Kingfisher

Review of A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

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Synopsis:
Cordelia knows her mother is . . . unusual. Their house doesn’t have any doors between rooms—there are no secrets in this house—and her mother doesn’t allow Cordelia to have a single friend. Unless you count Falada, her mother’s beautiful white horse. The only time Cordelia feels truly free is on her daily rides with him.

But more than simple eccentricity sets her mother apart. Other mothers don’t force their daughters to be silent and motionless for hours, sometimes days, on end. Other mothers aren’t evil sorcerers.

When her mother unexpectedly moves them into the manor home of a wealthy older Squire and his kind but keen-eyed sister, Hester, Cordelia knows this welcoming pair are to be her mother’s next victims. But Cordelia feels at home for the very first time among these people, and as her mother’s plans darken, she must decide how to face the woman who raised her to save the people who have become like family.

Review:
“She picked up her cup and took a sip, trying, like many before her, to drown her emotions with tea.” (Page 185)

I’ve mentioned before that T. Kingfisher has my heart, well, that remains true with this novel as well. One of my favourite parts of this book is while yes, it is very much about Cordelia, we actually have an unlikely older heroine involved as well. I absolutely loved the characters in this novel. The book was spent in suspense between wanting Cordelia to have freedom and a happy ending, but wanting Hester to find one as well as free her brother. I adored the concepts within the book, and how the older women instantly took Cordelia under their wing. Penelope Green is truly an icon, and while I wished things were different, in the end I am so glad for everything this book let the reader experience. There are so many ways in which this book touches on issues the everyday person might have–keeping secrets and disappointing one’s family, worries of age and how that will change a person. All in all, as per all Kingfisher books, I’d highly recommend this one.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

End of Year Tidings. 2024 Recap/Recommendations

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The ratings/numbers of which book read each month may be a bit eschew because I had such huge breaks in between when I did reviews during the year. I endeavour to keep up with book reviews this year, to keep track for myself if nothing else, and to give some ideas to all of you who might want a good book to read.

January  8
Feb 10
March 9
April 1
May 5
June 2
July 11
August 8?
September 6?
October 5?
November 7?
December 6?

I read so many good books this year, some of which were much longer than I’ve previously read, but I wanted to read books that I really thought I’d enjoy and the quality of books I read this year was overall quite stellar (though there were a few I could go without, as usual). I read 78 books this year, which while it may seem lower than years past, I don’t mind at all since I read quite a bit more epic fantasy, and a lot of high quality and truly wonderful books. Here’s a list of the best books of 2024, divided by whether they are a series or standalone.

In the series category we have:
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
Think gaslamp fantasy with a snarky female main character who doesn’t care about men, especially not flirtatious ones, who is set to finish her largest project yet; an encyclopedia of the various fae. She isn’t good with people, which makes the overly attentive Wendell Bambleby all the more annoying to her. This is a great series, of which I’ve read both books (one after the other) and highly recommend it to those who love fantasy, fae, strong female characters, and seeing growth of both main characters throughout the story.

The Burning Witch by Delemhach
Take a prince who has fallen into very bad habits, and a witch who is brash, loud, and somehow knows just how to get under everyone’s skin and have them travel together to a country where everyone is very subdued and proper. Kat very much follows in her father and mother’s footsteps in various ways throughout this series, and I live for it. This series does a great job of showing how hard it can be to push forward in a role/position dominated by the opposite sex, while still maintaining your identity.

The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller
Manipulating people can be easy if you have the right motivation, and what better motivation than knowing you’ll never have any control over your life otherwise? In The Shadows Between Us Alessandra is cunning and daring, and while she may not always make the best choices, she does try to make life better for not just herself, but others around her. In The Darkness Within Us Chyrsantha has gone about trying to fix her life in a very different way, but with an equal amount of cunning. Both books showcase what it’s like to do whatever you have to in order to have a life that you might enjoy, from two very different perspectives.

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
“A blank page was nothing but potential, pointless until it was used.” -Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings
Magic coming from the earth, bestowed upon those worthy. Following a plethora of complex lives, Sanderson gives depth to all the characters met in the series (I’ve read up to the third one). There is an intricate magic system, politics, and story that a mere mortal could hardly sum up in a little burb to tell you that if you like epic fantasies and haven’t gotten into this, you’re truly missing out!

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith
The Phantom of the Opera meets Caravel in this amazing adventure featuring interesting magical concepts, creatures beyond mortal comprehension, a competition for something you wish for, and a ghostly cat who acts befitting to a cat. It takes a little bit to get into the story, but once you’re there you are hooked and need to know what happens next. Fair warning that there is a lot of spice in this book. The second book in this series is due out April 8th, featuring Ophelia’s younger sister, Genevieve, and a new mystery.

What Moves the Dead by T Kingfisher
A perfect gothic retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher with the best gloomy oppressive atmosphere and little hints that will leave you guessing until the big reveal of what is actually going on. This retelling had me hooked with the historical references, and characters that really enthralled me. If you like gothic stories, I highly recommend this one! It is the first in a series and while I have bought the second, I have yet to read it. I will, of course, put up a review when I do.

A Rivalry of Hearts by Tessonja Odette
Two writers with very different asperations and writing styles have to duke it out to see who will gain a full writing contract while fighting over which of them is the better love expert, but in the faerie tale world of Odette’s Fair Isle with magic and fae bargains and what could possibly go wrong? I was worried I wouldn’t love this book because Odette doesn’t usually write pure romances but it was spot on, and I absolutely recommend it for people who love fairy tales, fantasy, and romance mixed with characters with lots of hidden secrets and stakes to not winning the competition.

Ten Thousand Stitches by Olivia Atwater
A maid with a bit of an anger issues finds herself enamoured with the younger man of the house and accidentally in the midst of a fae bargain with a stranger before she realizes it. Hijinks, magic, and great growth of characters await the reader in this delightful Cinderella retelling that I highly recommend.

Hex and Hexability by Kate Johnson
Victorian times meets witches and people who struggle with wanting to be more than what their station determines they should be in public, and a chance meeting between two who both find themselves trapped in the world of the ton that they have no desire to be a part of. This book is technically part of a series of witch stories by Johnson, but they all stand alone and are not related to each other. This book was a perfect standalone, and I highly recommend it for great characterization, world building, and character depth; everyone had an interesting backstory that could explain how they became how they were.

The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater
A not-really-a-governess appears to take charge of a very frustrating child who no one seems to notice is stolen by faeries finds herself having to fight to get him back and solve the mystery of the house they live in. Great Victorian fantasy, filled with mystery, great characters, and an unforgettable story of what power does to some people.


And for stand along books I’d recommend:
Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher
Doing what’s right is rarely what’s easy, and Marra doesn’t care about what’s supposed to be when she knows she can save her sister from an abusive prince. Marra finds a witch and has to complete three impossible tasks in order to gain the help she needs, and she might just find some friends along the way. Highly recommend this book for its unique settings, magic system, and great characters.

Just Stab Me Now by Jill Bearup
Rosalind is a widow who has a family to protect, but the author of her story has other ideas for what should happen. Follow along with Caroline as she fights with her book protagonists to make the story the fantasy she think lives needs to be, and while she learns a bit more of protecting and taking care of herself, as well as risk taking, in the process. If you follow Bearup on TikTok you likely already have this book. This book was everything the TikTok series would lead you to think it could be, but then even better! Bearup did an absolutely stellar, stand up job on this novel! If you’ve seen the videos, you’ll also totally hear it in her voice as you read as well.

Hate Mail by Donna Marchetti
Two pen pals since elementary school have been sending scathing letters to each other for years… but what happens when they end up in the same town and meet up? This is the only modern romance to make the list, and honestly I found it was refreshing and I loved how everything pulled together in the end–though I think the misunderstanding between them went on for far too long with neither ever correcting or thinking to ask each other the most basic of questions you’d ask a new neighbor.

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
An absolutely brilliant gothic mystery featuring a secluded estate, rude and creepy distant in laws, and the bond of cousins that knows no bounds. Pulled to the out in the middle of nowhere estate, Noemí wants to see how her cousin is being treated, if she is well, and make it back in time to get in on the next semester of college. Since she’s more used to being a socialite than a detective, she has to use the wiles she has from working parties, and the wits she often doesn’t let the public see, to piece together exactly what is going on at High Place. Great atmosphere, horrible in laws, and awesome story.

What Comes of Attending the Commoners Ball by Elisabeth Aimee Brown
This book was described as Cinderella meets Howl’s Moving Castle and that is exactly the feeling. Hester was a completely likeable and understandable protagonist who has real aspirations and whose life goes terribly astray after coming into contact with the princes of the kingdom. She’s practical, rarely gives in to whimsy, and never wants to be in debt. The choice to go to a ball, for the food, of course, leads her into a series of wonderful and sometimes horrid experiences, and is a remarkable tale that any fairy tale/fantasy lover would enjoy.

Review of What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

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Synopsis:
When Alex Easton, a retired soldier, receives word that their childhood friend Madeline Usher is dying, they race to the ancestral home of the Ushers in the remote countryside of Ruritania.

What they find there is a nightmare of fungal growths and possessed wildlife, surrounding a dark, pulsing lake. Madeline sleepwalks and speaks in strange voices at night, and her brother Roderick is consumed with a mysterious malady of the nerves.

Aided by a redoubtable British mycologist and a baffled American doctor, Alex must unravel the secret of the House of Usher before it consumes them all.

Review:
This book had me enthralled from the absolute beginning. The setting was perfectly dim and dark and creepy, especially when compared to other places known by the main character. The past flash backs were well established and perfectly aligned when and where they needed to be. The mention of history and language was always well added and never seemed gratutious. Everything was perfectly dark, gothic, and seemed set for there to be a perfectly reasonable explanation for the mental decline that the Ushers seemed to be facing. I never imagined in a million years what it turned out was actually happening, and the story haunted me for many days afterward.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher

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Synopsis:
This isn’t the kind of fairy tale where the princess marries a prince.

It’s the one where she kills him.

Marra — a shy, convent-raised, third-born daughter — is relieved not to be married off for the sake of her parents’ throne. Her older sister wasn’t so fortunate though, and her royal husband is as abusive as he is powerful. From the safety of the convent, Marra wonders who will come to her sister’s rescue and put a stop to this. But after years of watching their families and kingdoms pretend all is well, Marra realizes if any hero is coming, it will have to be Marra herself.

If Marra can complete three impossible tasks, a witch will grant her the tools she needs. But, as is the way in stories of princes and the impossible, these tasks are only the beginning of Marra’s strange and enchanting journey to save her sister and topple a throne.

Review:
I was looking for something to read on the 15th while waiting for the next Emily Wilde book to come out and I have to say that I didn’t expect to be completely swept away to another world that I did not want to leave. Instantly we are transported to a world where Marra is set trying to do three impossible things while considering her worth and abilities as the third royal daughter of a kingdom. There are so many amazing twists and turns of dark magic, forcing oneself to forge forward into what should be impossible, the knowledge gained in least expected places, and the relationships forged along the way.

Marra finds herself not as smart or brave as she wishes she could be, yet she pushes herself to become an unlikely heroine- a nun with more power than a princess. Throughout the novel she demonstrates countless times how her real knowledge came from those who nurtured her, realizing things such as “our own flaws infuriate us in other people”. (Chapter 12, Page 132) Marra has a few qualities that I found myself completely empathizing with and I’m sure many would feel the same; the desire to help others and make things right (even if the others do not see/desire it themselves), and that when putting forth to a huge task there is a daunting sense that despite having done so much it was still just the beginning and there is still so much more to do. It is a truth well known that it is quite hard to keep direction when it’s you that you are following.

I highly recommend this book and very much think it will be a standout read of 2024. It’s got an epic fantasy adventure, a demon, people who speak to the dead, those who are trying to do the impossible to save their family, and those they come to love along the way.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of The Seventh Bride by T. Kingfisher

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The Seventh Bride
By T. Kingfisher

Star Rating: 

Genre: YA Fantasy

Number of Pages: 237

Date Started: March 13, 2016
Date Finished: March 15, 2016 (early in the morning)

Synopsis:(From Amazon)seventh
Young Rhea is a miller’s daughter of low birth, so she is understandably surprised when a mysterious nobleman, Lord Crevan, shows up on her doorstep and proposes marriage. Since commoners don’t turn down lords—no matter how sinister they may seem—Rhea is forced to agree to the engagement.

Lord Crevan demands that Rhea visit his remote manor before their wedding. Upon arrival, she discovers that not only was her betrothed married six times before, but his previous wives are all imprisoned in his enchanted castle. Determined not to share their same fate, Rhea asserts her desire for freedom. In answer, Lord Crevan gives Rhea a series of magical tasks to complete, with the threat “Come back before dawn, or else I’ll marry you.”

With time running out and each task more dangerous and bizarre than the last, Rhea must use her resourcefulness, compassion, and bravery to rally the other wives and defeat the sorcerer before he binds her to him forever.

Review:
This story is an unbelievably cute fairy tale in its own right.  Not only does the protagonist have spunk and pizzazz but she also isn’t fooled into thinking she’s in a magical perfect situation after being randomly proposed to by a lord.  Although she cannot refuse, she shows the fear that most fairy tale females lack, and because of that, she uses caution which is generally overlooked by not only the Brothers’ Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson characters, but also by Disney princesses.

From the beginning I saw glimpses of fairy tales.  There was mention of fantasy creatures doing mischievous things, and with a miller’s daughter, it would be hard not to expect Rumpelstiltskin to jump out.  Though there were several fairy tale and fantasy story connections from Rumpelstiltskin to Alice and Wonderland mixed with The Wizard of Oz, this book is a completely novel piece– innovative, imaginative, down to earth and impossible to resist the charm of.  Five stars.

Author Bio: (From Amazon)
T. Kingfisher is the vaguely absurd pen-name of Ursula Vernon, an author from North Carolina. In another life, she writes children’s books and weird comics. She has been nominated for the World Fantasy and the Eisner, and has won the Hugo, Sequoyah, Nebula, Alfie, WSFA, Coyotl and Ursa Major awards, as well as a half-dozen Junior Library Guild selections.

This is the name she uses when writing things for grown-ups. Her work includes multiple fairy-tale retellings and odd little stories about elves and goblins.When she is not writing, she is probably out in the garden, trying to make eye contact with butterflies.

www.tkingfisher.com