Mary Stewart is one of my favorite authors and when "Thornyhold came out I couldn't wait to get the book hom with me and into a comfortable chair. I think the book came out sometime about 1988. (At least that is the copywright I have in my copy of the book).

I found myself empathizing with the main character. Her life, it seemed to me, shadowed that of my own; a bleak, sheltered, controled youth flowering into a bright, free adulthood. She and I both finding our place in the world and finding peace at last.

All the characters in the book are well rounded, fresh and believable. The time setting is vivid and the author injects you into the era with undeniable skill. The story has undertones of the occult,specificaly, witchcraft. But the author emphasizes that the story is a love story, not about witchcraft.

I bought the book in 1988 and in 2008, I still enjoy reading it when I need comforting.