Two Fairytale Fantasies From T. Kingfisher
- Tea&Prose
- Apr 25
- 2 min read
- Swordheart -3 stars
-A Sorceress Comes To Call - 4 Stars
Two T Kingfisher stories with different vibes -- one sweeter and one darker -- but both have the author's twisted style.
Swordheart- A cozier fantasy fairytale that goes on a strange road trip.
A Sorceress Comes To Call - Darker Fairytale energy, a dark reimagining of the Brother Grimm's Goose Girl.
The Stories:
Swordheart - Contains a light, quirky world. A widow escapes from her dead husband's family using her inherited sword and the immortal man inside (Aladdin style). They travel throughout this world together, romantic fantasy style. There's a lot of banter and some adventure.
A Sorceress Comes To Call - Builds a much darker world, full of mistrust and darker magic. A girl escapes from her wicked, controlling mother.
What Worked:
Swordheart:
A cozy, humorous and low-stakes feel throughout.
This book is a low-stakes adventure that doesn't take itself too seriously.
There's innuendo, but not a lot of smut, which works with the cozy adventure feeling.
The relationships have enough tension to keep it interesting.
A Sorceress Comes to Call:
This book is more of a high-stakes adventure with darker tones. There is a constant sense of uneasiness throughout.
The tension builds from the start, with some twists and turns.
The relationships are tense and more serious.
What May Not Work For Some:
Swordheart:
There's romantic tension but not a lot of payoff.
The pacing feels slightly off sometimes. At times, the characters wander around, making the plot feel somewhat aimless too.
A Sorceress Comes To Call:
It's Dark. When the publisher describes this book as "a dark retelling of the Brothers Grimm's Goose Girl", they're not kidding. The Brothers Grimm are dark. This book is dark.
Although compelling, this is a slow build read.
The Takeaway- Which to Pick?
Choose Swordheart:
If you're in the mood for a cozy adventure. And you want a fun ride with some romance that includes a grumpy, genie-like, yet immortal sword-being.
Choose A Sorceress Comes to Call:
For a more serious twisted fantasy that will make you feel uncomfortable but keep you reading.
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