The Hedgewitch of Foxhall

by Anna Bright, Fiona Hardingham (Narrator), Alister Austin (Narrator)

In this gorgeous stand-alone cozy 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.

Magic is fading from Wales—choked off by King Offa’s Dyke, the enemy earthworks that spans the entire border. Even the dragons have disappeared. And now an attack is imminent.

Prince Taliesin would love to watch magic die. Prince Dafydd fears it, and the throne. But when their father promises the crown to whichever son can destroy the dyke and restore magic to Wales, the brothers are forced into an uneasy rivalry.

Ffion works hedgewitch magic for poor folk, not princes. Unlike the power-hungry Foxhall coven, she uses only what nature can spare. But when the coven’s greed costs Ffion everything, she will need power beyond her wildest dreams to get back what she’s lost.

So when Prince Taliesin arrives, begrudgingly seeking a witch’s aid, Ffion agrees to help him—even if it means walking from one end of Wales to the other with the most useless peacock she’s ever clapped eyes on. Even if it means striking a bargain with Dafydd behind Tal’s back. The fate of Wales depends on their quest... and so might the fate of Ffion’s heart.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Witches, Romantasy, Historical Fiction, Fiction

12 pages, Audiobook

First published March 12, 2024

About the author

I believe in woods, mountains, highways, cobblestones, roller coasters, dancing, concerts, cherry Pop Tarts, books, and magic.
When I'm not reading or writing on my couch, I'm dragging my husband off on an adventure, snuggling my new baby daughter, communing with Salem (my kitten/spiritual familiar), or causing trouble at One More Page Books, where I work.

**note: i don't accept GR friends anymore, because of amazon review policy nonsense. please come find me on twitter or insta at @brightlyanna, and we can talk books there! <3***

Reviews

[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus}]

I want this cover as my room wallpaper.

[Anna Bright]

hi friends! just popping in to say thanks for checking out HEDGEWITCH and to offer you all a quick content warning. this is quite a mild book, but if you're concerned about emetophobia triggers or animal death, check out specific page numbers in my comment below.

love you guys,
anna

[Samantha (ladybug.books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The Hedge Witch of Foxhall is an incredibly charming YA fantasy inspired by Welsh folklore. The story is filled with strong-willed characters and whimsical magic in a world where greed is driving magic out of the land. I really loved the first half of the story, but the introduction of a love-triangle completely ruined the second half.

I love Ffion as a main character. She is feisty and determined to do what is right. I loved exploring how her relationship with magic contrasted with the coven witches of Foxhall. The princes Taliesin and Dafydd are both intriguing characters and I think there was a lot of potential to explore their relationship as brothers and their attitudes towards the crown. These themes are present in the story, but they are overshadowed by an incredibly bizarre love triangle.

The love triangle completely derailed the second half of the story. It made no sense, caused illogical conflict between the characters, and led to some extremely out-of-character behavior. It took away from the story to have something so ridiculous, and ultimately pointless, dominate the plot.

Though The Hedge Witch of Foxhall kind of went downhill as it progressed, I did love the two finale moments. They were really touching and suited the characters well.

I would highly recommend this to people newer to YA fantasy, but if you are typically bothered by love triangles it may have to be an avoid for you.

Links to my TikTok | Instagram

[Johanna ♡]

It should be a crime for a cover to look this beautiful 🤤

[Andi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd like to thank Edelweiss for allowing me a chance at reading this book.

I hate to be the person who gave this book 2 stars but here I am, that person.

This book is rough. Rough in terms of world building, characterization, and true 'feeling'. Julliet Mariller for teens is what I was hoping for when reading this. Instead, I got a book about an angry girl (who doesn't really allow you to feel her anger / understand it) who ran away from her family ; two princes - one who is destined for her but doesn't want to rule, the other who isn't destined for her and wants to rule ; a so-so clash between the Welsh and those who want to stifle magic ... Like it's all there, but it's so boring, so lifeless that it hurts.

I liked no one, I cared about no one for how detached everyone was from the narrative and the plot. I made it to 80% and I had to stop.

I don't think the author is for me. I'll just stick to Julliet Mariller or someone who can write historical inspired fantasy with depth.

[Jo⁷ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you like magic and adventure and the occasional dragon and unicorn? Do you like a romance between two equally hardheaded people with sharp tongues and insults for days? Have you ever hated a piece of clothing so much that you couldn't shut up about it? Do you like to collect little pieces of nature to put in your cauldron? If so, you might just like this book!

[Brend · Rating 3 out of 5]

My most anticipated 2024 release was a letdown




Speaking my truth (again): I love a well done love triangle and it's been ages since I last got to read one.

[Sarah (berriesandbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happy Publication Day

Reading about feral ginger-haired girls is my love language.

The Hedgewitch of Foxhall is a quiet and cozy fantasy based on Welsh historical events that happened in the eighth century. While I loved the overall vibe and the inclusion of Welsh mythology/folklore, in the end, this book lacked depth in characters that I need to remain engaged in a story.

Ffion is a feisty witch who refuses to abide by Foxhall coven's unfair rules, choosing to help all who need it, with magic that doesn't destroy the forest. Prince Taliesin and Prince Dafydd have been pitted against each other in competition for the throne. Whoever can destroy King Offa's dyke will be King. Prince Tal enlists the help of Ffion, despite his wariness of magic, to destroy the dyke and finally become King, his dream since he was fourteen.

I picked this one up for its beautiful cover and because it's recommended for Margaret Rogerson and Allison Saft fans. I can see the resemblance to these authors in the overall tone of the book: a charming and cozy fantasy, with a strong female protagonist and soft magic. The presence of mythical creatures and the inherently wild nature of the magic was reminiscent of Enchantment of Ravens and A Far Wilder Magic. Unfortunately, that is where the similarities end.

This novel needed to be fleshed out more. While I did like what I learned about Ffion, I wanted more of her. Initially, she couldn't care less about the princes, but this attitude quickly derailed into a love triangle that had a clear winner from the beginning. It's a real shame since Ffion's strong personality was balanced with her kind nature, something I feel is missing in YA literature. I wish that had been explored.

The princes were on the verge of having personalities. We get POVs from both of them, which was a nice touch, but ended up being a downfall. Too much time was split between them for me to really get to know either of them. In the end, it didn't really matter to me who Ffion ended up with since I couldn't get a firm grasp on the motives and overall characterization of the two boys.

This book will be great as an introduction to YA fantasy, and for those who read books based more on the overall feeling of a book than the content.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

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[Christina Baehr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t like witches or love triangles, but this highly-realised book won me over. I cannot guarantee that you will like it if you hate witches and love triangles, since is definitely centres on both.

I gave this book a chance because of the Welsh setting and because I have recently met Anna in a writer’s group and—honestly?—the exquisite cover which has a little dragon peeking out of the rich undergrowth.

I feel like I’ve been slogging through novels with irritating and charmless male main characters recently, and I was surprised that I felt so much sympathy for both brothers. They are carefully written and layered and not objectified when they could have easily been flat tropes, which I really appreciated as a writer.

I was initially put off by the absence of Christianity in this fantasy version of 8th century Wales. In the end, I was swept away by the world building. I would recommend you approach it like Lloyd Alexander’s Chronicles of Prydain. While this version of Wales has no Christianity, it also has no pagan deities, so I think this choice was likely made to narrow the thematic focus on a few specific magical elements. It’s a world where magic is leaching out of the forests and mountains and rivers, and I felt like the power of that motif was such that I could suspend my disbelief.

As a believer in God, I also feel like I live in a world that has been disenchanted. Like Ffion, I wish to see the transcendent restored. I also connected with Taliesin, who fears the return of magic, and all the terrible things it can accomplish. Dafydd’s struggle to live a pure and ethical life was also touching and relatable.

I would call this novel medium stakes. It is adventurous but hopeful, with characters who long to protect and be restored to their families. There is a lot of high drama and emotion, but it’s never grim or hurtful. And the ending made me cry with its sweet restoration and healing.

[Maeghan &#x1f98b; HIATUS on & off · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25✨

« Don’t you know by now? I’m beyond anyone’s control. »

This was definitely a hidden gem!
An actual fierce and intelligent FMC with actual flaws and shortcomings. The MMCs both had their shortcomings as well but everyone grew tremendously in this standalone.

I honestly never knew which direction this book was taking because I never saw the twists coming. I absolutely loved the ending. The story was original and refreshing.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know when a book is like a symphony because it leaves you soaring THE HEDGEWITCH OF FOXHALL leaves you soaring. Two princes and a hedge witch quest to bring magic back to Wales all for their own reasons……but there’s so much more richness and wonder to Anna Bright’s book than just that.

HEDGEWITCH does several things amazingly well. First—the love triangle. Fear not ye who doubt. The key to a good love triangle is making all players sympathetic and all players flawed and a little bit messy. And finding which key fits into which lock is realizing which players fit together in their flaws and frailty as well as their strengths. Which two characters can lean on each other and balance each other out in their strengths and weaknesses. No spoilers, but I think this played out perfectly. No “which one is more charismatic or hot.” No “which one is good and which is bad.” Just which characters would be best for each other in the long run. And not making anyone perfect—not even the FMC.

Next—FFION. We love a wild girl who doesn’t know when to stop giving. Who feels so much. Who fights through pain and heartache for those she loves. Top tier main character.

The magic. The whole last section of the book felt like one glorious, splendid eucatastrophe. I alternately paced around my room and hummed the Old Tom Bombadil song. Bastions of power and corruption broken! Wales unfettered! The book swells like a song in a crescendo and leaves you with such JOY.

If you haven’t read this book yet, I don’t blame you. I am a mood reader. I preordered this book and it’s been in my dresser months. I had to wait until my moodreader brain decided that it was time. But it was time today. And MY was it glorious. So what I’m saying is, pick up a copy now, to be ready for that day when your heart and mind say YES. And then settle in and bask in the magnificence.

Five stars. Obviously.

[R.J.]

I always feel a bit apprehensive about books involving witches, as I'm never quite sure what the author is going to do with them. But I needn't have worried about Anna Bright's take, because The Hedgewitch of Foxhall is thoughtful, charming, and truly refreshing. It's also deeply rooted in Welsh history and geography, which I loved, and the three POV characters are distinct, well-developed, and compelling despite (and because of) their different personalities and flaws. It's also a legitimate love triangle -- meaning that all three sides are emotionally connected, instead of just one character having to choose between two relationships -- and one that's handled unusually well, with real chemistry and affection in every direction and high stakes resting on everyone's choices. And although the magical elements are inspired by Welsh folklore and mythology without reference to any particular religion, there are subtly Christian underpinnings to the book's moral and spiritual worldview which I really appreciated. This book deserves more readers and I hope it finds them!

[Rosamund Hodge]

Absolutely magical. ❤️

[mads · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I am a witch of Foxhall
And I've come to beg a boon...."

TW: animal cruelty, animal death, blood, classism, death, death of a loved one, emotional abuse, fire/fire injury, grief, injury/injury detail, misogyny, murder, violence, war.

If this was a review for the cover, 5,000,000 stars. Immediately. No questions asked.

Unfortunately, this is not a review of the cover so I will not spend the next few paragraphs waxing poetic about the artistry of this book's physical design and will instead be forced to say how dull the interior was.

I'm not entirely sure how a cottagecore-esque book about witches and Welsh folklore and mythical creatures (including dragons, supposedly) could be this boring, but boring it was. I can't think of another way to put it other than to say that this book felt empty and lifeless, like the idea for the book was there but the heart was not.

I want to be clear: this was not a bad book. I didn't find any enjoyment in my reading experience, but it was not bad. It was just very... okay. Very much a three star book.

Also, I think I may be judgmental lately but so many male love interests (particularly in YA) are driving me nuts. They are the most insipid, spoiled, possessive, petty, vapid, subtly misogynistic little twerps I have ever read about. It gets to the point that even their trauma doesn't make me feel for them, because I'm already so annoyed.

Follow up to that point: I actually like love triangles (when done well) and found this one to be insufferable. There was absolutely no reason for that to even slightly happen. It only existed to create the kind of conflict that even my childhood Barbies would have found cheap.

I keep sounding like this is a terrible book so I want to repeat again: it is not a bad book. I just didn't like anything about it. At all. I can acknowledge that the story is probably perfect for some people, but quality wise I don't think this is all that great - it just isn't bad.

I do agree with the blurb suggesting this for fans of Allison Saft. I wasn't the biggest fan of A Far Wilder Magic and I do think if you liked that one, you might enjoy this one as well.

Overall, I'm really bummed that I didn't care for this. I wish I could have loved it as much as I was hoping to, but unfortunately this was not meant to be.

[Soumiii · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars, because I do not like love triangles and Ffion ended up with the wrong man. I said what I said.

[Suzannah Rowntree]

WELL THIS WAS UTTERLY DELIGHTFUL

This is a book for fans of cosy, cottagecore, hopeful fantasy like INTO THE HEARTLESS WOOD or WORMWOOD ABBEY. It's set in an absolutely convincing fantasy version of medieval Wales, full of the best sort of anachronisms - the sort that makes the story world richer and more resonant, not less. And, it features bright adventures, a complicated but endearing cast of characters, and rich, unexpected themes. There's that rarest of all things, a love triangle that makes sense and isn't eyerolly. There's a coven of powerful witches who are just as capable as anyone else of exploiting the world and its people, whose shenanigans have applicability for everything from capitalism to religious hierarchies. There's our three central characters, a scrappy hedgewitch with a passionate sense of right and wrong and two princes, one of whom is hungry for power and the other of whom is anything but. There's a climactic moment as bright and bursting with life as the margins of a medieval manuscript. And it all adds up into a beautiful story with a passionate sense of justice, which never become preachy and maintains its wit and good humour throughout.

A true hidden gem of 2024 fantasy.

[Estefania · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, I LOVE the cover. This has to be one of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen. Just by looking at it, I wanted to read it immediately.

I loved the "cottage" vibes that this book gives and the little dragons. My experience reading this one was like a rollercoaster. There were slow moments and high stakes at certain parts but overall it had a very weird pace. I would've liked for the plot to be more consistent but it dragged at times and I had to forced myself to continue. I did liked the romance and the whole of premise of the kingdom and the love triangle situation. However, it was hard for me to connect with the characters, especially with the FMC (she was interesting and had a few anger issues that made me roll my eyes occasionally). Overall, it was and okay read but I was expecting more

[bailey elizabeth smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25⭐️

You can really feel the passion the author has for welsh folklore, and that is very palpable in the writing. You can also tell this was very well researched even as someone who is not welsh (technically I’m like 15% lol). I thought the world was very atmospheric, and had great cozy elements!

However, I struggled with the fact that it felt like the plot was running in constant circles for me. In addition, I never really felt like I connected with the characters, and there was something that was sadly so surface level about them. Love triangles are also not for me.

This has its ups and downs, and I really wish I liked it more. Gorgeous cover though!

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed every minute, from beginning to end. While it may not be a 5-star read for everyone, it was one of those rare and special books that felt like it was written for me with my specific taste in mind. It had everything I could hope for in a standalone YA historical fantasy.

What you can look forward to:
- Welsh folklore
- Medieval fairytale cottagecore vibes
- Mythical creatures and cryptids
- Beautiful immersive descriptive language
- Well-written dialogue (that never made me cringe)
- A quest and adventure across Wales
- Scrappy witch FMC
- One snarky prince
- One honorable prince
- Love triangle (which actually grew on me)
- Feisty banter (that made me giggle)
- Excellent tension (that made me kick my feet)
- Moral dilemmas from flawed, but lovable characters
- Poetic folk songs and magic
- Female rage
- The Hobbit/LOTR vibes
- Epic and heartfelt ending (that brought a tear to my eye)

I gotta shoutout how much I enjoyed the audiobook. You can expect many Welsh character names, places, and words that otherwise might be difficult to try to read or pronounce, but listening made it much more immersive for me personally! The three main POVs get separate voice actors, which is always fun! They all did a great job, especially enjoyed the voice actress for Ffion.
My one and only gripe (which I can’t hold against the book itself lol) is that we were ROBBED of hearing Welsh accents from any one of the three narrators! While I was devastated and crestfallen at this realization, I would still absolutely recommend listening, it was a very good production.

[K.J. Haakenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you a stunning cover. And not only a stunning cover but a stunning story to match inside. DEAR READER, WE HAVE A 5 STAR STANDALONE!!!

If you need more than the cover and that introduction to convince you to read "The Hedgewitch of Foxhall", may I present the following evidence:

- a love triangle THAT ACTUALLY WORKS and that was sooo compelling!!
- a fierce and grieving FMC that is so loveable
- 2 love interests with full character arcs, development, purpose AND chemistry
- SO MUCH genius banter
- a story that is both heartfelt and cozy, while still keeping the stakes high
- a very satisfying plot (and it's been a while since I've said that)
- a fantasy roadtrip-esque adventure
- STUNNING descriptions of magical creatures and gorgeous Wales imagery
- the most beautiful songs and poems woven throughout the prose
- solid and exciting plot twists (but ones that won't make you feel stupid)
- did I forget to mention the best love triangle I've ever read?? (and I don't like love triangles)

And finally, may I present the cover again? The Hedgewitch of Foxhall really is *that* book.

For my readers who need a content review: this book is a clean romance (no smut, not even closed door) with a couple of crude words and some flirting. There is an animal death but it's not gratuitous or useless to the plot.

[Noha Badawi · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was a major disappointment and the romance totally ruined it for me.

[trishla ⚡ | YourLocalBookReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the look of this book SO much - I knew I had to read it, it's got the cottagecore vibes DOWN. There's a huge emphasis on magic, the wild and Welsh lore. I loved feeling so immersed in it as the book went on, and I felt myself in awe at Ffion's magic and her connection to the earth.

The first half had me entirely hooked, the banter between Ffion and Taliesin was some of the best I've ever read. They're both SO stubborn and fierce, but in a way that's tied to their honor and morals. They truly would do anything for those they care for, but it doesn't close them off to growth either, and we see Taliesin come around to loving magic again as well.

I wish the book had just featured these two because the love triangle thing between them and Dafydd was one of the worst parts of this book. It absolutely took the spotlight from the atmosphere of the book and ruined it imo because it became front and center. I hated how her dad bonded the two of them, and I think she forgave him WAYY too easily.

[Anna Catherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Would really like to say this book is just “not for me” but that would be a lie bc the storytelling was objectively bad? A half-arsed love triangle in the year of our lord 2024? Weird plot “twists” that just didn’t land, unrealistic characters with unrealistic motivations, and not enough emphasis on the, unfortunately sparse, unique moments and elements that might have made this into an interesting story? Nonsensical conclusion? Get thee behind me, foul fiend

[Astrid Willow · Rating 5 out of 5]

There aren't enough words to express how much I adored this book!

[Keli · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5

I was excited to start this YA fantasy inspired by Welsh folklore; the cover is beautiful and there are dragons in the prologue?! Say no more. However, after the first couple of chapters, it lost my interest and fell short of my expectations.

Pros:
I enjoyed the magic system, which was grounded in nature and interconnectedness with the environment. As someone who knows nothing about Welsh folklore, I appreciated the small nods throughout that were explained more in the Author’s Note. I’m also a sucker for dark/cottagecore fairytale vibes, which did shine through at some parts of the book.

Cons:
My main gripe with this book is the heavy focus on the love triangle, which was not executed well and turned this book into a very generic YA when it could have been something more. The “love triangle” element felt very forced, but still ended up taking over most of the story. If the author would have just stuck with the main romance, it would have been much more convincing (and I would have rolled my eyes less).

As far as the writing itself, I was also let down. I think I was expecting the beauty of the prose to match the beauty of the cover, but it fell flat and detracted from the overall story.

Overall, this was a pretty generic YA fantasy that fell into overused tropes. However, if you’re really craving cottagecore/folklore vibes, you might find some enjoyment in it.

Content Warnings: death of parent, animal death, war

[lookmairead]

30% DNF:
Though the audio narrators were solid picks… I just couldn’t get hooked.

That cover though… 😍

[Aisvarya (Semi-hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨You're the bane of my existence✨

Read if you like
- Historical fantasy
- Welsh mythology and folklore
- Quest to restore magic
- Witches and magical forests
- Slowburn
- Witty banter
- Multiple povs

We follow Taliesin, the bastard prince who wants to prove that he's worthy of the title but is often overlooked by his father who favors his elder brother, Dafydd. Now that an attack on their land is imminent and also that magic's dying, the King tasks the princes with finding the solution to bringing their magic back, and that the one who succeeds will be named as his heir. Tal seeks Ffion, the hedgewitch of Foxhall to help him and they both set out on the mission to bring magic back and stop the attack on their land.

The characters are so beautifully written that I can't help falling in love with them. Ffion's a witch who lives in accordance with the natural world unlike the Foxhall coven who'd do anything to gain more power and wealth. This quality of hers is what makes her the perfect person for this quest, as she loves magic so much and would give her full into bringing it back. She's brave and forthright in what she wants, and she doesn't hesitate to go against the coven or even her parents, and I admired that about her.

On the other hand, Prince Tal isn't fond of magic but he's forced to go on this quest to claim his right to the throne. Even though he's indifferent to the magic and witchcraft at the start, he learns to love and accept it as he starts to understand the true nature of it through Ffion. And the way they both complement one another, and start to fall in love was so adorable!!
"I don't know what's coming, Fee..But I would keep you safe, if you would let me."💜

Dafydd was an interesting character to follow too! He doesn't want the throne but cares so much about others that anyone could see he's the perfect person to become the king. Overall, this is a great YA fantasy that has a perfect blend of folklore, romance, and interesting characters, and I'd highly recommend it!!

[disz · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️ 2.7 stars

I can't believe I finished this in one sitting despite how frustrating this book was. It didn't hook me into the story, but I tried so hard and pushed myself to see the ending, and I did.

Pros : The beautiful cover deserves praise for the designer. I liked everything about Welsh culture and tradition that inspired this book. The magic system is also quite interesting, especially how it connects with the nature around them. I adored the world-building, particularly during the journey. The views were beautiful, with some fairytale-like cottages.

Cons : The plot has a lot of gaps and some parts are too rushed. I also disliked all the characters because how they are so insufferable, and I found some of them to be selfish and manipulative towards each other. The communication between characters is really bad in this book like they all need to embrace and put more trust in one another. The romance, which builds into a love triangle, was poorly written. I know I am not a fan of this specific trope, but when I read this, it was just so bad. Some characters pushed themselves into romance when there was no chemistry. The unnecessary jealousy made me roll my eyes, as they focused too much on their romantic egos when the kingdom was in danger. I would have preferred if they didn't end up with anyone so they could improve themselves.

Overall, I'm definitely glad I finally read this since I've been wanting to know about it. Even though I didn't like the book, I hope others will enjoy it.

[Jagoda Szulc · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75

[Stephanie Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

*My thanks to HarperCollins for granting me an eARC through NetGalley*

4.5 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.