The opening of chapter of his book is an excellent example of how to get a reader involved in a story as one revelation overrides another. Not only is it a good way to draw the reader in but you emphasise with Anya who is also flabbergasted.
Anya is very firm in her claim that she is not a healer, she is an expert in poisons and her research is centred around antidotes. She is asked by the king to visit the remote estate of Witherleaf to investigate whether his daughter Snow is a victim of poisoning. Before she leaves there is an example of her using her skills which also builds up a great snapshot of the realm and its society.
Once she gets to Witherleaf she finds more mysteries than an ill child, with the child herself having secrets that do not seem to be the harmless problems of childhood. She sets about methodically trying to work out if poison is involved and getting to know the people on the estate but all her inquiries keep finishing at dead ends. There are an enormous number of mirrors which have always been a source of uneasiness to Anja but which now begin to invade her sleep with horrors. Is this due to the isolation of the estate and her lack of success playing on her mind or is there something more sinister at play?
Although the narrative is derived from the fairy tale of Snow White it is like a Picasso painting of the story. Many of the pieces are there – a princess, evil mothers, mirrors, apples – but put together in a unique way. The narration is from Anja's point of view and she has a wonderful voice which switches between scientific enquiry, social anxiety, cynicism, and bemusement.
For those who enjoy the author's books I can say that many of her usual elements are there: a competent female protagonist who is not young and beautiful, a taciturn warrior, great banter, minor characters with interesting stories of their own, and roosters.

I had a copy of this book early through Netgalley

Overall I did not enjoy this book. Very confusing world building. I didn’t feel like the characters made sense.

ARC Review | Hemlock & Silver by T Kingfisher @redwombatstudio 🍎

Anja has been obsessed with poisons since she was little. For her sixteenth birthday she attended her first autopsy. If you have always been fascinated by what others called macarbe (my childhood dream job was to be a mortician), then you're going to resonate with Anja and you need to read this book!

One day the King walks into her workshop. He explains that his daughter Snow is very ill, and he suspects it's long term poisoning. Anja is recruited to investigate the illness and our story begins!

I found Anja to be the most relatable protagonist in a long time. She's witty, chunky, and genuinely hilarious. I found her inner voice to be very similar to my own and loved that she wasn't yet another skinny, barely 18 years old protagonist who is great with a bow and arrow. No hate to these characters- I've loved you so many times- but variety and representation is beautiful ❤️

I can't comment too much on the story without giving things away, but I loved Anja's logical investigation style, and I enjoyed that the romance was a very minor plot, rather than something huge. The investigation genuinely came first and I didn't feel like the romance was all encompassing, but equally it didn't feel like it was just tagged on pointlessly. I enjoyed the action, and the very vivid and fun characters we met along the way.

A wish I'd pre-ordered the Waterstones Exclusive edition of this 😭 If anyone decides to sell their copy then please let me know ...

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ From Derry!

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Tor at Pan Macmillan, and T Kingfisher. @torbooksuk @netgalley #NetGalley #HemlockSilver #hemlockandsilver #tkingfisher

4.5⭐️

I absolutely ate this book up!

The characters were so well-written, the storyline had some amazing twists and turns, and the romance element was subtle but lovely.

I laughed many times, I oohed and aahed, I held my breath and I smiled.

I loved having a slightly older heroine, with no special or undiscovered powers aside from having an unusual enthusiasm/hyperfocus that she’d had since childhood.

And I loved that I had no clue where the story was heading the majority of the way through.

I have only read one other T. Kingfisher book, but I will definitely be reading more in the future!

Thank you so much NetGalley and the publishers for this eARC.

Hemlock & Silver by T Kingfisher is a dark take on the story of Snow White shot through with plenty of the author's trademark humor. From the attention grabbing first sentence I was immediately captivated by Healer Anja, a woman who has devoted her life to understanding poisons and trying to develop antidotes following a traumatic childhood experience. Her quiet life is disrupted by the unexpected arrival of the King with a request that she return to the palace with him and try to save his daughter Snow. The young girl has been plagued by a mysterious illness that has defied all treatment from the kingdom's best healers and following the tragic murder of his younger daughter the King is desperate to save his only surviving child. Anja's methods may be unorthodox but she is Snow's best hope.
I always find T Kingfisher creates the most lovable and interesting characters and Anja is no exception, a woman in her thirties who is living an unexpected life, following her passions, conducting her own research and doing things on her own terms. Her practicality and down to earth nature make her an excellent proxy for the reader. All that being said, my favourite character in the book just might be a rather mysterious and delightfully sarcastic one eyed cat who winds his way through the story displaying the most cattish behaviour while being both wise and aloof.
Although the book is described as a reimagining of Snow White I also found a lot of things that reminded me of Alice Through the Looking Glass, and have no doubt that the story does take some strange, surreal and sometimes very dark turns before you reach the end. There is a gentle hint of romance, nothing that overpowers the story, instead it builds very slowly and occasionally quite awkwardly to give Anja the happy ending that she wasn't even looking for showing us just what a genre bending master T Kingfisher is, I can't imagine anyone else mixing fairytale, horror humour and romance so successfully.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved the vibes and the feeling this book gives you.
The world building was definitely my favorite because of how subtle but easy to understand it was.
I also love having characters in books that arent super young, you dont really see that often in fantasy.
This was wonderful and i will definitely be going to read T. Kingfishers back list as well.

This story just couldn’t have been written by anyone else. It’s a Kingfisher book through and through, with everything I love most about her writing: empathic and relatable characters, slightly older female leads whose main strengths aren’t their looks but their intelligence, dedication, and work ethic; chickens and quirky animals; plenty of dry humour; a tender romance; and, above all, a darkly twisted originality.

I wouldn’t really call this a Snow White retelling, since almost nothing follows the original and the story stands entirely on its own. Not being the biggest fan of Snow White, I was completely captivated by the mystery at the heart of this book and couldn’t put it down. It lasted me about seven hours, even with the somewhat slow start.

Absolutely perfect for Kingfisher fans and for anyone looking for a dark tale tempered with humour.

<i>I would like to thank Pan Macmillan | Tor and Netgalley for the opportunity to read the eARC for an honest review! </i>

"So she was no one, and nobody missed her. Except an old one-eyed cat that she'd pulled out of a pond once." Devastated. I cried while reading that, and it's been a while since I cried while reading a book.

Other than that tho, this book was not that heartbreaking, it was funny and smart and so soo entertaining. I loved our FMC, and I missed reading about a character that I actually love and don't find annoying.

So far, T. Kingfisher has never disappointed me, and I'm off to buy a new book from this author!

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan | Tor for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion! Needless to say, as always, all thoughts are my own and I have not been influenced in any way.

I feel pretty mixed about this book. At one point, I was quite excited to discover more, but little by little – although the story itself is interesting – I found it dragging on. I just kept reading without really feeling much else. I’m not even sure what I was expecting.

This book is a reimagining of Snow White, and I do think, at its core, it was well executed.

Maybe I was expecting a bit more romance. The little there was felt like it came out of nowhere, not fully developed, especially given the healer x bodyguard/knight trope.

The story itself remains interesting, particularly with the focus on mirrors, but after a while I found myself getting lost in it. For me, it was definitely slow-paced, and at times some developments could have been cut without losing much.

The end seemed a bit rushed to me.

That being said, I still enjoyed the read overall.

I also kind of loved reading about a character who was so deeply interested in poisons — that was a pretty cool aspect.

Since my first Kingfisher I adore her ideas and concepts. Hemlock & Silver is no different - and again totally different to previous books.

I love the fact that Kingfisher is always able to let her stories sound distinguishable to her other novels. At first I thought that maybe Anja and I wouldn't "get along". But soon I learned to love the way she broke the fourth wall to the reader and how Anja perceives the world.

Anja is a very relatable character: good in what she knows best but in every aspect lost and makes fast assumptions that tend towards catastrophizing. It was hilarious (but still: very relatable) how she started spiraling when a thought hits her. Luckily she is able to snap out of it often enough - often with help from the outside.

I love how Anja interacts with her surroundings. Always considerate but slighty clumsy. How she connects with the King, Snow, Lady Sorrell and Aaron and especially Javier is adorable. I love how Javier accepts certain truths and falls for Anja.

The reimagination of Snow White is cleverly done. I loved to see nods to the original story and how the title "Hemlock & Silver" starts making more and more sense throughout the story.

In the end this book is another hit by one of my favorite authors and I'm looking forward to buy a copy for my shelves!

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the arc of this book!
I've been wanting to read T. Kingfisher for a long time, so I was thrilled to receive this arc. It’s a beautifully twisted retelling of Snow White. I absolutely loved the blend of cozy fairytale charm and moments of genuine creepiness! The story is dark in places, but still manages to feel warm and inviting, filled with wonderful characters, a dash of romance and clever humor. The mystery at the heart of the plot kept me interested, and Anja’s journey to uncover who or what is poisoning the princess was as compelling as it was atmospheric.
I can't wait to get to some other popular books by T.Kingfisher and would recommend to read this one especially now that the fall season is apporaching us.

If you have enjoyed any other fairy tale retellings by T Kingfisher and found yourself captivated by them, then this book is destined to become your new favorite.

This is a haunting and emotionally charged horror retelling of Snow White and Alice in Wonderland. Anja, a healer specialized in poisons, is faced with a chilling task when the King asks her to examine his daughter. After the devastating loss of his wife and youngest child, he fears his daughter Snow is haunted not just by grief but something darker. But beyond the mirrors of this palace lie secrets far more terrifying than mere poison.

As a devoted fan of T Kingfisher's work, I was eagerly anticipating this book. Unlike some of her previous works, this story dials down the humor and elevates the chilling, intense feelings of horror. I adore how she masterfully blends fantasy, fairy tales, and horror into a seamless tapestry. I appreciate that her protagonists are strong, realistic women with realistic bodies. Anja is a beautifully crafted character, and her tender romance with her bodyguard adds a touching warmth amidst the darkness. I also want to emphasize the remarkable research on poisons—their history and antidotes—which shines through vividly. Anja's knowledge feels meticulously researched and brilliantly woven into the story, adding layers of depth and authenticity.

It was a fun journey. Poisons, mysteries, mirrors, surprising animals. It was captivating from start to finish, cozy, cute at times, and creepy at others. Perfect balance. T. Kingfisher's stories always please me, they have an interesting sense of humor and secondary characters that add to the story.

4.25⭐️
👻 standalone dark reimagining of Snow White
🍑 a lil bit of romance
👻 evocative imagery
🍑 kings bodyguard MMC x healer FMC
👻 plus sized FMC in her 30s
🍑 mystery elements
👻 themes of drugs and death
🍑 a sarcastic narcissistic talking cat


Firstly a huge thank you to Pan Macmillan for this eARC!

~My Thoughts~
This is my third Kingfisher book and I feel like she will now be an autobuy author for me because damn.

There is just something about the way Kingfisher writes that makes me lose all sense of the real world. You cannot help but be swept up in the amazing writing, clever plot and witty dialogue. And then four hours later, you realise you've done nothing but read.

The story is so clever, fast paced and keeps you on your toes. There's also just the right amount of horror where you'll read something and think 'cool imagery' and only a short time later do you stare at the walls thinking 'nooo that was so creepy?!' Such a good feeling and I'm not very good with horror!

Anja as an FMC is so fun and unique and her blunt medicinal and clinical view on life makes all of her dialogue so fun to read especially when partnered with grunting bodyguard Javier.

I just loved it so much. So clever and so brilliantly twisted. If you're a fan of Kingfisher's work, you'll love this. And if you've never read a Kingfisher, I highly recommend you start with this one.

I feel like this may be the best dark reimagining of Snow White that I've read 🤩

Highly imaginative and deeply gothic retelling of Snow White ! Loved this twisty tale and the haunting descriptions the author uses

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

he story draws inspiration from the tale of Snow White, but I feel like this is more of an original story than a real retelling, and to le that made it way more interesting.

The world building is subtle but so magical, and the characters are compelling and complex.

I absolutely loved the main character. She's smart, funny, unapologetic and so relatable.

Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher is a gorgeously eerie fairy tale reimagining, weaving wit, warmth, and creeping dread into a story that feels both familiar and startlingly fresh. Kingfisher’s gift for blending horror with humor shines here, creating a narrative that balances charm with genuine menace.

The pacing falters slightly in the middle, but the atmosphere and character work more than make up for it. A darkly enchanting 4-star read that proves once again why Kingfisher is a master of modern folklore.

T. Kingfisher has long proved herself to be the queen of the twisty, dark, satirical, genre-blendy fairytale retellings, but I think she truly outdid herself in Hemlock & Silver. Is it a fairytale fantasy? A portal fantasy? A horror fantasy? A cozy fantasy? A romance fantasy? Honestly, who even cares. It’s just a damned brilliant book steeped in Kingfisher’s trademark dark humour and wit that had me intoxicated from start to finish.

“The cat sighed the sigh of the much put-upon. “I didn’t plan to educate a human today,” he said.”

I mean, just read the first line of Hemlock & Silver and tell me you don’t immediately want to keep reading: “I had just taken poison when the king arrived to inform me he had murdered his wife.”. THAT is what I call a strong opening; the hook is planted, the tone is set, and the intrigue is already just oozing off the page. Then add to all that some strangely haunting mirror worlds, a mysteriously ill princess, addictive toxic apples, a narcissistic cat with a big ass personality, and an introverted bodyguard who is really distractingly attractive (how unfair of him!).

Needless to say, T. Kingfisher has taken the tired, old Snow White fairytale and spun something uniquely refreshing and exciting out of it. But the real magic that makes this loose retelling stand out from the crowd for me is the fact that it’s told from such a refreshing perspective: a blunt, headstrong, plus-size (and autistic-coded?) 35-year-old healer and poison expert who is both (deservedly) confident and embarrassingly awkward all at the same time. In other words, Anja is the woman of my dreams.

“Tact is overrated anyway. And if I started being tactful now, he’d probably die of shock.”

Now, I can see how some people might find the pacing of Hemlock & Silver a bit rocky in places with its slow set-up and very hectic ending, but I personally didn’t care at all as there was truly not a single second where I was not entertained. Anja is just so charming and funny without even trying to be, and processing all the increasingly weird events of this mystery investigation through her pragmatic and deadpan perspective made it all the more fun.

Moreover, Anja is extremely competent and clever without being cocky about it, and I loved how her incredible knowledge of all things poison, herbology, and faith (which she passionately spouts out at the most (in)opportune moments) just made the entire world come to life. Kingfisher’s boundless imagination is truly on full display, and it’s honestly astounding to me how much rich and unique worldbuilding is packed into such a tight standalone novel. Sure, it might have taken me quite a while to wrap my head around the intricacies of the eerie mirror realm magic, but Anja seemed to understand how the logic was logicking, so I was just along for the wild ride and I eventually caught up (I think?).

“After a moment I swallowed hard and said, “I’ve gone mad.”
“That,” said the cat, “is also none of my business.”

Anja’s strong (and dare I say, intoxicating) first person narration just had me completely immersed and engrossed the entire way through, and the unconventional way that she interacted with the world and the people around her was honestly beyond amusing to me. Especially her deep despair over having to work with a volatile 12-year-old princess (help, how do you deal with CHILDREN?!), her sharp banter with her unexpected, sassy animal companion, and her undeniable attraction to her wonderful bodyguard who accidentally gets roped into her crazy rollercoaster of an investigation just had me constantly smiling and feeling all the feels (please tell me where I can find myself my own Javier, thank you very much).

In a way, the dynamic between Anja and Javier reminded me a lot of the romances in Kingfisher’s Saint of Steel series, except in Hemlock & Silver the romance is just simmering in the background and never becomes quite as explicit. The tender, slow-burn yearning was just sooo delicious, and I loved how that subplot balanced out the diabolical darkness that is packed within these pages. I mean, talk about some horrifying visuals, sickening sensations, pulse-pounding action and heart-wrenching twists and turns. Also, don’t expect Hemlock & Silver to conclude with a perfect fairytalesque ‘and then they lived happily ever after’ ending. Yes, this is a very satisfying standalone, but I would honestly sell my soul to get a sequel someday to follow up on some of the tantalizing threads left dangling.

“That’s humans for you, I suppose. In dreadful danger, with the weight of the world crushing us down, we’ll somehow still find ourselves thinking: I wonder if he likes me?”

At this point I have read almost the entirety of Kingfisher’s catalogue, and Hemlock & Silver is not just one of my top favourites, but I’d dare say it’s also one of her best works yet (which is saying a lot, because she honestly just doesn’t miss). So, whether you love T. Kingfisher mostly for her fantasy works like A Sorceress Comes to Call and Nettle & Bone, for her horror works like The Hollow Places and What Moves the Dead, or her fantasy romance works like Swordheart and Bryony & Roses, I think Hemlock & Silver is a masterful blend of all those styles that will satisfy cravings you never even knew you had.

3.5 stars

How does this author even come up with ideas like this?! The Snow White retelling in 'Hemlock & Silver' contains a mysterious and magically wierd twist to the classic fairytale.

The princess has been poisoned, and the poison expert has been hired to save her. We have an egotistical animal companion (and don't forget the rooster), a stoic and protective gaurd, a magic mirror, and a dash of horror that I hadn't expected but absolutely should have considering the grimdark fantasy themes of this authors previous works. Parts of this book also reminded me of Alice in Wonderland with how unusual and random it could be, which is definitely part of this authors charm!

I think the author did a brilliant job of honouring the darkness and horror of the original tale by The Brothers Grimm. This book was eerie and unsettling and sent shivers down my spine while still having the cosy and fantastical theme of a fairytale.

T.Kingfisher delivers such compelling and atmospheric storytelling in immersive environments. The setting of the desert for this story was an interesting one but it made the tale all the more unique and stand-out.

The main character, Anja, tells a blunt and hilarious narrative. The dry humour and wit was fantastic and her ramblings on passionate topics made her endearing to me.

While I loved her quirks, I did find her personality a little underdeveloped. Anja was very focused on her mission and the book felt mostly plot focused, whereas with other books from this author, I have absolutely adored the characters.

Anja's thoughts were also often distracted by her recalling memories, and info dumping about plants and poisons and lots of pieces of knowledge she'd collected. Her mind wandered so often it stuttered the pacing quite a bit.

I'm always so invested in the quirky tales that this author tells, however I did struggle with this one. I was intrigued but I feel like the lead up to the discovery of the magic mirror dragged on for much too long; so, instead of feeling excitedly intrigued, I just found myself losing interest.

I personally found this book to be creeepy, so I think it would be great for an autumnal or halloween read due to its spooky and mysterious tone.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

*I received this book as an arc for free in exchange for an honest review*

T. Kingfisher's upcoming Snow White retelling, "Hemlock & Silver" ticked all the right boxes for me. We follow researcher/healer of all things poison Anja, who has been summoned by the king to help cure his daughter, Snow. Once she arrives at the King's residence, not everything is as it seems. Anja sets out to get to the heart of the matter, alongside her trusty guard, as well as a curious, seemingly uninterested, feline companion.

It was so refreshing to read about an FMC who was in her mid-30s and did not conform to the stereotypical looks and age of a heroine in most stories that are popular nowadays. I enjoyed Anja as a character, and I especially appreciated her blunt honesty. She was such a breath of fresh air. Aaron, Javier, Grayling, and Lady Sorrel were honestly such fun side characters, and I wish I could have spent more time getting to know them.

This book was a great retelling, and put everything I love about the original classic fairytale in a new perspective. I would warmly recommend this book to anyone who loves retellings, fantasy, and a no-nonsense FMC.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.