I had to look up The Goose Girl before reading this because I was only vaguely familiar with the story. And I will say that was not really necessary. This book is extremely loosely based on the original. The horse being named Falada and there being some geese feels like the biggest connections. I thought the story was alright. This was a bit disappointing for me after how much I loved Thornhedge. The narrator was excellent.

This is outstanding both in the writing of the book and the narration. I did not want to put this one down and couldn't wait to get to the end. The characters, setting, and everything in between was so well written. Excellent book.

T Kingfisher cannot write a bad book. This was fun, dark, charming, and mysterious. I really liked having this audiobook to unwind and felt really satisfied upon finishing it!

The plot was interesting and well paced. A lot of the relationships were lovely and felt so full! The main and side characters all felt distinct. I also really liked the small romance subplot in this!

I loved the narration in the audiobook - both narrators did an excellent job.

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher is a standalone story about a girl and her mom. Her mom is a sorceress. The girl is not. And she is forced to endure many things that most daughters don’t, such as sitting still for hours on end and not being allowed to close doors or have any thoughts of her own. When her mom decides to move them in with a kind man and his sister, she is determined to help save them from what her mom has planned. I enjoyed this! It was a lot of fun and the narrators did a good job!

4.25 mesmerizing ⭐️s. I don’t read a lot of dark fairy tales by current authors. But my ears were glued to this audiobook as if under a spell.

T Kingfisher’s dark, imaginative fantasy draws creative inspiration from the fairy tale, “The Goose Girl.” But don’t expect the plot to center on a maiden who tends geese. It’s is so loosely based on the original that the Brothers Grimm themselves could read it and not recognize the story as their own classic tale. They both feature a deceptive wannabe bride, unsettling magic, and an enchanted horse named Falada. But the stories greatly diverge from there.

What I loved:

*Smart, natural dialogue

*Clever and lively older characters (people above a certain age can be more than curmudgeons and lonely old maids)

*Sprinkles of humor

What I wanted:

* A logical explanation of the sorcery. But maybe it’s illogical of me to expect magic to make sense.

*The mother-daughter dynamic between the ruthless sorceress and her naive daughter is so prominent in this book, that I wish the author gave a sliver of insight into the mother’s own upbringing. (Hint hint, T Kingfisher… how about a prequel?)

T. Kingfisher is the leader in writing complex characters, female trauma, and gothic horror books. This book was so creepy to read, and you can feel the main characters despair. I will say this book is not for the faint of heart, as there is a lot of childhood trauma and abuse that just makes you feel so sad. Also, if you have a bad relationship with your mother, this book may be difficult to read. But, I do think Kingfisher does a great job explaining the complexity of what life is like with a narc mother and the emotions the child feels.

Also, witches. Love witches.

As a die-hard T. Kingfisher fan, I eagerly awaited every release, knowing each book would be a guaranteed five-star experience. A Sorceress Comes To Call did not disappoint and I’m so grateful to NetGalley for letting me read it in advance of publication. This latest offering feels like a Gothic Ella Enchanted.

Cordelia, our protagonist, is trapped in a suffocating situation with a mother who's not just eccentric, but harbors a sinister secret. The lack of privacy and Cordelia's only solace – her horse Falada – paint a picture of emotional isolation both chilling and relatable.

Kingfisher's blend of humor and horror shines through. The morbid reality of Cordelia's situation is balanced with witty observations and moments of genuine connection. The arrival at the Squire's manor introduces a cast of warm and intriguing characters., A must-read for anyone who enjoys a good gothic tale with a modern twist, Kingfisher's masterful storytelling and unforgettable characters solidify her place as one of my favorite authors. This book is a haunting and thrilling exploration of family, freedom, and the power of choosing your own path.

This is probably my second favourite Ursula Vernon book of all time (the first being The Raven & the Reindeer, because that was so specifically made for me). She just really does a great job with fairytale retellings.

Mind you, this is so wildly different from the source material that I wouldn't be able to say "Goose Girl" was the inspiration if not for the synopsis. It's also probably the darkest I've read from her, as there's a lot of trauma and abuse and manipulation that is scarier -for me- than any of her horror stories.

I think she really held back on the humor, and I find myself missing it a little; though the humorous bits that made it to the final edit were tasteful and made me smile, even at the darkest of story beats.

Forbidden Magic. Murder. Secrets. A Dark Retelling of the Brother's Grimm.


Our newest adventure spun from the mind of T. Kingfisher centers around Cordelia. Cordelia has two things in the world: Her mother and her horse. Strict and possessive, mother allows her not a single friend. Cordelia believes she has count Falada, mother's horse, as a companion. However, our main character finds that even the beautiful white horse is not at all entirely her own. One of the first betrayals.

In the beginning, Cordelia learns the hard way to not so easily spill her secrets, her dreams, or any of her thoughts of a world outside of Hester's domain and prison. Why does Cordelia want to escape her mother, you ask? Normal mothers do not force their daughters to be completely silent and still for hours on end - sometimes, days.

Mother is a sorceress. Magic and mayhem and a selfishness unlike any other alight her eyes.

A death breaks up the quiet life of the small town where they reside, and her mother forces the two of them to escape into the night. Mother suddenly has a plan, gain the wealthy Squire's love and trust. Gain his purse, gain the manor. Money, money are all that this witch desires. A pesky sister, Hester, keeps this from being an easy task.

Hester is intelligent, notices how Cordelia reacts around her mother. There is abuse there. There is fear, a deep distrust that took root in the girl's heart, destroying any maternal bond between mother and child. A child does not become entirely still whilst dinner is being served. Yes, Hester wants to save her naive yet sweet brother. But, suddenly, saving Cordelia is high up on the list.

Wincing, flinching, a visceral fear causes Hester to take action, and our Cordelia is no longer alone. I adored this novel, and I will likely always love any works published by the name of T. Kingfisher. Dark fairytales, found families, and wholesome relationships/friendships are a genre I revel in. While Nettle and bone was my personal favorite, this was a close second. 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars!

Thank you NetGalley for this advance audiobook! T. Kingfisher is top 3 favorite authors, so I was so excited to get an early copy! This book did not disappoint. I was enthralled through the whole ride. I enjoyed the ambiguity of the setting. The characters were well-developed & unique. My only complaint was how neatly the ending wrapped up: it seemed a little too convenient. Definitely a top 3 of her books! I would recommend anyone wanting to dip their toe into Kingfisher’s work, this is the one to start with!

"A Sorceress Comes to Call" by T. Kingfisher is an enchanting and captivating dark retelling of the classic fairy tale "The Goose Girl." The story follows young Cordelia, who is attempting to escape her domineering sorceress mother, Evangeline. They find refuge at the home of the Squire where Cordelia befriends the Squire's sharp-witted sister, Hester, who quickly becomes suspicious of Evangeline's intentions. The book is filled with magic, humor, and a delightful cast of characters that make it impossible to put down.

T. Kingfisher's vivid writing brings the atmospheric settings and engaging plot to life. The side characters, including Hester and her friends, are particularly memorable, adding depth and wit to the story.

The audiobook is a fantastic experience, with narrators Eliza Foss and Jennifer Pickens doing a stellar job. Foss captures Hester's high-class demeanor perfectly, while Pickens brings a childlike innocence to Cordelia. Their seamless narration adds an extra layer of enjoyment, making "A Sorceress Comes to Call" a must-read (or listen) for all. Highly recommended!

Thank you so much for the review copy Tor and Macmillan Audio. All opinions are my own and unbiased. 🖤

This book is a retelling of The Goose Girl by the Brothers Grimm. While reading I got eerie Victorian with witchcraft vibes. The main antagonist, Evangeline, is a sorceress with a bone to pick with life. She is unhappy with the hand she is dealt and decides to use her ability to posses others to get what she wants. Her poor daughter Cordelia is usually taking the brunt of her dark magic and tyrannical behavior. Throughout the story we meet the Squire who Evangeline intends to dupe and marry, his sister, the butler and maids and host of friends. Each character added to the story with witty banter, sarcasm, angst , anger and loathing for Evangeline. Add in some heroic geese and you have a book you can’t put down! I really enjoyed this as my first T. Kingfisher book. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for allowing me to be an early reviewer.

A haunting fairytale retelling, T. Kingfisher has done it again in this gripping fantasy novel. Our main character is being magically abused by her mother (in a world where magic is not the norm) and a catastrophe forces the two to a remote manor.

I have previously read T. Kingfisher’s horror stories so I was interested to see how she tackled fantasy. I was not disappointed, this book was wonderful!!

This book falls into the magical realism category and focuses more on the characters than the fantasy elements. It also had a good amount of horror elements, so if you’re coming from What Moves the Dead/The Hollow Places like me you’ll feel right at home. It also had a bit of an Agatha Christie who-done-it feel in that there was a whole house party where everyone was working together to stop the bad guy. There is also a shockingly complex romantic subplot, it dove into a kind of relationship that I don’t see explored very often and managed to cover a lot of ground in the small space it had.

Overall this book was the weirdest combination of fun, stressful, gross, and sad. It is absolutely worth a read!

I listened to the audiobook which had two narrators to differentiate the dual povs and they both did a lovely job! The book translated to audio beautifully, I would absolutely recommend it!

Thank you, Netgalley and MacMillan audio for this advanced reader's audiobook. This was a fantastic audiobook! I finished this in one day. I love T. Kingfisher's retelling of weird fairy tales. I wasn't familiar with the Goose Girl fairy tale, but you don't have to be to enjoy this story for what it is. A dark fairytale of Cordelia whose mother is a sorceress. Her mother can compel others to do what she wants and has been making Cordelia obey her for her entire life. When Cordelia's mother brings her to a wealthy manor house, Cordelia finally feels like she has some space from her mother. But what is her mother up to there? This book was a fun and dark fairytale with different people voicing each character's chapters.

I loved this book so much! It's got magic, found family, a fairy tale retold, and quality main characters (including an older lady with moxie and a younger gal just finding her voice). All of the characters are given dimensionality; there are no flat background people. The story is interesting and moves along without any swampy middle. It's everything I've come to expect from T. Kingfisher-- quality plot with just a bit of spookiness.

I sped through this and loved every minute of it! T. Kingfisher has delivered another dark and haunting but hopeful standalone novel based on a well-known fairy tale, but with its own unique twists. This story is told from two points of view, which gives the reader a full grasp of what is happening and helps to keep the plot moving. It has a balance of the overall tone with an evil villain and the undercurrent that something will go wrong, but still manages to be humorous and cozy in a way that fairy tales tend to be. I really enjoyed our cast of characters as well; I was quickly worried over their safety. Overall, this feels familiar to the author's other works in a way that made me know I would love it.

T. Kingfisher is a must-read for me, but this is definitely going down as one of my favorites. Tailor-made for fans of Downton Abbey and Bridgerton, with a side helping of fairy tale evil mothers and magical horses.

While there's definitely teen appeal coming from 14 year old Cordelia's side of the story, the true star of the show is Hester. Who doesn't love a subtle age and disability-positive second chance romance featuring a 50-year-old heroine? Her cast of friends are equally delightful. There's enough here that I wouldn't be afraid to recommend to historical romance readers who aren't afraid of a little fantasy in their works.

I highly recommend the audiobook, with its skilled dual narrators. (I did have to check, as I thought it might be one reader with a talent for voices.) Both Hester and Cordelia's voices were engaging with a natural flow and just-right emotional expression. (I listened at 1.25 speed, as is my usual.)

I had never read a book by T. Kingfisher before. I enjoyed this book so much. I wish I started reading this author’s works sooner. I had heard that the author’s books were scary. This book wasn’t necessarily scary but it did get creepy. I was so glad it didn’t get scary.

I loved the characters in this book. I loved the growth and development of the characters in this book. I liked how the characters in this book were either teenaged or middle aged. I also appreciated the relationships between the characters.

I thought the beginning of the book was kind of slow. The end of the book was much faster paced. I thought the book was going to end on a cliffhanger and a sequel would be released. However, I was very satisfied with the ending.

This is my first Kingfisher novel and I am blown away. It’s the exact dark fairy tale vibe that I love to read. It’s dark but also funny and hopeful, and has an unexpected goose cameo. Besides the main villain, all of the characters are very likeable, I was a bit sad to leave them when the book was over. The audiobook narrator did a great job bringing life to all of the characters. I gobbled up this story so quick, I could not put it down. Overall this is fast paced dark and sometimes funny, and will probably be one of my favourite reads of the year.

Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and T Kingfisher for this ALC