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toldinstories's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
bookaddictedfox's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is such an amazing read!
I've laughed and cried along with Clare from beginning to end.
The magic system in this book is beautifully thought out, simple in nature but the more beautiful for it.
This story is so easy to lose yourself into, it touches the very important subject of how we are damaging our very own planet while also being a book about a young adult learning to love herself and fall head over heels.
I've laughed and cried along with Clare from beginning to end.
The magic system in this book is beautifully thought out, simple in nature but the more beautiful for it.
This story is so easy to lose yourself into, it touches the very important subject of how we are damaging our very own planet while also being a book about a young adult learning to love herself and fall head over heels.
Minor: Death and Death of parent
amethyst1551's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death
theespressoedition's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"If spring is a whispered promise that everything can be made new, autumn is a brilliant sacrifice born of love. Because if the autumn did not love the spring, it would not fall to winter just so the spring would rise."
If you only read one book this year, please let it be The Nature of Witches. This book is absolutely breathtaking in every way.
From the moment I began reading, I fell in love with the stunning writing and how the author managed to combine a low-fantasy storyline with a very important message about climate change (that didn't come across preachy in the slightest). I've read plenty of books that have a political or environmental subtext, but they often make me uncomfortable. Not because those things aren't important or because I don't want them in my books (neither of those things is the case), but because they can sometimes overwhelm a story and make it feel like that's all it's about. I appreciate that kind of subtext more when it's something you take away from the book because it was so seamlessly entwined throughout the storyline, making it natural rather than forced.
Not only did the book inspire me to do more research on climate change, but it was also just a really interesting story about Clara, an Everwitch who was afraid of her magic because it had hurt people in the past. It dealt with walking through grief, overcoming fear, and learning to trust. The characters were beautifully written, diverse, and relatable. They didn't feel one-dimensional in the slightest, even though the story was only told from one point of view.
The different seasons and wild weather changes were so atmospheric. I felt like I was actually living through the heat waves, tornadoes, blizzards, and wildfires. In fact, the day that I read this book, there was a thunderstorm and it left a really heavy, dark cloud across the sky. The next day felt like there could be a tornado any second (even though there was actually no chance of that), and rather than feeling fear, I felt wonder because I had read this book. The elements have always worried me a bit, but this book made them more beautiful. I also loved seeing how each season affected Clara in a different way.
I would love to see a prequel about the Everwitch that Clara learned from. The quotes at the beginning of each chapter filled me with so much joy that they made me want to know more about her.
Ever since I finished this book, all I've wanted to do is keep talking about it. I would consider it not only in the top five for the year but also in my list of all-time favorite books!
If you only read one book this year, please let it be The Nature of Witches. This book is absolutely breathtaking in every way.
From the moment I began reading, I fell in love with the stunning writing and how the author managed to combine a low-fantasy storyline with a very important message about climate change (that didn't come across preachy in the slightest). I've read plenty of books that have a political or environmental subtext, but they often make me uncomfortable. Not because those things aren't important or because I don't want them in my books (neither of those things is the case), but because they can sometimes overwhelm a story and make it feel like that's all it's about. I appreciate that kind of subtext more when it's something you take away from the book because it was so seamlessly entwined throughout the storyline, making it natural rather than forced.
Not only did the book inspire me to do more research on climate change, but it was also just a really interesting story about Clara, an Everwitch who was afraid of her magic because it had hurt people in the past. It dealt with walking through grief, overcoming fear, and learning to trust. The characters were beautifully written, diverse, and relatable. They didn't feel one-dimensional in the slightest, even though the story was only told from one point of view.
The different seasons and wild weather changes were so atmospheric. I felt like I was actually living through the heat waves, tornadoes, blizzards, and wildfires. In fact, the day that I read this book, there was a thunderstorm and it left a really heavy, dark cloud across the sky. The next day felt like there could be a tornado any second (even though there was actually no chance of that), and rather than feeling fear, I felt wonder because I had read this book. The elements have always worried me a bit, but this book made them more beautiful. I also loved seeing how each season affected Clara in a different way.
I would love to see a prequel about the Everwitch that Clara learned from. The quotes at the beginning of each chapter filled me with so much joy that they made me want to know more about her.
Ever since I finished this book, all I've wanted to do is keep talking about it. I would consider it not only in the top five for the year but also in my list of all-time favorite books!
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Cursing
juliezantopoulos's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'm not sure what I expected picking up this book, but it certainly wasn't what I got-which isn't a bad thing. The magic system in here is new and exciting-very seasonal earth witch, but the waning and waxing of powers with the seasons was really cool. I could have done without so many balls and the fact that our MC says she's been taking lovers since 14 put me off a little-but hey, to each their own. Still, I thought the character progression was interesting-the friendships and exploration of grief were good. The "trials" and "tests" Clara underwent felt very unrealistic, but what do I know about magic schools? Still, if adults were treating a minor like that, traumatizing them and nearly killing them-I think there'd be more consequences, especially for how special she is to their world.
I didn't fall in love with it the way I hoped, but it was a quick read and an interesting one. Plus, the physical book is STUNNING and it's made the cut to stay on my shelves.
I didn't fall in love with it the way I hoped, but it was a quick read and an interesting one. Plus, the physical book is STUNNING and it's made the cut to stay on my shelves.
Moderate: Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Kidnapping
itsmealexandra's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I’m mad because it had a lot of potential and it just flopped.
Graphic: Death
sennaje's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
kathkas's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
issiwerro's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Death
Minor: Death of parent
jai_martin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent