Based on the fairy tale "Goose Girl" T. Kingfisher tells the story of Cordelia, a friendless girl living with a controlling and terrible mother. When Cordelia's mother lands in hot water again... she is forced to find her next target to seduce. She locks on target to a wealthy older man, who lives with his smart and kind unwed sister. The sister takes a liking to Cordelia, realzing that something is terribly wrong between mother and daughter. With this kindness, comes dread for Cordelia, because she knows what her mother is going to do and doesn't have the ability to stop her... or does she.

T. Kingfisher's latest fantasty horror retelling was very promising, but fell utterly flat for me. It was predicatable and a bit boring. It lacked the spark that lit of the previous books.

I was hesitant to start this because a “dark” reimagining of a Brothers Grimm story seems like it would be… pretty bleak. This wasn’t that! It was about *as* dark as the original story, but I wouldn’t call it a dark reimagining. Of course, I probably also wouldn’t call it a “Goose Girl” retelling. If I’d gone into this without having read the description I don’t know that I would have clocked it as “Goose Girl” story wise - although I suppose the sheer number of geese might have clued me in.

Ultimately this was a really strong read, but don’t go into it expecting “Goose Girl”

What a deliciously macabre story! This is one of the most unsettling, unhinged stories I've read in a while, and I simply could not put 'A Sorceress Comes to Call' down. The only reason that I gave this novel a 4 instead of a 5 is that this book needs to come with a slew of trigger warnings because, at times, the shock value is extreme. I'd rather someone be cautious than take many five star ratings as a sign they must read this book.

Book Summary:

Cordelia is used to being punished - or controlled - by her mother. All Cordelia wants is to be out from under the control of her mother - a feeling more literal than usual. Her mother’s latest scheme further proves that Cordelia needs to find a way to free herself.

Hester is wise in many ways. So when a marriageable woman shows up to woo her brother, she knows exactly what is up. What Hester doesn’t understand is this woman’s method. She’ll have to find a way to save her brother and the young woman this monster has brought with her.

My Review:

T. Kingfisher is back with another magical retelling! This time, her focus is on the Goose Girl, and I was immediately hooked on the premise. A Sorceress Comes to Call is everything I hoped it could be - rich, dark, compelling, and so very magical.

The story is told through two perfectives, Cordelia and Hester. One is young, timid, and gunshy; the old is bold, wise, and quite determined. They’re not the most likely team around, but their unique perspectives combine to create a compelling narrative.

As for the narrative itself, it is everything a fractured fable should be: magical, dangerous, high stakes, and a touch of romance. Naturally, all of these elements come about in slightly unexpected ways, but that’s what makes it so good.

As a major fan of retellings and fractured fables, my review may be slightly biased. I just can’t get enough of them. That said, I feel like A Sorceress Comes to Call stands independently, even without the label. So be sure to check it out!

Highlights:
Magic & Witches
Horror & Fantasy
Goose Girl Retelling
Fairy Tales

Trigger Warnings:
Controlling & Abusive Behaviors
Violence & Death
Animal Death

I loved that we got 2 perspectives throughout this book who saw Evangeline in different ways. I love a good retelling and T Kingfisher did it again, I really enjoyed this.

Cordelia knows her mother is . . . unusual. Their house doesn’t have any doors between rooms—there are no secrets in this house—and her mother doesn't allow Cordelia to have a single friend.
But more than simple eccentricity sets her mother apart. Other mothers don’t force their daughters to be silent and motionless for hours, sometimes days, on end. Other mothers aren’t evil sorcerers.

Wow. I was so expecting to find this silly and trite as I usually do not read fantasy. I love the author T. Kingfisher and her horror/supernatural novel, so I figured I give it a try.
So glad I did!
This was an exciting, engaging story that kept me reading late into the night.
I had to know how Cordelia would escape her mother, how she would save her new friends and just how this fantastic story would end.
So highly recommend.

Thanks to @netgalley and Tor Publishing for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I have been a fan of T. Kingfisher for awhile now and was ecstatic to get a dark, gothic fairytale-inspired read. If you liked Nettle and Bone by the author, pick this up! Young Cordelia is isolated and controlled by her manipulative mother whose uses her and anyone else do get what she wants- wealth and power. Cordelia's character is incredible well developed and grows so realistically throughout the conflicts and dangers of the novel. Her growth wouldn't be possible without aide of the elderly Penelope Green whose intelligence, compassion, and confidence combine with others to make a plan to thwart the evil encroaching on their lives. This is a hard book to put down and a quick read!

BOOK REVIEW: A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher
2024 Publication Date: August 6

⭐️⭐️⭐

T.I.M.E. Most Anticipated Books Of 2024

Pages: 336
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Sub-Genre: Fairy Tale Fiction | Dark Fantasy
T.I.M.E. Jalapeno Rating:️ Closed Door Romance
Publisher: Tor Publishing Group | Tor Books

BOOK QUOTE: "We'll take murder off the table for the moment..." — A Sorceress Comes To Call by T. Kingfisher

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All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-should-i-read

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Kingfisher is the queen of creepy fantasy. This book was a great break from a lot of the bigger books I read and I think would be a great pick up for about anyone

A dark and delicious retelling of an already dark fairy tale this is one of T. Kingfisher's truly great forays into fantasy. Our heroines, Cordelia and Hester are a wonderful take on the "women of ahead of their time" motif and Cordelia's quietly evil sorceress mother is the stuff nightmares are made of. My favorite thing about Kingfisher's retelling of classic tales is her wonderful gift for changing the unexpected. She goes so far beyond merely changing gender or locale. She reaches deep into the roots of beloved stories and replants in fresh, exciting new ground while never losing the magic that makes them classics in the first place.

<i>First, a thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC of this book.</i>

Kingfisher has done it again - I was so nervous to read this book in case it let me down, but looking back on myself, of little faith - of course, this book was a delight from start to finish.

One of the things I like the most about Kingfisher’s writing is her ability to get to me to feel as if the characters are age-old companions, friends I have had for a lifetime. It’s this certain sort of special magic where I am instantly drawn into their tale and their relationships, and it leaves me a bit sad at the end, that I won’t get to see them again.

This book was no exception, and I instantly fell in love with both Cordelia and Hester (and everyone else, too!), our two main characters who are quite different from each other, but are just what the other needed.

I loved this coming of age tale about a girl whose mother is so astoundingly cruel and selfish, who feels so alone in the world - and is willing to let others in, to try to trust when trust has been broken, and ends up finding new family instead. Maybe that’s a hero’s journey that some find overdone, but when I see it done well… it makes my heart feel full. And sometimes we need that, in a world that can be so dark and scary.

And don’t get me wrong - Kingfisher is an excellent writer, and I loved every bit of the heart that went into this book, which was a balm for my weary soul after 1) reading so many lackluster things lately and 2) … *gestures vaguely at the world*

So glad I read this one; I will always read whatever Kingfisher publishes.

I am not very familiar with the Brothers Grimm "The Goose Girl" tale but I did not feel that it held me back from engaging with this story. I immediately felt for Cordelia as the book started and I could not help but root for her throughout the story! This atmosphere and the character development in this book were spot on. I had no idea how it was going to play out and couldn't put the book down. Along with Cordelia, I enjoyed a few other characters, especially Hester, giving me chuckles as I read. I have not read many books by T. Kingfisher but have enjoyed all of the ones that I have, and this one is one of them! Thank you to Tor for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Being fairly new to fantasy, I had heard a lot about T. Kingfisher and was excited to see what the hype was about.
The hype is well deserved.
The plot was darker than I expected. The relationship between Cordelia and her mother was more troubling, but gripped me nonetheless.
I can't wait to read more from Kingfisher in the future!

This is a deeply claustrophobic gothic horror. I loved the character of Hester, who digs deep to prevent a wrong. The scenes with Falada live rent free in my head.

This wasn't my favorite Kingfisher book. I tend to really like her fantasy novels and dislike her horror. This one skirted too close to the line between those two genres and wasn't really enough of one or the other. I wanted it to either be much scarier, or much more fantastical. It didn't go far enough in either direction for my tastes and given my preferences for her fantasy I definitely wanted more magic.

I thought the characters were well developed, and I always appreciate when an author writes a mature character that isn't either a bumbling idiot or an evil megalomaniac. Kingfisher always does great character work, so this wasn't a surprise. The pacing felt a little slow to me. I wanted more action and drama, most of which seemed to come at the very end. The setting wasn't as detailed or as lushly written as I've come to expect, so that was a bit disappointing.

Overall, this wasn't a bad book by any means, and I think many people will like it. But it definitely comes in on the lower end of the ranking of this author's work.

T. Kingfisher's fantasies are always full of rich worldbuilding, and A Sorceress Comes To Call is no different. I don't think anything comes close to Nettle and Bone, but this one has a middle-aged protagonist and an interesting problem to solve.

I always enjoy T. Kingfisher's novels, and this is no exception. However, it was deeply anxiety provoking for much of the read, as Evangeline is *The Worst* and Cordelia has a hard time getting a backbone for most of the book. Overall, took me a long time to get through it because of how not so enjoyable the experience of these people was.

Cordelia doesn’t know her mother is a sorceress, she just knows she’s different. Her mother has a plot to marry Cordelia off to a wealthy man and as part of that plan, they go to live with a squire and his sister. While there, Cordelia finally learns what it means to have friends she can trust but also learns the truth about her mother.

The book started a bit slow for me but as soon as they left to go live with the Squire, the story picked up and gained speed. This is what I classify as fairytale fantasy so it was a very easy to consume story. It had the typically fairytale progression of Cordelia being very insulated to gaining friends she can trust as well as learning to come into her own.

The author did a great job of making you feel stressed and dread during the story and mimicking the hopelessness that Cordelia felt. I would definitely recommend this to teens and adults.

I've enjoyed the author's earlier books and was looking forward to this one. However, it misses the mark. It has a "defeat the witch" fairytale feel, but the plot and characters lack depth. It's difficult to actually care if the sorceress gets away with her plan.

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review T. Kingfisher's *A Sorceress Comes to Call*! As a huge fan of her previous works like *Nettle and Bone* and *Thornhedge*, I had high expectations, and she absolutely delivered.

The story follows Cordelia, a girl raised in a home without secrets or friends, where her mother's sinister magic looms large. When they move into the manor of a wealthy squire and his perceptive sister, Cordelia discovers a sense of belonging for the first time, but her mother’s dark intentions threaten that newfound happiness.

Kingfisher’s knack for blending whimsy with darkness shines through in this enchanting tale. Her vivid world-building and captivating characters kept me hooked from start to finish. If you love beautifully crafted fantasy with a twist, this book is a must-read!