A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

Book Description

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. 
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 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.

Review

This week’s review is on A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher, a retelling of The Goose Girl by the brothers Grimm. It’s an intriguing blend of gothic horror and fairy tale, set in a genteel Regency world.

Whew! This novel hit me on a personal level, especially Kingfisher’s portrayal of the toxic, narcissistic relationship between Cordelia and her domineering mother, Evangeline. Kingfisher captures Cordelia’s desperation and yearning for love and connection with an eerie clarity that left me both unsettled and captivated.

As someone who’s had a complicated relationship with my mother, the story resonated deeply with me. The emotional manipulation and amount of control Evangeline demands over her daughter…*shiver*.

I loved how Kingfisher contrasts this twisted mother-daughter dynamic with the nurturing strength of Hester, the Squire’s childless sister. Hester is one of my favorite kinds of characters. With no magic or power of her own, this middle-aged woman sees through Evangeline’s facade and embarks on a quest to battle her and save Cordelia.

Kingfisher relegates the men in this tale to sidekick roles, love interests, or outright victims. They’re there, but the true power in this tale lies with the women—a refreshing change, especially in a genre that often leans heavily on male heroes.

I listened to the audiobook of A Sorceress Comes to Call, thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. The narrators, Eliza Foss and Jennifer Pickens, tell the story through Cordelia and Hester’s points of view. Their performances made the horror of Cordelia’s desperate situation even more dire.

​A Sorceress Comes to Call is a slow-burn regency fantasy with a horror twist. It might not be for everyone. The pacing of this novel is deliberate, letting the tension simmer before things finally boil over. But if you appreciate a story that takes its time, immersing you in a richly atmospheric world, this one’s a gem.

Content Warning

Animal Death, Blood, Child Abuse, Death, Emotional Abuse, Forced Captivity, Gaslighting, Gore, Murder, Panic Attack, Torture, Toxic Parent/Child Relationship, Violence

The header photo is a composite image. Base image by Jez Timms on Unsplash