A review by stitchsaddiction
Hedgewitch by Skye McKenna

adventurous hopeful mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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.