I received this book for free from NetGalley to facilitate my review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin Also by this author: Wild is the Witch
Published by Sourcebooks Fire on June 1, 2021
Genres: Contemporary, Fantasy, Girls & Women, Wizards & Witches, Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 384
Format: ARC
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
One of the Most Anticipated Young Adult Debuts of 2021!
From a stunning new voice in YA comes the fierce, romantic story about a world on the brink of destruction, the one witch who holds the power to save it, and the choice that could cost her everything she loves.
For centuries, witches have maintained the climate, their power from the sun peaking in the season of their birth. But now their control is faltering as the atmosphere becomes more erratic. All hope lies with Clara, an Everwitch whose rare magic is tied to every season.
In Autumn, Clara wants nothing to do with her power. It's wild and volatile, and the price of her magic—losing the ones she loves—is too high, despite the need to control the increasingly dangerous weather.
In Winter, the world is on the precipice of disaster. Fires burn, storms rage, and Clara accepts that she's the only one who can make a difference.
In Spring, she falls for Sang, the witch training her. As her magic grows, so do her feelings, until she's terrified Sang will be the next one she loses.
In Summer, Clara must choose between her power and her happiness, her duty and the people she loves...before she loses Sang, her magic, and thrusts the world into chaos.
"A bright, fresh read from a glowing new voice, THE NATURE OF WITCHES is both timely and stirring. Griffin's emotional writing that cuts to the heart will make her a new YA favorite."—Adrienne Young, New York Times bestselling author of Fable
"The forces of nature and magic blend perfectly in this masterfully told story... I couldn't love this book more."—Shea Ernshaw, NYT bestselling author of The Wicked Deep and Winterwood
Content Warning:
Death
When I first requested to be allowed to read The Nature of Witches, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve long been a fan of books that have magic in them, and if they tie that magic to witches, I’m especially intrigued. So, I was super happy to be given the chance to read this book before it was released. I was so not disappointed.
The Concept
Rachel Griffin’s concept of witches and magic in this book are unique and beautiful. The concept of witches being tied to the sun and that they each have their own season in which their magic is strongest makes a lot of sense. The concept of the Everwitch, whose magic is strong year-round – but with the current season’s magic – is brilliant.
The Dose of Reality
In The Nature of Witches, we get a taste of reality. The atmosphere is going crazy – because just like in the real world, the people are destroying the planet. We also get a dose of reality in the way that Clara hates herself and her magic when we first start out. We get to see her learn to deal with her trauma, love herself, and love her magic. We get to see Clara grow. Rachel Griffin handles these topics in a masterful way.
My Favorite Characters
Clara is my favorite character. Her struggles mimic a lot of people in the real world’s struggles – although hers are tied to magic and ours aren’t. But the lessons can still be learned from Clara’s journey. She’s a complex character and I loved reading about here. She’s smart, sassy, and has anxieties and fears just like the rest of us.
I also loved Paige. Although we only get to see bits and pieces of her, she’s a fun character. She’s as cold as her season, but that’s to be expected… she is a winter after all. She’s just an amazing character because you can tell that beneath the cold exterior she cares for Clara.
Sang is probably my second favorite character. His love, his patience, and his refusal to give up are the reason Clara is able to grow as much as she does during the course of the book. He’s a character who is easy to fall in love with and he’s the perfect companion for Clara.
The Conclusion
The Nature of Witches is Rachel Griffin’s debut novel and this novel is set to be a smash hit of a debut. I was blown away by this book – all of it’s twists, all of it’s turns, all of the emotions you feel as the book goes on. The turmoil Clara holds inside herself, the guilt, the trauma will break your heart and warm you as she learns to let go of it all.
You can find Rachel Griffin on Twitter & Instagram as @TimesNewRachel.