What happens when the weirdest cozy fantasy horror novelist you know of becomes inspired by Bridgerton? A Sorceress Comes to Call is what happens. T. Kingfisher blends the Regency romance of Bridgerton with the Goose Girl fairy tale, a very bad mom, a heaping tablespoon horror, shakes it all up and serves it over a middle aged woman and a teenage girl who are willing to fight an evil who isn’t afraid to kill the innocent.

I am 8 books deep in a T. Kingfisher binge. I don’t know why when I’m experiencing some real life body horror, I crave Kingfisher’s wonderfully weird, cozy horror. There’s romance, good people trying to do the right thing when they are in over their heads, and of course, some victory in the end. A Sorceress Comes to Call was a gripping read and very good company.

As a woman of a certain age, I love that the two people who take down the Doom are Cordelia, a teenage girl, and Hester, a woman of about my certain age with a bum knee. They are ably assisted by the love of Hester’s life (the romantic side plot is swoooony), two of her also of a certain age friends, a ghost, a butler, and some maids.

Cordelia’s mother is a sorceress. She inhabits Cordelia’s body, sometimes for days, making her do and say what she wants. Cordelia calls it being made obedient. her initial strategy with her mother is to do what she wants and call as little attention to herself as possible. As things change, she realizes that her mother (called Doom by Hester) won’t stop hurting people, no matter how well Cordelia behaves.

It was the calm of a burned-out house or a ravaged field, the calm that comes where there is no longer anything to lose. It was almost like being invincible.

Hester doesn’t know what Cordelia’s mother is, but she knows Doom when she sees it. I loved Hester and Cordelia. They both try so hard to stop bad things from happening, but until they team up they are ineffective. If you already love T. Kingfisher, this will delight you. If this would be your first book, it’s a great place to start.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Tor Books and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

In this Kingfisher fairy tale retelling of The Goose Girl, the daughter of a sorceress and the spinster sister of a squire must team up to thwart the sorceress's violent machinations. I loved these characters and Hester's bold nature is a great foil to Cordelia who has been made unsure of herself from years of abuse. It's a dark story, but so incredibly intriguing. I didn't want to stop reading it.

TW: violence, child abuse, violence against animals (kind of-- it's actually a demon)

As always, T. Kingfisher has delivered! I've been screaming from the mountaintops about how much I'm a fan of their work, and this book was no exception. I highly recommend it for fans of magic & intrigue. It's like a warm, slightly strangely magical hug.

I've heard such great things about T. Kingfisher's writing and have several other works by her on my TBR; however, I had never gotten around to reading them. When "A Sorceress Comes to Call" was recommended, I decided to take a chance, and WOW. Kingfisher writes so beautifully and takes her time crafting every aspect of this story.

From the novel's start, the readers get a sense of how wicked Evangeline is and how she goes to long lengths to keep her daughter Cordelia weak and obedient (quite literally). Early on in the story, Cordelia suffers a tragic heartbreak; she learns that the only friend she's ever had reports everything back to her mother. There are no secrets in this house, and after all, Evangeline tells Cordelia that everything she does is to further her daughter's marriage prospects. Evangeline is set on having her daughter marry an obscenely wealthy man. The story progresses when Evangeline moves them in with the Squire, and Cordelia is given a touch of freedom (she can close and lock doors separating her from her mother). However, Cordelia is aware of her mother's sinister plan, and as she grows close with the Squire and those who inhabit his house, she becomes conflicted. She knows her mother is evil and wants to stop her, but she feels powerless to do anything. This leaves Cordelia figuring out who she is without angering her mother.

I loved the cast of characters (even Evangeline was fun to despise because she made it so easy). They all served a unique purpose in this story and had their own personalities. They were also so vibrant that I felt like I was playing cards with Imogene, learning to embroider with Hester and Cordelia, or even gossiping over tea with Miss Green.

I am shocked that this was marketed as a retelling of "The Goose Girl" because, to me, it felt like an entirely new story. Sure, the tropes were there, and similarities could be drawn between the characters, but this is what I would imagine an alternate universe's "The Goose Girl" to be like.

One thing that I did wish for was that we got closure on Evangeline's end goal; we knew the gist of it, but I wanted to know the nitty-gritty details. I felt like this would've either further demonized her or perhaps it would've humanized her a bit to understand the workings of her mind.

Overall Rating: 5/5 stars

Thank you to T. Kingfisher, Tor Publishing Group, and NetGalley for this advance copy.

3.5 stars

Fourteen-year-old Cordelia is trapped and controlled by her mother, Evangeline. She has no friends except her mother's horse, Falada. One day, after a horrifying event, Cordelia realizes she needs to escape her mother's control. Evangeline tries to marry The Squire for a better life, but The Squire's sister, Hester, senses something is not right with Evangeline.

This was an okay read for me. The characters were the most compelling aspect of the story. There is a rather large cast, but each one brings something to the table. I enjoyed Hester's scheming with her friends and the dynamic the group of women had. Cordelia is well written as a scared fourteen-year-old just doing her best despite being terrified of her mother. Despite the good characters, I was bored for the majority of the book. It was quick in the beginning but really slowed down until the very end. I also wish there was a little more worldbuilding, as the magic system seems just thrown in there without any real substance.

I don't believe T. Kingfisher is the author for me. I like her ideas and characters, but I don't enjoy the execution. T. Kingfisher is a good writer, but her style just isn't to my taste. I previously read Nettle & Bone and did not really enjoy that one. One reviewer called it a dark, cozy fantasy, which is an accurate description for me. I am not a cozy fantasy reader, so that may be why I struggled.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the ARC.

Another great retelling by T. Kingfisher. I enjoy how she twists the fairytale genre with her stories. Her characters are always well-developed. I enjoyed the character of Hester so much, an older woman that is one of the heroes of this tale. I enjoyed that she was a completely normal person who used her brain and the help of her friends to save the day. Her villain was written so well, that you very much wanted her downfall. All in all very enjoyable and good dark fairytale that is a quick read.

Definitely a 4.5 and sure I am rounding it up.

At this point, I don’t think I even need to review a T. Kingfisher book because she is yet to disappoint me. While I went into this having heard it’s a Goose Girl retelling and knowing nothing about the original tale, I have to say it doesn’t really matter. Coz this wonderful author is only here to wow us with her words.

What a horrific tale of narcissism and abuse, but with equal amounts of hope and resilience to tide us through. Evangeline with her absolute horrible control over her daughter and her scheming for an even richer life; sweet little Cordelia who has been sheltered and abused all her life but still knows right from wrong; Hester who may have been relegated to the life of a rich spinster but can still sense “Doom” coming from a mile away; Penelope with her charming repartee who deserved better; Richard and his unwavering love and loyalty - and more wonderful and absolutely unforgettable characters make up the heart of this thrilling, scary, dreadful but deeply satisfying tale of good triumphing over evil.

The writing is just instantly immersive right from the get go, and I just had to continue reading/listening every free moment I got. The feeling of impending doom just keeps us on our toes, guessing what’s gonna happen next. The vibe is perfectly reflected in the narration of the audiobook by Eliza Foss and Jennifer Pickens, making this a thoroughly enjoyable book in any format. Can’t wait to soon jump into another T. Kingfisher book coz I can’t get enough of them.

I love Kingfisher’s horror books but she’s absolutely found a niche with the dark fantasy genre because this is truly where she shines. A Sorceress Comes to Call is a retelling of the Grimms’ Goose Girl, a story I love, and wow! So good! A+, no notes. The characters were fantastic, the writing clever and atmospheric, and everything resolves in a very satisfying way. Thanks to Macmillan Audio, I got to enjoy the audiobook as well and if audio is a format you like, they did a great job. I have to admit, this is right up there with Nettle & Bone for me.

So, a meandering path led me to the discovery of this author. It started with needing to use an audible credit and stumbling upon A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher. T. Kingfisher is the pen name of Ursula Vernon. Ms. Vernon writes under her own name for children (series include: Dragonbreath and The Hamster Princess); however, to avoid confusion for readers she uses the pen name of Kingfisher for adult books.

A Sorceress Comes to Call is in a Regency-esque setting in a fantasy world where people no longer really believe in big magic. And lest you are wondering from the beginning, a sorceress coming to call is not a good thing in this case. It is told primarily from the views of Cordelia, a 14-year-old girl, and Hester, a middle-aged, self-selecting spinster with bad knees. Cordelia’s mother is a sorceress, and she controls (literally) ever move of her daughter. It is heart-breaking to see the emotional abuse that Cordelia suffers at her mother’s hands, which makes Cordelia afraid of everything. In contrast, Hester is a wise, perceptive, capable, independent, and self-assured woman, who is doing her best to avert Doom. It was refreshing to have a heroine like Hester.

The characterization of all the characters–from the primary to the supporting ones–is outstanding. Alliances are made, and Cordelia starts to fight back. The narrative pacing is spot-on and there is some droll humor artfully thrown in at just the right moments. The conclusion of the narrative is satisfying and of such a nature that this is probably a stand-alone novel.

So, after only two novels by this author, my feet are now set upon the road of fandom for T. Kingfisher, and luckily, there are many more books already published so I don’t have to wait to continue the journey. Lovers of fantasy be sure to check this author out, and young adults might want to also reach up to sample this author. Happy reading!

Review of a Digital Copy provided by the Publisher

I know little of the re-telling this tale is based on so this one was a magical treat for me. I liked the two POV - One, Hester, an aging single woman in the times when she was a burden on her family if she wasn't married off. The other, Cordelia, is a young, sheltered 14 year old - who is forced into the whims of her mother. Because her mother, Evangeline, is a sorceress and can make anyone do her bidding if she chooses.

It's a fast moving tale and a fast read. It kept me hooked, wondering what would happen in the next turn. I loved Hester's compassion and Cordelia's strength. I liked how Cordelia was naive and Hester was there to help guide her. It's a wonderful story and one that I enjoyed!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

First I want to say that I was not ready for this book to end. I was hoping there'd be another one coming, that this was the first in a series, but I was disappointed that it was a standalone. That being said, I loved this book and I was so into the characters, both good and bad.

Cordelia is a 14 year-old girl, one who is definitely not beyond her years of age. She's made to be "obedient" by her mother, Evangeline, who happens to be a sorceress. So when Cordelia crosses her mother in the smallest of ways, Evangeline will cause her to be obedient doing any number of things. The sorceress will stop at nothing she'll cause her daughter to do. I felt so bad for Cordelia, who was so fearful and afraid of her mother. It was so evident that she was fearful to try to cross her...until one day she just had to try.

One of my favorite characters was a horse named Falada; however, Falada became one of my more disliked characters eventually but I won't say why. Cordelia's relationship with him was so beautiful in the beginning and she just seemed so free riding him. Until one day she wasn't.

Evangeline had one purpose in mind for Cordelia: marry a wealthy man. Along with that came being very proper. Cordelia had no idea how to be around a man, she was too innocent of her knowledge. Her mother made her lie and say she was 17, even though she didn't want to lie. Obviously, Evangeline's motives were not altruistic.

The most suspenseful part of the plot to me was how on earth "they" were going to get the Sorceress to stop her evil-doing, or if they were. It seemed like around every corner (page) there was a new twist, another betrayal, even a ghost...or was it really a ghost or another manipulation by Evangeline.

There were two different narrators for the two POV's and both did an excellent job capturing the spirit of the characters. The voice inflections were done well, which made it easier to recognize the voice of each character. I would most definitely listen to both authors again. They are Eliza Foss and Jennifer Pickens. I loved them both.

I highly recommend this book by T. Kingfisher. One of my new favorite authors..

Cordelia was raised alone by her sorceress mother and her horse familiar. After her mother’s benefactor meets with “misfortune “, her mother brings Cordelia to the city to ensnare a new recruit. Cordelia likes the new victim and his family and friends- can she help them survive her mother’s spells?
An enchanting story- thanks Netgalley for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

Absolutely enthralling! I read this entire book in under eight hours because I simply could not tear myself away from it. The story gets its hooks into you fast, and the characters are wonderful -- particularly the three older women, Hester, Imogene, and Penelope. The magic is chilling and threatening; the human emotions at the core of the story are vulnerable and aching. Wonderful, wonderful book -- highly recommend!

My first T. Kingfisher and it won't be my last!! This is a really creepy book that skirts the edge of horror. Cordelia is the 14-year old daughter of Evangeline, an amoral sorceress. Cordelia's been raised to be a perfectly obedient daughter: no locked doors, no talking back, no free thought... and if she does slip up, she's made forcibly "Obedient" as her mother controls her body from the outside.

One day Evengeline decides that she's going to find a husband for herself. She's chosen the man: a rich squire from the next town over. But his sister, Hester, knows that her brother's new love interest isn't what she seems.

I loved the juxtaposition of Cordelia and Hester: Cordelia is a young teenager who's been raised to be absolutely submissive. Hester, on the other hand, is a woman in older middle age who has always made her own decisions. Kingfisher gives us these two very different women with great interiority and distinction. We see Cordelia learning to fight back, and Hester learning that she can rely on others. And throughout, we get a sense of dread, as Evangeline carries through with her plans without worrying about the resistance Cordelia and Hester put up.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the book.

🐴🌟 A Sorceress Comes to Call 🌟🐴
By T. Kingfisher
✨ Thank you to @Torbooks and @netgalley for a copy of this eARC - which is available August 6th! ✨

💫 I had been wanting to read T. Kingfisher for awhile, so when I saw this ARC on NetGalley I thought it was a perfect sign to try my first book by her!

🌟 Paranormal thriller
🐴 Dark retelling
🌟 Manipulation/Abuse
🐴 Dual POV

🌟 Cordelia and Hester’s inner monologues added something special to this story. Cordelia went through an intense transformation from an obedient, scared child, to questioning everything, to a finding a way to stand up for herself.
I can’t blame Cordelia, even I was terrified of her mother.
🐴 Hester was a curmudgeony old gal who was intense and protective of others and what she believed.
🌟 The atmosphere is a lovely blend of enchanting, mysterious and has an eerie sort of undertone.
🐴 The characters were really well written and I felt like I really got to know them in a short amount of time.
✨ Something odd: I was expecting knees to somehow be important to this story because of how many times they were mentioned - but alas, she just liked talking about knees…
🌟 As a whole, the story was interesting. I understand the need to build tension with the characters in a story like this but it was as bit slow and sluggish at times. The ending was satisfying but not shocking and I am glad the characters got what they deserved.

I am curious what else Kingfisher has to offer and will be taking a look 👀 into her backlog!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Even a rabbit in a trap can bite.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Tor for the gifted ARC!

TW: child abuse

I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would!! I can’t say I’ve ever read a horror book, so this was such a great introduction as a fantasy lover! I was completely hooked with the dark and magical elements.

There were so many things to like about this book between the dark regency setting, lovable characters, and dashes of humor! The plot kept me engaged with some twists I didn’t see coming!

The theme of child abuse absolutely broke my mama heart and made me root for our young FMC, Cordelia, so much more. Cordelia is a sheltered 14 year old who is constantly “made obedient” by her sorceress mother, Evangeline, and forced to do what her mother wishes. Her bravery and development was so beautiful. Despite all that’s happened to her, she remains selfless and cares for others around her.

“I am not her creature.
I do not belong to her.”

Our second FMC, Hester, is a goofy older lady who is thrust into Cordelia’s life when Evangeline attempts to marry Hester’s brother. She definitely brought some comic relief to this otherwise haunting story! I absolutely fell in love with her once she took Cordelia under her wing ❤️

Most of our side characters are equally lovable, especially Penelope! Each character was truly so unique and I felt their personalities shine.

Also, I hate you Falada ✋ okay, go read this now besties!

I wanted to love this book. The only book I've read by Kingfisher is a "House with Good Bones," and I enjoyed that short horror read. I hoped for more a whimsical elements of this book something lighter, but I'm afraid I became rather bored in some parts and I think some parts could have been cut short. Kingfisher does add gore elements in her books that I believe helps with this book's fairy tale aspects. I just overall found everything to be lackluster unfortunately. I do know what type of readers would enjoy this book and I will recommend it.

Loved this Kingfisher! I’ll pretty much read anything she puts out. Horror will always be my top love but Kingfisher makes dark fantasy accessible in a way that few other writers can. There’s magic throughout the book but it’s never used simply to justify something otherwise impossible. Everything with Kingfisher is tied so well together and she spins a tale that can appeal to lovers of so many genres. I don’t really know my fairy tales (my bad!) but I believe this is a retelling of Goose Girl. Either way, Kingfisher’s creativity and wit are simply unmatched in her corner.

I will say the first bit of this book is slower paced as it allows for significant character development and world building. I’m always down for a good slow burn, but I know that may be a hurdle to some readers. But if you can stick with it the reward is fantastic. There’s always significant humor throughout her books and while her books typically deal with fairly dark subject matter, Kingfisher never fails to illicit laughter from me.

All the characters (sans one, of course) were great. I loved Hester, Imogene, Alice and Cordelia. I definitely look forward to reading anything Kingfisher puts out in the future. While I’d love to see another modern horror story from her, anything she writes is gold.

Highly recommend this one.

It wasn't until I sat down to write this review that I realized that the blurb for this book says it's a retelling of the Brother's Grimm Goose Girl! Clearly I'm a fan of Goose Girl retellings, so I should probably read more of them (and maybe the original while I'm at it). This has all the dark whimsy I've come to expect from T. Kingfisher's fantasy books, and it's longer than I was expecting which was nice since I really ended up loving this story! And like most of her stories, you can expect some horror elements to show up - this time in the form of a dead/undead horse. I loved the characters, especially Hester, Cordelia and Imogene. I found I had a hard time putting this down as these three women join together to find a way to defeat Cordelia's evil sorceress mother. And of course you can expect to really feel the atmosphere of this book, I envisioned a slightly dreary setting with these grand manor houses. In a way, the setting reminded me very much of the setting in Belladonna by Adalyn Grace with this opulence that's kind of gone to seed. Overall a great book and I'm excited to continue reading more T. Kingfisher books!

Exactly what I've come to expect from and love about T Kingfisher. It's weird and funny. A fun plot. There are little shots of messed up, scary stuff happening. Characters you root for and enjoy. It's got all the hallmarks of her books while not feeling like the same old story.


I really liked both our main characters. Poor little Cordelia, how can you not love her and want her to be free of her mother after all she's been through? I love that Hester is immediately like "aw, crap. I already need to save my brother, now I have to save the kid too." And the other characters were also likable. Penelope is the rare character who's as charming and great as everybody says they are. I'd definitely be down to play some cards (and spike our tea!) with Hester, Imogene, and Penelope and Cordelia.
I liked the way the plot starts with Evangeline's plot to snare rich men and moves to the other characters plotting to get rid of her.