The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin
Published by Sourcebooks, June 2021
eGalley provided via Netgalley in exchange for this review, thank you!
The Summary:
"One of the Most Anticipated Young Adult Debuts of 2021!
From a stunning new voice in YA comes the fierce, romantic story about a world on the brink of destruction, the one witch who holds the power to save it, and the choice that could cost her everything she loves.
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."
This was such an intriguing concept of Witches versus Shapers but I will say that it is definitely not geared towards the perception of witches that most people think of. It's really more of a science/nature/climate control novel where teenagers are trying to hold off impending doom by controlling weather patterns.
The main character is especially gifted and called an 'Ever' who is able to create her magic during all seasons. She has issues with her powers and decides that she is tired of being used and tired of hurting those she loves. The novel centers on how Clara deals with her powers and how it affects her relationships. She herself was an easy character to root for, but some of the things she worried about were repetitive and sometimes she went through the same thing twice.
"We aren’t in this alone and shouldn’t act like we are; the atmosphere is hurting, and that’s a problem for all of us, witches and shaders alike. The challenge is great, and we have a lot of work ahead of us. But we’re in this together, and if there’s anything I’ve learned this past year, it’s that together is where the magic lies."
I loved the relationship Clara has with Paige and Sang as they added depth to both the story and the character development. There were a few spots of ingenious scenes that I don't want to give away that have to deal with flowers or creations which were spectacular. The teacher Mr. Burrows was quite easy to dislike, and it gave off the villainy Hogwart's vibes. A very enjoyable and entertaining experience with a worthwhile ending to savor.
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