ARC Review: Thistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan

Thistlemarsh
Author: Moorea Corrigan
Publication: Berkley (April 21, 2026)

Description: Faeries disappeared over one hundred years ago, as suddenly as slipping through a doorway. It was only the very foolish, or the very determined, who held out hope for their return.

Welcome to Thistlemarsh—a ramshackle estate where an impoverished orphan and a beguiling Faerie collide in an enchanting novel of love, revenge, and ruin.

In the wake of The Great War, 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 offer: 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.

My Thoughts: This historical fantasy takes place after World War I and in a world where the faeries disappeared 100 years earlier. Mouse Dunne was raised in a faerie-blessed home but wasn't a cherished child. Her mother ran away with the gardener, was disinherited, and died leaving the family in distress until her uncle invited them to live at Thistlemarsh. There Mouse and her brother Roger grew up with their cousin Bertie. However, when the boys were away at Eton, Mouse was confined to an attic room and was neglected. Her only solace was working in the garden with the old groundskeeper Mr. Hobb.

Then World War I came. Bertie and Roger enlisted. Bertie was killed by a bomb and Roger suffered from extreme shellshock. Mouse left her home and traveled to the continent to take care of her injured brother. When she learned that she had inherited Thistlemarsh after her uncle's death, she had to go home to claim her inheritance. However, there were conditions. One of them is that she has to restore Thistlemarsh in only 30 days or else the estate and the income she needs to take care of her brother will all go to the Honorable Anthony Carlyle who has been her enemy and the enemy of her brother and cousin too. 

She must try to restore Thistlemarsh but she can't do it alone. When a faerie named Thornwood offers a bargain, Mouse is forced to accept but has great reservations. She once wanted to be a faerie anthropologist and knows that faerie bargains can't be trusted. 

As the two work to restore Thistlemarsh, they have to deal with magic woven into the house which is resisting their efforts. There are lots of magical adventures. Along the way, Mouse falls in love with Thornwood, but their romance faces many obstacles including the long-missing faerie king. 

This was an excellent romantic fantasy. I liked the way the magic was woven into the real world that is trying to recover from World War I and the devastation it caused. I liked Mouse's determination to do anything for her brother's recovery. I liked all the magic. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.