Review: A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

Mogsy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Tor Books | Macmillan Audio (August 6, 2024)

Length: 336 pages | 11 hrs and 8 mins

Author Information: Website

Audiobook Narrators: Eliza Foss, Jennifer Pickens

As always, absolutely brilliant! Honestly, I’ve not been disappointed by T. Kingfisher yet, and even though I’ve generally been more partial to her contemporary horror in the past, A Sorceress Comes to Call is now a new favorite.

The story begins with an introduction to 14-year-old Cordelia, who has grown up under the harsh thumb of her mother, the cruel and powerful sorceress Evangeline. In many ways, Cordelia’s life is quite literally a living nightmare, as she is constantly being subjected to Evangeline’s “obedience” mind control, a particularly evil kind of magic. Evangeline is also ambitious, and after tiring of her current benefactor and wreaking havoc upon his family and their small town, she’s packing Cordelia off to the country manor of a wealthy Squire, already having set her sights on a new suitor.

But while Evangeline may have the Squire ensorcelled by her beauty and charm, his sister Hester is not fooled. The manor may have seen its fair share of women come calling, drawn to her brother’s status and money, but this one unsettles Hester. She quickly realizes something is wrong when she notices Cordelia’s fearful behavior around her mother and seeks to build a connection with the girl to draw her out. The two become fast friends and Cordelia, relieved to have someone to confide in, finds herself revealing her mother’s abuses to the older woman and her society friends. Still, even with her new allies, Cordelia fears Evangeline is too powerful to let anyone, even her own daughter, stand in the way of marrying the Squire. Her mother has dark magic on her side, including the control of a demon familiar in the guise of beautiful white horse, who acts as a spy for the sorceress, reporting back to her everything he sees and hears. To save her brother, Hester will need Cordelia’s help to defeat Evangeline before it’s too late.

Described as a reimagining of the Brothers Grimm’s fairy tale “Goose Girl,” A Sorceress Comes to Call is set against a richly atmospheric gothic regency-esque backdrop, and in the middle of it all is an unsettling mother-daughter relationship twisted by fear and control. Interestingly, I found that my unfamiliarity with the original class tale actually made reading this novel all the more enjoyable, as coming to it with a blank slate allowed the plot to unfold unexpectedly and offer up more than a few surprises.

One such surprise is the book’s strikingly dark tone. Of course, being familiar with the author’s penchant for stories that blend fantasy, horror, and heart, I had anticipated some level of darkness. However, this book dives into psychological horror with an enthusiasm that’s almost a little too eager. Evangeline’s Imperius-like spell is disturbing enough (there’s a reason it’s an unforgivable curse) but there’s also an eye-popping amount of violence including bloody murder and headless demons. That said, I did enjoy the resulting tensions and pervasive sense of dread. Occasionally, we still get Kingfisher’s characteristic humor and moments of lightness, but it’s hard not to feel the thrill as the stakes grow higher with each passing chapter.

But as I alluded to before, Kingfisher’s stories aren’t just about doom and gloom; they also have a great deal of love and heart. I was especially taken by Cordelia who, despite being a timid mouse at the start, evolves into a fierce and resilient fighter. She and Hester form an unlikely but dynamic duo, with the older woman stepping in as both protector and teacher—roles that Evangeline failed to fill. Though their alliance was initially one forged out of convenience—Cordelia seeking a way to escape her horrible mother, Hester seeking to get Evangeline to take her claws out of her brother—it eventually becomes the emotional core of the book. Additionally, Hester has a romantic side plot that is just sweet enough to provide a contrast to the darker main narrative, infusing it with a sense of hope.

In short, A Sorceress Comes to Call is more than just a retelling. It’s an addictive novel featuring memorable heroines and a wicked villainess. It’s a delightful blend of gothic horror and regency-era charm. It’s a journey of resilience and friendship through tough times. It’s pure T. Kingfisher. If you’re a fan, this one’s a must-read!