Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillian Audio for the advance copy of this book!! I listened to it in just a few days and recommended it to several friends before I was even through it. This was my first novel by T. Kingfisher and it will definitely not be my last.

A Sorceress Comes to Call is a retelling of the Goose Girl fairytale from the Grimm Brothers. I wasn't familiar with that tale prior to reading this book, so I went in with no foreknowledge and zero expectations. It was SO GOOD! I listened to the audiobook and there were two different narrators that spoke for the two different POVs that the story was told from. The first POV is Cordelia, the 14-year-old daughter of the sorceress, Evangeline. Cordelia is cruelly forced into obedience by her mother when she doesn't do as Evangeline desires. Cordelia is severely isolated with only one real friend, Falada, her mother's horse. The second POV is Hester's. A woman in her 50s, sister of the Squire, whom Evangeline is trying to marry for his meager wealth and social status. Evangeline's goal is for Cordelia to marry even better and she will stop at nothing to see that plan through.

I'm not sure I can give much more than that without giving much away. This is not a direct retelling of the Goose Girl story. There are definitely some differences, so it won't feel like an elongated version of the same thing you might already know and love. I think that it's something you'll be able to love in a whole new way, though! Kingfisher does an amazing job at staying true to the story, while also putting her own fresh spin on it and telling the story anew. Highly recommend!!! :)

I loved this book so much! T. Kingfisher is an incredible author who has never let me down yet. I really appreciated the two narrators for the two different POVs, I found that helpful in following the story. Both were great, so it was pleasant and easy to listen to this audio book.

The story was delightful, dark, tense, and a bit gory at times. It did lag a bit in the middle, but not enough to pull me out of it. One of my favorite parts of this author’s work, which was reflected in this story as well, is the complex, rounded out characters. Even those who are meant to be loved and rooted for by the reader are flawed and imperfect, but ultimately good.

I just can’t recommend this enough. I enjoyed it so much that I finished the entire book in one day.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Eliza Foss and Jennifer Pickens who both did a wonderful job of brining this wonderful book by T. Kingfisher to life. This is my first book by T. Kingfisher and I have others that have been on my TBR that have jumped up exponentially. I requested this book based on the description: A Sorceress Comes to Call is a brilliant, gripping, and dark retelling of the Fairy tale The Goose Girl: A Story from the Brothers Grimm. This book was fantastic and I just wanted more and for it not to end. If you have not read a book by this author, you are missing out! I will definitely be adding this book to our library collection.

Cordelia's mother, Evangeline, is a sorceress who demands obedience and wields her 'magical' control whenever she can. Cordelia is forced to remain still for various lengths of time. She lives in fear and must flee their home with her mother after Evangeline gets into a little hot water and they end up at the home of the Squire. A man Evangeline hopes to woo and wed. Cordelia feels out of her element in such a grand home but is quickly befriended by the Squires sister, Hester, and is treated with kindness by the staff of the manor. Hester knows something isn't right. She is very observant and clever; she knows that Evangeline is up to no good. How can she save her brother from this evil sorceress?
I only wanted to listen and continue this story once I started. I loved all the characters. They were fully fleshed, interesting, and quirky, their personalities, motivations, and banter were delightful. The setting was wonderful and so easy to get lost in and feel a part of the story.

The book touches on magic, abuse, love, danger, revenge, family, friendship, and good vs. evil. I loved the pacing of the book progressed and how invested I felt in their story. I was literally on the edge of my seat and loving every second. I would highly recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audioArc to review.

My thanks to NetGalley for the advance reader copy.
Rating: 4 out of 5

T. Kingfisher does it again! This was a story that gripped me from the first few pages and didn’t let me go. I positively adore how Kingfisher runs right up to a trope, convinces you its going to be tropey, and then shatters the illusion. This book kept me on my toes in a comfortable way, if that makes sense. The content matter is dark and unpleasant, centering around the theme of parental abuse. However, Kingfisher uses enough humor, wit, and insight to make keep the plot from becoming depressing, while, at the same time, giving the dark aspects a treatment which doesn’t diminish them.

What I appreciate about this particular book is the way in which each of the characters are believable. The antagonist, while being horrific, has reasons to be apart that way apart from innate evil. Oftentimes, an attempt to humanize the antagonist is patently obvious, but Kingfisher did it the right way in this book. My only criticism is that I wasn’t sold entirely on a couple of plot points, but they were minor.

Once you start this book, you won’t be able to put it down! NetGalley provided me with the audiobook version, and the voice actors were phenomenal.

A Sorceress Comes to Call is dual-POV, darker reimagined tale of The Goose Girl. The two POVs are a 14 year old girl, Cordelia, and middle-aged Hester. This is a great character-driven and relationship-driven story, all of the characters were excellently written. T. Kingfisher is so good at writing different aged POVs. There are certainly dark and horrible elements, Evangeline is an excellent evil sorceress playing at polite society lady. I've never read a book by T. Kingfisher that I didn't like, and this is just another great example. A unique story that I absolutely loved!

Having a narrator for each POV was great, and they fit each character so well! Excellent audiobook!

I made it to 54% before I couldn’t do it anymore.

I am a fan of TKF’s dark and humorous writing style. This delivered that, but god is it slow. It takes a long time for not much to happen. At first it was really depressing, with the child abuse in the form of “obedience” but after a while Cordelia’s character failed to invoke any feelings for me other than pity. She’s constantly, and rightfully so, described as a timid and fearful animal. Then Hester- I appreciate her character being an older, clever and independent woman for the time. I liked how she showed concern and care for Cordelia, and that she has a man who is hopelessly in love with her (even though she thinks she’s too old and therefore undeserving). She mentions that she can’t/wont entertain that love and that her knees hurt like every chapter. This was supposed to feel like creepy and unsettling there’s a dangerous stranger infiltrating the home thing but it was just boring. Would have loved to know how they got rid of Evangeline in the end, but it felt like I had already endured enough of it by the time I stopped.

Something about this had a nostalgic feeling while being a fresh new world to dive into. I think it was because of how well written it was and how the world building plopped you into two very different povs.

Cordelia is a child that terrified of her controlling mother- afraid of anything that could be considered a slight against her mother knowing that if she crosses her she will be “made obedient” Cordelia doesn’t know what her mother gets up to when she is away from the house only that she can breathe better when she’s gone. One day she comes home upset that her benefactor is no longer going to fund their lives and moves them to a manor to seduce a wealthy squire.

Hester has a feeling something bad is about to happen when her brother brings home a woman and her child. So far her brother the squire has not been interested in marriage but something is different about this woman.

I loved having these different povs: someone that is a victim to the sorceress and someone that is an outsider/ skeptic to the depths of magic sorcerers are able to wield.
Incredibly enjoyable.

Thanks to netgalley and Macmillan audio for an advanced listening copy

A fantastic dark reimagining of the Brothers Grimm's fairy tail the Goose Girl. The opening chapter sets the darkness and eeriness showing well of the bond that keeps a young daughter (Cordelia) a prisoner of her mother's magic and cruelty. The mother plan is to marry into money. She drags her daughter into the heart of a wealthy family, convinced that it will be easy. But the innocent daughter finds friends who care for her and she learns from them more of life by becoming courageous and taking action. The cast is amazing and fun, especially the older women and their circle of friends who are too smart and understand that something odd is happening. The horse is a terrible thing, the author writes the chapters of this creature with skill. Loved it.

I recommend the audiobook. The narrator brought the characters to life in such a way that I felt there was a full cast. 
Magic, witchcraft, possession, murder.

This is my first contact with this author's work, but it made me a fan. 


Thank you, publisher and netgalley, for this copy.

4.5⭐️
oh wow I loved this !! This gave me the same vibes as watching episodes 5 & 6 of Merlin Season 2 iykyk. I was scared because this was my first T.kingfisher and I’ve heard mixed things about their books but this was amazing! I am a chronic romance reader and a chronic not-reading-the-synopsis reader so I fully had no idea what to expect. For whatever reason I automatically assumed Cordelia would have a romance but honestly 100% happier she didn’t. I loved the journey of her breaking away from her abusive mother and taking control over her bodily autonomy (mentally & physically). That was a journey she needed to fulfill alone (well with the aid of some caring adults).

Penelope was really the star for me. She was such a witty and clever character. I loved hearing her talk about how non conventionally pretty people have to develop a personal style and personality to be “successful”. Like she’s such a Cool Girl I’m obsessed.

“I am-I was Penelope Green. Some people might have hated me but they never forgot me”
I’ll never forget you queen!

I also didn’t think I love the romance between the two older characters, Hester and Lord Evermore, as much as I did. It was so sweet and real. I’ve mentioned this before but as long as the male love interest is completely devoted and will do anything for their lover you will have my heart. That was literally Evermore; he would do anything for Hester no questions asked and wouldn’t expect anything in return. Even in the end she still was reluctant to marry him but as long as he was able to be near her he was satisfied (I possibly shed a tear).

I’m also one of those people who hate loose ends and loves when everything is resolved by the end of the book and this story did just that. Everyone got a happy ending and all the villains were defeated. Genuinely so happy for Cordelia, her fiancée-turned-adoptive father, and her step auntie to be a little family unit.

Ps I need a butler Willard spin off desperately. Why is he such a badass???

T. Kingfisher always gets me with their titles. 'A Sorceress Comes to Call' both tells you exactly what the story is about, and makes you wonder "Well what does that mean?" It was the same when I picked up 'What Moves the Dead' last year, "Well what does move the dead?"

I don't want to give away any spoilers because I enjoyed this book so much, and want others to go in nearly as blind as me. Just let me say, imagine having a fly walking on your hand and not being allowed to swat it away, and letting that little itchy feeling settle without relief. I was so sympathetic to our main character Cordelia from the opening scene of her being trapped in "obedience".

My only qualm with the audiobook is that the voice for Cordelia is so mature sounding that I keep forgetting that she isn't older. She doesn't sound girlish enough to be a fourteen, though she is effective at sounding mouselike and terrified. Don't get me wrong, her voice is great, just not childish. Hester's voice was perfect, as was the character. This story has roots in a Grimm Fairy Tale, but this is a very unique retelling. I loved the geese. I highly recommend, the cast of characters are great with personalities full of salt, water, and wine!

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and especially author T. Kingfisher for giving me the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for my honest review.

T. Kingfisher absolutely never misses. I love her writing in any genre, but recently I’ve found these fairytale retellings especially compelling. This one is so dark and twisted — the concept of being obedient truly makes my skin crawl (and gives major Ella Enchanted vibes). I loved the split perspective with Cordelia and Hester, and it’s so lovely how the tenderness in the central relationships balances out the cruelty. Rounding down from 4.5 because the climactic scene did fall short of the build-up for me personally.

I’ve read some of T. Kingfisher’s other works (Saint of Steel series), but this is my first of her non-romance books, and I really enjoyed it. A Sorceress Comes to Call is a dark reimagining of the Brothers Grimm's "The Goose Girl". It’s a little fantasy, a touch spooky, has regency vibes, full of emotion and character depth, and still manages to be kind of cozy. I listened to the audiobook and Eliza Foss and Jennifer Pickens did a fantastic job narrating the book.

Cordelia, a young teenage girl, is being literally compelled to be ‘obedient’ by her controlling and manipulative sorceress mother Evangeline so Cordelia can eventually be married off to a rich man. When Evangeline herself attempts to marry a Squire she meets Hester, the Squire’s sister and a clever older woman with chronic pain and knack for training geese, Evangeline’s secrets start to get unraveled. We meet some other great side characters, one of my favorites being the witty and down to earth charming Penelope.

Thank you to T. Kingfisher, Macmillan Audio, and to NetGalley for providing an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Sorcerers, familiars, demons, and ghosts, all seen through a Regency Era lens. Bridgerton and magic! Lol. This is a tale of an overbearing mother, who happens to be a sorceress, trying to reach a higher station in life through marriage and magic. I was entranced the whole way through, to the grand battle at the end. I appreciate that Kingfisher gives such great closure to her books and that they aren't all series. Can't wait for the next adventure!

Genre: fantasy horror

Cordelia's mother, Evangeline, is a very powerful Sorceress with the ability to control people. Unfortunately, this sometimes means controlling Cordelia, but it's all for her own good. When Evangeline's benefactor no longer suits her needs, she decides to take matters into her own hands and approach a squire of some means and worm her way into his heart. But the squire's sister, Hester, is an insightful woman who recognizes that Cordelia needs more than just someone to watch out for her....

Part fantasy, part murder mystery, this has a delightful gothic tone in the signature style I come to expect from T Kingfisher. It's just the right amount of horror to give you chills but not enough to keep you up at night. It’s a house party, a murder mystery, a coming of age story, and a love story all at once.

The split perspective - where Cordelia knows what her mother is and is too afraid to say anything and where Hester has strong suspicions but doesn’t entirely know what to do about it - frames the pacing of the novel well. From Cordelia’s nervousness and need to hide behind every door imaginable from her mother to the keen observations from Hester, we get these different views that feel like peeking around corners in a clever way. The duet narration by Eliza Foss and Jennifer Pickens, taking on Cordelia and Hester’s perspectives works really well splitting the perspective for the novel, almost as if the listener is being transported from one of their minds to another, even though the book is written in third person.

This is the longest work I’ve read from Kingfisher, and I think her experience in writing novellas with her judicious word choices and plot arcs translates well into novel length.

My first T. Kingfisher book did not disappoint - a colorful cast of characters and a hint of the paranormal made for an original retelling of a classic fairytale. Kingfisher does an excellent job with her character development and building tension throughout.

This book had developed strong female leads and offered realistic representation of protagonists older than 17 (pretty rare these days). Henny’s strategy and intelligence is reminiscent of the best of Agatha Christie. While only 14, Cordelia has an understandably traumatic backstory and while she makes progress she doesn’t become a B.A. witch hunter by the end, which is refreshing. She doesn’t suddenly take charge and overcome her trauma but does find solace and direction from those she comes to trust.

The world building in “A Sorceress Comes to Call”, is satisfactory for a stand alone. There isn’t much development beyond the places the scenes of the story. I could’ve taken more development there but it was definitely enough to keep the world together.

Cordelia knows her mother is unusual. There are no doors in their house, and Cordelia isn’t allowed to have any friends. Worst of all, her mother uses her magic to force Cordelia to be obedient - sometimes silent and motionless for hours, or even days.

After a suspicious death in their town, Cordelia and her mother travel to a remote country manor owned by a wealthy older man and his sister, Hester. Cordelia’s mother intends to seduce the man into a marriage. Hester sees how Cordelia’s mother treats her and is determined to do what she must to save both her brother and Cordelia from this wicked sorceress.

What I loved:

-The atmosphere. This book felt very eerie and dark, and the audiobook narrators definitely helped with that! Nonetheless, there were some funny and sweet moments throughout.
-The fairytale feel. This is definitely a dark retelling with strong horror elements, but it still felt like a fairytale, complete with heroes and entertaining side characters!
-The ending! I loved how everything wrapped up, and all the action in the end of the book!

What I didn’t love:

-Honestly, not much! I had a great time reading this book! If anything, the narrator for Cordelia sounded a little too young…but even that just drove home how naive and sheltered the character was!

I highly recommend this to anyone who likes retellings or is intrigued by the sound of a dark fairytale!

I received an audio-arc from Net Galley to review.

This story was a tale of women . . . One who has been beaten down by another’s manipulation until she is only a husk of a person, one that has internalized misogyny turning her back on something truly wonderful, and one who has turned the pain of being used and left into fuel to wound so many more. Yes, there are male characters but they are more of the grounding / supporting cast to a group of unique and unforgettable women.

One of our main characters, Cordelia (14), is meek and emotionless at the beginning of the book but becomes a little braver by the end. Hester, in her 50s, is bold and unapologetic. She is unsure if she can fix things but she knows she has to try for the sake of her loved ones. The other female characters, not mentioned in the synopsis, are equally enjoyable. The mother / sorceress is evil and something to be feared and hated - a true villain. All women will stick with me for a long time.

I will say that there are several trigger warnings that should be reviewed. There are on page depictions of child abuse, emotional manipulation by a parent, body horror, animal horror, and bullying.

Rated 4.5 stars rounded up for Goodreads.

Kingfisher is the ONE for me!!
It's hard to explain her style, and I get why her reviews are all over the place. She writes about dark subjects, in a way that doesn't feel grotesque. She has hard things happen, but you know everything will resolve in the end. She doesn't really do a romance - not a romance in the typical sense, like you'd think in a romance novel - but the love stories she crafts are beautiful. She has the best set of characters. She has a great blend of humor, melancholy, horror, and mystery.

This book utilized two narrators for the alternating POV, and the texture they brought to this story was unbelievable. So good. Felt like a real Grimm's fairytale.

I've only read two of her novels and they both felt like this. I LOVED this, and I can't wait to check out more!!

I want to love all of T. Kingfishers books. Nettle and Bone and A Wizards Guide to Defensive Baking are 2 of my most favorite reads of all time. I was so excited for this one, and while I enjoyed it, it is not as quirky and whimsical as I love. There are some really loveable characters and relationships in this, the plot is interesting and enjoyable, but at the end of the day I am not a horror fan. I still really enjoy her writing, characters and plot, but the creepy/gore is not for me. If you love a mix of quirky and creepy, this one is for you!

Audiobook read by Eliza Foss and Jennifer Pickens; I really enjoyed the dual narrator in this. Even though the characters and narrators are both female, I feel like it really helps to separate the chapters and POVs. Both narrators did an exceptional job at their parts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for this ARC in exchange for an honest review :)

#NetGalley #NetGalleyReads #BookReview #QuirkyHorror #Fantasy #FantasyBookReview

Well, it was beautifully written. The story was unique, although a bit sleepy. Not quite boring just sleepy. I have another T. Kingfisher book to read and I did enjoy the writing style. But.... the FMC of this book was so pathetic and whiny it was hard at times to enjoy it. It's really hard to rate this book.
3 for story, 4.25 for writing.