The Hedgwitch of Foxhall
Available for pre-order at Bookshop.org Release Date: March 12, 2024
4.5/5
For fans of: stand-alone, Welsh folklore, The Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, witches, familiars, sibling rivalry, magical creatures
The Big Questions:
What genre is this in? YA Fantasy, historical fantasy
Are there any swoon-worthy characters? Ffion, Prince Taliesen, and Prince Dafydd are all swoonworthy in their own right
Is it spicy? Some steamy kissing
Is it violent or gory? No
Should I buy, borrow, or pass on this book? If you are looking for a fast moving, magical escape full of banter and lore, borrow or buy it!
““So the brain inside your pretty head does work!”
Synopsis: In this gorgeous stand-alone fantasy romance perfect for fans of Margaret Rogerson and Allison Saft, a rebellious witch undertakes a last-ditch quest to restore magic to medieval Wales—as two princes vie for her heart.
Ffion is the last hedgewitch in Foxhall. To work her magic, she takes only what nature can spare, unlike the witches of the powerful Foxhall coven, who sacrifice whole forests to fuel their spells. But across the warring kingdoms of Wales, all magic is fading. Even the dragons have vanished.
Prince Taliesin would love nothing more than to watch magic die. But when his father charges Tal and his brother, Dafydd, with destroying King Offa’s dyke—the massive earthen wall raised by their Mercian enemies to the east, which may be the cause of magic’s disappearance—he begrudgingly seeks aid from a witch.
Because whichever prince succeeds in destroying the dyke will win the throne, and Tal is willing to do whatever it takes to become king. Even if the Foxhall coven refuses to help him. Even if he’s forced to team up with a spitfire hedgewitch who hates him almost as much as he hates her magic. And even if Dafydd proves to be a worthier rival than he anticipated…for the crown, and for Ffion’s heart.
“Do you want to be dignified...Or do you want to be king?”
Review: Want a feisty, headstrong FMC who is incredibly loyal and stands for what she believes in almost to the point of insanity? You got it. I love Ffion and all of her hard edges. You want a complicated competition for a throne between brothers? This right here. Tav has the biggest chip on his shoulder and Dafydd is straight running from responsibility. Both have a very toxic relationship with their father. Oh, and throw in a slow burn romance with a love triangle. Yes, it is messy. But the banter is incredible, just *chef’s kiss.
Now on to the world-building, which was done so well and was so easy to just dive into. The welsh forest-core setting just envelopes you in cozy, magical comfort. The politics and history of welsh kingdoms intermixed with coven politics and renegade, singing hedgewitches kept me interested. The vibes are full on Hobbit: walking, singing, sleeping outside, eating good food wherever they can get it. This story was so much fun, so cozy, and full of lore. I honesty want more of it! Thank you Goodreads for a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.