Heroine's Journey - The Hero Cycle of a Female in Wildthorn

From the publisher:

"They strip her naked, of everything-undo her whalebone corset, hook by hook. Locked away in Wildthorn Hall—a madhouse—they take her identity. She is now called Lucy Childs. She has no one; she has nothing. But, she is still seventeen-still Louisa Cosgrove, isn't she? Who has done this unthinkable deed? Louisa must free herself, in more ways than one, and muster up the courage to be her true self, all the while solving her own twisted mystery and falling into an unconventional love . . .

Originally published in the UK, this well-paced, provocative romance pushes on boundaries-both literal and figurative-and, do beware: it will bind you, too."


Do you remember the study of the Hero's Journey, perhaps studying the Hero Cycle while reading Gilgamesh? One of my fondest memories of high school was my Civitas class which encompassed both history and literature, as well as togas, males in dresses, and interpretive dance, and in that class I learned about the hero's cycle. While reading Wildthorn by Jane England, it came to my mind that this book is the same - it's a hero's journey, but it's a woman taking that journey, something that I haven't frequently encountered before. Set in England in the era of corsets and asylums, Wildthorn tells the story of Louisa Cosgrove as she travels through the hero's cycle and emerges victorious.

The book begins with Louisa travelling with a chaperone, off to live as a companion with the Woodville family. Through flashbacks, marked by different style text and the time in relation to the present, the reader learns more about the background of Louisa, about what has happened with her to bring her to this point. For she is not travelling to the Woodville's at all, as she soon finds out. She is taken to an asylum - Wildthorn - where, true to the time period, the idea of how to help the mentally ill includes harsh words, actions, deprivation and violence. She is locked in, stripped of her own clothes and given a dress that smells of sweat that does not even fit her. All of her belongings are taken from her, although some will return later, and she realizes she is being committed as "Lucy Childs", someone she is not.

In comparison with the hero's cycle in mythology, the first flashback shows Louisa at home with her family - mother, father and brother. Her call to adventure, unfortunately, is when she is taken from her home and committed to the asylum. Through her stay in the asylum, she finds helpers as well as tests. These helpers and tests guide her through to the climax, the final battle, in which she learns the truth of her life. Her intense love of learning and medicine, although considered "bluestocking" prepares her for the rest of her journey.

Finally, she has completed the hero's cycle, having taken care of all her battles and tests and trials, she is living in peace and happiness. This book does have a few scenes of romance and love, however it describes emotion rather than detail. Wildthorn not only introduces us to a woman who has a love of learning and medicine, who succeeds in her dreams, but also describes the trials of a lesbian in the late 1800's. All in all, this is a great book for women to read - not only does a woman complete the hero's cycle, but she also has the strength and passion to go to defy convention and pursue her dreams.

This book was provided at no cost to me from a publisher as a galley. I have received no compensation for writing this review.