4 stars.
This is a Snow White retelling from the POV of Anja, who is knowledgeable on poisons. Something is slowly making Snow ill and the king asks Anja to try to solve it.
I’m not usually a huge fan of fairy tale retellings, most don’t seem to have any original ideas or twists in their version. However, T. Kingfisher is an exception! Every time I pick up something of hers, I know I’m going to have a great time. The originality, the humour, the quirky characters and the dash of romance leaves me wanting to pick up another book by her. I’ve read so many of her books by now, that her writing style is a comfort.
Also, side note, her animal characters are always my favourites. Grayling, a talking not-cat, sign me up!
Thank you to Pan MacMillan on NetGalley for letting me read this for a honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me a copy of Hemlock & Silver.

It is a rewriting of the Snow White retelling with a focus on Healer Anja who is specialised in poisons. She is asked by the king to treat Snow White as she is sick.

I quite enjoyed the angle chosen in this novel. It’s quite far from the original tale, but you can still find many elements and references to it throughout the novel. The pace was quite good especially towards the beginning, but then it got a bit slow.
Healer Anja was such a good main character, and I enjoyed reading about her childhood, but also how she thinks. Some of the twists were a bit predictable, but it did not take away from the enjoyment of the novel.
I would rate it a 4 stars and recommend it!

Loosely based on Snow White, the king enlists a poison healer try and find out who is poisoning his daughter Snow.

So firstly - the main character is 30 something, which is such a refreshing change from the usual 17 year old heroines. And not only that, she acts her age as well.

The romance in this is definitely not the focus, it’s a background element and only really comes along in the last 30% or so. Which was absolutely fine tbh, I liked that the book was actually focused on the poisoning and not a relationship.

The mirror world was well written, and was sufficiently creepy when needed. The apples for Snow was a nice touch.

The plot was mostly well paced (the beginning was a bit slow, but it did pick up quickly enough). I would have liked a bit more on the poison side in the second half of the book, but I get that the mirrors were the focus for the plot. Writing is really good - it’s my first T Kingfisher novel and I really enjoyed the writing style. Funny without being too OTT, descriptive without droning on, just hits that sweet spot for everything.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the arc!

🌟🌟🌟🌟✨️/5

Having enjoyed T. Kingfisher's works previously, I knew I'd like this one...I never expected to be this obsessed with it. Hemlock & Silver has unexpectedly become my favorite T. Kingfisher novel and also one of my favorite fairytale-inspired books. It's adventurous, whimsical, a bit romantic with just the right amount of humor!

This year I've been gravitating away from fantasy and towards litfic more and more because of the trope-heavy books being published recently, so I was delighted by how refreshing almost every single aspect of this felt! I must say that like Anja the protagonist, I too have a morbid interest in poisonous plants (side note: that cover and the iconic poisonous plants on it is just brilliant). I enjoyed reading the discussions surrounding poisons and the medical system of the world. Although fully developed worldbuilding is neither the point nor a requirement for the story, the tidbits Anja provided through her observations lent an authentic tone to the narrative.

Anja is one of those protagonists from whose perspective I enjoyed viewing the world. The first person POV works very well for this one. She knows she isn't perfect and acknowledges and embraces her imperfections. I also liked that she's a plus sized character and older than the female protagonists we often encounter. T. Kingfisher's characteristic humor shines in Hemlock & Silver. I found myself laughing out loud quite often. The side characters were amazing too! Grayling the one-eyed judgmental talking cat was my favorite. The romance was just the right amount of sweet and didn't overshadow the plot. Overall, the book had me HOOKED. I loved how TK fleshed out the magic system. All questions that popped up in my mind were eventually answered, leaving no plot holes. Most fantasy novels I've read recently were careless with the worldbuilding and lore, so it was good to see someone being thoughtful for a change. The lore surrounding the mirror-gelds was a highlight for me.

My only critique is that the pacing dragged juuuust a bit once Anja discovered the mirror magic and tried making sense of it, although it does make sense for her to do so since she's used to experimenting.

Although not quite a 5 star, Hemlock & Silver is one of my favorite books I've read so far this year so I'll be rounding it up to a 5. This would make a fabulous animated film. Highly recommended to fans of fairytales!

Another fairy tale retelling by T. Kingfisher that I enjoyed. I will definitely be purchasing this for myself

A superb fairytale retelling of Snow White told with T. Kingfisher's classic humour and romance. Anja is an untraditional healer who is tasked with saving the princess from an unknown poison. This is a beautifully written fairytale of a world within a world but touches on the reality of social position, addiction and grief.

The romance within the story is subtle and sidelined to allow for the growth of Anja's character and confidence. But the best character is of course the snarky talking cat, as it should be.

I would recommend this book if you love fairytales, gentle romance with a dash of social commentary.

Thanks to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan, and T. Kingfisher for the ARC.

Tension 3/5
Spelling style 4/5

Quote: "There's no point in discovering something amazing if you can't grab another person by the forearms and shake each other and yell, Do you see that?"

My thoughts about this book:

The first sentence in this tale captivated me, and didn't let go until I finished this book: “I had just taken poison when the king arrived to inform me that he had murdered his wife.”

Kingfisher has a way with words that always enrapture me – simple, delightful, and honest. As are her characters. This time, we meet Anja, a female lead who is older than most heroines (around 35), has a curvy body, already plenty of life experience, and doesn't have much of a sense of fashion. I enjoyed how her mind works and how she reacts to her surroundings. The story unfolds through her eyes, and that is what makes it so enriching.

I adore how Kingfisher can paint a world just by adding little snippets of the world-lore. I don’t need extensive background to support the story. A few unusual saints here, a poison mystery there, and something unexpected or unsettling on top.

At the halfway point, the story took an unexpected turn. I did not believe that the search for the poison would be straightforward, and I did not come up with an idea of how the story could develop since none of Kingfisher's retellings were usual. There is always a twist. I was just as taken by surprise and excited as the main character. From that instant it was easy to finish this story, the pages turned themselves, and time just flew by. There is nothing more delightful than unveiling a mystery.

This book perfectly represents how I prefer my fairy tales: a simple, almost mundane setting, mixed with secrets, princesses, a hint of magic and an undercurrent of creepiness.

This story also includes a romance part. I am not a romance reader, but Kingfisher often hides a romance in her fantasy plots I can easily relate to. The interactions between the characters are always so natural and filled with humour. Often, I find myself rooting for them and laughing out loud.

This tale is an inventive retelling of Snow White. It is rich in symbolism – apples, mirrors, and poison. But everything else feels fresh and new.

And did I mention the cat? I just read the story for the cat, there is nothing more I need.

This is a fantastic retelling of Snow White with a dark, humorous, and delightful but also creepy tale. There are apples, plenty of facts about poisons, and mirrors in this story. The secret main character is a cat.

3.5

Overall, I enjoyed this and felt that the concept was excellent. It was weird, twisted and full of heart. However, I found that it took a very long time for much to happen. There is a lot of observation from the MC and lots of telling. It’s not really until 40/50% that the story really gets going.
I loved the main character Anja. This is the second T Kingfisher book I’ve read and I love how she writes complicated and brilliant FMC in their 30s. Anja is her own person, with her own unique interests. I loved her passion, her lack of tact and self-awareness - she knows exactly who she is.
The main story is such a creative interpretation of the Snow White story and I love how dark and unique this was. If anything, I wanted more of this and for the threat to be amped up. I also felt that the love story was muted and could have been more centered and had more tension, yearning.
I did really struggle to push through to the second half and if I hadn’t previously read and loved a T Kingfisher I might have dnf thjs, but I’m glad that I pushed through.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ARC Review | Pub Date: August 19

T. Kingfisher never fails to surprise me with her boundless imagination, and Hemlock & Silver is no exception.

I absolutely loved the writing—sharp, clever, and layered with Kingfisher’s signature wit. The protagonist, Anja, is a standout: a practical, no-nonsense healer who literally drinks poison in pursuit of cures. Add in a grumpy guard, a hilariously vain cat, and a creeping sense of danger behind every mirror, and you've got something truly special.

While the pacing lags in a few spots, the originality and emotional depth more than make up for it. If you enjoy dark fairy tale retellings with heart, science, and a dash of sarcasm, this one's for you.

Hemlock & Silver is a reimagining of the story of Snow White. This was an enjoyable read with a good story and with interesting, well written characters. I would say that it does drag a little at times and the description of the magic system gets a little bogged down at times. I would still recommend checking this book out though, especially if you've enjoyed other books by this author.

Hemlock & Silver follows Anja, a Healer who studies poisons, as she is requested by the King to investigate his daughter's mysterious illness. This is a reimagining of Snow White and is a standalone novel.

I thoroughly enjoy Kingfisher's writing styles within her books. I find that it is full of descriptions, humour, good conversation between characters and all the threads are tied up nicely at the end of the book. Hemlock & Silver was no different in this respect and I thoroughly enjoyed the reimagining on Snow White and the new world we got to explore.

I found all of the characters incredibly interesting and I must praise Kingfisher for how she portrays the gradual development of the characters relationships with one another throughout the book. They definitely sneak up on you and it's nice to see them battling with their own flaws and insecurities throughout, kaing them feel more real. I especially enjoy the slow burn romance between characters as it's not overpowering and insta-love, it's a love born out of mutual respect for one another.

All of that being said, I can see how some readers might not enjoy the book. It is slow paced, despite being an average number of pages. It did seem like nothing was happening for a lot of the book and when someone was happening, it didn't move at a much faster pace. This wasn't a problem for me due to enjoying the writing style but it would put some readers off.

Overall, Hemlock & Silver was a great reimagining of a classic fairy tale with interesting and creepy twists and turns throughout. It is a book I would recommend to those who enjoy retellings.

4.5 stars rounded up

When I heard this was a dark reimaging of Snow White, I was ready for poisoned apples and an evil witch. What I got was a snarky cat, body swapping, infanticide, gossiping maids, mutilated reflections, and more. It was amazing.

Hemlock & Silver was nothing like I expected, and that's the magic of T. Kingfisher. Her retellings are so imaginative and make the story feel fresh, exciting, and somehow even darker than the originals.

The main character, Anja, is obsessed with poisons and seeking cures to deadly plants, animals, and minerals. When the king arrives at her doorstep requesting her help with his ailing daughter Snow, she reluctantly agrees and sets off to the far off palace. However, she soon discovers not is all as it seems...

I knew I was in for a treat with this book when she was snorting poison in the very first pages, and while the MC is detached in many ways, I was charmed by her wry wit and awkward interactions. The narration reflects her personality, offering a style not unlike Emily Wilde with its observant and studious tone. The pacing also captures this part of Anja, as she explores and researches all possibilities before tumbling into the truth.

If you want a darkly atmospheric book with a bit of romance, humour, and tragedy, pick this up now!

With the book being marketed as a dark remaining of Snow White, I was surprised to read a more cosy fantasy, but nonetheless it suited the plot and Anja's character. It felt like the first 20% of the novel was pure worldbuilding and giving several examples of why Anja was so interested in antidotes, to the point where it felt repetitive and I wanted to get going with the story.
However it did soon pick up and I enjoyed the new take on elements of the original Snow White fairytale, along with a very slow burn romance in the background.

In Hemlock & Silver, we follow Healer Anja, a woman in her thirties who studies poisons and creates antidotes. At the start of the book, she’s approached by the King whose daughter, Snow, is getting increasingly unwell and who he’s afraid may have been poisoned. Anja is appointed two bodyguards, Xavier and Aaron, and journeys to visit the Princess. Upon arrival, she realises that things are not as they seem and must unravel the mystery before Snow deteriorates further.

I thought this was a really clever and interesting re-telling. It definitely reads as a classic T Kingfisher novel, with a heroine who is more of an everywoman than you typically see in fantasy novels, and her sardonic brand of humour. And the overall vibe definitely felt quite reminiscent of Swordheart. I loved Anja and her prickly (although not actually that prickly) personality, Snow had a mysterious air that kept me guessing until the end, and Grayling, the cat, was a great addition. There’s also a little romance subplot, which I enjoyed, and overall it was just a good, fun time.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this book.

Hemlock & Silver is pitched as a dark Snow White retelling, but it’s more of a whimsical reimagining with light fairytale vibes than a creepy or gothic tale.
Think: low-stakes magic, an older, capable protagonist, and a talking one-eyed cat who may or may not be judging your every move. It reminded me a lot of Water Moon or the Emily Wilde Trilogy.

Anja, a 35-year-old healer and poison expert, is sent by the king to investigate his daughter Snow’s mysterious illness.
Anja searches for answers until a magical mirror reveals a hidden world that may hold the key to Snow’s sickness.
But the deeper Anja steps into the mirror-realm, the stranger and more dangerous things become.

The story takes its time getting started. There’s a lot of worldbuilding, medical theory, and setup that can feel slow, but once Anja stumbles into the mirror world (with help from a narcissistic cat), the story picks up. The mirror magic is clever and enchanting, and I loved how it played with the idea of reflection and perception.

Anja herself is a refreshingly pragmatic, witty, and easy to root for protagonist. The kind of heroine who just wants everyone to stop getting poisoned, please.

This isn’t a high stakes fantasy or sweeping romance (though there is a soft, VERY slow-burn romance subplot).
It's not dark, not scary, but instead, Hemlock & Silver is a fun cosy magical tale with characters who feel like people you’d want to sit next to at a small-town inn.
I recommend this one if you're in the mood for a cosy, magical adventure!

Is there a cosy horror genre? Because this book definitely fits that oxymoron description. Described as a dark Snow White retelling, the book shares very few plot points with the classic fairytale. The princess is called Snow, and there are magic mirrors. Hemlock & Silver starts in Anja's workshop, where the king requests her to save his daughter, Snow, who may or may not be dying of an unknown poison. So Anja tracks out to hopefully save the princess. At first, the story progresses quite slowly, as she can detect none of the common poisons. But by chance, and with a little help from something that is mostly a cat, Anja stumbles upon a magical mirror world complete with an evil mirror queen, mysterious mirror beings, and an evil plot.
As always T. Kingfishers worldbuilding was impeccable and her characters soon felt like close friends. My only subtraction is the very small romantic subplot, that I could have done without.

A dark retelling of the Snow White story that manages to have plenty of humour in it and likeable characters. The story was slow to start but once it got going it was a quick and enjoyable read. The elaborate world building was excellent and the plot was tightly controlled. I really enjoy T Kingfisher's witty writing style and inventiveness.

Hemlock & Silver is a dark fairy tale retelling that’s more “inspired by” Snow White than a beat-for-beat reimagining - and I appreciated that. Rather than centering the familiar princess figure, the story focuses on Anja, a poison-expert healer who’s practical, witty, and refreshingly adult. Her voice and worldview were one of my favorite parts of the book. She’s not flashy or dramatic, but quietly brave, deeply curious, and often hilariously blunt in her inner monologue.

The beginning of the book does move slowly, and I’ll admit it took me a while to really settle into the story. There’s a lot of setup, including worldbuilding and medical details that sometimes felt like they paused the momentum. But once Anja reaches the mirror-world - and yes, the mirror magic is one of the coolest parts—it really starts to click.

As always with Kingfisher, there’s a cast of odd but lovable side characters (including a memorably judgmental one-eyed cat and a rooster I didn’t know I needed), and a slow-burn romance that’s quiet but sweet. The mystery of what’s really happening to Snow is unraveled in a satisfying way, even if Snow herself isn’t all that likable - which I think is intentional.

It’s not my favorite of hers (the pacing holds it back a bit), but it still has that signature blend of charm, creepiness, and cleverness that makes T. Kingfisher’s work so enjoyable. If you like dark fairy tales with a grown-up twist, a strong dose of humor, and heroines who are more brain than bravado, this one’s worth a read.

Hemlock & Silver is a retelling of Snow White but not as you know it! This novel featured the evil queen, mirrors and apples galore, but the eponymous heroine of the traditional story had a smaller role in this enjoyable reworking of the classic fairy tale. Snow was portrayed as young, misguided and rather unlikeable, so it was a relief that the novel was told from the point of view of Healer Anja who was far more down-to-earth and someone I could root for. Anja’s specialist knowledge and skills made her extremely valuable to the King who suspected that his daughter, Snow, was being poisoned. Hardly able to refuse a request from the King, Anja undertook the three-day ride to the remote location where Snow had been placed for her own protection and began her work.

I loved reading about a thirty-five-year-old woman going on an adventure. Unconventional as Anja’s day-to-day life in the city was, leaving behind everything she knew and embarking on a journey into the unknown took a great deal of courage, not least because of the personal risk involved if she were to incur the King’s displeasure. Her origin story which explained her interest in poisons and their antidotes was well thought out and I found her intellectual curiosity endearing.

This novel felt predominantly plot-driven and some explanatory passages, though necessary to ensure that readers understood the world and its magic, slowed the pace of the story. I thought that the plot was very imaginative and it was fun to revisit the Snow White fairy tale as an adult. Reading Hemlock & Silver also prompted me to pick up the version of the fairy tale written by the Brothers Grimm for comparative purposes. Suffice it to say, T. Kingfisher has taken a very different approach and direction in her retelling and this has worked well.

Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for an honest review.

Although I love T. KINGFISHER, this book was not on par with her other works. Specifically, i found that the story took quite a while to actually get started, and we spent too much time on unnecessary world building. Maybe it was just a way to fluff up the story.
I had a hard time finishing, simply bc I compare it to her other works which I devoured in one to two days, and this took me more than a week. The MC was also kind of meh, and I know Kingfisher can do way better.
All in all, this was still whimsical and cozy warm, just as is to be expected from this author.