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The Hedgewitch of Foxhall
CCBC Review:
Ffion is a hedgewitch who refuses to join the coven in her village of Foxhall, which exploits desperate people and wields magic that harms the land. When Ffion’s fox companion, Cadno, dies as a result of the coven’s magic, Ffion knows she has until the new moon to bring him back. Prince Taliesin and Prince Dafydd have been charged by their father, King Cadell, to stop the threat at their borders by taking down King Offa’s wall, which is draining the magic from Wales. Dafydd doesn’t want the crown he’s destined for, while Tal is desperate to have it, and to protect his mother, even if he’ll never have his father’s approval. Tal joins forces with Ffion, hiring the hedgewitch to take down the wall. As Ffion and Tal endure a difficult, dangerous, muddy journey, walking the length of the wall so she can plant seeds of destruction—and, unbeknownst to Tal, gain magical strength to bring back Cadno—they each try to resist their mutual attraction. Meanwhile the diplomatic solution sought by Dafydd fails, and he gives up until he realizes that Ffion is the young woman he’s seen in visions—the one his court magician bound him to years before; the one he loves. Politics and interpersonal relationships (and Welsh words!) are complex in this lush historical fantasy set in eighth-century Wales, while the lively characters and swiftly moving plot make for a riveting read. ©2025 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 13 and older
Age Range:
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
Arguments/Conflict
Collaboration
Competitions and Contests
Competitiveness
Fantasy
Love and Romance
Magic
Siblings
On CCBC Booklist:
Fantastic Fiction: Great Fantasy Books for Ages 11 to 17
Publishers:
HarperCollins, HarperTeen
Publish Year: 2024
Pages: 389
ISBN: 9780063083578
CCBC Location: Fiction, Bright