Two Magical House Stories
I recently enjoyed two books where the location was as much a character as any of the people. The Reimagining of Thornwood House by Jaleigh Johnson and Thistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan are both fantasies, although the first is much cozier than the second. If you enjoy good “house” stories, beyond these two you could also take a peek at Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia or Starling House by Alix E. Harrow.
Johnson’s novel gives you everything you could want from a cozy fantasy: a gossipy small town filled with quirky residents, a budding romance with the reclusive next-door neighbor and his big fluffy dog, and, most importantly, one very smart witch trying to make a better life for herself and her adopted daughter.
Evelyn decides to leave a high-powered position in the magic ministry, which is not popular with her superiors. She is an extremely talented land witch who excels at her job. However, she wants a different life and a chance to really live with Ruby instead of traveling all the time. She applies to be the caretaker for a sentient house – which can only remain a magical entity when it has bonded to a human. Many hijinks ensue, and there is an important mystery for Evelyn to solve before everyone can have their happily ever after. Despite the cozy vibes, there’s a good amount of plot here and a distinct villain. You root for Evelyn, Ruby, and Thornwood House as they become a new family together.
The Reimagining of Thornwood House by Jaleigh Jones is available in print.
Thistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan comes with a distinctly more gothic flavor. It’s set in a world similar to ours, except that fairies are real – although they have chosen to withdraw from humanity into their own realm. As World War I comes to an end, our intrepid heroine, Mouse, has unexpectedly inherited the family estate. Only there’s a catch – she has to restore the property in one month’s time so that it doesn’t pass to a detestable cousin. It’s quite literally an impossible task. Thistlemarsh is imbued with magic and closely associated with fairy royalty, but it is much less friendly to its residents than Thornwood House.
It turns out that the door to the fairy realm has cracked open, and Mouse makes a pact with an elf-lord (who happens to be named Thornwood, which was confusing when I read these books back-to-back). If he helps her restore Thistlemarsh, she will owe him a favor. However, it’s not quite that easy because nothing ever is, and the house actively seems to be working against its own restoration. The ensuing magical shenanigans become ever more complicated, driving Mouse and Thornwood together to defeat enemies old and new. It’s a fast-forward story with an ending that both surprises and satisfies.
Thistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan is available in print and e-audiobook.
Kristen B. is a devoted bookworm lucky enough to work as the graphic designer for HCLS. She likes to read, stitch, dance, and watch baseball (but not all at the same time).
Related Articles
Bauder Book Talk 2026: Reimagining the Future with Nnedi Okorafor
Nine Goblins by T. Kingfisher
100 years of Pooh
Stay connected with our newsletters.
Newsletter Subscriptions
