This was a really unique retelling of the story of Snow White! I was hooked right from the beginning and couldn't put it down!

As a devoted fan of T. Kingfisher (Ursula Vernon), I knew I'd love this dark and intriguing retelling of Snow White. The premise alone had me hooked!

The story follows Anja, a skilled healer and poison expert whose curiosity knows no bounds. She's constantly experimenting with poisons and their antidotes, sometimes even testing them on herself in her quest for knowledge.

Her world turns upside down when the king arrives at her workshop with a horrifying confession: he killed the queen after discovering her cutting out their elder daughter's heart. Before Anja can process this revelation, he begs her to examine his younger daughter, Snow, believing she's been poisoned by palace enemies. Having been recommended by her father, Anja feels duty-bound to assess the twelve-year-old princess and search for a cure.

With help from two guards—including Javier, who becomes an unexpected friend (and possibly more)—Anja begins investigating. She examines Snow's room, studies her daily routines, interviews palace staff, and even encounters Snow's delightfully narcissistic talking cat, Grayling.

However, as she delves deeper, she discovers that Snow's condition might not be poison-related at all. Instead, it seems connected to mysterious mirrors that act as portals to a supernatural realm where a sinister force awaits. For Anja, who has always relied on science and knowledge, this presents an impossible challenge: how can she use magic—something she barely understands—to heal the princess without endangering everyone involved?

While the opening chapters felt somewhat slow and dense, the story hit its stride after the first quarter. True to Kingfisher's style, it delivered surprising twists and intelligent storytelling that kept me completely engaged.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing this remarkable Snow White retelling through Kingfisher's unique vision. I'm grateful for the opportunity to share my thoughts!

Hemlock and Silver by T. Kingfisher, a really good and imaginative retelling of Snow White. The twists and turns of the story really leave you wanting more. Kingfisher has quickly become one of my top authors, and I am always on the lookout for a new book.