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Thornyhold

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About this listen

Mary Stewart's storytelling is as spellbinding as ever in her 12th novel, a Gothic romance featuring sparkling prose, delightful characterisation and classic intrigue.

The rambling house called Thornyhold is like something out of a fairy tale. Left to Gilly Ramsey by the cousin whose occasional visits brightened her childhood, the cottage, set deep in a wild wood, has come just in time to save her from a bleak future. With its reputation for magic and its resident black cat, Thornyhold offers Gilly more than just a new home. It offers her a chance to start over.

The old house, with its tufts of rosy houseleek and the spreading gilt of the lichens, was beautiful. Even the prisoning hedges were beautiful, protective with their rusty thorns, their bastions of holly and juniper, and at the corners, like towers, their thick columns of yews.

©1988 Mary Stewart (P)2019 Hodder & Stoughton Limited Genre Fiction Mystery Romance Small Town & Rural Fiction Suspense Magic Cats

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Critic reviews

"A comfortable chair and a Mary Stewart: total heaven. I'd rather read her than most other authors." (Harriet Evans)
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A lovely story sprinkled with a little magic involving witches and folklore, one I have read a few times and will again.

A gentle read

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i read this book some years ago and it was fun to read once again.

easy listen

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I have a few copies around the house which I read atleast once a year but jilly bond brings all the characters to life and puts a fresh telling of this old favourite many thanks to both Mary Stewart and jilly bond for making my favouite book more wonderful it was worth the wait from Audible to get it thankyou all. Mrs Jayne williams

my favourite book by Mary Stewart.

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It is some years since I read this story, being a fan of Mary Stewart's writing in the 1970s, so had completely forgotten its plot. I enjoyed the relatively gentle pace of the book and the central character's love of animals and the kindness she showed. I often dread what will happen to any cat in this sort of story, so (spoiler intended) was so glad that Hodge made it safely through to the end of the book!

The narrator was pleasant if a little old to voice the main character and not too good at male voices, but it didn't spoil the story at all.

It's also quite nice to revisit an older novel, written before strong language was thought to be an essential ingredient!

Quaint with a hint of magic

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I discovered this book on holiday as a teen, left behind by the cottages previous guests, and it made me realise that I love trashy novels, and novels about witches - nothing is too surprising in the story, but it is well written and 30 years later I still enjoy this story

Trashy witch romantasy at its best

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