I love reading anything by T. Kingfisher, and I was entranced by this story from the first pages.

This is an original take on the story of Snow White, with the author's unique blend of wonderful, quirky characters who quickly become a part of your world.

A blend of magic, natural healing, and incurable curiosity, with an intriguing mirror land and its creatures, and an evil plot worthy of any fairy tale, I didn't want it to end! Highly recommended!

As usual, T.Kingfisher could write a shopping list and I would anticipate it and read it. This was a very interesting tale, funny in a Kingfisher-way, makes you think without realising you are doing some thinking and most importantly, engaging and enjoyable to read.

I was delighted to find that this was yet another splendid T Kingfisher book, which I throroughly enjoyed reading from the very first page.

Anja was a protagonist of the type I have come to know and love from Kingfisher: mostly pragmatic, entirely comfortable in herself, occasionally prone to utterly overthinking things, and thoroughly unbothered with concerns such as looking fancy and impressing the king. (Or rather, she is moderately bothered with being respectful to the king but also keeps forgetting that there are different rules for interacting with him, and he doesn't particularly seem to mind.) Anja is very good at her one thing, which is poisons, and not very good with anything else, including talking to people, and it makes her a delightful character to read. Especially when all of her go-to conversational topics are about poisons and venomous creatures and she breaks these out at courtly dinners. Mostly I really enjoyed that she just seemed to know exactly who she was and what she was good at, and proceeded to then be very good at it, and not very good at or interested in much else, even if other people assumed she somehow would be. (Perhaps my favourite interaction in the whole book was a lady of the court asking her if she has children (no), the lady apologising, and Anja following it up by mentioning that she does, however, keep venomous snakes.)

I found this book to be an entirely novel take on Snow White, and I greatly enjoyed seeing how the aspects of the original story had been used and changed to suit the form the tale took here. For the first part of the book, as Anja tried to work out what, if anything, was poisoning Snow, I came up with my own theories (which were of course wildly wrong, because I was thinking in terms of real-world ailments, not fantasy-world ones) and generally found myself very invested in the course of the story. As the mystery unravelled, more mysteries were revealed, and with every new discovery I was drawn into the narrative even more, and pretty much ended up finishing the book in one sitting. I felt like this book did an excellent job of building tension and slowly putting together the pieces to construct something that was undeniably really quite dark. Overall, though, the approach that Anja took and the way that the narrative was presented meant that the story didn't read as horror to me particularly (although I admit I am not the best judge of this), but rather could be seen the way Anja viewed it: a problem that needed to be solved, with the occasional moment of 'oh, this is actually really rather screwed up'.

The worldbuilding I thought was excellent, and I appreciated that everything was viewed through the lens of understanding that best suited the period, with Anja considering her patients' health in terms of the humours. It made everything seem much more realistic (insofar as that can be accomplished in a fantasy world) because such an approach fit together with the rest of the fictional world so well. I liked the saints-based religious system that Anja (sporadically) followed, and the fact that there was so much interesting backstory there that was only briefly touched upon gave the world a sense of greater depth to me.

Of course, no good review of this book could be complete without paying respects to the wonderful talking cat, His Gloriousness, God-King of Deserts, Lord of Rooftops, etc etc, more commonly called Grayling. He was an excellent and entirely cattish character, the source of much frustration for Anja, and an all-round entertaining presence in the book. I would also mention Javier, but I don't know that I really have anything to say about him.

All in all, this was a joy to read, filled with all of T Kingfisher's classic wit and creating something unique from a story that's been told many times before. If you like Kingfisher's other books, you'll definitely enjoy this one, and if you're a fan of no-nonsense female protagonists in their mid-thirties, you should definitely check this out (along with probably a good half of Kingfisher's existing catalogue).

Thank you, NetGalley and the Publisher, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When T. Kingfisher publishes something new, I instantly know that it's going to be either funny and cosy, or dark and eerie. "Hemlock & Silver" is a fantasy retelling of "Snow White", a grim reimaging of this timeless classic in a different key. Healer Anja studies poisons and their cures, trying to save lives, and her unlikely obsession will lead her to the king's mansion, surrounded by the desert, where his young daughter is mysteriously ill. Someone is allegedly poisoning the princess, and, after the death of her mother, the Queen, and her sister Rose, Snow is in the throes of an unknown disease that threatens her life. Aided by a taciturn bodyguard and a talking cat, Anja must understand what and who's menacing Snow and save her before it's too late.

Kingfisher's new novel promised intrigue, fairytale-like settings and scenes, and a magical plot, and it respected its premises. This book is a perfect combination of well-written characters and an interesting plot that will keep you glued to the pages until the very end.
Anja recounts the events in first-person narration, and she's such a funny protagonist! Her inner desire to discover, her scholarly behaviour while investigating Snow's case, portrayed the image of a thirty-five-year-old woman with a keen sense of humour and with a brilliant mind. Anja's reasoning is anchored in science and facts, so when the mystery of Snow's condition starts to unravel into something far more magical, she struggles to grasp the fairytale direction taken by the events. I loved how she remained faithful to her scientific mind till the end, even when she couldn't fathom the reasons behind certain occurrences.
"Hemlock & Silver" features a love story, though it takes root from the 50% of the story. However brief, the relationship tying Anja and Javier is sweet and delicate.

The funny and whimsical tone of Kingfisher's writing made this book easy to read and extremely enjoyable, especially if you're searching for a compelling retelling with hilarious characters and a page-turning story. I highly suggest this book for those who loved "A Sorceress Comes to Call" and "Where the Dark Stands Still".

Hemlock and Silver is the latest release from T Kingfisher, a Snow White reimagining told from the perspective of Anja, a healer of poisons. This book is T Kingfisher at her best, a dark fairytale with plenty of amusing moments. It cleverly reworks many of the symbols, characters and plotlines of Snow White to create a completely new tale. If you're already a fan of Kingfisher’s works then I would highly recommend this book, which is Kingfisher doing what she does best. If you've yet to read Kingfisher, this is a great starting point for her works. Her character work is great, with a convincing protagonist who was entertaining to read and a great fairytale villain, world building that was surprisingly fresh with a certain element which I really loved, and a plot which kept me gripped throughout.

A very unusual retelling of Snow White, told through the eyes of Anya, a healer of sorts, but poison is what fascinates her the most. When tasked by the King to find out what is wrong with his daughter, Anya puts her scientific mind to work but finds herself caught up in a strange world of magic and monsters. With a sassy cat and a guard by her side, this becomes quite the adventure. So captivating and intriguing with a plot that keeps surprising you at every turn, A fabulous story.

What a delightful little book! This was my first time reading T. Kingfisher, though I’ve long heard glowing praise for her work, especially her refreshing choice to centre older protagonists, a bit of rarity in fantasy fiction. I’m happy to say all the praise was well deserved: this was a fantastic read, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.

The humour was a real standout for me. Anja’s voice felt so warm and personal, like a friend sharing an amusing story over tea. She’s sharp, deeply passionate about her work, and unapologetically focused, a trait some might find unusual, but she owns it.

Though the story takes a little time to hit its stride, I appreciated the slower start; it gave me a chance to settle in and get to know Anja. Once it got going, it was thoroughly engaging.

The romance was sweet, gentle, and a lovely complement to what is already a beautifully executed fairytale retelling. I’m not usually a huge fan of retellings, but this one struck a perfect balance, familiar yet fresh, and I think it will charm many readers.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. Perfection in a book. Witty characters, an intriguing mystery and a fascinating world come together to deliver the modern fairytale vibe that I have come to love from T.Kingfisher. Did I mention there is a talking cat???? You should not need any further reason to go read it, but nonetheless I will end this review by saying that I highly recommend that you pick this one up.

I adore T. Kingfisher, but Hemlock & Silver might be my least favorite of her books so far.
That said, it’s still a clever and creative retelling – this time of Snow White – infused with all the quirky charm this author is known for. The FMC, Anja, is a mid‑30s healer who specializes in poisons, and she embodies everything I love about Kingfisher’s protagonists: practical, witty, socially odd. Anja was the highlight of the story for me: her internal monologue, her self‑awareness, and the slow‑burn romance were very well done. Kingfisher truly excels at writing mature, genuine relationships, and I only wish there’d been more of that here.

The fact that this book didn’t fully work for me may stem from its structure, which is essentially made up of two distinctly different parts. The first half builds around Anja: her life as a healer, the king’s visit, and her ensuing journey to help the poisoned princess. The Snow White elements – King’s daughter, enchanted mirrors, and a secret mirror‑realm – don’t fully emerge until about the halfway point. By then, I was so invested in Anja’s arc that the shift to Snow’s story felt jarring. I struggled to connect with the new characters, and the mirror‑realm mechanics (especially the rules about reflections) felt overly complex. I found myself longing for more poison lore to be honest.

Even so, a less-favored Kingfisher novel is still an enjoyable read. She remains one of today’s most original and delightful voices in fantasy. I’ll absolutely keep reading – and recommending – her books. This one just didn’t enchant me quite as much as her best work.

Dark, clever, and delightfully off-kilter, Hemlock & Silver is a slow-burn fairy tale reimagining that takes its time—but rewards the reader in spades.

Anja is a healer with a fascination for poisons, a deeply practical mind, and the driest sense of humor I’ve read in a while. Summoned to save a cursed princess, she ends up tangled in mirror lore and eerie truths that go far deeper than “just” a poisoned apple.

The pace starts slow (fair warning), but the voice carries it well. Anja’s inner monologue is whip-smart and often hilarious, and the payoff when the plot kicks into gear? Totally worth it. I especially loved how the mirror world was handled—creepy, inventive, and symbolic in all the right ways. Also: the cat. Enough said.

There’s real emotional weight beneath the wit and magic. Themes of reflection, agency, and fractured sisterhood echo throughout, and even seemingly quiet characters get their moment to shine.

Surprisingly, this was my first book by this author and I expect I’ll dive in her other titles very soon!

A women interested in antidotes is called upon by the King to cure his daughter, who suffers from bouts of illnesses that cannot be explained.

I'll read anything T Kingfisher writes, so I won't say this is an unbiased review. Her special mix of Fantasy, Horror, Mystery and Romance are exactly my type of book and this is no different.

A fascinating plot which brings a scientific mind to a fantastical world. A mystery that had me questioning everything. And a subtle but extremely sweet romance. Brilliant.

As always, a mostly cosy read with a few thought provoking slightly unsettling elements that make you think. The usual range of interesting characters and a cat! I found Anja and her poison obsession strangely fascinating.

I love fairy tale retellings and this isn't my first by T Kingfisher - I wasn't disappointed!

A wonderful & vaguely creepy fairytale of poison, apples & mirrors.

I loved our main character, Anja. I could relate to her struggle dealing with children. I also enjoyed the world building & would be intrigued to see more - even though the story wrapped up neatly. I will definitely seek out T. Kingfisher whenever I need a dark fairy tale to read!

I'd recommend for those who like Christina Henry's fairytale retellings, Heartless by Marissa Meyer and dark magical stories.

In this retelling of Snow White, poison expert Healer Anja is summoned by the King to solve his eldest daughter’s mystery illness.

Stumbling upon a secret mirror world, Anja gradually realises that the princess’s malady may have a supernatural source.

Led by a bold, unusual female protagonist, this is an interesting fantasy tale.

Enjoyed the mystery part of it, but wanted Snow to be more complicit or creepier than she was. I liked the characters, especially Anja and Javier, and the mirror-gelds were horrifying and terrifying. Overall enjoyable

Hemlock & Silver is a quietly haunting but loose retelling of Snow White, told from the perspective of Anja — a healer with a sharp mind, a steady hand, and an interest in poison. Far from the evil stepmother trope, Anja is thoughtful, practical, and deeply human, making her a compelling center for this eerie, emotionally resonant story.

T. Kingfisher’s prose is dry, clever, and deceptively simple, weaving subtle horror into familiar fairy tale elements — mirrors, apples, and beauty turned dangerous. The book explores power, agency, and the loneliness of being a woman who doesn’t fit the story she’s been given.

I love how the author can paint a whole world with few words. There's no excessive worldbuilding needed. Same goes for the side characters. They don't get much elaborated story but are never (!) redundant. Everything has it's purpose to complement the story.

While a few passages dragged, the payoff was worth it. This is a tale that lingers — quiet, unsettling, and full of sharp truths.

Kingfisher comes at us with another darkly humorous fairytale retelling, using the whimsical and witty writing style that we have all come to expect.

I really liked how unique this take on the tale of Snow White was, such an interesting and almost mad adventure. For me, the pacing was just a bit off and some sections did feel a little repetitive, making for what felt like a very long read.

If you adore T Kingfisher’s work then I do not think you’ll be disappointed whatsoever and I’d recommend giving this a go.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC.

T Kingfisher's books are hit and miss for me, and I came into this one sceptical, but I was very pleasantly surprised with how quickly I was drawn in and understanding the characters.
I really enjoyed this one

T Kingfisher has a way of taking fairy tales and turning them into something original and interesting to read and this Snow White-inspired version of her mastery was no different.

A poison expert is taken to a villa full of mirrors to heal a princess but all is not as it seems... From a grumpy cat to some weird and wonderful (albeit creepy) creations, I really enjoyed this one.

I will say, I felt like the romance happened very quickly and came out of nowhere a little bit, but the ending still had me smiling smugly.

If you like T Kingfisher's other work, you're going to love this, and if you're unfamiliar, I'd recommend giving it a go.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 — A Dark Fairytale Full of Wit, Heart, and Shadows

Hemlock & Silver is everything I love about T. Kingfisher’s writing—beautifully strange, darkly whimsical, and emotionally grounded. This book reads like a folk tale told around a fire deep in the woods: eerie, tender, and laced with dry humor that sneaks up on you in the best way.

The characters were a standout for me. The protagonist is both fierce and vulnerable, navigating a world filled with creeping horrors, half-truths, and ancient magic. Kingfisher has a knack for creating heroines who are smart, practical, and a little bit weary—which somehow makes them feel more heroic.

The world itself is gorgeously unsettling. The monsters are real and terrifying, but so are grief, loneliness, and love. There are moments of cozy domesticity and laugh-out-loud wit woven seamlessly with chilling encounters and emotional depth. It reminded me of why I fell in love with dark fairy tales to begin with.

I knocked off one star only because the pacing dragged slightly for me in a few spots—but honestly, that’s a small quibble in an otherwise enchanting and immersive read.

Highly recommended if you like folklore with bite, heroines with heart, and stories that linger like a shadow at the edge of a candle’s glow.