A Sorceress Comes to Call

By: T. Kingfisher

Narrated by: Eliza Foss, Jennifer Pickens

Long-listed, CPL: Chicago Public Library Best of the Best, 2024

Long-listed, Audible.com Best of the Year, 2024

Long-listed, Amazon.com Best Books of the Year, 2024

Long-listed, NPR Best Book of the Year, 2024

Long-listed, BookPage Best Books of the Year, 2024

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.

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Books.

©2024 T. Kingfisher (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Expertly blending humor with folkloric horror, this incredibly satisfying fantasy will delight Kingfisher’s fans and newcomers alike.”—Publishers Weekly, STARRED review

"This is another one of Kingfisher’s marvelous works (like the Hugo-winning Nettle & Bone) that takes elements of fairy tales, myths, and legends and blends them into a story that feels both familiar and new at the same time while subtly weaving a novel where women play the parts that men traditionally filled, and men serve as helpmeets, sidekicks, and love interests. . . . Highly recommended for readers who enjoy reimagined legends.”—Library Journal, STARRED review

"Dark fantasy fans will be enraptured by the descriptive narrative and well-developed characters.”—Booklist, STARRED review

Horrific and creepy!

A horrific display of cruelty from one mother to her daughter, even if she is a sorceress. I can’t imagine what makes Evangeline think this is okay. To use magic so your daughter can be obedient, like move for you and talk for you and control your entire body with you still floating around in your own head. Cordelia is so scared of her mother and so sweet when she doesn’t even know proper etiquette or even basic dinner manners. To be frightened constantly must be exhausting. Cordelia finds the courage in the friends she makes at the new home her mother brought her to in hopes of “saddling herself a new husband” This book is greatly recommended and super well written!

Overbearing sorceress for a mother

T Kingfisher’s A Sorceress Comes to Call is a fantasy tale about a conniving sorceress who controls her daughter via an obedience spell and schemes to marry a rich gentleman after enthralling her rival to murder a servant and then commit suicide. The daughter, the gentleman’s sister with the aid of the ghost of suicide victim conspire to perform a ritual to rid the woman of her magic.

Kingfisher creates what appears to be an all too powerful sorceress who seems to thwart everyone at every turn. It’s not until a team effort is put forth that she can be beaten. The tale unfolds with bits of magic popping in as the tale develops.

The narration is good with dual narrators. Character distinction is quite good. Pacing is smooth.

Brilliantly creepy

The book is great, it’s a horror piece, if that’s your thing buy it now T Kingfisher does awesome horror. I HATED the villain. I was glad when their just desserts were served. The two main characters were facianating and relatable. It’s rare to see a 50+ woman as a MC. I want so many more stories like this, go buy the book!

Another delight from T. Kingfisher

Fantastic story, beautifully written as usual. Normally I am not a fan of more than one narrator, but these two were amazing together. I couldn’t stop listening.

Great fairytale retelling

Very female-forward story, with characters of different styles and strengths and depths. The main character is weak, but reasonably so—not written in a way that makes you hate her for being so weak or dumb. I always love this author, and the way she weaves a fable.