The Nature of Witches

The Nature of Witches
By Rachel Griffin

Summary

Clara is the first Everwitch in 100 years. She should be powerful enough to help her fellow witches tame the weather as the earth’s climate becomes more and more erratic, but it isn’t as easy as it seems. She must learn to control her powers, but when she uses them, she loses the ones she loves. As she finds a friend who helps her to control her magic, her confidence grows, but so does her feelings for him. Will her feelings put those she loves in danger once again? Now she must decide whether she can trust herself to use her unpredictable magic without hurting the people around her.

My Review

This book was recommended to me by a friend and we decided to read it together. The author is from the pacific northwest and she identifies as a witch herself. For this reason alone, it was an easy book for me to connect with right away. When I picked it up, I was instantly struck by how beautiful the cover is. This book has to be one of the most beautiful books on my shelf. The picture on the dustcover is absolutely stunning.

When the book begins, you are thrust into a powerful story from the perspective of a character who is unique among her kind. She is a “chosen one” of sorts, but she doesn’t want to be. The depth of her emotions is astounding and it pulls you into her shoes from the very start. The plot moves a bit differently than other books. It isn’t very action packed and they aren’t traveling across great landscapes on a grand adventure. The story follows more of an internal journey as Clara learns about herself and her place in the world. It also follows the change of the seasons and the ways that those changes affect her powers and the powers of those around her.

The romance in this book is very subtle, but it is sweet and age appropriate which I always appreciate in a young adult novel. All of the relationships that Clara has in the books are very nuanced for a teenage protagonist and you can tell that the life she has lived has left her more mature than most. She is cynical and yet, she is still a teenage girl who has feelings and gets wrapped up in them just like the rest of us. It was fabulous to watch her journey as she learns to trust herself and find the joy in who she is.

The Nature of Witches is a standalone novel, so Clara’s story is wrapped up within the one book which is refreshing in today’s world of fantasy series trends. I really think that the story is beautifully told and it is satisfying as a standalone book. I wouldn’t change that at all. I am however looking forward to Rachel’s future novels as well.

Pros: Beautiful imagery and internal journey towards self-realization and self-confidence
Cons: The plot is a bit slower and casual compared to other similar books and I know that other people have struggled with that when reading this book.  

Overall, I give The Nature of Witches 4.5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐.✰

-Jacqui

Characters 4/5
Setting 3/5
Writing 5/5
Plot & Themes 4/5
Romance 4/5
Diversity 3/5

Author: Rachel Griffin
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Trigger Warnings: Death, Grief, Loss, Death of a Parent
Age Recommendation: 13+
Length/Page Count: 361
Format & Source: Hardcover, A Book for All Seasons Bookstore
Publishing Info: Sourcebooks 2021