I grew up reading Robin McKinley, and for the longest time, I've thought that nothing could make me feel the way her retellings did. Boy am I glad at how wrong I was. T. Kingfisher makes me feel like I'm discovering fairy tales for the first time. They are full of wonder and enchantment and just the right amount of creepy/gross to make a Grimm brother smile.

I picked this up knowing almost nothing about the story other than being a Goose Girl retelling, and I’m so glad I picked it up. This story was equal parts amazing and heartbreaking. My heart hurt for everything that Cordelia experienced at the expense of her mother. Hester was an equally intriguing character. I really enjoyed the regency era time frame and the cast of friends that Hester surrounded herself with. The characters were richly developed with uniquely interested backstories. I also enjoyed the plot pacing and felt it moved the story along well. There were plenty of betrayals and twists to keep me fully invested in the story. I also appreciated the magical intricacies woven through the story. I read combo read this via audiobook and ebook, and I can’t recommend the audiobook enough. It’s a truly transformative experience and I found myself enjoying the experience significantly more via audiobook. I loved that two narrators, Eliza Foss and Jennifer Pickens, were chosen to represent Cordelia and Hester’s POVs.If you’re even remotely interested in this story, I recommend giving it a chance. You won’t be disappointed.

I’ve read several of Ms. Kingfisher’s books now and cheerfully and whole-heartedly recommend her to anyone looking for books to read!

I very much in particular adore her fantasies. So, when I had a chance to review her latest, ‘ When A Sorceress Comes To Call’ I leapt at the chance and was NOT disappointed!

This struck me very much as a mixture of Regency/Fantasy. Think ‘Wuthering Heights’ meets Maleficent. And the Sorceress in particular is a special case of VILE wrapped in a pleasing appearance.

Our poor heroine Cordelia is gaslit from birth, and her circumstances were frankly horrifying to read. But that’s what makes the story so satisfying when everything is finally done and dusted.

Loved the one sentence easter egg tying back to my favorite of her books, ‘Nettle and Bone’.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I tried with this book, but I think I’ve discovered I don’t gel with T. Kingfisher’s writing for the most part. There are great ideas here, but something is missing that keeps me from being invested.

T. Kingfisher is my favorite author who writes twisted fairytales that bridge the gap between standard folklore and horror. A Sorceress Comes to Call is no exception. Cordelia knows her mother is different, like probably processes magic different. Her life has been ruled by her mother's whim, so much so that Cordelia has even been made to be, what she calls, "Obedient." If that wasn't bad enough, Cordelia's life is upended when her mother has her sights set on the wealthy Squire and his kind spinster sister, Hester. Cordelia and Hester form a friendship and realize that the resident mother/sorceress must be stopped before terrible things happen to them all.

A Sorceress Comes to Call was another dark but dazzling novel by T. Kingfisher. The details were rich and very creepy in a few scenes. I loved the emotions from all of the characters and especially Cordelia. She had the most to overcome and I enjoyed her well deserved rage moment so so much. Hester and her friends were a delight and I hope to be those snarky women as I age. Also, I see what you did there Kingfisher.....the mention of the skeletal dog during the research scenes, well done you!

4.5 stars

Okay, I don’t think I’ve ever read a cozy horror fantasy before, and I kind of loved it! A Sorceress Comes to Call is expected to be published on August 6. Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

ASCTC opens very strongly: a sorceress, Evangeline, can mind control her fourteen-year-old daughter, Cordelia, to make her obedient. Evangeline claims to want nothing more than for Cordelia to marry a wealthy man, and she even commits heinous acts to connect herself to a husband (like mind-control axe murdering). Cordelia’s only real companion is her mother’s horse (and familiar), Falada.

Evangeline finds a new husband target and comes to call on his doorstep. But his sister, Hester, senses impending doom. She enlists the help of her friends and house staff to help prevent Evangeline from marrying her brother. What follows is a tale that is somehow heartwarming, cozy, atmospheric, creepy, and unsettling. At some point, there is murder, mayhem, funny jokes and card games, witchcraft gone awry, and secret romance. All in all, an excellent time.

Honestly, I was hooked from the start of this novel. Kingfisher weaves a tale of found family, control, manipulation, power, love, growth, and friendship. It was equally disquieting as it was comforting and would make an excellent autumnal read. I absolutely adored the geese, the older women who are excellent foils to Evangeline, and the entire cast of characters. They were wonderful. I recommend A Sorceress Comes to Call!

A SORCERESS COMES TO CALL, by T. Kingfisher, is a fairytale retelling of "The Goose Girl". Having never read that story, this novel was completely new to me.

Cordelia's life is not a happy one with her mother, Evangeline. She isn't allowed to close a door in her home--her mother insists on no secrets, and will not tolerate them. Then there's the fact that her mother can make her "obedient" whenever she wishes--sometimes for days at a time--a state where Cordelia is aware, but unable to control her own body and voice. No matter how uncomfortable, she must stay in her skin and simply "watch" what her mother makes her do and say. The pain coming out from those sessions, she's learned to suppress her screams from.

Of course, Cordelia's mother is not an ordinary person. She is an extremely powerful sorceress, and to displease her brings great misfortune.

When Evangeline suddenly announces it's time for them to move, and takes off with Cordelia and their oddly obedient horse in the middle of the night, it's already a preplanned move. She has set her sights upon a rich Squire, and decided he will marry her. The Squire's sister, Hester, immediately has a bad feeling (referring to Evangeline in her mind as "Doom"). Seeing the fear in Cordelia's eyes when her mother is near, and the carefully practiced expressions of Evangeline, Hester isn't sure how to protect her brother--and Cordelia--from whatever this woman plans.

The one thing--besides the banter and often darkly comic situations--that I truly admire about this author is her ability to bring all of her characters to "life"--even the minor ones. She doesn't rely on info dumps, but is a master of showing you all you need to know to understand a character's personality through their thoughts and actions alone.

The beginning, and last third of this novel simply flew by! I loved getting to know the larger cast of characters, their interactions with each other, and how they "adjusted" to the current situation they found themselves in. My only complaint was that the middle seemed to drag on, and rather than further the plot, left it at a virtual "standstill" for a while. However, the action eventually picked back up, and I couldn't have put this book down if I tried!

Overall, another fantastic tale from T. Kingfisher! I found this to be unique, with captivating characters, and some great action scenes. In fact, I adored this particular world and so much, that I would jump at the chance to read more, if the author decided to revisit these characters and create additional adventures for them.

Recommended.

*I received an e-arc of this book through NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are uniquely my own.*

A Sorceress Comes to Call is a compelling and clever fairy tale. In this retelling of the Goose Girl, Cordelia is bound into obedience by her cruel mother. Obedience is far worse than it sounds: imagine the inability to scratch an itch or move even a finger out of line. Cordelia’s mother Evangeline soon sets her sights on remarriage to a wealthy lord. Fortunately, the Squire’s wise sister Hester is less enthralled by Evangeline. Will Cordelia be able to break free of her mother’s clutches before doom befalls them all?

I couldn’t put this book down from the opening line. T. Kingfisher is an auto-buy author for me at this point! I love how she reimagines fairy tales and creatively infuses them with mild horror. Kingfisher’s writing is witty and filled with hilarious dialogue. I loved Hester and her commitment to saving her brother from himself. Hester and Cordelia share a special bond and it was a relief to see Cordelia breaking free of her mother’s clutches. I would highly recommend this for anyone who loves excellent fairy-tale retellings and clever characters.

Thank you to T. Kingfisher, Tor Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.

Thank you @macmillan.audio #macaudio2024 @torbooks @netgalley for this 5 star magical book!

Loved this one way more than I expected! A weirdly eccentric mom who doesn’t let her daughter have friends and a house with no doors between rooms?! How about forcing her to be silent and motionless for long periods of time. Just who is this lady? A sorceress of course! This is just the start of a book that completely enthralled me. A death in their towns leaves Cordelia and her mother fleeing town in the middle of the night. They land far away at a rich man’s home, the Squire, where Cordelia’s mother’s goal is to sweep the Squire off his feet so he becomes madly in love with her and marries her. There are some obstacles however in accomplishing that feat…the Squire has a smart sister and the help suspect something is up. The relationship between Cordelia and her mother is really what sparks the extra interest into them and ultimately what will change the course of what happens next!

This was my first Kingfisher book and it most certainly won’t be my last. I was completely absorbed watching this relationship between the mother and daughter. It was abusive, manipulative and a bit horrifying but I loved how this one ended up! The tension built perfectly and before I knew it, I flew through the book! The audio was executed beautifully with a historical sense and different points of view that made me feel like I was amongst the characters. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to picking more up by this author!

This was such a fun book and I’m sad I finished it! It was intriguing and dark but fun and the characters very likable. I found myself invested in all of the characters and their storylines. I especially loved the way the female characters were written! They were brave and strong but also messy and unruly during a time when women weren’t allowed to be. This was my first T. Kingfisher book but it definitely will not be my last! Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the arc!

T.Kingfisher never lets me down. This is another beautiful and original fairytale retelling that I ate up

A Sorceress Comes to Call was a triumphant story of a brave girl, an evil and abusive sorceress, an older cast of heroes, and a horse with questionable intent, set in a Regency(ish?) setting with dark fairytale(ish?) vibes. I very much enjoyed the writing, pacing, and themes of agency and empowerment; and wish there were a few more highs or climatic moments than I felt there were. It was otherwise an altogether smooth and enjoyable read. 🐴

Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley, for the free E-copy for review.

This dark and complex fairytale for adults puts a unique twist on the classic Brothers Grimm story of The Goose Girl. The protagonist, Cordelia, is a young woman deeply lacking in confidence, trapped under the controlling grip of her peculiar mother. Yet, as the story unfolds, Cordelia finds unexpected allies and friends who help her navigate the complexities of society.

Both Cordelia and Hester, the Squire's kind-hearted sister, undergo profound transformations throughout the narrative. Hester must come to terms with her own decisions about love, finding the chance to rectify past mistakes. Meanwhile, Cordelia experiences a fresh start, finally surrounded by a semblance of family support.

This was quite an adventure, with scenes that kept me on the edge of my seat, rooting for Cordelia, Hester, and their group of friends. For fans of Stardust, I highly recommend this captivating story.

In this rare gem of a fantasy novella, Cordelia behaves to avoid her mother’s disciplinary sorcery. As a young teen in a small town, she has never had a friend or privacy. But when her mother moves them to her next mark’s estate, she meets Lady Hester, the nobleman’s cleaver and kind sister. Hester is far too old to accept the trickery happening in front of her, but she never imagined she was dealing with sorcery. If Hester wants to protect her home and the endangered young lady in front of her, she will have to gather her wits, allies, and strength to evict the sorceress once and for all.

T. Kingfisher introduces herself to me with A Sorceress Comes to Call, a captivating and reimagining of the Brother's Grimm's "Goose Girl", that sweeps you off your feet from the very first page. Cordelia, a fourteen-year-old girl, finds herself trapped in a nightmarish existence under the tyrannical rule of her sorceress mother, Evangeline. Manipulated for years, Cordelia is isolated from the outside worth.

Kingfisher's masterful storytelling weaves together humor, heart, and high stakes, creating a narrative that is both thrilling and deeply human. The characters are richly drawn, each with their own quirks and depths that make them feel incredibly real. Our protagonist’s journey of self-discovery and bravery is both inspiring and relatable, making it easy to root for her every step of the way.

The world-building is lush and vivid, immersing readers in a land where magic feels just a heartbeat away. The plot twists and turns with perfect pacing, keeping you hooked until the very end. This is a book that will make you laugh, gasp, and perhaps shed a tear or two.

If you love fantasy with strong, relatable characters and a touch of whimsy, A Sorceress Comes to Call is a must-read. T. Kingfisher has crafted a magical adventure that stays with you long after the final page.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing for a copy of this book. <3

When I see a new T. Kingfisher book I immediately want to devour it. I love her characters and storytelling so much. I was not familiar with the tale of the Goose Girl and waited until I finished the book to look it up and I don't think having read it will affect enjoyment of this story either way. As usual there were a slew of characters I grew to love, this authors books tend to border on the Grimm's side of fairytales but the way she is able to infuse humor and relatability to her characters is something I'm a big fan of. I did feel like it was a bit too long and the ending was rushed but overall another solid book I would recommend. I switched between the audio and physical and enjoyed them both. Thank you @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for my free copies.

Kingfisher burst onto my TBR a while back, and I have been hooked ever since. Her writing style that is a combination of fairy tale and snarky humor and toes the line into horror always makes me feel like it was written just for me. This book is as creative and heady and immersive as all of her other stories, yet it is still completely unique, and I wouldn’t expect it any other way.

At first, we meet Cordelia, and it’s so hard not to love this poor girl right away. Her mother is a sorceress, and a cruel one at that, so it isn’t a surprise to discover that her mother uses her powers on her own daughter. Not only does her mother use her sorceress powers on Cordelia, usurping complete control of Cordelia’s body for long periods of time, she also emotionally manipulates her. It’s painful watching Cordelia go through all of this abuse and manipulation, knowing that she has no other options and no way out.

Falada is another character in the story. He’s a horse and does horsey things, but he doesn’t necessarily act like a horse all the time. There’s something different about him, and no one can quite put their finger on it, including Cordelia herself. Yet he functions as Cordelia’s only friend, which is horribly sad, since she’s such a sweet girl.

The plot was slow to develop and allowed me to get to know the characters in depth, before things actually started moving. Kingfisher slowly introduces new characters, letting me acclimate to them without getting overwhelmed with all these new players in the story. It also provided room for me to see the new characters notice what is going on within their midst, as the sorceress can’t help but show her true colors, and as they realize what is happening with Cordelia.

Ultimately, there are some heavier themes in the story, including abuse, manipulation, and gaslighting, all of which are commonly found in fairy tales, but they are explored more deeply in this book. However, Kingfisher approaches these topics with her characteristic gentle touch and a twist of snark and a sprinkle of creepy in the last quarter. Overall, this book knocked it out of the park, just like all of the other Kingfisher stories that I’ve read. In addition, I was approved for the audiobook version, narrated by Eliza Foss and Jennifer Pickens and they were outstanding. Their narration of this book was captivating, and held me rapt for the entire book. I recommend this one to readers who enjoy fairy tale retellings, underdog stories, and snarky humor.

Let's be honest, T. Kingfisher is an easy choice for booksellers. I'm pretty sure she's never wrtten a bad book. That being said, A Sorceress Comes to Call is my favorite of all of her "fantasy" novels. Inspired by the Goose Girl fairytale this story has everything- murder, magic, evil mothers,weird horse drama, geese... not to mention a great cast of characters including a young girl who has no idea who she wants to be, a 50-something firecracker who uses mobility aids, a wealthy lord who doesn't want to marry a pretty young girl, and a bevy of female friends who don't fit the Regency stereotype. It was delightful from beginning to end.

With thanks to NetGalley and Tor for the ARC, received with no obligation to review.

I have precious little time to read for pleasure at the moment, which made this a very dangerous book, as, once I started reading it, I was loathe to set it down. I didn't quite manage it in one gulp, but I definitely lost quite a bit of sleep in the attempt.

This is a tense and moody, dark, atmospheric story, beautifully written with compelling characters and delightful interactions between them. I particularly enjoyed the wide range of ages and personalities, and to see how they worked together as the plot thickens and requires all hands on deck. Although I do love stories that are reworking of classic fairy tales, The Goose Girl, on which this is based, is not a story I'm particularly familiar with, so I can't speak to the connection. I do look forward to reading the fairy tale, however, and then revisiting this to get a fresh take. Definitely one of the best things I've read in a while. Highly recommended. And if you can curl up on a rainy night with it, all the better.

Another excellent book from T. Kingfisher! I loved it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!