Originally, I did not think I could provide feedback for this book because I DNF'd it, but I now realize I still can. I DNF'd at 30%. The pace of this book was too slow to keep my attention. I also was confused as to how this was a Brothers Grimm retelling. Up to the point I stopped the book, I was not seeing the ties to Goose Girl. Had I kept reading, I may have discovered the connection, but I don't think they were laid well to that point. Really disappointed, because I was intrigued by the description of the book, and this was a new author for me. I might try again later, but right now it was very difficult for me to get into.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers for this early review copy. I wasn't really sure what to expect going into this one. Kingfishers books are all so different from one another, which means some of them miss for me. A Sorceress Comes To Call was not a miss. This was a story with dark themes, but they made the story more compelling. It wasn't a very fast paced book, until closer to the end. I really liked the characters. It was easy to dislike Evangeline and just as easy to care about and root for Cordelia. Hester was my favorite though. I will definitely be recommending this one to my friends.

Oddly cozy, definitely funny and a fun and enjoyable read. Given that this is at least the 2nd retelling of The Goose Girl that I really enjoyed, I probably have to read the original now.

Parts of this felt like a funny murder mystery book. I like it when a book has components of different genres and it can be hard to do well. Kingfisher is a master at this and I think Sorceress is top notch.

T. Kingfisher's unique blend of fantasy, mystery, and a hint of horror always so so good. All of those elements are once again present in "A Sorceress Comes to Call". This novel kept me at the edge of my seat, waiting to see what would happen to Cordelia and what her mother would do next. I was rooting for Cordelia & Hester the whole time. Another excellent read by Kingfisher.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very interesting fantasy novel and I loved Cordelia as a character. She was great and was fascinating as she worked to figure out how to defeat her sorceress mother. It was interesting when she was made to be obedient by her mother’s powers and how others were able to slowly figure out that Cordelia was not herself. I really enjoyed the ending of this book and wonder if Cordelia inherited any of her mother’s powers.

one of my auto-buy authors, so did i like it? duh. yes. of course. and despite loving and reading most of t. kingfisher's writing, i was still surprised by some of the twists. in fact, one of them still breaks my heart a little bit when i think about it.

also, if you're looking for wonderful middle-aged main characters, look no further. and romance too! with horniness!

Another fractured fairytale from the pen of T. Kingfisher filled with memorable characters. I quite enjoyed this as I have previous works.

Solid fast read.
I loved the "old" ladies and their cunning.

I felt all the dread that Cordelia felt whenever her mom was around. That woman was unhinged.

I didn't know the story that this book is inspired by, 'The Goose Girl" by the grimm brothers. However, I don't feel as though this impacted how much I really enjoyed this book. It was a very fast paced, fun read. I enjoyed all the characters, even the mom Evangeline who is the villain of the story. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys retellings, especially ones that can hold their own against the originals.

T. Kingfisher has many talents, but the one I admire the most is her character development. Every time I pick up one of her novels or novellas, I instantly fall in love with her characters. It is no different here in A Sorceress Comes to Call. We get two points of views from both Cordelia and Hester, and both feel so rich and real from their very first chapters. When Hester complains about her arthritis, I feel her pain. Cordelia's anxiety feels so real. Kingfisher can make me believe these characters are real better than most authors I read.

I also enjoy her story flow. Here, it is perfectly paced. Every scene fits in with the previous one, creating a seamless "and then this", "and then this", "and then this", which all make perfect sense. The set up feels familiar because she is borrowing from fairytale & folklore tropes: an evil mother, enchanted familiars, a wedding, finding the solution with a visit to the library. And yet she produces a totally new tale with these familiar beats. And the story beats are perfectly introduced to keep the story moving. Hester inviting the visitors, the double murder scene, the Squire's proposal, Richard's own proposal, the honeymoon. Penelope Green speaking from the beyond was a nice surprise. You never feel bored, yet it never feels too crowded in the story, either.

How lucky we are to be continuously spoiled with a new Kingfisher story every couple of months. Although often grotesque, her books will interest different types of readers. If you enjoy (darker) fairy tales, you will enjoy A Sorceress Comes to Call.

Thank you, T. Kingfisher, Tor Books, and NetGalley for the ARC.

T Kingfisher is an autobuy author of mine & her latest fairy tale retelling did not disappoint. I love how she writes such lovable but flawed, relatable & vulnerable characters. Her dialogue is always hilarious & spot-on & the deeper meanings & messaging are always beautiful & prescient. Can't wait to read every thing else she writes!

Love a book with strong female MCs! This was dark and creepy with smart characters. It had funny moments which you dont expect from a book like this so that was a pleasant surprise.

3.5 stars I liked this book but not sure I'd re-read this one

- Geese
- Magic
- Regency vibes
- death
- Toxic parent

World building

We get some simple world building to tell us about our surroundings during the book but the main focus is on the plot in this book.

Romance

There is some romance for one of the main characters however this is a subplot. I did enjoy the aspects we saw of this it was well done.

Plot

Cornelia's Mother being a sorcerer but a basically evil one was really interesting. I would however have liked possibly some extra information on how the magic works from the sorcerers point of view. However I did really enjoy this book and especially the GEESE!!!! The plotting from both the main characters and Evangeline was really interesting trying to solve the mystery of how to win. Also we love Alice <3

If you're looking for some more casual but darker fantasy featuring death, plots and geese this may be the one for you.

Thank you to Tor and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for a honest review.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this ARC! I adored T.Kingfisher’s writing in A House With Good Bones and was hoping to find the same enjoyment with this novel. Unfortunately, this was not for me. I appreciate the author’s ability to write across genres and the descriptive style is still present and compelling - however, overall I did not enjoy the book or find the plot to have what I needed to be invested.

Yet another amazing book from T. Kingfisher.

14-year-old Cordelia’s mother is a Sorcerer, and Cordelia has been subjected to and forced to observe her mother’s cruel behavior in pursuit of her selfish ambitions her entire life. Then, her mother packs them off to a squire’s house when she is able to become acquainted with people who care about her and take her well being to heart. While Cordelia and her newfound friends are no match for her mother’s power, they still band together to try to put a stop to her wicked ways.

Great world building. I love Kingfisher’s characters and their age range.

Kingfisher's writing never fails to delight me and at this point its like just trying to see all the ways she can surprise me with the types of stories she can tell. This one was slower than what I'm used to but that was not at all a negative. It kept the cadence of a fairy tale while also bringing forward the internal pain and the emotions of being trapped in abuse and saving yourself. It was so good and I'd highly recommend it.

I was expecting a cozy fantasy, but got a much darker story. The Regency era setting with the addition of magic worked great.

Characters have distinct personalities and voices. Our main character’s character growth was fun to see; she went from shy, scared, and voiceless to self-assured. The characters were all very easy to root for, or against depending on the character.

I do wish we went more in depth on why Evangeline did what she did to her daughter. Some things didn’t get explained, and though I don’t always like ambiguity, I did not mind it here.

As always, Kingfisher has created another wonderfully cozy, but dark world that I wish I could wrap myself in like a blanket. It doesn't matter what the story is, I cannot get enough of her writing! This book is funny, extremely tense and so freaking cathartic. I recommend this to anyone who loves dark stories, fantasy, fairy tale retellings and honestly just a good story.

T. Kingfisher’s A Sorceress Comes to Call is a dark, atmospheric retelling of the Brothers Grimm’s Goose Girl that skillfully blends classic fairy tale elements with original twists. The novel excels in creating an eerie, claustrophobic mood from the very beginning as we meet Cordelia, a young girl living under the strict magical control of her mother—a powerful sorceress whose peculiar rules and frightening demands set the tone for a story that is as much about psychological tension as it is about fantastical menace. While the pacing occasionally dips, especially in the middle sections, the writing remains sharp and evocative, and the characters are engaging and nuanced.

A Sorceress Comes to Call may not break new ground in fairy-tale retellings, it stands out through its compelling characters and atmospheric setting.

A short, modern fairytale that gets to the heart of humanity. I like the way T. Kingfisher writes. Dark but also cozy. There's something here for all readers.