Cordelia, a 14 year old girl is made to be obedient by her mother. Not with strict punishments or cajoling. Her mother is a different sort. She can make Cordelia sit unblinking for days if she wants, for she is a cruel sorceress.
When they are forced to leave their home on the back of her mother’s horse, Falada, they go to stay with a new friend of her mother’s. He’s an older squire and his sister Hester lives there too. Hester is immediately unimpressed with this new woman, whom she calls Doom. She knows she has designs to wed her wealthy brother and Hester can’t let that happen. Doom’s daughter, Cordelia, seems like a lovely girl but she also seems absolutely terrified of her mother. How can she save her brother and help the girl?
This book is told from two viewpoints, that of Hester and Cordelia. I listened to this in audiobook format read by Jennifer Pickens and Eliza Foss. I really enjoyed hearing each characters viewpoint read by a different narrator. It made this audiobook feel so special. I highly recommend this in audiobook format.
The book itself is a dark fairytale and I found it absorbing and rich. The characters were well written. I loved Hester especially, she was courageous and flawed and warm and just a delight to read.
This book is a heady whirlwind of magic and adventure. It’s about finding your courage and your place in life. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more by T. Kingfisher.
Thank you to NetGalley and McMillan Audio for giving me this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

When I started listening to this book, I expected a fun little retelling of a fairytale. I was not expecting to be blown away by a five star read! This was my first book by T. Kingfisher, and I finally see why they get so much praise. The characters were well fleshed out and loveable. The side characters were so much fun. This is horror with a lot of heart, so if you’re looking for something different this spooky season, I highly recommend this one.

The two narrator really brought this to life. I will definitely want to listen to more audiobooks from them.

ARC received from Macmillan Audio via Netgalley.

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher (Gothic Fantasy)

I’m personally insulted that no one has harrassed me into reading T. Kingfisher!! Are they all this good?????? My entire fall TBR is her works, thank you.

Read this (no READ THIS) for:

🪿 a stunning gothic fantasy thriller inspired by the Brothers Grimm’s Goose Girl

🍷 dark, weird, transportive

🚪a cast of enchanting, powerful women

🧂vigilante geese, dark humor, witchy magic, and a sprinkling of a love
story

Cordelia grows up in a home without doors, a horse named Falada as her only companion, and a controlling mother who happens to be an evil sorceress. After years of being bewitched into stillness and silence in the prison of her mother’s cruel magic, Cordelia and her mother steal into the night. When they arrive at the wealthy manor of a Squire and his unwed sister, Hester, in the remote countryside, everything changes. With plans to lure the hapless Squire into marriage, minding his kind and canny sister, Cordelia faces secrets, murder and magic this stunning mash up of fantasy, horror, fairytale, and regency romance…all with an Agatha- Christie-like-mystery element.

I feel like this was written FOR me.

✅ dark, fractured fairytale dripping with gothic fantasy

✅ feat. an evil sorceress, a twisted familiar, and eerie magic

✅ regency-era black humour and satire

✅ anxious, meek, broken, traumatized fmc who is stronger than she seems
✅ a *perfect* dose of romance

If you loved A Study in Drowning, One Dark Window, The Ten Thousand Doors of January, or if you think gothic fantasy with somewhat sinister vibes sounds like a cozy, comforting, delicious treat… this is SCREAMING, begging, demanding, bewitching you to pick it up. This is perfect for your autumn tbr!

Think Disney’s *Tangled*, but make it 🖤 October 🖤

I’m left wondering if T. Kingfisher is the actual sorceress here. I never wanted this to end!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio/ Tor Publishing group for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cordelia knows her mother Evangeline is strange—she’s not allowed to have friends or close her door, and when she really misbehaves she’s not allowed to have free will. After a sudden incident in town, Cordelia and Evangeline leave in the middle of the night to live with a wealthy older man, Evangeline’s next victim. But the weather older man’s sister Hester isn’t so gullible, seeing the signs of bewitchment and willing to rescue her brother and Cordelia at all costs.

A retelling of Brother Grimm’s Goose Girl, A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher, narrated by Eliza Floss and Jennifer Pickens, is a magical, macabre sci-fi fantasy with as much darkness as there is hope.

Cordelia was written so exceptionally well, with her naivety having been isolated most of her life and character development as she realizes her normal isn’t normal. Hester was drastically different, older and wiser and far braver. But I could see Cordelia growing into a Hester later in her life.

This was a page thrilling, hair-raising story with many twists that had me enthralled. I loved the concept and how Kingfisher put his own style on the classic tale.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio ARC! ❤️ I’ll definitely be picking up a copy at my next book store stop.

I liked the character exploration and the writing was propulsive. I would read more from this author.

Andddd I have a new favourite author. I love when fantasy and horror intersect, and T. Kingfisher writes in the subgenere expertly. This book has incredible characters different from the usual archetypes, beautifully written themes of love, family, obedience, and abuse, and some great moments of horror. I really loved this story and am eager to dive into some other works by the author.

3.5⭐️ I’ve been stuck on how to review this book for days now. This is my first book by T. Kingfisher & I absolutely fell in love with the cast of characters, the creepy atmosphere & the well done prose.

The book was just okay—nothing particularly memorable or groundbreaking, but not bad either. It had some interesting moments, but overall, it lacked the spark that would make it truly stand out. A decent read if you’re looking for something to add to your fall TBR.

Thank you to NetGalley & MacMillian audio for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Think this was the best T. Kingfisher book yet! The whole time I was getting a slow burning creep wondering where her style was. When it hit it hit! Kingfisher is the Queen of creepy and disturbing. I was amazing.

Quick Summary:
Cordelia’s life with her eccentric and abusive sorceress mother is confined and isolated, with no friends except the family horse, Falada. After a mysterious death in town prompts a hasty escape, Cordelia and her mother move to a wealthy manor where Cordelia's mother schemes to marry the Squire, a well-meaning but somewhat clueless middle-aged man. Concerned for both her brother and Cordelia, Hester, the Squire’s sister, must confront the malevolent sorceress to protect them while also coming to terms with questioning everything she knows to be true.

The trademarks of T. Kingfisher that I will always enjoy:
1. Well-written female characters.
2. The perfect balance of narrative suspense, visual horror, and general storyline.
3. Relationships between characters that are meaningful and relatable.

Narration:
1. Eliza Foss and Jennifer Pickens perfectly embodied Hester and Cordelia, respectively. They both performed the opposite sec and balance multiple characters’ voices seamlessly.

Overall:
This was not my favorite T. Kingfisher, but it was still a really good book. I read the Grimms’ “Goose Girl” in preparation for reading this novel. I will forever be impressed by the seeds that story planted and the tree that Kingfisher grew. However, this story didn’t carry the same impact as some of her other novels have.

Absolutely adorable book, if you can call books with a deadly sorceress adorable! Very well written as all of T. Kingfisher’s are, but probably the most enjoyable yet.

Cordelia is very afraid of her mother. She feels like her mother can control her every move. Now that Cordelia is older she wants to flee from her mothers control. When she tries to leave on her mother's horse Falada, the horse will not obey Cordelia commands. Cordelia has come to realize that her mother is a sorceress and Faladais her familiar. Now Cordelia's mother need to sucure her future and has her sights on a wealthy squire. Her mother will stop at nothing to make sure nothing gets in her way and that includes he own daughter Cordelia. Can Cordelia outsmart her mother and her dark powers?

T. Kingfisher is quite simply an outstanding creative. This author has such a wonderful imagination and as a reader, I enjoy reaping the benefits. This most recent entry, A Sorceress Comes to Call was another impressive book. It kept me glued to the pages from start to finish.

Cordelia is the daughter of Evangeline who we discover through the early pages of the story has the ability to control her. It's quite horrible to imagine someone else controlling all the movements of your body and even your words while you are trapped inside. But that is what Evangeline does to her own daughter. It's chilling - - and that's just the tip of the iceberg of what this woman is capable of. As the story unfolds, you find out more and more of her atrocious actions and abilities. But I won't spoil them for you....trust me ....you want to read this little gem for yourself.

When Evangeline decides to target a squire for his money. She doesn't count on his sister, Hester sensing "something wicked" is coming and recognizing her as that "wickedness" when she shows up. This all leads to a story of cat and mouse where Evangeline will try to secure her place while Hester tries to prevent it. She even brings some other friends to stay with them for a house party in an attempt to prevent her brother from marrying the evil Evangeline. In the course of the events, Cordelia does befriend Hester and finds in her someone who sees some of the abuse she's experiencing - - although they don't know about the fact that her mother can take over her body if she wishes. Things will gradually present themselves throughout the story. It's clever and well written and I enjoyed every bit of it.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The audiobook was fantastic. It really pulled you into the story and felt very atmospheric and like you were in another world so to speak. I highly recommend listening to it if you enjoy audio. 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for the early copies of both the audiobook and ebook.

📚Review: A Sourceress Comes To Call ✨

Thank you @torbooks for sending me a #gifted copy of this gem! 😍

By: T. Kingfisher
Publishing: August 6, 2024

Cordelia knows her mother is . . . unusual. The house they live in has no doors, Cordelia isn’t allowed to have friends (except her mother’s white horse, Falada), and her mother often forces her to be silent and motionless for days on end with evil magic. When her evil sorceress of a mother moves them into the manor of a wealth, older Squire and his kind, yet keen sister, Hester, Cordelia knows this welcoming pair are to be her mother’s next victims. But, Cordelia quickly feels at home here and, as her mother’s plans darken, she must decide how to face the woman who raised her to save the people who have become like family.

Wowza — what a unique, eerie, heart founding book that I couldn’t put down!

Kingfisher really pulled me into this book right away by the flawless storytelling and character development. I was instantly invested in Cordelia’s story and was gripped by the evil of her mother, Evangeline.

Evangeline really thought she was going to have the easiest time taking everything from the Squire, but Hester was too smart to not see evil on the horizon in Evangeline. Hester’s own scheming to thwart Evangeline was whip smart, sarcastic, and heart warming. Truly, the cast of characters here was something special!

This is a retelling of the Brothers Grimm’s “Goose Girl” and really captured that uncanny “something feels off in the pit of your stomach” vibe. I really cannot express enough how much this book had a hold on me — it was that good!

Pick this up if you’re looking for an eerie, mysterious, paranormal thriller!

Verdict: Really Loved 🥰

As a child, I loved fairy tales and fables, whether it was reading them or hearing them recounted to me. In adulthood, I've read less fantasy in general, mainly because I'm not a fan of romantasy or high fantasy. However, I'm so glad I gave this a chance.

I was not familiar with the original Goose Girl story, but that was not a prerequisite for enjoying this. This is the story of Cordelia, a bright young girl who has always been curious about her mother's overbearing tendencies and ability to render her obedient.

One day, tragedy strikes, inciting Cordelia's suspicions into her mother. Once her mother begins seducing a rich, powerful Squire into marriage, Cordelia knows she must take matters into her own hands and expose her mother for who she really is.

This story had the most amazing atmosphere - it was haunting, spooky and a little Gothic. Every character was so well fleshed out and I felt like I was immersed in this world. I've been intrigued by T Kingfisher's writing before and I will definitely check out more of her books now

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!

T. Kingfisher cannot write a bad book! I loved this dark fantasy! The narrator was amazing as well! Would highly recommend if you are working through their backlsit!

3.5

A coming of age story of a girl coming out from underneath her controlling mother.

I love the found family trope in this

I enjoyed the voice and the prose. The multiple POV was kept me engaged for the majority of story. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the ending. Maybe I felt like it was a little too perfect? I felt like the pacing was inconsistent as well.

I did enjoy it overall. The narration was great.

Another masterpiece by T. Kingfisher. An absolutely captivating read, I loved it so much. It was beautifully written and it kept me interested the entire time. Truly amazing! Must read for everyone familiar with this writers work

"A Sorceress Comes to Call" by T. Kingfisher is a fantasy novel. It is based on the fairy tale "The Goose Girl" by the Brothers Grimm. This is one I was not familiar with. This retelling is very well done and doesn't come across as juvenile at all.

If you like fantasy with sorcerors and magic or retelling of fairy tales, check out this one. I recommend it! It's a solid 4 stars!

Cordelia is a 14 year old girl with a very domineering mother. Her mother, Evangeline, is more than a challenging parent. She is also a Sorceror. Why they changed it to Sorceress for the title, I'm not sure. Evangeline is a bit obsessed with money. She wants to marry a wealthy man and marry her daughter off to a wealthy man, too.

This audiobook is narrated by Jennifer Pickens and Eliza Foss. I liked having both voices telling this story, and they did a nice job with it.

Characters - 4/5
Writing - 5/5
Plot - 4/5
Pacing - 4/5
Unputdownability - 4/5
Enjoyment - 4/5
Narration - 4/5
Cover - 3/5
Overall - 32/8= 4
For 4 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, MacMillan Audio, and T. Kingfisher for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

A reimagining of the fairy tale The Goose Girl with all the horror and gore that the original fairytales had.
T. Kingfisher is so good at creating that gothic, horror fairytale atmosphere. I’ve heard some found the beginning slow and the weakest part but honestly, it was my favorite part. The way she creates the tension, the stakes, all with such disturbance atmospheric setting.
I actually found the middle more the part that sagged for me as I slightly lost my attention, although it is when the plot starts picking up steam.
The ending is such a true homage to the Grimm Brothers’ anthologies. This book was all of my favorite things.
Also. It touches on quite a bit of emotional, parental abuse. We don’t delve into the future consequence but it does take a somewhat realistic view of such trauma and handles it with care. Among all the gore and horror of magic and fairytales, it is still the abuse that is the most disturbing of things in its unreadable nature.

The narrators of the audiobook were excellent too! It is dual POV so it has two narrators. It struck me at the end that though they each had to voice the same side characters during dialogue, I never compared how they might’ve sounded different, so immersing they made the experience.

4.5/5

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audiobook ARC

I love T. Kingfisher's books and the Goose Girl is one of my favorite stories to retell. T Kingfisher managed to surprise me still, and I loved it! The narrator also did a great job