T Kingfisher is on my automatic buy now list and has been since I first discovered the magic of her fantasy novels. A Sorceress Comes to Call is a loose retelling of The Goose Girl, which I have never read, so cannot compare the two. Kingfisher again did a fantastic job of drawing me into a new fairytale with interesting characters, acts of courage and a plan to thwart the evil Sorceress.

Cordelia and her mother, Evangeline, have lived in a little town their entire life. She has been sheltered and sequestered in their cottage for most of it and has no friends. Her mother even forcefully controls her for periods of time to make sure Cordelia can’t do anything to embarrass her or do anything that might bother Evangeline as most children are wont to do. It is horrific and one of my worst fears is to be controlled like that. Cordelia’s only escape is when she rides the white horse they keep, but that too is a lie. After Evangeline throws a temper tantrum in their small village and kills someone, they have to find a new home and a new benefactor for her mother. So they steal away to a new place for Evangeline to weave her web.

Hester escaped marrying the wrong man years ago, but it has made her unmarriable and now a spinster in her brother’s house. The same thing that told her not to accept that marriage has woken her up in the middle of the night to let her know something bad is coming and beware. When Squire, her brother, brings home a widow to stay at their estate until other arrangements can be made, Hestor knows exactly what that trouble is, she just isn’t sure what to think of Cordelia or how to save her smitten brother. But if Hestor can call in some reinforcements for a house party, maybe, just maybe, she might be able to throw a few wrenches into Evangeline’s plans.

This was such an interesting story. Told from both Cordelia and Evangeline’s PoV, we are pulled through this strange story where two women will bond together in order to save a kind man from a horrible fate. There are a few twists, magic, mayhem and apparently warrior geese that may help to save the day. I liked Hestor so much. She and Richard were once lovers but she couldn’t marry him so she set him free. But being with him again and working to save her brother has sparked some of those old feelings. This gave the story just enough of a romance push and I loved the idea of a second chance for them.

The ending was so satisfactory for me and fitting for the characters. I really liked that all the women didn’t really need a man to save them but at the end of the day the partnership shared was one of mutual benefit and didn’t overshadow the strength of the women. Overall a new favorite from T. Kingfisher that I will relisten to again soon.

Narration:
Eliza Foss and Jennifer Pickens are the voices of Cordelia and Hester. Each Pov was distinct and I really appreciate that when reading alternating PoVs that the narrators sound different, as they should. Cordelia is 14 and Hester was closer to 50, so the use of two narrators added to that distinctive PoV for each. I can’t say I’ve ever listened to either of the narrators before but their voices are crisp and their diction and pronunciation really good. I enjoyed both narrators about the same and each had their own flair to add. I was able to listen to the story at my usual 1.5x speed.

Every time I am convinced that I know what I like in a book, someone spectacular like T. Kingfisher comes in and says, "Hold my glass."

I was hesitant about a story whose primary character was a 14 year old girl, but in T. Kingfisher, we trust, and that trust paid off. In contrast, our other main POV was from a 50+ year old spinster with a cane. It was fabulous.

In true Kingfisher fashion, this book is eerie, unsettling, and full of unexpected bouts of humor in the midst of dire circumstances.

Does anyone else in the audience have a controlling, narcissistic mother? My condolences, but at least she isn't a sorceress who can compel you to obedience at will and tends to be a touch homicidal. At least, I do hope not.

I received an advance listener copy, and the audio was wonderful. With a dual narration for each POV, I felt that the narrators were cast perfectly for their respective parts and held a pacing that kept me engaged with the story.

[4.5 stars]
What a wonderfully dark and spellbinding read. I listened to the audiobook version of this story, and I recommend it. The narrators did a great job of shaping the characters and tapping into the eerie atmosphere everything is set in.

Considering how heavy a lot of the topics discussed in this book were, it still somehow felt like a cozy fantasy. I’m not sure I’d reread this one, but I’d certainly recommend it to anyone interested in sorcery, murder and scheming. And, on the lighter side, those who like to read about the power of kindness, compassion, and supportive friends.

Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

A Sorceress Comes to Call is a perfect book for describing what happens when an evil woman has way too much power and uses it to impact the lives of everyone around her in frankly disturbing ways. What will happen when her daughter, with the help of some unlikely allies, decides to fight back?

I loved this book. Cordelia was a bit annoying as a character at first. There were times when I wanted to shake some sense into her, but by the end of the book, she had grown on me, and I found myself rooting for her. The secondary characters were also well-drawn, and I appreciated the fact that we followed characters from very different generations throughout which, I think, means that this book has the potential to appeal to a wide audience. There were, admittedly, some characters that, I felt lacked sufficient motive for some of their actions, but overall, the cast worked well.

The sorcery in this book was disturbing to say the least. It will probably give me nightmares but in a good way. I did appreciate that, although this book does contain some violence, it isn't described in too much detail. If it had been, we would have gone from disturbing to horrific, and I think that would have detracted from the story. As it was, I was slightly creeped out but still intrigued by what our sorceress was capable of.

Overall, if you enjoy books with dark magic, good vs evil, or a child finding the courage to stand up against a much stronger parent, this one is worth the read.

Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 2.5/5
A Sorceress Comes to Call is a dark fairytale retelling. Cordelia is a young girl who fears her sorceress of a mother, Evangeline. Always forced to be well-behaved and perfect, more of a doll than a fourteen year old girl, Cordelia longs for freedom from her mother. When a gruesome killing occurs in her small town, her mother quickly packs their things and leaves. Cordelia can't help but suspect her mother had something to do with it. As a new wealthy family takes them in, Cordelia worries they won't be safe from Evangeline.

This book was okay. It didn’t stand out and it wasn’t bad, I just felt as though it was pretty dull for long periods of time. It was much longer than it needed to be. The ending was perfectly wrapped up, really liked how everyone’s story panned out. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance reader copy.

In True Kingfisher fashion I am utterly obsessed. This book was everything I expected and so much more. I loved Cordelia and thought that she was very enduring. Her mother was a true to brand love to hate villain and I was eager for her to truly get what she deserved. I think that character wise my favorite was definitely Esther. She was an absolute delight, truthfully she through me some serious Lady Danbury vibes and I loved it! The magic system was complex and it didn't entirely make sense to me at first but once the entirety of Evangeline's story and powers came to light it was really neat to see how the pieces all fit together. The story was definitely dark and had some sensitive subjects that were brought mostly stemming around the abuse that Cordelia was subjected to. I think that this was done very tasteful and well. I liked the story line and the way that it progressed. The world building was fun and made sense with the over all plot. The narrator did an impeccable job on this and the way it was brought to life was perfect!

T Kingfisher's mind is a mystery. She writes such unique stories all of which feel so different. I've loved so many of her books, I knew I needed to read this one as well. This was a much darker story than I was expecting. I love the dysfunctional family dynamics and the found family. I wasn't expecting so much of a mystery plot though. I enjoyed the older character povs and even the slight love story going on in the background. The horse familiar was a shock. I wasn't expecting that to go in the direction it did. The audio narration was enjoyable and I'm glad it had more than one narrator. I didn't feel a strong connection to any of the characters though. I ended up on a 3.5 star rating. Enjoyable and different but not the best from the author.

It is a well-told story, and if I have quibbles with pacing in retrospect, it could just be because it was so hard to witness Cordelia's life. Transformation does eventually come, in fits and stops, much like real life. It's not an easy path. The first 80% of the book is a straightforward femme fatale story -- the entrapment of the male quarry by the sorceress, resisted by his and her relations. But at 80% the "dark, weird" turns up to 11. The story ends with a satisfying Bang.

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Tor Books for an advanced listening copy and ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A Sorceress Comes to Call is so fun, and probably one of my favorites from Kingfisher. I went in knowing this was a Goose Girl retelling, but I liked that it was a very, very loose one—I wouldn’t necessarily be able to tell you it was a retelling just based on the text itself. I really enjoyed the overall atmosphere, and as always I thought the characters were all very strong. I love Kingfisher’s ability to blend genres and infuse the work with whimsy, and this one is no exception. I did especially like that the side characters all felt fully realized and were lovely to spend time with, and the contrast between them (all middle aged adults) and Cordelia (a 14 year old girl) was good.

There were perhaps times where I felt the pacing was a little off (I thought the middle felt longer than it really was), but I loved spending time with the characters so it didn’t bother me all that much. The audio for this was strong and really added to the story.

Something about this storytelling was absolutely addicting. Compulsively readable, even for non-fantasy lovers, Kingfisher knocks it out of the park again.

I really enjoyed this audio book. The narrators were both excellent. As always, T. Kingfisher manages to blend horror, humor, and romance in a way uniquely theirs. This story is part fairytale, part found family, and part English countryside manners. The characters are a delight and so fun to spend time with. I find myself wanting to follow them through more of their lives to come.

A wonderful story of a young girl and her allies fighting evil with magic and breaking the rules. The characters are well formed and surprisingly relatable being the historical timeframe and fantasy elements.

Like most mothers, Cordelia's wants her to marry a rich man. However, unlike most mothers, Cordelia's has the ability to make others "obedient" while she uses them as human puppets. Her mother wishes to marry well herself to better situate Cordelia for a match to a wealthy suitor, despite Cordelia's reticence at socializing and terror of her mother's powers.

Now, much to her absolute horror, Cordelia and her mother, Evangeline, have made a hasty escape from their small town following a gruesome murder to the country estate of a generous bachelor Squire. Evangeline intends to make the wealthy Squire fall in love with her and propose. Hester, the Squire's sharp-tongued sister, immediately senses the sinister undercurrent between mother and daughter. But can one spinster stand between a sorceress and her quarry?

This has been one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint. This latest novel has everything I have come to expect (and adore) from T. Kingfisher: unlikely heroes, witty dialogue, droll servants, and dark magic. As with Swordheart, our romantic leads are middle-aged. Hester is round, uses a cane, and worries that she's not worthy of love. Relatable.

A Sorceress Comes to Call is a captivating tale that exceeded my already high expectations. Kingfisher’s masterful storytelling and rich world-building make this a must-read for fans of fantasy and character-driven narratives.

This review will be posted to Goodreads on July 31, 2024 and Instagram on August 1, 2024.

I really love how T. Kingfisher always has such lived-in characters. They always feel like real, ordinary people who have just found themselves in fantastical situations, and here is no different with Cordelia, young and timid, and Hester, older and sure of herself. Neither of them are the archetypal young, brash heroes who populate most fantasy, but the story feels so much more relatable and accessible because of it. You know exactly who all the characters are and the story all but leaps off the page for it.

I think of this less of a retelling and more of a brand new tale that takes inspiration from the Goose Girl story, of breaking from expectations and familial abuse and finding the courage to carve out a place in the world for yourself.

The audio is perfect, bringing all of the characters even more to life!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Tor Publishing, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest book by the amazing T. Kingfisher, with the audiobook perfectly narrated by Eliza Foss and Jennifer Pickens. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

In this retelling of the Brothers Grimm's "Goose Girl," Cordelia's mom, Evangeline, has kept her isolated and controlled, her only friend being their horse, Falada, her mother's familiar. She discovers that Evangeline is a sorceress and has set her sights on marriage to the wealthy Squire. Squire's sister, Hester, sees through Evangeline's plans and hopes to avoid her brother's marriage to Evangeline.

T. Kingfisher writes such immersive, magical books and this one is no exception. It's dark, with themes of abuse and coercion, but also the power of good over evil, as Hester, her maid and friends to their best to save Cordelia. Cordelia will steal your heart, with her naivety as to how things work, and her belief in goodness. There's tension, humor, magic, great characters, geese, and even ghosts! It's so descriptive that it will put you into this other world. I loved having both the audio and digital versions so as to never be far away from this story! Another highly recommended book from this author!

T. Kingfisher is the master of fairy tale retellings, breathing new life into them and creating brand new tales for the ages. I love how dark this gets and all of the wild twists and turns throughout. Cordelia is such a resilient character and when she finally has her breakthrough moment that she does not belong to her mom, it is epic. I also really loved Esther and her internal dialogue. She is especially funny at the start of the book and it had me laughing out loud.

The story is paced out so perfectly, hitting the right beats as the music of the story plays along. The pacing combined with some beautiful and sometimes eerie narration by Eliza Foss and Jennifer Pickens adds something special to the audiobook. I loved listening to this story be told while I followed along with my physical ARC. I was so immersed in the world.

I didn’t read the publisher’s summary. The author is an auto buy. I jumped right in excited to turn the pages.

I was immediately drawn into the story. What an awful mommy dearest!! Cordelia’s mother is a wicked sorceress! She has complete control over her daughter & she uses it to get what she wants.

Cordelia wants nothing more than to get away from this tyranny. Her every avenue is blocked & those she cares about taken away.

The sorceress is obsessed with wealth & power. She sets her sights on a wealthy squire & soon they are both moved in and a wedding is planned.

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the tables turned. This is a relatively short book filled with tension and a bit of gore with a fantastic ending.

My favorite character was Hester but there are so many relatable likable characters, you’ll be cheering for them! I even enjoyed hating the sorceress! Great audiobook!

Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan Audio!! I loved the book!

T. Kingfisher’s A Sorceress Comes to Call is a magical tale of a lonely, abused girl who finds herself newly immersed in house where she gains the strength she never knew she had.

The story is told my two narrators: young, timid Cordelia and an aging, spirited Hester. Encouraged by Hester and the other house guests, Cordelia must aid in a plan to thwart her mother’s sorcery and save those she comes to love.

Touted as a dark retelling of Grimm's The Goose Girl, I found this book to be equal parts cozy fantasy, and strange, at times macabre, fairytale. This story took certain liberties with the original tale, and I felt it was more inspired by, rather than a true retelling. But I enjoyed the dark elements, the interesting characters, and as always, the beautiful prose that have become a hallmark of this author.
Most of the story is told from the perspective of Cordelia, the 14-year-old daughter of an unusual sorceress. Cordelia’s life changes when her mother sidles them with a wealthy benefactor, and his sister. We bear witness to her various trials and tribulations as she navigates her life, in what reads as a coming of age tale.
What I loved about this book were all of the side characters, that had bearings on the story in their own unique ways. There were bits of humor peppered throughout, and various relationship dynamics that were truly delightful to explore.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I think anyone who is a true T Kingfisher fan will appreciate the dark and bizarre elements, the beautiful writing, and the truly unique style of storytelling.

🎧As for the audiobook performances, I thought that the narrators did an amazing job, and I was fully immersed in the story from start to finish.

3.5 Stars. It feels like it's a bit too low for this but 4 stars feels a bit too strong.

T. Kingfisher does it again with another quirky fun tale featuring magic with teeth. This almost feels like Kingfisher's fantasy version of Downton Abbey with her signature cocktail of animals, horror elements and sparkling wit.
The audiobook was really enjoyable with each perspective switching narrators, which made it confusing for a minute on whose perspective we were in, something that may be solved in a text version.

This story is told from two perspectives, Cordelia, daughter of a woman she suspects may be a sorceress, and Hester, the sister of the man Cordelia's mother wants to ensnare in marriage. Things take a darker turn when Cordelia finds that her only friend in the world, a beautiful white horse, may actually have been in league with her mother all along.