A beautiful and whimsical story about a witch who will do anything to restore magic to medieval Wales and resurrect her familiar but that means working with the two princes who are vying for her heart. Ffion is a hedgewitch who refuses to be part of her coven, she lives on the fringes with her fox familiar, helping poor folks and not princes. Prince Talieson would love nothing more than to see magic die and wants to take the throne for himself because it's the only way to protect his mother while his brother Prince Daffyd doesn't want the throne at all yet his father wants him for the throne. when king Offa puts forth a challenge: both princes must face off against each other or no one gets the throne at all and chaos will take over, Talieson turns to Ffion to help him and Daffyd goes off to avoid it as much as possible. Tal is determined to win at any cost because nothing matters more to him than protecting his mother from his cruel father, even if it means facing off against his brother. Tal turns to the Foxhall coven, the very coven that Ffion refuses to be a part of that is power hungry and has both her mother and sister under its thumb. When the coven refuses to help him Ffion offers him a bargain: she will help him get to the throne if he helps her restore magic because her familiar was killed by the coven and she is determined to bring him back. Ffion and Tal couldn't be more at odds with one another yet there is something growing between them. However, then there is Daffyd, the prince who has had visions of Ffion since he was young, a prince who feels bounded to her yet Ffion has never met him. With two princes vying for her hand, a mission to restore magic, and a throne to capture. This was a really fun nature-esque witchy read. I loved the adventure the characters went on and I enjoyed the Welsh mythology. I also really liked how the love triangle was done, and Tal (so sweet) was definitely a favorite of mine. The book overall was a fun fantasy read that I think fans of Allison Saft would enjoy!

*Thanks Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperTeen for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

3/5 Stars

TL;DR - A far-wandering fable steeped in Welsh mythology that explore love, loss, and loyalty. Good bones, a lot of magic and charm, and some very smart dialog, but ultimately too slow and overlong for my tastes. Passable, certainly, but not too much more than that.

Big thanks to HarperCollins Children’s Books, HarperTeen, and NetGalley for providing the ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review!

***Trigger Warnings for: mentions of violence towards animals, death of a pet, mentions of child abuse, blood, war, and murder.***

‘The Hedgewitch of Foxhall’ by Anna Bright is a historical fantasy YA novel that is part myth, part fairytale, part historical re-imagining. It follows three POVS, one from Ffion, a 17 year old hedgewitch who uses her magic to help the poor and downtrod, one from Dafyyd, 19, the eldest prince of the kingdom of Powys who would rather be smithing at his forge than involving himself in politics, and one from Taliesin, 18, the youngest prince of Powys who would do anything to prove to his father and himself that he’s the most fit to be future king. We follow each of them as their paths intersect on the quest to discover why all the magic has left Wales, and what each of their destinies has to do with its return.

So, this book was solidly mid. So much so that I only have 139 words of notes - there just wasn’t much that was remarkable enough to jot down as I was reading, good or bad.

The writing is average. I have a few passages highlighted that I thought were good and/or profound, but again, it was, for the most part, solidly mid.

The plot is slow and meandering, and not a whole lot of note happens. This book is only 400 pages long but it felt more like 600 in the way that it dragged, and I was constantly looking at my Kindle’s clock to see that no, an hour hadn’t passed, I’d only been reading for 10 minutes. It just *drags*. It’s not even that there’s a bunch of useless filler, it’s just that nothing really happens except in a few fits and spurts that are few and far between. It really only picks up in the last 5-10% or so, and while I do like the ending and think it’s both good and a satisfying conclusion to the story, I wish the whole book had been that engaging and heartfelt.

Ffion is a capable FMC, we stan. I wish we’d had just her POV, or maybe just hers and Taliesin’s, because they were the two best characters. Taliesin is charming, clever, and above all, lets Ffion do what she needs to do and doesn’t coddle her or try to stifle her will and power, which I love to see, especially in YA. Dafyyd is okay, I guess, but pretty boring. Don’t get me wrong, it’s good to see a dude in YA who is actually morally good and not a douchey morally-gray edgelord, but he was just kind of there, with not nearly as much personality as Taliesin.

There is a love triangle, which is really not my thing, so that took away from my enjoyment. That said, I really did enjoy the romance between Ffion and Taliesin - I thought it developed naturally and it ended up being very sweet. Their banter is easily the highlight of the book - it was witty and sharp and charming, so kudos for that.

Yeah, not much else to say about this book. It was thoroughly okay, mostly unremarkable, and pretty forgettable in all honesty. I loved the Welsh mythology vibes, but they’re not enough to carry a whole 400 page book where not much happens.

Final Thoughts:

It was fine, I enjoyed myself well enough for one read-through, but I won’t be purchasing a physical copy.

Absolutely breathtaking cozy fantasy based off Walsh folklore! The feisty red-haired main character is inspiring in her connection to nature and its magic. I will say that I struggled with holding onto the details of the world built in this story. For that reason alone, I struggled a bit. Overall, I thought this was a beautiful, engaging story!

Okay I will come back to this one, when the audibook is out. There are way too many fantasy names in this book and my brain is struggling. Like I want fo read this so bad but I'm hyper fixating on how to pronounce things and I'm dreading talking about this book because trying to SPEAK these names is going to be even worse.

This was fantastic! I loved every minute of my experience with this book. I was immediately invested in the plot and with characters, especially Ffion. I thought the story was unique, and I loved all the Welsh folklore that was woven throughout. The writing was excellent, and my only complaint is that the ending felt a little rushed. Overall, this is one of my new favorite books!

Heartwarming, wonderful so sad for it to be over. This story about a hedgewitch trying to find her place in the world and 2 princes deciding what life should give them. I absolutely love the multiple POVs and how wonderful the character growth is within this book. It has me giggling and teary eyed. The Welsh background is a lovely world for the story and the way it was written had me immersed and couldn't put down. It is not action packed I just feel in love with the characters quickly. There is a slight romance in the book. It's not very forefront in the story for those who look for that. I would totally recommend if you like Margaret Rogerson or Rebecca Ross.
I want to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins for the chance to read this lovely book. This is my honest opinion.

The Hedgewitch of Foxhall was a great read. It is YA but does not feel overly juvenile/ immature. it has very cottage core fantasy vibes. It was great read with a fun protagonist and excellent world building. it is a standalone fantasy with a slower pace with multiple POVs and a welsh fantasy. It was a really fun take, and it makes me want to read more Welsh fantasy.

I got this as an ARC from NetGalley so here is my honest opinion.

First off I’m sooo glad this is a stand alone. It is so nice and I’m so glad this story didn’t get drawn out. I love all the characters and omg I love the fox. This does have a love triangle between two brothers which is something I’ve never liked and the middle got too bogged down every now and then. The ending also seemed rush. Like I know we are under a time crunch with basically this book happening in a month but we had some slow and then really fast monuments. I will say I love the thing about witch’s magic, I don’t want to say it cause it does seem like a spoiler. Also the ending with the wall was a bit weird in my opinion but I am so glad that I read this book and I will definitely be picking up a copy.

This was a surprisingly good read with a strong main protagonist and excellent worldbuilding. Although a fantasy title and full of magic, the author does an excellent job of giving this a time and place while also exploring Welsh history. The book started a bit slow but then really picked up pace as our three protagonists set about their journeys.

Story: Magic is waning in Wales, leaving the land vulnerable to the rapacious Mercians. Ffion is a hedgewitch - the last in her area though Foxhall does have a Witches guild who control what is left of the magic in their area. She disagrees with their methods and feels they are contributing to the disappearance of the magic and magical creatures. Meanwhile, princes Tal and Dafydd are put in competition for the throne by their father. Tasked with finding why the magic is failing, each will find their paths inexorably entwined with Ffion: one by chance and one by manipulation.

There are three viewpoints in this book and all three are distinct and very different. Ffion is aggressive, resentful, and defiant. Her love is the forest and fears what the Foxhall guild and the Mercians are doing to the land. Older half brother Dafydd is quiet and simple: he is being groomed for a throne and royal responsibilities he does not want. Younger half brother Taliesin is ambitious and cunning: his resentment that his father continually pushes a reluctant Dafydd for the throne rather than himself.

There is a bit of a romance in the story but most of the plot is a quest by the three to follow a mysterious mound created by the Mercians that straddles the Mercian and Welsh border. Ffion believes it holds the key to why the magic is failing while the princes see it as an offensive positioning tool for the Mercians to take control of Wales. All want it destroyed.

There is plenty of magic in the book and Ffion herself will do quite a bit in her quest. Although she has a prickly personality, it is hard not to root for her to find the strength to complete her quests and bring back the magic to Wales. I greatly enjoyed this book - it is a light and easy read but with excellent world building, great character development, and a wonderful and warm beating heart at the center. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

5 stars

I don’t pick up YA very often, but a book like this makes me so glad when I do. This is a YA historical fantasy title that has real crossover appeal, and reminded me of both the classic The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander and The Goblin Wood by Hilari Bell—two of my favorite fantasy stories for young readers. Infused with a clear and powerful love for the Welsh landscape and folklore, this book gave me everything I want from a medieval fantasy.

The story is set at the end of the 8th century, when Offa’s Dyke was newly completed and the various Welsh kingdoms (of which Powys is our central concern) maintain uneasy hostilities with the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia. Despite a clearly defined historical grounding, the world is easy to get immersed in even if you know nothing about medieval history, placing the focus on the characters and the philosophy of Ffion’s magic. It’s easy to get invested in Ffion’s campaign for magic based on hard work and helping the community, as opposed to the more powerful Foxhall coven’s penchant for quicker, flashier magic that requires hefty sacrifices. The two male main characters, rival brothers Dafydd and Taliesin, are also interesting, though Ffion is the real star of the show.

There are several folk songs (adapted to suit the narrative’s purpose) spread throughout the narrative, which is something I love in fantasy novels but I know a lot of people don’t care for. I think they really suit the story and establish tone and setting. The boys’ storyline ends a little neatly, but there’s real heart in this story, and a rediscovery of the childlike wonder that first drew me to the fantasy genre as a young reader.

I’d recommend this book to children, teens, and adults alike. It captures the feeling of classic children’s fantasy and earnestly advocates for a better, more magical, and kindlier world.

Book Name: The Hedgewitch of Foxhall
Author: Anna Bright

ARC
Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperTeen and NetGalley for an ARC of The Hedgewitch of Foxhall by Anna Bright

Stars: 4.5
Spice: 0 (YA)

Standalone
Slower Paced
Multi POV
High Fantasy
Welsh Fantasy

- Thoughts.
- Welsh History and Folklore
- Welsh Words Everywhere (glad I had my Kindle to translate)
- Slow Burn
- Love Triangle …Lite
- Tension
- Adventure and Secrets
- Cottage/Cozy Magic System
- War between Magic Users
- War between Countries
- Politics
- Loved Daffyd want more Daffyd

Great story and fantastic Welsh history and folklore representation. (the use of lots of Welsh words throughout was hard to mentally translate but was endearing to the vibe. I also loved the cottage core hedgewitch cozy vibes were relaxing and played well with the slow-burn nature of the romance subplot however the last 20% insane fast-paced wrap-up was a little jarring but made sense withy the timeline that we were working with. So to state it frankly **This is not a cozy fantasy** it was a high-stakes adventure … it just had cozy vibes. I loved this… a great standalone fantasy.. we need more standalone!!!

maybe I have been reading to much about why choose but damn I didn’t want Ffion to choose.

I have read 15% of this book and I am not sure if it’s because it is an ARC copy or what but I feel like this book needs more explanations. There have been several occasions where I am confused as to what it going on and several made up words that I haven’t been able to understand using the story context. I am a big fan of Anna Bright and absolutely loved her Beholder duology so I still suggest trying the story out because her stories are amazing. Unfortunately for this one I have decided to quit reading and try again when I can purchase a finished copy to see if that one is better.

An enchanting and thoughtful story rooted in Welsh history and mythology— I really enjoyed this book. It was so interesting and the setting was so lovely and dynamic I felt like I was wandering the Welsh countryside with the characters. I think fans of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries would really enjoy this book!

I haven’t read a love triangle in a long time and I have to admit I didn’t hate this one, it was done really well and the ending was just truly perfection.
I loved Tal, Ffion, and Daffyd and thought each of their POVs were great. This book moves slowly and so I struggled a bit in the beginning because the set up and plot are very methodical and she doesn’t over describe but it’s still pretty atmospheric, but by the last quarter I could see that the slow was worth it for the ending.

I recommend this book but don’t expect a fast paced read!

I don't have too much to say about this book. Overall, I thought that it was a decent YA fantasy. I enjoyed the beginning and the end a lot, but felt like some parts in the middle dragged.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an arc.

Unfortunately, by 21% I couldn't get into the book. I wasn't invested in any of the characters, and the writing style was very jarring for me. I felt the dialogue was stilted as well.

Fun, high stakes fantasy romance with all the lovely imagery of cottage core medieval fairytales! I love the focus on Welsh mythology and the female rage driving the main character!

3.5 stars

This started out very promising, but I found myself losing interest about halfway through. The positives - I loved the whimsical cottagecore vibes and Welsh influence, and I enjoyed Ffion as the MC. I loved that her magic was so closely tied to nature and that she wanted to help people without causing harm to the land. I also adore an animal companion.

The love triangle situation was interesting at first, but I wasn’t the biggest fan of how it played out. I would have liked more from some of the characters, mainly the love interests, and certain things didn’t really make sense to me. There was this big buildup as to why one of the MMCs hates magic, but the reveal ended up being pretty lackluster. I really just kind of lost the will to finish as it went on, although there were some heartwarming moments at the end that made up for it a little.

Thank you to HarperCollins for the ARC!

I had a friend who had started this arc and then encouraged me to pick it up for myself when I was in the mood for a cozy fantasy. After seeing the cover and the title equally grabbing my attention, I was excited to read it for myself.
Absolutely loved the main character Ffion--actually, loved all the characters in the story-- and their dynamics. You do need to be in the mood for a slower paced story when picking up this book, but I found the nostalgia in the vibes Anna Bright delivered in her writing to be quite enchanting.

Tiny dragons... amazing. The cover is gorgeous and I would put a print up on my wall. I think this book really hit it's mark and I absolutely love that it's a standalone. I would love to dive into the world more but I also appreciate that things were wrapped up in a way that left me satisfied. This is a great book and I can't wait for everyone to read it!

The Hedge Witch of Foxhall is a historical fantasy steeped in Welsh folklore. I love books about traveling and eating and singing and this one didn't let me down. It even gave me The Hobbit vibes at times. The story is so warm, and cozy, and full of magical creatures. I love Ffion, the main character, and how headstrong and rough around the edges she is. The Hedge Witch of Foxhall is a fantastic read.