A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an egalley in exchange for an honest review!
The first 10% or so was a little bit on the slow (and depressing) side, but I trust Kingfisher to always deliver a good book, and was not disappointed; after Cordelia and Hester start being friends it gets very hard to put down. All of the friendships in this one are good, really.
I love Kingfisher's commitment to giving middleaged women fantasy adventures (and romance!), as well as this line that I will be thinking about forever and ever*:
"She didn’t have a headache but it felt as if she ought to." Girl me too


*shh it's ok I made sure this made it into the final version (because I bought it because I liked the book very very much)

I'm a Kingfisher fan, so I was very much looking forward to this, and it didn't disappoint! Even though her books are often straddling or just over the line of too romantic for my taste, she has this way of writing that's so compelling! I lose myself in the story every time, and I read this one almost entirely in one sitting.

The setup here is so chilling, and the perspective is crucial—from the first moments, we understand that Cordelia is being abused, and we quickly know that some kind of magic is involved, but seeing the story through her eyes means that we know as little as she does about the world she's trapped in. The world of her household, alone with her mother and their horse, and the world outside that she's never been allowed to see or learn about. How common is this magic? How easily, or not, could Cordelia get away? Every new progression of the plot reveals more and keeps drawing you forward, trying to get your bearings as much as Cordelia is.

And Hester, the other perspective we get! What a joy she is, I can't help but fall in love with a fat middle-aged woman with a bad knee, being one myself. She's a breath of fresh air through the whole thing, the voice of stubborn wisdom. I'm delighted by her no-nonsense-ness and her love of geese. Honestly the whole ensemble cast of this book is great, each lovable in their own ways with the notable exception of Cordelia's mother, who is satisfyingly and realistically awful.

My eyes were glued to the page from start to finish, which is always a treat.

A delightful blend of fairytale fantasy and horror, A Sorceress Comes to Call follows the story of 14-year-old Cordelia—the daughter of a sorceress who has spent years under her mother Evangeline’s control. Evangeline’s favorite punishment? To take control of Cordelia’s body and make her “obedient,” doing whatever Evangeline needs. We also meet Hester: a middle-aged spinster who lives with her still unmarried and wealthy brother, a Squire. When Hester gets the feeling that Doom is coming for her family, it is only a matter of time before Evangeline shows up at the Squire’s door with Cordelia in tow, enacting a plot to get the Squire to marry her. The longer Cordelia and Evangeline are guests at the Squire’s house, the more Hester starts to notice something is terribly wrong. Can Cordelia trust Hester enough to let her know how dangerous her mother is? And can Hester stop her brother from falling under the Sorceress’ spell?

❤️ What I loved: This wonderfully written, fast-paced novel captivated me from beginning to end. I loved the darker fairytale-inspired magic in this story, and there was just enough world-building to make the plot convincing—a tough feat for any shorter standalone! The great cast of characters, especially our two protagonists Cordelia and Hester, made this a slam dunk for me.

Though this is written for an adult audience, older teens would also find a lot to enjoy about this book. This was my first T. Kingfisher novel, and it definitely won’t be my last!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 (4.5-5)

Acknowledgments & Disclaimers ✨ Thank you to NetGalley, T. Kingfisher, and Tor Publishing, for providing an ARC and the opportunity to share an honest review of this book. ✨ All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. ✨ My reviews and ratings strive to evaluate books within their own age-demographic and genre.

It's no secret that I am a bit of a wimp, and last year for r/Fantasy book bingo I reluctantly picked up a T.Kingfisher book to fill the horror square. I was very pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying that book (A House With Good Bones), and so I went into this newest book with some excitement. I am so glad I took that chance last year because I have found that I really do enjoy Kingfisher's writing a lot.

I'm not familiar with The Goose Girl, which this story is based on, but I don't think you need to be to enjoy it. This book is quite dark as we have familial manipulation and trauma, so be warned. Cordelia is controlled by her mother the Sorceress - and when I say controlled I mean literally here, like a puppet. The pair of them go to visit our second main character Hester, and her brother, staying at their large house for an extended period of time.

The character of Hester was a delight, an older woman with bad joints and a heart of gold. Aside from the young Cordelia, the rest of the cast were older adults and it made for some really interesting character dynamics.

Characters aside, Kingfisher is a master at building tension. Right from the off we are uneasy thanks to the treatment of Cordelia, but as we progress through the pages things get darker and more wicked and the stakes steadily grow. We have many twists and turns but the whole thing is punctuated with wit and small sparks of humour from the supporting cast which help the overall tone not be too oppressive.

All in all, this was an excellent read, if darker than what I would usually pick up! I will definitely be reading more of T.Kingfisher's books in the future.
Many thanks to Tor and NetGalley for sending an e-arc my way (and yes this review is late!).

T. Kingfisher does not miss.

After greatly enjoying her Paladin series, I was eager (and maybe a bit trepidatious) to pick up a “dark retelling” of a Grimm fairytale – um, aren’t the Grimm originals dark enough to start? But I didn’t know the Goose Girl so I really didn’t know what to expect. Cordelia is the sheltered and abused daughter of Evangeline, a sorceress who sets her sights on a hapless but wealthy Squire for marriage. Fortunately for Cordelia, the Squire’s sister, Hester, sees right through Evangeline’s designs. But Evangeline is no low-level card sharp using base magic to cheat her opponents: Woe betide those who get in her way.

I’m sure there are references and layers of meaning that went over my head, but even so, A Sorceress Comes to Call is frightening in both its scary evil sorceress and lurking demonic creatures, but also because of the banality of the horrific abuse Evangeline visits upon her daughter. Cordelia lives in justified fear of the nightmarish things her mother does, ostensibly, for Cordelia’s future financial security. Cordelia, though young and terribly skittish (for good reason!) is nevertheless a compelling character on whom to situate that majority of the narrative. Hester, though 50 and decidedly “on the shelf,” is wise, irreverent and the beating heart of the story. Evangeline is chillingly sinister – and would be just as frightening, even if her magic weren’t real.

CW: Parental abuse, graphic violence.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Kingfisher does it again, spinning an interesting take on a well known tale. I was delighted by the alternating points of view between teen Cordelia and middle-aged Hester. With a cast to fall and root for, except in one particular case, this book surprised me, horrified me, and kept me tense all the to the end. I highly recommend for fans of reimagined fairy tales!

After a first bad experience with T. KINGFISHER (The Hollow Places, 2 stars) I wanted to give her another chance and this book was the right pick! It hit all the right spots: a 14 year old girl (Cordelia) living an isolated life because of her mother (Evangeline)
It gave me Rapunzel vibes with the evil mother putting spell on the daughtercyo make her act the way she wishes she'd act, and how betrayed Cordelia felt when finding our that her mother had been playing her. It was beyond cruel. I loved the atmospheric setting and the gruesome scenes caused by the mother. Evangeline wants to have a comfortable, so she looks for a wealthy man. She finds him in Samuel, an old bachelor, and she succeeds in getting invited over to his mansion. The Squire Samuel lives with his spinster sister Hester and Cordelia quickly create a bond with one, one she never had with her mother. Will she finally succeed getting free of her mother's sorcery?

I loved the characters, particularly Hester and her group of friends. The ending was over the top but so much fun, and I love the eccentricity of all characters, the non-typical personalities, the magic, a great treat and a great pick if you are looking for an autumnesque read.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for this e-ARC on exchange of my personal opinion.

This is one of the finest fairy tale retellings I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. I was merely halfway through the galley when I knew I would have to buy this so I could return to this story when the need arose. Thank you, as always, T. Kingfisher for writing stories that make the world a more barrable place.

T Kingfisher does it again! How she combines cozy fantasy with horror elements into the most perfect books is beyond me. Definitely a must buy author!

T. Kingfisher tells a tale of the horror that can happen when A Sorceress Comes to Call (hard from Tor). It’s an alternate Victorian age. Cordelia’s mother had been supported by a special friend since she had gotten pregnant by a noble and dropped. Her plans are to use her sorcerous abilities to manipulate people to put Cordelia into society so she can marry very well. To do that she finds a wealthy squire to marry, moving into his house. Unfortunately, Hester, his sister, puts herself into danger when she realizes the evil that is invading their quiet life. Add in a ghost that only Cordelia can talk to, and a magical horse, and you have an intense tale impossible to put down.

My library rarely purchases T. Kingfisher books, which is a shame because they're missing out on some really excellent writing. A Sorceress Comes to Call has all the feeling of a fairy tale retelling, plus the covert and then explicit horror the T. Kingfisher excels in. Over three quarters of the way through the book, I was getting worried that the plot was not resolving itself quickly enough, and then everything turned upside down, an invisible ghost was introduced, the horse was revealed as a demon, and the main characters became that much more real. Excellent writing, excellent storytelling, excellent book.

Delightfully dark and funny tale of magic and family. Set in vaguely Victorian England, the novel introduces several interesting female characters and some of the intriguing men in their lives as they vie for marriage, wealth, and magical power. With all the charm of Kingfisher’s world building and a wit reminiscent of Austen, it had me suitably enchanted.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to Tor for sending me an ARC of A Sorceress Comes to Call for an honest review!

A Sorceress Comes to Call follows Cordelia, the daughter of Evangeline (the titular sorceress). Kept under her mother's thumb, often through the use of magic, Cordelia is pulled into Evangeline's plans of charming and marrying a rich man for money. To escape her own captivity, Cordelia must work together with the other members of the manor and overcome her mother's power.

I absolutely devoured this book. The fairy tale vibes are spectacular, but this is definitely a dark book. Even if it's not as much of a 'horror' book as some of Kingfisher's others, the themes of abuse and manipulation are still horrifying. Kingfisher weaves magic into the mother's psychological manipulation to show how someone might seek to control people.

Hester and her friends are all amazing characters and I loved their familiar dynamic, as well as how they enfolded Cordelia into the group. Every character was so fleshed out and contributed to the story, even the geese (yes, all the geese live and I love them very much).

Kingfisher is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and I can't wait to see what else she might be working on.

Truly Kingfisher's best work yet. The atmosphere, characters and tension put you in a vice grip from the first page until well after you close the book.

4.5 stars rounded up.

T. Kingfisher is the GOAT of fairytale retellings. And A Sorceress Comes to Call did NOT disappoint. This take on the Brothers Grimm's Goose Girl is creepy, breathtaking, and features such a f*ed up mother-daughter relationship that I couldn't put it down. The perfect book for those who love dark retellings of fairytales.

Thank you to Tor and T Kingfisher for the advanced copy!

Spooky!!

I don't know how T. Kingfisher manages to make books that are both whimsically fun and also extremely horrifying, but she did it. (also don't come at me for calling this fun, okay, just go with it). And not just one kind of horrifying, but two! Stay away if you can't handle narcissistic parental abuse or animal body horror, but if those things aren't a dealbreaker in fiction, this is a great book. I'm still not sick of middle aged fantasy protagonists. More tired adults being heroic, please.

Young Cordelia lives under her mother’s thumb. Her mother literally forces her to be obedient to her every command, essentially a living doll. She learns at an early age the dark deeds her mother is capable of, and to fear her, because her mother is a selfish, amoral sorceress. When her mother sets her sights on becoming a local squire’s bride in her path to wealth and power, Cordelia knows very well just how much jeopardy he is in, for her mother only leaves destruction in her wake. Hester, his spinster sister, becomes a potential ally, if only Cordelia can keep herself from becoming a tool in her mother’s scheme and the perpetrator of violence to others around her. Can Cordelia, Hester and her circle of friends find a way to prevail against a powerful and wicked sorceress’ power?

T. Kingfisher has written a flawless, compelling dark fantasy with a Regency historical fiction feel. The sense of the uncanny is so vivid, and this novel is rich in atmosphere. The magic is captivatingly described, and this story has some legitimately scary moments juxtaposed against delightful humor and Regency mannered wit.

Cordelia is a fascinating character who draws the reader into this story with her authenticity. She has been so traumatized, bullied, and emotionally damaged by her mother that she doesn’t even know who she is and how to interact in society. Her relationship with Hester shows her what it's like to experience genuine caring, love and acceptance, and brings her to understand her own strengths. Hester is another amazing character. She is approaching middle age and looking back at regrets, including a relationship with a good friend (once more than a friend) whose help she needs to deal with the sorceress in her home. Even the secondary characters are fantastic, from Lord Everwood to Lady Strauss to the maid and butler who make up the group working to take down Cordelia’s mother. Found family is a central theme of this novel, as Cordelia realizes she doesn’t ever have to be alone, and her value is more than just being her mother’s puppet.

In this world, sorcery is real, although dismissed as cheap tricks of con artists, but scholars have written treatises, research that becomes very important to the characters’ fight against the evil sorceress. The words flow and the story enthralls until the very last word. Readers who love dark historical fantasy with a gothic feel and a poignant message about love and acceptance will enjoy this new offering by the incredible T. Kingfisher.

I adored this book! It was gripping, mysterious and had such great humor.

Five stars from beginning to end

This fell fully in the middle of my enjoyment of T. Kingfisher's book. I really have loved quite a few of her books and thought some were just okay. Kingfisher has such a range and I really love to pick up her newest book.

Overall, this one was just okay for the most part. I really liked some characters and felt that a few could have been better developed. Hester was a standout as well as Imogene. The others, though, I wished we had more time with.

While a lot this was slow paced, I was enjoying my time reading it. Afterwards, I do feel a bit let down as there was something missing that I wished would have really made this something to love. There were just some plot threads I think could have been explored more.

I will also pick up a T. Kingfisher, she just has the most interesting and fun fantasy and horror books that I know I will devour.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

I really wanted to like this one, but I ended up feeling a little lack luster about it. I enjoyed the transformation our main character Cordelia had, as she goes from a scared girl who's been controlled by her mother, to someone ready to stand up for herself. I didn't like our second main character Hester as much, though I felt the dual storytelling worked well.

I was actually expecting to be a little more scared reading this, but the horror ended up being more about psychological control and how that affects people.

Overall, I did enjoy the story, but sadly it's not one I would read again. I think I really like Kingfisher's fantasy more than her horror, but may still give a few more a try.