A Sorceress Comes to Call
Named a Best Fantasy Book of the Year by NPR, Elle, and Paste
A Goodreads Best Fantasy Choice Award Nominee
From New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award-winning author T. Kingfisher comes A Sorceress Comes to Call—a dark reimagining of the Brothers Grimm's "The Goose Girl," rife with secrets, murder, and forbidden magic.
Cordelia knows her mother is . . . unusual. Their house doesn’t have any doors between rooms—there are no secrets in this house—and her mother doesn't allow Cordelia to have a single friend. Unless you count Falada, her mother's beautiful white horse. The only time Cordelia feels truly free is on her daily rides with him.
But more than simple eccentricity sets her mother apart. Other mothers don’t force their daughters to be silent and motionless for hours, sometimes days, on end. Other mothers aren’t evil sorcerers.
When her mother unexpectedly moves them into the manor home of a wealthy older Squire and his kind but keen-eyed sister, Hester, Cordelia knows this welcoming pair are to be her mother's next victims. But Cordelia feels at home for the very first time among these people, and as her mother's plans darken, she must decide how to face the woman who raised her to save the people who have become like family.
"Kingfisher never fails to dazzle."—Peter S. Beagle, Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Award-winning author of The Last Unicorn
"Kingfisher is an inventive fantasy powerhouse."—BookPage
Also by T. Kingfisher
Nettle & Bone
Thornhedge
What Moves the Dead
What Feasts at Night
A House with Good Bones
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
- Pages
- 321
- First published
- August 6, 2024
- Language
- English
- Edition
- Ebook
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Shelved by 19 Litcadians
Reviews
Finished October 1, 2024
Finished August 28, 2024
Finished October 11, 2025
*“The knowledge that she was alone and no one could see her— that she could do anything, say anything, think anything and no one would be the wiser- made her feel fierce and wicked and brave.”* What I loved: ✿ folktale atmosphere ✿ magical elements ✿ regency time period I always love T. Kingfishers atmospheric story-telling which may be why I come back, but her books always lack something for me and that something is her characterizations as well as her tone. She always writes a dark re-telling or unique story that should feel heavy or serious in nature but it somewhat lacks a pulse. Trigger warnings: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Murder, Death, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Suicide [✿ Connect with me on instagram ✿](https://www.instagram.com/literarily_laurynn?igsh=aTh6eTZ6dGwxMXpy&utm_source=qr)
Started October 15, 2025 · Finished October 20, 2025
3.5 rounding up to 4. The first T Kingfisher book I read I struggled with and had to put down. This one I found myself thinking about when I wasn't reading and wanting to read more. There were some lulls here and there throughout, but overall I enjoyed the story and would give this author another go with some of their other books later when I have time. The characters were done well enough and the narrators were good. Overall I enjoyed this one.
- adventuroustenseSlow-paced
Started August 16, 2026 · Finished August 24, 2026
It was more or less enjoyable. I liked the writing style, the horror elements, the mere fact of romance between middle-aged people for once. But it seemed the author tried to do horror and cozy fantasy all at once, and it suffered from it. Also some parts at times were surprisingly triggering for me.
Finished October 28, 2025
- mysteriousMedium-paced
Finished October 14, 2025
Started October 4, 2025 · Finished October 5, 2025
Started November 22, 2024 · Finished November 22, 2024
Finished October 13, 2025
Finished December 21, 2024
Dark, magical, and creepy! Love this retelling of The Goose Girl!