Review: Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin

Wild is the Witch

by Rachel Griffin

August 2, 2022

Goodreads Summary:

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.

Iris Gray knows witches aren't welcome in most towns. When she was forced to leave her last home, she left behind a father who was no longer willing to start over. And while the Witches' Council was lenient in their punishment, Iris knows they're keeping tabs on her. Now settled in Washington, Iris never lets anyone see who she really is; instead, she vents her frustrations by writing curses she never intends to cast. Otherwise, she spends her days at the wildlife refuge which would be the perfect job if not for Pike Alder, the witch-hating aspiring ornithologist who interns with them.

Iris concocts the perfect curse for Pike: one that will turn him into a witch. But just as she's about to dispel it, a bird swoops down and steals the curse before flying away. If the bird dies, the curse will be unleashed―and the bird is a powerful amplifier, and unleashing the curse would turn not just Pike, but everyone in the region, into a witch.

New witches have no idea how to control their magic and the consequences would be dire. And the Witches' Council does not look kindly on multiple offenses; if they found out, Iris could be stripped of her magic for good. Iris begs Pike to help her track the bird, and they set out on a trek through the Pacific Northwest looking for a single bird that could destroy everything.

Review

I have been having a hard time putting down my thoughts on Wild is the Witch. I liked the gentle tone of the story but I felt the storyline lacked some excitement. The magic was present but could have had more witchy vibes.

The magic in Wild is the Witch sounded simple and natural. As an animal lover, I envied Iris's ability. Being able to help animals in need was amazingly useful and meaningful. Yet the constant insecurity she felt dimmed the good deeds she accomplishes as a witch. I wish Iris wasn't so alone and that we got to meet more witches rather than hear about most of them through her.

The author nailed the character growths and relationship progression. In Wild is the Witch, Iris and Pike go from reluctant coworkers to tolerable travel companions to shy something more. It was interesting and satisfying to see their interactions change from confrontational to banter-y ;) Pike in particular, made me swoon with some of his sudden raw confessions.

Not at all what I imagined, the ending of Wild is the Witch was very emotional. I never would've thought things would end the way they did- with Iris failing to stop the curse and Pike asking her to turn him into a witch to save everybody. It was realistic because actions have consequences. A valuable lesson! In Iris's case, owning up to her mistake had good things happen to her too.

Wild is the Witch is a quiet story of romance and magic. The story surprised me in many ways making it a very memorable read. A little magic can go a long way.

*I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not affected in any way. Any quotes included in my review were taken from the ARC I received.