I was always going to be a sucker for this book. We need so many more stories about healers in Fantasy, and Kingfisher is great at creating a relatable eccentric who's hear to save the princess from a mystery disease. Her healer is full of personality--inquisitive, socially awkward without being unconfident, and wisecracks just enough to keep things lively. Her diatribes on the histories of arcane medicine, botany, and and human biology feel like a litany of Kingfisher's own fixations. If you've ever cracked up at Kingfisher listening slime mold facts, then this book is going to be catnip for you.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the early copy of this book.

This is my 5th Kingfisher book and by far my favorite!

Anja has been fascinated by poison and antidotes from a very young age. Now she is a healer who regularly drinks poison. You gotta do what you gotta do, right? She is summoned by the king to save his daughter, Snow, who is dying from an unknown cause. Anja and her infinite curiosity has no idea what is awaiting her in the palace, what answers she will find.

I love this retelling of Snow White. It didn't even really feel like a retelling because it was so unique and wonderful.

Kingfisher knows how to world build. I loved how quickly I was immersed and how tiny little details made all the difference. I could feel the darkness, the grey, the creep.
Anja and Javier were fantastic main characters but I loved every side character as well. Especially a pesky and mysterious little cat.

I listened to the audiobook and Jennifer Pickens did a fantastic job bringing the book to life. I am already looking up other books she narrates so I can get some more of her voice.

This is such a fun take on a classic story. Highly recommend.

4.5⭐️
This is a dark reimagining of Snow White that is so fantastically different from the original! The narration of the audiobook was so perfect, bringing this story and the characters to life!

Anja is a skilled healer and poison expert. When the king shows up at her workshop summoning her to examine his daughter, Snow, Anja does everything she can to find out what is causing the young princess to be so sick. This leads to Anja finding a secret world, hidden inside a magic mirror.

I loved this book and Kingfisher's compelling storytelling. While it started off a little slow, it didn't take long to completely draw me in to this world! I loved the characters, the reimagining of a classic fairytale, and all the surprising twists! I definitely recommend this one!

This was a really fun twist on Snow White full of poisons, mirrors, a talking cat, and two awkward MCs in love with each other but too embarrassed to tell the other. Anja was such a cool older FMC with her knowledge of poisons and antidotes. I had a lot of fun with this one and definitely recommend!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Hemlock & Silver:⁣
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Thank you @macmillan.audio @torbooks for my gifted copy! #MacAudio2025 ⁣
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“What good is life, if there’s nothing left to discover?”⁣
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T. Kingfisher writes, I line up to read. That’s how it goes, that’s how it will always be. The way she does reimagined fairytales is supreme. At first I didn’t realize this was one for Snow White, but once I got into it and realized, I refused to put Hemlock & Silver down. ⁣
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The first line grips you and it never lets go into the very last line. Anja is such a unique character with her knowledge of poisons and what is to be true. She’s got her dark humor, that was perfect on audio. But also, she actually understands the everyday person, and it really had me loving her. ⁣
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I think Kingfisher always captures the horror that would make Grimm smile today. She gives the creepy, the uneasy queasy, the horror that keeps you on the edge of the seat. ⁣
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Jennifer Pickens on audio is the real deal. She gave the same cadence as Xe Sands, so if you love Xe, you’ll love Jennifer Pickens. The horror and shock revelations hit perfectly.⁣
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Perfect for spooky season and definitely one you need to add to your TBR asap. Out Tuesday! ⁣
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QOTD: Who is an auto-buy author?

<u><b>Hemlock & Silver</b></u>
T. Kingfisher
Narrator: Jennifer Pickens
Publication Date: August 19, 2025

ALC courtesy of Macmillan Audio and NetGalley.

T. Kingfisher’s delightfully dark, whimsical retelling of <i>Snow White</i>. It centers on Anja, a healer who studies poisons by poisoning herself. One day, the king summons Anja to help Princess Snow White and so this engaging tale begins.

The main character is engaging, and so are the entertaining peripheral characters, including a cat that keeps trying to steal the show. The dialogue, in typical Kingfisher fashion, is smart and funny, and with the highly imaginative worldbuilding and deliciously twisty plot, it is no wonder <i>Hemlock & Silver</i> is on the list of every fantasy reader. And it delivers.

“Hemlock & Silver” by T. Kingfisher is exactly what I’m looking for in a dark fairy tale retelling. Anja was a great main character. The world building was excellent and quite creepy! The audiobook added to this spooky atmosphere. This story does venture into the horror genre which I was not prepared for, so more sensititive readers should be aware. Overall, this story was very creative and a fun new take on a classic tale.
Thank you to NetGallery and Tor Publishing Group and for an advanced copy of this ebook and audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

A clever fairytale with a likable main character and plenty of humor. This book doesn’t take itself very seriously, but it does contain some horror, so not a “lite” read.

Anja is not your typical heroine, but she knows what she likes, and her self-deprecating and sometimes wishy-washy internal dialogue is a hoot. A poison specialist, she reluctantly agrees to try to save the princess from a mysterious illness, but the experience turns out to be much more sinister than predicted.

Other characters are not as fleshed out, but the atmosphere was rich and very creepy. T. Kingfisher has quite an imagination, and her bizarre story is very loosely based on Snow White. I thought the entire story was a bit too long, but the low-key romance was fun.

Jennifer Pickens excellently narrated the audiobook (almost 12 hours).

Thank you to the author, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. Publishing date: August 19, 2025.

Are we surprised that I’m eating a T Kingfisher book highly? I love everything this person puts out. Another atmospheric banger. I can’t wait to buy this book because I need the trophy on my shelf.

T. Kingfisher does it again! I was fortunate enough to obtain an Audio-ARC through NetGalley and publishers in exchange for my honest opinion. I loved every chapter of this book, from front to back. This had whimsical, dark, and creepy vibes! A mix between Snow White and Alice in Wonderland! The MFC was amazing, likable and relatable. I found her curiosity, intrigue and her ambition made me like her a lot. It was a fun twist on Snow Whites tale. Some of the descriptions had me saying out loud "oh thats creepy!". I absolutely loved it! This book would translate amazing into a movie! The narrator did an amazing job, and I devoured the audio! 5/5!

This was fabulously magical. I listened to this on audio and it was soothing and perfectly told. I found myself turning it on simply to hear the narration at times! Don't get me wrong, the plot was fantastic as well. I enjoyed the writing style and the magic system. It is a retelling of Snow White, but not too "in your face". Perfect blend of plot, characters and setting! 5⭐️. Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillion Audio for the ALC. All thoughts are my own.

Hemlock and Silver is recognisable as the fairy tale but also has a twist to it that makes it unique. As I've come to expect with T. Kingfisher there were some unsettling moments which really added to the atmosphere in this.

Listening to the audiobook was a great way to really get immersed into the world. I has such a clear picture in my head of the setting and thought the narrator did a great job for this.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for this audio ARC.

Thank you @torbooks + @macmillan.audio for the ARC & ALC ♡

🍎 T. kingfisher has become a fave fantasy author.
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✍🏽 Read if you love: smart, snarky, + eccentric women.
Here’s to the misfits, the ones who won’t hold our tongues; who appreciate a good wit and don’t fit the mold.
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Anya is a healer, but not of the motherly soothing variety. She’s awkward and outspoken, with a pet venomous snake, and a curiosity for poisonous plants (and their antidotes). Using the scientific process of course. 🙈🐓
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She’s called upon to cure the King’s daughter who he believes to be slowly succumbing, Belladonna-style, to an unknown poisoning.
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With a charming slow burning (closed door) love story and an absolutely hysterical talking cat, I rolled with laughter. The banter between Grayling and Anya!

“𝙳𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊 𝚗𝚊𝚖𝚎?”
“𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚗𝚊𝚖𝚎𝚜,” 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚝. 🐈‍⬛
𝙰 𝚋𝚒𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚏𝚞𝚛 𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚌𝚕𝚊𝚠 𝚛𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗. “𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝙶𝚕𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜, 𝙶𝚘𝚍-𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙳𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚜, 𝙻𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚘𝚏𝚝𝚘𝚙𝚜, 𝙺𝚒𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝙼𝚒𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚛𝚜, 𝙷𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙼𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝙷𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚛, 𝙷𝚎 𝚆𝚑𝚘 𝚃𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚎𝚛𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚝’𝚜 𝚃𝚊𝚒𝚕, 𝚆𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝙲𝚕𝚊𝚠𝚜 𝙷𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚂𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙱𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙶𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚃𝚛𝚎𝚎.” —the cat who will later be knowing as Grayling
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It’s a Snow White retelling 🍎 that I actually felt was that plus Alice in wonderland combo.
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This was really well done. It’s a high recommend from me!

▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။‌‌‌‌‌|• 🎧 Jennifer Pickens was a great choice for Anya, giving her a certain gravitas while still imbuing humor and charm.

To no ones surprised, this is another hit by T Kingfisher. A nice twist on a familiar story with again a lovable cast of characters and trademark unsettling things, moving at just the right pace.

I thoroughly enjoyed this fantasy. The characters and plot were interesting, and the book moved at just the right pace. Ania the heroine was not a typical damsal. She was analytical, intelligent, awkward, brave, lacked self-confidence, and fought nervous laughter. The romance angle was predictable, but was only a small bit towards the end of the book. It felt more like: well now that the Princess is saved, we should probably address the elephant in the room. I appreciated and liked the author did not engage in steamy details.

This book is an absolute standout. As a Snow White retelling, it captures all the familiarity of the tale while reshaping it into something fresh, layered, and hauntingly beautiful. T. Kingfisher doesn’t rush the story. Instead, she allows it to build with deliberate pacing, weaving in subtle hints and carefully placed twists that made it impossible to put down. The writing is atmospheric, the world feels steeped in shadowed magic, and the story lingers long after the final page.

The way the mirror is used in this story is nothing short of brilliant. It adds an eerie, compelling layer that is both unsettling and unforgettable, heightening the overall sense of enchantment and unease.

Dark, clever, and exquisitely told, Hemlock and Silver has easily become one of my favorite retellings.
Five shining stars!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance copy of this audiobook!
I am a huge fan of T. Kingfisher's books and especiually her retellings becuase they still feel unique and distinctly T. Kingfisher while still keeping elements of the source material. And Hemlock & Silver did not disappoint.
Healer Anja is an odd duck. As a child, she watched a cousin accidentally poison himself and that led to a career where Anja works to find the cure for poisons. This often includes her drinking said poisons, but that's neither here nor there. One day, to her surprise, she is summoned by the king to figure out how to save his daughter Snow, who he is convienced is being poisoned. What follows feels like a mix of Snow White and Alice in Wonderland.
T. Kingfisher characters are some of my favorite characters out there. No one is perfect, characters have quirks and flaws, and that makes it so much easier to sink into the story. It feels like you could know these people. The chemistry, romantic or not, flows so smoothly, even though Anja is a big ol' weirdo. And, boy, do I love her for it. She's funny and awkard and relatable and caring.
Both worlds were so well described, but the mirror world was my favorite. All the deatil Kingfisher puts into making sure the reader can picture the spaces, how the world is lit, or not lit, by placement of mirrors in the real world. It's so well thought out and I loved it.
And any time there is a magical cat, I WILL BE THERE. Grayling was so fun and I loved every scene he was in.
While the book starts slow, world building takes time, Kingfisher has an masterful grasp on the pacing of the rest of the book. And by the end, you are racing alonside Anja to resuce Princess Snow.
Jennifer Pickens did a marvelous job as narrator. I had such a wonderful time with this book!

This Snow White retailing is spooky and all the best ways. The perfect fall read. If you are a fan of books like Belladonna and The Madman‘s Daughter, you will love Hemlock and Silver.

Follow our FMC as she tries to discover what/who is poisoning the princess, all while giving us a hilarious insight into her brain. The inner monologue made me laugh throughout the entire book.

Mystery and intrigue with a touch of romance made for an entertaining read.

T. Kingfisher paints a world of color, and one of grays and silvers, in this twisted, darker retelling of Snow White. Hemlock & Silver goes beyond a simple fairytale retelling — it delves into a beautifully creepy world of deadly poisons, enchanted mirrors, yearning romance, and a heroine who is witty, competent, and does anything but fit the typical ideals of beauty or grace.

Anja, the main character, is a tall, full-figured, clever, and curious 35-year-old merchant’s daughter who has made a living in her lab, researching poisons and finding their antidotes in unconventional ways. She has a refreshingly sharp internal monologue that adds a lot of levity to the story at the right times.

Unexpectedly summoned to save the King’s daughter, Snow, from a mysterious poison, Anja finds herself in a castle where intrigue, curses, and deception lurk at every turn. Equipped with her expertise in poisons, Anja quickly finds that Snow’s illness is far from simple. In the course of following her unconventional method for discovering a poison’s antidote, Anja serendipitously finds herself plunged into an enchanted, argent mirror world where everything is reversed and not quite what it seems. Using her scientific background, Anja soon begins to analyze and understand how the mirror portals work. With the help of Javier, her guard, she begins to suspect the mirror realm is where Snow’s poisoner could be lurking.

This story contains just enough hints of the Snow White tale we know so well and twists it into a compelling landscape of darkness, enchanted mirrors, slow-burn romance, and just enough humorous dialogue. Unsurprisingly a fast favorite character, Grayling, the mirror cat who can talk, was chaotically delightful and provided Anja with answers about the mirrors whenever he felt like it (usually accompanied by a generous helping of milk).

The world-building was eerie and full of wonder at every turn inside the castle and step into the mirrors. The characters were smart and interesting, with distinctive descriptions that made them memorable. As one expects of an evil queen, the villain of this story was indeed wicked and menacing. I found the pacing to be a bit slow in the beginning, but once the story picked up, my attention was rapt. The mystery, intrigue, romance, and magic kept me listening attentively. The resolution was satisfying, and I found that all the loose ends were tied up well.

Jennifer Pickens was an excellent narrator for this book. Her voice fit the age and personality of the main character wonderfully, and she matched the humorous tone well. She did well with character separation, and I usually knew who was talking based on their voice. I found the cadence of the narration to be just right, listening at both normal speed and my usual 1.5x speed. Pickens’ performance embodied Anja’s intelligence and vulnerability exceptionally. Grayling, the talking cat, was incredible as she captured his feline cattiness perfectly.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the Advanced Listening Copy of this book.

I’ve really enjoyed T. Kingfisher’s fairytale reimaginings and Hemlock & Silver was no different! Jennifer Pickens did a good job with the narration. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook!

Grayling the cat absolutely stole my heart and the show, as is his right. And it was so fascinating to hear Anja talk about poisons and how to counteract them and the blasé way she would drop talk about horrific ailments she’d treated. The one about the hungry bat is going to haunt me.

What I loved most about this is that while there were certainly elements of Snow White’s story and periodic nods to it, this was not a retelling. Evil stepmother? Sort of. Apples, definitely. Cutting out the heart? Spoilers.