Thistlemarsh

I don’t read much fantasy, but my massive reading slump lately all but demanded I read something different. A historical fantasy with a touch of romance between a human and a Faerie lord? Sure. Why not? I have no regrets.

This story took me to a post-WWII English countryside where Faeries once lived alongside humans.  One remnant of their existence is Thistlemarsh, a grand Faerie-blessed estate that once belonged to the Faerie King until the Dewhurst family tricked him out of its possession.

“Mouse” Dunne grew up at Thistlemarsh under the care of her cold uncle, Lord Dewhurst. Her best friends were his son Bertie and her brother Roger, who also lived there, but Mouse is now grieving Bertie’s loss in the war and struggling to care for her hospitalized brother Roger.

To further her difficulties, she’s just inherited Thistlemarsh under strict rules in her uncle’s will that she restore the entire estate in the course of one month or marry, neither of which are realistic options. Her failure would mean the estate goes to a repugnant man named Lord Carlyle.

What’s a girl to do? The thing her late mother who was an expert in Faeries warned her never to do, of course: make a deal with one! They’re known for their trickery and these kinds of deals usually don’t end well for the human, but Mouse’s back is against the wall.

I won’t detail how she comes to meet this particular Faerie or what their deal entails, but enter Thornwood, a Faerie Lord, who is only too happy to help Mouse restore Thistlemarsh with his magical powers. 

Let’s just say this deal comes with A LOT of complications for Mouse, Thornwood and the members of both their worlds. Magic has rules of its own and those who wield it don’t always play fair! The story was a slow burn with moments of intense magical peril, but the riveting final quarter and action-packed denouement was worth the wait and had me glued to the pages!

Mouse and Thornwood were compelling MCs. Mouse is grieving and struggling to find her identity, but I loved her intelligence and strength. Thornwood still has some troubling characteristics of his Faerie nature, but at his core he wants to do the right thing. Seeing them navigate their partnership was entertaining - especially since they’re both so stubborn!

Some wonderful side characters included Mouse’s long-time friend - the village vicar John, Thornwood’s faithful servant Mickelwaithe, and Smudge, a dog with quite the backstory of his own!

If you’re looking for something a little different and you enjoy some magic, historical folklore and a bit of romance, this is a fun adventure. My only complaint would be that at 432 pages this could’ve been tightened up in the first half to improve the pace, but it was worth it to stick with it!

★★★★ 

Thanks to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley and author Moorea Corrigan for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s out on April 21, 2026.