In this retelling of Snow White, poison expert Healer Anja is summoned by the King to solve his eldest daughter’s mystery illness.

Stumbling upon a secret mirror world, Anja gradually realises that the princess’s malady may have a supernatural source.

Led by a bold, unusual female protagonist, this is an interesting fantasy tale.

Enjoyed the mystery part of it, but wanted Snow to be more complicit or creepier than she was. I liked the characters, especially Anja and Javier, and the mirror-gelds were horrifying and terrifying. Overall enjoyable

Hemlock & Silver is a quietly haunting but loose retelling of Snow White, told from the perspective of Anja — a healer with a sharp mind, a steady hand, and an interest in poison. Far from the evil stepmother trope, Anja is thoughtful, practical, and deeply human, making her a compelling center for this eerie, emotionally resonant story.

T. Kingfisher’s prose is dry, clever, and deceptively simple, weaving subtle horror into familiar fairy tale elements — mirrors, apples, and beauty turned dangerous. The book explores power, agency, and the loneliness of being a woman who doesn’t fit the story she’s been given.

I love how the author can paint a whole world with few words. There's no excessive worldbuilding needed. Same goes for the side characters. They don't get much elaborated story but are never (!) redundant. Everything has it's purpose to complement the story.

While a few passages dragged, the payoff was worth it. This is a tale that lingers — quiet, unsettling, and full of sharp truths.

Kingfisher comes at us with another darkly humorous fairytale retelling, using the whimsical and witty writing style that we have all come to expect.

I really liked how unique this take on the tale of Snow White was, such an interesting and almost mad adventure. For me, the pacing was just a bit off and some sections did feel a little repetitive, making for what felt like a very long read.

If you adore T Kingfisher’s work then I do not think you’ll be disappointed whatsoever and I’d recommend giving this a go.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC.

T Kingfisher's books are hit and miss for me, and I came into this one sceptical, but I was very pleasantly surprised with how quickly I was drawn in and understanding the characters.
I really enjoyed this one

T Kingfisher has a way of taking fairy tales and turning them into something original and interesting to read and this Snow White-inspired version of her mastery was no different.

A poison expert is taken to a villa full of mirrors to heal a princess but all is not as it seems... From a grumpy cat to some weird and wonderful (albeit creepy) creations, I really enjoyed this one.

I will say, I felt like the romance happened very quickly and came out of nowhere a little bit, but the ending still had me smiling smugly.

If you like T Kingfisher's other work, you're going to love this, and if you're unfamiliar, I'd recommend giving it a go.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 — A Dark Fairytale Full of Wit, Heart, and Shadows

Hemlock & Silver is everything I love about T. Kingfisher’s writing—beautifully strange, darkly whimsical, and emotionally grounded. This book reads like a folk tale told around a fire deep in the woods: eerie, tender, and laced with dry humor that sneaks up on you in the best way.

The characters were a standout for me. The protagonist is both fierce and vulnerable, navigating a world filled with creeping horrors, half-truths, and ancient magic. Kingfisher has a knack for creating heroines who are smart, practical, and a little bit weary—which somehow makes them feel more heroic.

The world itself is gorgeously unsettling. The monsters are real and terrifying, but so are grief, loneliness, and love. There are moments of cozy domesticity and laugh-out-loud wit woven seamlessly with chilling encounters and emotional depth. It reminded me of why I fell in love with dark fairy tales to begin with.

I knocked off one star only because the pacing dragged slightly for me in a few spots—but honestly, that’s a small quibble in an otherwise enchanting and immersive read.

Highly recommended if you like folklore with bite, heroines with heart, and stories that linger like a shadow at the edge of a candle’s glow.

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, who is the coziest author of them all?
The answer is obviously T Kingfisher with her quirky retellings and unique protagonists and sweetly nonconventional romances.

When the King comes to you admitting he killed his wife after finding her with their daughter’s heart cut out and asks you to heal his seemingly poisoned remaining daughter, Snow, you don’t say no.

Even if Anja is 35 years old and a reluctant participant - she putters around her workroom and shoves charcoal down throats and occasionally up asses.

The first 40% is preparation and travel. However, this might have been my favourite part as the Anja really got to shine. She is knowledgable, blunt, and stubborn. Funny without meaning to be.

There is a talking cat, a venomous snake, a stupid rooster, an attentive guard…
And much more.

<b>Cats all know they’re smarter than you are, and they’re smug as hell about it. (This is not to say that there aren’t kind and loyal and humble cats out there. There probably are. I’m just saying that even the nicest cat in the world thinks it’s funny when you fall down the stairs.)
</b>
Whilst not overtly stated, I would say Anja is autism-coded. She is focused, prefers her own company, can spout lots of facts about poisons at the worst possible (and best) moments.

Arguably, this is T Kingfisher’s most romantic book. Not that I’m saying the romance was the main focus, but there was protectiveness, caring for her whilst she was sick, HAIR-BRAIDING!!!

This was also more fantastical than most of her other books. Confusing, weird, Snow White meets Alice in Wonderland vibes.

Maybe slightly too long, but enjoyable.

Arc gifted by Tor.

T. Kingfisher is always a sure thing when it comes to rewriting fairy tales with her unmistakable mix of wit and darkness. Hemlock & Silver is no exception. It’s a standalone, a dark retelling of Snow White, and like in her other works (Nettle & Bone, Thornhedge), she takes a familiar fairy tale framework and flips it on its head with originality and, yes... a touch of eeriness. I know it’s only halfway through the year, but this book shot straight onto my favorites list for 2025.

One of the things I love most about her books—and this one is no different—is her choice of adult protagonists, often women over 30, with all the emotional, mental, and practical baggage that comes with it. Anja is no exception: she’s sharp, smart, and deeply fascinated by poisons, which she studies with scientific precision. Like many of Kingfisher’s heroines, Anja is a “regular” woman—no grand destiny, no magical powers. She’s competent, used to getting by with what she has. Her strengths are experience, clear thinking, and observation. And that makes her feel incredibly real. She’s grounded, practical, not prone to drama or daydreams, but that doesn’t make her any less compelling. I loved her.

The relationship with Javier works because it’s measured. No insta-love, no unnecessary angst. It’s not one of those love stories that explodes out of nowhere or pushes itself into the plot. It grows slowly, gently, built on mutual respect, small gestures, honest conversations, and growing intimacy.

The side characters don’t get a ton of page time, but they all serve a purpose. No one is just background filler. Each one feels intentional, and you can sense the care Kingfisher puts into crafting even the most minor roles.

The worldbuilding isn’t vast, but it doesn’t need to be. The focus is elsewhere. What stands out is the world beyond the mirror—unsettling, strange, with its own magical logic that works because it stays consistent. Personally, I didn’t find anything overly complicated or confusing: everything made sense within the story’s rules and helped build a rich, eerie atmosphere.

The plot takes the core elements of Snow White—the mirror, the stepmother, themes of control and identity—and completely reworks them. Many aspects are flipped, hinted at more than directly shown. Kingfisher handles it all with subtlety, creating something familiar but refreshingly new. And that’s why it works so well.

The pacing is slow at first, sure, but with good reason: it builds mood and gives us time to really understand Anja—who she is, where she comes from, and why she approaches the world the way she does. After the first 30–40%, though, the tension picks up with more intense, unsettling scenes.

Kingfisher’s style is instantly recognizable to me now—sharp without being showy, with a dry humor that cuts through the darkest moments exactly when it’s needed. She knows when to be serious and when to let her characters breathe a little.

So, if you love dark fairy tales, clever retellings, and mature, grounded protagonists, Hemlock & Silver is one you shouldn’t miss. T. Kingfisher does it again: she takes a very old story and makes it feel new. And for me, it’s easily one of the best reads of the year.

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.