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Hedgewitch #1
Hedgewitch: Book 1: The enchanting series brimming with mystery and magic
'Magical in every sense of the word' Eoin Colfer Step into the magical world of Hedgewitch, where the land of Faerie lies just beyond our own, in this enchanting new series for children age 9+ and readers of Nevermoor and Michelle Harrison.Cassie Morgan has run away. After seven years spent waiting for her mother to return, she flees her dreary boarding school and sets out to find her. But the world outside her school is full of hidden magic and children have been going missing.With the help of a talking cat and a flying broom, Cassie escapes to the enchanted village of Hedgely. There she will begin her training in the practical skills of witchcraft with the Hedgewitch, who watches over the Hedge, the vast forest that marks the border between England and Faerie.Will Cassie discover the truth about her mother? Can she find the lost faery treasures before the wicked Erl King gets his hands on them? And what will it take to save her new home - and Britain itself - from the shadowing magic of Faerie?'There are only two sorts of fantasy the ones that feel fake and the ones that feel real. It's hard to explain the difference but you know the real ones when you read them, and Hedgewitch is one of them' Philip ReeveNominated for the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2022
94 people are currently reading
2920 people want to read
About the author
Skye McKenna
9 books116 followersSkye McKenna grew up in a mining town in the Australian outback. Surrounded by the red dust of the Pilbara, she developed a healthy respect for wild things and wild places at a young age. Seeking adventures of her own, she travelled to the UK and fell in love with the British countryside.
Skye now lives in Scotland and works for a heritage charity, with whom she recently curated an exhibition on medieval magic. When she’s not reading and writing, she goes looking for stories in the hills and forests of her new home.
Skye now lives in Scotland and works for a heritage charity, with whom she recently curated an exhibition on medieval magic. When she’s not reading and writing, she goes looking for stories in the hills and forests of her new home.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews
October 31, 2023
Bardzo urocza, ciepła i komfortowa książka.
Sprawdzi się dla osób 9+, jak i dla takich w moim wieku
Sprawdzi się dla osób 9+, jak i dla takich w moim wieku
October 4, 2024
October 4th 2024: I’ve really enjoyed rereading this in preparation for ‘Woodwitch’ and ‘Seawitch.’ Reviews to follow; here is my original 2022 review for ‘Hedgewitch:’
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‘Hedgewitch’ encapsulates the perfect blend of Girl’s Own adventure story and Narnian enchantment - really all that a reader needs to be transported to the delights of pure storytelling combined with multi-layered elements of mythology, folklore and fairy tale.
This is the very best kind of escapism that rewards deep and thorough immersion in its references and intertextuality.
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‘Hedgewitch’ encapsulates the perfect blend of Girl’s Own adventure story and Narnian enchantment - really all that a reader needs to be transported to the delights of pure storytelling combined with multi-layered elements of mythology, folklore and fairy tale.
This is the very best kind of escapism that rewards deep and thorough immersion in its references and intertextuality.
July 1, 2022
This book is fantastic! Full of magic, whimsy and intrigue, 𝐇𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 is the first book in a brand new fantasy series. It’s been ages since I’ve read a children’s novel, and this was so much fun.
The story has a nice balance between reality and magic, which made the town of Hedgely all the more realistic. I loved all the little creatures - both good and evil! - but my favourite had to be Montague the cat.
The book also features gorgeous illustrations sprinkled throughout, depicting various scenes, and the cover design under the dust jacket is amazing 🤩
I had a great time reading 𝐇𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 and am very excited to see what happens next with our favourite young witch; Cassie Morgan 🪄
The story has a nice balance between reality and magic, which made the town of Hedgely all the more realistic. I loved all the little creatures - both good and evil! - but my favourite had to be Montague the cat.
The book also features gorgeous illustrations sprinkled throughout, depicting various scenes, and the cover design under the dust jacket is amazing 🤩
I had a great time reading 𝐇𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 and am very excited to see what happens next with our favourite young witch; Cassie Morgan 🪄
April 16, 2022
For we are witches, one and all,All Cassie Morgan has to remember her mother by is a mysterious key and the promise she made that she would wait for her. Cassie never imagined she would still be waiting for her seven years later, behind the bars of Fowell House, with its questionable food, detestable teachers, a headmistress who’d give the Trunchbull a run for her money and the bullies on the hockey team.
And we are not afraid
Of goblins, grigs and gwyllions,
Our wards and charms are laid.
When Cassie runs away from her boarding school, a talking cat named Montague accompanies her to Hedgely, where she meets the family she never knew existed. Only, her mother is not with them. It turns out the stories Cassie has been reading about faeries shouldn’t have been filed under fiction, and witchcraft? It’s real, too.
The first in a five book series, Hedgewitch was a lot of fun. Being a new series, there were so many new people and non-humans to meet.
When we join twelve year old Cassie at Fowell House, she’s an outcast whose primary escape when she’s perfecting her invisibility is reading. Once she arrives in Hedgely, some things come naturally to her but she struggles with others. The pain she feels as a result of her mother’s absence is always there but, despite this, Cassie has an unshakeable optimism.
While Ivy has the potential for complexity due to both her personality and home life, so far she’s mostly sycophantic. Rue and Tabitha have the makings of being both supportive friends to Cassie and good teammates.
For we are witches, one and all,We’ve gone to work with the Hedgewitch but I suspect her page time will increase as the series continues and we’ll get to see what she’s truly capable of.
A coven of the best.
Good friends who stand together
Through any threat or test.
Montague, though? A mixture of wisdom and cattitude, Montague is perfect already. Joining Montague in the ranks of practically perfect in every way is Mrs Briggs, who smells of gingerbread and is welcome to cook for me whenever she wants.
Hedgely has many stores I want to explore further in future books but none as much as Marchpane’s, where I’ll be eating when Mrs Briggs goes on strike, and Widdershin’s, a Tardis bookstore.
I’m keen to join Cassie as she continues to search for her mother and am looking forward to coming face to creepy bone mask with the Erl King.
Magic I most wish was real: Spoon of Eternal Pudding.
For we are witches, one and all,Thank you so much to NetGalley and Welbeck Flame, an imprint of Welbeck Children’s Limited, for the opportunity to read this book.
We know, protect and heal,
With noble hearts, loyal and kind,
And courage true as steel!
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
December 29, 2023
(Nie było jej wcześniej na GoodReads)
Bardzo miło mnie ta książka wprowadziła w nastrój na wiedźmie klimaty jesienią. Jest młoda czarownica, jest kot, jest przyjaźń - czego chcieć więcej? Dobrze spędziłam z nią czas.
Bardzo miło mnie ta książka wprowadziła w nastrój na wiedźmie klimaty jesienią. Jest młoda czarownica, jest kot, jest przyjaźń - czego chcieć więcej? Dobrze spędziłam z nią czas.
June 28, 2022
I love the premise of this book but I unfortunately found that it didn’t deliver. There were just too many things that frustrated me while I was reading it:
- The main characters never felt quite real to me. They were never quite fleshed out and seemed instead like cliches. There were no nuances to them.
- The prose was overly flowery and there were a lot of words in there that a young reader wouldn’t understand. They would have to read with a dictionary sitting next to them. The author will spend an entire paragraph describing a garden (of no consequence story wise) but not explain to us what important places, like where the coven meets, look like… or where they even are in town?
- Many magical creatures were named dropped but there was no description or explanation of what they were. Some were not creatures I’ve heard of before and assume they were made up by the author, but why not describe them to us? Surely Cassie wouldn’t know either, considering she is new to this world?
- The magic classes are basically girl guides but instead of those scenes introducing us to some of the actual magic used in the world, the characters are mostly eating biscuits and fighting with Ivy. When Cassie then goes to do her fledgling test, I’m surprised to find out that she’s actually learned some magic even though we readers never get to experience that. Learning the magic of the world is often the best part of reading fantasy.
- There were so many holes in the plot and unbelievable situations. The one that stands out most to me is the rescue of the children from the goblins. Jane was stolen at the beginning of the story, at least three month earlier, but it’s talked about as if she’s just been nabbed recently. Where was she kept? What kind of food did the goblins give her?And they escape through and underground tunnel yet Jane doesn’t remember which tunnel of three paths she was taken down even though they are quite distinctive, like one is so small you have to crawl through and the other is covered with sharp stones, and the third one is fine. Gee I wonder which one it is?
- Cassie cheats at the talent show but this is never addressed or investigated? We also never find out who sabotaged her first talent.
- There are talking animals but they are boring. What a waste! Montague is a poor copy of Salem from Sabrina the Teenage Witch (the original show).
- The ending is a straight up copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Cassie failed her test, but she still ends up becoming a witch because of her bravery and courage…
There were just too many eye roll moments for me to end up enjoying this. This book wishes it was Nevermoor but it could never. I’m annoyed that this was so unfulfilling.
- The main characters never felt quite real to me. They were never quite fleshed out and seemed instead like cliches. There were no nuances to them.
- The prose was overly flowery and there were a lot of words in there that a young reader wouldn’t understand. They would have to read with a dictionary sitting next to them. The author will spend an entire paragraph describing a garden (of no consequence story wise) but not explain to us what important places, like where the coven meets, look like… or where they even are in town?
- Many magical creatures were named dropped but there was no description or explanation of what they were. Some were not creatures I’ve heard of before and assume they were made up by the author, but why not describe them to us? Surely Cassie wouldn’t know either, considering she is new to this world?
- The magic classes are basically girl guides but instead of those scenes introducing us to some of the actual magic used in the world, the characters are mostly eating biscuits and fighting with Ivy. When Cassie then goes to do her fledgling test, I’m surprised to find out that she’s actually learned some magic even though we readers never get to experience that. Learning the magic of the world is often the best part of reading fantasy.
- There were so many holes in the plot and unbelievable situations. The one that stands out most to me is the rescue of the children from the goblins. Jane was stolen at the beginning of the story, at least three month earlier, but it’s talked about as if she’s just been nabbed recently. Where was she kept? What kind of food did the goblins give her?And they escape through and underground tunnel yet Jane doesn’t remember which tunnel of three paths she was taken down even though they are quite distinctive, like one is so small you have to crawl through and the other is covered with sharp stones, and the third one is fine. Gee I wonder which one it is?
- Cassie cheats at the talent show but this is never addressed or investigated? We also never find out who sabotaged her first talent.
- There are talking animals but they are boring. What a waste! Montague is a poor copy of Salem from Sabrina the Teenage Witch (the original show).
- The ending is a straight up copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Cassie failed her test, but she still ends up becoming a witch because of her bravery and courage…
There were just too many eye roll moments for me to end up enjoying this. This book wishes it was Nevermoor but it could never. I’m annoyed that this was so unfulfilling.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2022
This book had a lot of potential, but it just didn’t click for me. The characters felt like a carbon copy of characters from countless other stories, including the (in my opinion) pointless ‘mean girl’ Ivy and Rue’s random hatred of Tabitha, as well as the character of Rue basically just being a female version of Ron Weasley. It didn’t really feel like this story did anything new. While I enjoyed reading it just for the atmosphere, the characters could use some serious work. The plot was relatively interesting, but there were never really any stakes. The hedge is said to be such a scary place and yet Cassie comes through unscathed on three separate occasions even when she’s acting foolishly. On that note as well, I found it hard to believe that, after reading all those books on the fae like they described, that she would know absolutely nothing? She gets fooled every time and, on most of those occasions, someone else saves her or she ‘realizes just in time.’ I don’t know, it just didn’t really feel like she grew as a character or as a witch at all. She didn’t deserve getting that Ardent star or becoming a fledgling, I would’ve liked to see her actually training and passing the next fledgling test, especially since it was only a three month wait. But instead she got everything handed to her on a sliver platter.
I might still read the sequel to find out about what happened to her mom, because that plot point is relatively interesting even though it’s been done to death, but I was definitely hoping for more from this book.
I might still read the sequel to find out about what happened to her mom, because that plot point is relatively interesting even though it’s been done to death, but I was definitely hoping for more from this book.
November 12, 2023
Such a cozy and magical - yet exciting - book. The perfect book for autumn and fans of witchy stuff. I’m really looking forward to the second book 😍 will definitely buy it soon 😂😍
November 17, 2023
First in a magical five-book series for readers of Nevermoor, The Worst Witch and The Dark Is Rising.It is NOTHING like Susan Cooper's truly magnificent The Dark Is Rising. I think they just got tired of saying, "For fans of Harry Potter", which would have been far more fitting, seeing as:
- the main character (Cassie) is a mistreated, bullied ward and has miserable living conditions and ice-cold relatives and caretakers
- is an orphan* of a witch *(is her mother truly dead? Declared dead in absentia..)
- gets summonded to a magical new place to live with other magical kids (and magic shops, familiars, etc.)
- has some dangerous, extracurricular magical adventures on the way (talking cat, goblin nabbers, flying broomstick)
- meets fellow magical students and their familiars on the train
- is enchanted by cavernous, magical home in which she now resides with Snape, I mean, her aunt Miranda (also an instructor, also has bittersweet 'love' story with orphan's late mother and is embittered by the reminder of the lost adult in the child)
- attends a school with houses, erm, patrols. Malfoy = Ivy of the Thorn Patrol - unnecessarily threatened by presence of Cassie and her extra special pedigree, calls her a second-rate witch, possibly sabotages her entry at the fair, etc.
- kids learn magic to earn school and patrol rewards and badges via house, erm, inter-patrol competition
- Cassie has no fancy witches' broom or experience of a witching family in spite of pedigree, etc., but suddenly a male relative appears out of the blue and gifts her a most envied, fastest, speedy broom for her birthday, which is the envy of her peers and which she can barely control
- Cassie fails basic witch training, but only because of evil influences of Faerie trying to get at her (for spoilerish reasons)
-
- The forces of Faerie continually try to use Cassie's desire to see her mother again against her
- Cassie and her friends show true courage and unorthodox witchcraft methods to save the day, and are awarded, to the shock of all, the highest honour of the school by the head teacher who makes a speech about bravery and ingenuity and leadership, etc.
There was more - I'll edit it in if I remember. But I felt like I was reading the plot of Harry Potter, just reimagined with a girl witch and a different setting.
Look, I'm middle-aged and I have read a lot of classic children's lit along these lines. All of those books I have read have done 'this' so much better. (Tunnels? See The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, if not The Lord of the Rings. I'm glad they referenced The Worst Witch, which bloody J K Rowling ought to have done but never did (which is sus), because this is along those lines. I have NO EARTHLY IDEA why The Dark Is Rising Sequence is even mentioned - I can only guess the 'warding off' aspect of keeping Faerie at bay is somehow similar to fighting the Dark?! I really don't know. The Dark is Rising is my all-time favourite juvenile fantasy series - I will not say that if you liked Hedgewitch you should check it out, because they really are nothing alike and I'm still miffed I got suckered in because the publishers name-dropped Susan Cooper's epic. If you like juvenile fantasy, check out The Dark is Rising sequence regardlesss, is my advice. Just don't expect this).
I probably would have loved this book at 10 years old and bugged my parents to buy the whole never-ending cash-cow of a series.
But in my forties, I can separate the wheat from the chaff.
This is cute chaff. McKenna has been imaginative with all those sweet little details of potion-making and songs, etc. But the entire story-arc is predictable and boring and hopelessly derivative. Again, if you haven't read all those other books, it might seem fresh and lovely to you. But I'll stick to my perspective, in case it aligns with that of other readers.
TL:DR - basically Harry Potter, reimagined.
February 15, 2022
trigger warning
Cassie Morgan has been for seven years at an awful boarding school when she recieves news that, for legal reasons, her mother is supposed as dead. It turns out she has living relatives, and her aunt is none other than the Hedgewitch, and she'll be going to live with her.
The Hedgewitch guards the Hedge, the border between this world and the fairyland, because the fair folk can't be bothered to play nice and strange things may escape and wreak havoc on the next village.
Additionally, the Hedgewitch leads the local coven and works on the education of the local girls who wish to become witches themselves.
Let me be honest here, as bullying is a trigger to me, the first 40 pages were rough and I was considering putting this aside, but I am glad I kept on it, because that topic ends there.
After these 40 pages, Cassie is whisked away by a talking cat to her new home, and what a home this is!
The plot is relatively predictable, but this is more about the atmosphere, and that was a lot of fun.
I'll make sure to return to this series, as this is one of those middlegrade books older readers will enjoy, too. And this simply ticked all the right boxes for me.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
Cassie Morgan has been for seven years at an awful boarding school when she recieves news that, for legal reasons, her mother is supposed as dead. It turns out she has living relatives, and her aunt is none other than the Hedgewitch, and she'll be going to live with her.
The Hedgewitch guards the Hedge, the border between this world and the fairyland, because the fair folk can't be bothered to play nice and strange things may escape and wreak havoc on the next village.
Additionally, the Hedgewitch leads the local coven and works on the education of the local girls who wish to become witches themselves.
Let me be honest here, as bullying is a trigger to me, the first 40 pages were rough and I was considering putting this aside, but I am glad I kept on it, because that topic ends there.
After these 40 pages, Cassie is whisked away by a talking cat to her new home, and what a home this is!
The plot is relatively predictable, but this is more about the atmosphere, and that was a lot of fun.
I'll make sure to return to this series, as this is one of those middlegrade books older readers will enjoy, too. And this simply ticked all the right boxes for me.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
August 5, 2022
“There were piles of books on the floor, stacks of books on small tables nearly collapsing from their weight and books teetering precariously in slender towers as high as the shelves themselves”
.
.
.
If you’re a fan of The Worst Witch, love a talking cat (looking at you Nevermoor fans) or have always wanted to visit a bookshop run by a hob, which is a very distinct entity from a goblin, then you need to read Hedgewitch💫
Cassie Morgan has waited seven long years for her mother to come back and rescue her from her draconian boarding school. Prompted to run away with the help of a talking cat and a battered broom, Cassie finds her way to the village of Hedgely which sits on the forested border between the human world and the land of Faerie. Cassie hasn’t even passed her Fledgling test for the local coven when human children start to vanish and all evidence points to nefarious goings on in the Hedge itself
Skye McKenna has created a sheer delight in the Hedgewitch, helped by beautiful illustrations from Tomislav Tomic
I want to move to Hedgely, browse the books at Widdershins, have a drink at The Pickled Imp and a toadstool 🍄 tart from Marchpanes. This is one of those fantastic children’s books that makes magic feel real. It has the right amount of cozy, the right amount of danger and it’s the first of a whole series!
.
.
.
If you’re a fan of The Worst Witch, love a talking cat (looking at you Nevermoor fans) or have always wanted to visit a bookshop run by a hob, which is a very distinct entity from a goblin, then you need to read Hedgewitch💫
Cassie Morgan has waited seven long years for her mother to come back and rescue her from her draconian boarding school. Prompted to run away with the help of a talking cat and a battered broom, Cassie finds her way to the village of Hedgely which sits on the forested border between the human world and the land of Faerie. Cassie hasn’t even passed her Fledgling test for the local coven when human children start to vanish and all evidence points to nefarious goings on in the Hedge itself
Skye McKenna has created a sheer delight in the Hedgewitch, helped by beautiful illustrations from Tomislav Tomic
I want to move to Hedgely, browse the books at Widdershins, have a drink at The Pickled Imp and a toadstool 🍄 tart from Marchpanes. This is one of those fantastic children’s books that makes magic feel real. It has the right amount of cozy, the right amount of danger and it’s the first of a whole series!
April 28, 2023
Príbeh dobra a zla, stratení a znovunachádzaní rodiny, silnejúcich priateľstvách a objavovaní vlastných schopností. To všetko v čarovnom prostredí čarodejníckej dedinky a kúzelného lesa. Bavilo ma to a rada si prečítam aj ďalší diel.
October 11, 2023
I really enjoyed this!! The writing was rich and the plot was always entertaining, with lovely characters.
It made me quite nostalgic as it sort of reminded me of The Worst Witch.
I really loved the fairy and fantasy elements and can’t wait to read the second book. A very fun and easy ready!
It made me quite nostalgic as it sort of reminded me of The Worst Witch.
I really loved the fairy and fantasy elements and can’t wait to read the second book. A very fun and easy ready!
February 25, 2025
This is so whimsical and magical! It felt very autumnal, the perfect book to cosy up with when the weather is rubbish outside. Although it took me a while to read, the plot was well-paced and the characters were very endearing. I also really liked the concept of the Hedge, and Cassie’s quest to find her missing mother. Very cute!
April 1, 2022
Oh, I really enjoyed this!
Cassie is holed up in a harsh, unkind boarding school, where she has been since the last time she saw her mother years ago. She got through the bullying & drudgery by finding the best hiding places & burying her nose in books about faerie and magic. Not that she necessarily believed there were faeries & goblins - but it passed the lonely hours.
Children have been going missing and a girl from Cassie’s school disappears. Cass is hiding in a tree, absorbed in a book as usual, when from below she hears a conversation in which her thoughts on the fae and other supernatural occurrences are brought into sharp focus. The conversation she is forced to have with the ‘warden’ who spots her hiding place makes Cassie think - then she is called to the head’s office and told they aren’t running a charity and she’s to be shipped off to the nearby children’s home. That night she decides to take things into her own hands and escapes the school….and her adventure to discover her heritage and destiny begin!
Fabulous story! Enough Enid Blyton vibes to keep it cosy but enough Nevermoor vibes to keep it interesting. At eight or nine years old I’d have had your hand off for that book! I walked around convinced that there were faeries, goblins & imps under every bush and tree! Great story, in a fully formed world with characters I cared about with enough shades of dark and light to keep me absorbed. Absolutely loved it.
Cassie is holed up in a harsh, unkind boarding school, where she has been since the last time she saw her mother years ago. She got through the bullying & drudgery by finding the best hiding places & burying her nose in books about faerie and magic. Not that she necessarily believed there were faeries & goblins - but it passed the lonely hours.
Children have been going missing and a girl from Cassie’s school disappears. Cass is hiding in a tree, absorbed in a book as usual, when from below she hears a conversation in which her thoughts on the fae and other supernatural occurrences are brought into sharp focus. The conversation she is forced to have with the ‘warden’ who spots her hiding place makes Cassie think - then she is called to the head’s office and told they aren’t running a charity and she’s to be shipped off to the nearby children’s home. That night she decides to take things into her own hands and escapes the school….and her adventure to discover her heritage and destiny begin!
Fabulous story! Enough Enid Blyton vibes to keep it cosy but enough Nevermoor vibes to keep it interesting. At eight or nine years old I’d have had your hand off for that book! I walked around convinced that there were faeries, goblins & imps under every bush and tree! Great story, in a fully formed world with characters I cared about with enough shades of dark and light to keep me absorbed. Absolutely loved it.
January 27, 2022
Exciting new series involving witches and lost mothers.
Blend of Nevermoor and Enid Blyton.
Blend of Nevermoor and Enid Blyton.
November 19, 2024
“It is a great burden to have knowledge without the power to act upon it.”
This was the most heartwarming, lovely and beautiful book I’ve read this year. Made me want to hug everyone in the story. Can’t wait to read the next one.
This was the most heartwarming, lovely and beautiful book I’ve read this year. Made me want to hug everyone in the story. Can’t wait to read the next one.
April 18, 2023
3.5. Cute, quirky, witchy story 🔮✨
September 27, 2024
This is one of my favorite books! It felt so magical, just like Harry Potter has always felt to me. The writing is superb and the story just pulled me right in!
November 19, 2024
"Hedgewitch" by Skye McKenna
🐈⬛Well, what a magical journey it was! Hedgewitch is a perfect series for all those who want to plunge into a world of magic, spells, and witches.
🐈⬛The Plot: We follow a girl named Cassie Morgan, who manages to escape from her boarding school to search for her mother. Cassie's mother left her at school with a promise to return, but seven years had passed, and she never came back. Everyone insists that Cassie's mother is no longer alive, but Cassie is confident she's out there and is determined to find her. Fortunately, the young girl isn't alone—she's accompanied by a talking cat who helps her reach the enchanted village of Hedgely, where she begins training in the practical skills of witchcraft.
🐈⬛The Writing Style: I absolutely fell in love with Skye McKenna's writing style. It was truly magical, just like the mind-blowing events in the book. Reading it felt like flying on a broomstick at high speed, making brief stops to enjoy delicious snacks and process the numerous twists and turns that unfolded in the forest and the enchanted village of Hedgely.
🐈⬛The Characters: This glorious book is packed with a whole village of fascinating characters. I genuinely adore how magnificently the author brought each of them to life. They all felt so real, and the charm of magic intertwined flawlessly with their personalities. The meticulously crafted world-building drew me in from the very first pages, inviting me to explore its magic and study witchcraft alongside the amazing characters.
😊The Fave Quote: "We all fall off our brooms sometimes."
🥰Would I read other books by this author? I'm already reading the second book and can't wait to dive into the third one!
✨My humble rating is: 5/5
🧙Suppose you have a witch spirit in your soul, or just want to dive into the thrilling, dangerous, and exciting world of magic. In that case, you'll definitely enjoy traveling on a broom along the glorious world of "Hedgewitch" by Skye McKenna.
🐈⬛I do hope you'll enjoy reading this series as much as I did.
🐾Anyway, thank you so much for dropping by and reading this post!
🙏🏼Stay safe, take care, and happy reading!
🐈⬛Well, what a magical journey it was! Hedgewitch is a perfect series for all those who want to plunge into a world of magic, spells, and witches.
🐈⬛The Plot: We follow a girl named Cassie Morgan, who manages to escape from her boarding school to search for her mother. Cassie's mother left her at school with a promise to return, but seven years had passed, and she never came back. Everyone insists that Cassie's mother is no longer alive, but Cassie is confident she's out there and is determined to find her. Fortunately, the young girl isn't alone—she's accompanied by a talking cat who helps her reach the enchanted village of Hedgely, where she begins training in the practical skills of witchcraft.
🐈⬛The Writing Style: I absolutely fell in love with Skye McKenna's writing style. It was truly magical, just like the mind-blowing events in the book. Reading it felt like flying on a broomstick at high speed, making brief stops to enjoy delicious snacks and process the numerous twists and turns that unfolded in the forest and the enchanted village of Hedgely.
🐈⬛The Characters: This glorious book is packed with a whole village of fascinating characters. I genuinely adore how magnificently the author brought each of them to life. They all felt so real, and the charm of magic intertwined flawlessly with their personalities. The meticulously crafted world-building drew me in from the very first pages, inviting me to explore its magic and study witchcraft alongside the amazing characters.
😊The Fave Quote: "We all fall off our brooms sometimes."
🥰Would I read other books by this author? I'm already reading the second book and can't wait to dive into the third one!
✨My humble rating is: 5/5
🧙Suppose you have a witch spirit in your soul, or just want to dive into the thrilling, dangerous, and exciting world of magic. In that case, you'll definitely enjoy traveling on a broom along the glorious world of "Hedgewitch" by Skye McKenna.
🐈⬛I do hope you'll enjoy reading this series as much as I did.
🐾Anyway, thank you so much for dropping by and reading this post!
🙏🏼Stay safe, take care, and happy reading!
May 8, 2024
This was so good!
December 31, 2024
close enough welcome back Mildred Hubble
February 22, 2022
After the advent of Harry Potter, there have been a slew of books about children discovering they have magic and going to magic school, so it is difficult for a new book in this genre to stand out or feel original.
Hedgewitch surprised me with how fresh and original the world felt. The characters felt well-rounded and three dimensional with both good sides and bad sides and their own wants and goals. Cassie’s friends need a little more of their own agency, and less to be there simply as her support pack, but I can see how that could come in the series. There was enough base there for them to be their own people.
The world building was really nice too. I liked the simplicity of the village, and by placing the story in a small village the author gave us an initial world with small enough borders that it could really come alive, as well as giving us the coziness of a slice of village life, where everyone knows everyone and gossip abounds.
I also really liked that the author included the traditional world of faerie with traditional characters. There was a feeling of age and authenticity to this story that came with the inclusion of phookas and the goblin king, as they are represented in ancient tales of faerie.
This was also really age appropriate. A good tale for 8-12 year olds. Definitely recommend, and I’m keen for the next book in the series!
Hedgewitch surprised me with how fresh and original the world felt. The characters felt well-rounded and three dimensional with both good sides and bad sides and their own wants and goals. Cassie’s friends need a little more of their own agency, and less to be there simply as her support pack, but I can see how that could come in the series. There was enough base there for them to be their own people.
The world building was really nice too. I liked the simplicity of the village, and by placing the story in a small village the author gave us an initial world with small enough borders that it could really come alive, as well as giving us the coziness of a slice of village life, where everyone knows everyone and gossip abounds.
I also really liked that the author included the traditional world of faerie with traditional characters. There was a feeling of age and authenticity to this story that came with the inclusion of phookas and the goblin king, as they are represented in ancient tales of faerie.
This was also really age appropriate. A good tale for 8-12 year olds. Definitely recommend, and I’m keen for the next book in the series!
April 19, 2022
Cassie is hiding, again. She's learned it's the best way to stay out of trouble, either with her teachers or with Lizzie Bleacher, the hockey team captain. Lizzie has terrorised Cassie throughout her stay at Fowell House Boarding School. Ever since Cassie's mother left her there, seven years before, life for Cassie is hiding in cupboards, up trees, or being as invisible as possible. It's not hard. The other girls won't even look her in the eye in case they too become a Lizzie Bleacher target.
Cassie keeps herself busy with her books she has hidden in her floorboards, all about the land of Faerie. She may not be able to leave Fowell House, on school holidays or weekends, but even she has heard about children going missing outside its walls in London. Suddenly the school is in a flurry after a 1st year vanishes from under their noses. Where has she gone?
When summoned to the headmistresses office one day, Cassie wonders what she has done. The news she hears is much worse than a detention coming her way. She is informed that as her mother has not been seen or heard of for seven years, she is now deemed dead. Cassie is to be sent to the local orphanage the next morning. Cassie isn't having that, but she doesn't want to stay at Fowell House either. She decides to run away.
Chased by a huge, slathering dog to the school gates, Cassie escapes with the help of a key on a string round her neck. This key is the only thing left to her by her mother, as she promised to return. Cassie also decides it's time to find her mother.
But not before she discovers she has a whole family waiting for her. Not only that, they are Wardens and witches and have a lot to teach her about the world of Faerie she has always held a fascination for. Her Aunt Miranda is the most powerful witch, named the Hedgewitch. As Cassie is welcomed into a grand home with a tree growing up through the centre, she is keen to ask her powerful aunt to help her find her mother.
Aunt Miranda is stern, and won't be drawn into a discussion on her mother and Cassie wonders why. She's soon too busy learning witchcraft, spells, incantations and how to ride her broom. This isn't easy and neither is keeping to Aunt Miranda's rules to stay away from the ancient wood nearby. Hedge Wood however, has many secrets Cassie would like to learn, including the mystery of the missing children.
With determination, courage, a stubborn will and most importantly love, Cassie will not give up on her search for her mother. Facing up to more than a soon-to-be-Fledgling-Witch could or should ever do, she comes a step closer to her mother, defeats a powerful enemy and finally proves herself to the Hedgewitch.
For fans of Nevermoor, Harry Potter, or anything Witchery, Hedgewitch is the first in a five part series. Beginning with a boarding school, a bully and a stubborn 12 yr old called Cassie, I was easily drawn into the tale. Along comes a talking cat, a whole new family, and an eerie wood with all manner of creatures and strangeness. With a backdrop of children vanishing, a missing mother and Cassie's new guardian a powerful witch, I was intrigued to know how much she knew about Cassie's missing mum.
Magical exams, broom riding lessons and incantations in the brew, Hedgewitch becomes more ominous, ramping up the tension as a little boy is taken too. Cassie is a brave character and easy to cheer on in her quests to help her friends, prove herself to her important aunt and learn more about her mum.
Goblins, hobs, shapeshifters and more, along with the ominous air of the Hedge Wood, provides the perfect setting for Cassie's impending battle with Faerie forces.
Bring on the next book called Woodwitch!
Cassie keeps herself busy with her books she has hidden in her floorboards, all about the land of Faerie. She may not be able to leave Fowell House, on school holidays or weekends, but even she has heard about children going missing outside its walls in London. Suddenly the school is in a flurry after a 1st year vanishes from under their noses. Where has she gone?
When summoned to the headmistresses office one day, Cassie wonders what she has done. The news she hears is much worse than a detention coming her way. She is informed that as her mother has not been seen or heard of for seven years, she is now deemed dead. Cassie is to be sent to the local orphanage the next morning. Cassie isn't having that, but she doesn't want to stay at Fowell House either. She decides to run away.
Chased by a huge, slathering dog to the school gates, Cassie escapes with the help of a key on a string round her neck. This key is the only thing left to her by her mother, as she promised to return. Cassie also decides it's time to find her mother.
But not before she discovers she has a whole family waiting for her. Not only that, they are Wardens and witches and have a lot to teach her about the world of Faerie she has always held a fascination for. Her Aunt Miranda is the most powerful witch, named the Hedgewitch. As Cassie is welcomed into a grand home with a tree growing up through the centre, she is keen to ask her powerful aunt to help her find her mother.
Aunt Miranda is stern, and won't be drawn into a discussion on her mother and Cassie wonders why. She's soon too busy learning witchcraft, spells, incantations and how to ride her broom. This isn't easy and neither is keeping to Aunt Miranda's rules to stay away from the ancient wood nearby. Hedge Wood however, has many secrets Cassie would like to learn, including the mystery of the missing children.
With determination, courage, a stubborn will and most importantly love, Cassie will not give up on her search for her mother. Facing up to more than a soon-to-be-Fledgling-Witch could or should ever do, she comes a step closer to her mother, defeats a powerful enemy and finally proves herself to the Hedgewitch.
For fans of Nevermoor, Harry Potter, or anything Witchery, Hedgewitch is the first in a five part series. Beginning with a boarding school, a bully and a stubborn 12 yr old called Cassie, I was easily drawn into the tale. Along comes a talking cat, a whole new family, and an eerie wood with all manner of creatures and strangeness. With a backdrop of children vanishing, a missing mother and Cassie's new guardian a powerful witch, I was intrigued to know how much she knew about Cassie's missing mum.
Magical exams, broom riding lessons and incantations in the brew, Hedgewitch becomes more ominous, ramping up the tension as a little boy is taken too. Cassie is a brave character and easy to cheer on in her quests to help her friends, prove herself to her important aunt and learn more about her mum.
Goblins, hobs, shapeshifters and more, along with the ominous air of the Hedge Wood, provides the perfect setting for Cassie's impending battle with Faerie forces.
Bring on the next book called Woodwitch!
March 2, 2022
A brilliant addition to the middle grade shelf for anyone drawn to the magical realm. An approachable and relatable protagonist, who will appeal to both boys and girl alike. The descriptions were particularly wonderful, providing a fully immersive experience - which I often struggle to find! A great book to begin the journey into the magical worlds of Nevermoor and Harry Potter, with a sprinkling of Mallory Towers. I can't wait to share with my 8 year old on and future LKS2 classes.
Read
May 9, 2023Disappointed by the way that this book is called Hedgewitch, a name which implies some amount of earthiness, but it creates a universe in which "Hedgewitch" is a patrician title... I would like it to be a bit wilder and stranger, a bit less like the Girl Guides Do Magic.
April 3, 2022
For the (youngest) fans of Harry Potter.
August 11, 2024
This is a wonderfully imaginative introduction to the Hedgewitch series and one that any reader will become fully immersed in.
I loved the world-building and how there's a balance between the bleakness of Cassie Morgan's boarding school and the beauty she finds in the magical village and the nature that surrounds it. Each comes to life and as Cassie's escape from misery catapults her into the unknown, and I feel that the reader will want their magical adventure or playtime when this book comes to an end.
𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴, 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭,
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥
𝘖𝘧 𝘨𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘴, 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘸𝘺𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴,
𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘥.
The verses such as this had my mind wander to my childhood when we'd play witches in the woods, as Skye McKenna has given so much life to witches both young and old who live in Hedgely a lovely magical village in the countryside near the infamous Hedge woodlands. I couldn't help but imagine a group of young witches reciting the verse in the same way Brownies and Guides do filled with hope and a sense of comradery. Each of the ones we encounter has their personality from the good wifch who follows the rules to the slightly erratic and carefree one - no doubt each will be relatable and their clashes of personality help bring them all from the page to someone they'd love to meet.
Filled with the wonder and whimsy of magic, adventure and a battle of good over evil? Hedgewitch is a book that's perfect for any reader who loves the idea of there being more than what you can see. I'd highly recommend it for the upcoming spooky season as not only are there witches and their familiars but evil goblins and things that go bump in the night.
I loved the world-building and how there's a balance between the bleakness of Cassie Morgan's boarding school and the beauty she finds in the magical village and the nature that surrounds it. Each comes to life and as Cassie's escape from misery catapults her into the unknown, and I feel that the reader will want their magical adventure or playtime when this book comes to an end.
𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴, 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭,
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥
𝘖𝘧 𝘨𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘴, 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘸𝘺𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴,
𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘥.
The verses such as this had my mind wander to my childhood when we'd play witches in the woods, as Skye McKenna has given so much life to witches both young and old who live in Hedgely a lovely magical village in the countryside near the infamous Hedge woodlands. I couldn't help but imagine a group of young witches reciting the verse in the same way Brownies and Guides do filled with hope and a sense of comradery. Each of the ones we encounter has their personality from the good wifch who follows the rules to the slightly erratic and carefree one - no doubt each will be relatable and their clashes of personality help bring them all from the page to someone they'd love to meet.
Filled with the wonder and whimsy of magic, adventure and a battle of good over evil? Hedgewitch is a book that's perfect for any reader who loves the idea of there being more than what you can see. I'd highly recommend it for the upcoming spooky season as not only are there witches and their familiars but evil goblins and things that go bump in the night.
November 8, 2023
Odkąd Marka Cassie zniknęła, dziewczynka uczy się w okropnej szkole z internatem. W tajemnicy czyta zakazaną literaturę o Faerii, czarodziejskiej krainie graniczącej ze światem ludzi. Dziewczynka ucieka ze szkoły, trafia do swojej Ciotki, o której istnieniu nie miała pojęcia. Krewna należy do szacownego rodu czarownic: potężnych i tajemniczych strażniczek bezpieczeństwa ludzi!
Książki o czarownicach, to mój must have na jesień. Historia opowiada o Cassie, która uczy się w szkole z internatem. Matka, odchodząc, nakazała jej na nią czekać. Pewnego dnia, do szkoły dociera wiadomość o śmierci jej matki. Jednak Cassie wie, że jej mama żyje i ma kłopoty. Dziewczynka trafia do swojej Ciotki Mirandy, jest ona Krzewiedźmą. Cassie dołącza do Sabatu, w którym uczy się jak zostać czarownicą. Szalone przygody, wydarzenia pełne napięcia, emocje i pełno ciepełka. Jest to idealna pozycja na zimne wieczory. Rozświetlają ponure wieczory i ocieplają bardziej niż najgrubszy kocyk. Piękna historia o miłości, więzach rodzinnych i sile przyjaźni, okraszona odrobiną magii.
Książka przeznaczona jest dla młodszych czytelników, jednak to kompletnie nie wyklucza starszych. Podczas lektury bawiłam się wyśmienicie. Lekturę urozmaicająca liczne ilustracje, które wspomagają wyobraźnie czytelnika. Rozdziały są krótkie i bardzo spójne, idealna długość, aby utrzymać skupienie. Ta książka to idealny comfort read na jesień ogrzewa mroźne wieczory. Polecam 🧹🧹
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