THISTLEMARSH by Moorea Corrigan truly is a one-of-a-kind novel.

Corrigan ensnared me with her opening line: “The war did not bring the Faeries back to England.”

THISTLEMARSH is a historical novel and a fairy tale. It reminded me of the stories I fell in love with as a child. The book seemlessly blends history and fantasy so that the reader cannot distinguish between the two, because what is real seems like fantasy and vice versa.

It is a monumental story that bewitches the reader. Her prose approximates verse, demanding to be read aloud, insisting on being experienced, not read passively, thereby enlivening the rich tapestry that is Corrigan’s imagination.

The book is part Brontë, part E.M. Forster, part Frances Hodgson Burnett, part C.S. Lewis, and a dash of Edmund Spenser. I fell in love with this book; I guarantee others will as well.

Atmospheric and romantic, with the post-war trauma as an ever present backdrop, and hope woven throughout .

Such a cozy, wonderful story, thank you so much for the arc! I felt like I was transported into the story and featured two of my favorite genres historical fiction and fantasy! Thornton was such a good MC and the slow burn was chefs kiss!

I really liked this book. It was a nice cozy fantasy with faes and bargains set in 1919, right after WW1. I enjoyed the banter between Mouse and Thornwood, you could feel the chemistry building. Even if the stakes were not that high, there was still plenty of action, which made me feel immersed in this world. I was pretty shocked at the plot twist as I didn’t not expect it. Both MC went through a lot of growth throughout this ordeal.
Overall, this was a good book and I recommend it if you like reluctant allies, great banter, and a slow burn between main characters!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book. Opinions are my own.

THISTLEMARSH is a delightful story of faerie, magic, and second chances.

Mouse inherits her uncle’s dilapidated castle, Thistlemarsh, with one requirement—she must repair the castle and its furnishings within 30 days, or her inheritance is forfeit. With no other help, Mouse enlists the aid of high faerie Thornwood in restoring the castle.

Thornwood is an interesting character—imperious at first, but then softening around the edges over time. I quite liked his and Mouse’s camaraderie as they set about the seemingly insurmountable task.

But then the plot shifts, and some wildly unexpected things happen after the halfway mark. I really enjoyed the ending.

🌟Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.🌟

I really liked this. Thornwood’s betrayal was expected but still somehow surprising, and his dilemma and feelings were conveyed even as the betrayal was occurring. It’s difficult to make a character villainous while also making him simply true to who he is in his non-humanity, to make the reader hate his betrayal while simultaneously understanding his nature and forgiving him for it, but Corrigan did an exceptional job of treading that line. He’s villainous without being evil, and somehow that makes it all okay. There were absolutely moments of surprise, unpredictable plot points that made it fun, particularly at the end, and I really enjoyed Mouse as a character. She’s good people, and it was lovely to see her appreciated; she felt very real and I spent the whole novel rooting for her.

I honestly loved this book so much. Thistlemarsh felt like one of those stories you just fall into without even trying. It has that quiet magic where the world feels soft but full of secrets. I was completely wrapped up in it.

Mouse is such a comforting main character. She is not flashy or loud. She just feels real and gentle and a little lost in a way that made me really care about her. I loved watching her come back to this broken-down old house and slowly rebuild not just the place but herself too. And then when the fae show up with their weird little bargains it got even better.

The writing was cozy but not boring. Every chapter made me want to curl up with tea and just stay in that world for hours. The romance was sweet and slow and felt like something that really grew naturally. I also really liked the side characters. They made the book feel lived in and warm.

This book gave me that feeling you get when you come home after being away for too long. It has grief and healing and a bit of danger but also softness and warmth. If you want something that feels like a magical hug this one is honestly perfect.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the opportunity to read this ARC. Book release is set for April 21, 2026.

Historical fiction, cozy fantasy,and a smattering of romance was a mashup I never knew I needed. Faeries have been gone from the human world for over a hundred years by the time WW1 is over. Mouse was always warned by her mother to never trust the Fae even with their absence.

Mouse receives word that her Uncle has left Faerie-blessed Thistlemarsh Hall, the place she grew up, to her. However, to fully take ownership, she must either restore the home within a month, or get married. Knowing her brother is suffering "she'll shock" from the war, she knows she has to keep this inheritance somehow.

While trying to figure out what to do, she's approached by a Faerie who offers to help restore Thistlemarsh. She takes the bargain, even though she knows it will cost her. Thornewood, the Fae, has ulterior motives in his reasons for helping Mouse. Ultimately though, they learn to trust each other and work together.

This book was such a delightful read. It felt like a breath of fresh air in the fantasy realm. The author mixed fantasy with real life, and it worked beautifully. I would absolutely recommend giving this a read when it releases next year! Add it to your TBR, now!

5/5 stars.

This is the kind of book that has you imagining yourself in a garden with a cup of tea with flowers in your hair. A cozy fantasy romance with faery deals, renovating a house, and curses around every corner. I was completely enchanted by this story and the characters. Moorea perfectly captures the feeling of a warm cup of tea in a book, and this book has to be one of my favorite cozy fantasy romances this year! The slow-burn romance was so well done, and the chemistry between the two characters was like a warm fireplace. The perfect blend of historical and fantasy with faeries, magical creatures, found family, and slow burn romance, this is the book you should absolutely add to your TBR! This is perfect for fans of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries, The Witchwood Knot, and The Ornithologists’ Field Guide to Love series.

What would you do if the handsome statue of a faery turned came to life and offered to enter into a faery bargain with you to help you repair the house your uncle left to you in his will if you could fix it… but what you get in return is way more than you bargained for, as old fae grudges, magical creatures, and the unlikeliest romance await you. Mouse grew up loving faeries…until reality set in and now the fae are all gone and she has grown up to become a nurse during the war. When her siblings are hurt and her dying uncle leaves her his house in the will with the stipulation that she must repair all it’s damages in a month or marry someone in order to inherit it or forfeit the house to her horrible cousin and also lose the money that could help her sibling who requires care. Mouse doesn’t want any part of it but she will do anything to help her sibling and the task is near impossible… but when the handsome faery statue in her garden named Thornwood, suddenly comes to life and offers her a deal, she has no choice but to accept it. Mouse and Thornwood begin to unravel the secrets of the house and repair it… and slowly fall in love with one another yet it’s never wise to fall for a fae… especially when he has secrets of his own. Mouse soon finds herself facing off against magical creatures, secrets from those closest to her, and with only her heart to guide her… can she find a way to make it out with her heart or will the fae deal take everything from her? This book was absolutely perfect, it’s the ultimate cozy fantasy read that will you have smiling and kicking your feet after every chapter. It’s cozy, it’s heartwarming, and it’s filled with magic and love. I adored the slow burn romance and getting to know all the side characters as well. I was so invested in the journey of the renovation of the house that Mouse and Thornwood went through and their bond as they begin to trust and fall for one another. The last act of the book was filled to the brim with twists and turns! It’s such a fantastic read and I will absolutely be reading whatever Moorea writes next!

Release Date: March 21, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Berkley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*