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!

Author – Skye McKenna

Age – 8+

(2022, Allen & Unwin, Witches, Familiars, Animals, Spells, Incantations, Witch school, Rivalry, Family, Friends, Broomsticks, Goblins, Shapeshifter, Elf King, Faerie, Trickery, Determination, Courage, Missing mother, Series, Action, Wood, Forest, Boarding School, Bully, Adventure, Rescue, Blended Family, Historical, Magic, Mystery)