Sorceress Comes to Call” by T. Kingfisher is a dark retelling of the Brothers Grimm’s “Goose Girl.” The story revolves around Cordelia, whose peculiar mother is a sorceress. Their house lacks doors between rooms, and Cordelia’s only solace is her daily rides with Falada, her mother’s beautiful white horse. But her mother’s eccentricities go beyond mere oddity—she forces Cordelia to be silent and motionless for hours. After a suspicious death in their town, they flee to a remote country manor. There, Cordelia’s mother intends to ensnare the wealthy Squire into marriage, endangering the Squire’s kind sister, Hester. To save her brother and rescue Cordelia, Hester must confront a wicked witch. The book weaves secrets, murder, and forbidden magic into a chilling tale of escape and courage12. It’s expected to be published on August 6, 2024, and promises a captivating blend of fantasy and horror.
Main Character
The main character in “A Sorceress Comes to Call” is Cordelia. She lives with her peculiar sorceress mother in a house without doors between rooms. Cordelia’s only solace is her daily rides with Falada, her mother’s beautiful white horse. However, her mother’s eccentricities go beyond mere oddity—she forces Cordelia to be silent and motionless for hours. As the story unfolds, Cordelia becomes entangled in dark secrets, forbidden magic, and a chilling tale of escape and courage.
Plot
Let me weave the plot threads together for you.
In the dark and enchanting world of “A Sorceress Comes to Call,” Cordelia, the daughter of a peculiar sorceress, lives in a house without doors between rooms. Her only solace is her daily rides with Falada, her mother’s beautiful white horse. But Cordelia’s life takes a sinister turn when her mother forces her to be silent and motionless for hours.
When a suspicious death occurs in their town, Cordelia and her mother flee to a remote country manor. There, her mother intends to ensnare the wealthy Squire into marriage, endangering the Squire’s kind sister, Hester. To save her brother and rescue Cordelia, Hester must confront a wicked witch—a task that leads her into a web of secrets, murder, and forbidden magic.
Settings
Certainly! Let’s delve into the captivating world of “A Sorceress Comes to Call” by T. Kingfisher.
In this dark and enchanting tale, Cordelia knows her mother is unusual. Their house lacks doors between rooms, and her mother forbids Cordelia from having any friends—unless you count Falada, her mother’s beautiful white horse. The only time Cordelia feels truly free is during her daily rides with him.
But there’s more to her mother’s eccentricity. Other mothers don’t force their daughters to be silent and motionless for hours, sometimes days. Other mothers aren’t sorcerers. After a suspicious death in their small town, Cordelia’s mother insists they leave everything behind, riding away on Falada’s sturdy back.
Their destination? 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 spell trouble for the bumbling gentleman and his kind, intelligent sister. Hester, observant and determined, realizes that to save her brother from bewitchment and rescue the terrified Cordelia, she must face down a wicked witch of the worst kind.
Theme
Certainly! Let’s explore the captivating themes woven into “A Sorceress Comes to Call” by T. Kingfisher:
- Magic and Enchantment: The novel immerses readers in a world where magic is real, and sorcery holds both wonder and danger. Cordelia’s mother, the sorceress, weaves spells that shape their lives, and forbidden magic plays a central role.
- Family Secrets and Complex Relationships: Cordelia’s relationship with her peculiar mother is layered with secrets. The house without doors symbolizes their isolation, and the silence Cordelia endures hints at deeper family mysteries.
- Courage and Escape: As Cordelia and Hester confront the wicked witch, courage becomes their weapon against malevolence. The desire for escape—whether from an oppressive home or a sinister fate—drives the characters forward.
- Friendship and Loyalty: Cordelia’s bond with Falada, the white horse, represents an unwavering friendship. Meanwhile, Hester’s determination to save her brother showcases loyalty and sacrifice.
- Blurring of Reality and Fantasy: The novel blurs the lines between the mundane and the magical. Readers will find themselves questioning what’s real and what’s illusion, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
Conclusion
Certainly! Let’s unravel the conclusion of “A Sorceress Comes to Call.”
As the story reaches its climactic moments, Cordelia and Hester face the wicked witch head-on. The boundaries between reality and enchantment blur, and secrets emerge from the shadows. Cordelia’s silence, once forced upon her, becomes a powerful weapon against malevolence.
Without revealing too much, I can assure you that the novel delivers a satisfying resolution—one that ties together the threads of courage, friendship, and escape. The sorceress’s intentions, the mysteries of the house without doors, and the fate of the Squire all converge in a spellbinding finale.
