The Hedgewitch of Foxhall offers a quiet and cozy fantasy experience rooted in the rich history of eighth-century Welsh events. The atmosphere and setting are undeniably enchanting, especially with the inclusion of Welsh mythology and folklore, which brings a unique cultural depth to the story. The historical elements create a fascinating backdrop, making this a refreshing take on historical fiction.

However, while the overall vibe is captivating, the book lacks the character depth that I personally need to stay fully immersed in a story. The characters, though likable, didn’t quite connect with me on a deeper level, leaving me feeling somewhat detached as the plot unfolded.

That being said, The Hedgewitch of Foxhall would be an excellent introduction to YA fantasy, especially for those who enjoy books that prioritize atmosphere and mood over intricate character development. If you're someone who values the overall feeling of a book and enjoys a lighter, more relaxed approach to fantasy, this one may be just the right read for you.

The Hedgewitch of Foxhall had a sort of cozy feeing, yet it was full of adventure and stakes. I loved the world building, the characters, and their journey. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to have access to this story, I will be recommending it to teens at my library.

This has one of the most beautiful covers I've ever seen. Writing style was easy to get on with, but I just didn't connect. YA and love triangle in combination doesn't often work for me, but I think if you like cozy fantasy and are a YA reader, you may enjoy this one!

I started off really enjoying this the magic system was well thought out and the range of characters were really interesting and I could feel myself investing in them until the love triangle hit.
I also love the Welsh setting but I must admit to struggling with names and pronunciation at times which distracted from the story for me from time to time.
It was enjoyable and a great plot line but I never found myself truly falling for the story in the second half.

I absolutely loved this book so much more than I thought I would. The Hedgewitch Of Foxwood Hall is the first book in a good long while to make me cry (and I mean really sob) and I hadn't expected that at all. The story sucks you in and before you even know it you've got a strong emotional attachment to a little fox that isn't even present for a majority of the book. It's rare for a book to get this sort of emotional reaction out of me but this absolutely did it.

The aesthetic of this book immediately drew me in—it perfectly captures the essence of cottagecore. With its rich focus on magic, untamed nature, and Welsh mythology, it felt like stepping into another world. I was completely enchanted by Ffion’s connection to the earth and the sheer wonder of her magic.

The first half had me utterly captivated, especially the dynamic between Ffion and Taliesin. Their sharp wit and fiery personalities created some of the best dialogue I’ve ever read. Despite their stubbornness, their deep sense of honor and loyalty shines through. It’s heartwarming to see how their growth unfolds, especially as Taliesin rediscovers his love for magic.

The Hedgewitch of Foxhall is a beautifully written, cozy and magical fantasy novel, filled with witches, magic and romance! The use of Welsh mythology was really interesting and seemed very thoroughly researched.

I really enjoyed the romance as I’m a sucker for a love triangle, slow burn and a one-bed trope!!

Such a cozy read for the spooky season!

(Apologies for the delayed review on this one, life got in the way)

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I really enjoy author Anna Bright, unfortunately this book just didn't mesh well with me or I just didn't mesh well with it. I would highly recommend Anna bright She is a wonderful author And this book has an audience it was just not me.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

First, I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel! I really was excited for this novel but unfortunately, it fell a little short. It took me forever to actually finish...and I didn't really finish. I skimmed the ending to see how it was resolved but just wasn't invested enough to read the whole thing honestly. I think it has potential to be good, but it was simply lacking the storyline and world building to make it a good witch novel.

This enchanting standalone cozy fantasy delivers a perfect blend of magic, romance, and medieval Welsh lore. The fading magic of Wales sets the stage for a captivating quest, where Ffion, a rebellious hedgewitch, is thrust into the rivalry between two princes, Taliesin and Dafydd. The characters are richly developed, with Ffion’s practical approach to magic standing in sharp contrast to the political ambitions of the princes, creating both tension and charm. The plot weaves together themes of power, duty, and love, making the story both engaging and heartfelt. Fans of magical adventures and slow-burn romances will find themselves completely immersed in this beautifully crafted tale.

Almost DNF's but instead skim read the last few chapters to the end. So disappointed as I actually bought this book as they didn't stock it in the library. And I was craving a good witch book.

Plot/ Storyline: 3* interesting concept of attempting to entice magic to return, which declined due to the abuse of natural resources (almost a simile on current human consumption impacting climate change and our eco system).
In this book the practitioners of magic were wielding said magic via sacrificial offerings that included acres of burning forest, animals, etc in order to enhance their spells. Consequently reducing the overall magic due to the magical creatures that lived in the forests were exiting themselves and taking their magic with them. Imagine Princess Mononoke but deficient in taste. Failed massively in execution due to the lack of character development and hyper focus on the tedious, Twilight-esque love triangle.
A case might be made for this book, but it would involve transforming the characters (who became increasingly insipid with every chapter) into characters you want to read about.

Writing style: 0* started off ok but turned into a turgid drag. Very much of the teenage YA variety (spare me!).

World building/ fantasy: 1.5* there was potential, alas it was ruined by the focus on the angst-y romance and the immature characters who were a caricature of poor writing.
Based on ancient Wales but a multicultural ancient Wales.

Characters: 1* receives a * due to Ffion's mam-gu.
Prince Taliesin aka Tal: a one-dimensional woe-is-me princeling. Being inside his head was unequivocal torture. It's a great puzzle as to why he was considered a strategic thinker?
Prince Dafydd: slightly more interesting. I liked his hardworking no-nonsense quiet manner. But otherwise there wasn't much on him and he didn't seem at all strong
Ffion: the protagonist, a proudly unhygienic witch who started off interesting but who increasingly became insipid as she moped over Tal.
Osian: the King of Powys magician who strolls around almost naked.
Mam-gu: is Ffion's paternal grandmother and the most interesting character in the book but she's dead.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC!

*The Hedgewitch of Foxhall* by Anna Bright is a beautifully crafted tale of magic and self-discovery set in a charming village with a hint of enchantment. Bright’s lyrical prose and well-drawn characters create an immersive experience, making it a delightful read for fans of magical realism and heartfelt storytelling.

Rounded up form 2.75. The characters were charming enough to keep me going (especially Cadno 🦊) but it was a bit slow and hard to follow.

This book was such a case of “wanted to love it but sadly didn’t”. It took me 3 tries to actually finish this one. I did not like the narrators for the male main characters and I found the world building to be super confusing.

I hated the love triangle and the resultant romance that ended up happening. Honestly, I shouldn’t be surprised, this is the exact same feeling I had after reading Anna Bright’s debut duology.

The mythology and history were great here though. I need to point out that this felt well researched and was very interesting on that front. I just didn’t like any of the characters and didn’t like the way the romance resolved.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Hedgewitch of Foxhall is a wonderfully cozy fantasy full of Welsh mythology, witches, and magic! I loved the backdrop of Wales in 796 AD, as we follow Ffion, Tal, and Daffyd on their quests to save their home.

The incorporation of mythology and magic was seamless and fun. I haven’t read about Welsh mythology before so I enjoyed seeing something new—however I wish there was maybe a glossary in this one to keep some of the names and terms straight.

I am also a sucker for a good love triangle and this one did not disappoint! I’ll admit I was rooting for Tal, and I flew through the second half of the book with my heart hurting for the guy. My only complaint here was Ffion. What was she doing? It seemed like a lot of her choices were at least a little questionable.

While I did enjoy the end outcome of the book, I was little disappointed how almost everything wrapped up nice and neat, whether we had closure or not. It was a very quick ending.

I also felt like things could be a bit disjointed at times, especially conversations. Sometimes it didn’t make sense to me how one thing led to another or why a character would say something in response to another. Maybe it was something about the character or setting since it takes place in the first century? I don’t know.

Overall, The Hedgewitch was a cozy little adventure fantasy! Perfect for fall!

I loved every bit of this book. Historical fantasy isn't always my thing, but this book is steeped in Welsh mythology, language, geography, and character in a way that really drew me into the setting. I loved Ffion as a main character, from her complicated family relationships to her independence and defiant witchery. I love this type of rambling plot--the goal is singular, the path is clear, but the story itself feels broader and more sweeping. This reminded me of the feeling I had reading Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman.
I don't really love the whole kissing both brothers thing, but it resolved in a way that made me so happy that I don't mind overlooking it. Also, I love how the brothers make peace in a mature and nontoxic way. The first kiss scene between Ffion and Tal had me grinning and kicking my feet!! I was also sooo happy that Ffion didn't have to go be court wizard at the end. Wheww. The ending was so satisfying. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

The cover and premise made this book seem *so* promising. I was even willing to dive headfirst into a love triangle, in this year of 2024. But the story was so forgettable. The best thing I can say about Hedgewitch is that at least the entire story wraps up in a standalone novel.

I... really struggled with this book. I found myself wanting to skim a lot of it, and honestly if I hadn't been reading it for Netgalley, I'd have seriously considered DNFing it. It just felt... lifeless, honestly? I didn't care for the plot or for the characters. I liked the magic system and the nods to Welsh folklore, but that was about it. I really did NOT like the love triangle - it felt so unnecessary and the main romance would have been so much stronger if the other side had just been friendship. Sadly such a miss for such a gorgeous cover.

Having a hard time following all the shifting perspectives and names of things. We decided not to finish and not to include in our box.