My first T. Kingfisher but it's not going to be my last. I loved this; the characters were complex and intriguing, the plot was fascinating with great pacing, and the prose was lovely to read. Really excited to jump into more from this author given how much I enjoyed this, can't recommend enough.

I wanted to love this one more. Unfortunately it did not grab me like I hoped or had come to expect T. Kingfisher's book to. The characters just lacked a little depth for what I would normally like and maybe just a tad to info dumpy for me.

Great story and plot. I loved the main female character. Can't go wrong with a kingfisher book. Shes just brilliant

Hemlock & Silver is an imaginative retelling of Snow White, but let me be clear—don’t expect it to follow the familiar fairy tale blueprint. This is T. Kingfisher we’re talking about, and she has a knack for taking something you think you know and twisting it into something dark, witty, and entirely her own.

The main character is interesting, fun, and refreshingly human. She’s not written to be the strongest, most beautiful, or most intelligent person in the room. Instead, she’s a fully fleshed-out character with flaws and quirks that make her feel real—and that makes her all the more compelling to root for. I loved that she was a strong female lead without falling into the cliché “perfect heroine” mold.

One of the things I didn’t expect was how little focus there was on romance. About 200 pages in, I honestly thought there wasn’t going to be a love subplot at all—and it was so nice to see the story hold its own without relying on that dynamic.

For most of the book, I was hovering at a solid 3-star rating. It was good, enjoyable, and I trusted Kingfisher’s storytelling. But then the last 100 pages hit—and suddenly I was convinced this was a 4-star read (snaps with fingers, waves, claps).

I’m continually impressed by T. Kingfisher’s reach as an author. And I have to admit—this book has me side-eyeing every reflective surface in my house.

Thank you, NetGalley and Pan Macmillan, for the ARC!

4⭐️

Sometimes retellings can be hit or miss but this was such a hit!! This is a snow white retelling but it was done so well. Some great storytelling as well as character development so I really enjoyed this story!! Can’t wait to read more by this author

Please note I also bought my own copy of the book.
4.5 Stars rounded up.

This is my second T Kingfisher read (I’m currently making my way through the Paladin books) and I think I’ll be trying to read through the back catalogue. I am really enjoying the writing and worldbuilding.
Absolutely adored Anja, both her character and her narration. The way she thought and her inactions with people felt very relatable to me. I also liked the spin on the Snow White story and the mirror world.
Also Grayling. Perfect. No notes.

3,5 stars

Hemlock & Silver is a loose retelling of Snow White. Instead of following Snow White or the stepmother, we follow healer Anja.

Anja is asked by the king to come and see if she can help his daughter Snow. He suspects that she is being poisoned but nobody has been able to find anything. With Anja's odd specialisation, he thought to ask her. Is it really poison? Or are apples and mirrors a bigger thing at play here?

As much as I did enjoy reading this book there were a few points where I felt that the book fell short. I had higher expectations of the role that the king was going to play for instance. He was conveniently gone for most of the book. I also had higher expectations about the poisons and the way that Anja uses them. The synopsis says that she drinks them. But it just didn't quite deliver on that specific front. Also the snake deserved a bigger role, lol.

The plot and its supposed twists weren't overly surprising. Kingfisher has weaved better plots I think. It was fine for this book but if you read a lot of Kingfisher I think it might dissapoint a little.

What I did enjoy was Anja as a character. She is a bit of a bigger woman and isn't used to the attention she is getting in the palace. She isn't quite sure how to be social among these people or if she can trust them. She finds herself much more comfortable around a cat that suddenly can talk, the snake she milks for poison and the rooster she uses to experiment on. The fumblings between her and the guard were mostly endearing.

As a whole it is a fine book but not a favorite from this author.

Eerie and darkly addictive! Only my second book by this author and it won't be my last.

I adored the interwoven vibes of a Snow White fairytale with the dark, twisted world of mirrors and reflections.

Just as much as I loved the fact that the FMC, Anja, isnt your typical protagonist. As an older reader, its great to see an older, curvier FMC in a fantasy read who can still spesk her mind and rock the heroine role! Anja definitely does that.

This was such an engrossing read. With reflection creatures, an evil Queen (of course) a quest to save a sick child and a super sweet slowburn romance this book had me hooked throughout.

Well deserved 5 stars for this very different (and creepy) read.

Hemlock and Silver was a creepy, gruesome and chilling Snow White retelling. It was definitely unique and at times, Kingfisher's imagery made my skin crawl, something she is very talented at doing in all of her books.
Anja was a unique character. She broke the mold of a traditional female book heroine and it was so refreshing. In her thirties, comfortable with her independence, her work and herself. It was so nice to read her perspective. Anja is a Poison expert. After her cousin died from ingesting a Poison when she was younger, Anja was desperate for every drop of knowledge about poisons and their antidotes. From then she absorbed every bit of new information that she could. While others thought this was quirky and slightly odd, maybe a reaction of grief following her cousin’s death, Anja just became more passionate about it. When we meet her she is working, and receives an unexpected visit from the King who has a big favour to ask her. He exclaims that he has killed his wife after he discovered her killing their daughter. Partly in shock, Anja’s blunt personality comes out when she’s dumbfounded on what this has to do with her. He has one request: travel to his estate where his other daughter Snow is residing and identity what is making her ill. Every other physician has failed to identify what ails her so Anja is the last resort.
After arriving, she gets to work learning everything she can about Snow but nothing can be identified as the cause of her illness. There seems to be something going on in Witherleaf and Anja, desperate to seek answers tries everything.
The story was really interesting. The twist on the original Snow White was cool and things were paced well. It as an enjoyable read and as we approach Spooky Season I think this is the perfect book to get you in the mood! My next read from Kingfisher is the Paladin series and I recently bought the gorgeous anniversary edition of These Hollow Places!
Thank you for the eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor/Pan Macmillan for giving me an ARC of this book to review. All opinions are my own.

Hemlock & Silver is a refreshing take on a retelling of the classic fairytale Snow White. Instead of being told from Snow White's point of view, we follow Anja, a healer whose interests lie more in poisons and their antidotes than actual healing. When the king suspects that his ailing daughter, Snow, is being poisoned, he recruits Anja to investigate. In the king's court, she finds herself caught in a whirlwind of mystery and magic as she races against the clock to save young Snow's life.

One of my favourite things about T. Kingfisher's books is her writing style. Her books are witty and humorous, while still maintaining a dark and fantastical edge, and Hemlock & Silver is no exception. It strikes a balance between mysterious and funny that kept me engaged through the whole story. I can acknowledge that T. Kingfisher's style may not be for everyone, but I absolutely love it.

I really enjoyed Anja as the protagonist. Her personality is well developed and interesting and imperfect, which made the book all the more enjoyable to read. I truly felt as though she was a person telling the story, rather than a generic character with a stock personality projected onto her (as can sometimes happen in books). The wider cast of characters was also very diverse, with a range of personalities that added to the story. I do wish that some of the "main" secondary characters were more fully fleshed out, but overall it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book.

Finally, I thought the plot managed to be unique while still staying true to the original Snow White story. Despite being familiar with the overall story of Snow White and roughly knowing how things would happen as a result, I was still on the edge of my seat along with Anja as she worked to solve the mystery of Snow's illness. My only critique is that I wish some of the worldbuilding had been explored a little more in-depth, especially at the end of the novel. A deeper exploration would have enhanced the wonderful story T. Kingfisher created.

Overall, Hemlock & Silver is an excellent book that I would recommend to both fantasy fans and fairytale lovers alike

4.5 stars

This was such a fantastic read. The main character, an older woman (around mid-30s), was instantly relatable and felt possibly neurodivergent in the way she viewed the world – I loved following her perspective. The humour throughout really landed for me, and the cast of side characters were brilliant, each quirky and memorable in their own way, adding real colour to the story.

There’s also a gentle sprinkling of romance, which was sweet without ever taking over the plot. My only slight complaint was that the pacing felt a little uneven, and I wasn’t quite as emotionally invested as I wanted to be, which is why it loses half a star. But overall, it was clever, funny, and warm – definitely one I’d recommend.

A cosy Snow White reimagining with clever twists and one very memorable cat

This was my first T. Kingfisher book, and while I’ve always heard how beloved her work is, I didn’t know what to expect going in. What I got was a gently surprising, slightly whimsical reimagining of Snow White with a main character I genuinely enjoyed following. It’s made me curious to pick up more of her books.

The story centres on Anja, a 35-year-old healer and poison expert who gets caught up in a strange royal mystery when the king himself brings her to court to investigate his daughter’s mysterious illness. What starts off feeling like a slow medical mystery gradually opens up into something much stranger, involving magical mirrors, unsettling mirror-worlds, and one narcissistic talking cat named Grayling.

At first, I thought I knew where things were heading. But the plot veered in directions I didn’t expect at all. There’s a grounded logic to Anja’s approach that makes her feel very real, and while the book has a gentle tone overall, there are moments of sharp darkness that keep it from feeling too fluffy. The romance subplot is soft and understated, which suited the story nicely without stealing the focus.

While I didn’t come away with wildly strong feelings, I still found it a really solid and clever read. I appreciated the blend of cosy fantasy, quirky charm, and thoughtful twists. It didn’t blow me away, but I liked it, and I’ll definitely be picking up more from Kingfisher in the future.

I always love a T. Kingfisher story, although that is exactly what it is: one story, always starring the same neurodivergent-coded slightly bigger slightly older protagonist, their wholesome traditionally masculine Paladin-coded love interest, and some sort of a fairy-tale inspired fantasy world with crumbs of the uncanny or otherworldly. In Hemlock&Silver, Kingfisher reworks the story of Snow White, starring a poison herbalist practitioner hired by the King to solve the mystery of his daughter Snow's strange illness. What follows is a distinctly Kingfisher mix of romance, problem-solving and inventive interpretations of the well-trodden story.

It is an above-average Kingfisher offering, not quite as full of spark and polish as A Sorceress Comes to Call or Nettle&Bone, but also not as bland as the Paladin novels or the enchanted sword series. I enjoyed the slower buildup and setup of Snow's mystery, whereas the more action-packed resolution wasn't quite as interesting or engaging. I liked the exploration of the mirror-world and the eerie feeling it hinted at. I enjoyed the main character and her story, her obsession with poisons and their cures and her motivation for pursuing her craft. Also, you can always rely on Kingfisher to create a sense of magic and wonder. I do believe she is at her best when she gets to reinterpret something, and not just fall into writing the one plot she can write from scratch (see the endless Paladin books). I liked her take on Snow White and the Queen, definitely not quite the story I have read before.

A darkly cozy fairy tale with a sharp edge Hemlock & Silver delivers dry wit, eerie atmosphere, and a wonderfully practical heroine. The story takes a slow start but builds into a clever, unique take on Snow White, complete with a creepy mirror world and a hilariously vain talking cat. Classic T. Kingfisher: weird, warm, and just the right amount of unsettling.

This book was not for me. I could not get into it. I really tried multiple times but something was missing. Hopefully I will try getting into it later and I hope it will be better. I did not finish this book but I do not think it’s bad. I liked the writing style and the setting. I am giving it 3 stars because I do not think it deserves less.

A very dark and twisted reimagining of Snow White 🍎

This was such a fresh take on the original fairytale which felt vibrant and unique. T. Kingfisher promises to deliver a rich story that felt reminiscent of the film Caroline with its twisted mirror world and unsettling parallels.

I found Anja’s character incredibly endearing, she was flawed, awkward but underneath it all she’s incredibly relatable. The romance subplot between her and her guard Javier was a nice addition without being overpowering to the plot, but at the end of the day the focus is on Anja and her quest to save Snow. I love an animal companion and so Greyling was the perfect addition, because who doesn’t love a sassy egotistical lil cat who talks?

This book was a wonderful blend of fantasy, horror and whimsical storytelling that I struggled to put down. This was my first T. Kingfisher book and it certainly won’t be my last.

4⭐️

T. Kingfisher does dark, atmospheric fairytales like no one else. This was a dark re-imagining of Snow White and it didn't disappoint. I really enjoyed the main 3 characters in this one including Greyling the fiesty one eyed cat. Can I keep him please? I love that Anya was a 35 year old woman (same as me) and was set on her world views, even if she was a little socially awkward.

I felt this had an equal amount plot, which continuously moved the story on, and strong characters that drew you in. And although the plot was a little predictable, the atmosphere was great and I liked that there was just a hint of a very sweet romance.

I would recommend this for fans of cosy fantasy, who like a little sprinkle of a dark creepy atmosphere.

Thanks to @netgalley and @bookbreakuk @torbookuk for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Everytime I read a book by T. Kingfisher I like it in the end but something is always missing. I still pick up new releases by the author and will in the future. Reading her books gives me a good feeling and I have good memories when I think about them later. And still I wouldn't rate any of her books 5 stars.
Kingfisher has a recipe for her standalone books and these are the ingredients:

- 30+ grumpy, nerdy woman
- friendly dude who becomes her sidekick and sometimes ends up getting her loveinterest
- nerdy woman + friendly dude explore a mystery
- themes from fairytales are getting mixed and matched and also reused from time to time (portals, changelings, speaking animals, ...)

This book for example had the 30+ nerdy woman, the friendly dude, the mystery and some elements from her other books such as the portal and the speaking animals. It was a mix of Nettle & Bone, A house with good Bones, Thornhedge, The hollow Places. I like those books so when I see those elements again and again it doesn't bother me much, but I think it should be mentioned.
I was really intrigued when the mirror world was discovered. It was so creepy and unsettling. I even thought about it at night. But then they start to explore the world and find how the rules are in this place and who lives there. At the end there was not much left of the mystery and creepiness. The humorous tone of T. Kingfisher took over - which I really like by the way - and I wasn't that much intrigued and unsettled anymore.
In the end my attention drifted off a little bit and then it was over. And as I mentioned in the beginning - I'm left with a good feeling, even if I'm not completely satisfied.
By the way: Did I miss it or is the antidote for hemlock never discovered?

This was my first T. Kingfisher and it will absolutely not be my last, I'm reading the back catalogue immediately.

This was a familiar story of Snow White with a sinister twist and I really loved the way that this was done. Spooky retellings of fairytales including cats and poisons? SIGN ME UP!!!!

Thank you to Tor and Netgalley for an eARC of this book in return for my honest opinion.

T. Kingfisher’s Hemlock & Silver is a gorgeously gothic fairytale that balances eerie atmosphere with sharp humor. It’s haunting, clever, and cozy in the strangest way—equal parts dark fairytale, fantasy, and slow-burn charm.

Kingfisher’s writing is as witty as ever, with characters that feel vivid and alive, and a story that slips between the eerie and the heartwarming without losing its edge. It’s one of those rare books that makes you laugh, shiver, and think all at once.

If you’re into:
🌿 Twisted fairytales
🐈‍⬛ Witty companions
🪞 Gothic fantasy with cozy horror vibes

…then this one belongs on your shelf.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)