 | Nature of witches Author: Griffin, Rachel | |
| Price: $9.01 | ||
Summary:
Witches, who for centuries have maintained the climate, are losing their power as the atmosphere becomes more erratic, and all hope for a better future lies with Clara Densmore, an Everwitch whose rare magic is tied to every season.
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 02/01/2021 Gr 8 Up—Clara is the first Everwitch in more than a century. With a drastically changing climate, the world relies on witches to correct extreme weather events wreaking havoc on the Earth. With more witches becoming depleted from having to use their magic during their off-seasons, everyone is relying on Clara, who is the only witch with the power of all four seasons. Much to her teachers' chagrin, she is afraid to fully tap into her power because of three separate accidents where her uncontrolled powers killed her parents, best friend, and teacher. With the stakes higher than ever, the school where she trains assigns Sang, a spring witch with a calming power, to train Clara to control her powers and help save the world. The intriguing premise is fresh and original, and the worldbuilding is vivid and charming. Each of the characters is flawed, well-defined, and at times predictable. The climax is somewhat bogged down by a romantic conflict that feels unnecessary, but overall offers a satisfying journey for readers. Clara's ethnicity isn't stated and Sang is Asian. VERDICT This standalone novel ties fantastical elements, LGBTQIA themes, and climate change together into one neat package that will leave readers satisfied.—Candyce Pruitt-Goddard, formerly at Sno-Isle Libraries, Marysville, WA - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 04/01/2021 Clara, the first Everwitch in a century, should be the strongest of the witches in her class. Unfortunately, her power has burst out of her before, causing death and destruction to those she loves; every time Clara works magic, she can’t help but remember how dangerous that power truly is. Her personality changes with the seasons, too, and she loses old versions of herself year by year, though she can’t lose the memories of those who have died because of her. After her mentor dies, and volatile weather threatens the entire world, Clara plans her escape; an eclipse approaches, and she hopes to use it to strip herself of her powers. Until then, she’s forced to work with a new tutor, and she fights both her developing feelings for him and the magic that wants to consume her. In her debut, Griffin ties the story of a witch learning her strength to the raw power of nature and places it in a world decimated by climate change. It’s new, different, and well worth a read. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.
