Review (#giftedbook): The Nature of Witches

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this free digital copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is available now!

Unfortunately, I let myself get really behind on some of my advanced reader copies which is why this review is coming out over a month after this book was published. Oh well! It is here now since I finished the book less than an hour ago!!

I will be honest–I had a hard time sticking with this one, and not because I don’t think it is good. I just always wanted to read something else! I feel like normally that feeling wouldn’t place the book in a favorable light, but honestly, this book was really cool. I thought the premise of witches with powers tied to a specific season (and the main character whose magic is tied to all seasons) dealing with the issues of climate change was wholly original. There were so many moments when I was reading that I wished there really were nature witches out there trying to help keep the Earth stable. Our MC Clara is annoying and frustrating at times (truly, can you name a main character who isn’t?) but Griffin’s writing makes you feel for Clara and her struggles so much. And Sang….sigh. Sang is LOVELY. I think that if there were more people like Sang the world would be a much nicer place.

There are slower moments throughout but overall, once I actually made myself stick with it, I thought it read fairly quickly. Plus…the descriptive language of everything, especially the magic…that it was propelled this book from a 3 rating to a 4 for me. It was done so well. The plot was interesting and I liked the characters but I think Griffin’s strength is in her world-building and descriptions. It all felt real!

If you want some YA fantasy set in a world that resembles ours in many ways (ahem, climate change), I recommend this one! There is a romance element as well which I thought was well-done.

TW: Death of loved ones (happens before story starts)

Wishing you all a lovely Sunday and a good week!