Beth Cato's Reviews > A Sorceress Comes to Call
A Sorceress Comes to Call
by
by

I read this as part of the Nebula finalist packet.
First of all, major trigger warnings on this book for child abuse throughout, as well as a hefty warning on animal abuse (though that is justified, within the context of the book). That said, this book is extremely well written, impenetrably dark, and often heartwarming in turns. Fourteen-year-old Cordelia has long been subject to her mother's whims--not simply abusive behavior, but being controlled like a puppet through magic. When her mother sets her sights on marrying into wealth that will better place Cordelia for her own future marriage, Cordelia finds an incredible new ally: Hester, the landowner's disabled sister. Hester has a sense of the evil around her brother's new beau, who she calls Doom, and deep sympathy for the obviously terrified, sheltered Cordelia.
I'm familiar with the "Goose Girl" story this is inspired by, but beyond a few elements, the plots are nothing alike. This book shocked me with its dark turns. There's a deep level of both psychological and body horror to be found here, but it's not all grim and dark. There is a beautiful found family aspect as well.
First of all, major trigger warnings on this book for child abuse throughout, as well as a hefty warning on animal abuse (though that is justified, within the context of the book). That said, this book is extremely well written, impenetrably dark, and often heartwarming in turns. Fourteen-year-old Cordelia has long been subject to her mother's whims--not simply abusive behavior, but being controlled like a puppet through magic. When her mother sets her sights on marrying into wealth that will better place Cordelia for her own future marriage, Cordelia finds an incredible new ally: Hester, the landowner's disabled sister. Hester has a sense of the evil around her brother's new beau, who she calls Doom, and deep sympathy for the obviously terrified, sheltered Cordelia.
I'm familiar with the "Goose Girl" story this is inspired by, but beyond a few elements, the plots are nothing alike. This book shocked me with its dark turns. There's a deep level of both psychological and body horror to be found here, but it's not all grim and dark. There is a beautiful found family aspect as well.
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