Thistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan (book review)

There is a growing tendency to label books as ‘cosy’. Basically, it means that although characters may be put in danger, they are unlikely to die and everything will work out in the end. Do not expect any gore but be prepared for some romance and a bit of potential scandal. Nothing bad will happen to the dog. ‘Thistlemarsh’ is a cosy historical romance with faeries.

It is set in England in 1919, soon after the end of the First World War and when the effects of the conflict are still being felt. The opening is clumsily handled in that all the background we need is conveyed during a conversation on a train between two people that don’t occur again in the novel. We learn that Mouse Dunne worked as a nurse in France during the war, that her cousin, Bertie died and her brother, Roger, suffers from severe shellshock. Also, that Faeries disappeared from the world a hundred years before. On leaving the train, Mouse is met by John Martin, a childhood friend and now the local vicar.

In arrival at Thistlemarsh Hall, where she lived as a child, she learns that as the heir named in her uncle’s will, she will inherit the title of Lady Dewhurst and his whole estate on the condition that she either restores the Hall or marries within the month. The Hall has become very dilapidated and the restoration seems an impossible task but if she fails, the estate and title go to Anthony Carlyle, a distant cousin. Mouse despises Carlyle so will not give up without a fight.

There are a couple of things that don’t sit quite right with this scenario. While that estate could be willed to anyone under English Law, unless it is entailed and there does seem to be an element of this and titles do not go with the estate, but to the closest male heir, which is her brother, Roger. There is no indication that the presence of Faeries in the past, changed what was recognised as the law of inheritance in 1919.

Scattered around the grounds and in the woods are stone statures. As children, she, her brother and her cousin had given them names. The one they called Dante is overgrown and damaged but has writing in Faerie on it. As she reads the words aloud, the statue transforms. The once-statue introduces himself as Thornwood. He is a Faerie who had been enspelled centuries before after a falling out with the Faerie King. He says he can help repair Thistlemarsh within the time limit, but for a price. Having been brought up with tales of the Faerie, Mouse is very wary of this offer. It is the thought that that failure will endow the estate to Carlyle and that she will not be able to pay for her brother’s care that makes her consider it. The price of his help is her little finger.

Although she is unsure of Thornwood’s motives, Mouse is desperate enough to agree to a bargain though she is rightly cautious about the wording of the deal. Thornwood uses his magic to restore the Hall but finds there is resistance and his work is partially undone at night. Thistlemarsh Hall has always been regarded as Fairy-Blessed so suspects there is other magic working against him. Together, Mouse and Thornwood have to find the roots of that magic and neutralise it.

The action scenes are well-handled and there is an assumption that Fairy magic is limitless. While there are nice touches, like the silk dragon glamouring itself as a dog, some of the revelations are inevitable. Mr. Hobb, the gardener, who seems to have been at the Hall forever, has a secret that the reader is likely to suspect. Similarly, a romance between Mouse and Thornwood seems inevitable. I would have liked to see more done with Carlyle, the human opposition to the seemingly impossible project.

Although this novel has flaws, it is a debut and it would be interesting to see how Corrigan develops as a writer.

Pauline Morgan

August 2026

(pub: Berkley/Penguin Random House, 2026. 415 page hardback. Price: $30.00 (US), $41.99 (CAN). ISBN: 978-0-593-81988-3)

check out websites: www.penguinrandomhouse.com  and www.MooreaCorrigan.com