Publication Date: 2nd March 2023

The Blurb

Step into the magical world of Hedgewitch, where the land of Faerie lies just beyond our own… The enchanting new series continues.

Cassie has settled into life in Hedgely when, out of the blue, her troubled cousin, Sebastian, comes to stay for Hallowe’en. Sneering and scornful, Sebastian trails after Cassie and her friends, interfering with their coven projects and belittling the dangers of the faery world.

But Cassie, Rue and Tabitha have bigger problems – as the nights grow longer, a dark shadow creeps out of the Hedge and villagers start behaving strangely, possessed with the desire to find a mysterious object.

When the Hedgewitch is called away, the girls decide to investigate and discover that whoever is controlling the villagers is seeking a faery relic: an ancient and dangerous weapon, hidden somewhere in the village. Their magical training will be put to the test as they venture deeper into the Hedge and race to find the faery treasure before it falls into the hands of the Erl King.

The Review

Hedgewitch was one of the standout reads of 2022 for me, so when a copy of Woodwitch arrived, I couldn’t wait to get back to Hedgley and Ash Patrol, and I was not disappointed. With a pot of tea, snuggly blanket and biscuits at the ready, I headed back to one of my favourite fantasy worlds, in the hands of a writer who creates instant, timeless classics.

Hedgley was just as charming as it was first time around as we get to explore more of the village and to know it’s inhabitants better. And I, for one, am a huge fan of Selena Moor and her magical tea shop – although I may give one of her teapots a miss! The Hedge, however, seems to have grow darker and more dangerous since we last entered, with the Erl King more determined than ever to reopen the paths to England. I loved meeting some of the mythical creatures, while others were more than a little terrifying.

In Hedgewitch, Cassie learned to be kind to herself and accept that she couldn’t do everything alone. In Woodwitch, we see her learn that compassion and empathy aren’t just for humankind, and in putting this lesson into practice, she learns more about who she is and her past too. Acceptance that difference is good, and understanding that angry actions can be born of fear rather than aggression are key talking points within the story too.

I genuinely cannot wait to get my hands on a finished copy to enjoy Tomislav Tomic’s illustrations again. And, it’s going to feel like a very long wait for book 3, Seawitch.

Great for fans of:

• The Apprentice Witch by James Nicol
• Witchborn by Peter Bunzl
• The Midnight Guardians by Ross Montgomery

Huge thank to Welbeck Childrens for sending me an early proof copy. The biscuits from Marchpanes were as delicious as Skye’s writing suggested they would be! Do male sure you check out all of the other stops on the blog tour.