A Sorceress Comes to Call

by T. Kingfisher

A dark retelling of the Brothers Grimm's Goose Girl, rife with secrets, murder, and forbidden magic

Cordelia knows her mother is unusual. Their house doesn’t have any doors between rooms, and her mother doesn't allow Cordelia to have a single friend—unless you count Falada, her mother's beautiful white horse. The only time Cordelia feels truly free is on her daily rides with him. But more than simple eccentricity sets her mother apart. Other mothers don’t force their daughters to be silent and motionless for hours, sometimes days, on end. Other mothers aren’t sorcerers.

After a suspicious death in their small town, Cordelia’s mother insists they leave in the middle of the night, riding away on Falada’s sturdy back, leaving behind all Cordelia has ever known. They arrive at the remote country manor of a wealthy older man, the Squire, and his unwed sister, Hester. Cordelia’s mother intends to lure the Squire into marriage, and Cordelia knows this can only be bad news for the bumbling gentleman and his kind, intelligent sister.

Hester sees the way Cordelia shrinks away from her mother, how the young girl sits eerily still at dinner every night. Hester knows that to save her brother from bewitchment and to rescue the terrified Cordelia, she will have to face down a wicked witch of the worst kind.

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Fiction, Audiobook, Retellings, Magic, Adult

321 pages, Hardcover

First published August 6, 2024

About the author

T. Kingfisher is the vaguely absurd pen-name of Ursula Vernon. In another life, she writes children's books and weird comics, and has won the Hugo, Sequoyah, and Ursa Major awards, as well as a half-dozen Junior Library Guild selections.

This is the name she uses when writing things for grown-ups.

When she is not writing, she is probably out in the garden, trying to make eye contact with butterflies.

Reviews

[Esta · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Brothers Grimm’s original tales are already pretty gnarly, so I’m always sceptical when publishers hype their retellings as “dark.” Cinderella’s stepsisters have their eyes pecked out by birds, Snow White’s evil stepmother is sentenced to dance in red-hot iron shoes and then she drops dead. Let’s also not forget the charming lesser-known Juniper Tree, featuring infanticide, gaslighting someone into thinking they committed said infant-killing, followed by a hearty meal of the child’s bones. Not exactly Disney material.

So naturally, I wondered if this “dark retelling” of The Goose Girl could out-dark the original tale, which already features horse decapitation and macabre justice. Turns out, yes. Not scary dark, but more creepy dark, punctuated with macabre, murdery and straight-out unhinged moments. Plus extreme trigger and content warnings for coercive control and abusive family dynamics, violence, death, and a good sprinkle of subtle, dry, Regency-era black humour and satire. So yeah, that type of dark.

In hindsight, it's quite a lax retelling, with a lot of new characters and trajectories. However, Kingfisher retains the symbolism of the original with the roles of the princess, the maid, and the goose tender, with a twist. Plus, there is still a horse, named Falada and plenty of fancy geese, and they’re pretty nifty. And you can bet that T. Kingfisher has taken some of the original grim elements and cranked it up to a “What on earth did I just read?” level. You’ll have to read it to find out what I mean, and it’s completely cooked, but in a good way.

Moreover, we're aware of the villain right from the start, an interesting artistic choice. She's pretty atrocious and a little extra backstory for our evil sorceress might have nudged this review into 5-star territory. To be fair, we do get some glimpses into her motivations, but with a wicked witch this formidable, a few more layers would have made her feel more nuanced.

Minor quibble aside, amidst a sea of tired fairytale retellings, this one stands out as pretty unconventional and inventive. With refreshingly real characters—like Hester, a no-nonsense 51-year-old reluctant heroine with a bad knee—it masterfully balances eerie and unsettling elements with satire and comic relief, hallmarks of T. Kingfisher’s distinctive style. If you're open to experimenting with something a bit unusual, give this book a try. I thoroughly enjoyed it and now need to read more T. Kingfisher, stat. Highly recommended!

My heartfelt thanks to NetGalley & Titan Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

———

This is billed as "a dark retelling of The Goose Girl," but let's be real, the original German fairytale captured by the Brothers Grimm is already pretty macabre... T. Kingfisher, let's see what you got!

My heartfelt thanks to NetGalley & Titan Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

T. Kingfisher isn't the only exceptionally talented paranormal thriller author whose books I eagerly devour; she's the one I'd even volunteer to read if she ever ventured into writing scripts for Bachelorette shows (though thankfully, she's far too smart for that). Her books are simply phenomenal, consistently earning nothing less than five stars from me. After realizing that I've devoured ten of her books, with only one receiving a four-star rating, I can confidently say that each one deserves all the praise it gets. They're unique, eerie, heart-throbbing, and utterly unputdownable, featuring original characters and eccentric plot lines that keep me hooked from start to finish.

Her latest paranormal thriller, a reimagining of the Brothers Grimm's "Goose Girl," delves deep into the disturbing theme of parental abuse with horrifying devilish vibes. Cordelia, a fourteen-year-old girl, finds herself trapped in a nightmarish existence under the tyrannical rule of her sorceress mother, Evangeline. Controlled and manipulated for years, Cordelia is isolated from the outside world, her only confidant being the eerie horse, Falada, who serves as her mother's familiar.

But Cordelia soon discovers that her mother's powers extend far beyond mere manipulation, as Evangeline sets her sights on the wealthy Squire and his companion, Hester. Unbeknownst to Evangeline, Hester senses the impending danger and begins her own scheme to thwart her. With the help of family friends, Miss Penelope Grenn and her lover Richard, Hester orchestrates a gathering at their home, hoping to expose Evangeline's true nature before it's too late.

As tensions rise and secrets unravel, Cordelia must find the courage to confront her mother and the horrors that lurk within their household. Can Hester and her allies stop Evangeline before she unleashes unspeakable evil upon them all?

Overall, this reimagined paranormal thriller is a quick, heart-throbbing ride filled with twists and turns that kept me eagerly turning the pages. I can't wait to dive into T. Kingfisher's next book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot even put into words how much I loved this book. Okay, I mean, I guess I can put it into words since that's kind of the whole point of this review, but I know I'm not going to do it justice at all. I've been in a minor reading slump lately and have just been slogging my way through even my most exciting reads, but I finished this one in under twenty-four hours. And the reason for that is because it's awesome!

Based on the NetGalley and Goodreads blurbs, I figured that this book would be rather dark. I've read a lot of really dark books lately and wasn't sure that I was quite ready for another one, but I ended up being pleasantly surprised. Sure, there are some dark parts and the villain is very, very evil and, um, villainous (I'm not Shakespeare, okay?), but overall it's a delightful tale full of heart and bravery and … defense geese. There's humor and (admittedly dark) magic and even a little bit of romance, and if you've read my previous reviews, you might recall that I'm I'm not a big fan of the lovey-dovey stuff. This romance is absolutely perfect, however, and Hester and Lord Evermore make quite the entertaining (non)couple.

And, oh my gosh, the characters in this book are simply outstanding. Cordelia is a perfectly fine main character, but it's really the side characters that make this book what it is. Hester and and Imogene and Penelope and Willard are all wonderfully witty and entertaining, and they are totally the type of people that I'd want to be friends with. Other than the obvious villain (and her creepy familiar), there's really not a single unlikeable character in this book.

Honestly, I can't think of a single bit of criticism for this novel and that's a rarity for me. I've enjoyed most of T. Kingfisher's other books, but she's definitely outdone herself this time – it's by far my favorite of anything she's written.

I feel as if this review should be longer considering how much I enjoyed this story, but I guess it ultimately just boils down to me saying that you should read this book as soon as possible because it is seriously brilliant.

My overall rating: a resounding five stars! A Sorceress Comes to Call will undoubtably be one of the highlights of my 2024 reads.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. The expected publication date is August 6, 2024.

[K.J. Charles]

Ooof my God this book is basically an ongoing anxiety attack. It's a masterclass in steadily building sickening fear and tension, which uses the twisted fairytale setting to present a horrifying story of domestic abuse and coercive control.

Which is not to say it's gloomy: it's just UNBELIEVABLY TENSE. In fact, there are a lot of excellent jokes, and the slow building of the anti-sorceress aliance is fantastic, including the most wonderful clutch of 50yo women who are not going gently into that menopausal night. The way the building alliance counters the airless oppression is just terrific, and the ending is stand-up-and-cheer. A fantastic horrific fantasy, grounded in a very horrific reality.

I will add that I read the author's note, and if T Kingfisher could get therapy for her horse issues, the rest of us might not need to get therapy for the horse issues she's giving us, because WOW the horse in this book.

[Marquise · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea of retelling "The Goose Girl" as a story of an abused girl at the mercy of a narcissistic family member has already been done, and in my opinion much better than here, so I can't say that particular arc had the emotional impact on me as it would have if it were the first time I read such a storyline. To me, what made A Sorceress Comes to Call nice was Hester.

Kingfisher's older single female protagonist with an odd personality formula tends to feel repetitive after you've read enough of her books, and it can go either way for you. In this case, it went the positive way mainly because the other offers weren't as good. Just look at the characters roster:

- The sorceress was the typical beautiful evil woman that weaponises her beauty,
- The Squire was your average good-hearted foolish country gentry with more money than brains,
- The young girl was a scared mouse as expected in her situation,
- Your typical English manor butler with a talent for finely-mannered hypocrisy,
- A paper-cut brash and bold former flame that exists mostly for plot purposes,
- A second paper-cut less brash and less bold former flame that exists exclusively for plot purposes.

With those on offer, you have little choice but go for Hester. She single-handedly saves this book for me, and if she had been the sole narrator instead of the two-POVs storytelling Kingfisher went for, this would've got a higher mark.

Hester lacks the "not like other girls" angle that plagues Kingfisher's books, or at least it's so much softened you don't notice it as it’s not too in-your-face, and she's far more self-assured and sensible than this author’s other characters of the same type. Is she perfect? Hardly, but she comes as close as possible, and whatever you think of her brand of witty or her peculiarities towards her love interest, it’s how you connect to her and her narrator’s voice that is likely going to determine if you find this book enjoyable. Because, let's face it, it won't be Cordelia who keeps you reading.

As I am reviewing this after a reread, and with the insight that Kingfisher's latest fairy tale retelling provides on her writing, I can tell that this author should focus on doing peripheral retellings whenever she feels like tackling a tale. Because she doesn't quite grasp what a given tale's metaphors and symbols are and forces things to happen based on . . . well, that they are in the tale. Case in point: Hester has an odd interest in geese for . . . reasons, I suppose. Hester isn't the titular "goose girl" and even if she were, the geese in the fairy tale don’t carry any significance, literal or symbolic. It's the princess-to-pauper downfall what makes the Goose Girl be the goose girl, not the animals she takes care of in her disgrace. Did Kingfisher understand this? Judging from the plot here, my bet is that she didn't.

"The Goose Girl" isn't a story of domestic abuse, but it can work as such because its core theme is malleable up to a point. However, it's rather strange to me that, to retell a fairy tale in which the girl's mother is loving, caring, and gives her daughter a talking horse that basically rescues her out of degrading servitude through its post-mortem actions should get the kind of warped angle it gets in this book. This tale has one of those rare instances of a good, functional mother/daughter relationship that balances out the typical female vs female cutthroat competition for a man, and yet Kingfisher chose to make the mother a narcissistic abuser that physically and psychologically mistreats her daughter, using magic to control her mind as needed and making Falada the kind horse a tool in her abuse of her daughter instead of the rescuer.

And then people wonder why I say Kingfisher's writing feels catty. Hard to beat that accusation when you poison positive examples of feminine dynamics for the sake of a plot.

Sure, Hester becoming the rescuer in the place of Falada could be framed as an example of sorority. But Hester's motivation was saving her rich brother from a grasping golddigger first and foremost, and rescuing Cordelia from child abuse was a side quest to that main purpose. A two birds with one stone situation.

The saving the Squire from the golddigging sorceress is the entire plot, whilst Cordelia’s story is second fiddle in this orchestra. And that’s another point that bothered me personally, because I’d much better have more of this than the silly and comedic bloat. It’s a bit because Kingfisher’s brand of humour doesn’t work for me, but mainly it’s because I know Kingfisher can do abuse—and the psychological aspects of it—very well. I have seen it in a previous retelling of hers, and it’s one of my favourites. Maybe it’s this secondary role what makes this retelling feel so “loose” when it thematically isn’t. It’s simply twisted and roles are distributed or swapped. I personally don’t care that it’s loose or close as much as the inconsistency on top of the warping of a positive theme.

Of these two parallel storylines that converge, the saving of the Squire and getting rid of the sorceress is the most inconsistent. At times, it looks like the author wants to do some kind of Gothic Horror and then suddenly you get treated to some kind of silly. Sometimes you get a serious depiction of how Cordelia is suffering from abusive mind control, and next you have some convenient plot twist that breaks it down. Sometimes you get the sense the author is going for some English countryside style of murder mystery with a geese-raising Miss Marple type, and next you get the stupidest ending you could think of. This bipolarity is so annoying, and on my second read it kept kicking me out of immersion to the point it’s safe to say I liked this less than the first time round.

I won’t even bother to comment on the worldbuilding besides that it’s non-existent. The setting is vaguely reminiscent of a manor house out in an English shire, complete with stiff butler and lower nobility tropes that sound like straight out of British sitcoms, but Kingfisher doesn’t even know the proper titles and way to address a person from the nobility or landed gentry. She’s hardly alone in this, though, it’s a very common screw-up by American authors, and at least this is a Fantasy world.

My conclusions? A passable read, unremarkable and unmemorable beyond Hester. I'm rounding up my 2.5 stars for her only.

[carol. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kingfisher's latest is well written and up to her usual high standards, but in all probability, I will never read it again. It brought back unpleasant echoes of reading The Yellow Wallpaper, only somewhat more entertaining.

Billed as a "dark retelling of Grimm's The Goose Girl," for those familiar with the tale, I'll note that it really isn't a retelling in all the important ways. It does have a horse, a flock of geese, a young woman, and a mother, but the relationships between all those things are scrambled. For me, the choices that Kingfisher made missed the lessons of the fairy tale; should I be in marketing on this one, I'd suggest describing as 'inspired by.'

It begins with Cordelia living with her mom in an isolated village hamlet. Told in limited third person, we're squarely in Cordelia's head, knowing what she knows and experiencing what she notices. Cordelia might be 14, but it becomes quickly apparent that she is so much younger, the likely outcome of a manipulative and literally controlling mother.

"She was made obedient less often as she grew older. She thought perhaps that it was more difficult for her mother to do than it had been when she was small--or perhaps it was only that she had learned to avoid the things that made her m other angry. But this time, Cordelia hadn't avoided it."

While Cordelia has figured out her sorceress mother isn't normal, she only has an inkling on how abnormal she is. Her one escape is riding her mother's beautiful horse Falada. One day, she gathers enough courage to ride to the limits of her range and has her heart broken when she discovers the truth about someone she thought of as a best friend. But even more change is coming; her mother is on the make for a new male benefactor and they are soon riding off to visit a rich man. Unfortunately, he comes with an unmarried sister, Hester, and a number of spirited servants.

At this point in the book, I was well worn out by Cordelia's experience. Kingfisher is spot-on at capturing the viewpoint of someone who is abused but only dimly suspects just how abused, and it is an emotionally tough line to walk. Introducing the viewpoint of Hester, an older, physically limited spinster was a brilliant touch, allowing for more directional and courageous machinations, along with a touch of humor.

"One of the advantages of age was that you could think a great deal while simply sitting still, and no one would poke you and demand that you go do something useful."

The story did feel like it got a bit lost with the introductions of two of Hester's besties who come to visit her, although it later becomes clear why. Still, the stakes escalate as Cordelia's mother incrementally weaves her web around the squire.

"I made you,' her mother said, looking straight ahead. 'I made him and I made you, and you belong to me. Don't forget it.'"

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.

"It was the calm of a burned-out house or a ravaged field, the calm that comes where there is no longer anything to lose."

There is a little humor, mostly wry. The geese are a bright spot, but they don't really show until the last quarter of the book. Ultimately, when I'm going to re-read Kingfisher, I'll undoubtedly head for Nettle & Bone or her alt and the delightful Castle Hangnail.




Many thanks to Netgalley and Tor/Forge. Clearly, opinions are my own. Quotes subject to change but give a feel for the writing.

[MagretFume · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened the audiobook version. The narrators are fantastic at giving an eerie quality to the story and it really added to my experience, so I would recommend this format.

This is a wonderfully written story and I do say wonderful because it gave me a real sense of wonder that I rarely find in fantasy anymore.
It's dark and beautiful, and immerses you in its world.

The characters are compelling and more complex than I expected, the world building is great and the resolution so satisfying.
4.5 stars.

[Nataliya · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I made you,' her mother said, looking straight ahead. 'I made him and I made you, and you belong to me. Don't forget it.'

This book is a mix of parental abuse story with Victorian comedy of manners, with a pitch of psychological horror vibe thrown in, with lighthearted seriousness at times. It’s a strange combination which actually worked for me. What can I say — Kingfisher is pretty good.

The book is told from dual perspectives. Cordelia is an abused adolescent girl with an evil sorceress mother who habitually takes over Cordelia’s body and punishes her for anything perceived as a slightest sign of disobedience. Hester is a wealthy and sensible spinster whose very rich brother is the intended prey of the evil sorceress who’s set on tricking him into marriage even if it involves a few dead bodies in addition to lies and trickery. And it takes a village - or at least these two women and Hester’s friends - to attempt to defeat the sorceress.

Did I mention that Hester, even with her set of insecurities, is just delightful?

“No, no." The Squire's mustache quivered with his sincerity. "All my fault, my dear, truly all mine. I forget that most well-bred ladies have nerves. Hester hasn't any at all, you see."

"None whatsoever," said Hester dryly. "Otherwise people might get on them.”

In this lighthearted horror comedy of manners its lightheartedness that predominates, based on the stubborn sense of normalcy people maintain in the face of uncanny, as well as plotting over teacups and embroidery. (Can familiars transmit lockjaw? Is cutting someone’s head off an efficient way to kill them?) And I think it’s precisely that overall lightheartedness that by contrast really underscores the emotional and physical abuse Cordelia goes through, and her constant terrified hyper-alertness and anxious skittishness that’s almost painful to witness.

“She looks like a horse that's been beaten so often that it doesn't know what is expected of it any longer. And who doesn't expect that to ever change.”

Now, it definitely wasn’t perfect. I wish the worldbuilding was less nebulous, and the ending did not have a ridiculous almost sitcom-like resolution for Hester, Cordelia and Richard. And the romantic tension and longing between Richard and Hester was unnecessary since Hester’s reasons for remaining unmarried to him were artificially silly. The ending was a bit too rushed and the buildup on a slow side. Oh, and no point having the geese other than the apparent inspiration for the story — apparently it’s supposed to be a retelling of some Brothers Grimm story I didn’t know (after finishing the book I did read it, and there’s little semblance between the two, really).

But then we get this delightful butler appearance that is just lovely in its dry humor and makes it all just right.

"Madam." He frowned at her. "I am a *butler*. Do you truly believe that I do not know how to dispatch a houseguest if required?"

And yet, although not perfect, this book was so easy to get engrossed in, and was such a lovely companion on audio on a few long walks and hikes that I’m happy to overlook most of the issues here and just enjoy it for all the good it is and all the pleasant hours it brought me.

3.5 stars which for now I’m rounding up to 4, unless I get all crotchety about it later.

——————

Also posted on my blog.

[Nikola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luty 2025: Pokochacie ją
Marzec 2025: jeśli podobała Wam się „pokrzywa i kość” to serio ją pokochacie

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up)) · Rating 4 out of 5]

**4.5-stars**

A Sorceress Comes to Call is an Adult Fantasy release from T. Kingfisher, one of my favorite authors. It's a release I've personally been anticipating for almost a year.

This is a re-imagining of the Brothers Grimm's Goose Girl fairy tale, and while I've never read the original source material, I am familiar enough with it to appreciate the clever connections Kingfisher made here.



In this story, we meet our girl, Cordelia. She lives with her Mom and her Mom's equine companion, Falada. Cordelia's Mom is...let's say, eccentric. Reading of their relationship is a bit painful at times, be forewarned.

Her Mom rules their house with an iron fist. Cordelia is made to bend to her will, always. One may wonder how Cordelia's Mother is able to exude such authority and I guess, the answer is fairly simple, she's a sorceress.



After a suspicious death in their small village, Cordelia is forced to flee town with her Mom and Falada. They end up at a remote country manor, where a wealthy bachelor, known as the Squire, lives with his unwed sister, Hester.

Cordelia's Mom sets her sights on the Squire, hoping to lure him into a marriage arrangement. Cordelia sees her Mom's intentions and fears for the well-meaning older gentleman and his kind, intelligent sister.



Hester isn't fooled though and has no desire to see her bro end up with such a conniving witch. It's not just her brother she's worried about though. She's noticed Cordelia shrinks into herself anytime her mother approaches.

That can't be a good sign.



What follows is an insanely humorous romp where good battles evil. There's magic and intrigue, hijinks, betrayals and lies. Humor and love and kindness and wrath, all rolled into one. Witty banter and lovable characters like only Kingfisher can do.

Unsurprisingly, I fell in love with this story. It was so creative and well-crafted. I was transported while reading it. It felt all-consuming.



I'm sure some of you are wondering, if I loved it so much, why didn't I give it 5-stars? I think upon reread, I probably will bump it up.

There's a lot happening, bordering on chaotic, and I feel like I maybe missed some of the finer details. Now that I know where it's all going, I feel like upon reread, I'll be able to pick up, enjoy and retain more of those smaller details.

Let's be clear though, a 4.5-star is still a super stellar rating from me, and I do absolutely plan on reading this one again; as I do with most of Kingfisher's works.



The character development was fantastic. I felt so bad for Cordelia initially. She was such a timid thing, all at her mother's hand. It def tugged at the heart-strings. The best thing that ever happened to her, IMO, was meeting Hester.

Hester was by far the star of the show for me. I loved her so much. Maybe because we have a lot of common. We're both old maids, both way more witty than people give us credit for and both ready to kick some ass if necessary.



With Cordelia and her Mom staying at the Squire's, Cordelia and Hester get the opportunity to spend time together and it was nice to watch their relationship blossom.

There was such a fun element too involving a house party, planned by Hester, and the horrific aftermath of that leads to a bit of a suspicious death investigation. I wasn't expecting it to go in that direction, so was delighted when it did.



Our good characters band together to try to vanquish the evil which surrounds them. It was hilarious and wacky and wild and fun. Kingfisher's writing is sure to make you forget everything else going on in your life.

This story becomes your life when you're reading it. It was just as darkly magical and enchanting as I was anticipating.

This was an absolute delight to read. I can't wait to get a hard copy for my shelves, although I would recommend the audiobook to anyone who has that available to them. The narration by Eliza Foss and Jennifer Pickens truly brought this story to life.



Thank you so much to the publisher, Tor and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. Kingfisher is such a talent.

This is a perfect blend of humor with darker Fantasy elements! Recommended for all!

[EveStar91 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crying was not acceptable. That had been one of the first lessons of being made obedient. Cordelia was fourteen and too old to cry for seemingly no reason, because of course, she could not tell anyone the reason.

A Sorceress Comes to Call is a dark, chilling tale of Cordelia, the sorceress's daughter, realizing she doesn't have to stay in her mother's control, and Hester, a beloved spinster trying her best to wrench her brother from the sorceress's charms.

I haven't seen a lot of similarity with The Goose Girl fairytale, as it was advertised, but soon saw that this story stands very well on its own. T. Kingfisher's voice is as brilliant as always, the tone of the story is more uncanny and fairytale like than her usual wryly humourous.

The world-building is great, starting out with little information, but soon digging up books on magic with good detail! And I like characters that do their proper share of research in libraries! The eerie uncanny magic shown here fits in great with the dark vibes of the book.

The vivid characters are the strong foundation for this book. Cordelia has the largest growth arc, and shows tremendous strength in overcoming her mother, a woman who truly does not seem to care for her. The older characters are drawn well and though they don't change much, they find their own version of a happy ending! There is a great deal of trust between Hester and her friends, which is wonderful and really shines towards the end.

Thanks to NetGalley, T. Kingfisher and Macmillan Audio/ Tor Publishing group for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Note: I listened to the audiobook and the narrators Eliza Foss and Jennifer Pickens did a great job with it.
The quote is from the ARC and can change in the published version.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The rating for this book is 4 1/2 stars, rounded up to 5 stars. I wavered a bit, but apart from the fact that I almost always round up, this book really drew me in even when I was busy.

[One star for the premise and the whole book; One star for the story; 3/4 star for the characters; 3/4 star for the writing; One star for the world-building and description - 4 1/2 stars in total.]

[luv2read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kingfisher's books can be a bit of a gamble for me, but this one? It's a total win! I absolutely loved the characters, especially the delightful old ladies—Hester and Penelope are pure gold! The book has this semi-dark vibe that's just the right amount of eerie. The sorcery is a real treat, and when Cordelia's mom, Evangeline, shows off her voodoo magic, it truly amps up the magical atmosphere. The storyline? Top-notch!

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really into this book and loving it all the way up until I got to the ending. It was so anti-climactic and disappointing! I feel like the author really phoned in it with the conclusion of the story. Whomp, whomp. This would have been a strong 4 stars otherwise (I especially recommend the audiobook).

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

T. Kingfisher can do no wrong in my book! I was instantly captivated and swept away by this tale of forbidden magic, secrets, danger, and cunning. 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 by the Brothers Grimm. T. Kingfisher is such a unique, gifted, and talented writer. If you have not read a book by this author, you are missing out!

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???

A Sorceress Comes to Call is simply brilliant. Seriously, it's amazing! I had a hard time putting it down when life got in the way. I loved all the characters, even Evangeline who is so wickedly drawn. T. Kingfisher has a knack for creating characters that are fully fleshed out, interesting, and quirky. I adored the collection of personalities, their motivations, and banter. T. Kingfisher also excels at creating unique settings/locations which ooze with atmosphere. I could imagine the manor, the woods, and felt as if I was immersed in the action as a silent observer.

What a brilliant book that touches on magic, abuse, love, danger, revenge, family, friendship, and good vs. evil. I loved the sense of unease which grew as the book progressed. I also enjoyed the mounting danger, the tension, and the suspense which grew throughout the book.

I was lucky enough to have both the e-book and audiobook version which made for a wonderful reading experience! The narrators of the audiobook did a fabulous job.

I was literally on the edge of my seat and loving every second. I devoured this book. I could gush about this book all day, but I will end by saying READ IT!

Dark, brilliant, and captivating. Highly Recommend.


Thank you to Tor Publishing Group, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just a treat! One of the best paced full length novels from T Kingfisher, this is a delightful mash up of horror, fantasy, and Regency romance. It ticked all my boxes: a great cast of characters, an interesting inspiration point in fairytale, magic, suspense, romance - just all the things that are for me

[Srivalli Hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.7 Stars (outliner)

One Liner: Kinda underwhelming

Cordelia, a fourteen-year-old, knows her mother is different. Why else would she insist Cordelia keep no secret from her and make her obedient for hours? Why else would Cordelia have no friends and live in a house with no doors closed?

Hester is a fifty-plus spinster living with her brother Samuel, a Squire. However, when deliberate planning brings Cordelia and her mother to Hester’s doorstep, the old woman knows she needs to do something.

But facing someone like Cordelia’s mother is not easy. Can Hester save her brother and Cordelia from a sorceress?

The story comes in the third-person POV of Cordelia and Hester.

My Thoughts:

The book is marketed as the reimagining of The Goose Girl, a dark fairytale by the Grimms brothers. However, due to my lack of familiarity with the original, I read this as a standalone.

This is my first book by the author. I can see that she writes well. Some scenes are compelling and atmospheric. However, the whole thing needs more work. The book works on the presumption that readers would fill the gaps based on what is provided. While we can do that to an extent, other elements need to be detailed.

I don’t mind vague settings as I write such stuff myself. But then I write short stories. A full-length novel can do with a little more information. The descriptions could have been a wee bit elaborate.

The dual POV of Cordelia and Hester (two totally different characters) is a good idea. However, adding 3-4 short bits from the mother’s (Evangeline) POV would have elevated the book. Right now, we get to know her plans because she reveals everything to her daughter. This weakens her characterization.

The magic elements are interesting but with no detail. The how, what, where, etc., are not answered. Are we supposed to gather this information from those bookish snippets included? No idea!

The pacing is slow; not because there’s detail but because things don’t seem to happen quickly. I don’t deny that some of it is necessary for the plot. That doesn’t mean all those repeated dinners couldn’t have been helpful in another way too.

The last quarter is where things happen. I’m in two minds about this. While I like that the haphazard attempts align with the plotline developed until then, I do wish the young girl could have done more.

There is more talk (monologues and dialogues) and less action, which isn’t a good thing in this genre. It makes the story feel flat and surface-level.

The ending is nice and works for HEA fans like me.

To summarize, A Sorceress Comes to Call has a great premise but only seems to skim the surface without delving deep into the dark elements. Can’t help but feel it could have been a lot better.

I did read Goose Girl after finishing the book. This one is almost nothing like the fairytale. Falada, the horse, and the geese are the only common elements.

Thank you, NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group (Tor Books), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

#NetGalley

***

TW: killing an animal (off-page), self-harm through manipulation

[mina reads™️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfectly fine fantasy of manners, it had a rich cast and portrayed the emotionally abusive dynamic between mother and child in an interesting way with the magical twist. Something about the story left me wanting though, it seemed as if it stayed too safe instead of delving deeper into the darker themes of the story. The story was both wholesome and horrifying but the wholesome tone took away some of the gravity of things for me. The book was just a bit slow for me as well. Definitely worth reading but it didn’t have the kick I wanted.

3 stars

[Anna Bartłomiejczyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Razem z Pokrzywą i kością to chyba moja ulubiona Kingfisher.

[Melanie (meltotheany)]

oh it is a need for me

blog | instagram | youtube | kofi | spotify | amazon

➛ Nettle & Bone ★★★★★
➛ What Moves the Dead ★★★
➛ What Feasts at Night ★★★
➛ A House with Good Bones ★★
➛ Thornhedge ★★★

[nastya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I managed to read 60 pages of this and it was just filler, empty calories. Guess that makes perfect sense, considering this author published 3-4 books a year.

[Ginger · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I find out that T. Kingfisher has just released a new book, I'm either buying it or instantly setting up a library hold.
She's become a favorite of mine!

A Sorceress Comes to Call is a retelling of The Goose Girl by the Brothers Grimm.
In the original tale, there’s a talking horse named Falada, stolen identity, and plenty of geese!

T. Kingfisher has some of these elements in the retelling but it’s mainly about a girl named Cordelia. She’s had a tough upbringing due to having an evil mother who just happens to be a sorceress.

Cordelia’s mother, Evangeline decides to take matters into her own hands one day and change her luck. She's going to lure an older gentleman into marriage.

She sets her sights on a wealthy Squire who's been a bachelor his whole life. When Evangeline comes to visit the Squire, his sister Hester instantly has a bad reaction to her, and the plot goes from there.

A Sorceress Comes to Call has murder, friendship, humor, magic and a good dose of fantasy elements sprinkled throughout the whole plot.
It also has great banter, and the characters really shine through in this retelling.

If you enjoy dark fantasy and retellings, pick this one up.
I had a great time with this plot, along with wishing and praying for death and revenge at the end!

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 4 out of 5]

💥 Dec. 31, 2024: only $1.99 today! 😱😱





As I might or might not have mentioned ↓↓previously↓↓, I ended up using an Audible credit and listening to the audio for this book because the Kindle version was so ridiculously expensive I couldn't afford it (a huge 👏thank you👏 to Tor Books for that). I expected the narration to be gloriously scrumptious because this is a T. Kingfisher story and it is a truth universally acknowledged that all things T. Kingfisher are gloriously scrumptious.



I now know for a fact that all things T. Kingfisher are gloriously scrumptious EXCEPT FOR THIS AUDIOBOOK HERE. It's a dual narration type thingie and while I did like one of the narrators (Hester's POV), the other (Cordelia's POV) quickly became the bane of my existence. She makes Cordelia sound like a dull, lifeless woman in her later years and definitely NOT the 14-year-old girl she is supposed to be. You end up forgetting how young she actually is, which often gets in the way of the plot.

I nearly stopped listening to the book around the 20% mark but just couldn't picture myself waiting years months for the ebook price to go down so I soldiered on (because I am brave and bold and audacious like that). Spoiler alert: the narration didn't get any better.

BUT.

This is a Regency-era house party meets horror meets comedy of manners meets historical fantasy meets satire meets classic fairytale retelling type of story, which is quite amazing, thank you very much.

AND:

The female characters are—in typical T. Kingfisher fashion—slightly fantastic: Hester (the ancient 50-year-old MC with a disability) is the real star of the show, and her friends Penelope and Imogene are both 😍😍 in their own way. Oh, and there's nothing quite like a somewhat psychopathic sorceress if you ask me.

ALSO:

T. Kingfisher wrote this. Need I say more? Didn't think so.

👋 Until next time and stuff.

P.S. As Curran Lennart one of the greatest philosophers of our time once said, horses are assholes.
P.P.S. I'm stealing Willard from Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler (not the character's real name). Because reasons and stuff.
P.P.P.P.S.S.S.S.S. It looks like most reviewers who listened to the audiobook loved it .



[Pre-review nonsense]

Had I read the ebook edition I probably would have rated the book 5 10 stars but I listened to the audio—because it was actually cheaper than the Kindle version 🙄🙄🙄—and the dual narration gave me whiplash.

➽ Review to come and stuff.



July 22, 2024: the paperback is cheaper than the Kindle edition?! What the bloody fish?!

ETA: Even the audiobook is cheaper than the ebook! 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️





15.49€ for an ebook?? ARE YOU BLOODY SHRIMPING KIDDING ME???!!!

T. Kingfisher, our Lord Shrimps knows I lurves you to death and would sacrifice a bunch of my murderous children for you, but 15.49€ for an ebook??? I. THINK. NOT.

[Books_the_Magical_Fruit · Rating 5 out of 5]

As of 8/6/24, this is now available to purchase! Please give money to T, so she can continue to write more amazing stories! :-)

T. Kingfisher is killing it. Her latest tale gets another five stars from me. This reimagining of “The Goose Girl” turns everything about the original tale on its head. From the very beginning, we know that Cordelia’s mother is someone not to cross. I felt Cordelia’s pain and anxiety every time she was forced to be in her mother’s presence. Kingfisher’s skill at creating unforgettable characters is on full display here.

I flew through this book and was genuinely sad when it ended. I want more, as is always the case with Kingfisher’s books. I’m glad she’s such a prolific author! I’d love to return to this world in a future book! 😉

Many thanks to NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group and the lovely T herself for the advance copy. All opinions are mine alone.

[destiny ♡ howling libraries · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything T writes. This has so much heart, and charm, and found family love, and I adored it. RTC

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up

A Sorceress Comes to Call blends historical fantasy with horror elements in a dark retelling of The Goose Girl that deals with parental abuse and narcissism. I love when Kingfisher leans toward horror and I thought this was excellently written.

It's a dual perspective story, which I thought was great. The contrast between the two main characters of such different ages and experiences works really well and I was invested in both of their stories. Cordelia is a sheltered young woman with a mother who never allows her a closed door and can physically control her body through magic. But she seeks a wealthy husband who can in turn open doors for Cordelia to marry well. What she goes through is harrowing at times, but I found the story to be incredibly compelling. The original tale is already quite dark and this leans into that. If you enjoy Kingfisher's horror, I would absolutely recommend it! The audio narration is great and works perfectly for the historical narrative. I received an audio review copy of this book via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

[Chantaal · Rating 4 out of 5]

HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY T. KINGFISHER FANS!!

This is being marketed as a dark retelling of The Goose Girl fairy tale, and while that is true in some aspects, it's also very much not. As someone who is completely over retellings as a literary trend, it feels more like The Goose Girl fairy tale was inspiration, and there are some pieces of it still embedded in this to link it to that, but it's also so much more than just a retelling or re-imagining.

This is historical fantasy set in a Regency-esque time. Our main character Cordelia is the daughter of the titular Sorceress, a cruel and narcissistic woman who'll do whatever it takes to improve their standing in society. Cordelia is a beaten down, broken young girl who does whatever her mother tells her to - literally, at times. We do get a second POV from Hester, the sister of the man that the Sorceress has her eyes on. Hester is in her fifties, has a bad knee, and a premonition that Doom has come to call.

A Sorceress Comes to Call is a delightful dark blend of a novel of manners and historical fantasy, of fairy tail whimsy and dark horror. It deals with emotional abuse and narcissism, with complex family relationships and old friendships and romances. All of the character work is a delight, but it's especially wonderful following Cordelia and Hester as they try to figure out how to undo the horrible knot that the Sorceress has tangled them all up in.

T. Kingfisher succeeds yet again with another dark fantasy, which is especially delightful for me as I didn't enjoy Thornhedge much last year.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for the eARC! A Sorceress Comes to Call will be available on August 6th, 2024.

[Mel (Epic Reading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the funnest, most horrific, scandalously proper book I’ve read recently (this description makes sense right? lol).
Kingfisher, once again, brings together her wit and sarcasm, adds it to a horror of all horrors, puts some charming characters in the horrors way, and thus gives us a wonderful book that is perhaps my favourite of hers (that I’ve read) to date!

If you’ve ever had a day, or perhaps many of them in which you want an overbearing adult to back-off then you will sympathize with our leading teen Cordelia. Her mother is, quite literally, evil. Capable of unfounded horrors with her magic; and, what’s worse, she has inflicted many of those horrors on her own daughter.
Thankfully her mother makes a miscalculation in choosing new ‘prey’ to finance her desires, and Cordelia finds some adults she can trust. The beginning of this story is definitely the Goose Girl tale. By the end I was completely engrossed and had forgotten entirely about it being inspired by an old story. Kingfisher makes this one entirely her own.

Between vivid descriptions, clever and snarky characters to magic, ghosts, and demons(?), oh my! A Sorceress Comes to Call held me rapt in suspense and thrills, right up to the last page. If you have enjoyed any of Kingfisher in the past you will love this one. If you are new to Kingfisher but enjoy thrilling stories, magical rules, clever evil, horrific situations (a bit of gore) and bumbling heroes trying to repel said evil then feel secure in picking up A Sorceress Comes to Call. It really is a witty, horror story (with a couple magical twists) that won’t disappoint.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

[Brok3n · Rating 4 out of 5]

Femme fatale with creepy horse

The publisher identifies T. Kingfisher's (AKA Ursula Vernon's) A Sorceress Comes to Call as 'a dark reimagining of the Brothers Grimm's "The Goose Girl," rife with secrets, murder, and forbidden magic'. That's fairly accurate. The Goose Girl (Die Gänsemagd) is one of the more obscure Grimm's fairy tales, by which I mean it has never, to my knowledge, been the basis of a Disney feature film, and therefore is less known than, say, Cinderella or Snow White.

If you're familiar with Grimm's Fairy Tales, you might be inclined to remark that they're pretty dark already. We owe the familiar upbeat children's romances mostly to such Bowdlerizers as Andrew Lang and, of course, Walt Disney. However, The Goose Girl strikes me as dark, even for Grimm. Most Grimm's Fairy Tales are more gruesome and bloody than scary. But The Goose Girl is more than that. There are terror and psyops. In The Goose Girl a servant woman tries to trap a prince into a marriage under false pretenses, by taking the place of a princess, whom she intimidates and from whom she forces an oath of silence.

Also, there's a super creepy horse called Falada. This is right in Ursula Vernon's wheelhouse. She's still working through some trauma resulting from a scary horse incident when she was twelve years old. Set her loose on a story with a Falada in it, and she'll give you one Hell of a scary horse. Give her the opportunity to include some heroic birds, and she's right at home. (There are no Evil Rose Bushes in this one, though.)

"Reimagining" is a good word. A Sorceress Comes to Call is not so much a retelling of The Goose Girl as a new story built on its bones. In A Sorceress Comes to Call the seductress Evangeline is a powerful sorceress -- a classic femme fatale with extra magic mojo. Much of the story is told from the point of view of her oppressed daughter Cordelia, who in part plays the role of the princess in the original story.

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.

I thank Tor and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of A Sorceress Comes to Call.

Blog review.

[Hirondelle (not getting notifications) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am surprised myself but this was a fail for me. Keep in mind I am self acknowledgedly a lifelong resident of the Outlier Islands when it comes to book opinions (and I am neither ashamed nor proud of the fact). I also read this on holiday in bits while travelling lots and that might have hindered me relating to the bit. And I am not particularly into fairy tale retellings, I am "been there, done that, got the tshirt" but 25 years ago with those. So with those disclaimers, my truthful opinion was thay this was (IMO, and all that) not up to her standards.

It feels disjointed somehow, the Goose Girl retelling kind of shoved in somehow. A lot of people have pointed out before that a lot of Kingfisher's female PoV characters often all sound the same age, no matter what age they are supposed to be, all act and sound like they are 30-40ish. That happens with 14 year old Cordelia here (seriously, girl, you know what wine is supposed to taste, feel like? But not just that) but weirdly not with 51-52 year old Hester who seems like a mess of teen-like insecurity regarding her looks and a lot of pain and her body failing her in ways which sound way older than 50 (hopeful thinking on my part? But come on...). There is a kind of self-hate in Hester's relationship to her body which is not the theme, which stays unexamined but underlying and exploring, resolving that would IMO be a more interesting use of my reading time that the fairy tale retelling.

And going back to that disjointed theme, plot and feelings seem all at the surface and not deeply going into things like Falada's relationship with Cordelia exactly.

Still getting any of her new books but this is not one I am going to be pushing at friends and other victims of my book pushing.

[Crystal's Bookish Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cordelia lives a life unable to make any of her own choices due to her mother's literal power over her, from her thoughts to her physical body. Her only escape is riding the family horse Falada and daydreaming of what freedom might feel like.

This little book may very well be my favorite one from T Kingfisher yet.

A darkly inspired Goose Girl fairy tale retelling with some moments of horror that are so strong I still think about them when I close my eyes at night.

And the thing that I think makes Kingfisher's version of horror resonate with me and others so deeply is her ability to take you to the very edge of the idea of something so horrific that you're nearly crawling out of your skin, and then she pulls you back with a familiar character in a slightly cozy setting just for the briefest respite to allow the horror to sink in, the ideas she's talking about, but to not have to dwell in the darkness for too long.

I loved it.
Thank you so much, Tor Books, for the ARC.