This was such an interesting retelling of Snow White and not what I expected. I think that this is the best retelling that T. Kingfisher has come out with yet. I liked the concept of the mirror world and the romance that occurred in the novel. I also appreciated that the main character was a spinster in her 30s and revered for her knowledge in poisons (and antidotes).

What do I love best about T. Kingfisher? One, she retells fairy tales. Sure, a lot of people do that, but not in same way she does. She doesn't just "fracture" them or tell the story from a different perspective of a character you already know. She takes the kernel of the story and goes off in an entirely new direction with it.

Take "Hemlock and Silver," for instance. From the title, you'd have no idea it was inspired by Snow White. There is, in fact, a character named Snow and another named Rose, and a mirror is definitely involved, and maybe there is a reference to a heart getting cut out. None of these tropes, however, appear in the way the reader expects. The story is told from a fresh, new perspective as well. Anja is a poisons expert who is called in by the king to diagnosis and hopefully cure what ails his daughter, Snow. I love that the main character is a woman who has spent her life perusing a passion rather than a man. She maybe thinks love is off the table at this point, but, really, who knows?

The other thing I love about T. Kingfisher—or maybe this is more about the team who she surrounds herself with—is the narrators used for her audiobooks. I have never been disappointed by the voice or the character the voice actor creates. They always fit perfectly with the main character's thoughts, age, background, etc. Jennifer Pickens as Anja was no exception. I felt as if I was listening to Anja really tell her story rather than Pickens reading a text.

I really can't ever wait for the next T. Kingfisher story to hit Libby, NetGalley, or wherever I can find them. They are entertaining, inventive, and always provide a happy ending worthy of a fairy tale. I recommend "Hemlock and Silver" to any reader who enjoys fantasy, fairy tales, and strong female leads. I received the audiobook from NetGalley.

T. Kingfisher has done it again. I bow down to the queen.

At the beginning, I was like, "Has T. Kingfisher been watching Apothecary Diaries??" and I would've been perfectly content if the story remained firmly in reality with the lead obsessing over poisons and possible cures. Love a gwirl with a little 'tistic special interest. HOWEVER, the story does not stay firmly grounded in reality.

Shit gets pretty wild and the plot unravels like we're in a dark fairytale. The characters we follow are great and, even when they're being stupid, it made sense for the character.

Our lead is a large woman with a career (read: obsession) who is firmly in the spinster category. She's not necessarily great with people and she'd probably dress in a big brown burlap sack every day if she could. Despite these deviations from the typical fantasy heroine, she too is worthy of love. Thank you T. Kingfisher for always writing such sweet romances for mature women of all kinds 🙏

I was thrilled to dive into this darkly enchanting retelling of Snow White. The premise alone promised something unique—and it absolutely delivered!

Our heroine, Anja, is a fascinating character: a talented healer and poison expert whose boundless curiosity often leads her into dangerous (and sometimes hilarious) experiments, even testing her concoctions on herself. She’s whip-smart, resourceful, and exactly the kind of protagonist you want to follow into a tale filled with shadows and secrets.

The plot kicks into gear when the king arrives at Anja’s workshop with a chilling confession—he killed the queen after catching her literally cutting out their daughter’s heart. Before Anja can even process the horror, he pleads with her to help his younger daughter, Snow, who may be suffering from a mysterious poisoning. From there, Anja is pulled into palace intrigue, aided by two loyal guards (one of whom, Javier, makes a charming companion and potential love interest) and the unforgettable Grayling—a self-absorbed, talking cat who steals every scene he’s in.

As the investigation unfolds, the mystery deepens, moving beyond poisons into eerie, magical territory involving sinister mirrors and supernatural dangers. For a heroine rooted in science, this clash with the magical unknown creates delicious tension and stakes that had me hooked.

I’ll admit, the first quarter moves a bit slowly with setup, but once the story finds its rhythm, it absolutely shines. The mix of clever twists, rich atmosphere, and Kingfisher’s signature wit makes this a wonderfully engaging read.

T. Kingfisher is easily one of my favorite authors. While part of me wishes I had the new Sworn Soldier book in my hands, I am so grateful to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this opportunity to dive into her upcoming novel, Hemlock & Silver.
This book might be tied for my #1 read of the year. It was sooooo good! I absolutely loved it, and I haven’t been able to put it down.
Anja is such a wonderfully compelling main character—she’s in her mid-30s, plus-sized, clever, and refreshingly different from the typical 18-year-old heroine you so often see in fantasy. I also loved Javier. The quiet, unexpected romance between him and Anja felt tender and real—finding love in your 30s? Chef’s kiss!
This is technically a Snow-White retelling, but to be honest, if I hadn’t known that going in, I might not have realized it. I’ll admit I’m a bit obtuse, but seriously, this is not your typical retelling. It’s an oddity! Kingfisher has taken the bones of the fairy tale and twisted them into something wholly new, strange, and uniquely her own. The result feels like Snow White and Coraline collided, yet it’s still entirely original.
The story’s atmosphere is everything I’ve come to love from Kingfisher—a mix of gothic fantasy and creeping horror. The mystery is gripping, the world-building is expansive and immersive, and her writing is lyrical without ever feeling dragged out. Every time I thought I knew where the story was headed, it twisted into something unexpected. And of course, I have to mention Greyling the talking cat—easily one of my favorite parts of the novel.
Hemlock & Silver is enchanting, eerie, and impossible to put down. Kingfisher seamlessly blends horror and fantasy, creating a sense of both unsettling and magical at once. If you love retellings that dare to be bold, gothic fantasies steeped in atmosphere, or just clever heroines and talking cats, this one belongs on your list.

This is an interesting and unique re-telling of "Snow White" that delves into a world of mirror magic. Anja is a healer who is summoned by the king to try and determine why his daughter, Snow, is sick. She soon discovers more than just poison.

I loved how elements of the original story showed up in different places in this retelling and I enjoyed Anja's perspective. There were times that I got a little confused about the mirror world and the pacing seemed a little off, but I really did enjoy the narrator for this as well. This is my first T. Kingfisher and I'm excited to read more of this author's back catalog.

Masterful writing & wonderful narration.

This is a dark and imaginative retelling of sorts of Snow White.

We have several of the main elements, but the story follows Anja- a woman in her earlier 30s who has spent most of her life seeking the cures for poisons that most deem incurable.

The writing is eerie and atmospheric. The pacing is even and does ramp up as the story goes on. The ending wrapped up nicely and was more than satisfying.

Overall I enjoyed this story very much- my first T. Kingfisher ! The narration was beautifully done. Fitting the story perfectly.

A healer who specializes in poison, a king’s tragedy, and a princess whose life hangs by a thread—this story has all the makings of a dark fairy tale.

Healer Anja, trained in the study of poisons since childhood, is summoned by the king to save his only surviving daughter, who is mysteriously wasting away. The tale twists and turns, threaded with dark, biting humor that keeps you both intrigued and unsettled.

What I liked: The imagery is vivid and immersive, evoking a world of kings, castles, unique superstitions, and deities—a realm where fairy tales feel real. The attention to period detail and atmosphere made the story particularly enchanting.

What was challenging: While I thoroughly enjoyed the story, I found parts of the plot somewhat convoluted. Listening on audiobook may have contributed to this, as the complexity of the narrative occasionally required extra focus.

Overall, it is an original and compelling tale, and I look forward to exploring more works by this author.

T Kingfisher is great at coming up with protagonists that are at once deeply competent, curious, and aware of their shortcomings. It’s an added bonus that they’re actual adults who have lived real lives before we meet them. Anya fits right into that pattern. I think I would have been happy enough with Anya as the king’s poison expert solving a poison-oriented riddle, navigating the way thugs work in court, and developing a relationship with her bodyguard, but we ALSO get a very cool mirror world to explore, and we get some neat mechanics of how things work there too. I was pleasantly intrigued the entire time reading this book and found all the characters worth knowing. I’ll definitely be recommending this right along with Nettle and Bone for dark-ish fantasies that feel cozy and have great characters.

I initially believed that this novel would follow in the same footsteps as A Sorceress Comes to Call, which in some ways it for sure did, I would say that it is a stunning novel that tonally fits between Sorceress and Kingfishers other more romantic stories. It was a perfect blend of darker fantasy and humor. Creating a really delightful reading experience that is simultaneously horrifying and so infectiously intriguing.

Great re-telling of "Snow White" with "Mirrormask" meets spooky vibes. Mirror world people? Talking cats who *know* things and also mind-speak? yes and yes. I'll always read a T. Kingfisher re-telling, no matter what story they're re-telling. The narrator for the audiobook was perfectly paced and great to listen to.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for this alc in exchange for an honest review.

I've read several books by T. Kingfisher and have never been disappointed. Hemlock & Silver is no exception! I've read Snow White retellings before but this the most time interesting and unique one by far. This take is dark and twisted, full of poison and dangerous mirrors. I adored the world and how the unique magic interacted with it. The vibes were so eerie and atmospheric. The plot was utterly gripping and always twisting and turning. I also loved the main character. She's so smart, capable, and funny. The audiobook was so well done. The narration was clear and full of emotion. The voices for different characters were distinct and easily recognizable. Jennifer Pickens did an amazing job bringing the words to life.

T. Kingfisher is easily one of my favorite authors, and I love her darkly reimagined fairy tales. In this take on Snow White, a healer and poison scholar named Anja is hired by the king to investigate a mysterious illness plaguing his daughter Snow. What follows involves some poison, apples, an evil queen, mirrors, a dash of romance, a feisty young rooster, and of course, a talking cat. Kingfisher weaves her signature horror and humor into this fantasy story, and I always enjoy her more mature characters (Anja is in her upper 30s). Greyling the talking cat is naturally the best character, but the rooster and Anja's guards Javier and Aaron are also a good time. Jennifer Pickens narration was perfect for the story. Anja's home and the full desert landscape of the kingdom made for refreshing changes to common fairy tale settings. Overall a great read!

T. Kingfisher knows how to write a fairy tale reimagining like no other. Hemlock & Silver is Kingfisher's take on Snow White, but from the perspective of a poison expert brought in to try to save the young princess who her father suspects is being poisoned after the death of her mother and sister. It's dark and suspenseful and evocative and a touch romantic, and I utterly loved our poison obsessed narrator.

I received a copy of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It's always nice to read a fantasy where the main character is middle aged like myself, but rather than being the wise older woman, is a complicated person. Healer Anja is a well-developed, well-rounded character. Even when I found her frustrating, I could understand how it was rooted in her character, her strengths, and her flaws. The other characters were just as interesting, and well developed, and I enjoyed how much they all brought to the story.

The world, and plot were richly developed, and felt vast. I liked how the story was inspired by, but not shackled to the original fairy tale. It gave it more depth, and nuance than it might otherwise have. Every book I read further cements T. Kingfisher as my favorite author.

4-4.5, Multiverse of mirrors, stars

Such an amazing story. The writing is T. Kingfisher’s gold standard, and the narration is from Jennifer Pickens-who really delivered. I wasn’t sold on this until chapter 5, but when this got going I couldn’t stop listening. The first 5 chapters took me over 3 days, but the remaining 9ish hours I finished in about 12 hours lol. I quite literally couldn’t stop.

Our characters are great. I loved them all. The reimagining of Snow White was incredibly well done too. I know nothing about Snow (other than the animated movie), but this felt so fresh and unique. I couldn’t guess what was going to happen next, and my feet did gleeful tippy taps over that. The number of recycled books I’ve read this year is baffling, so thank goodness this wasn’t one of them.

I want to separately shout out Jennifer Pickens for the fantastic job she did. There couldn’t be a better narrator for our awkward FMC Anja. From the stuttered words- to the trailed off sentences, I was entranced and could vividly picture what was happening. This isn’t an epically produced audiobook, but I promise it isn’t missed!

My only two complaints with Hemlock & Silver are that the romance felt incredibly underdeveloped, and the mirror logistics got…confusing? I love romance in my books and Javier had the makings of a fire MMC. Potential does not equal success, however, and I found that I knew both nothing and everything about him. They jumped into the “I love you” without really exploring the “I don’t find you disgusting.”

Mirrors and mirrors… on top of more mirrors got a little much at times. The idea is crazy (in a good way), but my little brain struggled to keep up. I still don’t understand if the world is a mirror, or if only certain mirrors are ‘mirrors’. I think there’s blood involved somewhere? I’m positive this is a me problem; I’m going to need to read someone’s spoiler review for the specifics I think.

Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher is a wonderful, imaginative, unconventional Snow White retelling that will have you giggling at Anja's awkwardness one moment and making your heart race at the tension the next. Kingfisher is a master of world building and characterization, always creating worlds that I never want to leave. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Anja and her love of antidotes. Anja is in her mid-thirties, unconventionally attractive, and so wrapped up in her special interest that she never learned how to relate to other people. I am obsessed with her!!!! And the little romance she gets to have??? Top notch. Thank you, T. Kingfisher, for yet another wonderful, transfixing world that I will come back to again and again.

Jennifer Pickens' narration was excellent and precise. She evoked all of the feelings and tones that I expected from the narrative. Her differentiation of voices for each character was wonderful and I never got confused about who was speaking when. I will definitely be looking out for Jennifer Pickens in future audiobook productions.

Hemlock & Silver follows Anja a student of poisons who is summoned by the king to help him save his daughter, Snow, from possible poisoning. As Anja enters the King's summer villa and proceeds to try to treat Snow, she is caught up in court intrigue. With the help of a talking cat and her bodyguard she begins to uncover the truth behind Snow's illness and begins to realize that sometimes the answers you're looking for don't necessarily have scientific answers.

I really enjoyed this book. The story itself was great, but the narrator really captured the cadence of the story. I wish that there was a little more differentiation in tone when voicing different characters but, this was a single narrator production so it's not a deal breaker for me.

T. Kingfisher is always a good read. You can always rely on these books being creative and inventive storylines where imagination is often stretched to its limits. This book is a Snow White retelling. But be mindful that is's a loose retelling. Even with some similarities, the plot is very different. It's a fun read and kept me hooked all the way through.

Using a poison expert/somewhat healer to try to cure an ailing princess who is possibly being poisoned and then letting the storyline blossom from there - - it was such a clever way to unfold this story.

I was fortunate enough to receive an early copy of the audiobook. It was excellent. The narration was perfect for this storyline and pulled me right in. Thank you to NetGalley for providing it to me.

interesting read. Science meets supernatural in the most unusual ways. I really enjoyed this one and will definitely read more by this author.