T. Kingfisher is rapidly becoming a must read author for me. Despite the gut-wrenching abuse and manipulation suffered by the protagonist, the author’s signature wit, character work, and atmosphere made this book read almost like a cozy-horror. The concept for the story felt fresh and unique, and the writing made it very hard to put down. I loved the characters, their relationships, and felt very satisfied at the conclusion of the novel. The only thing keeping this from five stars for me is the loose magic system. I prefer more rigid rules for magic, but the way it was done in this book did lean into the fairy tale vibe nicely.

Thank you to the author, Tor Books, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I started this book a couple of times before it really grabbed me. I don't remember what caused my hesitation because it was completely blotted out by the way I tore through this book once it did engage me. I was not at all familiar with the goose girl fairytale so I stopped to look it up about halfway through and from what I could tell, this is not a retelling so much as "inspired by". Evidently the character of the horse is taken from the original fairytale, there are other details that overlap, but this is most definitely an original plot! I really enjoyed the way everything unfolded. This is my first Kingfisher book but it will not be my last. I also encourage everyone to read the entirety of her acknowledgments because they are funny as hell.

I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for access to a digital ARC. My honest review is my own opinion.

I was so lucky to be given the chance to both listen and read the new Kingfisher book! This was a charming edition to previous fairy tales such as Nettle and Bone or What Feasts at night. I do miss her more gruesome and spooky novels, but these are just sweet and magical.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

A Sorceress Comes to Call is the first book I’ve read by T. Kingfisher. It, however, will not be the last. While I’m still unsure how I completely feel about the book, I know that I devoured it in a couple of days.

So I did enjoy it!

There is a LOT of nightmare fodder in here (!) (mostly stemming from a particular horse that will not be named) and the abuse was sometimes difficult to read.It reminded me strongly of Gallant by V.E.Schwab, but perhaps that is because it’s about a young girl who eventually discovers her own powers/voice/will/etc. However, it’s always satisfying to watch a mostly meek or downtrodden character find a way to escape their oppressor/oppression.

A Sorceress Comes to Call is a retelling of Goose Girl, a Brothers Grimm story. If you enjoy retellings and unique/spooky stories, this one may be worth checking out!

I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC. I'm basing this review off of the plot description.

This is the first T. Kingfisher book I have read, and I really enjoyed it. I read the book and listened to the audio when I wasn't able to read. I found listening to the audio more enjoyable than the book.

Cordelia is a 14 year girl who is terrified of her own mother. She has a good reason for that fear. Her mother can force her to be obedient, and do things against her will. Hester is an older woman, in her 50s, who wakes up one night with a terrible sense of doom. After a suspicious death, Cordelia and her mother flea under the cover the darkness. Luckily for them, a wealthy man and his sister (Hester) take them in. That sense of Doom has come right into Hester's home. Hester must rely on her friends and wit to save her brother and Cordelia from the evil sorcerer.

This book will not keep you on the edge of your seat with action, but there are loveable characters, humor, and some darkness thrown in the book. Because it is a tad bit slower than what I normally read, the audiobook added to my enjoyment of the story. The narrators did a wonderful job.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing me with a digital ARC for me to review!

T. Kingfisher is such a talented author, creating immersive worlds within her books. I appreciated the introduction to sorcery and the magic system within this book, but I would have loved to see more world-building. The myopic perspective of Cordelia makes sense for the storytelling, but I feel, as a reader, I am missing out on so much of the magic in the world. The setting has very similar vibes to her other books Nettle and Bone and Thornhedge, where they feel more like a dark but cozy fantasy.

I liked the large cast of quirky and unique characters! You love to hate Cordelia’s mother and her mysterious white horse, Falada. But I also enjoyed Hester’s cleverness. I feel like the story does spend a lot of time developing the characters without furthering the plot, which makes it seem longer without any actions taken. This put me into a reading slump and made me take longer to finish it. Unlike other T. Kingfisher retellings, I have not read the original story this is based on.

If you like spooky but cozy fantasies with horror elements and quirky characters in a character-driven story, then A Sorceress Comes to Call comes out August 6th!

Wow! I can't tell you how much I loved this book. I'm such a fan of T. Kingfisher, but this one tops the cake. It's dark, imaginative, eerie, quirky and unique... everything that I love about T. Kingfisher, but more. There's added humor and I felt like I was there with our characters as they tried to stop the evil-evil, horrid Evangeline.

Fourteen-year-old Cordelia is trapped and controlled by her mother, Evangeline. Or more like what Cordelia calls "made obedient ". She is so afraid of making her mother unhappy and she doesn't know anything aside from what her mother tells her. Poor Cordelia doesn't have any real friends except a horse named Falada. One day something suspicious happens, and Cordelia begins to realize that she must get away from her mother, and that her mother can be much worse than she thinks.

In an attempt to "have a better life", Evangeline tries to snag the attention of The Squire and marry him. But unbeknownst to Evangeline, Hester, The Squire's sister, is aware that something is just not right with Evangeline.

I could not stop turning the pages. The more I read, the more and more I hated that horrid Evangeline and her treatment of the people that were in her way, especially how she treats Cordelia. I loved all the characters, especially our side characters. The twists kept coming and that ending was awesome. I wish I could go onto more detail, but you'll have to read the book to see how the story unfolds. So good!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and TOR Publishing for the eARC. A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher is to be released on August 6, 2024.

I had so much fun with this one, definitely one of the best I’ve read from this author. I was a little apprehensive since it was a goose girl retelling, but really it’s a *very* loose adaptation, more of a wink and a nod to the original than anything else.

What I loved:
- the sorceress of the title, Cordelia’s mother, is so creepy and such a good villain to hate (I shivered when I first realized what “being made obedient” meant)
- the rest of the characters are so lovable, from Cordelia who really needs a big hug and a large bowl of soup, to Hester and her friends, who went from just trying to deal with growing older and now have to contend with this evil sorceress.
- Hester in particular is such a great character - unmarried, practical, and a dedicated goose breeder; the wrong side of 50 and feeling it but not but learning to accept it
- Falada, but not for the my usual horse girl reasons

What I didn’t love:
- the pacing. While I was hooked with the first 20%, the plot dragged a bit in the middle.

Overall, highly recommend for anyone who likes their fantasy with a liberal dose of creepiness, or wants to see older characters featured center stage for a change.

Fourteen-year-old Cordelia is in an impossible situation: her awful, abusive narcissist mother, Evangeline, is also a powerful sorceress with the power to take over people's bodies and make them “obedient.” Evangeline often makes Cordelia “obedient” as punishment for any kind of wrongdoing, real or perceived. Every aspect of Cordelia’s life is controlled by her mother - she’s not allowed to have any friends and isn’t even allowed to close her bedroom door. Her only friend is her mother’s beautiful white horse, Falada.

After being dumped by her latest male “benefactor”, Evangeline completely uproots herself, Cordelia and Falada to the remote manor house of Evangeline’s latest target: Samuel, a wealthy squire. Samuel’s clever sister, Hester, sees right through Evangeline’s plan, but there isn’t much she, an older spinster with a bad knee, can do to stop it. But Hester knows there’s something more to Evangeline than the average fortune hunter - she can see it in the way Cordelia is so obviously terrified of her own mother. Meanwhile, Cordelia is wracked with guilt - she knows her mother’s plans for Samuel and Hester, who have shown her nothing but kindness. But how do you stop a woman with the power to control others?

I loved this book so much. Once I started, I literally could not stop reading - it’s one of those books where you ignore your bedtime in favor of just one more chapter. It seamlessly combines elements of Jane Austen, witchcraft and Eldritch horror - T. Kingfisher knows how to describe a monster, both human and demon. The way she writes from the perspective of Cordelia, a terrified fourteen-year-old and Hester, a fifty-something woman who projects confidence while keeping any weakness very close to her chest is just masterful. Do yourself a favor and read A Sorceress Comes to Call.

500,000/5 stars, highly recommend, please don’t skip this one! The audiobook is pretty great, too.

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher is a dark and mesmerizing retelling of the Brothers Grimm's Goose Girl, imbued with secrets, murder, and forbidden magic. Kingfisher skillfully weaves an old tale with a fresh and compelling narrative.

The story centers around Cordelia, a fourteen-year-old girl who lives under the oppressive rule of her sorceress mother. Their home is devoid of doors, symbolizing the lack of boundaries and freedom in Cordelia's life. Her only solace comes from her daily rides with Falada, her mother’s beautiful white horse, who serves as her confidant and companion in an otherwise lonely existence. Cordelia’s mother is not only eccentric but also dangerously controlling, forcing her daughter into obedience for long periods of time.

The plot takes a dramatic turn after a suspicious death in their small town forces Cordelia and her mother, Evangeline, to flee in the dead of night. They arrive at the remote manor of the Squire and his unwed sister, Hester. Cordelia’s mother schemes to marry the Squire, but Cordelia knows this can only spell trouble for the kind-hearted gentleman and his intelligent sister. Hester notices Cordelia's fear and stillness and the doom that surrounds her mother. Determined to save her brother and rescue Cordelia, Hester must find a way to confront the formidable sorceress.

Kingfisher's prose captures the eerie atmosphere of Cordelia’s life and the tension that builds as the story unfolds. The characters are richly drawn, with Cordelia's quiet strength and Hester's bravery standing out as beacons of hope against the darkness of the sorcery. The narrative seamlessly blends elements of magic and realism, creating an enchanting and chilling story.

While the connection to the original Goose Girl tale may not be immediately apparent to all readers, Kingfisher's retelling stands strong on its own merits. The themes of control, freedom, and the power dynamics within relationships are explored with depth and sensitivity, adding layers of meaning to the story.

Whether or not you are familiar with the Brothers Grimm’s Goose Girl, this novel offers a fresh and engaging take on the classic fairy tale, making it a must-read for lovers of magical retellings with a somewhat YA vibe.

T. Kingfisher can do no wrong! This book was perfection and I enjoyed every second of it! T. Kingfisher really has a way to make you connect to her characters and feel all emotions they are feeling. I could feel Cordelia's anxiety and pain every time she had to be near her mother. This made me so invested in the book and made it impossible to put down.

Cute magical story with an enchanting cast of characters. It wasn’t a high stakes epic fantasy, but it wasn’t quite enough to be a cozy fantasy either. A good mix of both. I would love to read a sequel.

T. Kingfisher's horror books are favorites of mine. Almost all of her work is a blend of genres, A Sorceress Comes to Call was mostly pure fantasy all the way up to the last glorious chapter. This book is a character study on maternal abuse victims. I felt like it went on too long. By the half-way point I wanted to say, "okay already we get it, she's evil." Evangeline, our main character, is the perfect villainess twisting everyone to her own will including her own daughter. I usually like anything to do with magic and witches, so I still enjoyed it but this was probably my least favorite of Kingfisher's books.

I wish the whole book had been more like the last chapter. I just have a preference for darkness and horror but the prose here was beautifully written. It reminded me of the Grimm Fairytale story 'The Goose Girl' which it was meant to emulate, so I count that as a success. My mother read me that story as a child so reading the retelling was nostalgic.

"Let he who invokes the reagent be he who is best suited to the task, water to water, wine to wine, salt to salt. Let him reflect on the reagent that is his: the salt that comes of earth, the water that is borne on the swift stream, and the wine that is made of growing grapes and the art of man. For salt bars the entry of the shadowed ones; water fills the space it is given and washes away that which is impure; and wine binds the space between the seen and unseen, even as it binds the bargains struck between men.”

T. Kingfisher is one of my auto-buy authors. I love the worlds and characters she creates. Her newest book, A Sorceress Comes to Call, is a Goose Girl retelling.

Kingfisher’s story, set in an ambiguous English-esque 1800s world, is rather dark. Our female main character, Cordelia, is 14 years old and lives with her cruel sorceress mother, Evangeline, who can control Cordelia. Cordelia’s only solace is Falada, Evangeline’s beautiful white horse. Evangeline’s benefactor tosses her aside, leaving Evangeline no choice but to move and find a new man. She sets her sights on a wealthy Squire and plots to marry him so that she can marry Cordelia off to a rich man.

Several unlikely heroes arise to save the Squire and Cordelia. My favorite is Hester, the Squire’s 51-year-old sister who has bad knees, desires independence, and breeds geese. Something I admire about Kingfisher’s stories is that she always uses regular people to save the day. There are no special snowflakes here. Cordelia finds a friend and ally in Hester—their relationship is a joy to witness after all the abuse Cordelia endures from her mother. As Evangeline’s motives and power become clearer, Cordelia must learn to fight to protect her new friends.

As always, Kingfisher’s writing is atmospheric and draws you in. Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the ARC.

Trigger warnings: child abuse, suicide, animal death, murder, insanity

This is exactly what I've come to love and expect from T. Kingfisher. It has a lot of heart with a dash of horrific. This story feels a little regency, which was fun and gave a lot of room to play with propriety and poise, while also covering murder, abuse and whole host of dark topics. it was a unique blend and a charming story.

This was a great retelling of a Brother's Grimm tale - the Goose Girl. I have enjoyed T. Kingfisher's alternate retelling of the House of Usher in What Moves the Dead and What Feeds at Night so I was excited to be approved to read and review A Sorceress Comes to Call. Perfect for fans of dark fantasy.

I've read a few Kingfisher books and absolutely loved them all, except one (Thornhedge; absolutely hated it), which was the most recent one I read. I, however, remained optimistic for A Sorceress Comes to Call and I thank NetGalley and Tor for the ARC ahead of publication. Let me tell you, it was perfect. No notes.

I loved all of the characters so much, from the main protagonists to the supporting cast of house staff in what seems like a Regency-era setting. They are well-formed personalities and most of them are hilarious in a way that really makes this story cinematic. It felt like I was watching Knives Out...stylish, smart, and witty. I especially loved Hester, who, despite a bad knee, is a total badass in so many ways. I honestly would read a sequel to this book that included just Hester and Richard, without much plot. Actually, a book about the butler and Richard writing a book together would be awesome, too. Anyways...

Somehow, Kingfisher has seamlessly blended a period piece, sorcery, horror (takes awhile to get there, but whoa boy, it's a doozy), the paranormal, coming-of-age, and romance into a book that never felt too long or too short. I cannot recommend this book enough!

I have been so excited for this book for so long! I grew up with Shannon Hale’s Goose Girl and love the original Brothers Grimm’s tales and adore T. Kingfisher so I am very excited to review this book (and just get the chance to read it!). But on to the particulars.


This is a lovely book, if a little gory. The threads are definitely family, complicated relationships, confidence in one’s self, love, and knowledge as a key factor. I thought that the different versions of a family present throughout the novel were striking and realistic. I enjoyed the subtle love thread. And I went from laughing out loud to crying through Kingfisher’s compelling writing. The characters were fantastic. The plot was fun, if not terribly surprising. I didn’t feel as if any of the “twists” were out of left field and enjoyed the differences from other variations of this story I’ve read.


It is told from the perspectives of Cordelia, the daughter, and Hester, the sister of the Squire pursued. I believe, though I haven’t done the math, that we get more from Hester’s perspective. I enjoyed both perspectives, though Hester was an amazing lead.


Hester is fifty years old, tired, and not inclined to heroics. But she loves her brother and just generally is a good person. Though she is not just a beacon of radiating light, she curses, hesitates, and doubts. I really always admire Kingfisher’s leads. They are so brilliantly human. What are you supposed to do when a sorceress runs amok in your house? What’s the plan? Where’s the guidebook for that? At least in this telling, there is no guidebook. Hester calls together the best course of action that comes to her. But she recognizes her limitations, most of the time. She knows she has to adapt when new information is revealed, she knows she doesn’t have the answers. She does however have bad knees that do affect her. As someone with bad knees (I know, I’m too young for it, tell my knees that), I understood and related to her struggles with her body’s limitations. I adored Hester and her journey in this book. Cordelia is so young in this book. And she is so alone. She tugged at my heartstrings in her story. I could feel her pain so well and believed in her struggles.


I love this book and really enjoyed Kingfisher’s rendition of the Goose Girl. I honestly wish it was longer and things like the geese were expanded upon. I only want to read more of this. It is bloody, it is dark, it is sad, and it is uplifting.

I think I simply must read everything that this woman writes. I really enjoyed this - from the way it was set up to introduce the characters, and through to the story. I absolutely loved the way all the characters played off each other!

I will say, if there was one thing that was fixed, I almost wished… the man behind the mask, so to speak, was a little more elavorated on? I did love how that unmasking went - all of it, truly - but i felt that once we knew what was fully going on, we didn’t get a chance to fully explore what that meant for the characters at large. But beyond that, I felt like everything played into it really well, and just. Just!!!

Also the relationship between Cordelia and Hester… truly a chefs kiss of a relationship. From how they were introduced to how they worked together … ugh! So good.

If you’re looking for retelling with a bit of a darker twist (although I’m pretty sure this story is fairly dark already!), T Kingfishers stories are going to have to be your next go-to, and this one is no exception.

4.5 rounded up to 5.

Thanks so much to Tor Books and NetGalley for a chance to read and review!