This was picked up at the book crossing point in town, and I should probably put it back there now I've read it, so someone else can join it. (See http://www.bookcrossing.com/ if you're not familiar with the idea. I'm fond of Mary Stewart, and this book was like many of her others. A gently old fashioned novel with more than a streak of romance, and a sprinkling of magic. I've liked others better, but this was entertaining enough, and the pigeon illustrations for each chapter were rather charming. ( )

pigeons ( )

Yet another example of Mary Stewart's beautiful writing. It was such a cozy little novel and not at all what I was expecting. I love surprises, and this is exactly what this little book was. If you love cozy, sweet books, I'd urge you to read this one. In fact, read anything by Mary Stewart that you can get your hands on. ( )

Hmph. I would have joined the coven. ( )

Thornyhold is the third novel of Mary Stewart’s that I’ve read; although I generally enjoy Stewart’s novels, I’d definitely say this wasn’t as good as Nine Coaches Waiting or The Ivy Tree.

Geillis has just inherited Thornyhold, an 18th century house that had once apparently belonged to a Victorian-era witch, from her cousin, also named Geillis. Upon moving to the house, Geillis becomes caught up in its atmosphere, even taking on her cousin’s reputation as a witch.

Stewart definitely has a flair for the dramatic, and for infusing her stories and settings with magic. There’s a sort of dreamlike quality about Thornyhold. But here, I felt that something was missing—the novel (really a novella) was too short for character development, too short for the development of the romance. Stewart’s other novels had villains that were creepy; the “villain” in this novel is sort of caricaturish. In addition, the novel is quite sad in some places as Geillis describes to the reader what her childhood was like. I’m still a fan of Mary Stewart’s, though. She really knows how to craft a novel that’s got atmosphere. ( )