Hemlock & Silver was a Macmillan Audio pick and my second read by T. Kingfisher, who is definitely becoming a new favorite author! This is a Snow White retelling, but our main character is not Snow, nor is it her “evil stepmother”! Healer Anja is asked by the king to discover what is ailing Snow, possibly poison as she’s a poison expert! She discovers so much more than a conspiracy against the princess–an alternate mirror world! Her unexpected allies are a grunting guard, who has so much more beneath his taciturn facade, and a hilarious, yet narcissistic, cat. I think this story has everything: murder, mystery, magic, and tension–both romantic and conflict!

This story was unique and expertly constructed and a really good time! Five stars and I highly recommend it!

Jennifer Pickens is becoming a new favorite narrator!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this audio ARC!

4 Stars!

first of all, I listened to this on audiobook and this narrator is Amazing. Just the right amount of snark and dry wit that this book required.

Hemlock and Silver is the story of Anja, a woman who dabbles with poisons and their antidotes. One day, the king enters her still room and requests her help to diagnose his daughter, Snow, who he believes has been poisoned. She travels alongside two guards and a retinue of other nobles to the castle to begin the process of uncovering what is going on with Snow.

This story really felt like a mystery novel in some ways alongside T. Kingfisher's unique sparkling writing which I've come to love! She truly excels at writing characters that are so... normal (in a really good way) and real, and then throwing them into strange situations. Anja is a fish-out-of-water and also smart and she always is herself...no matter the circumstance. I really liked that.

I'm sure some would have issues with the last minute romance thrown in but I liked it. Because I was just rooting for Anja, and whatever she did.

T. Kingfisher does it again. I love her books so much, and this one did not disappoint. This story is exactly as creepy and delightful as you would expect if you have read Kingfisher before. The setting is dark and creepy and there are some truly horrific denizens of the world that Kingfisher has created here. The characters are just delightfully quirky, as they usually are in Kingfisher's work, and I was rooting for them from the first page. This is a splendid dark fairytale, and wile it does have elements of some familiar fairytales, it is it's own story and magnificent in its own right. Kingfisher does a splendid job of blending the truly horrific with a touch of the coziness you might expect if you've read her work before. If you are a fan of dark fairytales, I highly recommend this read.

I love the way that T Kingfisher writes characters - and I especially love her focus on middle aged, not conventionally attractive women. In this book, healer Anya was such a fully formed character, who was aware of her own flaws and her strengths.

The story was incredible - such an interesting and unusual idea and the whole world and magic system was so well developed.

I felt like the book lagged a little around the 60% mark and I kind of wanted them to get on with it and solve the mystery of the princess’s illness instead of experimenting and exploring.

The audiobook narration was perfect and really captured the tone of the book.

Another amazing dark fairytale retelling from T. Kingfisher! That woman never misses, in my opinion. A Snow White retelling where the main female character isn’t Snow White? Give me 13 of them. It was so dark and atmospheric, and would make the perfect fall read.
I’m a big fan of animal companions in fantasy, and the talking cat in this one was a total win. The romance was not rushed either, and I actually understood why she liked him!
The narrator absolutely nailed it. Her voice was wonderful and I could always tell exactly which character was speaking.
This book was nothing like I expected, but it turned out to be so much better than I could’ve imagined!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC!

Another spectacular fantasy from T. Kingfisher! We have our late 30's protagonist, a well-respected and accomplished healer of the poisoned, who is hired by the King to diagnose and identify what has been causing his daughter to wither away. Anja can't risk angering the King, so in a damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don't connundrum, she accompanies the King, along with his guard, to treat Snow.

This is a dark retelling of Snow White, but with Kingfisher's delightfully creepy spin.

Excellent audio narration!

I loved this story and devoured it in two days. I enjoyed following Healer Anja and her guard as they worked to solve the mystery of what was going on with Princess Snow. The cat was a great way to vreak the seriousness with a little humor. After loving Kingsisher's A Soeceress Comes to Call, and now Hemlock & Silver, I think I will autobuy any other retellings she writes!

Read this one in a single day, and honestly this is my next six star read of the year! I couldn’t put this book down and it had every one of the beautiful aspects to T. Kingfisher’s books. I am obsessed with how impeccable the world building is especially since this is not the only new magical system Kingfisher has come up with recently. Her take on the Snow White story is incredible and Anja’s character is one of the most love able I have read in a while! Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for early access to this novel! This was my arc/alc experience, and I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity!

I gave this five stars on my Goodreads because I absolutely loved it. I loved the audio production, I loved the characters, the plot, the setting, the vibe, and everything else!

In particular, I liked Anja and Javier. Anja was a unique, and compelling MC, and I loved following her. I do wish we would have gotten more Snow, because she was an intriguing character, but I am satisfied with the story as it played out.

Lowkey, I could totally see this being a series. A series following Anja and Javier through different fairy tale retellings. However, even if that doesn’t happen, I loved this story and my reading experience.

I love a good dark fairy tale have since I was little. My dad would read me Grimm's stories at bedtime when I was a toddler! (haha). This T. Kingfisher sounded right up my alley and I've been getting more into audiobooks so I thought this was the perfect fit. I loved every minute of this audiobook and story. I'll be buying the book when it comes out because I know it will be one I'd reread throughout the years!

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the ARC of Hemlock and Silver! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is my introduction to T. Kingfisher’s writing; I love it. This story is analytical and almost academic in nature, especially in the inner monologue of the FMC. Healer Aja, who is more of a poison expert than a healer, immerses you in the history of poisons, their inner workings, and how they affect the body throughout the earlier times of history. This story is a fantastic retelling of Snow White. The way the mirror and apple were utilized so fantastically in the story was so interesting. I thought it was very clever and added layers of darkness and magic to the story.

I genuinely love Kingfisher’s writing style. I love how naturally the FMC’s inner monologue sounds and how she is uncharacteristically herself with other characters. She feels genuine and authentic, and I just love her personality. The way Kingfisher defines haunting moments, disturbing creatures, and the process of death is so matter-of-fact, but not in a way that makes you disinterested. In fact, the author does the opposite; Kingfisher makes you curious and inquisitive like the FMC.

Overall, if you are interested in dark, clever, and interesting fairytale retellings with a unique, intelligent, and funny FMC, this story is definitely for you!

This is the third T.Kingfisher book I read, and not a single one has been a miss. I really enjoyed this one. The story itself was interesting, but my favorite part were the characters. I liked our two MCs a lot, and there was a cat character that I really liked too. I definitely recommend this to any T.Kingfisher fans. I will definitely be picking up a copy when it releases. Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an early copy of this book.

In my humble opinion (as well as many others), T. Kingfisher is incapable of writing a bad book. It can't be done. So, I dived into Hemlock and Silver , without even reading the synopsis, fully expecting a five star read.

Well, I devoured this book. I started could not quit. I would easily rate this more than 5 stars if possible. Once again, T. Kingfisher, has written a true gem.

The author's ability to write such likeable, relatable and delightfully flawed characters never ceases to amaze me. There is no hesitation when I read her work. There is no "I'll give it one more chapter". I am enchanted by the very start.

This "retelling" of Snow White, is not what you will expect. It's no Disney reboot. But my goodness, it is addicting. Healer Anya is so charming and witty and weird and awkward and just... wonderful. I found myself laughing out loud at her "inner thoughts" quite a few times and cringing with her during her awkward moments. And the chivalrous, brave "love interest"... I won't say more, but the build is sp slow and sweet. There were quite a few grotesque moments, but no gore. The magical element is quite fascinating and may have you staring into your own mirrors a little longer than normal.

An absolute diamond of a book, a full 5+ stars and more proof to me that Kingfisher is flawless.

Incredible book by T Kingfisher!

Anja is obsessed with poisons and antidotes. This knowledge finds the King, who suspects his own daughter, Snow, is being poisoned. Anja is asked to come to his estate and investigate. But when Anja meets Snow, her symptoms and behavior doesn't quite fit the traditional effects of most poisons or toxins. Will she be able to discover what is happening to Snow before it's too late?

This book was not at all what I would have expected from a reimagining of Snow White and in my opinion it was so much better! This story is darker and more fantastical and will keep you wondering until the very end. I loved the character of Anja, intelligent and older (30s I believe), who is not used to having too many social interactions beyond the people she saves. She is more analytical and charming in her own way. The book starts off interestingly enough as she seeks to find out what is wrong with Snow, but about halfway through, the scope of the problem becomes bigger and more complex in the best of ways! I love it when I feel like I cannot wait to get back to my book - and that's exactly how I felt reading Hemlock & Silver. Lighter on the romance, as the main focus is plot, but still a sweet connection there.

The narrator does a good job with inflection and pace. I enjoyed the way she performed Anja and the other characters.

I'm a huge fan of T. Kingfisher and was so excited for this book (let's be honest, any of her books). This was a fantastic spin on Snow White.

Anja spent her life has scholar studying poisons and antidotes. She is enlisted by the king to discover the source of the suspected poisoning of his daughter, Snow. The book is slow at first, as Anja spends her time studying Snow. As a scientist, as appreciate characters with analytical minds so despite the time it takes for her to study Snow and set the scene for the rest of the book I enjoyed it. The whole venom vs poison is something I encounter regularly and I also don't bother to correct anyone so I could definitely relate to that.

Even though this is a retelling of Snow White, there are enough liberties taken that the plot is original and could not wait to find out what happened next. The cast of characters were wonderful. The book was dark but also hilarious and the narrator did a great job bringing it to life.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC!

While not my favorite T. Kingfisher book, this has all the aspects she usually brings us. 35 year old curvy MC in a Snow White meets Alice in Wonderland dark fairytale. This HAS romance, but it is not a romance. I’ve seen other reviews saying the budding relationship doesn’t seem believable but if a man wants to hear Anja ramble about poisonous plants, animals, and insects, LET HIM!!! It could be slow at times, but I really enjoyed this story overall!

<b>Enchanted mirrors, poisoned apples, an evil queen, and a fair princess.</b>
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The story is well known, or is it?
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Kingfisher's style shines here in a reimagining of <i>Snow White</i> told from an unlikely perspective. Anja isn't an average healer; she spends her days studying various plants and poisons. With her adder for company and venom, she avoids humans unless she's called upon to save a life. She is devoted to learning as much as possible and even poisons herself a few times per year to test her theories. The King arrives at her workshop and tells her that twelve-year-old Princess Snow is dying. The top healers from all around have tried and failed to produce favorable results. Anja agrees to make the long journey and investigate the girl's routine and attempt to identify the issue. She harbors doubts that Snow has been poisoned because actual cases are rare. Nothing she tries yields any answers until she stumbles into a hidden dark realm. With the help of her guard and an aloof one-eyed cat Anja hopes to understand what's happening to Snow before it's too late.
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Dark, imaginative, and twisted this was a fantastic tale. The compelling characters and captivating world building were the biggest draws for me. Anja was a refreshing voice to hear a fairy tale from. She was self-deprecating, down to earth, socially awkward, humorous, and smart. The mysterious elements had me donning my sleuthing hat which was unexpected but wonderful. I stayed engaged wanting to know what was going on. As a farm gal I appreciated how the information about animals and their behavior was correct. Jennifer Pickins's narration was a perfect fit.
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How will an expert in poison fare in a world of magic?

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing an ALC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Crushed this in one day.

Kingfisher is consistently good. She knows how to write a well-crafted story, but also a fun story. A story that is interesting and has depth, but is also a good-time. And this is no different.

Here's the thing - I'm normally not the BIGGEST fan of retellings because most stories they are based off of, I wasn't super into as a kid, let alone an adult. I think I've watched Snow White MAYBE twice in my life. So a retelling can go either way for me - bad because I'm just not that into the source material, or very good, because, again, I'm not that into the source material and the author took liberties.

And I gotta say, Kingfisher took liberties with this story and it woooorks.

First of all, the main character is. not. Snow. White. Incredible. Thank you.

The main character is a 35 year old, awkward healer, who is also very tall (thank you Kingfisher for making her tall, I love this).
There's also a talking cat, who is surly and bored of humans, but also helps (begrudgingly).
And a kingsguard who gets roped into this by accident, is also very awkward, and helps create a very slow burn romance. ILY.

All of this makes for a fun read, but also! The story itself was so unique. The way she built a mirror world and the way that mirror world operated was just...something I've never read before, which is so rare these days.

I loved this.

An absolute delight.

I haven’t read a T. Kingfisher book since the Clocktaur War duology and this audiobook made me regret that so hard.

The narration in this audiobook is simply amazing. She perfectly captured Anja’s personality and humor. I also loved her voices for the other characters like Javier. I could tell the difference between Anja and other characters but it never felt over the top.

As far as the story goes, I thought it was really captivating and unique. I had some theories and some of it was right, some not really. It felt similar to Snow White but not too close, which I personally thought was a plus. It was such an interesting and refreshing world to be immersed in. Also… can we applaud having older MCs? The FMC Anja is in her 30s and I loved it. I can’t wait to go and read more books by T. Kingfisher!

I first fell in love with the writings of T. Kingfisher when I read A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking. When I heard she had a book out about a poisoner in her 30's that's a dark retelling of Snow White, I was sold before I had even begun.

And I am happy to report, Hemlock & Silver does not disappoint.

The FMC is in her mid-30s and has always put solving conflicts and academia above all else in her life, When the King comes to ask her to save his daughter from an unknown affliction, she is thrown into a world where things exist that defy her studies. The FMC is no nonsense, and her inner dialogue alone is reminiscent of the overthinking many of us do. It is important to note that Snow White may be in this book, but she is far from the focus. The story instead centers around the FMC, and her academic/scientific quest to discover the truth about Snow's affliction,

The narrator absolutely nails the snark and personality of the FMC, I would recommend this one over and over again. A truly 5 star read.