Inspired by the Brothers Grimm's Goose Girl and written within Victorian society - Cordelia is a young girl in the clutches of a controlling mother who also happens to be a sorceress. Evangaline, and her horse familiar Falada, are busy conspiring on how to land rich husbands for herself and her daughter.

The Squire, who Evangaline has set her eyes on, lives in a manor with his unwed sister Hester who can see plainly the machinations that have been put into motion. Hester, with the help of her friends Richard and Penelope, take Cordelia under their care and come up with a plan of their own to rid her of her mother and save the Squire from evil enchantment.

Not having read the Goose Girl by the Brother's Grimm I would have to surmise how well this story follows - it is dark in times but does seem to have a HEA which doesn't fit with a Grimm story at all.

I didn't really get into the first part of the story but I did enjoy Hester and Penelope's characters.

This was my first T. Kingfisher book, and it won’t be my last! I really enjoyed this one. I loved the witchy element, with almost a fairytale feeling to it. It had more YA vibes than adult, but that might have been because the FMC Cordelia was so young.

I think any time I read about an abused character, the mother in me automatically emerges, and I just want to protect and comfort said character. So of course I felt that way with Cordelia. The way Cordelia was so naive about the outside world she had mostly been cut off from was so sweet, too.

I mainly listened to this one, and it kept my rapt attention, which was surprising to me as most of the time fantasy books can be hard for me to listen to. (I have ADHD and it’s easy to zone out listening to it if there’s not a lot going on with the plot.) The ending was a little lacking for me- I won’t say why as to not include spoilers, but overall a really great book!

4.5/5 rounded up

An utterly fantastic book by Kingfisher that, regrettably, wasn't for me. For anyone with a deep enough mother wound, this one might sting too much to persevere. But Kingfisher's plotting and prose are perfect, as always.

Cordelia's mother has always been talented at alienating her daughter. see she's secretly a skilled sorceress, and she maintains her power and reputation via carefully manipulating and then eventually murdering rich men. while normally this would probably be a fine lifestyle choice (eat the rich and all lol), Cordelia's mom can't leave well enough alone and she's immensely jealous. it's one thing to take advantage of someone dumb and fleece them of their money; it's another entirely to literally control their bodies and force them to kill their families and become serial killers. Cordelia gets it, believe me; her mom has been controlling her for as long as she can remember, whenever Cordelia gets too uppity or says anything even vaguely in the vein of a complaint.

this teetering way of life has reached a breaking point, upon the introduction of the Squire (yes capitalized) and his younger sister Hester. Hester recognizes immediately that there's something wrong with Cordelia's mom, apart from her trying to seduce the Squire and take all of his money. the mystery thickens rapidly: Cordelia's mom has a strange white horse who watches everyone just a little too intensely, Hester throws a days-long party to have an excuse to have her friends on hand, the Squire trips and falls on a mysterious crush and fights to keep his head.

this book was a lot of fun. if you're familiar with T. Kingfisher and her typical style, you'll like this book as well. you do not need any prior knowledge of the Goose Girl story to read this book (I've had a couple people ask me this lol). overall a quick and easy recommendation sure to please most readers, and has a nice feel-good ending. no queer rep.

While I really tried, I just didn’t find myself engaged in this story. I think it just wasn’t for me, but I think many will enjoy.

"A Sorceress Comes to Call" proved to be exactly the kind of accessible fantasy I was craving. This was a well written fantasy that delivered a rich story without overwhelming me in complex world-building and far too many characters to keep track of.
While not action-packed, the story thrives on intrigue. I found myself intrigued by the heroines' careful plotting, research, and strategic thinking. There's a darker edge to the tale, and the stakes felt genuinely high – I truly worried about whether anyone would survive! My only complaint is the uneven pacing – some moments fly by too quickly, particularly the ending, while others linger longer than necessary.
If you're looking for fantasy that focuses on wit and tension rather than epic battles, this book is a perfect choice. Four stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!
My very first read by this author, and I absolutely loved it. The best kind of dark fairy tale, with a compelling cast of characters.

I was super excited for this one, because I LOVE T. Kingfisher. It took me a bit to get into, and was only interested at the 50% mark. It was just meh to me.

Had to write this one up for the best SF/F books of the year list for Polygon — I was really taken with the mordant humor, the tension, and above all, the sense of not knowing what's going to happen next. If you aren't hooked from the first paragraph of this book, I don't know what you're reading fantasy for.

https://www.polygon.com/2024/7/8/24180933/best-fantasy-books-sci-fi-2024

T. Kingfisher delivers another enchanting tale with A Sorceress Comes to Call! The story is rich with magic, humor, and heart, featuring a strong cast of characters and a plot that keeps you engaged. The world-building is delightful, and the mix of charm and wit makes it a thoroughly enjoyable read. Definitely worth picking up for fantasy fans!

5⭐️

This book, just like all the author’s others, was incredible. It gives kind of a dark Ella Enchanted vibe. All of the characters were well developed, Cordelia’s character arc was satisfying, and the story was a wonderful mix of a fairytale gone horribly wrong. I loved this book.

Kingfisher is an auto read author for me and this book didn’t disappoint! So many secrets, sorcery and ultimately family. Cordelia must decide what family means to her no matter the cost.

Thank you #NetGalley and #tor for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

T. Kingfisher is quickly becoming one of my favourite writers. I really enjoyed the pacing and the story of this one. I greatly look forward to reading more from them in the future!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

With T Kingfisher toy never know if you’re going to get dark or lighthearted like A Wizards Guide to Defensive Baking. This is definitely on the dark side and I found it a bit creepy.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review! This is my first T. Kingfisher, and it surely will not be my last. I thought the story was engaging, the characters deftly plotted, and the tinge of dark magic in the air kept me coming back for more. I listened to the audiobook version in a day, and I was hooked the entire time. 4.5 stars.

T. Kingfisher’s imagination is extraordinary! What a tale of adventure and romance. I always like it when the hero’s are young, beautiful, and have hidden powers. Just ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Thank you for that.

I always love a good T Kingfisher novel with all of its gothic, creepy vibes. This story was short and sweet and a perfect spooky season read. She never disappoints.

Diving into a new T. Kingfisher novel is always an adventure. This time around, A Sorceress Comes to Call is a supposed retelling of Goose Girl by The Brothers Grimm. I say "supposed" because I honestly was completely and wholly unfamiliar with the original fairytale so I can not say how much it resembles the original and how much is a new retelling. Honestly, it doesn't matter because the entire novel felt ethereal and had just the right balance of light and dark to make it an exceptional story.

Cordelia's mother is a sorceress and yields magic to her whims to gain money, sex, and most of all power. When her mother's luck runs out in one town, she seeks to elevate both herself and her daughter in a new marriage match. What she doesn't expect is that Cordelia is finally tired of her mother's control and with the help of her mothers' new love interest's sister and her gaggle of friends, seeks to finally thwart her mother and take away her power.

Full of themes of domestic abuse, corruption of power, and found family, A Sorceress Comes to Call is a classic tale of light vs dark. Although this one is a bit of a slower burn than Kingfisher's previous works, it is certainly well worth reading and a welcome addition to the cannon of fairytale retellings.

Thank you to NetGalley, T. Kingfisher, and Tor Books for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Sorceress Comes to Call presents a captivating dark retelling of "The Goose Girl," blending elements of historical fantasy with a touch of horror. The exploration of themes like parental abuse and narcissism adds depth to the narrative. Kingfisher's inclination toward horror is particularly effective in this story, which I found to be very well-written.

The dual-perspective structure is a highlight, allowing for a rich contrast between the two main characters, each with their own unique backgrounds and experiences. I appreciated how this dynamic enhanced my investment in both of their journeys. Cordelia, a sheltered young woman, faces the challenges of a controlling mother who uses magic to exert physical influence over her. Her desire for a wealthy husband to create opportunities for herself drives the plot, and her experiences are at times harrowing, yet incredibly compelling. This reimagining digs deep into the original tale's darker themes, making it a thrilling read for fans of Kingfisher’s horror style.

The pacing of this paranormal thriller is brisk, featuring numerous twists and turns that kept me engaged and eager to read on. The audio narration complements the historical context beautifully, enhancing the overall experience. I'm excited to see what T. Kingfisher has in store for us next!

This enchanting dark fantasy brings a remarkable new perspective to The Goose Girl.

Cordelia's mother Evangeline is a powerful, controlling, evil sorcerer. She enchants a rich man and moves them to his manor house, where Cordelia finds allies for the first time.

They - and an irate gander - finally save the day.