T. Kingfisher is the master of a unique retelling. The original Snow White is quite dark and the way this story develops upon that darkness in a fresh and fearsome way is amazing. The initial plot was slightly slow and cozy before it ramped up and shook me to my core. There’s far more than apples to fear in this tale! Saying that there is also a sweet and awkward romance sub-plot, a talking animal companion (with plenty of personality) and a castle backdrop. These cozy elements created that balance I find with this authors work, it’s twisted but also strangely wholesome.
I feel this was also very well researched, I loved the academia aspect and exploration of poisons. The FMC is very much a curious person who is focused and a force. An absolute joy to read about!
I definitely recommend for those wanting that fairy tale magic with a sinister twist. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

5 stars as always T kingfisher never fails what an amazing re telling. It was written well and flew beautifully I fell in love with this book now I cannot wait until my SE of it is here!!

Hemlock & Silver is a darker retelling of Snow White. True to T. Kingfisher's style, it combines both dark and cozy elements. I like how she takes a well known story and makes it unique and original. Also, there is a talking cat, which is always a bonus for me. I love everything T. Kingfisher writes and will continue to read her newest books. Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

T. Kingfisher is one of my favourite authors and who loves to use the bones of a fairytale and create something fresh. This is a story very loosely connected to Snow White with our main protagonist being Healer Anja narrating the tale.
Since a childhood encounter with a poison induced fatality, Anja became focussed on why antidotes to poison were so rare and often ineffective. This leads to a lifelong and thorough study and testing antidotes and the poisons on herself or non-compliant roosters! Her reputation spreads and so she finds herself with the King in her workroom asking her to help his daughter Snow, who has sickened but without any definable cause. Anja was selected as she is not associated with the court and its politics and thus is a neutral party - to further ensure this once she has agreed to help she is assigned two guards Javier and Aaron.
The journey to Witherleaf passes through a desert environment and we learn more about the Saints of this world - all based on animals and who saved the people from the vagaries of the original Gods. As part of the Kings entourage Anja is looked after although the gossips are soon at work linking her to the King as his mistress. Once the party arrives at Witherleaf the mystery deepens and Anja needs to use all her analytical skills to solve the puzzle she is presented with - Snow's illness, the mirrors from Silversea, Lady Sorrel, and a one-eyed cat called Grayling.
I loved Anja voice throughout this, a sensible middle aged woman of a scientific nature but not adverse to a gentle romance. To say more would include spoilers which I am loathe to make as I found this book a joy and one I couldn't put down. In tone it is very much like the Swordheart books where a strong, independent older woman is at the heart of the story. My recommendation is to read this and anything else you can find by the author!
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for access to this ARC - all views are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I couldn't put this book down – absolutely loved it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Snow White, But Make It Weirdly Scientific and Potentially Toxic 🍎🪞

If Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher were a potion, it would be one part dark fairytale, one part academic thesis, and two parts “wait, did that cat just insult me?”

It’s a retelling of Snow White, but don’t expect singing dwarves or woodland creatures doing chores. Expect poisons, passive-aggressive child royalty, medical emergencies with no obvious cures, and a protagonist who has the social grace of a spiky mushroom but the heart of someone who would absolutely dissect said mushroom to figure out its botanical properties. Move over Prince Charming, we’ve got a woman with a pestle and some very pointed questions.

Anja is a poison enthusiast, socially awkward healer, and the kind of woman who would respond to a plague by asking for a tissue sample. She’s the perfect heroine for a dark fantasy; intelligenct but with a barely-repressed desire to test poison on herself when thinking of the scientific discoveries and achievements. But when she is summoned by the King to save his mysteriously ill daughter, Snow, even Anja cannot refuse the King.

If you’re a fan of Nettle & Bone and Thornhedge, or enjoy that gritty fairy tale realism vibe, Hemlock & Silver is very much in the same deliciously twisted and enchanting vein. The mystery unfolds in layers, like a cursed onion. Everyone's clearly hiding something, the castle is full of uneasy silences, and the magic mirror? Let’s just say it’s less “mirror, mirror on the wall” and more “interdimensional trap.” But through it all, there’s a comforting familiarity in the tone and a romantic subplot to be enjoyed as well.

In summary: Hemlock & Silver is Snow White if the apple came with a toxicology report, the heroine carried a poisoned chicken, a strange cat demands salmon in return for vague answers, and the magic mirror was hiding a whole cursed ecosystem. I adored this and I absolutely recommend.

I really enjoyed Hemlock & Silver, though it took me a little while to get fully into it. It is a dark, fairy-tale-inspired fantasy with a lot of clever twists. It is a loose retelling of Snow White, but from a completely different angle.

The main character, Anja, is a healer who tests poisons on herself to find antidotes. She’s super logical and science-minded, which felt refreshing in a fantasy setting. Her internal monologue is sharp and sometimes funny, and I liked how she approached magical problems like puzzles to solve.

The world is full of eerie details enchanted mirrors, cursed apples, and all the fairy-tale trappings you’d expect but everything’s filtered through a more grounded, almost clinical perspective. That contrast worked really well for me. I also enjoyed some of the side characters, especially Javier (a gruff but kind guard) and Grayling (a wonderfully arrogant cat).

That said, the pacing was a little slow especially at the beginning of the middle third. There’s a lot of setup, and Anja spends a lot of time thinking through things. The tone also swings a bit between modern and traditional, especially in the dialogue it didn’t bother me much, but it pulled me out of the setting a couple of times.

Also, while the main trio of characters are strong, some of the supporting cast felt a little underdeveloped. I wanted more from them, especially since the world feels rich and strange enough to support a wider cast.

Still, once the plot kicked in, I was hooked. There are some solid twists, a bit of mystery, and an ending that felt both satisfying and emotionally earned. If you like fairy-tale retellings with a dark edge and a smart, practical heroine, this is definitely worth picking up.

My thanks to both Netgalley and the publisher Pan Macmillan for an e-arc and an honest review.

T Kingfisher is one of my favourite authors, absolutely solid writing every time, there’s not a bad book out there.

Unsurprisingly , I loved this. It’s a reimagining of the Snow story, with Snow, the Queen, and lots and lots of magic mirrors.

Poison expert, Anja is sent to try to work out what is wrong with Snow, and she’s pretty reluctant, but with the help of some surprising characters, will she work it out?

Wonderful!

My thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

A beautifully unusual and unique retelling of Snow White, this was really quite disturbing but absolutely wonderful at the same time.
Snow is ill but no one knows why, although poisoning is suspected no one knows how. Her sister was killed by their mother, the Queen, who was put to death. The king employs Anja, a healer to try and discover the secrets of the castle. Anja is obsessed with poisons, and finding their antidotes, she is not good with people and especially not young princesses.
This uses the traditional tropes familiar to Snow White but twists them into something completely new and exciting. I’m not going to say more, but trust me, this is one of Kingfisher’s best retellings

ARC Review - Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Absolutely adored this! I loved that the main character, Anja, is in her thirties - not an impossibly young prodigy, not a chosen one, just a smart, flawed, determined woman doing her best with herbs, poisons, and a stubborn streak. Honestly, it was a relief to follow someone with life experience who still second-guesses herself sometimes.

This is a Snow White retelling, but it’s not the version you know. T. Kingfisher gives us something far more twisted and satisfying: full of poison, mirrors, quiet dread, and bitey humour. It’s dark, but not heavy; witty, but not flippant. And the humour? Chef's kiss. Genuinely made me laugh out loud more than once.

The writing is sharp, the characters feel real (I need more of that narcissistic cat), and the balance of creepy tension with warmth is just so well done. This felt like cozy fantasy got drunk on hemlock and started muttering secrets in a locked garden.

If you like clever women, morally complicated magic, and fairytales with teeth - highly recommend.
Also, thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

T Kingfisher really is a master of using fairytales as a starting point for unique stories. Hemlock and Silver has Snow White as its seed, but this is not the story we know. The protagonist of this novel is original character Anja, a merchant's daughter in her thirties who spends her days researching and attempting to cure poisons.

The book begins with a visit from the king, who engages Anja to investigate his daughter's mysterious illness in case she is being poisoned. This leads to Anja's entire life being disrupted as she is escorted under armed guard to a palace with no guarantee that there is even any poison involved. The King's twelve-year-old daughter, Snow, suffers from debilitating bouts of sickness but seems convinced that Anja will not be able to help her.

I really enjoyed this book. T Kingfisher excels at writing female viewpoint characters with strong and distinct personalities, and I liked that Anja is old enough to have settled into the life she has chosen through following her genuine passion for poisons. The non-humans in this book do rather steal their scenes - as ever, T Kingfisher writes brilliant animals and creatures and I would have loved to see more of the cat. The supporting human characters are also great, particularly the previous king's mistress, who now lives in the palace and occasionally dispenses wisdom. Anja herself is an imperfect but very relatable heroine, who speaks and acts rashly but also worries about the consequences of her actions.

While there are Snow White motifs - bewitched apples, magic mirrors and an evil queen - this is not a straight retelling and this book does not follow the structure of the fairy tale. It is an original fantasy novel with a fairytale flavour. Hemlock and Silver is beautifully written, and I highly recommend reading it.

Thank you to the publishers for providing a free copy. This review is left voluntarily.

As per usual I loved this book, I think T. Kingfisher is slowly becoming one of my auto buy authors.
In this story we follow Anja a “healer” who gets called to court to figure out what is wrong with Snow, the princess. There however she faces a lot of challenges especially since the poison is not common and it seems to be related to magical mirrors. Alongside a guard and a talking and sassy cat, Anja will have to figure out a solution before it’s too late for Snow.
This was equally cozy but also with a very interesting plot line. I liked how Snow White was retold here since I’m not a big fan of retellings. The characters as per usual I loved especially his graciousness. Both Anja and Javier were so awkward but relatable for me so I loved following their story. Overall a really solid read.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

Got to give this a strong 5 stars. T Kingfisher makes old stories seem fresh and brand new, makes the unbelievable believable, builds worlds with unspeakable horrors and breathtaking wonders and creates characters you root for all the way. She can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned, if she rewrote an old telephone directory she'd make it fresh and exciting. In Hemlock and silver we meet Anja a healer specialising in the study of poisons called by the king of her realm to help discern if his daughter Snow, is being poisoned. Along with a wonderful Motley crew of palace guards, servants and a talking cat, she enters a mirror world to help the young princess. loosely based on the fairy tale of Rose red and Snow white, my ONLY slight niggle is that we are introduced to Anya as she complains about her ageing bones aching and bemoans her old maid status making me envision her as a 50 or even 60 something woman until it transpires she is actually 35!! Hmm.

4.5 ☆
oh this is why i love anything this woman writes!
this was so much fun to read, never am i disappointed in these worlds Kingfisher creates. this took a turn i never expected from this story but i was never disappointed and always enjoying my time. i always love Kingfisher’s characters, they’re always so funny and likeable. especially anja! i didn’t expect much of a romance in this story but this one still had my giggling and blushing. my favourite men will forever be Kingfisher’s.
thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this arc.

Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher – ★★★★★

This book was everything I love about T. Kingfisher’s writing — eerie, smart, funny, and unexpectedly heartwarming.

Hemlock & Silver follows a sharp and clever poison expert who’s called upon to treat a poisoned princess, only to find herself drawn into a world of dark magic, twisted monsters, and ancient secrets. What starts as a mysterious medical case quickly unravels into something much bigger — and far more dangerous.

As always, Kingfisher weaves fantasy and horror together effortlessly, with just the right amount of cozy vibes to make the story both chilling and comforting. The atmosphere is filled with tension, strange magic, and a quiet sense of dread that lingers beneath the surface — but it’s balanced with fantastic character work and humor that had me laughing and giggling more than once.

I absolutely adored the main character. Her intelligence, stubbornness, and sharp wit gave me major Maomao (The Apothecary Diaries) vibes, and I loved how unapologetically herself she was. The side characters were just as memorable, and every interaction felt layered and meaningful.

This story had me completely hooked from start to finish — a new favorite for sure. T. Kingfisher has once again proven she’s a master at crafting fantasy horror that doesn’t lose its heart along the way. Highly recommend this if you’re in the mood for something clever, spooky, and deeply satisfying.

Even when it’s not my favourite T. Kingfisher book, it’s still five solid stars. That’s how good her work is! I haven’t read any of Kingfisher’s horror books, but I’d say Hemlock & Silver sort of straddles the line between her horror and her romantasy work. It’s creepy, swoony, sweet and horrifying in equal measures and I can’t imagine many other authors being able to balance those elements nearly as well as Kingfisher does.

There is also just enough of the Snow White story in elements for this to be an utterly original reimagining. Was it clever? Yes. Was it romantic? Yes. Was it easy to read? Yes. Will I ever look at mirrors the same way? Hell no.

Thank you to T Kingfisher, Pan Macmillain | Tor & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and honestly review Hemlock & Silver prior to its release.

In this book, we follow healer Anja, a poison's expert, as she is tasked with investigating the suspected poisoning of princess Snow.

Although Hemlock & Silver is inspired by the story of Snow White, it is not a retelling but more of a reimagining that features some of the key elements of the fairy tale but transforms it into a unique story.

Once again, T. Kingfisher gives us a quirky, older protagonist whose first-person point of view is full of humour. The romance element fits in seamlessly with the main story and there are enough twists and suspense to entertain. I didn't love it as much as some of her other books, but it was still a really fun read.

A recommended read for fans of T. Kingfisher and fairy tale reimaginings.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In Hemlock & Silver, T. Kingfisher once again proves her mastery in blending fairytale familiarity with fresh imagination, sharp humor, and a pinch of creeping horror. This is a Snow White retelling, but only in the loosest sense—yes, there’s a poisoned princess, cursed apples, and unsettling mirrors—but Kingfisher flips every expected trope on its head and spins something completely her own.

At the heart of the story is Anja, a prickly, brilliant healer who’s as obsessed with poisons as she is uncomfortable with small talk. She’s a delightfully grounded protagonist—practical, awkward, funny, and utterly uninterested in fitting into anyone’s expectations. When summoned to the royal palace to save a dying princess, Anja quickly finds herself tangled in a mystery that reaches far beyond medical science and into the strange world hidden behind enchanted mirrors. Add in a protective, good-hearted guard named Javier and a talking cat with secrets of his own, and you have the perfect ingredients for a darkly whimsical tale.

Kingfisher’s prose is cozy, conversational, and deeply immersive. Even the slower-paced opening draws you in with its intimate insight into Anja’s mind and her solitary, fascinating world of herbs and venoms. Once the magical elements kick in, the story shifts gears into something darker, faster, and deeply imaginative—creatures in the mirrors, haunting reflections, and twisted magic keep the pages turning at high speed.

The romance is subtle but rewarding, built on trust, mutual respect, and friendship. It’s a slow burn that never overshadows the main plot and feels refreshingly realistic. And thankfully, there’s no fairytale ending where the heroine marries a king—Anja remains true to herself, her passion, and her principles.

This is Kingfisher at her best: a story full of adventure, wit, and eerie wonder, with a heroine you can’t help but love. Hemlock & Silver is for readers who want their fairy tales clever, their magic unsettling, and their characters fiercely human.

Thank you, NetGalley & the publisher, for approving me to read this arc and write this review

This is a Snow White retelling, and T. Kingfisher really did that. This is soooooo entertaining, immersive, creative, and just FUN. The perfect dark fantasy/fairytale to get lost in. There's also a sprinkle of heartwarming romance and a talking cat that sounds and acts exactly as you'd expect a cat to sound and act like.

Our FMC is strong, clever, and very much her own person. She's also so damn funny! I was laughing out loud often, and that doesn't come easily to me with books. The plot is gripping, and it was executed perfectly, in my opinion. I can't think of a single thing about this book that didn't work for me.

Also, the audiobook does the story justice. The narrator did an amazing job, the voice matched perfectly, and she had great comedic timing. Overall, if you already love T. Kingfisher and how she usually takes retellings to another sphere, there's no way you won't enjoy this one.

A retelling of Snow White minus the dwarves, Healer Anja is hired by the King to try and heal his daughter, Snow.
This was a very enjoyable read although it was very slow to get started. Anja is a great heroine because she is relatable, and it is great to see a plus size character that is the hero of the story rather than a figure a fun.