Last year I dedicated the month of October to all spooky reads and this year is not going to be any different. I kicked it off spooky reading season a little early with an ARC of Rachel Griffin's new book, Wild is the Witch. I thought it was going to be a sequel to her debut novel, The Nature of Witches, which I read last year and fell in love with.
It was not a sequel and I'm not sure if it was even set in the same universe but I loved it just as much. Both of Griffin's witchy novels are very unique and feel like nothing I've ever read about witches before. The stories are different, thoughtful, and have a very deep, philosophical twist to them.
Wild is the Witch was released on August 2nd and will make the perfect addition to your October reading list.
Publisher's Summary
After a night of magic turns deadly, Iris Gray vows to never let another person learn she's a witch. It doesn't matter that the Witches' Council found her innocent or that her magic was once viewed as a marvel—that night on the lake changed everything. Now settled in Washington, Iris hides who she really is and vents her frustrations by writing curses she never intends to cast. And while she loves working at the wildlife refuge she runs with her mother, she loathes Pike Alder, the witch-hating aspiring ornithologist who interns with them.
When Pike makes a particularly hurtful comment, Iris concocts a cruel curse for him. But just as she's about to dispel it, an owl swoops down and steals the curse before flying far away from the refuge. The owl is a powerful amplifier, and if it dies, Iris's dark spell will be unleashed not only on Pike but on everyone in the region.
Forced to work together, Iris and Pike trek through the wilderness in search of the bird that could cost Pike his life. But Pike doesn't know the truth, and as more dangers arise in the woods, Iris must decide how far she's willing to go to keep her secrets safe.
My Thoughts
Like I said, I was confused at first because I thought this book was a sequel to the first book but it didn't seem that way. Perhaps they are set in the same universe but you don't need to read the first book to understand this one.
Once I got over that confusion and immersed myself in the book I was really into it. It was a beautifully written story with so much personality and thoughtfulness. It read very literarily to me, almost similar to how the Practical Magic series is written.
Iris is a hardened witch; she's been burned before and is terrified to do anything that might expose her secret. She strongly dislikes Pike and as soon as you are introduced to his character you can see why. He's smug and cocky and he hates witches. Iris is taken aback by his revelation and it only strengthens her hatred of him. That's also when you realize they are probably going to fall for each other.
While this is a book about secrets, personal growth, and life lessons it also reeks of romance and I loved that. It wasn't the main plot point but having that romantic development between Pike and Iris in the background was really great and added so much to the story.
As the pair try to find the owl that is holding the curse, they grow closer and secrets are revealed. However, will they be able to survive the revelations that are in front of them? What happens when everything explodes in their faces?
There are a few twists in the story that I didn't see coming. I thought I knew how the book was going to turn out, especially after the major twist.
I thought there was so much great character development and growth throughout the story and it added so much depth to the plot. Iris was a great protagonist and I loved being inside her head. I especially loved seeing how she saw magic... it made me wish witches and magic were real.
If you like the Practical Magic series I think you will really love Wild is the Witch!
xoxo
B
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