This miraculous coincidence takes her to a paradisaical home that is surrounded by a neglected, but lush garden. With no where to go and feeling anxious for her future she receives notification that Cousin Geillis, whom she hasn’t seen in years, has also passed and has left Jilly her home in the country, a home called Thornyhold. During college Jilly’s mother passes away and she returns home to care for her aging father until he dies as well. Cousin Geillis has mysteriously appeared in her life a few times throughout her childhood and has left a tender and magical impression on Jilly’s heart. The most memorable interactions of her childhood are with her mother’s cousin, Geillis Saxon.

Her mother is a cold, stern woman who doesn’t provide any light or sparkling moments for Geillis to cherish. Her parents are not affectionate, won’t let her have pets (which she dearly longs for) and ship her off to school at the first chance they get. Geillis (Jilly) Ramsey has had a tough life. There were elements of all these books drifting through Thornyhold, but Stewart has such a charming, unique style that I didn’t feel like I was entering “been there/done that” territory. Thornyhold reminded me in some ways of Practical Magic, Garden Spells and The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane. And there is the supernatural! I don’t know if all of her novels contain otherworldly elements, but this one and the one I am reading now, Touch Not the Cat, definitely do and I like it. Her writing is dreamy and evocative and her main characters are sensible and likeable. I felt immediately sure that I would like her novels, but I didn’t know how smitten I would be. I’ve been reading a lot about her the past few months here and here and here.

First off I want to take a moment to *gush* about Mary Stewart.

Thornyhold by mary stewart