4 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2025/08/14/review-hemlock-silver-by-t-kingfisher/
My Five Word TL:DR Review: This Author is My Catnip

I simply cannot resist T Kingfisher, I love her writing and she creates such great characters that you really relate to and Hemlock & Silver is no exception.

Let me count the ways in which I couldn’t resist:

Author – oh hell yes

Description – you had me at ‘a dark reimagining of “Snow White” ‘

Writing – beautiful as always

Anja – the central character. She clearly hasn’t heard of the saying ‘curiosity killed the cat’ because her inquisitiveness is off the charts. I love her character, she’s always questioning and she doesn’t balk at taking risks.

So, this is a dark reimagining of Snow White that has a strange and captivating Alice Through the Looking Glass feel (even a, sometimes helpful, other times not so much, cat). I can’t/won’t say more. In terms of the original fairytale and the elements that shine through here. well there are poisonous elements, apples, mirrors, a Queen hellbent on achieving her goals and a touch of Kingfisher-style romance.

As the story begins Anja is visited by the King himself, desperate to find help for his daughter who appears to be slowly dying. Surely she is being poisoned and Anja, following her years of study, does seem like the perfect person to investigate what’s actually going on. Of course, as soon as the would-be poisoner discovers Anja’s purpose she herself will become a target – which is why two guard’s are assigned to look after her at all times.

It seems however that nothing is quite as it seems and this is no simple poisoning. Anja and one of the guards (who definitely becomes a friend and eventually something more) discover a whole new world and as a result find themselves in a good deal of danger.

I really enjoyed this. It was a quick read and full of Kingfisher’s signature dark twists and intoxicating writing. I have my fingers and toes crossed for more fairytale reimaginings in the not so distant future.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

This was such a unique and refreshing retelling of Snow White! I had so much fun, even though the themes were a bit dark. I was hooked from the start, when the king comes to visit Anja just after she has drunk poison. I mean, it can't be bad after all start like that! Anja's narrating was unique and lively, and I genuinely enjoyed it. Even though it felt that it took awhile for the story to really start, I didn't mind it.

However, I would have loved the story to focus even more on the poisons. They were clearly Anja's lifework, but after the beginning we rarely saw anything like that. I understand, that as the story progressed new things were presented, and were certainly more interesting than the poisons, but the poisoning and poisons were the reason why this book hooked me and didn't let go.

Grayling was definitely the best part of the book and probably one of the only characters that felt really fleshed out. I feel like as Anja wasn't really a people person, we missed out a lot of the other characters which is a bit shame, as the side characters like lady Sorrel and Snow, and the King, are in my opinion the most interesting characters in the story.

The love story, even not a main part of the plot line, was so cute, and was like watching to idiots fall in love, who were too akward to tell each other that they like each other. However, this too felt a bit rushed, as Anja didn't really talk about the love interest a lot in her narrating.

Overall, I really liked the story, and would absolutely recommend if you want to read a bit dark, but refreshingly unique retelling of the Snow White. 4 stars!.

I'm obsessed with T. Kingfisher books but you know what, lately I've felt that maybe I was getting a little tired of her kind of writing, especially after delving into a lot of her backlist. So while I was immediately intrigued by the premise of <i>Hemlock & Silver</i> and I'll never stop reading Kingfisher books probably, I also was a little wary before getting into it.
Obviously, I was a fool.
This is perfection and I will never get tired of her writing. Honestly, this might be a new favourite of hers, right up there with Nettle & Bone. I think I just really really love Kingfisher's fairytale retellings, with all the horror and humour she works into them. Or maybe it's the &-effect.

"Hemlock & Silver" tells a very different Snow White story that really only takes the main ingredients of the fairytale to cook something completely new and unique. I loved every second of it. It is, of course, wonderfully written in the way that makes the world really come out of the book. It definitely benefitted from having one of the greatest protagonists ever, a kind-of-healer named Anja specialising in poisons which, for entirely scientific reasons, she far too frequently takes herself. She's in her mid-thirties, tall, curvy, awkward, blunt and also has a pet snake who she calls her colleague, so really, what's not to love?
When the king herself calls on her to figure out what's wrong with his daughter Snow, after killing his own wife when he found her cutting out the heart of their other daughter, she's thrown into one situation after the next that completely overwhelms her. And she deals with all of it in her very own way.
It was genuinely just a joy to read. Creepy at times, laugh-out-loud-funny at other times, perfectly crafted and with once again a great roster of side characters including the bestest talking cat to ever cat. I also quite enjoyed the romance this time around, Javier is just lovely.

So yes, my fatigue has been healed, I will once again order the most beautiful edition I can find and I will refrain from ever doubting the Kingfisher formula ever again.

A dark, creepy, suspenseful reimagining of Snow White, with a hint of the T. Kingfisher humour we all know and love. This book really ate, I could not put it down. We were not introduced to the "other world" in this book until half way through the book and that is where the story really began, but I still equally enjoyed the book, from beginning to end. I am amazed by the mind that is T. Kingfisher. How she manages to mix humour with darkness, write these "normal" everyday characters that you love from the very beginning and make up these complex and unique worlds and stories, down to every little detail. You can never guess what will happen next or what type of creature will be introduced next. And you can't forget the strange animals that are usually a part of her books, in this book there is a talking cat, and yes, the talking cat is exactly as you would imagine a talking cat to be, perfectly sassy and comes and goes as he pleases.
Like other books by T. Kingfisher, this one was very heartwarming at the same time as it was dark and twisted. Even though her world building is spectacular, it really are the characters that stand out in her stories. The main character is usually not some great warrior or hero, but just a person, in this case, a middle aged spinster who studies poison for a living. There is just something about following a regular person who has to go on an adventure or solve a mystery, it is not only humorous but also realistic in some way, you feel so much more connected to the character and you love them and root for them from the very beginning.
If you have read and enjoyed previous books by T. Kingfisher, I recommend you read this book. If you have never read a book by T. Kingfisher but are interested in this book, I also recommend you read this book, and be prepared to immediately go and read other books by her. This is the third book I read by her, and I know I will be reading many more in the future.

Anja is a master of poisons and their antidotes, having spent years studying and trialling, even ingesting poisons herself, in her unorthodox efforts to discover cures.

When the King appears at her door asking for her aid, her quietly studious life is flipped upside down. The King asks her to attend to his daughter, Snow, who appears to have a mysterious illness - the King suspects someone is poisoning her.

Anja begins investigating with the help of a guard tasked to protect her (in case the poisoner tries to target her, too) and a (hilarious) narcissistic talking cat. But as Anja delves deeper into the mystery, poison becomes less and less likely; there seems to be an entire world on the other side of the mirrors in the house.

Kingfisher takes us on a fairytale journey with a great cast of characters in this Snow White inspired horror/fantasy book steeped in suspense, magic and even romance.

If you have enjoyed Nettle and Bone, Thornhedge and A Sorceress Comes to Call by the same author, you will definitely enjoy Hemlock & Silver. This is a great story, and I 100% recommend it, especially if you enjoy fairytale retelling with dark themes. This wasn’t my favourite book from this author, but I still had a good time. The pacing was a bit of an issue for me; it was a slow start and then the end felt a little rushed. The magic itself I struggled to fully grasp. However, the characters and reveals were fantastic.

I rated this 3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

T. Kingfisher's Snow White retelling? Count me in! 😲💖

I loved that this story is the perfect middle ground between Kingfisher's fantasy, humorous and horror books. As in other fairytale retellings from her, here the elements from the original tale are present but she makes this story completely her own, delivering a fresh take on the classic we all know.

The main character was interesting and funny. I loved that she has a scientific mind, with a special interest in poisons. The way her passion and her studies are portrayed sound plausible for a medieval setting.

The beginning of the book was a bit slow but I enjoyed the meticulous way the main character approaches her task. All through the first half of the story I kept wondering how could this possibly become Snow White at some point 🤣 but when the mystery begins to unravel it's really satisfying.

There’s some gore and body horror, more in line with other works from the author but it gives this story a bit of darkness that works really well.

The romance was very sweet and unexpected, and I enjoyed the slow burn very much.

This was another great retelling from Kingfisher. If you enjoyed any of her previous ones you won’t be disappointed!

Anja is a poison doctor - she takes poisons regularly to work out what they do. She's a toxoicologist, really. She gets taken to a kingdom where the king's daughter is dying and she appears to be being poisoned. The mystery of what is wrong with Snow and who is behind it is the core thread of the story. There is a romance, but it's almost incidental (and lovely), with the mystery being the real core.
It's a Snow White retelling, so there's a lot about mirrors and apples and sleeping figures (no dwarves).
I really enjoyed this book. If you like Terry Pratchett, you'll probably like the tone of this one too.
It's quite dark and a little frightening in places. Not quite horror - I'd call is 'horror adjacent'.
The characters are wonderfully real. As with all of T Kingfisher's books, this is funny and interesting and quirky. I loved it.

9/10

The tale of Snow White has been told in many ways. "Hemlock & Silver" by T. Kingfisher proves that it can be presented not only in a novel way but also elevated to a whole new level. There are poisonous apples, a magic mirror, and Snow White herself, but all reflected and distorted as if in a hall of mirrors – seemingly familiar, yet uncannily different. Part fairy tale, part (body) horror, but above all, a great read in a distinctive style laced with intelligent humor (the very first sentence perfectly sets the mood).

We experience the story through the eyes of Anja, a poison specialist. The king's task of investigating the origins of his daughter Snow's mysterious illness reveals aspects of reality she never suspected, aspects, that her scientifically inclined mind initially dismisses as impossible. Putting the heroine in the presence of an unknown phenomenon and in uncomfortable situations allows for extensive world-building. Although there's a lot of information, delivered almost from the very first pages, it's presented in an accessible way so as not to overwhelm – the world is as fascinating as the plot itself. The action is unhurried at first, but quickly picks up the pace, leaving no room for boredom.

What I love about Kingfisher's novels is that the characters aren't "typical bookish." Anja isn't your typical fantasy heroine – she's 35, "strongly built," and somewhat socially awkward researcher in a not-so-respectable, not to say unnerving, field. The first-person narrative perfectly captures her unusual way of thinking, her sense of distance from others, and yet her passion for science. The supporting characters, though somewhat more "standard" (an enchanted princess, a "serious knight", a magical cat), are not just background characters but equal "partners", and the relationships between them feel "built" rather than just "written."

What can I say, I highly recommend it.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 4.0 stars.

This may be my favourite T Kingfisher book yet, I’m a sucker for a good fairytale inspired read.

The author created a weird and wonderful fantasy lightly based off of snow white, our main character is healer who seeks antidotes to poisons which leads her to trying to save Snow. This story has creepy villains and a mysterious plot that forces our FMC on the discovery of a lifetime. The side characters such as the cat and the guard were my favourites, they bring a lot of banter to the story and I never thought I’d be saying that about a cat.

I highly recommend this for a fun fantasy read with a grim plot that leads to a satisfying ending.

Let's hear it for sarcastic, smart gals in their mid thirties as the FMC in fantasy novels!

I've only read T Kingfisher's horror books to date, so I went into this not knowing what to expect, and I loved every minute of it. The book is filled with elements from the Snow White tale we all know but given a unique and dark twist. The characters are funny and human (even the non-human ones) and the magic system (not that Anja believes in magic!) is interesting. Pacing was great and there were quite a few little twists I didn't see coming.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars

I can't believe I've never read a T. Kingfisher book before - this book made this author a must-read for me!

This is a very loose reimagining of the Snow White tale but, if you don't like fairytale retellings, I wouldn't let that put you off as it is more of a fantasy book with some of the Snow White elements weaved in.

I really enjoyed this book, it's the perfect mix of mystery and dry humour with loveable characters. My first T. Kingfisher book but certainly won't be my last!

Hemlock & Silver is T. Kingfisher’s latest fantasy novel - a retelling of Snow White from the perspective of a healer specialising in poisons, Healer Anje, as she’s asked to investigate the mysterious influence of Snow by the King.

What then ensues is a plot similar to Coraline with being more of a bridge of Kingfisher’s horror and fantasy works combined. It’s a style unlike other books of hers I’ve read but definitely is easy to read, but slower than the others I’ve read. I’ve also seen a lot of mention of the romance subplot but I would emphasise that’s only really massively present in the last 15% - this book is about the retelling of Snow White so much more than the romance between Anje and her guard Javier.

I really did enjoy this - I love that the main character was older and in her 30s, I love the side characters especially Greyling and I love how rich the world is for a fairytale retelling. As with all of her works, I love how grounded the worlds are and feel - like so much more is going on than just this story, and I really enjoy that in my fantasy. My only issues were with some of the pacing in places.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor for my ARC copy - the review is my own honest opinion.

I was incredibly excited that my request to review the newest book by T. Kingfisher (AKA Ursula Vernon) was accepted, for she is one of my favorite writers of fairytale-esque fantasy. However, I should not have had my expectations so high, otherwise I would have enjoyed “Hemlock and Silver” a lot more, I’m sure of that. That’s the problem with having read so many of her books and having loved all of them, the level of enjoyment I expected was too high. So I was a bit sad, especially with myself, when these expectations were not really met. Having said that, I believe that anyone who chooses this book for their first Kingfisher experience will fall in love with her writing and her storytelling.

To me, the build-up was a bit too slow. I felt that nothing was really happening for at least the first 25% of the book and although on the one hand the worlbuilding is solid and well developed in terms of pace and explanation, on the other hand I had the feeling that there was a little bit too much of infodumping on the subject of herbs, venoms, poisons and antidotes. While this “masterclass” didn’t pull me back from reading it didn’t interest me enough to be fully engaged with the characters for a long time. At least not until the main protagonist proved to be more proactive.

This is the story of Anja, a woman who as traumatised by her cousin’s death by accidentally taking venom (Hemlock, hence the title) when both of them were children. Ever since that fatal day she took an interest in learning about poisons, or rather researching for ways to fight their effects. Anja is a rather blunt and matter-of-fact problem solver kind of woman. She is well into adulthood when the king comes for her help in saving princess Snow who, allegedly, is being mysteriously poisoned and so her life is in danger. Anja accepts the case and all kinds of adventures unfold from there.

The mystery that surrounds the princess’ alleged poisoning is more than borderline supernatural, demonstrating once again that Kingfisher is the queen of weird dark fairytales. She creates an interesting alternate world inside the mirrors that lightly reminds me of the settings of “Piranesi”, by Susanna Clarke. However, Kingfisher is as original as Clarke is in her own style. And that originality spreads all over the book even if the first half gave me lukewarm feelings.
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Do I recommend reading this book? Absolutely, yes. My advice for full enjoyment is to simply lower your expectations.

At this point I've read every t.kingfisher out in the wild and there isn't a single book of hers I have disliked. Clever, funny and engaging writing as always

If you want a fairytale retelling that's totally unique yet still retains the familiar, T Kingfisher is who to seek.
A Snow White inspired tale that keeps you guessing and with the traditional elements cunningly reworked in an engrossing way. An older fmc (yay) who specialises in poisons, Anja was a great character! The supporting cast were, as usual, instantly well fleshed out and engaging. I adore the way Kingfisher is graphic and creepy in her actions yet almost tempers it with wit and humorous reactions, utterly compelling.
If anything I wanted more from this, more time with the characters, more time solving the riddles and exploring the world, but honestly I'd read T Kingfisher's shopping list at this point and be grateful!
Thanks to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for the arc opportunity, all thoughts are my own and left voluntarily.

Hemlock & Silver is a funny, witty, complex fantasy that creates a world full of characters who stay in your heart. Especially the cat.

This is the second book by T. Kingfisher that I’ve read, and compared to Swordheart I liked it immensely more.

The plot is very simple: Anja, a great expert in poisons and antidotes, is hired by the king to save his daughter Snow, who is slowly being killed, probably by a poison.

Since it’s a retelling, there are many elements from the original story that are picked up and used in a way that I found very creative and interesting, especially regarding the mirror element.

Anja is an absolutely hilarious protagonist, who reminded me of Maomao from The Apothecary Diaries. She is a scientist and does not belive in magic. Everything she has known in her life is poison and research for more antidotes. She and the grey cat are by far my favorite characters.

I would have liked to see some of the characters from the beginning reappear at the end (I will avoid more details because I don’t want to spoil any of you this gem of a book) but aside from that detail, for me it was a perfect book.

The author is perfectly able to talk about disgusting things, yet manages to break the tension with comic elements that don’t feel forced, but simply reflect what a frustrated person would say in a hysterical moment. It felt very human and realistic.

Snow is a very peculiar character, and in my opinion she is well built as a twelve years old princess with a turbulent past.

It’s the perfect fantasy if you want a story with a worldbuilding that is distinctive yet familiar in certain aspects being a retelling, with a protagonist who analyzes everything through the scientific method (maybe even when she shouldn’t), and a talking grey cat who had me laughing out loud.

“I try not to judge anyone, man or beast, by appearances, but let’s just say that I had significant doubts that a cat with that expression loved anything except murder.”

It’s not very romance driven but I loved the subplot: it was important but it did not take the spotlight from the plot.

A cute cosy fantasy going on an adventure with main character, a healer named Anja. This was super fun as the plot is Anja going to heal the Kings daughter from a mysterious illness. I enjoyed the worldbuilding and Anja's main interest being poisons added an interesting aspect to her character. If course the cherry on top was the romance between Anja and her bodyguard Javier, the broody man and awkward spinster healer is a fascinating dynamic which lead to hilarious moments in their relationship developing.

A retelling of Snow White that falls in between Kingfisher's fairytale and horror stories.
Anja, daughter of wealthy trader, is a master poisons. Called upon by King to solve the mystery of his daughter’s ill health which comes just months after the death of her sister. Initially Anja is flummoxed, but with a stupid rooster, Grayling the not-quite-cat, a venomous snake, and a loyal bodyguard, she starts to uncover the truth (I hope you don't mind developing a fear of mirrors).
This is another great story from Kingfisher filled with more eccentric characters and creatures. I enjoyed Anja and her relationship with her guards – especially Javier – although I was slightly disappointed that Aaron gets side-lined. I loved the maid with her hair – what is going on? Is it really alive? I'll always favour a talking cat, so Grayling was always going to be a favourite, but he has competition from the rooster and snake.
A fun, interesting horror-ish twist on a snow white story. I wouldn't mind further adventures of poison master Anja and her loyal bodyguard.

I wanna start by saying that T. Kingfisher is one of my all-time favourite authors, and, not to be overdramatic, getting the chance to read an arc of Hemlock & Silver is genuinely one of the best things that’s ever happened to me. There’s something about T. Kingfisher’s writing and character development that is just so comforting and fun, without compromising the darkness and creepiness of her storytelling. Hemlock & Silver is up there with the Hollow Places in terms of favourites for me, and I’m so honored to be able to read and review it early!

Hemlock & Silver is a Snow White retelling that combines all of the classic elements of the original story in a new and interesting way. We follow Anja, a poison-obsessed healer who’s made it her life goal to research and develop antidotes to as many poisons as she can. When she’s approached by the recently widowed King about a suspected poisoning of his daughter, Snow, Anja becomes entangled in an otherworldly mystery involving strange apples and eerie reflections within the castle’s mirrors. Hemlock & Silver combines all of the things I love about T. Kingfisher: a smart and independent FMC with a strange job that she’s absolutely obsessed with, fantastic banter and chemistry between the characters (both romantic and platonic), and an atmosphere that is both cosy and creepy at the same time.

I honestly have nothing negative to say about this book. I loved Anja, the main character, and how she was so clearly autistic-coded. I loved the way the romance was woven into the story; it was the perfect amount to not detract from the plot or drastically change Anja’s characterisation, but just enough to have me genuinely giggling and kicking my feet. I loved the world that we got to explore, both the mundane and fantastical parts, and how atmospheric and at times legitimately unsettling it was. Oh, and there’s also a sassy talking cat who I would absolutely die for.

All in all, Hemlock & Silver is a fantastic novel that does a great job of retelling a classic fairytale while still standing on its own as a compelling, engrossing, and just plain fun story. It’s T. Kingfisher at her best, and yet another book to solidify why I will continue to pick up her work time and time again.

• I received an ARC for this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and I appreciate both your work and commitment to this project. The following opinion is my own and holds no major spoilers. •

• Hemlock & Silver
• T. Kingfisher
• Rating: 3.5/5

This was my second T.Kingfisher’s read but while the first made me feel like she had absolute narrative control over the story, this one made me doubt her writing skills.

First of all, I need to mention that this isn’t a romantasy and perhaps I was mostly excited for it because of it. There is a romantic subplot but it’s really subtle, which fortunately helps us to know the FMC’s personality and background much better. However (and perhaps this is the reason I didn’t enjoy the book as much), the story theme twists several times during the book and made me confused about what I was reading about.

Our FMC is proficient in the study of venom, poison and its antidotes (like some kind of apothecary) and when the king knocks on her door saying he fears the princess is being secretly poisoned but no one can find the cause, she reluctantly packs her bag to investigate the situation. This is what I thought the book was about, but it’s not.

Don’t get me wrong, I love getting surprise elements and it’s a thrill once I find out I was deceived somehow by the author and the story is entirely about something else. In this case, I just felt negatively baited.

This book is an Alice in Wonderland and Snow White retelling with a layer of warped fantasy that almost feels supernatural. I feel like I would’ve enjoyed this book so much more if I wasn’t so excited for the poison studies and investigation only to be met with a weird fable-like-ghostly story. I love fables and I love retellings, but the way the narrative is organized was confusing and it made me wonder several times why the hell did we have an apothecary for the main character in a story that isn’t about that.

Being the devil’s advocate here, I can see some people getting excited about the fact that the story is twisted to the point that even the FMC finds herself having to deal with things she’s not experienced in. (But then I feel like the author shouldn’t have taken so much time developing her academic background in flashbacks.)

I don’t have much to say about the male romantic interest since he’s just there for the sake of romance and barely developed. I also felt like the fantasy elements were kind of lazy and we would have had a better immersion in the antagonist’s POV if we didn’t waste so much time with the poison stuff that barely had any importance.

On the other hand, I loved the FMC and the way her mind works and it’s always a breath of fresh air finding myself reading a character that’s actually mature despite her inexperience in several things in her world. It’s adorable and interesting and the author never fails to amaze me in the way her dialogues are well-written in both their funny and dramatic situations.

All that being said, despite my poor impressions of this book and considering I *loved* T.Kingfisher’s Swordheart, I’ll keep reading her books like there’s no tomorrow until I find my next favorite one.