Thank you Pan Macmillan | Tor and NetGalley for this ARC.

Every T. Kingfisher book I’ve read so far, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed—Hemlock & Silver was, sadly, the exception. Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the story, but it felt like, for me, something was missing.

The first thing I noticed was the pacing. It’s quite sluggish, taking a long time to really find its stride and the story didn’t really pick up to over 100 pages in. Our FMC, Anja, is far from the usual princess or maiden you’d expect in a fairytale—she’d much rather roll up her sleeves and get her hands dirty. I appreciated her toughness and the way she challenges the mould, but at times she felt underwhelming in her own story.

There are definitely flashes of that classic Kingfisher wit and charm, and I loved the darker fairytale atmosphere. But overall, it didn’t have the same spark I’ve come to expect from her books. It’s still a solid read, just not one that gripped me in the way her others have.

In the end, Hemlock & Silver was enjoyable but uneven—a story with potential that didn’t quite deliver for me. I’ll absolutely keep picking up T. Kingfisher’s work, but this one has not been my favourite.

T Kingfisher has my heart!!

🍎🐍"I had just taken poison when the king arrived to inform me that he had murdered his wife." 🐍🍎

What an opening line!

Hemlock & Silver is loosely based on Snow White, but as Kingfisher says, nevermind Snow, the best part is the apple and the mirror!

Anja is a healer, but specifically for poisons and venoms. The King's daughter Snow has a mysterious illness that no-one can diagnose, so he asks Anja to travel with him and assess her for potential poisoning. How can she refuse! But the job is not what Anja expected.

Another wonderful fantasy tale written with Kingfisher's trademark wit, whimsy and creepiness. The MC is a thirty something bigger woman, who happens to come from wealth and doesn't hate her family. Subverting tropes is what she does best.

I loved this story so much! It was so fun. I loved Anja, I loved her guards Aaron and Javier, I loved all of the brilliantly written side characters. It's just perfect for me!

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan / Tor UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I of course also pre-ordered the beautiful Waterstones edition!! 😍

Hemlock and Silver is a thrilling and fantastical new fairytale retelling by T. Kingfisher. I have to admit that Snow White is not my favourite fairytale, so I had fairly low expectations when I went into this story. But as per usual Kingfisher blew me away with her creative retelling. Whilst this story does revolve around the princess ‘Snow’, it really follows the healer Anja and her struggle to cure her and discover the reason for her illness. This novel feels like a magical retelling, a medical mystery and a portal novel all rolled into one.

One of my favourite part of this novel was the focus on medicine and poison. I have always been fascinated by herbal cures and, as a healer, our main character is an expert in this topic. She is knowledgeable, curious about the world and bold, a great fmc to follow! I particularly loved that she treated Snow’s illness like a mystery. With the help of two guards and a talking cat, it is her mission to find what is poisoning the princess and save her. The fact that the poison may not be poison at all just complicates the situation.

The tale takes a really magical turn when the mirror/portal to a sinister world is introduced. The fact that an evil power may be trying to kill the princess from the other side of the mirror raises the stakes of Anja’s mission and makes her life a whole lot harder.

I loved this tale about magic, medicine and mirrors. I think that Kingfisher created an entirely new fairytale with really compelling characters and plenty of humour. If you loved her previous books, or if you’re just looking for a fantastic stand-alone fantasy, you will love this!

T Kingfisher is the queen of creepy, spooky stories!

What really drew me to this book was the title (I'm a sucker for poison stories) and the fact that this is a Snow White retelling - I couldn't resist. I am glad I didn't.

I will say that the first few chapters were a bit slow for me, and I did find myself struggling with them, But then, I'd say 25% through the book, action picks up and from that moment I couldn't put the book down. T Kingfisher's storytelling has something that makes it impossible for you to leave the page, and the twists and turns in the story were an absolute chef's kiss.

The characters were complex and well described, the worldbuilding was very well done and subtle, it wasn't too much and difficult to follow. And the main character? I wish I could sit down with her and have a wee chat, she is finny, smart...

thank you so much NetGalley and Tor Books for allowing me to read this book ahead of publication.

Just like the other T. Kingfisher books I have read, this one is cozy on the surface, but disturbing once you think about it.

Full review here: https://horrortree.com/epeolatry-book-review-hemlock-silver-by-t-kingfisher/

I am never disappointed when I pick up a book by T Kingfisher, she ties the line between fantasy and horror perfectly for me. This was such a great retelling of Snow White, which more took some elements of the fairy tale such as the apple and mirror but had a different plot so you weren’t sure what was going to happen next. I loved the FMC in this, she was so relateable and it was nice to have another older MC

My first T. Kingfisher but it's not going to be my last. I loved this; the characters were complex and intriguing, the plot was fascinating with great pacing, and the prose was lovely to read. Really excited to jump into more from this author given how much I enjoyed this, can't recommend enough.

I wanted to love this one more. Unfortunately it did not grab me like I hoped or had come to expect T. Kingfisher's book to. The characters just lacked a little depth for what I would normally like and maybe just a tad to info dumpy for me.

Great story and plot. I loved the main female character. Can't go wrong with a kingfisher book. Shes just brilliant

Hemlock & Silver is an imaginative retelling of Snow White, but let me be clear—don’t expect it to follow the familiar fairy tale blueprint. This is T. Kingfisher we’re talking about, and she has a knack for taking something you think you know and twisting it into something dark, witty, and entirely her own.

The main character is interesting, fun, and refreshingly human. She’s not written to be the strongest, most beautiful, or most intelligent person in the room. Instead, she’s a fully fleshed-out character with flaws and quirks that make her feel real—and that makes her all the more compelling to root for. I loved that she was a strong female lead without falling into the cliché “perfect heroine” mold.

One of the things I didn’t expect was how little focus there was on romance. About 200 pages in, I honestly thought there wasn’t going to be a love subplot at all—and it was so nice to see the story hold its own without relying on that dynamic.

For most of the book, I was hovering at a solid 3-star rating. It was good, enjoyable, and I trusted Kingfisher’s storytelling. But then the last 100 pages hit—and suddenly I was convinced this was a 4-star read (snaps with fingers, waves, claps).

I’m continually impressed by T. Kingfisher’s reach as an author. And I have to admit—this book has me side-eyeing every reflective surface in my house.

Thank you, NetGalley and Pan Macmillan, for the ARC!

4⭐️

Sometimes retellings can be hit or miss but this was such a hit!! This is a snow white retelling but it was done so well. Some great storytelling as well as character development so I really enjoyed this story!! Can’t wait to read more by this author

Please note I also bought my own copy of the book.
4.5 Stars rounded up.

This is my second T Kingfisher read (I’m currently making my way through the Paladin books) and I think I’ll be trying to read through the back catalogue. I am really enjoying the writing and worldbuilding.
Absolutely adored Anja, both her character and her narration. The way she thought and her inactions with people felt very relatable to me. I also liked the spin on the Snow White story and the mirror world.
Also Grayling. Perfect. No notes.

3,5 stars

Hemlock & Silver is a loose retelling of Snow White. Instead of following Snow White or the stepmother, we follow healer Anja.

Anja is asked by the king to come and see if she can help his daughter Snow. He suspects that she is being poisoned but nobody has been able to find anything. With Anja's odd specialisation, he thought to ask her. Is it really poison? Or are apples and mirrors a bigger thing at play here?

As much as I did enjoy reading this book there were a few points where I felt that the book fell short. I had higher expectations of the role that the king was going to play for instance. He was conveniently gone for most of the book. I also had higher expectations about the poisons and the way that Anja uses them. The synopsis says that she drinks them. But it just didn't quite deliver on that specific front. Also the snake deserved a bigger role, lol.

The plot and its supposed twists weren't overly surprising. Kingfisher has weaved better plots I think. It was fine for this book but if you read a lot of Kingfisher I think it might dissapoint a little.

What I did enjoy was Anja as a character. She is a bit of a bigger woman and isn't used to the attention she is getting in the palace. She isn't quite sure how to be social among these people or if she can trust them. She finds herself much more comfortable around a cat that suddenly can talk, the snake she milks for poison and the rooster she uses to experiment on. The fumblings between her and the guard were mostly endearing.

As a whole it is a fine book but not a favorite from this author.

Eerie and darkly addictive! Only my second book by this author and it won't be my last.

I adored the interwoven vibes of a Snow White fairytale with the dark, twisted world of mirrors and reflections.

Just as much as I loved the fact that the FMC, Anja, isnt your typical protagonist. As an older reader, its great to see an older, curvier FMC in a fantasy read who can still spesk her mind and rock the heroine role! Anja definitely does that.

This was such an engrossing read. With reflection creatures, an evil Queen (of course) a quest to save a sick child and a super sweet slowburn romance this book had me hooked throughout.

Well deserved 5 stars for this very different (and creepy) read.

Hemlock and Silver was a creepy, gruesome and chilling Snow White retelling. It was definitely unique and at times, Kingfisher's imagery made my skin crawl, something she is very talented at doing in all of her books.
Anja was a unique character. She broke the mold of a traditional female book heroine and it was so refreshing. In her thirties, comfortable with her independence, her work and herself. It was so nice to read her perspective. Anja is a Poison expert. After her cousin died from ingesting a Poison when she was younger, Anja was desperate for every drop of knowledge about poisons and their antidotes. From then she absorbed every bit of new information that she could. While others thought this was quirky and slightly odd, maybe a reaction of grief following her cousin’s death, Anja just became more passionate about it. When we meet her she is working, and receives an unexpected visit from the King who has a big favour to ask her. He exclaims that he has killed his wife after he discovered her killing their daughter. Partly in shock, Anja’s blunt personality comes out when she’s dumbfounded on what this has to do with her. He has one request: travel to his estate where his other daughter Snow is residing and identity what is making her ill. Every other physician has failed to identify what ails her so Anja is the last resort.
After arriving, she gets to work learning everything she can about Snow but nothing can be identified as the cause of her illness. There seems to be something going on in Witherleaf and Anja, desperate to seek answers tries everything.
The story was really interesting. The twist on the original Snow White was cool and things were paced well. It as an enjoyable read and as we approach Spooky Season I think this is the perfect book to get you in the mood! My next read from Kingfisher is the Paladin series and I recently bought the gorgeous anniversary edition of These Hollow Places!
Thank you for the eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor/Pan Macmillan for giving me an ARC of this book to review. All opinions are my own.

Hemlock & Silver is a refreshing take on a retelling of the classic fairytale Snow White. Instead of being told from Snow White's point of view, we follow Anja, a healer whose interests lie more in poisons and their antidotes than actual healing. When the king suspects that his ailing daughter, Snow, is being poisoned, he recruits Anja to investigate. In the king's court, she finds herself caught in a whirlwind of mystery and magic as she races against the clock to save young Snow's life.

One of my favourite things about T. Kingfisher's books is her writing style. Her books are witty and humorous, while still maintaining a dark and fantastical edge, and Hemlock & Silver is no exception. It strikes a balance between mysterious and funny that kept me engaged through the whole story. I can acknowledge that T. Kingfisher's style may not be for everyone, but I absolutely love it.

I really enjoyed Anja as the protagonist. Her personality is well developed and interesting and imperfect, which made the book all the more enjoyable to read. I truly felt as though she was a person telling the story, rather than a generic character with a stock personality projected onto her (as can sometimes happen in books). The wider cast of characters was also very diverse, with a range of personalities that added to the story. I do wish that some of the "main" secondary characters were more fully fleshed out, but overall it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book.

Finally, I thought the plot managed to be unique while still staying true to the original Snow White story. Despite being familiar with the overall story of Snow White and roughly knowing how things would happen as a result, I was still on the edge of my seat along with Anja as she worked to solve the mystery of Snow's illness. My only critique is that I wish some of the worldbuilding had been explored a little more in-depth, especially at the end of the novel. A deeper exploration would have enhanced the wonderful story T. Kingfisher created.

Overall, Hemlock & Silver is an excellent book that I would recommend to both fantasy fans and fairytale lovers alike

4.5 stars

This was such a fantastic read. The main character, an older woman (around mid-30s), was instantly relatable and felt possibly neurodivergent in the way she viewed the world – I loved following her perspective. The humour throughout really landed for me, and the cast of side characters were brilliant, each quirky and memorable in their own way, adding real colour to the story.

There’s also a gentle sprinkling of romance, which was sweet without ever taking over the plot. My only slight complaint was that the pacing felt a little uneven, and I wasn’t quite as emotionally invested as I wanted to be, which is why it loses half a star. But overall, it was clever, funny, and warm – definitely one I’d recommend.

A cosy Snow White reimagining with clever twists and one very memorable cat

This was my first T. Kingfisher book, and while I’ve always heard how beloved her work is, I didn’t know what to expect going in. What I got was a gently surprising, slightly whimsical reimagining of Snow White with a main character I genuinely enjoyed following. It’s made me curious to pick up more of her books.

The story centres on Anja, a 35-year-old healer and poison expert who gets caught up in a strange royal mystery when the king himself brings her to court to investigate his daughter’s mysterious illness. What starts off feeling like a slow medical mystery gradually opens up into something much stranger, involving magical mirrors, unsettling mirror-worlds, and one narcissistic talking cat named Grayling.

At first, I thought I knew where things were heading. But the plot veered in directions I didn’t expect at all. There’s a grounded logic to Anja’s approach that makes her feel very real, and while the book has a gentle tone overall, there are moments of sharp darkness that keep it from feeling too fluffy. The romance subplot is soft and understated, which suited the story nicely without stealing the focus.

While I didn’t come away with wildly strong feelings, I still found it a really solid and clever read. I appreciated the blend of cosy fantasy, quirky charm, and thoughtful twists. It didn’t blow me away, but I liked it, and I’ll definitely be picking up more from Kingfisher in the future.

I always love a T. Kingfisher story, although that is exactly what it is: one story, always starring the same neurodivergent-coded slightly bigger slightly older protagonist, their wholesome traditionally masculine Paladin-coded love interest, and some sort of a fairy-tale inspired fantasy world with crumbs of the uncanny or otherworldly. In Hemlock&Silver, Kingfisher reworks the story of Snow White, starring a poison herbalist practitioner hired by the King to solve the mystery of his daughter Snow's strange illness. What follows is a distinctly Kingfisher mix of romance, problem-solving and inventive interpretations of the well-trodden story.

It is an above-average Kingfisher offering, not quite as full of spark and polish as A Sorceress Comes to Call or Nettle&Bone, but also not as bland as the Paladin novels or the enchanted sword series. I enjoyed the slower buildup and setup of Snow's mystery, whereas the more action-packed resolution wasn't quite as interesting or engaging. I liked the exploration of the mirror-world and the eerie feeling it hinted at. I enjoyed the main character and her story, her obsession with poisons and their cures and her motivation for pursuing her craft. Also, you can always rely on Kingfisher to create a sense of magic and wonder. I do believe she is at her best when she gets to reinterpret something, and not just fall into writing the one plot she can write from scratch (see the endless Paladin books). I liked her take on Snow White and the Queen, definitely not quite the story I have read before.

A darkly cozy fairy tale with a sharp edge Hemlock & Silver delivers dry wit, eerie atmosphere, and a wonderfully practical heroine. The story takes a slow start but builds into a clever, unique take on Snow White, complete with a creepy mirror world and a hilariously vain talking cat. Classic T. Kingfisher: weird, warm, and just the right amount of unsettling.