I’m so glad I picked this up because I hardly ever find books that use Welsh mythology and this one is filled with it!

The writing is brilliant, so descriptive and magical and it really brought the story to life and kept me reading. I liked Cassie well enough, she can be a bit frustrating but she acts exactly as a kid her age would!

A fast paced middle grade story full of mystery, adventure, legends, magic, family relationships and loss.

I was firstly attracted to the cover as it’s absolutely stunning, the colours and illustrations are just a story in itself.

I really liked the portrayal of life growing up in a small Welsh village, as it was so detailed and you really felt like you were there!
All of the characters felt solid and believable, with distinct personalities along side this there was a beautiful exploration of dealing with grief in a family and growing up.
Cassie is such a brilliant character, she’s strong and caring and a brilliant heroine for any young reader.

The use of the Welsh language and terms of endearment and also the Welsh folklore element as well was great. It also has some Welsh phrases in…this was such a unique experience as I don’t think I’ve read any books that are set in Wales, so I bet any young Welsh child who reads this will be glowing with pride.

If you want a fast paced action packed middle grade with a different twist to other books … then I 100% recommend.

I enjoyed reading this middle grade fantasy novel about Cassie and her cousin Sian, who are going on a daring mission to rescue Cassie's brother from the underworld. It was really interesting to read a novel set in Wales, complete with Welsh mythology and folklore, and the odd Welsh words.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andersen Press for the digital reading copy.

Honestly I have to say the contrasting colours on the books cover were the first things to draw me in and find out what the book was about. Reading the first chapter, I wasn’t sure I would get into it but gave it a chance and as I read on and the magic and the myths and legends were introduced I was hooked. I think this will be a great story to read to the class as a whole and open up discussions on what their object would be, that they would give to Gwen, that would eventually free them. It is definitely another book that I will be adding to our book corner!

The Blackthorn Branch by Elen Caldecott - 5 stars!

This gorgeous middle-grade read was funnily enough another dip into Welsh mythology and the tylwyth teg! A coincidence after just finishing The Drowned Woods, but a lovely one!

Bits I liked:
- accurate portrayal of life growing up in a small Welsh village, with so much of it reminding me of home!
- characters all felt solid and believable, with distinct personalities
- wonderful writing style that kept a middle-grade level without being overly simple or childish
- beautiful exploration of dealing with grief in a family and growing up
- lovely use of Welsh language and terms of endearment
- exciting plot with great folklore element

Bits I liked less:
- I actually can't think of anything!

It made me really happy to read this one as it evoked so many memories for me of growing up in my home village, playing out in similar streets and with the same sort of neighbourly feel. The fairytale element worked really well alongside the real exploration of how loss can affect a family, and I think it was a really moving plot overall

Thanks to NetGalley and Anderson Press for the chance to read this lovely ARC!

The Blackthorn Branch

A fast paced middle grade story full of mystery, adventure, legends, magic, family relationships and the devastation of loss.

Cassie, with the help of her cousin Siân and their Nain, embarks on a rescue mission for her brother Byron from the tylwyth teg in the depths of Annwn. Only those who have been invited can enter.

It was the front cover and title that originally attracted me to this story, the cover is literally beautiful and I could instantly tell that the story would contain a natural magical element.

I've never read stories that involve Welsh myths and legends, but I loved it. It's great to see the Welsh countryside with it's people and language portrayed in a child's story. The children of Wales must be thrilled to be able to see themselves portrayed through the characters in this book. Plus I got to read this while holidaying in the Welsh hills. It contained links to the old druid religion and had just enough magical elements to make it enchanting but not Harry Potter-ish. There were a fair few welsh words and I hope I did their pronunciation justice.

The backstory of a families relationship, their struggles after a family loss and navigation of teenager-hood is heartwarming. Cassie is a brave young girl who is determined and will not stop at anything to save her brother, even perhaps trade her own life.

Being Welsh myself, I was pleasantly surprised to see Welsh names, language and mythology discussed. It was really refreshing to see as there are hardly any books that reference Welsh at all!
The imagery was fantastic and it felt magical from the offset. As well as the magic in the novel, the storyline itself was really fun and mysterious and the two were combined really well.
The only thing that makes me nervous is the fact not a lot of people speak or read Welsh so not everyone could appreciate the writing or story completely. For myself, I really enjoyed the integration or Welsh into the storytelling and felt I benefitted from previous knowledge and the ability to speak Welsh.
I really enjoyed this magical story and think it's a great novel for an older child.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this!

Elen Caldecott is a new author for me. I had seen the cover image of The Blackthorn Branch shared on Twitter, and it sounded really interesting. I definitely don’t regret reading it!

The Blackthorn Branch is one of those books where you’re immediately sucked into and immersed in the story. Somehow, I cared about the characters right from the first page.

I really liked the way that Cassie and Siân interacted. They didn’t always agree, but they’re always there to support and help one another. They are the ones who are determined to take action, who figure out what’s going on, and in the end, with a little help from their father, save the day.

Overall, this was a compelling adventure that kept me turning the pages.

I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

Set in Wales, and using some Welsh pet names and terminology, this story follows Cassie and her cousin Sian on a journey into what can only be described as a part of Welsh folklore. Cassie’s brother Byron goes out one evening and Cassie and Sian follow him. They witness a ceremony and the opening of Annwyn (the underworld) and the next morning when they wake Byron has vanished. What follows is a story where the girls and their Nain seek to uncover what has happened to Byron, and to learn all they can about Welsh folklore in order to defeat it. This is a truly magical journey and I loved the rollercoaster ride being on it. The story plots resolves well and is also a story of friendship and teamwork.

This book had a well-developed storyline with intriguing characters but left me feeling disengaged. I understood this to be a magical children's story but less enjoyable than others in the genre.

A delightful middle grade containing: magic, adventure, family and excitement. I really enjoyed it. I think it would be a great book to read aloud.

I loved this book. well written with an enchating storyline and well developed characters that I think children will love. This was the sort of book I wanted when I was a child and couldn't find a book that made me engage with the sci-fi/fantasy genre. I thinkthis book will do exactly that for children and will make them realise how magical that genre is. I loved the dark elements of the book that were dark without being too creepy. I really enjoyed it.