This was so damn GOOD.

This was such a delightful mix of regency, fantasy, and horror. While the story primarily follows Cordelia, our fourteen year old protagonist, I was so smitten with the subtle romance in the novel between the adults. We don’t get enough romance novels about people in their 50s still trying to figure it out 🥹 And while the romance is only about 10% of the novel, it was very very sweet.

However!! the best part was the moments of horror. I don’t know if it was because I wasn’t expecting it or what, but man! there were quite a few times were I was genuinely creeped out. Some of those scenes were so grisly! I think I was clenching my jaw and grimacing the entire time I was reading through these INCREDIBLY DESCRIPTIVE moments. I was truly obsessed.

Lastly, I just have to say that I loved her acknowledgments and the HIGHLY RELATABLE story about horses 😅 I see you, Kingfisher.

So much fun, can’t recommend enough.
Final rating: 4.5/5

Thank you to Tor for an early review copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was hard for me to get into to start. This is the very beginning so no spoilers. Cordelia's mother, Evangeline, does magic to totally control Cordelia's actions and words, during which Cordelia is completely aware it's happening and having pretty emotional reactions to it. The description of that and her reaction to it was really hard for me to read.

After slowly making my way through the beginning, I could not put the book down! As always, T. Kingfisher writes lovable and compelling characters, with a huge focus on character growth.

I love that her fairytale vibes can walk the line between dark descriptions and light hearted humor. This is a total win for me!

Thank you TOR publishing and Netgalley for advanced access to review this book!

I cannot thank the author, publisher, and netgalley enough for the opportunity to read an e-arc!

Words cannot express how much I loved this book. I know with 100% certainty that I would have devoured and loved A Sorceress Comes to Call when I was in grade and middle school. I also love it so much now. Perfect for anyone who loves Ella Enchanted and Fairest by Gail Carson Levine. I cannot recommend this book enough!


A 14-year discovers her mother is a sorceress who will do horrible things to get what she wants. I not only grew to love Cordelia, detest the horse and mother, but also greatly enjoyed all of the secondary characters who made the book and story that much more enjoyable.

Wow, what an amazing book!

(I decided to pick this up after Nettle & Bone / a 5 star read)

T. Kingfisher really knows how to write a story that draws you in. I was laughing, biting my nails in suspense, and desperate to turn the next page! A mystery/ fantasy that is sure to quench both of your thirsts for both.

To see Cordelia’s growth throughout the story was amazing. Her mother had me gripping my hair, and wanting to throw my phone, and the HORSE. Didn’t see that one coming!

Another book that proves T. Kingfisher is one of the most versatile writers of the day, and an absolute master of it.

I think this may be my favorite of hers so far. This retelling of The Goose Girl has all elements and nostalgia of reading a dark fairytale--we have an abused and somewhat naive main character and an evil, villainous mother (who so happens to be a sorceress). It definitely gets grim at times but there is also humor, some lovey-dovey romance, and a good dose of the supernatural. I will say that I generally dislike any romance in a book, but this worked; it was sweet and believable. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the romance aspect was kind of a side story but nevertheless, it was a wonderful addition to the book.

This is simply brilliant. It is exciting, fresh, and completely satisfying. Again, I reiterate that T. Kingfisher is so incredibly talented and in my opinion is one of the most versatile writers in these modern times.

T Kingfisher’s newest novel showcases the mother/daughter relationship, particularly that of a toxic one. Meet Cordelia, the daughter of a selfish and seemingly unloving of her mother. Whom she also discovers is a sorcerer.
A historical and witchy story, I was confused over the multiple narrations within same chapter in the first 1/4th of the story, wondering whose story I was following. I would have preferred either separated by chapters or it needed more development before switching points of view. When one character was speaking first person then switched to third person, the different POVs left me confused with the lack of consistency and wondering if it needed another round through the editor.

I do enjoy at times the despondent Cordelia, even though she may be the dumbest character ever, and her strive to find any kind of hope when it comes to her sorcerer mom. The smart character of Penelope Green was quite fun. The growth of the Hester character was the most intriguing, and it was interesting to see what she would do or say next. There were a few clever jokes hidden here and there to enjoy, not laugh out loud humor but more dry humor. It was still a page turner and I’m interested to see how the fully edited copy turns out when it’s released. The book seemed to find its place in writing, character, and plot about a third of the way in. It was so hard to put this book down in the back half of the story as I was enjoying it so much.

Thank you to NetGalley and T. Kingfisher for an ARC of this title!

Overall Thoughts: This was a self-contained, wonderful little standalone gothic (?)/19th century intrigue. I loved that the characters felt whole and made what felt like very human and age/context-appropriate decisions. And there was something for everyone! Action! Intrigue! Romance! 14-year-old FMCs who acted their age! The overall vibes of the book remind me in ways of Ella Enchanted with a brush of Austen/Bridgeton setting-overtones, but with modern writing. It definitely left me wanting more of this universe and I still have a lot of questions about how the magic/sorcery system works in context. This was a nice breather from the 5+ series I usually like to get lost in, and I will definitely be seeking out more works by T. Kingfisher (this being my first)!





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This was such a refreshing read all around! I think I would have preferred slightly more exposition into the magic system/how alchemy played into sorcery but there was enough detail where I felt like things worked rationally and in context. I also love that the romance here centered around an older set of characters - don't get me wrong, I devour late teen/early 20s romantasy like no other, but I still found myself kicking my feet over the mid 50s couple in this story. I would love to read more about Cordelia (the FMC) and this world in general since I feel like there is still a lot unanswered as far as her background and a few loose ends that could either be left alone by the end, or pursued further. I could also see other works in this universe outside of Cordelia's immediate universe.

I recently had the pleasure of reading T. Kingfisher's A Sorceress Comes to Call, and I have to say that I was thoroughly impressed with the book. The story is engaging and filled with well-developed characters that will keep you hooked from beginning to end.

I enjoyed the changes in Cordelia as she grows in strength in the book from being terrified of her mother, to finally standing up to her face-to-face in the end. I also enjoyed Hester who defies the typical image of an old spinster sister and brings a bit of comedic relief and practicality as well.

Overall, I highly recommend A Sorceress Comes to Call to anyone who loves a good fantasy adventure. T. Kingfisher has been added to my reading list and authors to look out for.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this prepub ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Everything about this book, from the characters to the dark fairy tale vibes to the horror elements to the suspenseful pacing, was so enticing. The villains in particular gave me the honest-to-goodness creeps. There were a few instances where I would read this before bed and get so unsettled that I would have to put it down and turn on some self-soothing mindless television to calm me down enough to sleep.

The thing that made this unique for me was that one of the villains was a horse. Apparently this is a common theme for T. Kingfisher due to a traumatic incident involving a horse when she was a youngster, but as God has wired my brain to be obsessively passionate about horses no matter how many ways they try to kill me, I can’t identify with her in this way. This is only my second Kingfisher book, and my first encounter with this thing she has about horses, but I have to say that if you can write a horse in a way that makes me afraid to sleep and wish it would just die already… well, that’s quite a feat. I’ve never been afraid of a horse, ever. Props to you, madam, for scary me out of my cowgirl boots.

The team of protagonists were just as lovable as the villains were scary. I loved Hester’s ability to discern the situation between Evangeline and Cordelia, and how protective she became of Cordelia, and how she encouraged everyone else to do the same. I loved Penelope’s aunt-like friendship that eventually became a catalyst for motivating Cordelia to fight back against her mother. And I admire Cordelia for her tremendous courage, overcoming her timidity and fearfulness in spite of the terrifying circumstances surrounding her.

I am so glad Kingfisher has written so many fantasy stories. I will be jumping with both feet into as many as I can get my hands on - even though she feels the way she does about my beloved horses - and if I enjoy all of them as much as the first two I’ve read, I think I’m going to have a new favorite author on my list. So spooky and thrilling!

Such a great, moody yet fun read! I really enjoyed this re-imagined fairy tale. I can't wait to tell others about it.

Spooky, quirky, and honestly super fun; T. Kingfisher absolutely kills it in this horror retelling of Grimms Fairy Tale "The Goose Girl".
Surprisingly enough, this was my first T Kingfisher book, and let me tell you, I am so eager to read more!
I loved the writing style, the plot was interesting and kept my attention, and the characters were well developed! I loved that it was under 400 pages too. I think the story was told well enough in the amount of pages given, and didn't need to be any longer. I find a lot of writers write long books just for the sake of having a long book these days. It's nice to find a great book that is satisfying in under 400 pages!

Although I absolutely enjoyed the book, I give it 4 stars. This is simply because it's not a book that I would rave about. But, I would still highly recommend it and get excited when I hear that someone is reading it.

Best suited for those that love reading quirky, grotesque, spooky books! Readers that are already fans of T Kingfisher will not be disappointed!

T. Kingfisher hits it out of the ballpark again with this gothic reimagining of the classic fairytale The Goose Girl. True to style, A Sorceress Comes to Call centers on a young woman’s journey to do what’s right against all odds and the family she finds along the way. Cleverly quirky characters that are never overdone, livestock behaving in unexpected ways, along with witty and comedic dialog, keep the reader engaged from the first page to the last.
Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this fantastic ARC.

This is classic T. Kingfisher quirky writing and well crafted characters who I adore. I didn't connect quite as much with this book as I have others, but I still enjoyed it. Note that it has slightly more horror components than other fantasies she's written.

T. Kingfisher is becoming one of my favorite authors.
This is the perfect mix of fairy tale, fantasy and horror.
A retelling of the Goose Girl, A Sorceress Comes to Call follows the lives of Cordelia and Hester as their worlds collide and they become friends while trying to figure out what to do about Cordelia's mother who is not quiet what she seems.

A Sorceress Comes to Call is a dark and twisted story about a girl named Cordelia with a Sorceress, Evangeline, as her mother. Cordelia has been living under her mother's terror and has grown to be a timid and jumpy girl. The mother and daughter went to live with a wealthy old Squire and his sister Hester. Evangeline was planning to marry the Squire herself and marry Cordelia off to a wealthy man. Everyone and everything that stands in Evangeline's way was in danger. Cordelia, Hester, and the group of house guests needed to find a way to face the sorceress.

This book did an awesome job building up the atmosphere of repression and fear. It's a total page-turner that makes you want to find out what happened to the characters and how they can overcome the unknowns and challenges. It's a retelling of the fairy tale Goose Girl, but the story is only loosely related to the original. It has a life of its own.

If you like a spooky story that has dark secrets, ghosts and demons, and of course sorcery, but also with heart-warming found family and love, then this book is for you!

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Books for the ARC!

I was very excited to read this anticipated new novel: T. Kingfisher’s fairy tale and fantasy stories are some of my favourites (though I haven’t yet read any of her horror novels). This, a dark fairy tale retelling loosely based on The Goose Girl, might be a combo of both of those styles. I had to look up the inspirational tale, and the only twisted connections I could surmise were the horse and geese (the guard-geese are a fun inclusion).

Set in Regency-esque times, Cordelia, 14, is made to be obedient by her mother, who is a sorceress. When her mother decides to marry for money, they both move in with the unwitting gentleman and his sister, Hester. But Hester is quite perceptive, and we follow along as she and Cordelia (along with their dinner party guests) try to free themselves from the sorceress’ evil scheming before more bodies pile up. While this lacks an expansive setting or deep world building, its strength is its characters. Once again Kingfisher has written a strong older female character, which is refreshing (although she at times reads older than her age), and the relationship between the older characters and younger Cordelia is heart warming. The various colourful side characters add additional pops of humour and heart.

Though the baddie is very bad and there are multiple bloody murders, I thought this read more like a young adult novel, and the writing style, depth, and pacing reflects that, or perhaps is reminiscent of a slow moving regency era week long dinner party classic, or perhaps the ARC I read needed a bit more polish. I’m not the biggest fan of young adult novels, nor regency classics, so this won’t be up there with my favourite Kingfisher stories, but I did enjoy it for what it was and was glad to spend a couple evenings reading it.

In the end this is an accessible, suspenseful tale that fans of dark fairy tale retellings (and particularly the author’s previous works) will enjoy.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this. T. Kingfisher is one of my favorite authors. I haven’t read one book yet that I didn’t like. You get so immersed in the story without being bogged down. I loved all of the characters, and truly this was a delightful read.

This is the first I have read a book by this author (Kingfisher). The opening scene was arresting and the overall story unfolded at a great pace to keep my interest. I don't have a tremendous amount of free time to read, but I found myself thinking about the story, wondering where it would move next and looking forward to the next opportunity to continue reading. Well written, descriptive with a satisfying ending. Will recommend.

5/5 stars
Recommended if you like: fantasy, sorcerers/sorceresses, Victorian era, fairytales, T. Kingfisher

This review has been posted to Goodreads as of 5/11 and will be posted to my review blog on 5/30 and to Instagram on 6/7.

As usual, Kingfisher does not disappoint. Her books tend to fall into two categories: fairytale-esque or fantasy horror, and this one is one of the fairytale-esque ones. Like Nettle & Bone though, it does have some creepy elements.

The world this book is set in is a world of small magics. Sorcerers and sorceresses are known to put magic on things for petty reasons, such as to change hair color, cheat at cards, or get more money for a horse than it's worth. Big magic, like controlling people, is thought to be an old wives' tale. But Cordelia knows better. She may have led a sheltered life and not know what everyone else thinks of magic, but she knows what her mother can do, and her mother definitely utilizes the world's perception of magic to her advantage.

This book is very much a story of escaping abuse, and the support system that's necessary for doing so. Cordelia has lived her entire life under her mother's thumb, and while her mother doesn't lay a hand on her, she certainly prevents her from having any privacy and she does lay her magic on her. Hester recognizes something is off about Evangeline, Cordelia's mother, immediately, as does Cordelia's lady's maid (Alice) at the Squire's house. Hester wants to get rid of Evangeline before she can do something to her brother, but at the same time she wants to protect Cordelia. The scheme ends up involving multiple different people as they try to save Cordelia and the Squire. I really liked how everyone who was let in on what was going on immediately jumped on the bandwagon of getting rid of Evangeline, and even if they didn't believe Cordelia about the magic at first, they definitely believed her when she said something was wrong.

Hester is very no-nonsense and pretty much takes things in stride. She clocks Evangeline as Bad News before the woman even arrives at the door, and her perception ends up being frighteningly correct. Once Evangeline and Cordelia move in, and Hester gets to see how Cordelia behaves, she immediately sets about inviting some of her closest confidantes to the house in order to figure out what's going on and then get rid of Evangeline. I liked Hester and enjoyed seeing her interact with her friends. I also liked seeing the camaraderie she had with the staff of the house. She does harp a bit on being old, but if I'm not mistaken she's only in her 50s, which is middle-aged, not old (and this is coming from someone in her 20s, you're not old until you're in your 70s!).

Cordelia is a young teen who's been almost entirely isolated from the outside world and subject to her mother's cruelties and whims for her entire life. When exposed to the world, she's not only not quite sure how to act, but also terrified of getting something wrong and bringing her mother's wrath down on her and the household. I liked seeing Cordelia get the chance to blossom and discover that she's charming and has her own strengths. I also liked that she made friends with Hester and Hester's friends, and that they took her under their wing not just for protection but because they liked her. Cordelia definitely grows into herself throughout the book and becomes quite bold. By the end, while she's still scared of her mother, she understands that she's her own person and that she does have the strength to fight against her, particularly when there are other people on her side.

The side characters were all lovely (not Evangeline) and I really enjoyed reading their interactions. Imogene is a longtime friend of Hester's and is not only very no-nonsense, but she's sharp as a tack and has a nice streak of ruthlessness in her. She has no qualms about suggesting they push Evangeline down the stairs to solve their problem. Penelope Greene was a wonderful character of a person and I enjoyed her not-too-over-the-top over-the-topness. She's bold and doesn't care what anyone else thinks. Richard (Lord Evermore) balances out the group with a gentle pragmatism. He and Hester used to be lovers, and Hester kind-of-but-not-totally regrets not marrying him when he offered. Regardless, he stands as a good solid presence in the group and is immediately ready to believe Hester and do what needs to be done. You can also tell he's a man written by a woman because enduringly understanding of Hester and continues to love and support her, as well as the fact that (view spoiler). I also treasure Alice, Cordelia's lady's maid, who immediately clocks that something is wrong between Cordelia and Evangeline and immediately acts as Cordelia's protector before going to Hester with her concerns. The girls strike up a friendship and I liked that they got along so well. Tom is the butler of the house and a longtime friend of Hester and the Squire. He also immediately notices something off and is willing to go all-in on a plan to get rid of Evangeline. Tom also has some funny jokes that subtly reference the "butler did it" trope, which I enjoyed.

While the geese take a while to come into the story, I do appreciate the geese. There are a bunch of goose families where I live and I love seeing the babies each year, but a lot of people seem to dislike geese on principle, so I like that the geese are the good guys in this story. They add a humorous element to the story as well, once it's clear what their purpose is.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this story and thought the characters were very strong. I liked seeing their relationships with one another and how they all interacted.

Immediately I was drawn to T. Kingfisher’s clever charm and wit as she beautifully wrote this story.
I asked myself in the beginning do I need to read another fairy tale retelling? The answer is yes and this one was a winner for me.

I was rooting for Cordelia all the way through as she navigates harsh conditions, new relationships, and continuous abuse from her mother Evangeline, a sorceress.
And then there is Falada, Evangeline’s horse and familiar. Oh, Falada.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for allowing me to read this book and give my honest review.