I had a feeling I would like this as much as I liked The Nature of Witches. I was wrong. I love this book more. I would die for this book. Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin is the pinnacle of naturalism to me – witches with strong roots in the outdoors, animals playing an important role in the story, the woodsy location of the Pacific Northwest. It is good vibes from the start and this book did not disappoint.

One thing I love about Rachel Griffin’s writing is the amount of detail she puts into her sentences. Thing aren’t just explained, oh no, they are painted with brushstrokes of every shade of green. The images she wants to convey are illustrated to the finest speck and the sensory engagement will send you right into the middle of the forest, hearing the hoots of the owls and the crunch of bark underfoot. There is an insane level of connection I fell from her work and I can tell you right now she has a talent – I mean seriously, I was crying over an owl.

This setting felt right for the characters too. Her witch lore makes perfect sense and the behaviours of the characters didn’t feel out of place or over-the-top. Iris’s affinity for working with animals and her magic seamlessly fitting into her daily life is a stroke of genius. Similarly, Pike’s human scientific approach to working and his interest in ornithology makes for a great complementary contrast to Iris. Their chemistry also felt genuine and well suited for the dialogue and the tension between them. Iris’s hidden past and the emotional turmoil surrounding her constantly as a result paired with Pike’s antagonistic personality hiding secrets of his own made perfect moments where releases of prejudices, assumptions and feelings fuelled the developing romance between them (or made it fraught with tension).

I love these kinds of stories; immersive landscapes where the very setting seeps into the tone and language of the book, the vibes weaving alongside the main plot and the subplots to create this compelling world where magic is in the air around you, existing in the same spaces as you, and where such intense significance of nature feels like coming home. It’s like rain on a windowsill – or a tent – while you’re snuggled up in a blanket. It’s perfection.

If you haven’t read Wild is the Witch or The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin, I heavily implore you to add them to your TBR, library requests, wishlists and whatever other ways you jot down what books you will get to next because they are well worth your while. They perfectly fit the autumn season vibes, but if you’re living in the southern hemisphere like I am you can pretend its autumn as you’re reading them, in fact, you won’t need to pretend at all. The books will take you there themselves.