A Sorceress Comes to Call

T. Kingfisher

Horror Fantasy

A dark retelling of the Brothers Grimm’s Goose Girl, rife with secrets, murder, and forbidden magic

Cordelia knows her mother is unusual. Their house doesn’t have any doors between rooms, 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 sorcerers.

After a suspicious death in their small town, Cordelia’s mother insists they leave in the middle of the night, riding away on Falada’s sturdy back, leaving behind all Cordelia has ever known. They arrive at the remote country manor of a wealthy older man, the Squire, and his unwed sister, Hester. Cordelia’s mother intends to lure the Squire into marriage, and Cordelia knows this can only be bad news for the bumbling gentleman and his kind, intelligent sister.

Hester sees the way Cordelia shrinks away from her mother, how the young girl sits eerily still at dinner every night. Hester knows that to save her brother from bewitchment and to rescue the terrified Cordelia, she will have to face down a wicked witch of the worst kind.

-Excerpt taken from Goodreads.

Check Goodreads to see the book’s ratings.

My Opinion

(3.5 / 5) Cordelia lives a sheltered life with her sorceress mother. It’s actually not so much sheltered as it is involuntary. She has no friends and no say in her life. Because her mother’s magic is so powerful, she often forces Cordelia into submission. When her mother hears news of a wealthy unwed man, they set out to lure him into marriage so her mother is able to have control of his estate and money. They are welcomed into his house and her mother works on him immediately. Hester, the man’s sister notices the oddities of Cordelia’s actions and puts together that her mother controls her.

Hester and Cordelia and others fight to bring her mother down from power. What ensues is adventure, triumph and a beautiful friendship. I felt it was more paranormal than horror but was a fun story that ended so well! The relationship of my two favorite characters Cordelia and Hester brought in an affectionate atmosphere that each woman needed. I recommend this to magic lovers with a touch of darkness!

General content summary: 

Little language 

Child abuse (forced obedience, cutting off chunk of skin)

Prostitution (a mother leaves overnight and comes back with money)

News of grisly murders with an axe (8 dead, no details)

Killing (stabbing, blood)

Suicide (large height)

Ghost (hearing it speaking)

Horse biting off ear (blood)

Horse killed (beheaded then burned)

Horse ghost 

Man found trampled to death (no details, 2x)

Intimacy (closed door, woke up together)

Physical violence (hit on head

Creature (details, demon-like)

Thank you to Shelf Awareness Pro, Tor and NetGalley for the copies!

The book releases August 6, 2024.

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