If you’ve enjoyed any of T. Kingfisher’s other stories, you’ll probably enjoy this dark historical fantasy inspired by Snow White. If you haven’t read T. Kingfisher yet but you like weird humorous stories, this is a great place to start. She has a knack for bringing quirky characters to life and placing them in bizarre situations, and this book is no exception.

I loved our main character, Healer Anja, whose thoughts and dialog often caused me to laugh out loud. I also enjoyed the secondary characters, including some of the “monsters.” It was interesting to see how the author incorporated aspects of the fairytale into a very different story.

The audiobook production was excellent, and I enjoyed the narration by Jennifer Pickens. She’s fun to listen to, with good pacing, clear pronunciation, and distinctive voices to suit the characters. She’s able to convey the mood, emotions, and humor of the story effectively. The story works very well as an audiobook.

Recommended for fans of quirky fairytale reimaginings, historical fantasy/horror, and T. Kingfisher’s distinctive imagination and sense of humor.

Macmillan Audio provided me with a free review copy of the audiobook through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.

T. Kingfisher does it again!! This books was an incredible reimagining on “Snow White” with a fascinating spin on poisoned apples and mirrors. I could not get enough of the mix of fantasy, humor and a tad bit of body horror.

The FMC Anja was so great, the way she overthinks, how she reaches conclusions and then awkwardly blurts out a word that has nothing to do with the others conversation is too relatable I fear. I love that she is incredibly smart, in her mid 30s, curvy and honestly that she is just a normal person with no superpowers other than her wits.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Jennifer Pickens and it was great! Pickens’s lends their voice so incredibly well to Anja’s internal monologue.

I would definitely recommend to people who already love T. Kingfisher’s books but also just to anyone who wants a great fantasy standalone.

Much gratitude to the author, NetGalley and Macmillan audio for sending me a ALC in exchange for an honest review!

Hemlock and Silver is a kind of reimagining of the Snow White fairytale. Healer Anja is handpicked by the king to find the mysterious poison that he believes is killing his daughter, Snow. Anja is more of a poison expert than a healer but to avoid the possible witch accusations, she sticks with the healer moniker. The king brings Anja to his palace in the desert and then leaves her there with Snow to figure it all out. Helped by her bodyguard, Javier, Anja races to find what is ailing Snow before it takes her life and learns that there's more to this world than she first thought.

T. Kingfisher does it again! While I didn't like this book as much as her others, Anja could be a little too dense sometimes, her trademark wit and ability to weave a story kept me engaged! The story gave an interesting twist to Snow White and it made me think a little of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell with the mirrors. The mirror-gelds were delightfully creepy and sweet all at the same time, they're impossible to forget! Jennifer Pickens did an amazing job with the narrating and I'd listen to something from her again!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hemlock & Silver had all of my favorite things from T. Kingfisher books: a lovable awkward woman, talking animals, very creepy horror elements, a romance, & of course her writing! I also loved the narration from Jennifer Pickens.

I was pleasantly surprised how romance focused this was, in that sense it's more in line with the Saint of Steel books than say Thornhedge.

I wanted to have thoughts about this being a Snow White reimagining but I really didn't think about it that much while reading. The iconography is there: the mirror, the apple, the pale girl, the poison, etc. but the plot itself was so much it's own thing that if it hadn't been directly called out as being a reimagining I might not have even noticed. I should also note that my only previous Snow White experience is the Disney classic and the Huntsman movies so take all of that with a grain of salt.

All in all, this is another fantastic book from T. Kingfisher that I would gladly reread.

Hemlock and Silver is a surprisingly original Snow White retelling from T Kingfisher. The story is full of twists and turns, mystery and intrigue. T Kingfisher again centers a story around adults that are no longer new and gives a romance plot backseat to the primary storyline. I loved so many things about this fantastical fairy tale. I believe it is the best retelling I’ve ever read. The audiobook production was very well done and the narrator was perfect. She captured Anja’s personality so well and kept me fully immersed in the story.

Loved this. Incredibly unique take on this old fairytale, and satisfies my curiosity regarding what a world inside a mirror might entail. A well written blend of wit and the macabre, crafting a haunting atmosphere that lingers even after the story has ended. Yet it maintains a sense of humor, which makes the eerie moments even more striking. The author writes a vivid, captivating, and menacing world, with characters that are quirky, flawed, and memorable, bringing a kittenish energy to the story. The cat is my favorite! (10/10)

Mirrors - YES
Apples - YES
Dwarfs - NO
Princes - NO

This is loose as retellings go, and I think that's a good thing. You might not even recognize this as a Snow White retelling if Snow's name were changed. Furthermore, the protagonist (Anja) doesn't understand Snow's perspective or motivations until the very end of the book, which makes it a much more interesting journey.

Anja and her relentless internal monologue are wonderful. Like many of us, she struggles with imposter syndrome and overthinks everything. Anja is also a bit older and a bit larger than your average fairy tale protagonist, so it was easy to relate to her as a regular person.

The magical system in this book was not quite seamless. There were a few aspects that didn't hold up to scrutiny, causing me to get hung up on the details at times.

Like in her other books, T. Kingfisher has injected a lot of humor into the narrative. Some of this comes via a sardonic cat, who is a definite highlight. Jennifer Pickens is a talented narrator who brings each character to life with unique tone and pacing.

Healer Anja has always been interested in poisons since she was a child. After witnessing an accidental poisoning, she made it her life’s work to study all forms of treatments to save those around her.
When she is called away by the king to treat his daughter Snow’s poison ailments, Anja is hurled into a world she does not understand with her trusted guard and a talking cat.
As Snow grows sicker, the king and Anja suspect foul play is at hand, but one day, after spotting eating a secret apple, everything Anja knows about science is turned upside-down when she discovers a magic mirror.

Such a wonderful Snow White retelling. It was refreshing seeing a different point of view from someone not close to Snow. Anja is written as such a smart and strong character, with little quirks and fascinations that are very relatable.
The love interest was more lacking, as there was not much set up to make the full love bloom in a realistic way, and the last portion of the book felt more rushed.

The narrator was absolutely wonderful and delivered all the right emotions!

Thank you to Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to T. Kingfisher’s Hemlock & Silver. I absolutely devoured this book. I’ve loved T. Kingfisher’s other fantasy works, but Hemlock & Silver is my favorite so far. Her imagination is unmatched and I’m counting down the days until my beautiful pre-order to arrives.

Healer and poison expert Anja is far from a cookie cutter FMC, and I am here for it. She’s a plus size, possibly neurodivergent?, thirty-something woman with sharp wit, and a hilarious, relatable internal monologue. She’s brilliant in her chosen field yet carries insecurities that make her feel real. I loved her practicality and the way she tackled each challenge scientifically, testing theory after theory as the story unfolded.

And the cat! While I’m more of a dog person, I think cat lovers will find this particular feline especially compelling.

The narrator of the audiobook was fantastic, she perfectly captured the tone, gave each character their own voice, and pulled me even deeper into the story. While there are nods to Snow White, this isn’t a simple retelling. The vivid world building and Kingfisher’s signature brand of delightful weirdness make it entirely its own. I loved every minute of it.

Anja isn’t your traditional healer - she only gets called in for cases involving poison or overdoses. When the king shows up, requesting Anja’s help to save his daughter, Snow, who he suspects is the victim of poison, Anja has no choice but to say yes. But what she finds will push the boundaries of her scientifically driven mind. With the help of her brooding guard and a talking cat, Anja will have to navigate a new world and find a way to save Snow.

This was everything I hoped it would be. Even though this isn't a terribly long book, Kingfisher gives us lots of worldbuilding (in both Anja's world and the mirror world), and creates a narrative that both feels familiar as a fairytale retelling and completely unique. The retelling takes the evil stepmother aspect and twists it to something unexpected but very interesting.

I fell in love with the characters in this. Anja is in her 30s, and she's my favorite type of FMC. She's headstrong, witty, and just a little self-deprecating. She knows what she wants from life (she started studying poisons and antidotes as a young girl because she couldn't understand why there were so many poisons with no known cure), and she's not afraid to be unapologetically herself. Javier is one of Anja's personal guards, assigned to her by the king. He starts out quiet and broody, but as the story unfolds and Anja comes to trust him, you see him start to come out of his shell. And then, of course, there's Greyling, who is obviously the best character in the entire book. He's a talking cat, and while he acts a guide for Anja at guides, he also acts exactly the way you would expect a cat to act - in his best self-interest.

I listened to this one on audio, narrated by Jennifer Pickens. As the only narrator, Jennifer did a wonderful job creating uniquely identifiable voices for each of the characters, and her cadence fit the story perfectly.

Read if you like:
30s FMC
Snow White retelling
Poisons and antidotes
Portal magic / parallel universe
Talking cat
Slow burn romance
Inner dialogue

3.5/5 ★★★⯪☆

Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio and T. Kingfisher for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a pretty big fan of T. Kingfisher as I've read three of The Saint of Steel books and Swordheart which takes place in the same world. The pacing and cozy atmosphere of those books are near perfect to me, all five of which I have rated no lower than 4/5 stars.

This book was very easy to listen to and was a very unique spin on the story of Snow White. I was happy to immerse myself in a reimagining of a story that wasn't based on other fairytales that are often overdone (Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, etc). I liked the unique desert setting and a main character that was obsessed with her craft.

Where this book feel short for me was about 75% in. Up until then, I could have rated this book a 4 or 4.5/5. I was very curious about the mystery surrounding Snow and the romance between Javier and Anja. However, the last 25% felt rushed to solve the mystery and the romance seemed to come out of nowhere, as the interest between Javier and Anja escalated quickly with no foundation at the beginning of the book, aside from Javier being her bodyguard. I couldn't feel the chemistry between the two, probably because they didn't get much time together like other T. Kingfisher romances I have read. As for the mystery surrounding Snow, I found it lackluster. Even though the 'magic' with mirrors was quite interesting, more time could have been spent on the innerworkings of it.

From a pure audiobook experience, the narrator was great and it was a pleasant experience! I would still recommend this book for someone who is looking specifically for a Snow White reimagining from a unique perspective and doesn't want a romance-heavy, atmospheric fairytale.

T Kingfisher is pretty much an auto-read at this point and this one didn’t disappoint. I’m happy to have read it, enjoyed it while I did, but I don’t think anything about it is going to particularly stick with me. The climax seemed convoluted but I did like the slow revealing of the mystery.
Also, I didn’t mind the romance but they’ve known each other 2 weeks and already in love? Sure. whatever ..

The narrator was lovely, however!!

Anja is a healer that deals with poisons. After seeing firsthand how deadly poisons are, she makes it her mission in life to try to find cures. Well known for her skills, she is approached by the King about his daughter, Snow. Snow is growing increasingly sicker and the King fears there is foul play involved. Anja goes to the castle and in her search for what is ailing Snow, she stumbles upon a magical mirror. It is a race to see if she can figure out what is going on before it claims Snow's life.

T. Kingfisher weaves such beautifully intriguing stories. She is an instant buy for me; I cannot get enough of her books. I loved that this had elements of Snow White, and even Alice in Wonderland since there is a talking cat that helps her along her journey and of course the magic mirror. I appreciate that she did not rely heavily on the retelling aspect, she made the story her own. Overall, I really loved this book and highly suggest it if you enjoy fantasy books with a dash of retellings mixed in.

The narration was amazing in this book! It fit the characters well and I just wound up loving the story even more.

ARC and ALC review

"Hemlock & Silver" by T. Kingfisher is a is a dark reimagining of Snow White.

I received an ARC from Pan Macmillan and an ALC from Macmillan Audio.
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

This is the first book that I read from the author and I liked it.

The story has a single POV, Anja, a healer tasked to find out what is wrong with Snow's health.
I liked Anja very much. She is in her mid thirties, experiments with poison and antidots and has a pet snake.

The audiobook is narrated by Jennifer Pickens that did a great job with all the characters.
Also, listening to the story made me enjoy it more and I felt part of it.

The first part of the book has a slower pace, but after we get introduced to the mirror world things get intense.
There is also a romance subplot with one of the bodyguards that protect Anja.

Overall I would recommend the book for the beautiful writing and well developed characters.

I loved this dark, clever reimagining of Snow White. Anja is brave, smart, and determined, everything I want in a heroine, and the mystery kept me guessing. Being in the dark with Anja as she tries to save Snow made the story so immersive. Plus, there's a talking cat. 4.25

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the chance to listen to this title in exchange for my opinion.

4.5 ⭐️

Hemlock & Silver is as if Snow White was made into a Studio Ghibli film. T. Kingfisher takes familiar elements from a classic fairytale and weaves them into a wholly original story, filled with brilliant prose and a hilariously peculiar female main character.

This was my first Kingfisher novel, and I had no idea what to expect, but I loved every second of it. Narrator Jennifer Pickens delivers a flawless performance that perfectly complements the lush worldbuilding and the eccentric personality of the protagonist.

As if that weren’t enough, I deeply appreciated seeing a plus-sized, single, neurodivergent heroine in her thirties leading the story.

There’s nothing more to say except: read this book when it comes out on August 19!

T. Kingfisher is an amazing author. I devoured this story. A creepy Snow White retelling, sign me up!! This story has elements of the classic story but in standard T. Kingfisher fashion humor, gothic tension and amazing world building sucks you in. Cannot wait for this book to release. I need my physical copy asap!

T. Kingfisher has the perfect formula for a book that almost feels cozy, is a little dark, has an older MC, a dash of a romance, and is also gross without being too gross.
Oh! And somehow feels like a fairytale retelling in a weird way.
I loved Hemlock & Silver so much. I had the heeby-jeebiez a few times but that keeps things interesting, right?
The narrator did a great job at capturing the characters, overall another win.

SO COZY AND DELIGHTFUL. I absolutely loved Hemlock and Silver. I enjoyed the audiobook read by Jennifer Pickens who was the perfect voice actor selection for this Snow White retelling by T. Kingfisher. It made me feel comforted to hear this story read to me. My cortisol levels needed this.

There are seemingly endless attempts over the years of books and movies taking popular fairytales and reframing them to make the plot more empowering and complex. Kingfisher does this beautifully in Hemlock & Silver. The FMC is believable and likeable, whereas Snow surprised me in all the right ways. Passionate women (even when their passion is venom & poison) are endearing. All of the fun makings of the original tale are present in Hemlock & Silver, such as magic mirrors, poison apples, and a knight in armor. Kingfishers’ tale is totally transformed into a new adventure that has all the nostalgia of the classic version.

The romance is definitely a subplot and very innocent which I loved. I found myself smiling ear-to-ear with the banter once the feelings were beginning to be acknowledged. It’s just SO SWEET. The romance is believable because the two characters problem solve together, laugh together, respect each other, and work hard to do the right things for the kingdom.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Hemlock and Silver. This is a Snow White retelling, with a mid-30’s main female character. I loved the FMC and this story was really enjoyable. This was my first T. Kingfisher book and I have already started my second!