Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for sending me an early copy of this audiobook! All opinions are my own!

This book was so good I'm not sure I know how to articulate it! I flew through this in basically 2 sittings because I needed to know more, immediately. It does such a good job of hooking you, and then every single new piece of information gives you so many more questions, and before you know it, the book is almost over.

I absolutely loved the way that this book centers around poison but also has so much more depth to it. Anja's passions really come through so easily that you find yourself getting passionate about poison too, without really knowing anything about poison. She is such a relatable MC, and I adored her wit and humor. She kept the story real despite the otherworldliness to it.

I am usually not a retelling fan, but this book had me from start to finish. You can see the inspirations, but the world is so wholly its own that the little easter eggs are points that make you giggle at the understanding but don't take you out of the narrative.

I cannot recommend this enough for the upcoming spooky season!

♡ Thank you for the free ARC, Tor Books and NetGalley. Thank you for the free audiobook, MacMillan Audio.

From the beginning, this story pulled me straight in with T. Kingfisher’s signature gothic atmosphere and sly, sharp prose. The suspense builds steadily, each scene layered with value. I enjoyed the mix of dark fairytale elements and memorable characters. The ending landed with the kind of satisfaction I’ve come to expect from her books. She remains an author I’ll happily follow anywhere.

☊ Listening to this story via audiobook was fantastic. Narrator Jennifer Pickens did a wonderful job.

A deliciously creepy gothic fairy tale—think Coraline meets Snow White.

Reading this brought me back to the joy I felt as a kid devouring books by Gail Carson Levine. In particular, it reminded me of Fairest, her take on Snow White, with its unique twist on a classic tale. This story taps into that same kind of magic, but with a darker, more unsettling edge.

I loved everything about this book. The atmosphere is richly eerie, and the monsters—basically nightmare-fueled versions of giant house centipedes—were genuinely disturbing in the best way.

I've been on a T. Kingfisher kick lately, and this might just be my favorite so far—Nettle and Bone included. It’s truly excellent.

OBSESSED

first of all - kingfisher is an auto read for me, I am yet to find something I havent loved.
One of my favorite things about this book is how it feels as if you have one foot in reality and this whole magical world can exist along side us and we are blissfully unaware.......as if I could thrift an old ornate mirror and find myself melting into an alternate dimension myself.

anyway, loved it and will absolutely recommend

Hemlock & Silver T. Kingfisher 
Narrated by Jennifer Pickens
Pub Date 8/19/2025 (Happy Birthday to me)

Healer Anja is summoned by the King to help treat his only living daughter, Snow from an unknown sickness that is clearly killing her. She has been seen by several healers, and none can figure out what is causing her symptoms. Anja isn't a typical healer as her expertise is identifying poisons and finding cures for them, but how does she do this?  Why, by regularly drinking the poison, of course. Since she was a child, they have fascinated her, especially the ones that no one seemed to find a cure for. It is his last hope that she will be able to figure out what is causing Snow's determination and can help stop it before it's too late. 

Due to the nature of her studies, she is awarded two guards who accompany her with the King to where Snow is living. She is met by a narcissistic bossy cat, a bratty, temperamental 12-year-old who is not helpful, a nursemaid who watches Ajja like a Hawk, and one of her guards who seems to always find her in some sort of pickle that he must help her from. When Anja's curious nature plunges her into a strange and unexpected world, she is not prepared for after eating a piece of an odd-looking apple that she catches Snow eating and decides to test on herself. The closer she digs into the truth, the scarier it becomes, and she is not sure any of them will survive it. 

What to expect?

▪ Older FMC/MMC
▪ Grumpy x Quirky
▪ Manipulative Cat
▪ Mysterious Illness
▪ Strange Murder
▪ Pet Rooster
▪ Magic Mirrors
▪ Poisons Master
▪ Gossiping Court
▪ Laid Back King
▪ Evil Queen
▪ Mirror Monsters

Kingfisher has a way to look at things in an interesting light, and her characters can be quirky in the best way. Anya isn't the typical young, petite, beautiful princess you find in most tales. She is in her 30s, single with zero male prospects, is not only taller and bigger than all the women, but also than some men. The MMC is a grunty, serious man in his late 30s who takes his job seriously, which includes keeping her safe (sometimes from herself).

I like how she has the FMC work out her thoughts, and has real concerns and feelings that many women may have. The bits of banter and funny little comments are a break from the seriousness of the issues going on, and I enjoyed how the narrator made the character's personality come to life. There is a little bit of romance that is super slow, but that is not the focus of this story. It's just a little side thing that makes you smile. The characters she writes aren't perfect; they are more real-life, and I enjoy that. This was entertaining, kept me interested, intrigued, and I enjoyed it. 


Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an early ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I love a dark fantasy that makes me pause and rewind to make sure what I read is accurate! I thought I had an idea of where the story was going, but then it went full throttle and also got super creepy. This was also my first T. Kingfisher book, and I’m now hooked. It was beautifully written. I also loved Jennifer Pickens’s narration. She has such a calming voice, even at a higher speed.

4 Out Of 5 Stars

This was my first ever T. Kingfisher book and I loved it. Obviously it wasn't perfect hence the 4 star instead of 5 that's just because I'm not that big on retellings that are super obvious, if the Snow White stuff hadn't been so in your face then it would have been perfect for me.

Ok lets start with the audio, great audio. Loved it. To be honest the narrator voice hock me right way. I found it very easy to follow and understand. The tones and emotions were definitely 💯 on point. 5 stars on that part for sure.
Now the story , Oh man why no more people use the fairytales to make retellings like this one. I beyond loved this book. I really liked that is not a retelling on the normal fashion way and that it centers around a totally different character and problems. I do like that a lot. The story was intriguing, interesting and at times creepy, believe me Im a chicken so I was listening only during the day. Spooky seriously. Overall I really really enjoyed this audio and definitely looking forward to get a physical of this book.

T Kingfisher can do no wrong. Anya and all the other characters provide some tension, some humor, a lot of world building, and even some romance. This story moves along nicely but doesn't speed through the experiments and testing that a healer needs to do to figure out the mystery.

Hemlock & Silver
T. Kingfisher
Macmillan Audio - NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

T. Kingfisher’s Hemlock & Silver is a gorgeously grim reimagining of Snow White, steeped in dark magic, dry wit, and a fiercely intelligent heroine who treats poison like a puzzle to solve rather than a threat to fear. Anja is a refreshing protagonist: grounded, stubborn, and guided by the scientific method even in a world where mirrors whisper and cats talk back. Honorable mention goes to Grayling! I found myself looking forward to any interaction he was involved in. How could you not want to hear more from a talking cat who seems to know entirely too much?

Anja’s sense of humor kept me giggling for sure, she was definitely relatable:
“Was I really picking death over embarrassment? Yes. Yes I was.”

When the King pleads for her help to save his dying daughter Snow, Anja is pulled into a tangled web of royal secrets, unraveling magic, and a hidden realm lurking behind the surface of a mirror. As she digs deeper, each clue opens the door to new possibilities as well as new dangers. Terrifying descriptions, by the way. I would not want to come face to face with the creatures in the mirror realm. The plot invites constant speculation about who can be trusted, what’s real, and where the true threat lies.

What a fun audiobook this was. A huge thank you goes out to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and T. Kingfisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

#tkingfisher #netgalley #macmillanaudio #readmorebooks #nothanksmirrormonsters

I love fantasy retellings! Snow White is one of those very well-known princess stories, and T.Kingfisher has managed to turn what we already know into something unique, mysterious, and even better. I love how the prose is so detailed, easy to follow, and beautiful. I love how relatable the main character, Anja, had such an honest inner monologue, all while still being so well-spoken. It's hard to find a book that reads like this one. The language used in this book was so easy in certain moments that I had begun to think I was conversing personally with the characters as if they were my own friends.

I love the inner monologues and the ideas that the main female lead had, both out loud to everyone she interacted with and with herself. I found myself looking at her with the same fondness I have for Maomao of the Apothecary Diaries series, who is my current favorite anime character, who just so happens to be a poison taster with a similar personality; she's witty, logical, a problem solved, and intelligent.

The audiobook performance was especially outstanding. I can be rather picky with the narrators that I listen to, however the narrator of this audiobook has such a pleasant tone and a calming voice. I truly enjoyed their performance and would love to read more from them, as well.

It's very easy to love a T.Kingfisher book and I'm so glad to follow along with her recent releases. Thank you so much for this advanced reader's copy Net Galley, MacMillan Audiobooks, and T.Kingfisher.

I highly recommend reading this book! Treat yourself to learn new things from an age-old classic fairytale retelling. Read a decadent piece of literature to stimulate your mind and remind you why you love to read. Because I know I surely loved reading this book!

𝐇𝐞𝐦𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 & 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫 is a dark reimagining of Snow White. T. Kingfisher’s writing is gripping and immersive. The world building paints such a beautiful picture. The story follows Anja, a healer whose specialty is poison. She’s brought to the attention of the king as he’s searching for a cure for his daughter Snow. Snow’s symptoms are vague, but a history of poisoning follows her family. Anja finds herself surrounded by mystery, magic, and danger.

Narrator Jennifer Pickens brings Anja’s character to life. Her voice is as enchanting as the story itself. The pace of Anja’s pov felt very befitting of that of a scholar, someone who believes in science, yet finds that a magical mirror may be the only answer. A dark tone falls over story as the mystery of the mirror unfolds.

While the book had a bit of a slow start, I felt like I was getting to know Anja. Her fascination with poisons and antidotes had me intrigued. As the book went on I was captivated by the twists and turns.

The storytelling will leave you on the edge of your seat. The narration will keep you glued to it.

A huge thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing this audiobook via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

As always, T. Kingfisher’s humor just hits. The slightly absurd wit in the banter and narration makes her books so fun to read. I also really loved the magic system. Even though it’s on the lighter side, the mirror magic fit perfectly for a gothic snow white retelling. To me it felt clever, atmospheric, and sort of eerie. I absolutely loved the romance between our two main characters. It’s definitely a subplot, not a full on romantasy. The main focus is still on the fantasy plot, which worked perfectly for me.

WOW. I read the sample of this and was instantly hooked and waiting for the release, when I got an audio-ARC (thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio!!), and it was everything I hoped for an more! I’ve so far loved every T. Kingfisher book I have read or listened to and this was no exception. It was like Snow White meets Paladin’s Grace meets Coraline. The world building and details and humor and adventure! Why did I think I could figure out what was killing the king’s daughter on my own? Maybe listening to all of the details and scientific method used by the FMC describing all her poison research had me so interested I felt like Dr. House? I’m not sure but what a ride.

It had all the hilarious internal monologues and banter I am used to in other T. Kingfisher books as well as really cool theology and world building. SUCH a great narrator too! She read all the awkward moments exactly how I’d hear them reading myself. Cannot recommend this book enough. ❤️

I have read a lot of retellings and reimagining's over the years, but this is by far my favorite. This is such a fresh and dark take on the story of Snow White, and I hung on every word. Anja is a really refreshing character and I loved how true to herself she was even in the face of societal expectations. I also really loved that her father was so supportive of her chosen path in life. It was fun to learn about poisons and plants while also being immersed into this world. As always with Kingfisher the world building is top notch and beautifully done. I loved the romance between her and Javier and thought that he was a really fun character that complimented Anja well. Honestly though my favorite character was Grayling! What an absolute delight of a gremlin in cat form. The elements from snow white that are woven throughout really keep you locked into this story and just when you think that you have it figured it out, I feel like one more little crumb was added to put you back at guessing. This I think has become my new favorite Kingfisher book!


I loved this audio and felt that Jennifer Pickens did a great job of bring it to life. There wasn't a point where i thought that the pacing was off or that she didn't capture the essence of what was happening in the book.

Nothing like a little T. Kingfisher to break a slump! Her books are always a comfort read for me. As usual, there’s a good dose of humor, magic, a touch of horror, flirtation, and found family (less than her others). This Snow White retelling was charming and a little haunting! The story is unique enough that you don’t necessarily know where the story is headed. I love the way Kingfisher gives us relatable thirty-something year old, awkward but clever FMCs. She’s isn’t a supermodel and magically skilled at everything, but a baddie nonetheless. And there’s a hunky guard too 😏

I think the only thing I missed was more involvement from side characters/stronger found family stuff. But as usual, I enjoyed myself and had a great time. Kingfisher is one of my favs, and I can always rely on her books to ease my mind.

I’ve enjoyed this narrator before and she her voice was perfect for Anja’s tone!

Hemlock & Silver is the first T. Kingfisher book I've read, and I really enjoyed it! I appreciate a good retelling of Grimm's stories, and Kingfisher's reimagining of the Snow White story was unique.

Anja is a healer who excels in poisons and their antidotes. One afternoon, while testing a poison and antidote on herself, she had a surprise visit from the king and confessed to killing his wife when he walked in on her cutting out their oldest daughter's heart. The king begs Anja to evaluate his twelve-year-old daughter, Snow, believing someone in the palace is poisoning her. The palace guard, Javier, is stationed with Anja to ensure her safety while traveling and staying at the palace. As Anja gets closer to Snow and Javier, she discovers a sinister force awaits just beyond the mirror.

Hemlock & Silver is a fun YA read! There were plenty of twists, and the pacing of the book kept my attention until the end. My very favorite character is Grayling, the narcissistic talking cat, who helps Anja, when convenient, to unravel the danger Snow faces.

The audiobook narrator, Jennifer Pickens, truly helped bring a voice to all the characters in the book. The narrator really does help make or break how easy the book is to consume. She made the book exciting to read, and when the characters in the book were excited, nervous, or scared, I also felt those feelings too!

Thank you, NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and T. Kingfisher, for the audiobook of Hemlock & Silver. All opinions in this review are my own.

Hemlock and Silver was a fun Snow White retelling. It follows the delightfully quirky Anja. She is so relatable and really made the story for me. She's awkward, blunt, intellingent, plus-size, 35 years old, and has a wonderfully dry sense of humor!

Anja is a healer and honestly a poison fanatic. She is hired by the King to cure his ill daughter, Snow. The king has already lost a daughter and his wife so is in a hurry to find out what is wrong. While trying to figure out the mystery, Anja discovers an alternate, mirror world that might be the cure for Snow or the downfall for everyone else.

This one started a little slow for me. You have to get through a lot of talk about poisons and antidotes because Anja has a passion for sure! But the end is well worth getting through the beginning. The slightly creepy and mysterious elements of this world and story are great. T. Kingfisher really knows how to vividly describe things. There are also great side kicks in this one and a nice little spice free romance.

T. Kingfisher never disappoints! Hemlock & Silver is a creative reimagining of Snow White with a unique spin, it's dark and twisty with a touch of humor thanks to our delightfully quirky FMC.

Told from the POV of Anja, a 35-year-old (we love a mature heroine!) poison specialist and reluctant healer. Anja is clever, quick-witted, refreshingly practical, and blessedly undramatic. When the king makes a desperate plea to her for help with his daughter who is slowly dying from a mystery illness, Anja becomes determined to save the Princess. With the help of her fiercely loyal bodyguard and an unexpected feline companion, she must unravel the mystery of who is poisoning the princess.

This retelling has clever twists and a strong sense of originality that sets it apart from other Snow White adaptations. Plus, the subtle, slow-burn romance between Anja and her bodyguard adds sweetness without overshadowing the plot.

10/10 highly recommend to fans of twisted fairytales and intelligent heroines.

Tropes & Themes:
Slow-burn bodyguard romance
Twisted fairytale
Animal companion
Woman in STEM
Mature FMC (30+)
No smut/spice

Huge thanks to T. Kingfisher and Macmillan Audio for the ALC, skillfully narrated by Jennifer Pickens!

If you love fairytales or T. Kingfisher, Hemlock & Silver is a must-read. It starts slow, but once it grabs you, you won’t want to stop. Dark, witty, and utterly charming. classic Kingfisher.