"The Hedgewitch of Foxhall" by Anna Bright is a spellbinding fantasy novel that weaves a captivating tale of magic, power, and the complex emotions that bind three central characters in a web of intrigue and enchantment.

In a world where magic is both feared and coveted, the story follows two princes with contrasting attitudes towards it. One prince yearns to witness the death of magic, viewing it as a threat to his kingdom's stability. The other prince, on the other hand, is deeply afraid of it, recognizing its unpredictable nature and potential danger.

Amidst these opposing viewpoints stands the enigmatic hedgewitch of Foxhall. Her magical abilities are a source of both fascination and apprehension, drawing the attention of both princes. As the princes' paths intertwine with the hedgewitch's, a complex dynamic develops, blending desire, distrust, and curiosity.

Anna Bright's prose is both lyrical and evocative, painting a vivid world where magic pulses beneath the surface, waiting to be harnessed or extinguished. The intricate character development adds depth to the narrative, allowing readers to connect with the emotions and motivations of each prince and the hedgewitch. The author masterfully explores themes of power, identity, and the consequences of wielding magic, as well as the intricate interplay between love and loyalty.

The story's pacing is well-crafted, seamlessly transitioning between moments of tension, introspection, and magic-infused wonder. The world-building is rich and immersive, painting a picture of a realm where magic is both a gift and a curse, and where the characters' choices have far-reaching consequences.

"The Hedgewitch of Foxhall" delves into the complexities of human nature and the allure of the unknown. It explores the grey areas between light and darkness, good and evil, and the blurred lines that can exist between them. The emotional depth of the characters and their interconnectedness make for a compelling and unforgettable reading experience.

Ultimately, Anna Bright's novel is a beautifully crafted tale that showcases her ability to blend magic, romance, and introspection into a mesmerizing narrative. "The Hedgewitch of Foxhall" will leave readers captivated by its enchanting world and deeply invested in the fates of its complex characters.

YA fantasy based on Welsh mythology and history. I was intrigued by Ffion, a young hedgewitch who has her reasons for working separately from the coven of The Foxhall, and the story's conflict surrounding the dying of Welsh magic and the attempts to bring it back carried me through the book. It clearly showed how the use of magic has serious consequences, especially for the land, making it a useful analogy for environmental concerns. But the love triangle between Ffion and the princely brothers Dafydd and Taliesin became annoying, and the short chapters from each of their viewpoints made me feel like their characters and arcs were not drawn as deeply as they could have been. A good effort and an interesting story, but I hoped for more. 3 stars.

Thank you, HarperCollins and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

Now this book was truly a delight! It has been a long time since I have read a teen historical fantasy that was as richly drawn and excellently written as this one! The characters were wonderful, the romance perfect, and the historical parts quite accurate. The best was the way she took the history and overlaid it with fantasy elements, creating a deep, rich world that I got lost in. An excellent story and wonderful chemistry between the characters made the pages fly by. Five stars!

I love the premise of this, I love that it's a stand alone, I loved the vibes, and I loved the world and the characters. This was such a whimsy and magical read.

This was fantastic. My favorite Bright novel to date and I adored the Beholder. I loved that it was a standalone, but surprisingly felt it would better be a series. There was so much that could have been fleshed out- especially for Tal. That aside, the cast of characters and world she’s created feel like home.

So incredibly charming. I loved the Welsh names. What a beautiful world to step into. Ffion is a great character, but I love Taliesin.

I think my one bone to pick was sometimes the writing was a little too overly purple and overwrought and ended up not making a ton of sense at times or just being clunky.

Loved this YA historical fantasy and was so sorry when it ended! Ffion is a hedgewitch, living in the forest with her familiar fox and helping people in need after rejecting the powerful and political coven her family is connected to. Tal and Dafydd are princes and half-brothers pitted against each other by their father to decide who will protect their kingdom and take over when he is gone. Their worlds collide when Tal hires Ffion to help him and she sees it as an opportunity to bring magic back to Wales. Magic, politics, family strife, and action abound as they go on their quest. I'm afraid to say more for fear of spoiling anything! Ffion is an amazing character who is true to herself and so thoughtful about her relationship with magic. It was beautiful to read about her connections to the earth and to other people. She is also hilarious and unpredictable, and I kept guessing until the very end about her relationship with each brother. The book has very interesting and thought-provoking things to say about natural resource use and consent within the magical world, as well as the idea that sometimes we find who we truly are when acting to protect others because there is no one else to do it. I cried at the end, and then I cried again at the epilogue. So good. I admit that I know very little about Welsh history, culture, or language so I may not have completely understood all the politics and vocabulary. The author includes a note on her research, and there is also a pronunciation guide. Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read early. Highly recommend! I especially can't wait to listen to this one on audio when it comes out!

I guess its my own fault for getting caught up in the beautiful cover and not reading the blurb more carefully, but I can't deal with the Welsh names that I can't pronounce. Even with the pronunciation guide, its impossible. Having to go back and look at the guide every couple of pages is tiresome and ruins the experience. I know its typical for fantasy novels to have weird names, but these are especially difficult. The writing itself is good. It flows well and draws you in immediately. I can tell the story will be good. I just can't make myself keep struggling through a story that is so difficult to read. Reading should be enjoyable.