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Ffion is the last hedgewitch in Foxhall. She takes only what nature can spare, unlike the powerful Foxhall coven, who have been known to sacrifice whole forests to fuel their spells. But across the kingdoms of Wales, magic is fading. Even the dragons have vanished. Between kingdom wars and the coven’s outrageous sacrifices, Ffion knows it’s only a matter of time before magic disappears entirely.
Prince Taliesin would love nothing more than to watch magic die. However, his father has charged Tal and his brother, Dafydd, with finding a way to destroy King Offa’s dyke — the massive earthen wall raised by their Mercian enemies, which may be the initial cause of magic’s disappearance. 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.
The Hedgewitch of Foxhall is a stand-alone fantasy based on a mix of Welsh folklore and Welsh historical events that happened during the eighth century. It’s a relatively simple, straightforward tale where greed is driving magic out of the land and a strong-willed girl must find a way to put a stop to it.
Ffion is feisty and determined to put in the hard work to do what is right, and I loved how her relationship with magic contrasted with the coven witches of Foxhall. Her compassionate viewpoint lent an innocence and purity to a world filled with half-familiar magical creatures.
In the end, while there were some aspects that I found might overshadow or take away from the story — like a archaic world filled with modern terms and manner of speech, confusing explanations of complex magical laws, and hard-to-pronounce words — I did still love the overall vibe of The Hedgewitch of Foxhall. The inclusion of Welsh mythology added a touch of magical innocence and wonder that felt cozy and almost nostalgic.
Rated: Mild. There is no profanity. Violence includes animal injury, animal sacrifice, and the death of a pet. Characters kiss.
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