The Nature of Witches left me pleasantly surprised! I’ve had a rough year when it comes to liking books, and this one was a refreshing, enjoyable, easy read.

More about The Nature of Witches: 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.

The book description also says “Practical Magic meets Twister,” but I wouldn’t go that far. There are certainly various weather events throughout the book, but I didn’t get Practical Magic or Twister vibes as I read. I would also say Practical Magic is wildly different from this book, aside from The Nature of Witches being YA. So, I thought that comparison was off. This book is, however, a perfect cozy, aesthetic read for fall.

What I really appreciated about this one was the author’s close attention to the seasons. I loved following Clara through the year and getting swept away in the descriptions of autumn, winter, spring and summer. I also found it interesting that Griffin created witches who thrived in particular seasons. If they were born in winter, then their magic was strongest in the winter. Throughout the rest of the year, their powers changed; while not dormant, their energy and focus during their “off” seasons were prevalent and understood. I found this concept very relatable. As someone who is born in autumn, I love the season and feel more “myself” during this time of year. I hate the summer, and I will say I am more … grumpier and dim (and hot) in the summertime. It was such a cool concept and made me feel seen.

This story was also a journey of self-healing. And it was a beautiful one at that. Clara, the only Everwitch, has a lot of weight on her shoulders when it comes to saving their world. Her powers have killed people she loved, and she’d rather give up her place as Everwitch than hurt anyone else. But when she meets Sang, he helps her find her way. I loved Sang and appreciated his gentle and kind spring-like character. While he is not fully responsible for Clara’s healing (I would have been mad if this was a boy-saves-the-girl book), he was a safe, supportive partner that all young people should look to find.

All in all, I really enjoyed this one. It wasn’t too deep of a book, and I found the plot to flow and the story to be interesting throughout. I also really respected Griffin’s constant nods to climate change and the work we all need to do to help our planet. Very smart and needed.

Has anyone read this book? What were your likes/dislikes?