"A Sorceress Comes to Call" proved to be exactly the kind of accessible fantasy I was craving. This was a well written fantasy that delivered a rich story without overwhelming me in complex world-building and far too many characters to keep track of.
While not action-packed, the story thrives on intrigue. I found myself intrigued by the heroines' careful plotting, research, and strategic thinking. There's a darker edge to the tale, and the stakes felt genuinely high – I truly worried about whether anyone would survive! My only complaint is the uneven pacing – some moments fly by too quickly, particularly the ending, while others linger longer than necessary.
If you're looking for fantasy that focuses on wit and tension rather than epic battles, this book is a perfect choice. Four stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!
My very first read by this author, and I absolutely loved it. The best kind of dark fairy tale, with a compelling cast of characters.

I was super excited for this one, because I LOVE T. Kingfisher. It took me a bit to get into, and was only interested at the 50% mark. It was just meh to me.

Had to write this one up for the best SF/F books of the year list for Polygon — I was really taken with the mordant humor, the tension, and above all, the sense of not knowing what's going to happen next. If you aren't hooked from the first paragraph of this book, I don't know what you're reading fantasy for.

https://www.polygon.com/2024/7/8/24180933/best-fantasy-books-sci-fi-2024

T. Kingfisher delivers another enchanting tale with A Sorceress Comes to Call! The story is rich with magic, humor, and heart, featuring a strong cast of characters and a plot that keeps you engaged. The world-building is delightful, and the mix of charm and wit makes it a thoroughly enjoyable read. Definitely worth picking up for fantasy fans!

5⭐️

This book, just like all the author’s others, was incredible. It gives kind of a dark Ella Enchanted vibe. All of the characters were well developed, Cordelia’s character arc was satisfying, and the story was a wonderful mix of a fairytale gone horribly wrong. I loved this book.

Kingfisher is an auto read author for me and this book didn’t disappoint! So many secrets, sorcery and ultimately family. Cordelia must decide what family means to her no matter the cost.

Thank you #NetGalley and #tor for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

T. Kingfisher is quickly becoming one of my favourite writers. I really enjoyed the pacing and the story of this one. I greatly look forward to reading more from them in the future!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

With T Kingfisher toy never know if you’re going to get dark or lighthearted like A Wizards Guide to Defensive Baking. This is definitely on the dark side and I found it a bit creepy.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review! This is my first T. Kingfisher, and it surely will not be my last. I thought the story was engaging, the characters deftly plotted, and the tinge of dark magic in the air kept me coming back for more. I listened to the audiobook version in a day, and I was hooked the entire time. 4.5 stars.

T. Kingfisher’s imagination is extraordinary! What a tale of adventure and romance. I always like it when the hero’s are young, beautiful, and have hidden powers. Just ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Thank you for that.

I always love a good T Kingfisher novel with all of its gothic, creepy vibes. This story was short and sweet and a perfect spooky season read. She never disappoints.

Diving into a new T. Kingfisher novel is always an adventure. This time around, A Sorceress Comes to Call is a supposed retelling of Goose Girl by The Brothers Grimm. I say "supposed" because I honestly was completely and wholly unfamiliar with the original fairytale so I can not say how much it resembles the original and how much is a new retelling. Honestly, it doesn't matter because the entire novel felt ethereal and had just the right balance of light and dark to make it an exceptional story.

Cordelia's mother is a sorceress and yields magic to her whims to gain money, sex, and most of all power. When her mother's luck runs out in one town, she seeks to elevate both herself and her daughter in a new marriage match. What she doesn't expect is that Cordelia is finally tired of her mother's control and with the help of her mothers' new love interest's sister and her gaggle of friends, seeks to finally thwart her mother and take away her power.

Full of themes of domestic abuse, corruption of power, and found family, A Sorceress Comes to Call is a classic tale of light vs dark. Although this one is a bit of a slower burn than Kingfisher's previous works, it is certainly well worth reading and a welcome addition to the cannon of fairytale retellings.

Thank you to NetGalley, T. Kingfisher, and Tor Books for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Sorceress Comes to Call presents a captivating dark retelling of "The Goose Girl," blending elements of historical fantasy with a touch of horror. The exploration of themes like parental abuse and narcissism adds depth to the narrative. Kingfisher's inclination toward horror is particularly effective in this story, which I found to be very well-written.

The dual-perspective structure is a highlight, allowing for a rich contrast between the two main characters, each with their own unique backgrounds and experiences. I appreciated how this dynamic enhanced my investment in both of their journeys. Cordelia, a sheltered young woman, faces the challenges of a controlling mother who uses magic to exert physical influence over her. Her desire for a wealthy husband to create opportunities for herself drives the plot, and her experiences are at times harrowing, yet incredibly compelling. This reimagining digs deep into the original tale's darker themes, making it a thrilling read for fans of Kingfisher’s horror style.

The pacing of this paranormal thriller is brisk, featuring numerous twists and turns that kept me engaged and eager to read on. The audio narration complements the historical context beautifully, enhancing the overall experience. I'm excited to see what T. Kingfisher has in store for us next!

This enchanting dark fantasy brings a remarkable new perspective to The Goose Girl.

Cordelia's mother Evangeline is a powerful, controlling, evil sorcerer. She enchants a rich man and moves them to his manor house, where Cordelia finds allies for the first time.

They - and an irate gander - finally save the day.

I’ve always enjoyed Kingfisher’s writing style and this book was no exception! I thought that the setting was incredibly well done and it felt like I was there with the characters. Evangeline was a well-written villain and I enjoyed watching how the other characters worked to out smart her. One of my favorite things that Kingfisher does is blend in a bit of horror with fantasy and I thought this book did that very well, Can’t wait to read more from this author!

4.25
✅ solid setting and atmosphere
✅ witty cute characters
✅ best side romance ever
✅ paralyzing relatability
✅ horse flesh
❌ rushed/convenient ending [could be that I rushed to read the ending before work... conveniently]

The story starts slowly but the way it builds I really liked. And once it builds it just takes off in the best way! I really loved it!

T. Kingfisher won me over with her horror novels and endears me further with her fantasy writing. She combines both familiar concepts and new worlds with her trademark quirky humor that I love. A Sorceress Comes to Call is no exception as she bends a traditional tale into her own fantastically twisted story. The characters were realistic and relatable and the writing pulled me in from the beginning. Despite being familiar with the original tale, there were many unexpected twists in A Sorceress Comes to Call that kept me interested throughout.

A Sorceress Comes to Call weaves a tale of a young girl named Cordelia finding herself after being under her mother's bidding for her entire life. Cordelia's mother, Evangeline, is a sorceress that controls Cordelia's body to do as she pleases and trick people into giving them money. Evangeline finds a man that she sets as prey and they both set off to begin Evangeline's plot to have her marry him. Cordelia had never been able to escape her mother or learn vital things about the world until moving due to the sheltered life she had.

This follows the story of the Goose Girl from the Brothers Grimm, which I had never heard of until this novel came along. It was interesting reading up on this tale after reading the novel and seeing all of the inspiration spun from it. It is a very eerie novel that would be perfect for the month of October or autumnal months with the magic, intrigue, and suspense. It made me feel uncomfortable at times (not having control over my body is a major fear lol) but I was super curious to dive deeper into the lore of this town, however, it felt like we did not really get to dive too much into it.

Cordelia is an extremely timid and shy character, which aligns with the amount of abuse that her mother inflicted upon her. One thing I would have loved to see more was character development within Cordelia's character. It felt like we got to see more development from Hester at times rather than Cordelia herself, but I absolutely loved the found family dynamics when it comes to Hester, Richard, Imogen, and that whole lot. Seeing them all interact with one another and take Cordelia under their wings was so heartwarming. It was also amazing to see character that believed each other because that person believed it. They didn't belittle or try to convince them they were crazy, they sat and listened and said "Well you believe it so I believe it. How do we fix this?" Hester is the other POV we follow, the sister of the man Evangeline is set on marrying. I loved how headstrong she was, but she also cared so much even if she put on the front that she didn't.

Overall, it was a novel that didn't wow me, but it was still a good time. I was able to fly through it quickly, though I do wish I was not able to guess some of the twists that happened. Nothing was really a surprise unfortunately.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for providing me a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.