T. Kingfisher really has such a skill for fantasy stories. The entire story was so visual that I could picture every single element of it. She did a fantastic job depicting parental abuse and how difficult it is to break out of a parent’s hold on you. In fact I would say that especially for the beginning of the book that readers that are sensitive to that sort of thing should be cautious because it is pretty intense. The magic within the story was as wild and confusing as the fae magic of old so of course I loved it immensely. Cordelia and Hester as main characters was wonderful. The dichotomy between a little fourteen year old girl who has absolutely nothing and no one and the 51 year old Hester and her rather large group of friends who all love her dearly made for such a layered read. It also helped to show that sometimes what a child needs in order to feel safe enough to defy an abusive parent is safe adults who they know they can trust. I loved the found family vibes between Cordelia and her adults as well. I will personally say that I think this book should just say that some elements were inspired by ‘Goose Girl’ because I really don’t think enough of the story is similar at all to the original work to call it a retelling. 'Took inspiration’ would have been plenty of a nod to the original work. I also loved the nod toward the end to T. Kingfisher’s other work Nettle & Bone (it was the line about the bone dog among other characters in that work). Overall a fantastic novel with a great happily ever after while maintaining the dark fairytale elements of a Grimm story.

Thank you to the publisher for providing this audioARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5⭐️ I absolutely loved nettle and bone so when I got approved for a ARC of A sorceress comes to call I was so excited and I wasn't disappointed. This book is a dark fantasy retelling of the goose girl told in two POV's, Cordelia the young daughter of the sorceress who desperately wants to get away from her mother and Hester who is the spinster sister of the man the sorceress Evangeline has her sights on to marry. The two become friends and Cordelia realizes she has to find a way to stop her mother from ruining their lives and also break free for good.

Cordelia is a great main character but it's definitely the side characters Hester and her friends that make this book amazing. I'm not usually into dark and creepy stories but T. Kingfisher is an expert on creeping you out but also making you laugh at the same time and I absolutely love her writing. I highly recommend listening to the audio book it added to the creepiness and both narrators did a fantastic job.

Overall a sorceress comes to call was an amazing read that kept me hooked until the very end, I literally finished it in 5 hours because I couldn't put it down.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Books for the ARC I loved it.

As a fan of T. Kingfisher, this is my favorite work of theirs yet! A Sourceress Comes to Call is a full-length story that has similar vibes to What Moves the Dead; gothic atmosphere, ever-present sense of paranormal dread, and lovable characters that really drive the plot and hook you into the story. I adored Hester, Alice, Richard... so many good characters to root for! And an incredibly evil, powerful villain. Such a great good vs. evil story, definitely recommend!

The narration was also great. Two narrators for the two main characters, both giving the appropriate sense of gothic dread and spooky tension. Highly suggest on audio!

Another solid entry from T Kingfisher!
I really enjoyed this dark fairytale. It read like a darker, more serious Ella Enchanted, which I read (and watched) recently. I liked both POV characters, though I connected to Cordelia much more than Hester. I felt they were both interesting in different ways and well developed, but I definitely preferred reading Cordelia's perspective more. I could see Cordelia being a more difficult character to write due to her lack of agency and trauma but the author did a great job with her character arc. The side characters were also engaging and felt realistic, despite the short length of the book. I especially liked Penelope. The plotting was well paced and had good tension throughout. I thought that the horror elements were also very well done. They were creepy, weird, tense but not like disgusting or cringy, which is the kind of horror I enjoy the most.
I did both the audio and ebook copies of this book, so I'll also note that I thought both narrators did a great job, definitely recommend the audio version of this book.
Thanks to Netgalley for this eARC!

When the person you're supposed to trust the most in the world takes away your autonomy and no where is safe, who do you turn to? A dark fairytale penned by T. Kingfisher, this story proves that sometimes the monsters are always with you.

TW for familial abuse, magical control of people's bodies, loss of autonomy.

This retelling of the Brother's Grimm "The Goose Girl" enthralled me throughout my whole reading. This is probably the fastest I've read a book in a while. I almost stayed up to finish it in one night.

These characters are well written, their motivations clear, and while there are some twists and turns throughout they all make sense within the context of what we know/are learning. The love story in this book is beautiful, and the coming of age story is so well done. I really only have good things to say about this story.

This book reminds me of some of Theodora Goss' work, so if you like her it's a good fit. It gives some Tangled vibes too. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes hard won happy endings, and found family stories. Definitely more of a folk tale vibe than a true mystery vibe.

4.5 stars

Cordelia has lived a very sheltered life. Her mother can control her body through magic, and her only friend is her mother’s horse, Falada. When they flee to a small town in the middle of the night and her mother hatches a plan to marry a man, Cordelia starts suspecting that her mother may be more wicked than she thought.

A Sorceress Comes to Call is a dark retelling of Goose Girl, and effortlessly blends historical fantasy and horror. I loved this book. It is incredibly well written with excellent world building. I found the characters to be well developed and compelling. I was immediately immersed in this story and didn’t want it to end!

I listened to the audio which was absolutely fantastic. The narrators did an amazing job with the story and added to the eerie vibes.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

4.5⭐️

I am not a horror reader, but do enjoy reading darker fantasy and I love how Kingfisher’s stories encroach on the border of horror without diving into the genre and being overly gruesome.

A Sorceress Comes to Call is fantastically and delightfully creepy and the scarier elements push the envelope just enough where you find yourself holding your breath and hanging on their every word just waiting to see which shoe will drop next… or who the sorceress will employ her powers on and force obedience from next. I wanted to scream and rage with Cordelia every time she was forced to be obedient and the constant terror she lived in was palpable.

The audiobook was fantastic and an excellent way to read this story! The dual narration for Cordelia and Hester’s characters was so well executed and the narrators’ performances vividly brought these two characters and their fight to confront and vanquish the wicked sorceress to life.

If you’re in the mood for something dark and twisty, you can’t go wrong with Kingfisher!

Another fun dark fairytale type story by T Kingfisher. I was enthralled by this one and didn’t want to stop reading it. Of course I’ll pick up anything they write!

I quite enjoyed this. The beginning was pretty brutal, but as the story progressed and added a second POV narrator, there were pockets of humor and so many characters I absolutely adored. As with all T. Kingfisher books there were a lot of surprises along the way, and this author does not pull punches, so be prepared for anything to happen. Near the end of the story I found one of the POV characters SO incredibly frustrating. I suppose I understood how her actions fit with her lived experience and personality but COME ON!! I felt like screaming at her to get a clue. The ending somehow fell a little flat for me, I think I just expected things tied up in a more spectacular way maybe? But overall I definitely liked this one. Both narrators did a fantastic job with the audiobook.

I enjoyed this story, it was a little slow to start but overall I enjoyed the way the story unfolded. The mixture of alchemy and witchcraft was a interesting part of the story. The narrator did a good job with the storytelling. Thank you for the ARC MacMillan Audio and Author.

T. Kingfisher at her best. Cordelia, a young girl, growing up under her controlling and abusive mother, is just starting to question the lies she has been told. Her mother makes a decision that brings them to the doorstep of an older, unmarried noble woman, Hester. Cordelia’s sorceress mother is determined to marry Hester’s brother and doesn’t care who she hurts in the process. Can these two women, who each hold secrets, trust each other enough to stop her?

I love an older female protagonist and Hester is just wonderful as a “spinster” who is respected by but also underestimated by nearly all those around her. She is clever, perceptive, and kind. She is also suffering from chronic pain but rarely lets that hold her back. The building of her relationship and trust with Cordelia is the backbone of the story. The secondary characters are all beautifully fleshed out and I felt like I could picture each and every one of them vividly.

I listened to the audiobook and both narrators did an excellent job telling the story through their performances.

A dark fairy tale very reminiscent of the author’s wonderful “Nettle and Bone,” this is a story features child abuse, murder, and an external force in control another’s body and actions. While not gory, there is some upsetting violence that mostly occurs “off-screen.”

Overall, highly enjoyable. I hope to read more books like this from T. Kingfisher for years to come!

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoy T Kingfisher's work, and I very much enjoyed Thornhedge, her last fairytale retelling. Unfortunately, this was not the same case here.

A Sorceress Comes to Call is a retelling of the Goose Girl and follows Cordelia. Her mother is a sorceress, and is trying to convince this man called The Squire to marry her so that the improve their lot in life. However, Cordelia's mother is far from morally upstanding, and the Squire's sister tries to do whatever she can to stop her from marrying her brother, while also helping Cordelia escape from her mother's magic.

The characters in this book were alright. It was nice to see the bonds forming between Cordelia and the other members of the Squire's household, as she had had very few positive relationships previously. However, this book was painfully slow, and so many conversations just felt pointless/lead to nowhere. The book could have been much shorter than it was while achieving the same effect, and the only reason I finished it was because I was able to increase the speed to get through it more quickly.

It still has T Kingfisher's trademark dark, witty humour, so if you enjoy that, it could still be worth giving it a try, just know that you are in for a slow ride.

This is my first T. Kingfisher book and I am an absolute fan! A Sorceress Comes To Call is a dark retelling of The Brothers Grimm' Goose Girl and was done in such a creative and enthralling way!

The atmosphere created in this book is consuming and perfectly executed, the plot twists are insane, and there was not a single character I did not like, even the antagonist.
The book is told from two POVs, Cordelia and Hester. Cordelia is the teenage daughter of Evangeline, a cruel sorceress who can manipulate almost anyone and anything, even her daughter. She makes her daughter "obedient", causing poor Cordelia to live in fear of her mother and her abusive, controlling ways. Hester is the sister to a squire whom Evangeline has her eye on. Evangeline plans to secretly use her magic to win over the squire and trick him into marrying her. Hester, however, knows something is not right almost immediately, and after conversations with Cordelia, her suspicions are confirmed. She knows Cordelia is terrified of her mother, but why? Matters aren't made any better when one of Hester's long-time friends seemingly murders her maid and then jumps off the balcony. Something is not right, and Hester needs to get to the bottom of it and fast!

The first half of this book was a bit of a bore to me, with a lot of it having to do with their day to day life with little excitement and mild drama. However, when the book starts to pick up, it does not stop! We went from discussions on the proper forks to use to an undead headless possessed horse, not to mention so much more in between! I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would and I'm so glad I pushed past the slower-paced pages. Everything after that was a real treat, and took this book from a 2 to a 5 star read for me!

Thank you NetGalley, MacMillian Audio, and T. Kingfisher for this ARC!

🖤 A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. kingfisher🖤

Thank you so much @macmillan.audio, @tornightfire & @netgalley for this beautiful Arc.

Pages: 336 🎧 & 📚
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book Goal 2024: 80/100 🎧 & 📚

What a grim tale. Cordelia recognized that her mother is odd but doesn’t realize why. She lives in a house with no doors and has no freedoms. Strict rules and limited access to the outside world keeps Cordelia isolated from having friends. As her mothers secrets start to unveil, Cordelia realizes she must confront her mother for her behavior. Cordelia discovers not only has her mother been manipulating people, her actions are causing severe harm.

I loved this book. It was like reading a dark fairytale instead of the fairytales I grew up on and it just spoke to my dark little heart. 🖤

Having the option to read ebook and audio was perfect. The narration was brilliant and I loved having dual narration. It really made the characters personalities come to life and I will for sure be looking for books narrated by Eliza Foss and Jennifer Pickens again.

This is my first book by the author T. Kingfisher and it won't be my last!. The story is full of magic and sorcery, humor and adventure and I just ate it up. I was not expecting to like it so much as the synopsis really did not give it credit. Cordelia's evil mother who happens to be a sorceress has gone hunting for a new husband, a rich one. She drags her fourteen year old daughter Cordelia to a squires country manor in order to ensnare him and secure his fortune for herself. Cordelia meets several people at the manor and becomes friendly with Hester, the squires sister. When Hester finds out that Cordelia is deathly afraid of her mother she steps forward and takes her under her wing becoming more of a mother figure to Cordelia than her actual mother. A lot happens in this story and I found it absolutely compelling and could not listen/read it fast enough. I especially liked the budding 'mature' romance between Richard and Hester showing us that you can never be too old for love. The two narrators were quite good and I enjoyed their voices. You do not have to be a fan of fantasy to enjoy this story and I believe it has something for everyone. Highly recommended for fun. 5 stars.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for a chance to listen/red and ARC copy of this audio book. My opinions are entirely my own.

I picked this up knowing almost nothing about the story other than being a Goose Girl retelling, and I’m so glad I picked it up. This story was equal parts amazing and heartbreaking. My heart hurt for everything that Cordelia experienced at the expense of her mother. Hester was an equally intriguing character. I really enjoyed the regency era time frame and the cast of friends that Hester surrounded herself with. The characters were richly developed with uniquely interested backstories. I also enjoyed the plot pacing and felt it moved the story along well. There were plenty of betrayals and twists to keep me fully invested in the story. I also appreciated the magical intricacies woven through the story. I read combo read this via audiobook and ebook, and I can’t recommend the audiobook enough. It’s a truly transformative experience and I found myself enjoying the experience significantly more via audiobook. I loved that two narrators, Eliza Foss and Jennifer Pickens, were chosen to represent Cordelia and Hester’s POVs.If you’re even remotely interested in this story, I recommend giving it a chance. You won’t be disappointed.

Did not finish. Could not get into this book. The narrator was dull and I just could not make a connection with the main character.

Loved A Sorceress Comes to Call! Only my second by the author, T. Kingfisher, but I will continue reading her.
The narrators were great! I enjoyed the story about Cordelia, her mother, and the cast of characters they meet at the Squire's manor.
This is a retelling of Brothers Grimm's Goose Girl, although I am not familiar with the original.
Definitely recommend this book if you're a fan of T. Kingfisher, retellings, or books with magic/sorcerery!

Well, I'm not sure what I just read, but it wasn't what was advertised. Let me start by saying that I just may not be a fan of T. Kingfisher as I know so many are. This is the second book I've read and disliked, I was so excited for this one too because it was advertised as "a dark reimagining of the Brothers Grimm's "The Goose Girl," rife with secrets, murder, and forbidden magic." I guess I looked at "reimagining" and thought it was a retelling which it is far from. Just because it has elements of a horse named "Falada", a body-snatching woman, and a geese theme, does NOT make this story appear anywhere near the story I love. It wasn't a bad book, it was just boring. I didn't get into it until 70% of the way through.

I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrators did a pretty good job of setting a dark scene. The only thing I didn't like was when Cordelia's voice was used for her maid Alice. It's like she didn't know whether to be Southern or British and it bothered me just a tad.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and T. Kingfisher for allowing me a chance to listen to this book early in exchange for an honest review.