Thank you to Tor publishing group and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review

T Kingfisher has no misses! I enjoyed this fast paced standalone fantasy very loosely Interpreted from The Goose Girl. I enjoyed the unlikely friends and enjoyed the multiple POVs from different characters at play. Pacing was good and it kept me interested the whole time. Overall, fun fast paced read that kept me engaged the whole time.

First, a disclaimer: Idk anything about Goose Girl. As such, I have no idea how this compares. So good luck with that part.

Gosh I love T. Kingfisher. This was so quirky and fun, yet also quite heartfelt. From the start, my heart broke for Cordelia, being raised by this awful mother Evangeline. By like chapter 2 I was thinking off ways to off this B. She sucks. And now she's whisked Cordelia away to some stuffy old manor, where she's going to try to seduce the older gentleman who lives there, and try to marry off Cordelia while she's at it. Also, Cordelia is fourteen. See what I mean about feeling homicidal?

Luckily, the gang at the manor isn't going to let this happen without a fight! Hester, the sister of the aforementioned older gentleman, is feisty and wonderful. So she gets to scheming, and enlists the help of some friends to do so. What ensues is all kinds of shenanigans, from both Hester & Co as well as Evangeline, who we can tell isn't going to go down without a fight either.

The humorous bits absolutely balance out the darker bits perfectly, which is always my favorite part of a T. Kingfisher story. Sure, it's dark and messed up, but it's funny and whitty too. I will say, there were maybe a few bits that I felt dragged a wee bit, but this is a very minor complaint in the grand scheme of things. Overall, I adored the book, especially Hester's character, and the adventure of trying to stop Evangeline from ruining all their lives.

Bottom Line: It's dark and it's fun, which is how you know it's another hit from T. Kingfisher!

I fell in love with T. Kingfisher's fantasy novels after I read Nettle & Bone a few years ago, and while I was a less impressed with Thornhedge I hoped that this book would blow me away again. Unfortunately it did. That's not to say I didn't like it, because I did. I thought it was a fun story with great characters, but it just felt slightly lacking to me. I'm not even really sure I can communicate why, because there was nothing about it that really stood out as something I didn't like. It was even longer than usual, an honest to god book instead of a novella, which I also enjoyed. I think in the end perhaps it was just a little...plain. Nettle & Bone was so different, and while this certainly wasn't ordinary/run of the mill by any standards, it also didn't feel like anything mind-blowing. The one thing I do appreciate was that one of our main POV characters was older (50+ at least, maybe even 60+, I don't remember exactly). One issue I can pinpoint was that it ended so abruptly. It went from "we've defeated the big bad" to "epilogue tying things up" in the span of a few pages, and I just feel like it could have expanded a little more between the two. Again, that's not to say it was bad. Kingfisher once again writes about a rather heavy subject with grace and tact, and she sprinkles some humor into her stories so that things never get TOO heavy, but so far I still have failed to recapture that magic I felt when reading Nettle & Bone for the first time. And while that may be the case, I will still happily recommend this book to those looking for a fun, inventive fantasy novel while eagerly awaiting the next fantasy novel Kingfisher writes, because I'm not going to give up hope that the next one will remind me of the first.

This was such a phenomenal fairy tale retelling! I'm not overly familiar with the Goose Girl, although I think it might have been in a large book of fairy tales I read often as a child. It seems vaguely familiar.

The retelling was a dark and compelling read. This was my first book by T. Kingfisher and I loved the writing style.The story is filled with wit and a good amount of tension. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

I enjoyed watching Cordelia grow as the story progresses, and Hester was a fantastic character from start to finish. I adored her romantic storyline! It's always nice seeing romance between more mature couples.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This took me a bit to get into,
I didn’t really start to like it till the 30% mark but once I got to that point. I liked it so much more, it went from a 2⭐️ to a 4⭐️

A Sorceress Comes to Call is unconventional and delightfully dark—which is impressive considering its source material, the Brothers Grimm’s Goose Girl, is already so macabre.

Readers can pinpoint the villain from the start, which is an interesting—and well-executed—authorial choice. The story then becomes not about identifying the evildoer but about bringing her to justice. For fourteen-year-old Cordelia, sorceress Evangeline’s daughter, stopping the abusive woman is of outmost importance. Despite her isolation and lack of received affection, Cordelia is timid but not weak, awkward but not unintelligent, and clumsy but unfailingly kind. I thoroughly enjoyed discovering the wider world through her eyes and rooting for her as she grew out from under her mother’s thumb.

The side characters complement Cordelia perfectly and add the extra grit and wry humor to the story that would have been otherwise difficult, given Cordelia’s age. I adored Hester and Lord Evermore and rooted for them to somehow end up together—but not officially together—the entire time. Hester’s friends were just as quirky, and their generosity toward Cordelia struck me again and again. Not a single one of them was unlikeable, even Hester’s older brother, the oblivious target of Evangeline’s machinations.

I’m hesitant to give a full five stars mostly because I found the plot a bit insular, though it suits Cordelia’s upbringing. I suppose throwaway mentions of other magic-wielders as nuisances—and thus Evangeline as powerful beyond belief—were too intriguing for me to settle for not learning more. I also found the pacing to be just a tad off; Cordelia’s pre-marriage scheme life felt prolonged, though again, it enhanced the despair of her circumstances. So, although not a perfect read, A Sorceress Comes to Call fulfilled everything I could have wanted, from misunderstood spinsters to raucous dinner parties and familiars that are far too creepy for their own good.

TL/DR: This was such an enjoyable read. Sly humor + fairy tale action... Really fun, especially for fans of traditional fairy tales (think Brothers Grimm).

If you're a fan of bad-ass heroines, funky magic, spells, friendship and fairy tales, then this is a book for you. In "A Sorceress Comes to Call" you find the familiar shapes and storylines of traditional fairy tales, but pay attention because T. Kingfisher makes this story their own and this is not your grandmother's fairy tale.

I don't want to divulge too much of the plot but you will enjoy the rollicking ride all the way through to the end! I am now on the hunt for more books by T. Kingfisher!

Many thanks to the publisher (Tor Publishing Group) and to NetGalley for the ARC allowing me to read and review this book.

Thank you very much for the arc. I thoroughly enjoyed this. T. Kingfisher is a master storyteller and this was such an interesting and unique take on the Goose Girl, much darker and more devious. It was a bit of a darker Ella Enchanted as well I suppose. I love her prose and the audiobook was fantastically done. Just overall a beautiful tale!

Another winner from T Kingfisher! I'd recommend this book for fans of dark fairy tales. It's almost a cross between two of her previous books - "What Moves the Dead" and "Nettle and Bone."

Cordelia and Hester are our main characters - the naïve "Goose Girl" from the fairy tale, and the kind of wise older woman that T Kingfisher writes so very well.

This is not an exact retelling of the story, more "inspired by" the Goose Girl. In this story, Cordelia has been controlled by her mother her entire life. Her mother is the Sorceress in the title of the book, and she is a real piece of work. She decides to enchant and marry a wealthy squire, who happens to have an unmarried sister, Hester. Hester is not ok with this plan, and begins to scheme to stop the wedding.

There's a lot more, and it's worth knowing that this is quite dark and has some moments of real horror. Even so, T Kingfisher cannot stop herself from making it quite heartwarming, and giving us some memorable and loveable side characters. I loved every minute of reading this and highly recommend it!

This was my first Kingfisher book and it did not disappoint. Intisar Khanani's "Thorn" is one of my favorite books, as well as a retelling of The Goose Girl, so I was interested to begin with the author's newest book. I was surprised to find that it was loosely inspired by the fairytale, seeing as Falada played a different role from the original.

The characters were well-developed, especially Cordelia who finds the courage to defy her mother and save her friends. Cordelia's mother, who is a sorceress, played the role of a villain and was very well-written. I was also invested in the side characters, as well as Hester's relationship. As mentioned before, the twist on Falada's character was surprising, who was both evil of sorts but also someone to feel sympathy for. Despite my expectations, the characters were well-written and enjoyable to read about.

My one problem with the book was Penelope's ability to talk as a ghost, which felt too convenient. I wish this was explored more, rather than implying that it just happened somehow.

4/5 - would recommend

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: August 6, 2024

4.75 stars
I just love T. Kingfisher's writing. If you haven't picked up any of her books yet I highly recommend doing so! I loved the characters and that there were changes of pace in the book to keep you engaged. Plenty of tension too to keep you reading!

I am a huge fan of T. Kingfisher's work, especially her fairytale retellings. NETTLE & BONE was one of my most recent favorite reads. So when I say that A SORCERESS COMES TO CALL lives up to (and surpasses!) that book, you know it's something really special. The intrigue! The intergenerational friendship! The love story for the older characters! The idea of innocent youth vs tackling something terrible! There's so much to love here. And T. Kingfisher's quirky sense of humor is on full display. I had the best time reading this book and cannot recommend it enough to everyone who loves fantasy novels with heart, fairytale retellings, or wonderful characters created in full detail.

I can only explain T. Kingfisher’s style as moody elegance. My favorite parts of this story have to be the characters. They are so well written, have their own nuances and habits, and I can’t help but enjoy (most of) them. As with other Kingfisher stories, it’s not all laughter and good banter - there is still enough gore to go around without it being gratuitous.

This story follows a girl and her mother, who is essentially a violent con artist hoping to ensnare a rich husband. I always appreciate smart and clever characters who react to their circumstances intelligently, and you definitely get that in this book. The plot was unique, and the rules and systems of the world were interesting, but it’s definitely the characters that shine.

I really did enjoy this one and I will continue reading into T. Kingfisher’s backlist. Also, a certain character from a previous book gets a sneaky reference! 🦴

Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, Tor, and to Ms. Kingfisher for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

I do love a fairytale retelling. Considering the many of the Grimm fairytales are, well, pretty grim, I think that Ms. Kingfisher is the PERFECT horror-adjacent author to tackle this story, inspired by the Goose Girl. I really liked The House with Good Bones, and while Sorceress doesn't *quite* have that "turn-all-the-lights-on" creep factor, it is a great adaptation. Certainly of the four ARCs I was reading in a row it is by far the stand-out of the bunch.

As per the blurb, Cordelia, a fourteen-year-old girl, has grown up alone with only her mother Evangeline (a controlling, manipulative, vindictive sorceress) and her (mother's) horse, Falada, for company. Cordelia is frequently forced by her mother to be "Obedient", in which her mother pilots her like a skin suit and her personality and will is forced to to submit completely. Cordelia's world is turned upside down (a) when her mother's "benefactor" cuts her off, forcing Evangeline to take drastic measures, and (b) Cordelia finds out that Falada, whom she thought was her only friend in the world, is actually Evangeline's familiar and has been reporting everything Cordelia said back to her mother all along. Evangeline sets off for town to snare a rich man and will not tolerate any obstacles in her way, whether that obstacle is Cordelia, or Lady Hester, the Squire (aforementioned rich man)'s sister, or Hester's friends. Can she be stopped? Will she be stopped in time?

I really liked almost everything about this. I flew the chapters, eager to find out if Cordelia would find some inner strength to stand against her mother, and whether all the characters would make it. It is definitely more of a fairy-tale style, fantasy horror than House with Good Bones, but I LOVE fairy tales, so I was in heaven. I also particularly enjoyed all the side characters, Lady Hester's friends and the household staff, who try to help. Special mention to Alice, aspiring lady's maid and first person who truly helped Cordelia build her self-esteem.


4 1/2 stars, highly recommended to fantasy readers, particularly those who like (dark) fairy tales.

A Sorceress Comes to Call follows Cordelia, the daughter of a sorceress who is prepared to do whatever she deems necessary to get her way. Cordelia has seen that firsthand most of her life as her mother can physically control her and her behavior. She isn’t allowed to have friends, go to school, or close any doors. One day, her mother decides to marry a wealthy older man, the Squire. However Hester, the Squire’s sister, quickly realizes something is odd about the mother-daughter pair that arrived at their door. Now she just has to figure out how what to do about it.

In true T. Kingfisher fashion, there are an elements that are peculiar but it is not unnerving. And despite the looming threat, the story retains a mundane atmosphere. I didn’t know what to expect with a goose girl retelling, because I am not familiar with the story. I really enjoy that T. Kingfisher uses characters who do not immediately display the typical archetypes for main characters or heroes. All her characters are dynamic with multiple layers. As readers we get to see Cordelia slowly find her voice as she gains more autonomy We also get to see Hester navigate her fears surrounding aging and relationships. The ragtag team they created with friends new and old made the story more compelling. I’ve also heard good things about the audiobook, and I'm thinking of checking it out

I found A Sorceress Comes to Call charming and evocative, with strong characters, driving plot, and vivid atmosphere. I’d recommend it to readers of fairytale retellings, fans of historical fantasy, and those seeking a new-adult level standalone not prioritizing a romance plot.

This was a fantastic read. 👏 I'm not going to do this book justice in this review. T.Kingfisher has a wonderful way of weaving the plot in with the action and taking the characters that could have fallen flat full bodied. My heart ached for Cordelia and the unfortunate situation she was born in to. My only complaint would be that Hester kept referring to herself as being old AT 50!!! That is not old at all to modern standards. Still she was a badass. I will be adding T.Kingfisher to my must buy when they release a new novel.

A Sorceress Comes to Call is a brand new fantasy novel by the one and only T.Kingfisher.

I’m absolutely obsessed with this author’s fantasy books. I find her stories original, addicting, dark and somehow still cozy.

In this novel, we follow Cordelia, whose mother is not quite like other mothers. She wants to control Cordelia’s every thought and action. There are no doors in their house and no privacy whatsoever. One day, they suddenly move away to live with a wealthy man and his sister, Hester. While Cordelia is trying to figure out her mothers’ plans, she finds herself confining in Hester who knows that something is not quite right with the whole situation.

I found this story to be so incredibly moving. Getting to know Cordelia was so heartbreaking. I felt her pain and suffering every step of the way and it just felt so genuine and important.

My favourite part of the novel was just seeing all these strangers start to care for her and show her genuine compassion. This novel had some of my favourite characters I’ve ever read - Hester, Penelope, Imogene and Willard (and omg the GEESE)!!

Hester and her friends were such a stand-out to me because these characters were in their 50s and I loved the amount of focus and storyline they had. It was so beautiful seeing them not just being part of Cordelia’s story but having actual storylines, character development and so much page-time. It’s not something we see every day in literature but I’m so happy that authors like T.Kingfisher are changing that.

There was just so much to love here. The sorcery, the friendships, the little bit of romance. But I also want to point out that this book got quite dark as well. There was murder, evil, abuse, selfishness and a very toxic mother-daughter relationship.

I loved this book so much. If you enjoyed Nettle & Bone, you will absolutely love this one as well.

4.5 stars.

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is marketed as a goose girl retelling and while there is a horse or something pretending to be a horse named Falada, and there are geese, it otherwise does not follow the original goose girl story.

Cordelia is controlled by her mother Evangeline, a sorcerer of great power in a world that believes sorcerers can only do small acts of magic. Having lost the support of her “benefactor,” Evangeline announes that she must marry as Cordelia is too young yet. She picks out an older country squire and moves them both to his estate.

The story switches between Cordelia’s POV and that of Hester, the squire’s sister, who are both well developed. The story was interesting and often suspenseful. It at least edged toward horror if not fully stepping over into it. It is basically a story about an abused girl and her toxic mother and how to get Cordelia to safety.

Overall I liked this book a lot. The central characters, and most of the larger supporting characters are well developed. More minor characters tend to be a bit cookie-cutter. Evangeline is very one note villain, but given that Cordelia is terrified of her and Hester wants nothing to do with her, this is not, perhaps, surprising. Also she’s the villain. There’s also a romantic subplot that I completely adored.

This book is amazing another brilliantly written work by T.Kingfisher. I wish the book was longer. I absolutely loved the characters and wasn’t ready for it to end. Heater was by far my favorite character an old spinster who is smart, funny, loving and brave. The way she not only tries to protect her brother but a girl she didn’t even know. While the planning was flawed and crazy at most points she kept moving forward. I loved the camaraderie of these three older women coming together for this strange scared girl they barely know.
The book is about a terrified girl who is dragged along by her evil mother. Normally in fairy tales we hear about the evil step mother but not this one. It’s about the evil mother and the family she marries into. It’s about a girl who’s sheltered and denied contact with the world. While at the squires house she makes friends, laughs and closes doors for the first time in her life.