Oh, y'all. Kingfisher is fast becoming a favorite author of mine (though through personal preference, I'm careful in selecting away from some of her heavier horror pieces). Anyways, I was very excited to see this Grimm's Goose Girl retelling pop up on my NetGalley homepage, and even more excited when my request was approved. 

 

Cordelia's mother is a sorceress. An evil one. One who refuses to let her have privacy, friends (other than their horse, Falada), and sometimes enchants, taking over her body and forcing her to obey. When her mother sets her sights on marrying the wealthy lord of a remote country manor, Cordelia is uprooted from the only life she's ever known. They're now living at said lord's house and Cordelia's life is opening up in ways she never expected. She's found friends (and a mentor) in the lord's unmarried sister, Hester, and her society friends. Hester can tell that something is off with Cordelia, the way she shrinks away from her mother. And Cordelia is realizing that she cares about these new people and doesn't want them to fall prey to her mother's scheming. Between them, they'll have to come up with a plan that saves them all from the sorceress' powers. 

 

Phew, Kingfisher is always crushing it with the very real-life-adjacent creepy factor. This “obedience” thing is the stuff of nightmares. Body controlled by someone else while your mind is still in there and knows it? No thank you. Along with that particular horrific feature, the magic aspects in general are all really well done. It's subtle magic, nothing big and flashy, and all sort of "understood" or in connection with the earth/nature, in ways that Kingfisher doesn't spend too much time explaining. If you prefer more explicit magic systems, just be aware of that. The only aspect that felt a little like it didn't fit, to me, was the part with the ghost (when she - no spoilers on who she is - starts speaking to Cordelia). It's definitely creepy, which fits the vibes, but I wasn't as sure if it fit the story.    

 

Plot-wise, there is really smart story building throughout. It’s small scale and simple, but so elegantly done. The tension build, as everyone starts to realize how much power Cordelia's mother actually has, and the horror she can bring (and does bring - phew, there is some real bloody violence in these pages), as they race against time (and without many resources) to stop her is fantastic. I felt it in my body while reading. And yet, Kingfisher balances that tension and horror with some fantastic general flippancy, impropriety, and irreverence (especially in Hester and Penelope and Imogene's characters - loveeeed them!). And the dialogue is sooooo dryly humorous, that it really softens the horror to perfection. 

 

Speaking of the dialogue. I must say more about it. The dialogue everywhere, between everyone (especially when Hester is involved…but also Alice, Evermore, Penelope Green), was all so good. It was packed with nuance and double meaning and wry humor. Magnificent. Also, the small details, like the consistency of Hester’s nagging knee pain, are done so well (often enough that they’re realistic, but never dragging down the narrative). Plus, ayyyyy I saw that reference to Nettle & Bone as they searched Evermore's library. Oh! And the title was perfect. Kingfisher is just a spectacular writer. 

 

A last note, about Cordelia and her mother (Evangeline). Cordelia’s actions, her responses to her mother...oooof, the abuse is terrible and heartbreaking and it is upsetting to read. Evangeline is a wayyyyyy toooo real a big bad. I do, though, wish we had more insight into Evangeline’s goals/purpose and mindset - her WHY - and background. It seemed flimsy? Perhaps a chance for a spinoff?! Regardless, I was *very* ready for the comeuppance piece of the story, and it was cathartic when we got it. A super good, creepy, fitting finale to the tale for Evangeline. And some softer, more tender, and well-deserved endings for everyone else involved as well. 

 

While there were a few small aspects that I would have wanted a little more from, overall this was a great read.  

 

"Like many men not overly encumbered by intelligence, he had a great deal of cunning in avoiding personal unpleasantness." 

 

"Such is the problem of beauty. Once it is imperfect, the admiration it has won you is at an end." 

 

"But you can never count on people to die just because it would make your life easier." 

 

"And suddenly she was calm. It was the calm of a burned-out house or a ravaged field, the calm that comes where there is no longer anything to lose. It was almost like being invincible." 

 

"Let him reflect on the reagent that is his: the salt that comes of earth, the water that is borne on the swift stream, and the wine that is made of growing grapes and the art of man. For salt bars the entry of the shadowed ones; water fills the space it is given and washed away that which is impure; and wine binds the space between the seen and unseen, even as it binds the bargains struck between men."