cover image The Hedgewitch of Foxhall

The Hedgewitch of Foxhall

Anna Bright. HarperTeen, $19.99 (400p) ISBN 978-0-06308-357-8

Ffion vch Catrin is the only witch who has yet to join Foxhall’s coven, disgusted by the group’s propensity for granting favors to the powerful and wealthy while ignoring the downtrodden. Taliesin and Dafydd ap Cadell are the two princes of a Welsh kingdom, though the true future king is yet to be determined. Their father, the current king, tasks the princes with figuring out how to break the magic-suppressing wall between Wales and the enchanted kingdom of Mercia and restore magic to Wales; the winner will be named his successor. Dafydd, who desires a quiet life over a kingly one, is uneasy about returning magic to Wales. Meanwhile, Taliesin seeks out Foxhall for help. When the coven refuses, the only witch left to turn to is Ffion. Together with Dafydd and Taliesin, Ffion becomes embroiled in an adventure that will determine the future of Wales, its magic, and the teens’ own hearts. Bright (The Song That Moves the Sun) revitalizes the traditional love triangle in this evocative tale; through a mixture of witchery and real-world history, Bright draws a complex political story from this cozy fantasy. Ages 14–up. Agent: Elana Roth Parker, Laura Dail Literary. (Mar.)