I’m a huge fan of Kingfisher. I especially love her fairy tale retellings. This was absolutely another winner for her. This twist on Snow White is unlike any other Snow White retelling I’ve ever read. I thought it was funny, exciting and really dramatic. There’s a great mystery at the center of it that’ll keep you guessing until the very end, I also really liked how Kingfisher kinda poked fun at fairy tales and retellings. I love that awareness. The narrator for this was fantastic. Her changes in voices was really suitable for each character. She really understood the humor too.

3.5/5 rounded down (at least until I re-read and think otherwise)

So I really liked this initially. It's very polished and felt in the same vein as A Sorceress Comes to Call. While clearly inspired in part by a fairytale, Ursula Vernon spinds a wholly unique story. She excels at the haunting, horror-like elements, though apart from the rare exception I find that her romances never really work for me (you may find it works for you, though! we just don't share similar taste in Romance).

There were some really unique and interesting elements up to a certain reveal, but I found that after that mystery was solved I really lost interest. Everything became very rote and expected, nothing unfolded in a surprising or investing way for me. (It doesn't help that I've read several of her works so I know the types of characters Vernon really loves and would never turn into villains, so they're automatically off the table as suspects. That's not necessarily a failing of the book.)

Overall I think it was worth reading and I would read it again, but I'm not clamoring to own it or shout it from the rooftops.

Audiobook:
The audiobook was produced beautifully and I'm actually really into the musical piece they used to open the book-- I almost wanted to keep replaying the intro, lol. While I don't normally associate an American accent with this kind of tale, the narrator did a wonderful job and I found her voice quite pleasant to listen to.

Review: Hemlock and Silver by T. Kingfisher
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow. This was an absolutely fantastic dark retelling of Snow White! T. Kingfisher takes the bones of the classic fairytale and twists them into something entirely her own—while still preserving enough of the familiar elements to feel like a clever homage.

Healer Anja completely stole the show for me! Her wittiness, practicality, and scientific mind—especially when it came to poisons—made her one of the most compelling protagonists I’ve read in a while. I could listen to her dissect toxins all day.

And that mirror world? Mind. Blown. It was eerie, fascinating, and left me with so many questions—in the best possible way. Like Anja, I was desperate for answers.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was beyond fantastic. The performance added even more atmosphere and emotion to an already hauntingly good story.

If you're into dark fairytales, smart heroines, or anything Kingfisher touches, this is an absolute must-read (or must-listen)!

Currently covering all of my mirrors because this book made me paranoiddddd!!

But UGH! Kingfisher does it again with another stellar novel! The characters have so much depth and this Snow White retelling was incredible! Truly the best I’ve read!

One thing I love about Kingfisher’s books are the incredibly creepy and disturbing creatures - and this one blew me away! I’ll never look at mirrors that same again!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of this spectacular book!

The narrator did great except with the cat. I hated how her voice sounded for Grayling. Even though cats sound like hateful creatures it just didn't work for me. The rest of the book though she did wonderful. Pulls you in and holds your attention.

I think this will be another favorite author for me. I loved her book A Sorceress Comes To Call. It was outstanding. This one was also good. Not quite as good as Sorceress though. I didn't get the Snow White vibe everyone says it's based on. I did enjoy it though and it has a princess named Snow and lots of mirrors. This was just a way darker read than any Snow White book I've ever read. Still good.

When the King asks Healer Anja to come save his daughter she really has no choice. I mean who can say no to the King. Reluctantly she agrees and goes. She is assigned two body guards since the King believes someone is truly poisoning his daughter.

When they arrive at their destination and Healer Anja gets busy things start to happen. Just not exactly what she expected. The Kings daughter, Snow, is a typical twelve year old. But it's obvious she is very sick. She barely eats and when she does she tends to get violently ill. Anja is flummoxed as to what is happening to the princess. She's tested for everything she can think of. But when she sees Snow eating an apple after telling her and everyone around her to not allow anything that has not been throughly inspected things start to unravel. Also when Anja eats some of the apple and falls through the mirror in her room she's in for a series of events that are most unusual.

The King had killed his wife because he caught her cutting the heart out of their youngest daughter and he didn't want to lose Snow. She was all he had left. On the other side of the mirrors things are grey/silver. Everything appears to be ok until it isn't. When Anja realizes that Snow has been going through the mirrors trying to find her younger sister she knows she has to help. One of her guards Javier, who caught her coming back through the mirror, helps her. They encounter a host of strange things. And the reason for Snow being so sick.

There is also a very pretentious cat named Grayling. He can go in and out of the mirrors at will. And he talks. He is quite the hateful creature also. Just your typical cat really. He has only one eye. He does help Anja quite a bit and they sort of become friends. As much as you can be true friends with a cat. I do love cats so don't get upset. They are a bit snobbish and hateful at times.

This book is different from most I read. It was enjoyable and I'm glad I read it. I loved the ending and that there was a bit of a love story involved. I did think that the King should have stayed to make sure his daughter was going to be ok though. That was one thing I didn't like. He was her father. She his only living child....

A lot of likable characters and a couple that I didn't like. That always to be expected in a good book. A thorough description of the trip to the Princess and what took effect once reached. You get to know the characters well. Most of them. It has some dark parts and will keep you turning the pages to find out what or who is causing Snow's illness.

Thank you #TorPublishingGroup, #Goodreads, #MacmillanAudio, for this ARC. I won a physical copy from Goodreads. I thank them so much.

Style: Single POV, Solo Narration
Length: 12 hours

I have been hearing about Hemlock & Silver for a very long time, but the only thing I knew about it was that it was a new take on Snow White, but that's as much as I knew going in and I'm so glad I left much of it as a surprise. H&S is a deeply creative and intricately layered reimagining of the classic fairytale. Every detail in this story matters and it requires the upmost attention to be paid. I would say it's quite different from other fairytale retellings or twists, this really did feel like a new and fresh reimagining, which leaned less fairytale and more fantasy.

As this was an ALC, narration was definitely a peak with narrator Jennifer Pickens carrying a lot of her shoulders with different characters, a tough feat for any solo narration. I found her to have great vocal range gave every character a distinct personality, and even had the absolute perfect for for a talking cat? I couldn't get over the slightly smug, incredible cryptic, and completely memorable creature. She also appreciated how she handled the young Snow’s voice, in that she made her sound young and distinctive but didn't infantilize her.

As with all stories of lonliness and isolation, there were some parts that did feel a little repetative, especially with regards to self esteem and confidence. Anja had a lot of self doubt with regards to how others see her. That said, she did capture the tension and wariness of feeling like no one really sees you, especially the one that you're attracted to.

As with previous reviews, I've talked about my love of the bookend music selcetion and this was no exception! I'm not entirely sure what to call it, but the closest I can think of would be Gregorian chant vibes. I listened all the way through just to soak it in. It was such a welcome touch and really tied the story together, I think.

As I mentioned, H&S is not a passive listen. The plot is dense, rich in detail, and requires full attention. The pacing had the perfect kind of intentional ebb and flow which kept things unpredictable, but at times, a bit confusing if your attention drifted. The audio flowed well, scene transitions were clear, and the narration anchored the story’s shifts in tone.

For me personally, I think this would make for a fantastic immersive read, having both the audio and the ebook would be a real advantage, especially if you like flipping back to revisit clues. There are creations in this book that I'm not even going to attempt to spell because I would have no idea how to do it without sounding like an idiot when I see them actually written down, so I'm not even going to try!

There’s a lot to love here. The characters were well-developed however, I did feel one thread got a little lost: the King. For me, after everything he does to save his daughter, seeing how worried he was about her and the potentiality of losing his entire family, he fades a bit from the story. I wanted more of him, more of a resolution. I understand he's the king, the story wasn't really about him or even about Snow. BUT, I would have loved to see the father/daughter reunion and resolution to their story. That said, the ending of the main story does wrap things up in a satisfying and hopeful way. I will definitely be adding this back to my TBR when it's released so I can partake in my immersive read!

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this advanced ALC!

I'm obsessed. I loved this whole concept so much. Snow White meets Alice in Wonderland. Beautifully written and so much personality. Loved it from the first page

I knew before beginning this book that I would probably like it. T. Kingfisher is one of my favorite authors.
Stories that Hemlock & Silver reminded me of include Salt and Broom, Coraline, Alice in Wonderland, and (of course) Snow White.

Like all Kingfisher books, however, it remains its own unique being. The main character is a woman scientist-- in fat, most of the characters are women. She is drawn into a magical world by a one-eyed cat in defense of a princess, and has real ethical concerns about sharing what she finds there.
Also, she falls in love.
Five stars

4.75 stars, rounded up.

It took me a quarter of the book to remember this is a dark reimagining of Snow White, but that’s not a bad thing. T. Kingfisher really spins it to where it's more of a reworking, told from a whole new angle with mostly new characters (no dwarves here, sorry).

There’s something about the quality of T. Kingfisher’s writing that I find especially captivating. She writes with such clarity, grace, and intelligence. I need to read more of her works.

I also really appreciated the plus-sized protagonist, who was competent, kind, and refreshingly practical without being written as a walking trope. There’s even a sprinkle of romance that I think many readers will really adore- it’s understated but genuine and adds just the right touch for a fairy tale for adults.

The story builds gradually, but by the end there’s so much action and tension that I rewound my audiobook more than once just to make sure I didn’t miss anything. This was one of those magical reads that just hits, and I felt totally absorbed the whole way through.

If you liked Nettle & Bone, I think this one will absolutely work for you- I personally liked it even more.
----------------------------------------------
Special thanks to Macmillan Audio, Tor and NetGalley for the audio ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with the ALC.

This was a great reimagining of Snow White, maintaining all the main elements but adding dark twists that actually mesh well with the story. It was a bit slow in the beginning but picked up quite well after that. I was hoping for a found family situation like Nettle and Bone but that didn't exactly happen so I was a bit disappointed by that. I also liked the way horror elements were incorporated without excessive gore or things that evoke disgust. Overall, it's a great book and definitely one of the best fairytale reimaginings I've read so far.

The narrator did a great job in bringing the story to life. The parts where strong emotions were required were especially done well.

4.75⭐️

Written in a way that feels like it’s someone telling you a bedtime story from their perspective.

It is such an interesting retelling, it’s darker, eerie, and has a magic mirror world. It’s not what I expected from a Snow White retelling. It’s far removed from the source material while still having recognizable touch points. Told not from Snow’s pov, but from the pov of Healer Anja-a poisons expert. She is a pragmatic and witty main character that has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. I always find it refreshing when the main character is in their 30s or older.

Descriptive and sharp writing that sets the atmosphere of the book perfectly. With an audiobook narrator that brought the characters to life and nailed the tone of the book.

Thank you Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

I had listened to another T. Kingfisher book on audio, and I thought a Snow White retelling could be interesting, so I hit request.

The narration was great, but the first 30% was so slow for me that I couldn't get into it. Based on other reviews I've seen, I'm an outlier, so take my review with a grain of salt.

I'm always a huge fan of T. Kingfisher books, so I was excited to get my hands on the arc for the audiobook!

Kingfisher did a great job creating this new story about the healer and poison expert, Anja, within the same story frame as Snow White. The narrator really brought Anja's character to life and made the story all that more enjoyable.

If this is a horror book, then it's very light horror at best, but I'd categorize it more as a cozy fantasy than a dark retelling. It's like if Snow White happened within the world of Alice in Wonderland. It was whimsical, strange, humorous, and wonderful all around.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for the audiobook arc!

T. Kingfisher is back with another reimagined fairy tale. This time Snow White is retold but with more malice and an eerie mirror world to explore. I liked the characters in this work, especially our protagonist Healer Anja. The plot was overall pretty predictable, which is to be expected in a retelling. Fans of T. Kingfisher are sure to enjoy this newest work!

This was my first T. Kingfisher book, and I’m already looking forward to the next. Hemlock & Silver was a unique, engaging, and a surprisingly heartfelt read. It blends fairy tale elements from Snow White and Alice in Wonderland into something completely its own.

Anja, a healer who specializes in poisons, is summoned by the King to save his daughter Snow, who’s dying from a mysterious illness. What follows is a tense journey full of clever world-building, strange magic, and characters that feel both whimsical and real.

I loved Anja's character. She’s smart, no-nonsense, and dryly funny. I found myself chuckling often, especially at her straightforward and sometimes awkward behavior in social situations.

“Try to be tactful.”
“I always try,” I protested.
She gave me a look.
“Try harder.”

Honestly, if I had a dollar for every time my grandmother told me I had no tact, I’d be rich.

I can’t help but wish for more romantic moments between Anja and Javier—their quiet chemistry was electric, but those few sparks barely scratched the surface. I was ready for a little heat and more scenes that showed their connection growing and unfolding on the page.

Jennifer Pickens’ narration was excellent from start to finish. She didn’t just read the book—she fully embodied the characters. Her delivery of Anja’s dry wit and sharp observations made the character feel even more alive, and she navigated the wide range of emotions in the story with ease. Each supporting character was given a distinct tone, cadence, or accent, making it easy to follow conversations and get a feel for their personalities. Pickens' performance enhanced the book for me and made the story even more vivid. If you’re considering the audiobook version, I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and T. Kingfisher for the ALC. This book was strange in all the right ways—thoughtful, funny, and filled with quiet strength. I can't recommend it enough!

A dark retelling of Snow White?! You don't have to tell me twice. I was so here for this. I devoured it in less than a day.

Magic mirror on the wall, what secrets do you hide from all?

Anja is obsessed with poison, well more specifically antidotes to poison. She's content to live her quiet life when the king asks her to save his daughter, Snow. Snow is sick. He suspects that she has been poisoned, but nobody knows by what or by whom. Anja discovers a danger far worse than Snow's sickness- a danger that can destroy their world.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it absolutely delivered! It was the first T. Kingfisher book I've read, and I understand the hype! This book kept me guessing and each twist was better than the last. The characters are all likable, including the moronic rooster. The world building is subtle and well done. Overall, it's a great book worth reading by anyone who likes fantasy!

I have seen from a lot of places that this book has romance. It is by no means a romantasy book. This is truly a dark retelling with a very minor romance subplot. It was so minor that I really did not care if the characters ended up together or not. I have also seen that it is recommended for 18+. I disagree. There is one mention of a closed door scene with otherwise no spice whatsoever. It is a dark book, but I'd say it's PG-13.

I was fortunate to received an advanced copy of the audiobook. The narrator- wow! She added so much to the story. It is probably the best narration I've heard all year! If you are at all into audiobooks, this is one you should listen to!

Dark academia/alchemy at its finest. I ate this up in less than 24 hours and was sad I couldn’t live in this world any longer when it was over. The romance was secondary to plot and the writing was impeccable. I listened to this as an audiobook and the narrator was amazing, I was able to completely immerse myself in the story. I will read this again and recommend to everyone I know who will listen.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the chance to read/listen to this in exchange for my honest review.

This was a really creative take on Snow White from a perspective we rarely see, the poisoner trying to save the princess. I love T. Kingfisher’s sharp and clever writing, and the idea of a healer who drinks poison to test her cures was fascinating.

The main character being older and grounded in science was a refreshing change from typical fantasy heroines. One of my favorite parts? The sarcastic, narcissistic cat. It added just the right touch of dry humor to balance the darker tone.

However, the pacing really slowed the story down for me. While the premise is strong, I found it hard to stay invested in the middle. The ending wrapped things up nicely, but the journey there could’ve used more urgency. Still, if you enjoy slow-burn fantasy with quiet strength and quirky characters, this might be right up your alley.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC. As always, T. Kingfisher has a way with words. She crafts a unique Snow White story that is like no other. I most enjoyed the sweet romance story of the main character. Narrator was great too.