tatyana_'s reviews
173 reviews

 A Sorceress Comes to Call follows Cordelia, the daughter of a sorceress who is prepared to do whatever she deems necessary to get her way. Cordelia has seen that firsthand most of her life as her mother can physically control her and her behavior. She isn’t allowed to have friends, go to school, or close any doors. One day, her mother decides to marry a wealthy older man, the Squire. However Hester, the Squire’s sister, quickly realizes something is odd about the mother-daughter pair that arrived at their door. Now she just has to figure out how what to do about it.
 
In true T. Kingfisher fashion, there are an elements that are peculiar but it is not unnerving. And despite the looming threat, the story retains a mundane atmosphere. I didn’t know what to expect with a goose girl retelling, because I am not familiar with the story. I really enjoy that T. Kingfisher uses characters who do not immediately display the typical archetypes for main characters or heroes. All her characters are dynamic with multiple layers. As readers we get to see Cordelia slowly find her voice as she gains more autonomy We also get to see Hester navigate her fears surrounding aging and relationships. The ragtag team they created with friends new and old made the story more compelling. I’ve also heard good things about the audiobook, and I'm thinking of checking it out

Thank you to T. Kingfisher, Netgalley, and Tor Books for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own!

I recently finished Ace of Spades by Faridah Abíké-Íyímídé, and I honestly should’ve bumped this up my tbr sooner. Chiamaka and Devon are named senior class prefects which can give them both the boost they desire to pursue their dreams at prestigious college institutions. However, they suddenly find themselves the targets of anonymous texts that reveal all their close secrets to the entire school. Told in dual POV, we get to follow Chi and Von as they grapple with what is taking place and try to regain control of their lives while forming an unlikely friendship. 

 

This is a dynamic blend of thriller/mystery with important topics (such as racism, bullying, homophobia, etc). As someone who doesn’t read a ton of thrillers, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There were times when I wanted to scream, and I wanted to throw my book at some characters. I found both the epilogue and author’s note cathartic and emotional for different reasons, and I am thankful they were included. I already planned to read all of this author’s work, so my only regret is not having started earlier. 

 

*I’ll be writing a more in-depth review in the future* 

Soekga is the trickster god who was kicked out of heaven after a failed coup. He must track down and eliminate all demons in New Sinsi to regain his godhood. When the notorious Scarlet Fox reappears after over a century, he is also tasked with eliminating her. Hani is a gumiho and barista who also happens to be the very Scarlet Fox in hiding. She will do anything to ensure that she isn’t caught, including joining forces with Soekga as his assistant. Little do they know another threat is coming to plunge their city into darkness and all they hold dear. Now both Hani and Soekga must decide what, or who, they are truly willing to sacrifice to achieve their goals.

Once I picked this book up, I could not put it down. I loved the fantasy detective element and the banter between the main characters. I enjoyed that the two characters start as pretty self-serving, but as their relationship grows they learn to care for each other and those around them more (especially Soekga). As we moved through the book, I began to truly dread when the big secrets would be revealed. The ending floored me and I will be waiting very impatiently for the next book to be published.

Thank you to Netgalley, author Sophie Kim, and Random House Publishing-Ballentine | Del Rey for an advanced copy of this book! All opinions are my own. <3