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A review by smolhousewitch
A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Yet again, another faerie tale retelling from Kingfisher that knocks it out of the park. The Goose Girl has long been one of my favorite stories (thank you Shannon Hale) and since Kingfisher excels at twisting expectations, I was fascinated to see how she would handle this one.
Cordelia's mother was a masterclass in writing a narcissist - and one made much more powerful due to her magic. Narcissistic abuse is incredibly difficult to describe to others, and Kingfisher highlights this through both Cordelia's physical, mental, and emotional mistreatment as well as her mother's powers (and the other characters disbelief).
As is usually the case in Kingfisher works, the woman are the stars of the show when it comes to the cast of characters (although I was particularly fond of some of the male characters this time around). Hester and Cordelia make a charming pair and the older woman's wisdom serves as a needed counterpoint to Cordelia's naiveté. In general, Kingfisher's character work is a big part of what makes her stand out above other authors - she's so good at crafting compelling, realistic characters with depth and growth in such a short amount of space (alongside a beautifully crafted plot!).
Overall, this continues the trend of my preference for Kingfisher's horror over her faerie tales, but this remains a strong recommendation for anyone who enjoys her writing, faerie tale retellings, or are just looking for a fresh fantasy read to get them out of a slump. Kingfisher's writing is so tight, her characters are lifelike. and her humor is subtle, making this an incredibly enjoyable read when you slow down and enjoy all the little details.
Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Cordelia's mother was a masterclass in writing a narcissist - and one made much more powerful due to her magic. Narcissistic abuse is incredibly difficult to describe to others, and Kingfisher highlights this through both Cordelia's physical, mental, and emotional mistreatment as well as her mother's powers (and the other characters disbelief).
As is usually the case in Kingfisher works, the woman are the stars of the show when it comes to the cast of characters (although I was particularly fond of some of the male characters this time around). Hester and Cordelia make a charming pair and the older woman's wisdom serves as a needed counterpoint to Cordelia's naiveté. In general, Kingfisher's character work is a big part of what makes her stand out above other authors - she's so good at crafting compelling, realistic characters with depth and growth in such a short amount of space (alongside a beautifully crafted plot!).
Overall, this continues the trend of my preference for Kingfisher's horror over her faerie tales, but this remains a strong recommendation for anyone who enjoys her writing, faerie tale retellings, or are just looking for a fresh fantasy read to get them out of a slump. Kingfisher's writing is so tight, her characters are lifelike. and her humor is subtle, making this an incredibly enjoyable read when you slow down and enjoy all the little details.
Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.