Another win for T. Kingfisher, this one a convincing reimagining of Snow White that delves into the dark depths of poison and magic. Kingfisher's characters and worldbuilding are in top form here, with a wonderful, level-headed protagonist that is obsessed with poisons who has the misfortune to attract the attention of royalty. This royal attention comes in the form of a plea to save the king's daughter, Snow, who is beset by unknown forces and fading slowly. The truth behind the poisoning is stranger than anyone could have imagined, but the story never falters in the telling and I was convinced of everything the whole way through, which was a bit of a shock given how wild the magical element gets in the plot.

Fans of Kingfisher will be very happy with this one, and it easily deserves a spot in any fantasy collection.

Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher is a dark reimagining of the "Snow White" fairy tale, blending fantasy, horror, and a touch of romance. This novel follows Anja, a 35-year-old healer and poison expert, as she navigates a treacherous mystery involving a dying princess, a magical mirror, and a world brimming with unsettling secrets. The story opens with a gripping first line: “I had just taken poison when the king arrived to inform me he had murdered his wife.” This sets the tone for a tale that is equal parts grim and darkly humorous.

Anja, a blunt, broad-shouldered healer who specializes in antidotes, is summoned by the king to save his daughter, Snow, who is wasting away from an unknown affliction. Reluctantly leaving her quiet life of scientific experimentation, Anja arrives at Witherleaf, a remote desert estate, accompanied by a taciturn guards (Aaron and Javier)in, a narcissistic one-eyed talking cat named Grayling, and her trusty chime-adder (a venomous snake whose poison she uses in her work).

As Anja investigates Snow’s mysterious illness, she uncovers a web of intrigue tied to the royal family’s dark history, including the queen’s murder of her younger daughter, Rose, and the king’s subsequent killing of the queen. The plot thickens when Anja discovers a secret world hidden within a magic mirror—a haunting, colorless realm populated by reflections that crave life. This mirror world becomes central to the mystery, raising questions about whether it holds the cure to Snow’s ailment or a threat that could destroy them all.

Anja is the heart of Hemlock & Silver and one of its greatest strengths. At 35, she’s a refreshingly unconventional heroine—tall, plus-size, possibly autistic-coded, and unapologetically direct. Her passion for the scientific method, particularly her methodical approach to studying poisons, makes her a fascinating lens through which to view the story. Anja’s internal commentary is both humorous and relatable, offering moments of levity amidst the novel’s darker themes.

Her lack of maternal instincts and awkward social interactions add depth, making her a grounded, flawed, and endearing character. The belief system, centered around animal totems like Saint Adder (for poisons) and Saint Fish (for stomach ailments), adds a whimsical yet grounded layer to the world. Also, Grayling the cat steals the show with remarkable sarcasm that perfectly fits the story.

Ahhh I love the narrator of this so much. This is a fantastic retelling of Snow White and it's reimagined in such a magical way that I couldn't put it down. I had to pause reading it to read another book for work, and I'm salty about it to be honest - I blasted through the other book to get back to this one.

There are a few plot inconsistencies so if you're a stickler for solidly built magic systems I have a few questions that bugged me and might bug you too. But I was able to write them off, and enjoy the story, because it's mildly funny and definitely interesting. Looking forward to reading more from Kingfisher in the future!

The magic system in Hemlock & Silver is very unique. T Kingfisher does a great job in this book creating a new twist from classic fairy tales. You will be delighted seeing how everything fits together and discovering the source of Snow’s maladies.

This dark Snow White retelling might be my new favorite fairy tale.

What would you if the King showed up and asked your to save the princess from some really generic illness?

If your answer was to pack up your snakes and get your poison remedies together to jump through the mirror to find a poisoner with a one eyed cat, this is the book for you!

Anja, the poison healer, was such a great MC for this retelling. Shes curious, devoted to her science and awkward I love her so much. The mirror world was such a unique take on the fairy tale. I loved how Anja was both horrified and curious about what was going on as I would have been.

My only complaint is wishing it was longer!!


Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

First, thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the ARC. I did not love this title. I pushed through and realized about 70% of the way this book wasn't for me, but at that point I was committed and figured it was worth sticking it out. It unfortunately wasn't. The story was pretty predictable but there was way too much specific details that you got lost in, that may have been important to the main character, but not so much for the reader. What was going on as far as the mirror realm and the "magic" just wasn't making sense until the MC put it all together for the reader. I didn't really connect with any character, kind of struggled with the entire plot, and felt it was all predictable. The cat was cute and the romance semi kept me going but again, predictable. I'll recommend this to reader's but felt it just didn't live up to the hype for me.

I loved this book. T. Kingfisher's take on a Snow White retelling is captivating and full of unexpected twists. I love that she put this story in a desert setting. The way she incorporated the mirror aspect was fascinating to me.

Please note that I will read anything that T. Kingfisher writes… and I will love it. I do also own every book - so, there is a chance I might be biased. Literally flawless books everytime. “Hemlock and Silver” was no exception.Some of my favourite things to read are fairytales, folktales, and if it's a dark reimagining of those already grisly tales - even better. “Hemlock and Silver” was an almost perfect reimagining for me. My only complaint is that it wasn’t longer.
In this tale I loved seeing Anja’s backstory with what led to her fascination, and experimentation with poisons. Her abilities have led to be summoned to court by the king. His wife has died, and his daughter Snow is growing sicker by the day. With the help of her new body guard Javier, and the opinionated somewhat helpful ‘cat’ Greyling, it's now up to Anja to uncover what’s poisoning Snow, and how she can be healed.
When I started the book my main question was how were the two iconic symbols going to be worked in, and I was definitely pleased with the outcome. As someone who is absolutely fascinated by poisonous plants, this book was exactly what I wanted to read. How this tied in with the idea of the ‘poisonous apple’ in Snow White was perfect, especially with the apple's connection to the mirror… and the mirror world.

P.s: The ‘cat’ Greyling is the absolute selling point of this book. Snarky cats are my weakness.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the digital ARC. My apologies for getting the review so late..

As someone who shares a home with a cat who thinks of herself as a goddess (as she should) I can’t express how much I enjoyed this book!

The immediate connection I felt with Anja, our unforgettable poison healer, was almost overwhelming. Her deep sense of curiosity, humor, and strength was so contagious, I’ve found myself asking “What would Anja do?” on many occasion. As a reader you can’t help but want the best for her! You want her to overcome every challenge, to find the answers, to find the love of someone who fully understands who she is, and at the bare minimum just stay alive!

The storytelling (as always) was so engrossing and beautifully done. The author doesn’t need flowery language and overly complicated prose to achieve writing a story that can simultaneously give you so much joy and make you feel so unsettled at the same time. This book has everything I need in a fantasy… including a stubborn and lovable cat! I hold to my notion that T. Kingfisher can do no wrong. Thank you for writing my all time favorite books. This is the best one yet! 🖤

Hemlock & Silver is another re-imagined fairy tale from T. Kingfisher, and it does not disappoint. As one might expect from a Snow White story, there are poisons and apples and a magic mirror, but there is also a talking cat and a complete absence of dwarves I loved it. I stayed on the edge of my seat and read this much too quickly. I wish it were longer, which I never say. Most books could stand to be a little more tightly written, but Hemlock & Silver was tightly written and well paced. I highly recommend it!

Baudrillard meets The Brothers Grim in a mash-up that only T. Kingfisher could pull off. With the best-written talking cat I’ve encountered in fiction. Say less.

Came for the striking cover, stayed for the cozy sarcasm and creeping dread. Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher is framed as a dark Snow White retelling, but it felt to me like the fairy tale was more of a springboard into another, much stranger and far more twisted dimension.

Anja is an expert in poisons who uses her vast knowledge to heal rather than harm. She is approached by the king, who in one breath admits to killing his wife and in the next asks her to assess his daughter, Snow, whom he suspects is being poisoned by palace enemies. What follows is an eerie and twisty ride, equal parts unsettling and oddly hilarious, as Anja hunts for the truth about Snow and finds way more than she bargained for.

What made this book so unique and unputdownable is Anja’s voice. She’s quirky, snarky, and incredibly intelligent, with a dry, matter-of-fact way of speaking that had me laughing at the most inappropriate moments. She thinks everything through methodically and scientifically, which mirrors the way my own mind works and made her perspective even more compelling as she confronted things that defied all logic. I could not get enough of her, and I would happily read ten more books centered around her.

The story starts off a little slow, but the rich world building and Anja’s narration kept it from ever feeling dull. I enjoyed the sweet romance, and it felt refreshing that it stayed a subplot (which is very on-brand for the kind of woman Anja is).

This was my first novel by T. Kingfisher, and now her entire backlist is on my TBR. If you love dark fairytales with sharp humor and a heroine you’ll want to follow anywhere, this one deserves a spot on your shelf.

Big thanks to Tor Books for the gifted eARC!

I loved this dark retelling of Snow White. I was hooked from the beginning. So far this is the best book I have read in 2025.

Always a wonderful time reading a Kingfisher book. Her writing voice is so engaging and full of life, and she really impressed me here. I saw threads of ideas from her other books, namely Hollow Places, make an appearance here, and they made the world more interesting than the average cozy fantasy. I’ll keep reading these as long as she keeps writing them!

Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher is a fascinating tale of intrigue and magic, a re-envisioning of the classic Snow White into something incredible. One of the elements I love most about T. Kingfisher’s writing is that every character is quirky, different and absolutely riveting. The characters crawl under your skin and stay there, even the minor ones. And in Hemlock & Silver, that same dynamic is in play.
Anja is a brilliant and engaging character. Her voice is compelling and her reasons for her work are logical and compassionate. Adding in the intrigue of Snow’s dilemma and a magic hidden in a mirror, I was hooked. I loved the side order of romance between Anja and her guard. The world building of magic is incredible. But the cat does steal the show quite a bit. Written by someone who clearly understands cats, I loved his personality and the ways he ‘assists’. The story is not just brilliant but it is engaging and fun.
If you love intrigue driven fantasy, T. Kingfisher and magical mirrors, I suggest you check out Hemlock & Silver. In a re-invisioned Snow White, the poison expert is the hero and the bad guys not who you expect. The ending is enthralling and this is a fascinating tale with compelling characters and an impossible to put down story.

T. Kingfisher keeps churning out these books and they continue to be such an incredible experience every time! I really can't seem to get enough of her work, and Hemlock & Silver proves no exception. Anja is yet another great protagonist, one who is both relatable and seems to possess an exceedingly level head that makes the reading experience a delight. I loved her perspective on things and how she balanced some cynicism with a bit of hopefulness in the people and world around her, despite many things that show otherwise. I also appreciate the fact that she's not some overly warm character who everyone likes, but is rather truly herself with everything that entails. This one had a decently slow start that left me feeling a bit worried about how much I'd enjoy the rest of the book--and don't get me wrong, I don't mind a slow start, but something about it was feeling a bit off to me for Kingfisher--but I ended up having a great time with this. I really appreciated how she took some ideas from Snow White and then really flipped them and mixed everything up and brought something very new and fresh to the story. Overall, this only makes me love T. Kingfisher more and I can't wait for even more from her!

This was an entertaining mix of fantasy and mystery, with excellent humor added in. Anja was an intriguing main character, and her personality made it easy to stay engaged throughout the story. All of the side characters were well written and memorable. The only downside for me was the difficulty in keeping up with the mirror world system. I think the author did an excellent job of explaining it at the parts where it was confusing, but for me personally it was difficult to wrap my head around. All in all, wonderful book that I will recommend to others.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
This wry, dark fairy tale takes a refreshing turn from the usual “fairest maiden” trope. Healer Anja is a sturdy, snake-handling heroine who feels far more at home with poisons than palace politics, and she’s by far the standout of the story. Her voice—alongside the aloof cat—is what carries the book.

The plot follows Anja’s attempt to cure twelve-year-old Princess Snow after the royal doctors have failed. While the premise is strong, many of the side characters feel thinly drawn, never moving beyond surface-level impressions. The pacing is also on the slower side, more meandering than propulsive—like wandering through a dense forest where every plant is described in detail, whether or not you’re interested.

I alternated between print and audio, and the narration works well—Anja’s pragmatic, no-nonsense voice comes through clearly. Still, compared to some of T. Kingfisher’s other works, this one felt less memorable. Fans of fairy-tale retellings with a darker, more methodical tone may enjoy it, but readers looking for fast-moving adventure may find it a bit heavy.

Anja was fascinated by poisons at an early age, logically and with experiments learning their properties and sometimes finding an antidote. Now a spinster she uses her knowledge to help the sick. T. Kingfisher starts her tale of Hemlock & Silver (hard from Tor) when the King comes to Anja because he thinks his daughter, Snow, is being poisoned. Unfortunately, magic including silvery apples, and a talking cat is involved. Something evil is working through the mirrors and only Anja, with the help of a guard who believes her, can stop it. Very intense, the tale is about a scientist dealing with magic. I hope this finds some awards.

This book was a beautiful mix of T Kingfisher's fantasy books and her horror Sworn Soldier Series (What Moves the Dead). It has a mix of gruesome creature, quirky animals, loveable and full bodied FMCs in their 30s, animal gods, and an abundance of scientific facts and ponderings that were absolutely fascinating.

I wouldn’t consider this a Snow White retelling as much as a story partly inspired by Snow White, and that’s actually a good thing.

If you loved her Sworn Soldier series (with just a touch of romance added), I think you will love this book.