggy Mountain Wildlife Refuge. I found myself shaking my head at Iris's impulsiveness, but also nodding along at her reasoning. The settings have a life of their own, and are an atmospheric love letter to the Pacific Northwest (as a local myself, I can see how much care and detail she puts into this element of the story, and it's fantastic!).

I can't wait to see what comes out of her imagination next--Rachel is an auto-buy author for me now.

Loved this story from start to finish, from the nature to the animals, to the attraction & secrets. 5 of 5

Wild Is The Witch is a very fast-paced and enchanting story about witches, an accidental curse, and a perfect enemies to lovers scenario. I had access to both the kindle and audiobook versions.

Iris Gray was forced to pack up her life and move to Washington after a disastrous accident involving magic. She and her mom are now working at a nature preserve where they hide their powers. When Iris decides to write a curse for her arch nemesis at work, a sly owl intervenes, and now both Iris and Pike need to trek the mountains to find the owl before any deathly consequences occur.

I loved everything about this book. Rachel Griffen’s writing is simple yet enchanting and beautiful. I loved the atmospheric feel and felt like I was there in the forest of the Pacific Northwest. The magic aspect of magic fit perfectly into the story, and it was not overbearing. There was something so comforting knowing that Iris used her magic to talk and heal animals. The chemistry between Iris and Pike felt natural, and I loved that they used logical approaches to find the missing owl before anything happened. I also loved the powerful message about acceptance, loving who you are, and forgiveness. The narrator, Laura Knight Keating, did a great job.

Thank you to NetGallery and to SourceBooks Fire and RB Media for giving me a copy.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.

Iris Gray and her mother are witches, and they lived a normal life in a normal village, along with Iris' father. But when Iris' best friend, Amy, decides to turn her boyfriend into a Mage and takes Iris along for the trip but tells her nothing, things go terribly wrong. Iris is awoken by the screams of Amy's boyfriend as he draws too much magic to himself, and the smell of burning flesh is something that haunts Iris. The seemingly blurred line between witch and non-witch becomes clear again as the town turns against the kind that took a beloved small-town innocent boy from them, despite Amy having had her magic taken from her and the council determining that not only did Iris have nothing to do with the scheme, she didn't know that was what Amy had been planning.

While Amy is sent to prison, Iris and her mother are feeling the pressure of attitudes changed, and eventually decide the best thing to do would be to move. Iris' father is in agreement and helps plan it, but when it comes time to move, he doesn't join them.

Hurt and betrayed, Iris and her mother move to Washington and start a wildlife refuge. Both Iris and her mother have animal magic and veterinary training backgrounds, so the magic works in tandem with the medicine and science. Iris has become withdrawn, refusing to make connections at school, choosing instead to befriend a wolf, Winter, and the many animals that pass through their refuge. She hides the fact that she is a witch because despite living peacefully in co-existence with non-witches, she has seen how quickly that relationship can burn, and how her kind can become hated and feared.

When her mother hires a new intern, Pike, to help at the refuge, Iris is irritated. He is sarcastic, egotistical, rude, and he leaves his chores to her at the end of the day. She tries to ignore him, but when a news report on the tv mentions Amy's release, Pike is incensed, his attitude turning dark and angry. This scares Iris, because she has worked so hard to keep her secret, and even though her mother doesn't agree with her, her mother keeps it along with her. She fears having to uproot her life again, especially since she has come to consider the great Northwest home.

So she starts a process her grandmother taught her, one she has been doing for years: create a spell, even an illegal one, and cast it into a pile of herbs, then let it burn. It has the cathartic effect of a letter pouring out your feelings but never being sent. Harmless. But when she casts the curse on Pike to turn him into a mage, an owl from the refuge swoops between Iris and the herbs, catching the spell and flying off into the forest.

Using her actual concern for the owl, Iris convinces her mother to allow her to track down the bird whose wing is still a hindrance to its survival, and her mother agrees, but says she has to take Pike with her - for safety and also because he is planning to be an ornithologist. Iris is furious, but she has to find the owl and bind the curse to herbs and render it harmless. She doesn't like Pike, but she would never turn him into a mage against his will.

Iris and Pike start into the woods, both hiking with burdens heavier than their backpacks and gear, and try to find the owl that could change both their lives.

An incredible, captivating book. I am partial to witchy storylines, but this was impressive. If it felt at times like Forks, Washington, it might be because the author was such a fan and grew up near it. But the story was all its own. The explanation of magic and how it works was incredible, but also heartbreaking when you consider how ancient magic is being torn down all the time with deforestation.

I wish that Iris' friend, Winter the wolf had played a bigger part in the story, and hope that he appears in later works of the author. The backdrop of the Pacific Northwest was stunning, and the author did such an incredible job with things like the way rocks and wood become slippery in the rain, even mist, and how moss covers everything on the ground after so many years - rocks and fallen trees alike.

It made me want to read more Rachel Griffin.

Thank you to Netgalley & publisher for a free ecopy.

I personally did not think this book started strong. The beginning of the book was very repetitive as the Amy situation was mentioned endlessly. Unsure why, as I felt the point was clear. Also, Pike & Iris' dialogue was annoying. Their constant bickering over everything and "wittiness" was wasteful. I love enemies to lovers and felt this was not the best use of the trope, as it felt more like elementary playground banter.

However, once we went on the owl hunt, I was way more invested. I felt the plot took good turns and the time we saw Iris and Pike on the trip was way better. Their banter was still there, but their conversation was better written. The character depth and backstories evolved continuously throughout the story and this I appreciated. I wish there was a bit more magic sprinkled in, but I liked the explanation of the magic.

Overall, I liked this book and I think some will like it more than others.

I had some high expectations for this one, because everyone else seems to be enjoying it. This was unfortunately a DNF for me.

The author over explained the world and how magic worked, but it still didn't make sense, despite the overexplaining.

The protagonist's mother is a vet, but "was able to tell if the animal was hurt because the animal knew." but there's no way an animal would know specifics like internal bleeding or if certain organs were hurt. Not to mention the mother was doing surgery on an animal, something that would take years to learn how to do, but had no veterinary skills, just magic.
The voice is young, so much so that I thought the protagonist was much younger than 18.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This young adult book of witches has made it to my favourites for the year and also the all time favourite. I read it in one sitting and can't wait to read more of author's work.

Iris is a witch and lives in the fear of losing everything she has and more so her magic because of incident that happened in the past. Pike comes of as arrogant but cares much more. He has his own reasons for hating witches and magic.

Both of them with their fights, arguments, unexpected caring nature are someone worth knowing and loving. I loved their chemistry, banter and slowly sharing their pasts. I would want to know them all over again for the first time. Pike, he has special place in my heart. I couldn't control my tears for him and the hurt be did face.

The writing, plot and magic, everything about this was beautiful and enchanting. It had me hooked from the start and I couldn't turn the pages fast.

The author has given us a story raw with emotions, it shows you the impact of vulnerability and how can we come out as someone strong with more clarity.

Overall a read you shouldn't miss, I highly recommend this enemies to lovers, forced proximity, magical story of witches and am glad to have been approved to read the e-arc.

I loved this magical and awe inspiring story. It was a perfect escape read.
Many thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Fire and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Not everyone likes witches.
Pike Alder is one of those people.
To release her anger and fear of Pike hating her people, eighteen year old Iris follows her grandmothers tradition of creating a curse, and then safely dispelling it. All is going to plan until an endangered owl swoops down and steals the curse.
Now the curse is out there and can be released at any moment turning Pike into a witch and possibly killing him in the process.

This is not what I was expecting. I was expecting a fully magical adventure.
This was more an enemies to lovers romance with a girl with can talk to animals.
But I’m all for it. It was an enjoyable read. Decent story, witty banter, cute romance and a touch of magic.

Iris has had to flee her hometown after an incident her best friend had. She is now living away from her dad and doesn't tell anyone she's a witch anymore.
But she fucked up and to save her own ass, she has to trek around the woods looking for a magical owl with the boy she hates, who hates witches and whom could be cursed if this all goes wrong.

I liked this book but I didn't love it. While I liked the setting, and the atmosphere and the magic system, I just wasn't all that into the romance and I found the plot to be a bit slow.
I did love the main character though and her mother. I really liked the magical side of things, with how the magic worked and the connections to animals and the council thing and the backstory.
The pacing, though, like it was a pretty short book, but I just feel like so little happened and yet, the MC fell for the guy so quickly for me.
But overall, it was enjoyable and I still want to read the author's first book.

This is my first book that I've read from Rachel Griffin and it definitely won't be the last.

I saw the cover and thought it was beautiful. The story was brilliant.

An easy 5 stars

Wild is the Witch is my first book by Rachel Griffin. I missed The Nature of Witches last year but I will definitely be adding it to my Fall list this year. I was fortunate enough to read an ARC given to me by Rachel and Netgalley. Thank you to both because I thoroughly enjoyed this witchy, wild adventure in the Pacific Northwest wilderness!

Two years before this story begins, something terrible happens when a magic spell is misused. The Witches’ Council finds Iris innocent but the damage in the community has been done.

Now Iris and her mom are living in Washington, close to the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest, where they operate a wildlife refuge together. Iris has an affinity for animals. Because of the events of two years ago, Iris refuses to tell anyone that she’s a witch and will only use her magic when she’s positive no one is around to see it.

Then there’s Pike. He is infuriating and has proclaimed that he hates witches. Iris takes it to heart and decides to write a curse, not to actually curse him but just to make herself feel better as it burns away. Things done in anger and haste often backfire, don’t they? Just as she’s about to burn the curse up, an owl flies in and takes it. Now she has not only cursed something for real, even if unintended, but she’s put Pike and everyone around her in danger. This is where the adventure part, the quest, begins.

I love a quest story. This one doesn’t have clear signposts on the path toward completing the overall task. But there are definite markers along the way where something changes–an attitude, a thought, a perception. Iris and Pike have to take this adventure together to find the missing owl. Of course Pike doesn’t know the whole truth about the importance of this journey–he did proclaim that he hates witches after all–but he’s willing to go along to help Iris.

While I do like Iris’s character with her sassiness and her insecurities, Pike is my favorite character. He comes across as this snarky guy who doesn’t really care all that much about things. He picks on Iris incessantly and doesn’t even seem to realize when he goes too far. But there’s something there, hidden far below the surface, that made me care about him. I love how their relationship evolves.

The journey through the woods is dangerous, much like life sometimes. Every setback teaches them something that helps them continue on. The ultimate few scenes toward the end are heart-pounding and heart-wrenching. I love the way Rachel writes this particular part of the story. And when the journey ends, lives are changed forever, as they should be.

I like standalone novels but this is one of those that I’d love more of. It’s just that good.

I highly recommend Wild is the Witch to fans of YA Fantasy, magical realism, contemporary fantasy, enemies-to-lovers, and quest adventures. Rachel has found another fan in me and I cannot wait to read whatever is next.

Rachel Griffin is a masterful storyteller and beautiful world builder. I really enjoyed Rachels debut book, The Nature of Witches, and I’m happy to see that same kind of beauty in this book as well. I also loved the fact that this book was more of a story about witches and the lives they live as opposed to a “girl saves world” epic. I really enjoy getting to peak into what a “regular” character is experiencing. The relationship between both Iris and Pike is more of an enemies (but nice enemies… maybe more like hate) to lovers. Iris is a witch who has experienced some trauma in her past and Pike is a human who has a strong opinion of witches. After some hateful words on Pikes part, Iris comes up with a spell for Pike that she never intended to release to the, well, wild. Naturally, there is a turn of events and Iris and Pike must work together.

As mentioned before, the world building is beautiful. Griffin really knows how to draw you in with her words and keep you there with her imagery. The book is set in the Pacific Northwest and as you read you are really brought into the area.

atmospheric
enchanting
emotional
compelling

I loved the world building.
And now I want to go camping in the PNW.

easy 5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley, Sourcebooks, and the author for the eARC in exchange for my review.

I became obsessed with this book when I learned about it at TLA 2022 - I got to hear Rachel talk about her book and you could see the passion in her eyes when she wanted to dive into Pike and Iris's relationship so when I got my ARC I was so excited.
There were a lot of moments that made me go feral whenever Pike and Iris would bicker. My favorite thing about Antagonist to Lover and you can always tell who is in love with the other first and the moments of vulnerability that Pike expresses to Iris during their journey made me want to scream with happiness.
The fact that they both noticed little things about the other while simultaneously not sensing the other's deeper wounds was such a beautiful way to show that you can fall in love with someone and still have the opportunity to know each other. I will say that I did start to panic thinking that this book was going to be spilt in two - there were so many things that were going too well if you know what I mean, that I feared there wasn't going to be a resolution in this book, but I was wrong!
This was a great comfy read - while the stakes were high everything fit together so beautifully that although the ending was maybe just a little too convenient I would not have wanted it any other way!

I went into this expecting a beautifully weaved witch story and I was given a "younger" YA romance. The characters left me wanting and the dialog did not deliver.

That being said, Griffin's writing style is what most consider "easy" or as a friend has started saying "effortless". She takes a simple story and adds a smidge of depth to create a quick and fun read. I think this book just landed at a time when I was craving a bit more.

I was lucky enough to get this on audiobook and digital copy. The narrator was perfect for this light and easy read. She kept you engaged and had a nice style.

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

I loved the author’s debut novel and was eager to read this. There aren’t enough standalone contemporary fantasies, and that I definitely enjoyed from this one. I enjoyed, in particular, the themes throughout of forgiveness and grief and fear, of being careful what grudges you hold.
Unfortunately, the enemies to lovers narrative just didn’t work for me here. Pike’s behavior in the beginning was so obnoxious, the way he treated Iris so poorly, and no excuse really “excused” that for me. I couldn’t move past it and their dynamic felt off.

I was pleasntly surpirsed with how much I enjoyed this book. And I can safely say I actually liked this one a lot more than The Natures of Witches; I simply enjoyed the tropes more in this second book--with enemies to lovers, close proximity, only one bed etc.

I also felt Pike and Iris had tons of chemsitry and the enemies to lovers was justified. Though I will say I wasn't Pike's biggest fan; he got on my nerves quite a few times, but he grew on me by the end.
Also side note, I loved the queer representation we got in this--with Iris' mom being in a relationship with a woman--like it didn't play huge role in the plot, but it was still nice to have the rep.

Last thing I'll say, was that the world was easily understood and the explanation of it wasn't overly complicated. I feel like it's the perfect book to read if you want a simple, but entertaining urban fantasy (or if you really like witches).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest reivew.