I suppose that my mother could have been a witch of she had chosen to, begins this engrossing, atmospheric 1988 novel by Mary Stewart. When her cousin dies, Gilly Ramsey—still recovering from the passing of her parents—inherits the rambling house called Thornyhold, an exquisite cottage with a fairy tale ambiance. 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. As Gilly begins to manifest strange powers, though, she will encounter opposition in the neighborhood—and an unexpected ally.