T. Kingfisher’s A Sorceress Comes to Call is a dark, atmospheric retelling of the Brothers Grimm’s Goose Girl that skillfully blends classic fairy tale elements with original twists. The novel excels in creating an eerie, claustrophobic mood from the very beginning as we meet Cordelia, a young girl living under the strict magical control of her mother—a powerful sorceress whose peculiar rules and frightening demands set the tone for a story that is as much about psychological tension as it is about fantastical menace. While the pacing occasionally dips, especially in the middle sections, the writing remains sharp and evocative, and the characters are engaging and nuanced.

A Sorceress Comes to Call may not break new ground in fairy-tale retellings, it stands out through its compelling characters and atmospheric setting.