Throw all the stars at this book!

HEMLOCK & SILVER is my new favorite by T. Kingfisher.

I loved Anja, our main character. She’s in her thirties, comfortably single, and childless. She’s witty, smart, and (figuratively) tosses up a middle finger at women’s conventional roles.

The story begins as a straightforward historical mystery, and I was so intrigued that I’d forgotten Kingfisher's habit of suddenly shoving us down a mind-bending rabbit hole. And oh how I loved that rabbit hole!

I'm not saying anything more. I went into this book completely blind, which I recommend. No spoilers here. 🤐 Really, don’t even read the synopsis. Just jump in for some exceptional entertainment.

I listened to the audiobook, and I’m throwing all the stars at Jennifer Pickens for her performance! Truly, perfection. I was so fully immersed that I’m not even sure what I was doing during the hours I listened.

*Huge thank you to Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook download!*

T. Kingfisher nailed it again. No one can write a unique cozy fantasy story with a touch of humor quite like she can. Her writing just draws you in, and this story was no exception. This was my favorite Snow White reimagining that I’ve read to date. It was such a unique spin on the classic fairytale. It almost had an eerie gothic feel to it a little bit. It would be a perfect book to read in the Fall! The sub-plot romance was so sweet (as are all of the romances in TK’s books) and the side characters always shine almost as brightly as the MCs. In this case, Grayling the cat was a standout character for me. I can wait to continue working my way through all of TK’s books!

Thank you so much NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and the author T. Kingfisher for the ALC of Hemlock & Silver!

This book was such a hidden gem! Hemlock and Silver had that perfect mix of folklore, witchy vibes, and real human emotion. The atmosphere was moody in the best way, and the writing just pulled me into this lush, enchanted world. I loved the themes of power, family, and finding your place plus, the magic felt so natural and grounded. It’s the kind of book that quietly sticks with you. Definitely recommend if you’re craving something a little dark, a little mystical, and beautifully written.

A wonderful and imaginative alternative Snow White story. I'd love to get future stories following healer Anja!

Unfortunately had to DNF this at 20%. The worldbuilding was almost a bit too much... there were pages upon pages of info-dumping that left me feeling overwhelmed. It also seemed like there was a lot of filler, even just within the first 100 pages.

Mirror mirror on the wall…

If it’s a fairytale retelling I’m reading it. If it’s a fairytale retelling by T. KingFisher then I’m reading it immediately.

Healer Anja is a poison expert and when the King contacts her because Snow is sick, he fears she’s being poisoned Anja reluctantly heads to the royal castle to investigate. Anja prefers to be by herself and she’s not great with kids so she isn’t too keen on helping a princess. She begins to work with Snow, but Anja discovers a lot in the castle like magic mirrors and an evil Queen…

I really enjoyed this fairytale retelling. I thought Anja was a fun and quirky character, I found myself laughing at some of the things she said. I liked the side characters and the romance in the story. I liked the subtle connections to the original fairytale. I would recommend this book and I can’t wait to see what T. Kingfisher comes up with next.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

3.75✨. Hemlock & Silver was my first T. Kingfisher book, and I can confidently say she’s an author I’ll be reading more of. I really enjoyed her writing style — it’s descriptive and vivid, like watching a picture being painted — the audiobook definitely brought that to life even more.

The story follows Anja, an eccentric but clever healer, who’s reluctantly tasked by the king to uncover what’s poisoning his daughter. She sets off on a quest filled with more questions than answers, joined by a small, memorable cast of side characters — just enough to keep things interesting without ever feeling confusing. The story starts off a bit slow but picks up once Anja begins investigating and exploring the mysterious mirror world. From there, it becomes a steady, curious journey of trial and error, guided by her wit, a charming companion, and of course, Snow herself. 😉

While it’s marketed as a Snow White retelling, it really takes on a life of its own. The familiar elements are present but twisted in clever, unexpected ways. The plot feels unique and thoughtfully constructed, with intriguing twists throughout.

That said, I found myself wishing for a deeper emotional connection to the characters, and the ending felt a bit anticlimactic — like it wrapped up just a touch too easily. Because of that, it read more like a young adult fantasy than I was expecting. Still, it was enjoyable, clever, and fresh. A solid introduction to Kingfisher’s work — and I’ll definitely be back for more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC.

T. Kingfisher delivers another innovative and compelling twist on a classic fairy tale with Hemlock & Silver that is perfect for readers who enjoyed A Sorceress Comes to Call and Thornhedge. Jennifer Pickens does an incredible job on the audiobook, so those who prefer to listen will not be disappointed!

This re-imagining of Snow White gathers up the most iconic elements: magic mirrors, apples, poison, a lovely girl named Snow- but uses all of them in completely new ways that fascinated me with the sense of novelty overtaking any sense of familiarity I thought I could expect from the book. We begin with Snow already poisoned, the Queen dead, and our hero is no huntsman or prince but a 35-year-old scholar with an unhealthy fixation on poisons. "Healer" Anja cannot accept a world where poisons have no cure, which is why the king tracks her down: to investigate the cause of his only remaining daughter's slow procession towards death. What follows is an adventure involving a secret world, a one-eyed cat, and scenes that will have you covering all of your mirrors for the foreseeable future.

What I love most about Kingfisher's interpretations of these dark stories is that she leans into the elements that make them unsettling while still giving us characters with a good sense of humor. Anja and Javier give us a great dynamic of pragmatism and scholarly fascination with the weirdness happening around them, and of course Grayling dropping in occasionally to give cryptic clues about the mirror world with a dryness that rivaled the desert setting. Almost everyone in Kingfisher's stories has a comedic streak that reveals itself in unexpected ways, keeping the tone of the story from ever sliding too far into the dreary, too-serious style that so many dark fantasy narratives have.

If there is one thing that may put some readers off, I would say it's the pacing. This story starts off slow, with almost no fantastical elements present in the first 40%. Once the mirror realm comes in the pace picks up, and the latter half of the book in particular moves very fast. Almost too fast for my preference, but with Snow's lifespan serving as a deadline for the story it's understandable. But all in all, this is another 5 star read for me and only reinforces my stance of Kingfisher being an auto-buy author when it comes to her fantasy titles!

4.5 Stars!

Anja, a healer, who regularly doses herself with venom to test antidotes is summoned by the King to save his ailing daughter, Snow. But what starts as a medical mystery soon becomes something far more unsettling—especially when a mirror world enters the scene. There’s dark magic, layered politics, and a narcissistic talking cat (a personal highlight), all told through Anja’s dry wit and unapologetically pragmatic voice.

The world-building is eerie and refreshingly weird, though the first half of the book is slower paced to set the scene. I was completely immersed, and I loved the banter between Anja and the cat. It reminded me of my relationship with my cat...minus the cat talking back (of course). This is one of the best fairytale retellings I've read. It followed the main gist of Snow White, but added elements that I think the original was lacking. I only knock it down half a star because I felt that some areas could have been better explained and the ending seemed to wrap up a bit too quickly.

Jennifer Pickens is an absolute gem of a narrator. Her performance brought nuance to every character, especially Anja’s dry humor and the cat’s aloof attitude. She elevated the story and made the audiobook format a fantastic choice.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

I listened to this one straight through on a long drive, and it kept my attention. I love a good reimagining, and this one pays homage to the original Snow White, while taking on a whole new story. The talk of poisons did get a bit redundant, which is why it lost a star for me, but after that I was fully engrossed in the tale and loved the mysterious aspect. The magic in this one was a bit confusing, but it all ends up making sense. The narrator did an excellent job with all the characters vocals , and I would love to listen to anything she narrates.

T. Kingfisher reigns supreme in writing dark, gripping, highly imaginative books that I crave! Hemlock & Silver is her reimagining of “Snow White”! I love T. Kingfisher's writing, clever, original, and dark plots. This book had me rubbing my hands together and thinking "yes, my pretty" as this twisted tale of poison, treason, and intrigue began to take shape! I enjoyed the world building and the interesting, quirky, odd, and intriguing characters. I love that her characters are not always pretty - they are odd, they have faults, they don't quite fit in, they are awkward; and yet, they are equally compelling, likeable, intelligent, and kind. Along with the dark, fantasy themes, there was also humor and wit sprinkled throughout Hemlock & Silver!

Healer Anja has always been curious! She has always been intrigued by poisons, and her curiosity has led her to drinking poisons to find their cures! She is a bit different, a bit odd, a bit determined, quite clever, and very smart. When she is summoned by the King to save his daughter, Snow who is dying, she can't refuse. Will her unorthodox treatment save his daughter?????

Reading this book feels like taking a step into a fairy tale where mirrors are magical, dark worlds exist, and cures might be hard to come by. Anja will need to persevere, use her intellect, her wits, and her unorthodox ways to get to the bottom of things. She was such a wonderfully drawn character!!! But wait, there is more! There is a scene stealing talking cat!!!! What more could a reader ask for?

Highly imaginative, beautifully written, gripping, mysterious, dark, twisted and original! This book starts on the slower side and normally I would take issue with this, but Hemlock & Silver worked its magic on me and I was able to just go with the flow. Plus, when I think of fairy tales, I think of children, but this is not a tale for children. It's a tale for adults with an adult female character being the main focus which was a breath of fresh air! Another solid and enjoyable book by an author who continues to dazzle, delight, terrify, and enchant me! If T. Kingfisher writes it, I am going to read it.

I was absolutely thrilled to see I received this ALC!!! When I say I am a humongous T. kingfisher fan I am not exaggerating and this book was no different! This Snow White reimagining is now my absolute favorite.

I loved the narrator of this story, they did a wonderful job portraying emotion and making it even more whimsical.
Anja is a healer who regularly drinks poisons. Since she was young she had been fascinated with poisons and finding their individual cures. One day Anja is called on by the king because he suspects his daughter,Snow, is being poisoned. Anja starts working to try to uncover the mystery of what and whom could be poisoning her, yet I don’t think she would have guess what she would find….

I absolutely loved this book and will be adding it to my collection of forever books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the opportunity to listen to this ALC for my honest opinion.

Jot this down as the moment T. Kingfisher solidified herself as one of my all-time favorite authors.

What a fantastic listening experience. I couldn't put it down! The pacing was perfect, Anja was a fabulous main character who was incredibly relatable (with the best sarcastic humor to boot) and I could have listened to this story go on and on and on.

Normally I'm not a huge fan of Snow White retellings but this is less a retelling and more of an independent fairytale with the bare-bones similarities (we have the names Snow and Rose, mirrors and apples - but their relevance is far more complex than what'd you'd expect in a typical retelling)

Jennifer Pickens does a wonderful job narrating, lending her voice to Anja, which is a perfect casting in my opinion. I could easily listen to this anywhere between 1x-2.25x, but found I preferred 1.5x for this particular tale.

I highly recommend this book, and the audiobook even more! I was so wrapped up in the tale that I was bummed that it ended!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars)

No pining for princes in this book. Healer Anja is passionate about problem-solving poisons. Can she succeed at curing 12-year-old Princess Snow when the royal doctors have failed?

As a heroine, Anja is refreshingly far from the stereotypical “fairest maiden in all the land.” Self-described as built like a work ox, she’s more comfortable handling snakes than making small talk with the ladies of the royal court. She and the aloof cat are the standouts of this book.

From the other characters, though, their development is pretty shallow. Like biting into an apple but barely getting past the skin, you don’t get much of a taste of who they really are.

I found the pace to be a bit slow, like making your way through a dense forest with a nature guide who expects you to be just as fascinated by every poisonous plant and venomous creature as they are.

I alternated between reading the e-book and listening to the audiobook, and the story worked equally well in both formats. While this wasn’t my favorite of T. Kingfisher’s books (Nettle & Bone is in my top 5 books of this year), the narrator did an excellent job bringing Anja’s voice to life without falling into a repetitive cadence.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tor Publishing, and Macmillan Audio for the ARCs in exchange for my honest review.

Easy 5/5 --TK's done it again! This book doubles down on the Swordheart style cheeky 'let's test the logic of this weird magical thing to its limits.' I love the characters, I love that it defies your expectations of both the fantasy and romance genres without losing the essence of each. The story is brilliant, often times with magical mysteries it's pretty much impossible to guess what's going to happen next, because we don't have enough context of how the other world works. Kingfisher sets up a fair play mystery by having Anja discover magic right alongside us. If you liked the Saint of Steel series, you'll feel right at home with Hemlock & Silver. Different world, different rules, but very similar tones.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free arc, all opinions are my own!

T. Kingfisher's storytelling is brilliant in this dark Snow White retelling.

Follow Anja, a socially awkward healer, that totes snakes, and drinks poison, as she tries to solve the mystery of Snow, our king's ailing daughter. Secrets are held, and reflections in the mirror are questionable.

My only issue is the voice actor is a bit slow, but nothing that cannot be fixed by speeding up the book. Still reads well at faster speeds.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this.

What an adventure! Snow White isn't a favorite of mine, but this dark reimagining was so intriguing and whimsical and it kept me hooked and guessing to the end! It also had to be one of the most satisfying endings I've read in a while.
Although the romance wasn't the star of the show, it's slow burn was beautiful and fulfilling. ❤️

Hemlock & Silver is an excellent addition to the T. Kingfisher library. Anja is an unconventional healer, focused on poisons and antidotes from a scientific perspective rather than the nursing and nurturing side of the job, yet she also heals with both compassion and indiscriminate focus. When the King approaches her to heal his daughter, she cannot refuse. Wrapped in scientific exploration and intrigue, Anja must find a cure to the poison Snow is ingesting with the help of a handsome but inarticulate guard and rather cheshire-like cat.
It has adventure, fantasy, horror, and a hint of romance.
No one does a reimagined classic like Kingfisher. She wields the original tale while magically conducting events that feel fresh and new and even more disturbing than the original. The only thing I missed was further character development for the Queen, but since she's dead before the book begins that's not entirely fair of me. It has vibes of Swordheart but much less cozy. There were many times I had to pause reading because OH MY GOD WHAT IS HAPPENING the tension was intense, but I quickly resumed because I had to know what happened next. Like Anja, I had so many questions. The ending was ultimately satisfying, and I'm so grateful to add this to my list of T. Kingfisher books I've read.
Thanks to NetGalley, Tor Publishing, and Macmillan Audio for this ARC!
Jennifer Pickens reads the audiobook, and she's now on my list of favorites. I especially loved the cadence she used for Grayling.

Hemlock & Silver is a dark Snow White retelling in which Anja, a healer who drinks poisons to discover their cures, is summoned by the king to determine whether his daughter, Snow, is being poisoned and who might be behind it.

This was my first T. Kingfisher book, and it was such a refreshing break from the usual romantasy I’ve been reading. There is very little spice in this one, but it doesn’t need it because the story completely carries the book on its own. I usually steer clear of retellings because they often feel predictable or dull, but this one surprised me in the best way. It was original, thoughtful, and full of charm. I loved the main character. She was smart, awkward, kind, and fully aware of both her strengths and flaws. She felt grounded and real, and it was so satisfying to see a character who is truly comfortable in their own skin. I also adored "cat."

The audiobook was a little slow to start, especially in the first 30%, which made it a bit hard to get into. But once the pacing picked up, it really took off and I even had to rewind a few parts to keep up. The narrator was excellent throughout, and I’d gladly listen to more of her work in the future!

Mirror, mirror on the wall... who is the best fairytale reteller of them all?

4.5 stars rounded up.

“I had just taken poison when the king arrived to inform me that he had murdered his wife."

So begins this absolute delight of a novel - a deliciously dark yet humorous and intelligent fairy tale retelling that feels both fresh and timeless. "Hemlock & Silver" is a clever and wholly captivating reimagining of Snow White as you've never seen it: steeped in poison, science, sharp wit, and a dash of very real danger, with exquisite worldbuilding, razor-sharp writing, and unforgettable characters. From the first line to the last, this book had me under its spell.

Our heroine, Anja, is a healer with an obsession for botany, a deeply pragmatic mind, and the rather alarming habit of drinking poison - though voluntarily, in pursuit of cures. When she’s summoned by the King to save his ailing young daughter, Snow, Anja is pulled out of her herb-scented solitude and into a tangled web of royal secrets, poisonous apples, and a hidden world inside a mirror that may hold answers… or death.

Author T. Kingfisher's worldbuilding is once again superb - lush and strange, grounded in herbal lore and tinged with creeping dread. Her prose is equally exquisite, balancing dry humor, emotional weight, and brilliant, thought-provoking detail.

Moreover, the characters are flawlessly drawn. Anja in particular is wonderfully original: sardonic, brilliant, and deeply human. Her traveling companions include a stoic royal guard with layers of his own, and Grayling, a narcissistic and wonderfully sarcastic talking cat whose commentary I would happily read for 300 more pages.

With its mix of grim enchantment, herbal magic, and clever storytelling, "Hemlock & Silver" is everything I want in a fairy tale retelling. It’s smart, strange, beautifully written, and leaves you wanting more in the best possible way.

I listened to the audiobook version of the novel, and the production, narrated by Jennifer Pickens, is absolutely stellar. Pickens brings Anja’s dry wit and strength to life with perfect nuance and unabashed humor, and her portrayal of Grayling in particular is laugh-out-loud delightful. The narration elevates an already brilliant book into something even more immersive and enjoyable.

Highly recommended for fans of dark fairy tales, fierce heroines, and stories that explore the line between science and magic.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Hemlock & Silver" is slated to be released on August 19, 2025.