I loved this book. It broke my heart, but then pieced it back together in the best way. A story that shares the difficulties of being judged for what you are and not being accepted so having to hide your true self.

This book was so refreshing! I loved the characters, especially Pike and his wit and humor. I also liked the magic and how it worked within a contemporary setting. I flew through this book and loved every second of it. Highly recommend for anyone that loves witches, curses, animals and the Pacific Northwest!

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Let me start by saying that I absolutely adored the academic rivals (-ish?) to lovers dynamic between Iris and Pike. I really enjoyed their banter and the romance. I think this book has a very unique take on witches. However, the plot was very simple and I wish it was more fleshed out. There was very little world building and not enough explanation of the magic system. I would have loved to see more of the world and how witches work together with non-magical people. Throughout the book we get to see how Iris’s past affects her decisions and makes her more anxious, cynical and scared. But I would have loved to see some other aspects of her past have some role in the actual plot (such as Amy or Cassandra bring some how involved in the plot, more involvement from the council, her dad etc). I also think this book could have been much shorter. While a part of me was getting anxious about the whole curse situation, I was also feeling a lack of the sense of urgency within the characters.

Overall, while I enjoyed the romance, the plot fell short for me and I wish it was more developed.

Wild is the Witch is set in the Pacific Northwest, the perfect place for an atmospheric novel about witchery and its connection with the Earth. It is a genre-blending confection that pulls off a young adult enemies-to-lovers trope well. Both the protagonist (Iris) and her romantic interest (Pike) are flawed and hurt. They turn to each other—eventually—to find a solution and heal. This is a story about Iris’s quest to deactivate the curse she inadvertently places on Pike. Their emotions and relationship seem real as they learn to move forward and toward each other and deal with their pain. There is some mild sexual interest but no consummation, so this is a safe book for younger YA readers.

Honestly, I really liked this book. I've never read anything by Rachel Griffin before, but this was a pretty nice intro to her writing and her world of low-fantasy witches.

I truly adored the magic system in this story, because it basically consisted of working in harmony with nature and harnessing energy that's already there. It came very close to my personal beliefs about the way the world works, and it's always refreshing to feel seen in that way. I also liked the fact that the witches were an accepted part of modern society. Like, they show up on the news, and they work alongside non-magical humans, and nobody's trying to burn them at the stake, which was really cool to me.

I also enjoyed the characterizations. Iris doesn't feel like a cardboard cutout character. She's anxious and worried a lot of the time, but isn't much of a doormat, which I appreciated. She calls Pike out on his crap in a cool, levelheaded way and doesn't often make stupid decisions for the sake of the plot.

Pike was adorkable and irritating as a person, not as a character. He made me want to jump into the book and strangle him sometimes because of how obnoxious and inconsiderate he could be, but at the same time, observing his obvious crush on Iris from the very beginning was kind of cute.

All in all, this was a really heartwarming story about nature, forgiveness, and the importance of knowing that it's okay to trust other people sometimes. I would definitely recommend!

trigger warning
<spoiler> trauma, ptsd, anxiety, grief, animal death, mention of death by fire </spoiler>

Iris Gray accidentally casts a curse and has to find the owl tied to it - accompanied by the guy who hates witches so much it frightens her.

In this world, magic is everywhere, and people who can sense and manipulare it are called witches. It is pubicly known that they exist, but not every witch may chose to announce their abilities.
Iris and her mom live a quiet life running a wildlife rescue center and using their magic to help the animals.

While in The Nature of Witches the magic wielders were sorted by season, in here we have Lunar, Stellar and Solar witches, depending on whether their magic is stronged on animals, humans or items. If both books are set in different worlds or not is not talked about, which bummed me a bit.

So, Iris casts this curse which accidentally get tied to an owl who is just going to life their best free life, despite being badly injured, which means Iris can get her mom to agree something needs to be done without talking about the curse just yet. But since the forests are big, mom doesn't think it would be a great idea to go alone, and only agrees to it if Pike joins. Pike, the guy who rants about witches and seems to enjoy to annoying Iris just for the lulz.

Hiking in the giant forest ensues.

Iris' mom is in a relationship with another woman. The relationship before that has been to Iris' dad, and we don't know if mom is bi or pan, so I just tagged this as sapphic.

It was fast paced, and I loved the depiction of nature as awe inspiring, not to be feared but to be respected. It makes me want to go camping again.

I would probably read more by this author, but be advised that this is more vibes than plot.
The arc was provided by the publisher.

Witches are known to the general population, but not a lot is known about them, and they're not necessarily widely trust. Budding ornithologist Pike Alder isn't a fan of witches. He's interning on a nature preserve, not knowing that the owners, Isobel, and her daughter Iris are witches. Iris finds Pike as repugnant and Pike does witches and every other damn thing he's always sneering at. He's an unpleasant person. Unfortunately, a combination of bad things sends the two up a mountain to bring back a rare owl, and things happen.

Supposedly the print volume is 320 pages, but my Bluefire galley is only 215--on my phone, so I'm wondering how big the type is. Wild feels like a short story or novella rather than a fleshed out novel. I wish I could say why. The protags--Iris is the narrator--despite having strong back stories, don't feel multidimensional.

Griffin does offer a good take on grief, though: "...don't grieve that he's gone," Pike says. "Grieve that he turned out to be such an asshole."

I was looking forward to this book, since I loved her first book. Second book syndrome. The main character is whiny and uninteresting. The book is a quick read.

The best YA book I have read in a while, 'Wild Is the Witch' depicts the story of how everything can go absolutely wrong when a witch, a curse, and an owl all come together! My first read by Rachel Griffin, this was an absolute treat.

Narrated solely in the first-person voice by our heroine, Iris Gray, we learn early on about the tragedies she has already been subjected to in her eighteen years. Moving to the Pacific Northwest for a fresh start, she and her mother found peace in the picturesque area, and have reciprocated by opening an animal refuge for wild animals. However, Iris is no ordinary teenage girl- she is a witch. And though she has assimilated into her new home, there is one annoying issue she cannot get past- and his name is Pike Alder. An intern at the refuge, their relationship is contentious, as Pike's arrogance and confidence set Iris' teeth on edge. And worst of all his qualities? He hates witches. Using an inherited method from her deceased grandmother which usually helps balance her, she puts a severe curse on Pike, expecting that it would amount to nothing. Cue a series of unfortunate events! She now has to remove the curse, with Pike's help, all without him learning she cursed him in the first place. A trip through the forest brings unexpected knowledge, and Iris comes to realize there is more to her coworker than meets the eye.

As stated earlier, I really enjoyed reading this novel. Griffin's ability to describe the Pacific Northwest must be lauded, as I felt like I was trekking through the wild with Iris and Pike. The illustrations of lush greenery, mountain views, and wild animals (especially MacGuffin), all had me so immersed in this, that it was hard to put it down. Admittedly, I am a mummy of two small ones, so I never get to read the way I would like; however, when I did get the chance, I was all in! I also loved the evolution of the relationship between our two protagonists; that slow burn, enemies-to-lovers trope is my absolute favorite, and this time around was no exception. Pike was the perfect mixture of alpha and sweet, and Iris' idiosyncrasies spoke to me because they were so realistic-who has life figured out at eighteen, anyway?

I am hard-pressed to find negatives about this, as this was as flawless of a YA book as I would expect. As such, I give 'Wild Is the Witch' a rating of 5 out of 5 stars, for all the reasons listed above. I recommend this novel to persons who love fantasy and YA novels. As there are minimal descriptions of romantic acts, this is safe for people as young as early teens to read. There are no instances of obscene language or major triggers, so once again appropriate for the audience for which it is intended. Griffin has surely made a new fan, and I definitely plan to go check out what other gems she has written!

*A great many thanks to Netgalley, Rachel Griffin, and Sourcebooks Fire for this ARC. It is important to note that I was under no commitment to provide a positive review, and all opinions are undoubtedly my own.*

A cautionary tale of a witch using her magic to curse someone, intending to dispel it into the earth as a way to relieve her angst, but the spell is stolen by an owl capable of spreading the curse to the entire region. She and the man she cursed have to work together to find the owl and make sure it stays alive long enough for her to dispel the curse before it gets loose. It's a great story of learning to control your gifts, and of being honest with those who can help you. Well written and developed as it unfolds. It was almost a 5 for me, but something was lacking, so I gave it a 4.

It beautiful love story with some witchcraft on a side.
We have here Iris and Pike, enemies turned lovers, lots of hate-attraction dialogues and some family traumas from the past.. MacGuffin is definitely my favourite character.

I'd definitely recommend this book to everyone romance fans.
Fantasy part was beautiful and I would love to read more about this magic world created by Rachel Griffin, these were my favorite parts, maybe some book about sisterhood and friendship in the future?
But I wouldn't call it a "fantasy" novel because it is 90% romance with dialogues and interaction between two people only and for some readers it could a little misleading if they expect a traditional fantasy.

This is my first Rachel Griffin book, and I am super impressed. The story is told in a straightforward but compelling way, the characters are sympathetic but still act like young adults, and the world building is interesting and comprehensive. It was fun and fast.

After tragedy, Iris and her mother left their home to start over. They now run an animal sanctuary, but Iris hasn’t been able to move on and constantly dwells on the past and closes others off. This is her story about guilt, rectification, and healing. It also has humor and a pretty cute enemies-to-lovers storyline.

<I>Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire</I>

As you hike along with Iris and Pike in his eerie rescue mission, you feel the forest and its wilderness surround you. A great, immersive experience.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the early read.

I have read the first book before and I liked it but this one is much better in my opinion.

The Immersion, nature, and the atmosphere are all great and bounds the reader into an adventure that would last a lifetime. We should not forget the romance because it was executed well and I want more of it.

Thsnk you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rachel Griffin's cozy low fantasy witches are just so incredibly enjoyable to me. Her genre of emotional stories that feel so real and relatable told alongside a contemporary world steeped in magic just hits me right in my soul. 100% auto-buy author for me.

As a fantasy romance, Wild is the Witch gets me in all the right places. A loathe-to-love story catalyzed by interfering wild animals at a rescue center; a camping trip with a delightful One Tent trope for my favorite, Forced Proximity; and secret identity. Sign me up EVERY time.

I was at first attracted by the beautiful cover and the captured by the intriguing plot. Well written and plotted, this story keeps pulls you in with its interesting characters and great atmosphere and emotions. And there is plenty soul soothing neuter and animals.

Iris and her mom run a non-profit wildlife
refuge in the Pacific Northwest.
Iris, secretly a witch, has a wolf friend named Winter and a northern spotted owl that always be watching her. Iris loves being at the refuge-but she hates Pike, the arrogant intern who works there with her.

This story ignites when Pike reveals his hatred for witches. I was pulled along with events as they unfolded, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with an ARC of this wonderful book!

"I never used to have secrets, and now I cling to them as if they're my lifeline."

Wild is the Witch takes you on an adventure filled with magic, curses, nature, and some good old fashion enemies to lovers. What's not to love? I myself am a huge outdoor person so I truly enjoyed getting to read about two rivals forced to go backpacking together to go get back a cursed owl before it releases the curse and potentially kills most of the population in the region. No pressure, right?

"That's the thing about magic: people want to see it and feel it almost as much as they want to dismiss it entirely."

The story focuses on Iris, a young witch who had to move across country with her mom after a traumatizing experience that haunts her to this day. After Iris accidently curses an owl that could have major consequence if the curse was released, she is forced to go on a trek with the intern, Pike, who works at her mom's wildlife refuge who takes great pleasure in making Iris's life difficult. Oh, and did I mention Iris's partner in crime is a witch-hating boy who has no idea why the owl is so important? What could possibly go wrong?

"That's one of the worst casualties of being hurt by someone who was never supposed to hurt you: you start to question all the beautiful things that led up the the ugliness, start to wonder if some of the moments you thought were perfect were actually painted with a dirty brush."

I loved this heart wrenching story of acceptance and healing. Wild is the Witch is the perfect book to get lost in for an afternoon if you are looking for something on the shorter and witchier side.

This book was like a breath of fresh air and a cozy sweater you want to wear all the time.
I hadn’t read anything from this author before so I went in without any bias. After just one book, I can assure you this will be an auto read now for me.
Being more of a contemporary fantasy, it was enjoyable in the beauty and simplicity of the magic and how pleasing the descriptiveness of the magic really was. The romance aspect of this story was executed well without being cheesy for an enemies to lover trope.
Iris was vulnerable without being passive and submissive. She was exactly what I wanted for a FMC. Pike was cocky and full of himself, but not in a bad way. He was alluring and charming and even if you didn’t love him at the beginning you did by the end.
Ultimately, a beautiful story and my only complaint is that I wanted more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC of this eBook in exchange for my honest review.

Free. Wild. Beautiful.

I absolutely loved Wild is the Witch! I was hooked from the very beginning to the very last word. Rachel Griffin is officially an auto buy author for me. Her writing is addicting, descriptive and so atmospheric. This is one of those stories that made me what to turn back to page one after finishing it just so I can experience it all over again!

I really liked Iris! She had such a deep love for magic, animals and nature. Pike was great too! He was sarcastic and super observant. The hate to like romance was so cute. The banter between Pike and Iris was 10/10 perfect! There were definitely some good laugh out loud moments. I also loved the emotional moments when the two were honest about their feelings & their pasts. Both characters were able to learn from each other and see things from a different point of view.

This story is full of witchy goodness. The magic system was simple and thoroughly explained. A witch’s magic works with the natural world. They cannot create something out of nothing. There are limitations. I think this book would be perfect for someone who is dipping their toes into the fantasy genre.

Overall, Wild is the Witch was everything I wanted it to be plus more! It’s a beautiful story all about magic, healing and trust. It’s definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. I will never stop talking about how amazing it is! I cannot wait to have a finished copy on my shelves.