Cordelia's mother insists that there are no secrets in their house. She can't close any door and her mother controls her every action and calls it obedience. Cordelia has been raised to marry a rich man. But that timeline is moved up, and now she and her mother are in the household of a wealthy older Squire and spinster sister Hester.

Faced with the truth of what her mother is, Cordelia must decide between bravery or safety, found family or blood and she must do it before her mother grows even more powerful.

Why I started this book: Kingfisher is an automatic buy for me and I was so eager to have an ARC.

Why I finished it: Couldn't put it down and I finished it in one gulp. Wonderfully creepy story with great characters.

Ahoy there me mateys!  While I enjoyed this read, I wish I hadn't seen the comparisons of the Goose Girl because it gave me expectations of plot that did not happen.  That said, I also know that Kingfisher can really shake things up with her twisting of fairytales.  This has the horse and some geese like the fairytale but used in ways unlike the Grimm original.

Cordelia is 14 and knows her life isn't like others in their small town.  She has no friends and if she upsets her mother, she is made Obedient, a state where her mother controls her body and she has to remain motionless unless her mother decides otherwise.  The first part of the novel showcases Cordelia's rather miserable existence.  Then her mother forces them to flee the town and go to a Squire's remote country manor.  The mother decides she will coerce the Squire into marrying her.  Hester, the Squire's spinster sister, is determined to stop the mother and try to rescue Cordelia in the process.

The novel has a regency and gothic tone.  The story is told through the viewpoints of both Cordelia and Hester.  There are elements of humor but not as much as in the author's other works.  One of the best aspects is watching Cordelia's mother get thwarted at times by social convention and manners.  The butler, Willard, and the maid, Alice, were particular favorites.  I also absolutely loved Hester.

Cordelia's point-of-view was a bit hard to handle at times.  She spends a lot of the novel learning about who and what her mother really is.  By the end of the novel, she has a little spunk.  But the majority of the plot showcases her terror of her mother in particular and all social obligations in general.  She is battered in mind and spirit.  I found the majority of her thoughts and feelings to be wearying even as I was sympathetic to her situation.

That said, I will read anything the author writes and there was a lot to enjoy in this book.  Arrrr!

4.5 rounded up

What a fun light read about magically inhanced child abuse…. But then the original fairy tales were basically all super dark too so it fits. Very well written as anyone who’s read this author would expect. Sympathetic characters, page turner writing. Really, everything I’ve read by this author has been top notch so if this one doesn’t quite catch your interest being darker fantasy read one of her lighter books instead. And if it’s not dark enough for you try her horror instead, Although I’ll admit I haven’t read those.

Why does T. Kingfisher need to completely disrupt my life like she does?!

As with pretty much everything else I've read by her, T. Kingfisher's A Sorceress Comes to Call left me ruined for other books....for a while anyway, lol.

The book follows Cordelia as she suffers abuse from her mother. This retelling of The Goose Girl is one of wanting to be free and finding that the only way to make yourself truly free is through friendship and love...especially when you have never really been loved before. This book hits me differently than Kingfisher's other work because it feels as if she has looked into me and pulled out thoughts and feelings I hadn't previously known were in me.

This book is so achingly wonderful. Read it.

A Sorceress Comes to Call was my first read by T. Kingfisher. The author does a great job establishing the setting, the magic system in place, and the characters and their motivations. In many ways, it’s an unexpected story, because it manages to bring together people you wouldn’t expect would intersect in reality, but does so in a meaningful way and I do love how the author emphasized smart female characters and created conflict without making them simply petty. I was engaged in the story and enjoyed it. I did not realize it was a retelling and am not familiar with the original, so I have no framework for comparison there.

Overall, for me, this was an entertaining story and a satisfying read. I will definitely look for more work by this author for future reads.

An interesting mix of historical fiction, fantasy, and drama. The characters in this novel are well developed and you truly will fall for the heroine of the story as she tries to get free from her mother's sorcery.

Another winner from T. Kingfisher. I have enjoyed all the ones I have read. They are well written and pulls you in right away.
I’m not big on horror, but Kingfishers books are the exception! I love the fantasy/horror combo. I highly recommend this book!

In this fun retelling of The Goose Girl, T Kingisher crafts a story filled with her trademark wit, humor, and okay *some* horror. I am not a fan of horror and the level here was perfect for me. Indeed what I loved the most was the pervasive sense of danger that was present from the beginning to about 3/4 of the book.

However, where the book simply shines is in its characters - which should not really be a surprise. I enjoyed every single character Including the Big Bads :)

Points taken off because I think we missed out on Doom's backstory. It had been so teased that not expanding on it felt like a ball dropped. I also wish it had had a little more horror (Gasp, LOL).

Huge thanks to Tor and NetGalley for the ARC!

A dark reimagining of the Brothers Grimm's "The Goose Girl" filled with magic, murder, family drama, and a dash of romance. Cordelia knows her mother is not like other mothers... especially since her mother has the ability to control Cordelia physically. Cordelia lives her life restrained, in fear, forced to be obedient to her mother... and all she wants to do is escape. Yet when her mother moves them from their home into a manor of a wealthy Squire whom she plans on wedding... things take a turn. Cordelia finally finds herself having more companions and knows she has to save the Squire and his sister from her mother before they become her next victims. Yet what can a girl with no powers do against a sorceress and who will believe her? Cordelia finally feels like she's found a home with these people... but her mother's plans threaten to destroy everything and its up to Cordelia to find the courage to face the woman who raised her to save the people who have become like family to her. This was a delightful fairytale reimagining and it definitely deals with family relationships and abuse. I really enjoyed the character dynamics and the story pacing was so well done. It's definitely a quick read and really lets you step into the world. It's a fun read that I would absolutely recommend for anyone who wants a fairytale retelling or a complicated mother-daughter story with a dash of murder, magic, and found family!

Release Date: August 6,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group | Tor Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

T. Kingfisher absolutely never disappoints. Every time I read another one of their books, I am blown away by the immense talent Kingfisher has for writing. You are immediately immersed into this fantastical, yet so realistic, worlds with the most unique and yet relatable characters. It is a dichotomy that is incredibly difficult to create and Kingfisher has mastered it.

This book is a retelling of Goose Girl, I was not familiar with that story before I began this book but I quickly skimmed its summary when I began and I have to say that Kingfisher is also so adept at retelling fairy tales or Grimm's stories in a noticeable but fresh, unique way. I thoroughly enjoyed this book's retelling and I think that this is one of my first 5 star reads of the year.

The characters:
Each character was so incredibly well-done. From the demure Cordelia to the conniving Evangeline to the outrageous Penelope Green and the honorable Richard Evermore, these characters made me feel like I was one of them. I truly felt like I could sit in a parlor or at the dinner table with them and be able to fit right in. Kingfisher is so skilled at switching POVs to really make you feel what the characters feel and understand them but also highlight how different they are without shocking the reader.

The setting:
Omg! The settings in these books were so fun. I love a good old-timey manor and a brooding countryside. I thought that it was all so well-described that I knew exactly where we were at, but ambiguous in its detailing enough that I could also let my imagination in to fill in the blanks. Which is exactly how I like it!

The plot:
SO GOOD. I could not put this book down. I finished it in almost one single sitting because I was so immersed in needing to know what happened next and how everything was going to shake out. The books keeps you guessing but gives you enough to grab on to, another difficult feat to achieve. And the ending had such a fun twist that I was not expecting at all!!

Overall, I will be highly recommending this book to my friends, familys, and on my booktok and bookstagram. Absoluely phenomenal and I can't wait for what this author has in store next!!

Whatever that was, I need more of it. The writing, the narration—everything at once made me, me, with the attention span of a squirrel, sit for hours on end just to finish another chapter. I loved how the two POVs intertwined and we got to know the MC not only from the inside but also from the outside. I felt triggered and bad, but at the same time, like Hester, I wanted something good to happen to Cordelia. How it came together at the end wasn't the most satisfying, but it still made me love this book all the more for its original approach.

1.5 stars rounded up

Thank you to the publisher for an ebook ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

First off, I made the mistake of seeing the authors name and assuming it was a horror book. This is a fantasy book with a light sprinkle of horror aspects. I didn’t care for it. Unfortunately I am not a fan of fantasy. I’d had things I don’t like in books like the fact that it follows a wealthy family with “lords” and “ladies” There were a couple of short scenes or aspects in the last 20% that I found entertaining and the writing is superb, but in truth this is not a bad book at all, just a case of “not for me”

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for an Advanced Reader Copy - pub date 8/6/2024. Full disclosure: I am a completely fairy tale nerd. I once took a class about fairy tales and was the only one with my hand still up after he got through a list of obscure ones. So a retelling is right up my alley and this? This is an amazing, wonderful, dark, powerful retelling of a fairy tale that is so often overlooked - The Goose Girl. TW: If mental and emotional child abuse is not something you can read, give this a pass. Kingfisher means it when she says it's dark.

Cordelia and her mother and the horse Falada live a very insular life where everything mother says is law and Cordelia is somewhere in between servant and daughter and puppet. Quite literally. You see, when she says her mother makes her obedient, this is not just an overly strict parent. Evangeline is a sorceress and she periodically takes control of her daughter's body if she thinks Cordelia is not behaving enough. She needs Cordelia to be very obedient and very well-behaved because she intends to marry the poor girl off to the richest man she can find and thus finance a life of luxury for herself... and nothing will get in her way. Evangeline and Mother Gothel from Tangled would get on like a house on fire while comparing parenting techniques, let me tell you.

The motion of the story erupts when Evangline sets her sights on an older, simple-souled bachelor Squire who happens to have a very sensible and capable sister. Suddenly, Cordelia has other people in her life and the fears she has lived with no longer can affect only her. Woven in a magical tale, the themes of obedience and bravery and making your own choices stand out like bold bright ribbons. What does it take to be brave? How can someone overcome their own self-doubt? Or how they've been trained for endless years? What do you risk for love?

The story POV splits itself primarily between Cordelia and Hester, the Squire's sister, but as they head further into the darkness and find each other more, things blur in a delightful way. Found family is precious and good people are like diamonds and these are lessons that Cordelia discovers by herself and from Hester. Everyone can have a purpose. Everyone can have choices.

There are some delightful twists from the origin tale and a lot of the original bits are buried and masked in very skillful ways to the point where finding those clues was like discovering gold. Aha, my brain said, I see you! But those just serve as bonuses because, really, the story stands up perfectly well if you don't know The Goose Girl from a hole in the ground. I am 100% going to have to buy this and add it to my Fairy Tale Shelf, though. Just so I can re-read it again - thus fueling new moments of heartbreak, uplift, and Fear of Horses. Please go read this and join me!

I'm a big fan of fairy tale retellings, especially dark ones, so was excited to read A Sorceress Comes to Call. I was a Kingfisher fan before, but I'm even more of a fan now. This is a well written fantasy I could hardly put down once I started. I felt as if I were a part of the fictional world created. I loved all of the characters, especially Hester and her band of collaborators. With a truly evil villain, magic, and dark humor, I really enjoyed this book. I can't wait to see what Kingfisher comes up with next.

If you’ve been following T. Kingfisher (like I have) and loving her fantasy/fairy tale retellings (again, like me), then you’ve been waiting for A Sorceress Comes to Call. Though I’m not all that familiar with the Goose Girl tale used as a muse for this latest novel, I knew I’d be on board with the women-centric storyline, the big themes, and the expectation of the ultimately heart-warming resolution – so I was not disappointed.

Things that were a surprise:
* This book felt darker to me than previous novels! And I know that is weird when previous novels included undead dogs and domestic abuse. However, there is something about how the titular Sorceress in this novel takes over the actions of her daughter (“makes her obedient,” as the wording has it) that made my skin crawl. Plus, Cordelia’s voice was pretty depressed (how would she not be after all that?) and that voice made the novel darker, too.
* The older lady(ies) being a big part of the resolution. LOVED this. Dunno why it was a surprise, but I guess I was expecting the normal single POV plotline progression and I really enjoyed the addition of Hester’s “OK well, let’s do this” to Cordelia’s fatalism.
* Demon horses. Surprise! But also delightfully unhinged.

As always, Kingfisher’s books are wonderful. If you’ve not experienced them before, you should dive on in. My thanks to Tor Books and the author for providing this e-arc for review. And, happy pub date Tuesday, Sorceress!

This is my second T. Kingfisher novel, and I really enjoyed it. The book is told through two perspectives: 14 year old Cordelia, whose mother is a sorceress that can force obedience, and Hester, the 50ish year old sister of the man Cordelia’s mother is trying to ensnare. You don’t see a lot of older female protagonists, especially in the fantasy genre, so I really liked this aspect… Women still have lives and struggles after the age of 30, and I think this needs to be represented more in fiction. Despite how dark the book can get with the sorceress capable of forcing obedience, humor shines through in the writing and the quirky side characters. I also love a regency setting, which I wouldn’t really associate with Kingfisher, so that was fun.

Overall, I would rate this four out of five stars and recommend to Kingfisher fans and fantasy fans in general. The obedience aspect reminded me of Ella Enchanted, and the found family aspect reminded me of Sharon Shinn’s Twelve Houses series.

This is so good I literally ordered a copy midway through for myself to give you an idea of how compelling it is. I think it's another grandstam for T Kingfisher

Yet again, another faerie tale retelling from Kingfisher that knocks it out of the park. The Goose Girl has long been one of my favorite stories (thank you Shannon Hale) and since Kingfisher excels at twisting expectations, I was fascinated to see how she would handle this one.

Cordelia's mother was a masterclass in writing a narcissist - and one made much more powerful due to her magic. Narcissistic abuse is incredibly difficult to describe to others, and Kingfisher highlights this through both Cordelia's physical, mental, and emotional mistreatment as well as her mother's powers (and the other characters disbelief).

As is usually the case in Kingfisher works, the woman are the stars of the show when it comes to the cast of characters (although I was particularly fond of some of the male characters this time around). Hester and Cordelia make a charming pair and the older woman's wisdom serves as a needed counterpoint to Cordelia's naiveté. In general, Kingfisher's character work is a big part of what makes her stand out above other authors - she's so good at crafting compelling, realistic characters with depth and growth in such a short amount of space (alongside a beautifully crafted plot!).

Overall, this continues the trend of my preference for Kingfisher's horror over her faerie tales, but this remains a strong recommendation for anyone who enjoys her writing, faerie tale retellings, or are just looking for a fresh fantasy read to get them out of a slump. Kingfisher's writing is so tight, her characters are lifelike. and her humor is subtle, making this an incredibly enjoyable read when you slow down and enjoy all the little details.

Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was in such a reading slump before I turned to this book, and then A Sorceress Comes to Call got me right out of it! I wasn’t familiar with the Brothers Grimm’s story Goose Girl, but I don’t think you need to be in order to follow and appreciate this book.

It becomes apparent very quickly that Cordelia’s life is anything but ordinary. Her mother has the ability to control her and make her obedient - in control of her every move and word. If that weren’t enough, Cordelia starts to realize her mother’s larger plan and how she’ll stop at nothing should anything get in her way.

I loved the compelling community that forms around Cordelia amid her mother’s scheme - Hester, Penelope, Imogene, Willard, Richard and Alice all bring the story to life with richness. There are certainly dark and unsettling eerie moments throughout the book, but the author’s writing is captivating and fast-paced. I devoured this book in less than a day, and would love to read more of T Kingfisher’s novels!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! It's the perfect mix of fantasy, mystery, and a little bit of horror. While I really enjoyed the main character Cordelia and her journey of strength and courage to stand up to her mother, I think the real magic came with the side characters of Hester, Strauss, Penelope, and Richard. Their fun friendly banter was a delight and the little romance between Hester and Richard was really cute!
Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone!