Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the Advanced Listener's copy of Hemlock and Silver.

Hemlock and Silver is a beautifully crafted and darkly enchanting retelling of Snow White, and I absolutely loved it. T. Kingfisher is transforming what is familiar to most into something wholly original and compelling.

One of the standout aspects for me was the main character. She's a strong, intelligent woman in her 30s. It’s so refreshing to see a fairy tale heroine who isn’t a teenager, but someone with experience and resilience. She brings a grounded perspective to a world filled with magic, danger, and creeping shadows, and I was rooting for her from the very first page.

The writing is rich and immersive, laced with dry humor and moments of real emotional depth. The way Kingfisher re-imagines the classic elements of the Snow White story is clever, creepy, and sometimes downright unsettling. In the best possible way.

I highly recommended for fans of folklore inspired fantasy, unconventional heroines, and dark fairy tales with heart.

T. Kingfisher has a way with weaving stories and I especially enjoy her fairytale retellings because she always puts such a unique perspective on them. This is a Snow White retelling, but Snow is only a side character as Anna reluctantly takes the center stage. She is a healer that deals primarily with poisons. Watching her logic at work was interesting as Kingfisher wove things from our real world into this fictional one. Also the romance subplot was adorable!

T. Kingfisher never disappoints me! This book had everything I love, mystery, romance, action, and lovable characters. I loved that Anja was not your regular run of the mill healer. It was so unique and fun to read about someone obsessed with poisons and finding their cures. The story really picked up for me once we got to go into the mirror world. I’ve always loved the idea of walking through mirrors and any book with that concept I’ve always been attracted to. This one was no exception! The way the mirror world is described was so vivid to me that I could feel the cold ominous grey/silver world. I immediately wanted to go explore it while at the same time warning bells are going off that this is not a good place! I will say that by the end of the book I wanted more of this mirror world explained and explored. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that T Kingfisher will revisit this and give us another book with more of the mirror world. The snarky talking cat who was so treat driven was another big highlight. I loved the character so much and there are so many questions around that character that can keep you scratching your head. The whole story wrapped up pretty nicely and gave me the happy ending that I like. The narrator also did a fantastic job. They pulled me right into the story and really gave life to all of the characters. If you liked Paladins Grace by Kingfisher then Hemlock and Silver is going to be perfect for you.

Really interesting kinda retelling of Snow White, also reminds me of Alice and Wonderland. Very easy to follow and I loved the narrator

Every single time I thought I had this book figured out something jaw dropping happened and had me sitting here, absolutely in shock. While I definitely wouldn’t say this is a horror book there were some horror elements that definitely made it enough for me! I have read one other book by this author that I was not really a fan of this one on the other hand five stars all around. The narrator did an absolutely phenomenal job bringing this story to life voicing all the characters. I definitely want to read more that she has narrated. This truly was an insane take on Snow White. I was honestly skeptical starting this book, but I am so glad I read it! If you think the beginning is just meh keep on going because holy hell!! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my audio arc. This was my honest review.

I loved Anja, her wit, unapologeticness, everything. It wouldn’t be a T.Kingfisher book if there wasn’t twist and turns that we all have grown to love. Also the cat 😂 no spoilers 🤭

Thank You MacMillian Audio for this ARC of Hemlock& Silver. Thank you T. Kingfisher for a wonderful Snow White retelling.. This was my first T.Kingfisher book.. I very much enjoyed the writing style. I story itself left me wondering what was happening next. I will definitely be checking out more of T.Kingfisher’s books.

Anja, a no-nonsense healer and an expert in poisons, has been summoned by the king to save his daughter. Under her observation, Anja begins to uncover a hidden world inside a mirror. She starts to unravel the dark truth while racing to save Snow.
I absolutely loved this Snow White reimagining; it wasn’t heavy handed and was really unique. It made it easy to get into without focusing on making comparisons. I was immediately sold when I found out Anja was an over 30 FMC and is inquisitive to a fault (and possibly death). Grayling is arguably one of the best characters; who doesn’t love a sarcastic, mirror-jumping cat?? It gave me dark and twisty vibes but it was still good for a laugh. I really enjoyed the narration. It was clear and didn’t become distorted or unclear when increasing the speed.


Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

I was provided an ALC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

T. Kingfisher's retellings are slowly becoming my favorite books! I love the dark spin she puts on the fairy tales we all think we know. One of my favorite things to do when I read a retelling like this is to read the original if I haven't already to see how it compares. The originals are often dark and these more modern takes often are closer to the original than the happy animated tales many of us grew up watching. I love that there is room for both.

This was a darker version of Snow White and follows Anja, a "healer" who studies poisons and their antidotes instead of the more traditional healing arts. She is what some would consider odd, but her unorthodox approach is why the King has summoned her to solve the riddle of why his daughter is constantly ill. Anja's mind for puzzles, observant eyes, and constant quest for information, makes for the perfect kind of person to find out what is going on with Princess Snow. Healers, Nurses, maids, guards, and every other type of of person the king can think of can't figure out why Snow's health is failing. Anja's more scientific methods and investigation uncover a magic mirror and mirror world that might be the reason Snow is getting sick. Aided by her body guard, Anja's quest is filled with strange sights, dangerous foes, and things she never thought she would encounter.

I haven't read the original Snow White tale, but I will be very soon. Kingfisher always does a good job taking the key points of the original tale and staying true to those key elements while putting her own unique spin on it to make something new. I've really grown to love her reimaginings and this is no different. Anja was a strong and independent character who didn't bow to societal norms. Her father and family supported her and let her be her own person and pursue her passion for poison study. The romance was a nice addition as it wasn't the focus and happened almost organically as Anja and Javier spend alot of time together exploring and debunking. They complemented each other nicely.

The narrations was really great as the narrator was able to pace the book nicely and do different voices and accents for the various characters throughout the novel.

I love retellings and this version of Snow White was a great mix of fantasy with a tinge or horror and was also quite funny at times. No-nonsense healer Ajna travels to the King's palace to find out what ails his daughter Snow. Ajna and Javier make a great team and the Cat is hilarious. This book was a lot darker than I thought it would be, but in a good way. I thoroughly enjoyed it! The narration for the audiobook was excellent as well! Another win for Kingfisher!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of the audiobook for review.

Hemlock and Silver by T. Kingfisher

In the past 4 years, or so, I have become a HUGE fan of T. Kingfisher aka Ursula Vernon.

Ms. Vernon is the author of the Hamster Princess books, which both of my daughters have enjoyed (as have I!). Those books were my introduction to her, along with her social media presence, which I found through Seanan McGuire.

Ordinarily, I don’t like horror. I never wanted to watch scary movies as a kid. I got nightmares from E.T. But based on recommendations I read the Twisted Ones and The Holllow Places and I realized that I loved Ms. Vernon’s writing and I could make it through the scary parts unscathed with her as my guide.

I started devouring her back catalog and putting all new releases on hold at the library. I have subscribed to her Patreon and I convinced my wife to read Nettle and Bone, which she loved (as did I). I even backed the kickstarter for the rerelease of Digger, which was wonderful.

I was very excited when I heard she had a new book out in 2025 called Hemlock and Silver and I was even more excited when I got an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This new book is loosely based on the Snow White fairy tale, with some Rose Red in there too. Our main character is reminiscent of other Kingfisher protagonists - a somewhat awkward older (but not old) woman who is brilliant and skilled and in a bit over her head. She is an expert on poison and is recruited to try to figure out what is making the princess sick. Without spoiling things too much, I can tell you that you may never look at a mirror the same way again after this novel.

This book was wonderful and was a story I could have lived in forever.

This was the one of the best new releases I have read in 2025 so far and it will probably be on my Hugo ballot next year! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!

I’ve been having really good luck with reading only amazing books lately and this one was definitely amazing. Anja is a healer who works with poisons. She’s spent her life learning everything there is to know about poison and how to reverse its effects even going as far as to poison herself to avoid hurting anyone else. She is approached by the king to help his 12 year old daughter who is very sick and they can’t figure out why. Anja works tirelessly to find what is killing Snow and ends up discovering something much more.

I loved the relationship between Anja and one of the guards assigned to protect her, Javier. The bond they built was so sweet and so strong. Anja reminds me a bit of myself with her awkwardness and the way she just says what’s on her mind regardless of who she is speaking to and I loved that. I have to be honest though Grayling the cat was the highlight for me. The sass, the personality, the extortion for information. I love him so much!

I also listened to the audiobook version of this book while reading and I loved it. It was narrated by Jennifer Pickens and I think she did a great job making the characters 3 dimensional. She has a great voice that keeps you entertained.

This was fantastic and exactly what I expect from a T. Kingfisher novel. Seriously just let me inside her brain! I loved how this took the framework of snow white and then created a completely different story. Every time I thought I knew what was going on, I was wrong. And the horror aspect of the story was at just the right level for me, more on the creepy crawly and less on the nightmarish horror.
In addition to having a wonderful perfect brain that comes up with insane stories that i EAT up, I love T. Kingfishers romances, they are never overbearing or even a primary part of the story, but are still rich and captivating and this was no different.

Hemlock & Silver was such an original interpretation of the Snow White story that I almost forgot it was a retelling at all. Healer Anja is somewhat of a master of poisons. While her talents are known, it is still a surprise when the king arrives at her door and asks for her help. He suspects Princess Snow is being poisoned, and he’s certain Anja is the one who can help figure out what’s happening.

While this book did take me a little while to become invested, I still ended up finishing it in two sittings. Once Healer Anja travels to meet the princess the story picks up and kept my attention the whole way through. This book was such an interesting take on the Snow White story and Kingfinger’s writing was so beautiful and atmospheric. I loved being in Anja’s head and working through what was happening at the same time she did. In Hemlock & Silver I think there really is something for everyone to enjoy, so even if you’re only a casual fantasy enjoyer there are so many other elements to this story, including a bit of mystery and even a bit of romance.

Jennifer Pickens was a great narrator for this audiobook. I felt like she fully encompassed Anja’s character and emotions. This is the first full length T. Kingfisher novel I’ve read and I loved it so much I’ll be visiting their backlist. It may be awhile before I can bring myself to look in a mirror though.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a review copy.

TKingfisher is one of my top “must-read” authors, and their new dark “Snow White” reimagining, Hemlock & Silver, did not disappoint!

What you can expect:
🍎Dark Fairytale Reimagining
🪞Passionate Healer FMC (35)
🍎Clever and Witty Writing
🪞Poisons & Antidotes
🍎PIA Narcissistic Cat
🪞Secret Mirror Realm
🍎Science vs. Magic
🪞Terrifying Monsters
🍎A Splash of Romance
🐓Rooster & Snake Colleagues🐍

This dark fairytale retelling is so interesting, starting with such a creative system of deities and rituals, and a fascinating society/culture. Then you add in a mysterious illness, a dark past, a mirror realm, and a talking cat, and things start to get really wild. As usual, TKingfisher brings their unique style to this retelling, taking a children’s story and adding an edgy of horror and a splash of romance, while tailoring for an older audience.

TKingfisher’s writing style always enraptures me. With a whimsical weaving of dry humor, clever banter, wry honesty, balanced pacing, and fantastical and creepy storytelling, you cannot help but be swept up in the story and will be laughing the whole way. I also appreciate the clear dedication to accuracy and education that is demonstrated, going into significant detail about poisons, remedies, and related topics with significant detail.

Healer Anja is an awesomely relatable FMC; very frank, humble, and normal, and feeling like a believable and real person. Her background and motivations to pursue antidotes is intriguing, with her borderline obsessiveness to solve problems and pursue the scientific process. I found the past-conversations with her tutor to be actually quite thought provoking on their own, but in context, add to the overall fantastic character building for Anja.

A couple quick out of context thoughts:
1️⃣I adore Javier! He is the most perfectly broody and quietly wonderful guy!
2️⃣Mirror gelds are absolutely horrifying. And somehow a little wonderful. 😰 I expect nothing less from TKingfisher.
3️⃣The passing comments about Maid Elouise’s hair engulfing things are incredible. 🤣
4️⃣“Bodies are so marvelously revolting” 🫳🎤
5️⃣Uhh 😉😂

Jennifer Pickens has the perfect voice for this audiobook. Her even and calm tone matches the style of writing so well, as well as the personality and nature of Anja. Showcasing her talent, the various other characters are personified very well, with my particular favorites being the sass and drawl of Grayling and the shrill privileged tones of Snow.

I enjoyed this book so much, and am so pleased to have yet another fascinating, hilarious, whimsical, and wild story from this incredible author to grace my shelves. I highly recommend this, and honestly, anything written by TKingfisher!

Thanks so much to TKingfisher and Macmillan Audio for the NetGalley ALC- this is my honest review shared voluntarily.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hemlock and Silver is everything I love about T. Kingfisher’s writing—darkly imaginative, deeply human, and threaded with just the right amount of wit. This book takes the familiar bones of a fairy tale and reshapes them into something entirely new: a gothic-tinged mystery full of eerie magic, science, and heart.

Anja is such a refreshing heroine—a practical, grounded healer whose knowledge of poisons and remedies feels just as important as her courage. Watching her unravel the mystery of Princess Snow’s illness was gripping on its own, but the twist of the mirror world pulled the story into a haunting, unforgettable place. The eerie atmosphere, the unsettling queen, and the tragic secrets of Snow and Rose gave the book a chilling edge, while the sharp humor (especially from the perfectly narcissistic cat) kept it from ever becoming too heavy.

Kingfisher has a talent for balancing horror and wonder, and this book is a prime example. It’s part fairy tale, part dark fantasy, and part murder mystery—and somehow it all blends seamlessly. I couldn’t put it down, and I already know it’s one I’ll return to.

If you enjoy fairy tales reimagined with intelligence, atmosphere, and bite, Hemlock and Silver is an absolute must-read.

I received this audiobook as an advanced reader copy from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Another wonderful T Kingfisher book! I love how she approaches cozy-ish fantasy, I think the way how she is able to craft a world is so talented, and the amount of research and love that goes into every book is unmatched,

Hemlock & Silver is so fun and thoroughly entertaining. I listened to the audiobook, and my first impression is that I felt so-so about the narrator, but that lasted all of about 10 minutes. I don't think there is another person that could have brought the already wondrous FMC to life. I'm rating it 4 stars, but honestly there is a good chance I'll come back in a week or two and just bump it up if I'm still thinking about how much I liked it. My first T. Kingfisher book and definitely not my last.

This book is a darker twist of the Snow White tale 🍎

While this book is advertised as a romance, I want people to be aware that there is an incredibly small subplot that is romance. I would also state that the fantasy/magic element of this book also doesn’t kick in until about 50% as well.

I found the first have more interesting than the second half. When she discovers a secret world (not a spoiler), the book starts to feel more like Alice in Wonderland vs. Snow White. I found the concept of this book interesting and it was very written. It just wasn’t my favorite book.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to review this advanced audio copy!

A surprising mix of Snow White and Through the Looking Glass, Hemlock & Silver is a gripping gothic story of poison, revenge, and love. The audiobook is very well narrated by Jennifer Pickens. The emotion in her voice really helps immerse the reader in the story. Anja (pronounce Anya) is a healer who tests poisons on herself. While researching the effects of a poison, she is interrupted by the king. His daughter, Snow, is sick, and no other physician has been able to find out what is wrong with her. Anja arrives at their villa to investigate and determine if Snow is being poisoned. What follows is a tale of intrigue and betrayal with a talking cat and a larger boned female main character.