Review: A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided both a print and audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

If you like dark fairytale retellings this one is worth picking up.  I don't think I've ever read Goose Girl, but I'll be checking out the original tale this is based on.  I always like to read the original work when reading a retelling if I haven't read.  Kingfisher's retellings are quickly becoming my favorites and this is another one to add to your TBR.  She always puts her own unique spin on the original work and makes it her own. 

This is told from the perspectives of Cordielia a 14 year old girl who has basically lived her young life as a recluse, and Hester a 51 year old spinster set in her ways.  Their paths collide when Cordelia's mother decides she must marry a rich man to support them.  Hester immediately picks up that Cordelia's interactions with her mother are not normal, and that her brother is immediately smitten with the woman.  Hester is determined unravel the puzzle that is the the woman she nicknames "Doom" and her daughter.  Cornelia and Hester quickly become friends and team up to defeat Doom.  This is highly atmospheric and has worldbuilding I've come to expect from Kingfisher.  It has great fantasy and horror elements that aren't over the top.

Hester and Cordelia's parts in the audiobook are narrated by different people which I thought was a nice touch as they often switch POVs within a chapter.  I makes it easy for the listener to know who the main point of view is even when Cordelia and Hester are talking to one another.  Both narrators were fantastic and did a wonderful job brining this dark tale to life.

If you are a fan of Kingfisher or dark fairytales I highly recommend this.  I can't speak to the aspect of the retelling as I haven't read Goose Girl.  I found this highly engaging and entertaining

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Review: What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher

What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided both a print and audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

Easton has returned home to Gallacia for some rest and relaxation after their time as a soldier and the terrifying ordeal with the Ushers. Upon arrival at their lodge, they find it in disrepair and the caretaker missing. Easton and his attendant Angus quickly come to find that the caretaker has passed and a superstition surrounds the lodge. Easton isn't much for superstitions, but when they being experiencing strange dreams and symptoms there might be some validity to the lore.

I loved this. The gothic creepy vibe where excellent! If you loved What Moves the Dead you will loved this! Kingfisher does a great job with the worldbuilding and atmosphere. I loved the folklore aspect to the book and the heed the townsfolk give to all of their superstitions. It really enhanced the creep factor especially when Easton started having super vivid dreams. The dream sequences were exceptionally spooky and the descriptions make it really easy to visualize what was going on. You feel as disoriented as Alex does, and you aren't really sure what is happening.

While this is the second book in series, I think you can read it as a standalone. There are references to things that occurred in What Moves the Dead, and I highly recommend reading that first, but the main plot of this doesn't rely on you knowing the outcome of that book for you to follow this one. This reads more as a companion novel than a direct sequel. I do feel as if you will get a richer reading experience if you read them in publication order though.

This is a wonderfully strange novella and perfect for fans of gothic horror.

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Review: What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you enjoy gothic horror, I highly recommend this. This book is on the shorter side, but Kingfisher does a great job packing all of the creepy punches into this unique story. This is a retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher: An Edgar Allan Poe Short Story, which I listened to right after finishing this, and while this is longer and has it's own unique spin it does keep faithful to the original work.

The Usher house is in complete disrepair much to Alex Easton's surprise when they come to visit childhood friends Madeline and Roderick. Easton received word that Madeline had fallen ill and may not have much time left in this world. Easton is not prepared for what they find on the Usher property from strange wildlife, oddities in the lake, as well as Madeline and Roderick's conditions. Easton is aided by Roderick's friend an American doctor and a woman who studies fungus. I enjoyed all of the characters, which is rare in a horror novel. Easton is a wonderful character who takes center stage trying to figure out what is wrong with Madeline and Roderick and a way to save them both. Ever a soldier, Easton always keeps their wits about them despite the strange happenings in and around the Usher house. I don't want to give too much away because it would spoil the story but this weird little book is great! I loved the dark, ominous feelings I got from the descriptions. The world building is excellent, Kingfisher does a great job describing things.

If you are looking for some other creepy books with a similar feel I also recommend Sorrowland and Mexican Gothic.

I was provided both a print and audio arc of this book via Netgalley, thank you to the publishers for allowing me to read this in advanced. As always, all opinion are my own.

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Review: The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher

The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm not even sure how to review this book.  This was kind of a mix of comedy, portal fantasy, and horror all rolled up into one.  This is pretty dark and has some gory moments, so if you are squeamish you may want to skip this one.  I did appreciate the author's twisted sense of humor throughout the book and found myself laughing out loud several times while listening to this.

From the horror perspective, at no point was I ever terrified.  There were some creepy moments and some really weird ones, but I wouldn't say this is scary.  Take that with a grain of salt, I don't think most horror books are scary.  You may find Kara and Simon's trip into "The Willows" nightmare inducing.

This follows Kara, a graphic designer who has returned home to help her uncle run his very odd museum.  The museum itself is strange, but Kara finds a hole in the wall one day after the museum has closed.  She enlists her friend Simon, the local barista, to help her patch the wall but they find the bunker instead.  The two of them decide to explore the mysterious bunker, whose door opens up to an even weirder place.  They were not prepared for what they encountered in the world outside.  I don't want to say much more about the plot because anything more would spoil it and you kind of have to just experience as it comes.

This reminded me alot of Bird Box, where you aren't really sure what the "monsters" are but you know there is something sinister out there.  It was fast paced and you weren't sure what was going to happen next.  Overall I thought this was entertaining and I enjoyed the audio narration.

I did receive and ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.  I did however listen to the final published version of the audiobook.  

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