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.

Cordelia lives with her mother in a house without doors. Her only allowed friend is her mother's white horse Falada, whom she rides daily. Her mother forces her to be silent and motionless for hours or days on end and is an evil sorcerer. Her mother moves them into the manor home of a wealthy older Squire and his sister Hester. They're likely her mother's next victims, but Cordelia feels at home for the very first time. Now she must decide whether to obey her mother or save the people who have become like family.

Cordelia's punishment is horrifying: her mother literally controls her body and keeps her from moving, speaking, eating, or even using the bathroom without her mother's explicit direction. This is the only world she has known, with no agency, belongings, or privacy of her own. She's pushed into the world of polite society under her mother's thumb, but Hester is aware that Cordelia has been abused, but not how. Hester feels protective and has friends of her own that she tries to enlist to help Cordelia and her brother, but isn't aware she's up against a ruthless sorceress willing to do anything to get what she wants.

Poor Cordelia literally shakes and has no idea how anything works when she first arrives at the manor and slowly comes out of her shell. Hester felt sorry for herself and her age and soon moved beyond her own immediate needs to try helping others. Like other T. Kingfisher books, it's a subtle battle. There are some flashy moments, and I was surprised by them. The clues for how the story would end are there, and I enjoyed the way we got a fitting conclusion for the characters.

I’m here all day long for T. Kingfisher’s aging, aching protagonists, with bad knees and big hearts and a well-honed sense of doom. The plot is a very loose retelling of The Goose Girl, minus princesses and kings and plus a conniving, murderous, sorceress mother. Evangeline, aka Doom, is determined to marry herself and her trapped, obedient daughter to the highest bidders in proper Regency-esque fashion, plans thwarted when she encounters a squire’s spinster sister who sees her for exactly who she is. There’s a coterie of women to the rescue: the no-nonsense Hester, the ruthless Imogene, the enchanting Penelope, and eventually Doom’s daughter Cordelia herself.

It’s not rah-rah feminism so much as it is changing the terms for who we deem worthy of consideration, agency, and power in these stories. In T. Kingfisher fashion, that includes the animal world as well. I’d happily read a whole series of Hester and her geese and her friends (including Richard) living their best life and thwarting the monsters in whatever form they take.

**4.5-stars**

A Sorceress Comes to Call is an Adult Fantasy release from T. Kingfisher, one of my favorite authors. It's a release I've personally been anticipating for almost a year. This is a re-imagining of the Brothers Grimm's Goose Girl fairy tale, and while I've never read the original source material, I am familiar enough with it to appreciate the clever connections Kingfisher made here.

In this story, we meet our girl, Cordelia. She lives with her Mom and her Mom's equine companion, Falada. Cordelia's Mom is...let's say, eccentric. Reading of their relationship is a bit painful at times, be forewarned. Her Mom rules their house with an iron fist. Cordelia is made to bend to her will, always. One may wonder how Cordelia's Mother is able to exude such authority and I guess, the answer is fairly simple, she's a sorceress.

After a suspicious death in their small village, Cordelia is forced to flee town with her Mom and Falada. They end up at a remote country manor, where a wealthy bachelor, known as the Squire, lives with his unwed sister, Hester. Cordelia's Mom sets her sights on the Squire, hoping to lure him into a marriage arrangement. Cordelia sees her Mom's intentions and fears for the well-meaning older gentleman and his kind, intelligent sister. Hester isn't fooled though and has no desire to see her bro end up with such a conniving witch. It's not just her brother she's worried about though. She's noticed Cordelia shrinks into herself anytime her mother approaches.

That can't be a good sign.

What follows is an insanely humorous romp where good battles evil. There's magic and intrigue, hijinks, betrayals and lies. Humor and love and kindness and wrath, all rolled into one. Witty banter and lovable characters like only Kingfisher can do. Unsurprisingly, I fell in love with this story. It was so creative and well-crafted. I was transported while reading it. It felt all-consuming.

I'm sure some of you are wondering, if I loved it so much, why didn't I give it 5-stars? I think upon reread, I probably will bump it up. There's a lot happening, bordering on chaotic, and I feel like I maybe missed some of the finer details. Now that I know where it's all going, I feel like upon reread, I'll be able to pick up, enjoy and retain more of those smaller details.

Let's be clear though, a 4.5-star is still a super stellar-rating from me, and I do absolutely plan on reading this one again; as I do with most of Kingfisher's works.


The character development was fantastic. I felt so bad for Cordelia initially. She was such a timid thing, all at her mother's hand. It def tugged at the heart-strings. The best thing that ever happened to her, IMO, was meeting Hester. Hester was by far the star of the show for me. I loved her so much. Maybe because we have a lot of common. We're both old maids, both way more witty than people give us credit for and both ready to kick some ass if necessary.

With Cordelia and her Mom staying at the Squire's, Cordelia and Hester get the opportunity to spend time together and it was nice to watch their relationship blossom. There was such a fun element too involving a house party, planned by Hester, and the horrific aftermath of that leads to a bit of a suspicious death investigation. I wasn't expecting it to go in that direction, so was delighted when it did.

Our good characters band together to try to vanquish the evil which surrounds them. It was hilarious and wacky and wild and fun. Kingfisher's writing is sure to make you forget everything else going on in your life. This story becomes your life when you're reading it. It was just as darkly magical and enchanting as I was anticipating.

This was an absolute delight to read. I can't wait to get a hard copy for my shelves, although I would recommend the audiobook to anyone who has that available to them. The narration by Eliza Foss and Jennifer Pickens truly brought this story to life.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Tor and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. Kingfisher is such a talent.
This is a perfect blend of humor with darker Fantasy elements! Recommended for all!