Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing this to me in exchange for an honest review.

First, a lot of the publicity around this book really leans into the Snow White retelling of it all --which, sure, there's a resemblance to that. There's the cutting of hearts, an evil queen, a princess called Snow. I don't say this as a negative, not in the least; I think the story is better served by it not following that formula.

T. Kingfisher continues to delight as an author. I admit she's an auto-buy author for me, and this book hasn't done anything but reinforce this idea.

One thing that particularly stands out is the... I'm unsure how to phrase this except action economy. There were things in the beginning of the book (and I mean the first couple of chapters) that set up important bits of the climax in a way that felt completely natural. There were a couple of scenes I may have counted as unnecessary kept parts of the climax from feeling contrived.

Additionally, Kingfisher has her way of making the women in her book feel more real than I'm used to seeing. The descriptions are presented largely neutrally, but clearly with intent and respect. The main character, Anja, is tall, large, blunt, and still respected, believed, and even desired. It's always delightful to read a woman written by T. Kingfisher.

First, thank you to Netgalley for the advance reading copy!

I have to admit my own bias here: I have thoroughly enjoyed every T Kingfisher I have read. 

This one started very slow, much slower than I am accustomed to for her books. But I powered on because this is the deal with early access. 

And then, halfway through, BAM. I WAS HOOKED. 

This story is a retelling of Snow White with the poisoned apple and a poisoner who is saddled with saving her. 

Our protagonist is a left-brained, logical woman who works to create poison antidotes. Can she figure out why Snow is constantly sick and lethargic?

The first half of the book sets the tone, setting, assumptions, and, well, honestly not much happens.

Until we meet the cat.

If you can make it this far, I think you'll be sucked in, but this is a slow starter initially.

I did enjoy the characters--Kingfisher always writes excellent characters.  There is nothing like an adult woman who isn't some giddy school girl and carries around her own venomous snake. And smart alec cat (aren't they all?)

A retelling of *Snow White* that takes the focus off of Snow and places it on Anja, a woman who has devoted her life to discovering antidotes to poison. Snow’s father, the king, fearing his daughter may have been poisoned seeks out Anja’s help

After reading the author’s *A Sorceress Comes to Call* in 2024 and then more of her work, I’ve become such a fan of the author’s novels that her work is an auto-buy for me now. So, you can likely imagine my thrill when I received early access to *Hemlock & Silver* 😍😍😍😍

*pulled me in immediately
*sooooo well written,
*solid plot and Kingfisher’s wit
*relatable MFC in humor and attitude; she’s a healer, in her late thirties ❤️
*excellent secondary characters

To a degree, I feel as though most of my reviews for Kingfisher’s books are all a variation of how much I loved it. Let me not break with that tradition, because I freaking adored this.

An excellent read and a definite recommendation. I’ll be getting the deluxe edition of this for my own shelves.



Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for the DRC

Anja is a healer who spends most of her time studying poisons and tinkering with concoctions. So when the king suddenly bursts into her life and demands her help she is thrust into an unfamiliar world. Navigating a royal household complete with courtly gossip and social clamoring is difficult but she must not be deterred from the task at hand. Snow White has been poisoned, she is seemingly wasting away and no one knows why. It falls to Anja to investigate and find the source of the illness. When her beloved scientific process yields no results Anja must look elsewhere to get to the bottom of it. To find the source of the poison she must step into a whole different reality. This likeable protagonist from the world of medieval medicine guides readers into a hair-raising world filled with enchanted mirrors, magic fruit, shadowy grey figures and freakish monsters made up of discarded human limbs. Kingfisher does a great job of building a classic fantasy story that gradually reveals an encroaching alternate reality that is creepy and atmospheric. The storyline is engaging and the twisting plot will keep readers guessing right up to the end. This alternate version of the Snow White story is full of original ideas but also has enough familiar elements that those looking for classic fairy tale fantasy and fans of retellings will be delighted.

I might be biased as a dedicated Kingfisher fan, but I truly love retellings and this one was a joy.
This story follows Anja, a 35 year old spinster who loves poison/antidotes and snakes (very relatable) who is contracted by the King to investigate a mysterious illness (poison?!?) in his daughter, Snow. Anja's unique mind and natural curiosity make this a very entertaining read, as we go along while she discovers the inner workings of a palace that is more than it seems. A bit of a slow start, but once she hits her stride you won't want to put it down. There is a fully fleshed out magical system that is just delightful, a tender slow burn romance, and a sassy cat. Not sure what else you could ask for.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Tor for providing a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. I very much enjoyed the opportunity to read this book.

5✨| find me on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brittsendlesstbr?igsh=MXJ0emF5NG1scHFs"> Insta </a> @brittsendlesstbr

Hemlock and Silver is another enchanting and wonderfully strange addition to her collection of unique fantasy tales. True to her distinctive style, this novella masterfully blends elements of folk horror, gothic atmosphere, and a touch of surprising humor, all wrapped in a narrative that feels both ancienct and refreshingly modern. The story itself is deeply atmospheric, drawing readers into a world where old magic and hidden dangers lurk just beneath the surface. Kingfisher excels at building tension and a sense of unease, but always with her characteristic wit and understated charm. The characters are typically relatable and pragmatic, often finding themselves in absurdly perilous situations, which only adds to the book's appeal. Her prose is precise and evocative, painting vivid pictures with seemingly simple words. This book is perfect for those who enjoy their fantasy with a strong sense of folklore, a hint of the uncanny, and a dose of dry humor. It's a compelling read that manages to be both creepy and comforting, a true hallmark of Kingfisher's writing.

I have yet to be disappointed by a T. Kingfisher book, and Hemlock & Silver lived up to my expectations! I was originally a little wary about a Snow White retelling as it's not the most intersting story, but I would say this book is more loosely inspired by it with T. Kingfisher's unique humor and storytelling implanted in it.

Yet again, she writes about a relatable and strong women as the main character with a great cast of side characters. I was instantly pulled into the mystery Anja was trying to solve and devoured this book. At the same time, T. Kingfisher kept the writing light and I found myself loving Anja's humorous tone, which can often be a difficult balance to strike.

Great book and thank you to NetGalley and Tor for providing an ARC!

I'm a fan of T. Kingfisher's work but sadly I didn't love this one. As far as retellings go this felt more focused on Anja with Snow and the Queen as side characters. The book also took a long time to really get going, and by the time that it did my interest in the book had already waned. Perhaps if I didn't go into this expecting a different kind of retelling, I would have enjoyed it more.

Thank you to Tor Books for providing me an e-galley for review.

As always, T. Kingfisher delivers a tightly paced, thrilling novel filled with compelling characters and an inventive plot. The pacing in this book is phenomenal—I was glued to the pages all day and couldn’t put it down. It had my heart racing. The story has a slightly disturbing edge, which really heightens the suspense and mystery. The concept of the mirror world is especially original and intriguing. Although this is technically a "retelling," I wouldn't have known it was inspired by Snow White if no one had told me. The narrative is so unique that it stands firmly on its own. The clues throughout the book kept me constantly guessing, and I loved the integration of poisons. It added a sharp, fascinating layer to the story. While the characters aren’t deeply complex, they work well for the type of story being told. The book strikes a balance between character and plot, and its straightforward style makes it an easy and quick read without being too simple. This story also stuck in my mind. I found myself thinking about different elements and characters long after I finished. That said, I do wish the mirror world and its magic had been more developed, and the romance felt unnecessary; it could have been left out entirely with little effect on the story. It would also be cool to have a more developed romance. But considering its short length, there’s plenty of potential for more standalone stories or even a series set in the same universe, which I would absolutely love to read. Overall, this is an amazing, thrilling, quick read that I would 100% recommend to anyone looking for a mystery novel with a fantasy setting.

Anja has spent her life studying poison — not to harm, but to heal. She’s a woman of science, driven by inquiry more than sentiment. While she's given the honored title of Healer, that's not really how she sees herself. So when the king appears in her workroom to beg her assistance with his ailing daughter, Snow, Anja can’t refuse — because he’s the king. And because, well, it sounds like an interesting puzzle to solve. But what begins as a medical mystery soon spirals into something much stranger — a larger, darker story hidden behind a mirror. Inspired by the classic motifs of Snow White, T. Kingfisher once again weaves a strange, sharp, genre-blending tale.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 — and while I might quibble with the pacing early on, Hemlock & Silver absolutely delivered on the things I come to T. Kingfisher for: creepy whimsy, intelligent world-building, and unconventional heroines with more curiosity than social polish. Kingfisher holds the distinction of being my only auto-buy author.

Anja is a delightfully prickly protagonist — a middle-aged healer who treats poison the way a sommelier treats wine. She’s in it for the science, baby. Her voice is dry, her instincts are methodical, and watching her try to navigate a royal court (while armed only with caustic wit and a pet snake) is exactly what I expected from Kingfisher.

The setting was a fun surprise. Instead of the moody forests one might associate with the Brothers Grimm, Kingfisher drops the reader in a desert kingdom. Familiar motifs (mirrors, apples, poison, a sleeping princess, a wicked queen) are present, but completely remixed.

Now, as I mentioned, this one takes a while to get going. If you loved A Tainted Cup, you might vibe with the early chapters, which read more like a methodical medical mystery than an action-packed fantasy. But once the threads come together, the payoff is satisfying and strange in that signature Kingfisher way.

Dark, clever, and just the right amount of weird — this is a must-read for fans of genre mashups, fairy tale retellings, and fantasy heroines with grit and salt in equal measure. I’m calling it 4.5 stars, rounded down only because I wish the story had kicked in sooner.

Quick very high level summary.
Hemlock & Silver is a retelling of Snow White. Anja is a healer who’s speciality is poisons. She is asked by the king to help his daughter Snow because he fears she has been poisoned. While Anja searches for the reason for Snows illness she finds a strange dystopian mirror world. Will this world have the answers she seeks or will it lead to her death.

My Take.
This is definitely a unique retelling. As usual Kingfisher easily creates interesting and likable characters. Anja’s character is strongly compelling and very relatable. I love that she seems socially awkward, preferring her pursuit of knowledge. Another expected that Kingfisher almost always delivers on is world building, leaving the reader is completely immersed. I always appreciate Kingfishers humor and banter in her novels and this one does not disappoint there. Overall the story does start a bit slower for me but really does pick up and become intriguing and suspenseful.

Hemlock & Silver is classic T. Kingfisher—darkly whimsical, clever, and full of heart. Anja is a grumpy, poison-savvy healer you can’t help but root for. The beginning is a bit slow, but once the mirror magic kicks in, the story really takes off.

The Snow White inspiration is subtle but smart, with eerie twists, a talking cat, and a world that feels both cozy and creepy. The pacing drags a little early on, but the second half had me hooked.

If you love Kingfisher’s blend of humor, folklore, and female leads with bite, this one definitely delivers.

Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher is an adult Snow White retelling that follows Anja, a 35 year old potions expert as she is called to the King’s home to help cure his ailing daughter. Can she find the cure before it’s too late?

I loved this book. It’s everything I could want in a fairytale retelling. It feels unique but also familiar. Anja was a fascinating character to follow. She is smart and funny (I literally laughed out loud several times reading this.) her passion for science and the scientific method really shines through this book which makes it feel very well grounded. I loved all the side characters, especially Javier.

The story itself does take a bit to get going. The first half of this book is much more focused on creating the world and characters and then the plot really picks up around the halfway point. I never found myself bored with this story because I loved being in Anja’s mind.

There are a few creepy moments in this book as well that I wasn’t expecting!

If you are a fan of fairytales and really want a retelling but you have had a hard time finding one that you like, give this one a try! I can’t wait to grab a physical copy when it comes out!

T. Kingfisher can never do any wrong with their writing. I love her FMC's so much and this one is no exception. This is a Snow White retelling with an older, more clever fmc and I enjoyed it from beginning to end. It was a bit more slow to start, but I enjoyed it despite that especially because all of the characters were fun to read.

One thing I really enjoy about T. Kingfisher's writing is that there's never a sense that the other characters disappear or wait until the next time they're in a scene. No, they all seem to have full histories and presents.

This is a strange, cool, and occasionally scary retelling of Snow White. You won't know where it's going, and that's a huge part of the fun. Also fun, the main character accidentally making friends with everyone around her. Another thing I love about T. Kingfisher's writing: the leads. They're always so normal but are always heroes.

Thank you for the review copy of this book!

I liked the premise of the book but could not stick with it and did not feel drawn into the story, I continuously found myself starting new books instead of returning to this one to finish it.

I DNFed at 33%.

Snow White meets Alice in Wonderland! I enjoyed this dark, twisted tale. The voice/ narrator of the book (Anja) was so unique with it breaking the fourth wall.

A strong main character and engaging writing made this book a pleasure to read. Fans of the author and enjoyers of fantasy fiction will want to add this to their TBR pile

O, T. Kingfisher! How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love your ferociously curious heroines and adoring heroes. I love your mad roosters and weird plants. I even love the new nightmares I get every time I open one of your books. And I am not a horror girl. But I love you anyway. Because nowhere else can I find such magnificent weirdness, such dark humor and such extraordinary empathy.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great read. Another great book by Kingfisher. This Snow White retelling is worth the read for anyone.