I really liked this one!

Honestly, it might be one of my more-favorite Kingfisher novels. I think my score on it ends up being lower than [book:What Moves the Dead|58724626] (although that's a novella), but I liked this one more (or maybe it's just how fresh this one is in my mind).

Anyway, overall general thoughts:

This is a Kingfisher novel. If you like her voice and her work, you'll like this. If you love her work, you'll really love this.

This is not a Goose Girl retelling. Aside from having geese and having a not-normal-horse named Falada, there is no real connection. There's no mistaken princess, no conniving chambermaid, no goose-boy Conrad,

I think the book gets a little crowded in the back half-ish. The first third, because of how narrow and tight our perspective is and how naive our perspective is at that time, there's a claustrophobic atmosphere that's some of my favorite Kingfisher writing ever. When the scope expands to the main plot/quest (Burn the Witch! etc), we lose a lot of that. In fact, when Evangeline isn't nearby, a lot of the tension floats away, too. The less Cordelia has to rely on her mother / the more people Cordelia has in her life, the less tension there is in the novel. That's great for Cordelia, but I missed that tension.

Obedience is terrifying. And I don't think it's nearly as terrifying in the book as it could be. What happened with the father and the family from the beginning location is the level of darkness I was expecting to follow the story. And it did, I suppose, but yeah. Terrifying, and Cordelia's perspective through it really sold it.

The ending felt, idk, too buttoned up to me. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it almost paints the whole story as almost too-sweet when it's not a sweet story. That's one of the pitfalls of Kingfisher's style, though.

I don't want a sequel. I liked the characters and all well-enough, but nothing will measure up to the personal stakes here, and I don't want "A Day in the Life with Cordelia and Hester" as a full novel.

The bits about belief being what mattered, along with wine, salt, and water, instead of hallowed ground or chalk circles or whatever was a nice touch. I'm not sure how well it squares with the types of people required, but that's not the end of the world. I like when magic heads off questions about magic before the current religious era.

Wickedly magical and full of heart. A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher is a gothic fairy tale with teeth—dark, witty, and utterly spellbinding. With a fierce young heroine, a delightfully sharp older ally, and a villain you’ll love to hate, it’s a perfect blend of folklore, horror, and hope.

This story has some great characters.
But also a few very terrifying ideas (that I don't want to spoil).
Although Hester not wanting to share her real feelings got a bit repetitive, I could also understand it.

T Kingfisher is always a must read for me. This story hit the mark. Somehow blending a younger main character, a unique story and sense of foreboding. Ordered a special edition and it will be put in a place of honor.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance listeners' copy.

This was a roller coaster, from a comedy of manners to a creepy magical horror and everything in between. The narrators did a good job distinguishing between Cordelia and Hester's pov with their personality shining through their performance. I especially liked Hester as a older woman with a fiery spirit and gets to have a love interest, you dont get to see that in many books. I, unfortunately, am very sympathetic to Cordelia's anxious personality, and put off finishing this for a while because I got too anxious listening to her chapters. Never mind me, this is a great book, another excellent fairy tale adaptation from T. Kingfisher.

I thought the audiobook was really well done, and it featured two narrators for the POVs of Cordelia and Hester. Eliza Foss and Jennifer Pickens did a great job bringing these characters to life, and I was completely engaged withe story. I thought the pacing was good, and it was a bit more character driven than plot driven, which was perfect for the story.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Tor for the ALC. All thoughts are my own.

Which is more terrifying: undead nightmare horse familiar, or the idea of your mother being able to puppet you to do whatever she wants and her calling it "obedience"? You'll get to find out in this installment of "Ursula Vernon is really good at mundane horror y'all". I have a feeling this one has been brewing for a while, in terms of her finally being ok to write about it, so honestly, big ups for that alone. This is probably going to land her on a lot of well deserved year end lists, and will be one of those books I buy a copy of if only to throw it at everyone I know. I love that for the audiobook here, they switch off between two voices for Cordelia and Hester.

Let’s be honest - T. Kingfisher could write a takeaway menu and I would be first in line to read it!! So of course I was 100% stoked to read A Sorceress Comes to Call! Equal parts mysterious, enchanting and horrifically cozy - T. Kingfisher absolutely crushed it! 10/10 recommend picking up A Sorceress Comes to Call and all of T. Kingfisher’s books!

Thank you Macmillan Audio sending a copy my way!

My first T. Kingfisher book, but definitely not my last! This book kept me hooked!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

I received this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love T Kingfisher! This is my third read from her and the one I enjoyed the most. Kingfisher writes short, cross genre fiction. A Sorceress Comes to Call is a gothic fantasy with horror elements. I would recommend this book for fantasy readers wanting to dabble in horror.

Even though this book is short, I felt like the characters were well developed and the world was immersive. I think T Kingfisher has officially solidified herself as an auto-buy author.

Usually, I can differentiate my feelings toward a book from those toward an audiobook. This one, I can’t.
Cordelia’s mother, Evangeline, is terrifying. And Cordelia has been abused by her mother all of her life. She knows how to placate her mother by what she should say or should not. The reader does a terrific job portraying this fear and the coldness from Evangeline. Unfortunately, the other POV, Hester, doesn’t have the same feel. Hester is too world-weary to adequately convey the dread that Evenageline can do. I’m unsure if that’s the reader or if I would have felt differently reading the words myself.
I loved all of the side characters and was sad when Evangeline killed one of them. I hope for another book about Cordelia’s life free from her mother.

so so so good! This was my first T. Kingfisher, and I'm so upset that it took me this long. I loved the narrator as well.
Started so cozy and went into gothic, but luckily for me, I find that kind of atmosphere comforting too.

I loved this book so much!
My first read from the
author and I can’t wait to
tackle more. The story was
intriguing and the
narration was great.
This was just my type of
fantasy: based on a myth,
engaging characters,
dark/gothic themes, and
vivid writing reminiscent
of magical realism.

While this wasn't my first T. Kingfisher novel, it was the first time I listened to one on audiobook and I think that really elevated the fantasy/fairytale experience for me, especially with the dual narration. I loved the retelling of the Goose Girl story and while at times if felt a bit YA, I really leaned into the fantasy and magic and loved the storytelling and narrative woven throughout,

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!

𝘼 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣:
Both of the narrators were great for this! I think each seemed to match their characters well, and I’m really glad they decided to have two narrators, as it would have gotten confusing otherwise.

4.5/5 rounded up

This was my first read by T. Kingfisher and it did not disappoint! I really liked how dark, eerie, and mysterious this book was. The narrator really added to the creepiness! The characters were well developed and I enjoyed seeing how Cordelia grew throughout the story. She gained so much confidence. Her awareness about her awkwardness and unconventional upbringing were very relatable for me. I thought the different perspectives really added to the depth of the characters and helped me better understand them. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will be on the lookout for more by T. Kingfisher.

Thank you T. Kingfisher and Macmillan Audio for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I admit to being a fan of T. Kingfisher, so I went into this book predisposed to liking it. And it did not disappoint.

This book is so creepy. Cordelia's mother's ability to completely control Cordelia was terrifying. It made me truly question how she would ever get away from her. They leave their home in the middle of the night under suspicious circumstances, with her mother looking for a man who can provide for them. Cordelia knows that this could end horribly, as her mother does not take "no" for an answer.

Watching Cordelia come out of her shell when she finds someone who seems to see through her mother was so satisfying. There are some wonderful characters in this book, and a bit of romance as well. The story of was gripping and difficult to put down. I highly recommend it!

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Eliza Foss and Jennifer Pickens, and it was wonderful.

I want to thank Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC of this book.

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!

4.25⭐️
The characters in this book are phenomenal! The wit! The charm! the dramatics! The way in which this author seamlessly weaves light-hearted humor into such a tense and horrific storyline is amazing!

This was like reading a Grimms' Fairytale. (Okay, I don't usually read book descriptions when choosing my reads, so I just now saw that it's a Grimm Brothers retelling.. that adds up, lol.)

There were some parts here and there that I felt could've used more development or ended up leaving me confused/let down. However, overall, this was a solid fairytale-esc fantasy!

Listen, I love the goose girl and I love a dark reimagining of anything. You tell me it’s a brothers Grimm story I’m down you tell me it’s goose girl I first in line. This was confusing as hell I had to reread each chapter at least twice. I can’t understand what was going on in the more I read it the more confused I got the more frustrated I got And the dumber I felt.

The audio was just ok. I wanted bit more animation like previous books, but I’m sure it’s fine for other audio bookers.


I just love TK’s shorter books, and don’t know if my interest can be kept with their longer stories. Shorter stories are definitely their forte and I will always rave and be a huge fan. This one just missed the mark for me.