I thoroughly enjoyed this book. As always, T. Kingfisher doesn't disappoint. The macabre storytelling is balanced with comedic moments. Some pretty unhinged things occur, and trigger warnings will be important for some people before diving into this one. It was one that kept my attention and that I anticipate talking to my book friends in depth about.

The cast of characters were interesting, and it is easy to tell the ones who have been friends for a long time. Their banter and easy conversation helps the story flow well. It was amusing to see how some characters believed the mystical bits easily, but others seemed to need to see it to be completely convinced. In the end, it seems that it is not best to try to control others completely.

Thanks to NetGalley for my eARC of this book.

🧙Book Review🧙
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Summary- 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. Unless you count Falada, her mother's beautiful white horse. The only time Cordelia feels truly free is on her daily rides with him.

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.

When her mother unexpectedly moves them into the manor home of a wealthy older Squire and his kind but keen-eyed sister, Hester, Cordelia knows this welcoming pair are to be her mother's next victims. But Cordelia feels at home for the very first time among these people, and as her mother's plans darken, she must decide how to face the woman who raised her to save the people who have become like family.
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Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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My thoughts- thank you @netgalley and @tor for the advanced copy. This beauty came out last week and I truly can’t recommend it enough. This book is so beautiful and so deep. I loved the characters, Cordelia and Hester were just absolute gems. This book read like a fairytale and was a retelling of goose girl, unfamiliar with that title 😂. I found this one to be super heartwarming and really beautifully written. I can’t recommend this enough 😍
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QOTD- how was your weekend ?!

This was my first T. Kingfisher book and I was pleasantly surprised. I went into this thinking it was going to be a fantasy book but in reality it was more paranormal thriller. It gave found family vibes as well which I always love. There are heavier topics such as child abuse but the ending made it worth it. I loved the characters, Cordelia and Hester were amazing. I loved Alice the ladies maid. And listening to the audiobook actually was very enjoyable especially with the dual narration. I will for sure be picking up more books by this author!

I have to admit I was maybe not paying complete attention when I signed up to read this book. Paying attention to the "fairytale retelling" and not enough to "dark". This really is dark and I would not recommend to younger readers or people who aren't into horror. That being said, for the rest of us, this is a gem. Great characters, absolutely atrocious villains, and a surprising take on a comedy of manners setting. Such fun!

This was by far one of my favorite reads this year! I enjoyed everything about it, the narrative, setting and tone were just perfect. I am a fan of Kingfisher so I had expected I’d like this book and I think it was so good.

T. Kingfisher never misses for me, and A Sorceress Comes to Call is no exception. A mix of engaging plot and endearing (or enraging, in the case of antagonists) characters, this book proved a quick and satisfying read.

I wasn't sure going in how I would feel about this book. I had not previously read anything by T. Kingfisher, but I had seen her around before and was curious. Based on the summary, I was certain I would like it, but I wasn't sure if the vibe was going to be my thing--it's definitely outside of my norm. I was quite pleasantly surprised, however, when I loved this book. I can see where the style wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, but it ended up being just what I needed.

The plot and folktale retelling was intriguing and I loved the dual POV between Cordelia and Hester. This book was atmospheric and eerie with a bit of genre-bending that I found fascinating. The pacing and writing was top notch, the cast of characters brilliant, and the story overall very enjoyable.

Scheming for a wealthy husband, etiquette and sentiments befitting proper ladies, obstinate, headstrong women, witty turns of phrase. This may sound like a Jane Austen novel, but then a malevolent doom enters the room. A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher is like Pride and Prejudice and parental abuse. Mansfield Park but make it murdery. Or Sense, Sensibility, and Sorcery.

The POV switches between Cordelia (nervous and unsure and tormented by her evil mother) and Hester (middle-aged spinster-by-choice suffering from chronic pain but who’s sharp and clever wit is nothing short of delightful). I adored them both. If you’ve read and loved T. Kingfisher’s books, you know that the humor and quirkiness of the characters and dialogue are always perfect. And this one is no exception. Even when the pace of the novel slowed down a bit, my attention never strayed, because the characters’ thoughts and dialogue are just so entertaining. And I am convinced I spotted a Taylor reference.

By the time I reached the last fourth of the book, I was sure that A Sorceress Comes to Call would be my favorite by Kingfisher. The action leading up to the climax was so intense. I was on the edge of my seat. And then…poof. It was like everything I expected from the ending just disappeared in a cloud of smoke. But, this may just be me.

The more I’ve thought about it, the more I’d say I did still love A Sorceress Comes to Call, and I highly recommend it to T. Kingfisher fans and fans of witches and gothic literature.

Thank you Tor Books for the copy to read and review.

I was thrilled to get an ARC of A Sorceress Comes to Call, because Kingfisher has become one of my to-to authors. This is a retelling of The Goose-Girl… but a little loosey-goosey with the details. (Apologies for the pun. I couldn’t resist. ) It’s more of a reimagining than a retelling, all-in-all. For being billed specifically as a “dark retelling,” it honestly wasn’t much darker than the original. That marketing is probably meant for people who only know the watered-down Disney versions and think the world “fairytale” is synonymous with words like “happy” and “charming.” So A Sorceress Comes to Call is much more in line with the original. And since I cut my teeth on The Brothers Grimm, it is no surprise that I enjoy Kingfisher’s novels so well.

"It was the calm of a burned-out house or a ravaged field, the calm that comes where there is no longer anything to lose."

I loved the characters. The story has two third person POVs: Cordelia, the isolated, abused but stalwart daughter of the sorceress and Hester, the wily spinster sister of the sorceress’s latest target. Both of them were endearing and entertaining.

It was also a story that centered on women. The main characters and the villain are all women as well as several side characters. And nearly all of them are strong in their own way. The story expertly explores the different relationships between those women while contrasting supportive female friendships with toxic relationships. But it was all handled in a subtle way, not the in-your-face preachy kind.

This story did not have as much snark as many of Kingfisher’s other books. It had heart for sure, but it did not have that trademark sass that I expect from Kingfisher books. Oh, there were certainly moments of it. And I enjoyed those snippets greatly.

“‘Eh?’ Hester realized that her brother had been speaking. ‘What was that? You have to speak up, my hearing’s not what it was.’ (This was entirely untrue, but she had found that it was a very good excuse when she had simply been ignoring a dull conversation.)”

A Sorceress Comes to Call was macabre and creepy but not as horror based as some of Kingfisher’s other books. The scariest part was probably how the sorceress could control other people’s bodies and Cordelia’s descriptions of her mother forcing her “obedience” by controlling her body and making her outwardly act like the perceived perfect daughter.


There also was not much worldbuilding. It was vaguely set in late 1800s England but without giving specific details. I suppose, not much detail was needed if you just accept it was very close to the rules of that time and place but with magic added in. For a real-life anchor, the story frequently quotes The Ladies' Book of Etiquette and Manual of Politeness – a real book from 1860 full of repressive strictures for young women.

It did take the horror elements a long time to build steam. For a novella, it was fairly slow-burn with nearly all the action happening at the end of the book. But then again, since it was a novella, readers don’t have long to wait to get to that part. For me, the characters were compelling enough to hang around even in the parts that were mostly dialogue. Though I can imagine that if the main characters don’t resonate with a reader, they probably won’t enjoy the story.

Although not my favorite of Kingfisher’s stories, I did still appreciate A Sorceress Comes to Call. I will continue to read pretty much anything she writes, because I love her witty, creepy writing style!


RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 4 Stars
Writing Style: 4 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 4 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 3 Stars
Level of Captivation: 4 Stars
Originality: 3 Stars

T Kingfisher is an absolute master of storytelling. I devoured this clever, heartfelt book. I think this is the fourth book of hers I’ve read and I’m struck again and again by the creativity of her storytelling, the way she breathes new life into old stories and tropes.

A Sorceress Comes to Call was a great fantasy with more horror elements than I initially expected. Cordelia’s mother is absolutely horrible, and much of the tension of this comes from how terrified Cordelia is of her. This book is a bit slower paced than some others by T. Kingfisher, but it does pay off in the end.

Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Format:📱 Ebook

Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.2

A Sorceress Comes to Call is a story about Cordelia, and her mother Evangeline's quest to secure marriage under false pretenses. Cordelia is able to join forces with others to set things right, despite the terrible treatment by her mother.

✴️ World building: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It took some time to get into the story at the beginning.

✴️ Writing style/ flow: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The flow was a slower pace, yet the writing was engaging.

✴️ Character development: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Once I got to know the character of Cordelia, I was rooting for her. I also really enjoyed the characters Penelope, Hester, and others.

✴️ Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This reminds me of a dark Cinderella-esque story, only with the mother instead of a step-mother treating her own daughter horribly, just with magic.

✴️ Enjoyment: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I'm glad there was a happy ending and it all came together well. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

*** Thank you Tor Publishing Group and Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to review. All opinions are my own.

T. Kingfisher is always good at mixing fairytales and with horror in just the right balance and A Sorceress Comes to Call is no exception. This was a compelling story from beginning to end. Billed as a "retelling" of the Brothers Grimm's "Goose Girl", this is not the story you might expect. Told from two point of views, Cordelia is abused and controlled by her mother, Evangeline, a witch whose only priority is to see that Cordelia "marries a rich man". Hester is the spinster sister of the man Evangeline sets her own sights. When Cordelia and her mother come to visit, Hester knows she stands to lose her place in her brother's home and is convinced something is not quite right. But no one is prepared for the evil Evangeline possesses and the extent of her powers over her young daughter.

I am generally not a fan of horror, but I always make an exception for Kingfisher. This story does not shy away from disturbing themes, suspense and gore. But as always, it is the characters that make me invested. While Cornelia's POV is that of a 14 year old girl and indeed feels young as a result, Hester's POV brings a maturity an interest that makes the story quite complex. Moreover, while young, the way Cordelia's fear of her mother is portrayed is terrifying in its own right. Yet we also have moments of humor, plot twists, and even second chance romance. Kingfisher is a must read author for me and this story is a wonderful addition to her body of work.

Thanks to Netgally and Tor for early access to an e-arc of this book for review purposes.

T. Kingfisher delivers another hilarious horror-filled romp! Cordelia's terrible mother, Evangeline, uses sorcery to infiltrate the life of a squire. She makes Cordelia and others obedient to get her way, even if that means making them kill. Fortunately, Cordelia can turn to the squire's sister Hester. Together, they're going to stop Cordelia's mother from killing and ruining more people's lives. If you haven't picked up T. Kingfisher yet, you can't go wrong with starting here.

10/10!!
A Sorceress Comes to Call has everything you could want in a fairy tale. Magic, an evil sorceress continually plotting to get what she feels she deserves, is a main character you can't help but root for. Did I mention the geese? From page one I was hooked and was utterly absorbed in the story.
Cordelia is a survivor, her mother has been a black shadow cast over every moment of her life for as long as she can remember. The smallest infraction leads to the most horrible punishment and she never knows what will set her mother off. When her mother sets off with Cordelia in tow to get herself married she ends up with an ally in the suitor's sister Hester, whose POV we also get, and I thought it added just the right feel to the story.

T. Kingfisher does an amazing job of bringing the characters to life, with a setting so vivid you feel like you're there. The pacing was perfect, I loved all the secondary characters and how they fit into the story. I can't wait to see what T. Kingfisher is going to come out with next!

I’ve read two wildly different T. Kingfisher stories, so I had no hesitation in picking up her newest tale, A Sorceress Comes to Call. Kingfisher is a great writer and her talent is undeniable, but even these truths could not hold my attention in her retelling of The Goose Girl.

Cordelia can’t move her body, at least not when her mother Evangeline is making her “obedient.” But even when Evangeline’s strange power falls away, young Cordelia cannot relax because she might say or do something to earn the difficult woman’s ire. Cordelia makes herself small and only finds joy when riding their family horse, Falada. But one day, Evangeline sets her sights on marrying a rich man, and Cordelia must leave her isolated life for a manor inhabited by a squire, his sister Hester, and a full household staff. How can Cordelia manage her mother’s expectations and perform properly to prevent herself and anyone else from coming to harm?

This story’s strength belongs to the two main characters. Cordelia and Hester are interesting, strong voices that add depth and color to the story. Cordelia is especially refreshing to read because she is a young girl who falls outside the typical coming-of-age story and instead is a child who is powerless in the face of her mother. Cordelia is not expected to seize the day and become something more than she is now. She is shy and naive and trying to survive and mitigate damage toward everyone else, even at the cost of her own life I appreciated a story from the perspective of a young, powerless girl who truly does not have the knowledge or resources to improve her situation but makes small, brave choices in her own way to be the story’s hero. Hester is the much-needed adult in the room. She is a distinguished middle-aged woman who is educated, independent, and kind. While Cordelia gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the situation, Hester is the observer and serves as a fresh pair of eyes to the uncanny situation that has arrived at her door. I enjoyed her measured presence in the story and thought she was a great foil to Cordelia.

My biggest issue with A Sorceress Comes to Call is its slow pacing, which was manageable at first but quickly contributed to me losing interest only halfway through the book. There was a lot of dawdling about as the characters poorly dealt with the evil sorceress at hand. I felt that I was trapped in the parlor while everyone drank tea and fretted over the fact that no one had any idea of what to do. There’s not a lot of get-up-and-go energy in this story, the focus is more on the beautiful floral language and less on the pace. Cordelia’s chapters are anxious and fearful accounts of trying not to upset her mother, and Hester is wise but not one to take action quickly. I was even more disappointed at the ending when the climatic confrontation finally appeared but then disappeared so quickly that I was a little bewildered. The ending felt rushed, unfinished, and unexpected. The book’s group of do-gooders spent a lot of time researching and testing a solution that ended up being irrelevant in the end. The climax and conclusion felt like a slap in the face especially after hundreds of pages of discussions that ended up doing nothing.

I also didn’t like how easily characters were introduced and forgotten. As the story establishes itself, Cordelia and Hester become our main POVs with some interactions with Evangeline and even fewer with the squire and household staff. It’s quite a small group to see the events through, and I rejoiced that more characters were eventually introduced to the situation. But the problem is, these characters are barely there. For instance, one couple and their son arrive at the manor, but after a chapter, maybe two, the husband and son are never heard from again. The husband is at least seen one other time. The wife becomes a larger player in Hester’s circle, but even she is a rare sight. This felt like a possible tribute to the style of older fairytales, but it also felt like a place where some modernization and conversion to long-form storytelling would have gone a long way. It was hard to stay committed to a slow story that picked up and dropped people without much care. Besides our POVs, everyone else in the book felt insubstantial and it was nearly impossible to create connections with anyone else.

I’m almost mad at myself for not enjoying A Sorceress Comes to Call as much as I have Kingfisher’s other stories. I can’t deny my boredom, but I am a huge fan of Kingfisher’s writing and her ability to create compelling characters. Ah well, you win some and you lose some. I will continue along my journey through the author’s catalog regardless.

Rating: A Sorceress Comes To Call - 5.5/10

I really enjoyed this story, as i do with most of T. Kingfisher's writing. I am a bit sick of authors & publishers marking things as re-tellings when in reality they're much more 'inspired by' the original story. This is marketed as a re-telling of Grimm's The Goose Girl, but its mostly just has a horse, a goose, a girl & a mother, all with different relationships to one another.

A Sorceress Comes to Call is a beautifully dark blend of historical fantasy, fairytale whimsy and dark horror. It touches on emotional abuse with strained family relationships, friendships and romances. I really enjoyed the way the characters were written but most especially with Cordeila and Hester.

This is another solid win for me with T. Kingfisher's writing. She is an automatic buy for me always.

I was provided both a print and audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

If you like dark fairytale retellings this one is worth picking up. I don't think I've ever read Goose Girl, but I'll be checking out the original tale this is based on. I always like to read the original work when reading a retelling if I haven't read. Kingfisher's retellings are quickly becoming my favorites and this is another one to add to your TBR. She always puts her own unique spin on the original work and makes it her own.

This is told from the perspectives of Cordielia a 14 year old girl who has basically lived her young life as a recluse, and Hester a 51 year old spinster set in her ways. Their paths collide when Cordelia's mother decides she must marry a rich man to support them. Hester immediately picks up that Cordelia's interactions with her mother are not normal, and that her brother is immediately smitten with the woman. Hester is determined unravel the puzzle that is the the woman she nicknames "Doom" and her daughter. Cornelia and Hester quickly become friends and team up to defeat Doom. This is highly atmospheric and has worldbuilding I've come to expect from Kingfisher. It has great fantasy and horror elements that aren't over the top.

If you are a fan of Kingfisher or dark fairytales I highly recommend this. I can't speak to the aspect of the retelling as I haven't read Goose Girl. I found this highly engaging and entertaining

ARC Review: This book was overall amazing! The beginning didn’t really grab my attention, but a few chapters in I was hooked. The book tells the story of Evangeline (a sorceress) and her daughter Cordelia. Evangeline is an unmarried woman who is ultimately searching for a wealthy man to marry - she knows she cannot use her sorceress powers to achieve this as the effects of her magic will be cancelled out at the wedding. It takes salt, water, wine, and holy ground to cancel out her magic. Evangeline is not a very nice woman and in fact would be considered in my opinion evil and this is apparent from the very beginning. Her daughter does not like her and would go so far as to say she hates her. Once Evangeline has met the man she is going to marry, she starts using her powers on the people around her - the sister of the man hosts a party where the guests are invited to stay at their home for a period of time. Eventually Cordelia explains to the sister and the house guests about her mother being a sorceress - after Evangeline has killed a member of the party. From this point on they are attempting to find a way to stop her sorceress powers and her evil ways. You’ll have to read to find out if they accomplish their goal!

I had so much fun reading this dark retelling of The Goose Girl. This book was so many things all at once - mysterious, spooky, gory, witty, campy, and even a touch heartwarming. That certainly takes talent to do well in one novel, and it all culminated in a very satisfying ending. I'd recommend reading this one during fall for the dark yet cozy vibes.

Many thanks to Tor Books for the opportunity to read this as an ARC through NetGalley.