A Sorceress Comes to Call [August 16, 2024]

[Yanique, Thread Master]

This is a Buddy Read for A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher starting on August 16, 2024.


Happy Reading

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

Thank you!

[Nirkatze]

Looking forward to it!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Kingfisher needs to publish a 3rd book this year ;) Not enough on the schedule...

[Ann-Marie]

Started this today, through chapter 15 (view spoiler)[Cordelia has my whole heart! That poor child being raised by that monster of a mother, the abuse she has had to suffer! Evangaline is like a caricature of evil though, like I would not be surprised if a house falls on her at the end or something. Hester is wonderful though, as are the servants in the house. When Tom the butler was like "Well she can fall down the stairs...." I was like DO IT lol All of the secondary characters are fun & interesting, cannot wait to see how it plays out and seeing Evangeline getting what she deserves. Maybe she can get turned into a horse and live happily ever after with her familiar, pulling Cordelia's carriage for the rest of her life. (hide spoiler)]

[Ann-Marie]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Kingfisher needs to publish a 3rd book this year ;) Not enough on the schedule..."

I love her so much! She posted this week that she got the Hugo from last year and now she needs to find an asterisk to go with it :(

[Ann-Marie]

Through chapter16 and (view spoiler)[I did not expect Penelope to die! Hester & her friends need to get Evangeline! (hide spoiler)]

[Diana Stormblessed]

Ann-Marie wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "Kingfisher needs to publish a 3rd book this year ;) Not enough on the schedule..."

I love her so much! She posted this week that she got the Hugo from last year and now she n..."

She’s quickly become one of my absolute favorite authors. Sadly I’m still on hold for this one 😭

[Ann-Marie]

Finished and I loved this so much! (view spoiler)[Loved that Penelope was able to assist in defeating Evangaline! The geese were awesome too and the short one is the bestest of geese, no doubt he will live the best life ever. Although there was the pining between Hester & Robert it wasn't too terrible and they seemed to have figured out a work around for them. (hide spoiler)]

@Diana I agree, Kingfisher/Vernon can definitely be considered one of my favorites <3

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Same… saving this for the right day…

[Paula]

I started this one and I am loving it. Until chapter 12 (view spoiler)[ I think it was a really good idea to have cordelias and hesters point of view. We see how cordelia is traumatised by her mother and then hester has more life experience and can help her.

Evangeline is so horrible I hope she gets what she deserves.

And I think the geese that Hester likes so much will be of importance to make them break evangelines spells. (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Just to be clear, I didn't mean the day listed in the thread title, I meant the right day for me, to get maximum enjoyment...

I'll get to this soon... ish...

[Paula]

Until chapter 22
(view spoiler)[ I didn't expect Evangeline to kill Penelope. But I like that thanks to Penelope being nice and complimenting Cordelia she was able to talk to Hester about her mother.

So many weddings in this book! I thought there would be none if they manages to stop Evangeline but now Cordelia is there to gain more time to stop her

Is that whisper Penelope? Is Cordelia a sorcerer after all, one that can hear the dead? Or is that Penelope since she was a weak sorcerer? (hide spoiler)]

[Paula]

Ann-Marie, (view spoiler)[ I totally agree with you! The servants are all great and Hester and her friends are too! I was nervous since apparently this was inspired by the goose girl and I don't think I have ever read that or even know about it but it's been very fun so far. I don't know if there are any other references to the book other than the geese that hester had but maybe I'll read the original tale later.

I like your theory of turning evangeline into a horse (hide spoiler)]

[Paula]

It's always fun to read other people's thoughts on books so don't worry Iain

[Ann-Marie]

Paula wrote: "Ann-Marie,.."

I had never read the fairy tale either and I didn't look it up until after I finished, it is definitely a loose re-telling. I don't think I would have enjoyed it more had I read that in advance.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Yea, I know... I think I'll start this on a work day this week... today I'm reading Animorphs books, Eyes of the Dragon, and probably Traitor in Skyhold...

[Paula]

Ann-Marie, yeah, maybe even have expectations of what the book could be about, which could diminish the enjoyment

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Started, through chapter 10… things aren’t great for the characters so far, but In Kingfisher I Trust… (unlike Stephen King) :D

I love Hester… love me a good Dowager in historicals, even if she’s technically more of a spinster…

Tempting me to add a Hollow Places re-read to Spooktober…

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I don’t know Goose Girl either… wondered if it was similar to the Ugly Duckling…

[Paula]

Finished! I really liked it, one of my favourites of her for sure. (view spoiler)[ I liked that in the end the horse was the one to kill her and that way none are blamed for her death.

Tom saying he knows how to handle a guest and then strangling Evangeline was simply amazing.

Everyone got a good ending and even Penelope the ghost did something to stop evangeline.

I thought the geese would play a bigger role but i liked how the corraled the horse. The short goose deserves a medal of bravery haha (hide spoiler)]

[Paula]

Ann-Marie wrote: "Finished and I loved this so much! [spoilers removed]

@Diana I agree, Kingfisher/Vernon can definitely be considered one of my favorites <3"

Totally agree (view spoiler)[ I hope the short goose had a happy and long life! (hide spoiler)]

[Paula]

Timelord Iain wrote: "I don’t know Goose Girl either… wondered if it was similar to the Ugly Duckling…"

I have just read the wikipedia page on the tale and it is not similar to the Ugly Duckling. And as Ann-Marie said, this book very loosely retells the story, and only a few key things appear

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

And done... I loved it... same things you guys all mentioned...

I feel like there's room for a sequel, similar to Sworn Soldier:

What Moves the Dead
What Feasts at Night

Another story, some of the same characters, different Grimm fairytale re-telling for inspiration... (view spoiler)[probably while finding her birth father's family (hide spoiler)]

[Ann-Marie]

Timelord Iain wrote: "And done... I loved it... same things you guys all mentioned...

I feel like there's room for a sequel, similar to Sworn Soldier:"

I want a sequel to Thornhedge first! <3

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Everything needs a sequel :D

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

In the meantime, we can look forward to Hemlock & Silver, next August...

Portal Fantasy re-imagining of Snow White...

Healer summoned to cure King's daughter, stuck in poison coma... discovers a mirror world ruled by evil queen... etc etc etc... gotta read the blurb, honestly... sounds good... at first I was confusing Snow White & Beauty and the Beast, honestly... but T. Kingfisher has already done Beauty & the Beast and alot of the typical re-tellings...

[Ann-Marie]

Timelord Iain wrote: "In the meantime, we can look forward to Hemlock & Silver, next August...

Portal Fantasy re-imagining of Snow White...

Healer summoned to cure King's daughter, stuck in poison com..."

Is it in the same universe as Nettle & Bone????

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

No idea... not mentioned in the blurb...

[Paula]

Timelord Iain wrote: "And done... I loved it... same things you guys all mentioned...

I feel like there's room for a sequel, similar to Sworn Soldier:

What Moves the Dead
[book:What Feasts at Night|127..."

I definetly would read a sequel to this

[Paula]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Everything needs a sequel :D"

I would really love a sequel of A Wizards guide to defense baking!

[Paula]

Timelord Iain wrote: "In the meantime, we can look forward to Hemlock & Silver, next August...

Portal Fantasy re-imagining of Snow White...

Healer summoned to cure King's daughter, stuck in poison com..."

It sounds really good, especially since i have read few Snow white retellings

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Paula wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "Everything needs a sequel :D"

I would really love a sequel of A Wizards guide to defense baking!"

Me too

[Ann-Marie]

I think my favorites by her go:

Nettle & Bone > Thornhedge > A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking

But the difference between 2 & 3 is very small :)

[Colleen]

I enjoyed this - though it isn't my favorite Kingfisher story.

Spoilers for this and the original Goose Girl: (view spoiler)[I always love how Kingfisher balances humor and horror. While A Sorceress Comes to Call was entertaining, I didn't think it was as atmospheric as say The Hollow Places, The Twisted Ones, or Nettle & Bone.

The characters in this one were great, but I still wanted a bit more. Even though it was slow-burn and mostly character-driven with only a little action at the end, I want more character development or perhaps to know more about the side characters. But I did think it was a creative reimagining with some interesting themes.

Speaking of reimaginings, I would label A Sorceress Comes to Call as that rather than a retelling, because it has almost nothing to do with the original story. The grand total of the similarities is pretty much:
°A horse named Falada gets beheaded
°there are geese

It's curious that this was marketed as "a dark retelling" since it's not as if the Brothers Grimm are known for being fluffy. The original story had a horse beheaded, a girl still talking to her horse's decapitated head, and the villainess dragged naked in a barrel full of spikes until dead. So I have to assume that advertisement was meant for people who have never read Kingfisher's stories and think anything fairytale related is all sunshine and roses. 🤣

Also, in the author's note, she mentions that the etiquette book that Cordelia is always quoting is a real book and that was all real "advice" given to girls on how to properly behave. I think that dovetails nicely with the fact that the book was given to Cordelia by her abusive mother who wanted her to be a perfectly obedient rather than a real person. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Ann-Marie wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "Kingfisher needs to publish a 3rd book this year ;) Not enough on the schedule..."

I love her so much! She posted this week that she got the Hugo from last year and now she n..."

When you say "Hugo from last year" do you mean the Glasgow Worldcon last week? I'm pretty sure she won for Nettle & Bone last year and now she just won for Thornhedge too. I just finished A Sorceress Comes to Call and if that isn't up on the docket for next year I will be very surprised--nay, devastated! This was such a good book! But even better was Vernon's acceptance speech, where she lauded the heroic evolution of the noble sea cucumber and its development of anal teeth...

[Nirkatze]

@Colleen--really appreciate your insight and the information on the backstory! I started this on a whim today and had no idea it was inspired by the Goose Girl fairy tale--though I should have known better considering this is a Kingfisher standalone. I'm not familiar with that fairy tale and it was nice to know a bit about the original.

I really loved everyone's comments! I wish I'd made guesses and comments while reading, but I'm in full bore school mode right now and am barely scraping together end-thoughts. (view spoiler)[My heart also went to Cordelia from the very beginning--made me think a bit of Swordheart at the beginning, but with an MC even less able to take care of herself... I originally was hoping maybe the "sorceress" who "comes to call" would come save her--but then we got Hester's POV and I realized the only Sorceress was going to be Cordelia's mother... and she must come calling on Hester's house, bringing Cordelia with her. Still, meeting Hester and her being so down-to-earth immediately made me feel better and able to look forward to their eventual meeting instead of just dreading every moment the Sorceress came onscreen...

I really like Hester--and Alice also. It was so nice to see them helping Cordelia--even little moments like when Alice told her mother Cordelia would join her in 15 minutes. I was sad when Penelope died, but not surprised... the Sorceress had shown she'd murder to get her way. I was surprised that Penelope came back as a ghost. It was also so fitting to see the horse kill the Sorceress, as a combined effort! And the ending, with Cordelia getting to live with Hester and Richard, and H&R finding a compromise, was very sweet.

I feel a little bad for the Squire, with no happiness prospects in the future, but I guess being solo is better than being snared.... and I wonder how he feels about Hester leaving his house... I would definitely love to see a sequel with Cordelia searching for her paternal relatives! (hide spoiler)]

[Ann-Marie]

Nirkatze wrote: "Ann-Marie wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "Kingfisher needs to publish a 3rd book this year ;) Not enough on the schedule..."

I love her so much! She posted this week that she got the Hugo from last ..."

She posted on Bluesky recently that she finally got the physical award from the China Hugos and it is broken but she will try to glue it together and she will try to find an asterisk sticker for it. And I agree her speech was awesome lol

[Nirkatze]

LOL That sounds so... symbolic...

[Paula]

Ann-Marie wrote: "I think my favorites by her go:

Nettle & Bone > Thornhedge > A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking

But the difference between 2 & 3 is very small :)"

My order is: A wizards guide to defense baking > A sorceress comes to call > Swordheart > Nettle and bone

[Paula]

Colleen wrote: "I enjoyed this - though it isn't my favorite Kingfisher story.

Spoilers for this and the original Goose Girl: I always love how Kingfisher balances humor and horror. While A Sorceress Comes to Ca..."

I think the dark retellings label is mostly because people associate these stories to the Disney movies and those are very toned down. I didnt know the movies were based on books, but a friend told me that a few years ago

[Paula]

Nirkatze wrote: "@Colleen--really appreciate your insight and the information on the backstory! I started this on a whim today and had no idea it was inspired by the Goose Girl fairy tale--though I should have know..."

(view spoiler)[ Me too! I expected Hester to be the sorceress.
I agree, poor Squire, but maybe he will marry to someone normal next time. (hide spoiler)]

[Diana Stormblessed]

My library copy finally came in! Starting this one today.

[Diana Stormblessed]

Just finished. It was an enjoyable read because everything T Kingfisher is enjoyable, but this might be one of my least favorites that I’ve read by her. It’s very very loosely based on the Goose Girl tale, with almost nothing in common except for geese and some names. So I def can’t say it’s unoriginal. But I felt like parts were slow. It didn’t capture my attention like Swordheart (my favorite read by her so far, I’m happy to announce I finally got my local book club to put it on the calendar 🥳).

[Tonari no Emily]

Oh man, I loved this one. One of the few I've been able to binge in day lately! I didn't know anything about this other than it was written by Kingfisher so I didn't have expectations about The Goose Girl, etc... I also have not heard of that fairy tale anyway ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
(view spoiler)[ I also really appreciate a romance where the leads are middle aged. I know it wasn't about that romance but it was basically the only romance in the book and I loved it. And it didn't even end in marriage :)
Love a good comeuppance too and the ending definitely satisfied in that way! (hide spoiler)]

[Ann-Marie]

I agree that it was probably for the best I was unfamiliar with the fairy tale, I feel like if I had then I would have been disappointed a bit but not too much because that one really brought the grim in Grimm's fairy tales lol

[Tonari no Emily]

Yeah no kidding! One day Ill actually read Grimms Fairy Tales... I know some of what happens in the classic stories but not a lot... would be a good spooktober read one year lol