Wow, T. Kingfisher is a genius and I will read anything she writes. I DEVOURED this book. I loved the way she built suspense and intrigue; I literally couldn’t put it down. I loved the way she depicted the emotions, fear, and anxiety within the characters, which really helped me connect with them and set the tone beautifully. I also LOVED the found family vibes in this!

10/10.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the eARC! All opinions are my own.

thank you netgalley and tor publishing group for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review!

T. Kingfisher has always interested me but i have never gotten around to reading any of her novels until recently. This book was my first by her and she has exceptional writing. it’s very eerie, especially in this paranormal thriller that is a reimagining of brothers grimm, goose girl. There is parental abuse in the most devilish kind of way. Cordelia is a 14 year old girl, that her mother by the way tries to trick people into thinking she’s 17, finds herself trapped in her sorceress mother’s devilish ways. Cordelia is isolated, not allowed to have friends, lacking in education, not allowed to have her own space but she soon discovers her moms powers are more than what she thought as secrets unravel, murders start to happen. Her mother, evangeline, cons her way into the house of a squire and his sister, Hester, who knows something is up and is on a mission to discover the truths of “doom” as she liked to call cordelia’s mothers.

The book was very interesting, the writing unique and eerie. I think evangeline was the perfect villain!

This is my fourth T. Kingfisher read, and it is by far the best of the four! The protagonists were relatable, lovable, and flawed in their own very human ways. The supporting cast were brilliant in their roles. The antagonist was absolutely horrible (I don’t know if I’ve loathed an antagonist this much in a great many years). The horrific elements were wonderfully executed. The prose was great, solid and elegant without veering into flowery territory. With this being a Goose Girl retelling, I was worried that it would feel flat and uninspired (the author’s previous fairytale retelling was painfully dull), but this was wonderful. It strays so far from the source material and in the best of ways. Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for the ARC!

T Kingfisher is a master of her craft. I've loved everything she's ever written and this is no different.

The story was rich with fairy tale characters, compelling narratives and moments of love and family that transcend the ties of blood.

Kingfisher plays expertly with some tropes, whilst twisting others on their heads and her interpretation of Goose Girl was fresh yet familiar, sinister and satisfying.

Highly recommend for fans of Naomi Novik and Leigh Bardugo.

This book felt like a horrifying fairytale. It was so thrilling, I couldn't put it down! Similar to 'the last unicorn' in that we have an unlikely band of heroes, and a terrifying villian. The world is incredibly immersion and rich. The characters were relatable, interesting, and flawed. I would recommend this book to any fans of twisted fairytales.

4.25 stars
Kingfisher has become a favorite over the last year.
This book just sealed the spot! She can do no wrong, the book is wonderfully written, and totally captivating. While it is a new take on an old story, it is done so well that I forgot.

Once again, I’m wowed by one of T. Kingfisher’s reworked fairy tales. Found family, geese husbandry, and the odd bit of sorcery, this book has it all. This books is a lovely bit of cozy fantasy.

I've not read T. Kingfisher before, so this was really excellent! It was a great story, and I didn't even realize it was a Goose Girl retelling until I looked at other reviews. I really enjoyed it, and will be looking for more from this author!

Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for the chance to read the e-arc of A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher.

I have never done this before, but I will start by saying this was a 5-star read for me. I loved the writing, the fairytale elements, the found family, the strong female characters, the humorous moments and even the very evil scheming of the Sorceress at the center of the mayhem. From the very first moment that we meet her, I was rooting for obedient daughter Cordelia to find a way from under her mother’s sinister thumb. Who knew that finding kinship with Hester, the spinster sister of her mother’s next conquest, would be what she needed to finally find the strength to break free. The whole cast of witty and thankfully resourceful characters, including Penelope, Richard, Imogene, Willard, and even the geese enhance the story in a satisfying way. I was very sorry to leave this world and look forward to re-reading when the novel is published in August 2024. 5/5 star read all the way.

What a perfect fairy tale. Huge thanks to @netgalley and @torpublishing this was an amazing read. Cordelia’s mom is insistent she marry rich and have an easy life like every mother wanting the best for her daughter only she’s a sorceress. As the sorceress finds her own rich husband to bankroll her daughter’s future the pair moves in a squire and his spinster sister. As Cordelia grows close to the family and their friends she realizes she has to find a way to stop her devious mother from ruining their lives and break free for good. Well written and fast paced this one delivers everything you could want. 5/5 ⭐️

Another solid fantasy from T. Kingfisher! In A Sorcereress Comes to Call, Kingfisher proves (again) that she can perfectly balance whimsy and darkness.

Cordelia has lived a sheltered life. Kept mostly at home by her mother, her only real friend is their work horse, Falada. Spending her days toiling away in their tiny house, Cordelia can't even close a door and have a moment to herself without being punished for insolence. But Cordelia's mother isn't just an every day overly controlling parent, she is a sorceress, and not the benevolent kind. The moment she steps out of line her mother takes control of her body and has Cardelia do her bidding, like a puppet. Cordelia is constantly walking on egg shells to try and avoid the horror of being possessed. When Cordelia is suddenly thrust from her sheltered life into high society in order to find a husband, it sets her world upside down. She can barely cope with the extra expectations of charming her hosts, social rules and trying to attract a rich husband. Now that she has so many new and interesting people she is forced to interact with Cordelia has the chance to try and make allies. Hester is the lady of the house, she has never married and is comfortable in her bachelorette ways. That is until Cordelia and her mother come to stay. They are trying to marry into the family fortune and throw Hester's comfortable life out the window in the process. As Hester and Cordelia become unlikely allies they must try and find a way to fend off this powerful sorceress one way or another. Kingfisher uses a pleasing mix of dark fantasy and regency style social pressures to put a very unique twist on the classic Goose Girl fairy tale. This woman-driven story is full of likeable and engaging characters and it would be perfect for fans of retellings or fans of more accessible fantasy.

I think I’ve probably said this before, but I am a T. Kingfisher loyalist, and she never disappoints. I especially love her fairy tale novels (Nettle and Bone, Thornhedge), so I was very excited for A Sorceress Comes to Call, a retelling of Goose Girl, by the Brothers Grimm. Once again, Kingfisher has created a world full of magic, death, and sarcastic jokes.

The novel opens with young Cordelia under a spell which prevents her from having control over her body. Her sorceress mother, Evangeline, is the one who has weaved the spell, so the reader quickly gets the idea that this is so much worse than your standard helicopter parent. Evangeline relies on wealthy male “benefactors” to maintain her lifestyle, and when she is spurned by her latest paramour, Evangeline drags Cordelia off to live with her latest conquest, the Squire.

However, the Squire’s sister, Hester, sees Evangeline for the succubus she is, and notices how Cordelia is absolutely terrified of her mother. When Evangeline meets the Squire’s social circle, and people start dying, Cordelia must use all her courage to defy her mother, and prevent further tragedy.

Predictably, I loved this book. It’s funny, gripping, and absolutely terrifying. There are some scenes towards the end of the novel that will forever change the way I look at horses (also nice to note that in the acknowledgements, Kingfisher shares a real-life horse horror story). But also, I have a newfound respect for geese.

An enjoyable read that starts off somewhat mild and slowly ratchets upwards with tension as the story processes. I felt so sad for Cordelia and how terribly she's treated by her mother and how trapped and alone she is. There are so many ups and downs that I found it a bit slow at points, but I was invested in seeing Cordelia's story through to the end, and I found the end satisfying though I wouldn't have minded seeing a bit more.

With thanks to NetGalley and Tor for the advance copy.

This was my second attempt at a T Kingfisher novel, and I fared much better this time round. I very much enjoyed the humour; there were points where I was giggling out loud while reading!

The characters were well rounded and the relationships believable, and it gave me great joy to see a variety of ages within the main cast. The plot story involving the animal companion was a fun addition! The story was fast paced and it didn’t require much effort to read; perfect for me as I read it while out of the country.

This was so damn GOOD.

This was such a delightful mix of regency, fantasy, and horror. While the story primarily follows Cordelia, our fourteen year old protagonist, I was so smitten with the subtle romance in the novel between the adults. We don’t get enough romance novels about people in their 50s still trying to figure it out 🥹 And while the romance is only about 10% of the novel, it was very very sweet.

However!! the best part was the moments of horror. I don’t know if it was because I wasn’t expecting it or what, but man! there were quite a few times were I was genuinely creeped out. Some of those scenes were so grisly! I think I was clenching my jaw and grimacing the entire time I was reading through these INCREDIBLY DESCRIPTIVE moments. I was truly obsessed.

Lastly, I just have to say that I loved her acknowledgments and the HIGHLY RELATABLE story about horses 😅 I see you, Kingfisher.

So much fun, can’t recommend enough.
Final rating: 4.5/5

Thank you to Tor for an early review copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was hard for me to get into to start. This is the very beginning so no spoilers. Cordelia's mother, Evangeline, does magic to totally control Cordelia's actions and words, during which Cordelia is completely aware it's happening and having pretty emotional reactions to it. The description of that and her reaction to it was really hard for me to read.

After slowly making my way through the beginning, I could not put the book down! As always, T. Kingfisher writes lovable and compelling characters, with a huge focus on character growth.

I love that her fairytale vibes can walk the line between dark descriptions and light hearted humor. This is a total win for me!

Thank you TOR publishing and Netgalley for advanced access to review this book!

I cannot thank the author, publisher, and netgalley enough for the opportunity to read an e-arc!

Words cannot express how much I loved this book. I know with 100% certainty that I would have devoured and loved A Sorceress Comes to Call when I was in grade and middle school. I also love it so much now. Perfect for anyone who loves Ella Enchanted and Fairest by Gail Carson Levine. I cannot recommend this book enough!


A 14-year discovers her mother is a sorceress who will do horrible things to get what she wants. I not only grew to love Cordelia, detest the horse and mother, but also greatly enjoyed all of the secondary characters who made the book and story that much more enjoyable.

Wow, what an amazing book!

(I decided to pick this up after Nettle & Bone / a 5 star read)

T. Kingfisher really knows how to write a story that draws you in. I was laughing, biting my nails in suspense, and desperate to turn the next page! A mystery/ fantasy that is sure to quench both of your thirsts for both.

To see Cordelia’s growth throughout the story was amazing. Her mother had me gripping my hair, and wanting to throw my phone, and the HORSE. Didn’t see that one coming!

Another book that proves T. Kingfisher is one of the most versatile writers of the day, and an absolute master of it.

I think this may be my favorite of hers so far. This retelling of The Goose Girl has all elements and nostalgia of reading a dark fairytale--we have an abused and somewhat naive main character and an evil, villainous mother (who so happens to be a sorceress). It definitely gets grim at times but there is also humor, some lovey-dovey romance, and a good dose of the supernatural. I will say that I generally dislike any romance in a book, but this worked; it was sweet and believable. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the romance aspect was kind of a side story but nevertheless, it was a wonderful addition to the book.

This is simply brilliant. It is exciting, fresh, and completely satisfying. Again, I reiterate that T. Kingfisher is so incredibly talented and in my opinion is one of the most versatile writers in these modern times.