Thank you to the Publisher Random House UK/Cornerstone for providing this book for review purposes via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. This was a really magical and enchanting story, I really enjoyed the setting, the plot and the slow burning romance. Poor Mouse has had a lot of heartache in her life, she’s lost her parents, her cousin and her brother is traumatised from the war. I really thought things were looking up for her when her uncle left her Thistlemarsh Hall, but that is only the beginning. I really Mouse, her friend John the Vicar, Mickelwaite and even Thornwood. I liked the portrayal of faeries in this novel as it was exactly how I imagined them to be, beautiful, wild, cruel and tricksters. The romance in this book is a slow burn but I really enjoyed that as Mouse and Thornwood slowly warmed up to each other, even if his intentions were less than honest to begin with. If ever a character was deserving of a happy ending it was Mouse and I was very satisfied with the ending as everything was wrapped up nicely. I loved the dragon/dog Smudge, I was pleased she stayed with Mouse. As much as I like to read a series sometimes reading a standalone is more rewarding as there is no waiting, I’m pleased I decided to take a chance on this book. If you like stories with magic and fairies I think you will enjoy this one.

I loved the setting for this book- 1919 England right after the end of World War 1. (Although a few American spellings and phrasings did throw me out of the setting a little as a Brit!) The effects of the war are felt throughout the story: the loss of Mouse’s beloved cousin Bernie, her brother Roger’s trauma from what he witnessed on the front, and even Mouse’s own experiences as a nurse. After her uncle’s death, Mouse returns to Thistlemarsh, the family manor that has reluctantly been left to her in his will. But the inheritance comes with a catch: she must renovate the crumbling estate in the almost impossible one month deadline, or risk losing the last ties to her family history, and the memories she shared there with her brother, cousin, and their childhood friend John, now the village vicar. When she realises she can’t possibly restore the estate alone, Mouse reluctantly strikes a bargain with the handsome, cunning faerie Thornwood. But even he struggles with the task, and together they must uncover why Thistlemarsh seems determined not to be fixed. This was such a cozy read, but it still dealt with difficult themes like trauma and discrimination. I found myself sucked into the world pretty quickly as it was based on real history, but it was really easy to follow the faerie lore though Mouse’s knowledgeable background. I loved all the main characters: Mouse was realistic, her flaws born from desperation, Thornwood kept me guessing with his intentions, John’s backstory was heartbreaking and Mickelwaithe was mysterious. And Smudge absolutely deserves a shout‑out as I love a cute pet. I wasn’t expecting the little missions the pair had to complete, but I found each one exciting and I was really invested in the story. The romance is a slow-burn that speeds up a bit toward the end, but it still felt natural, and I was rooting for them in the end.

I must admit that when I first read the blurb of this book I thought it might be a real struggle. The whole Faerie thing doesn’t automatically appeal and just makes me think of Holly Black’s Folk of the Air trilogy, which was fine, but didn’t really do anything for me. Boy was I wrong! Superbly written, the post WWI setting worked really well within the plot, and touched upon difficult subjects such as shell shock very sensitively. I was reminded of the writing of two of my faves, Natasha Pulley and Freya Marske. The plot was engaging and full of adventure and yearning. The odd Faerie story that punctuated parts of the story worked really well, and the description of Thistlemarsh and its surroundings really brought the story to life.