The Hedgewitch of Foxhall

December 18, 2023
Ffion vch Catrin is the only witch who has yet to join Foxhall’s coven, disgusted by the group’s propensity for granting favors to the powerful and wealthy while ignoring the downtrodden. Taliesin and Dafydd ap Cadell are the two princes of a Welsh kingdom, though the true future king is yet to be determined. Their father, the current king, tasks the princes with figuring out how to break the magic-suppressing wall between Wales and the enchanted kingdom of Mercia and restore magic to Wales; the winner will be named his successor. Dafydd, who desires a quiet life over a kingly one, is uneasy about returning magic to Wales. Meanwhile, Taliesin seeks out Foxhall for help. When the coven refuses, the only witch left to turn to is Ffion. Together with Dafydd and Taliesin, Ffion becomes embroiled in an adventure that will determine the future of Wales, its magic, and the teens’ own hearts. Bright (The Song That Moves the Sun) revitalizes the traditional love triangle in this evocative tale; through a mixture of witchery and real-world history, Bright draws a complex political story from this cozy fantasy. Ages 14–up. Agent: Elana Roth Parker, Laura Dail Literary.

March 15, 2024
Grades 10-12 Taliesin and his brother, Dafydd, were friends once. Now they fight at their father's behest to prove who is a more worthy king. Dafydd would rather be a blacksmith and eventual candler--a person who travels all his life to try to bring magic back to the land of Powys. Tal is dedicated to becoming king, even if, as a bastard son, he is considered less desirable. On the other side of Offa's Dyke, magic is greedily hoarded by the witches of the Foxhall. Ffion, a hedgewitch--a caster who is not beholden to the Foxhall--helps when witches won't, healing sick children and ridding houses of mice. When Tal asks the Foxhall for their help and is rejected, Ffion agrees to aid his quest to tear down the dyke and, hopefully, return magic to the lands. Bright (The Beholder, 2019) infuses her ancient Wales setting with magic in great detail. Both her words and Ffion's songs create a lovely, lilting poetry that will appeal to readers of Allison Saft's A Far Wilder Magic (2022).

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April 1, 2024

Gr 9 Up-Ffion lives her life as a Hedgewitch, fueling her magic by gathering from nature, unlike the Foxhall coven who destroy for their gains. All magic is fading within Wales, and neighboring kingdoms are on the brink of war. King Cadell tasks his two sons with destroying the enemy King Offa's wall, believing that this could bring back magic and aid their cause. Whichever son completes this mission first will become his heir to the throne. Prince Taliesin, who would prefer magic not return, finds himself teaming up with Ffion to bring down the wall. Prince Dafydd, the favored son, half-heartedly makes an attempt as he wants to live simply and not as King. Bright's writing weaves together multiple aspects of Welsh folklore, which provides a distinctive setting. Readers may struggle however with some of the character, creature, and location names, even with the provided pronunciation guide. The magic system is well thought out and described; however, the same cannot be said for the overall arc of the plot. The characters' relationships with one another fuel the story, but there is little depth given to each individual. The multiple points of view make it challenging to really get to know them beyond the surface level. VERDICT Fans of Diana Wynne Jones's Howl's Moving Castle or Catherine Bakewell's Flowerheart may enjoy this one, but it's not recommended for general fantasy readers. -Aliza Mangefrida

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Starred review from January 15, 2024
A witch and two princes are brought together in an adventure to save 8th-century Wales. When Ffion, a hedgewitch estranged from her powerful magical family, members of the Foxhall coven, suffers a terrible loss, she finds herself in the position to team up on a quest with Taliesin, the "bastard prince" of her kingdom of Powys. Ffion sets out to walk the length of Offa's Dyke, determined to use her own magic to destroy it in order to return the disappearing magic to Wales. Meanwhile, Tal and his brother, Dafydd, have been pitted against one another in a challenge from their father, King Cadell, to destroy the dyke: Whoever succeeds will inherit the throne. While clever, opportunistic Tal hates magic, he's desperate to become king. Dafydd would rather spend his days working at his forge as a blacksmith, but he's coerced by Cadell into competing. Throughout the journey to destroy the dyke and thwart their enemies, the brothers are thrown together with Ffion in ways they couldn't have predicted. This comforting and cozy fantastical romance bursting with Welsh mythology is told from Ffion's, Tal's, and Dafydd's compelling points of view. It's an atmospheric jewel box with sympathetic characters readers will root for from the first page; they'll only be disappointed to learn it's a stand-alone novel and not a series opener. Ffion in particular shines as a thoughtful, brave hero with a compelling backstory. Sparkling and lush; a gem. (pronunciation guide, author's note) (Fantasy. 14-18)

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