Thistlemarsh is a delightful Faerie story about bargains and unlikely allies. I enjoyed this take on Faerie magic even if I wanted more Faeries. There was more action that I thought! Keep reading this book review of Thistlemarsh for my full thoughts.
Summary
In the wake of World War I, the world is a decidedly unmagical place for Mouse Dunne. She once dreamed of becoming a Faerie anthropologist, but with one telegram, her world shattered. At the Battle of the Somme, her cousin’s body disappeared into the mud, and her brother was left with debilitating shell shock. It was time, she knew, to put aside childish dreams.
When Mouse receives news that her uncle has left her the Faerie-blessed Thistlemarsh Hall, a dilapidated manor in the English countryside, she must leave her brother’s side and return to her childhood home to claim her birthright. But there is a catch in her uncle’s If Mouse does not rehabilitate the crumbling house in one month’s time, she will forfeit her inheritance and any hope of caring for her brother.
It quickly becomes clear it’s impossible to repair the manor in the allotted time, until a mysterious Faerie appears with a proposition. He offers to restore Thistlemarsh…for a price. Mouse knows better than to trust a Faerie—especially one so insufferably handsome and arrogant—but she is out of options. There are dark and magical forces at work in the house, and Mouse must confront the ghosts of her past and the secrets of her heart or lose Thistlemarsh, and herself, in the process.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Immediately I enjoyed this world of Faerie bargains and magical houses. While this was certainly the hook for me, by the end I wish it had gone a little further in the magical world building. Thistlemarsh is an action packed fantasy with a romantic subplot. Mouse is thrown headfirst into this world of deals while also trying to figure out how to fix this house in time. I enjoyed this unlikely ally situation – especially as we can see the trust and relationship slowly forming. I didn’t expect Thistlemarsh to be so action packed, but I enjoyed how they are trying to unravel this mystery and having to come up against some intriguing challenges.
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But I felt the world building could have gone a little further especially considering where we were leading. At various points, I was more intrigued than others, but in general Thistlemarsh was a solid fantasy story. The ending felt very hasty considering the lead up, but I enjoyed the lead up. Find Thistlemarsh on Goodreads, Storygraph, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.