Thornyhold Audiobook By Mary Stewart cover art

Thornyhold

 Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection of titles.
Yours as long as you’re a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto renews for $8.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Thornyhold

By: Mary Stewart
Narrated by: Jilly Bond
Try Standard free

$8.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.94

Buy for $19.94

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 Small Town & Rural Witches & Wizards Genre Fiction Romance Magic Fiction Mystery Heartfelt Cats Suspense Feel-Good

Critic reviews

"A comfortable chair and a Mary Stewart: total heaven. I'd rather read her than most other authors." (Harriet Evans)
Enchanting Atmosphere • Magical Elements • Perfect Narration • Beautiful Prose • Satisfying Ending • Calming Voice

Highly rated for:

All stars
Most relevant
What an enjoyable story, this one by Mary Stewart reminded me of the traditional fairy tales I’ve always enjoyed. Like “Nine Coaches Waiting” it has some Cinderella elements to the story. I enjoyed the warmth in the story and the detail of the places and events. Jilly Bond read it very well, like a dear grandmother retelling her adventures to her grandchildren. It’s a sweet tale, much lighter and fanciful than Mary Stewart’s earlier suspense novels, which of course I loved just as much too! Enjoy!

Charming Story!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I thoroughly enjoyed this ‘enchanting’ story.
The narrator is superb.
I discovered Mary Stewart in my preteen years. Gradually through the next 4 years I read all of her books. I think “The Moonspinners” was my first. And for years Wildfire at Midnight was my favorite. But now I don’t have a favorite… they all have something unique and endearing. This Rough Magic maybe…
This author knew how to “turn a phrase”.

Mary Stewart is still one of the best.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I’m another reader who took a trip down memory lane on this one.
When I was in high school and college I thought I’d read all of Mary Stewart’s books, but some how I missed this one. It was like finding a little gem hidden in the grass to come across it. As usual her beautiful writing style and interesting plot and characters made for a delightful read and it was nice to be reminded of why I had enjoyed her work so much. For fans or newcomers, I recommend it highly. You’ll wish that it were longer, though there are many more of her novels to go on to. I specially enjoyed the trilogy about Merlin (beginning with The Crystal Cave).

A satisfying and entertaining read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I didn’t like the narrator’s voice. It didn’t go with how I pictured the character.

I enjoyed the story. It was a feel good story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A little slow at first, but the story picks up and the ending is very satisfying.

Great ending

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews