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.

Thistlemarsh by Moorea Coorigan

Hardcover: 432 pages

Published: April 21, 2026

Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group

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.

My review of Thistlemarsh

I really enjoyed this cozy romantasy. I have to admit, I wanted to read it based on the cover first…then the description drew me in. The fact that it’s supposed to take place after the Great War (WWI) really intrigued me. All war is horrible, but I feel like parts of it were even more horrific than others. I felt so sad for Mouse who, instead of being able to study Faerie anthropology like she’d planned, she became a war nurse where she loses her cousin and her brother is institutionalized with shellshock. Then she comes to claim her inheritance, Thistlemarsh, only to find out that her uncle has placed an impossible clause into his will. She’s got one month to restore the mansion or lose it to an insufferable relative. Enter Thornwood…

Thornwood is the faerie you love to hate. He’s an arrogant jerk who somehow begins to endear himself to you. In other words, he develops a conscience. He begins to actually care for Mouse…maybe. The author really keeps you guessing with this developing relationship.

I loved how the book started with all of the world building and character introduction. Somewhere along the way, it loses steam. It’s not that it becomes boring; the pacing just really slows down. Once the twists start happening, it picks back up again. All in all, I enjoyed this for its characters and world building as well as the author’s ability to tell a good story.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley and Berkley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.