Hemlock & Silver is the eerie retelling of Snow White that you never knew you needed.

Kingfishers writing is, once again, fantastic. As always, the creepy vibes are there, the wit is there but best of all, one of the things I love the most about Kingfishers work, the relatable characters are there. She remains one of my favourite authors because she writes main characters who are often in their 30s+, aren't always conventionally pretty, are diverse in many ways and usually have an animal sidekick. The romance is gradual, gentle and absolutely the side show to the main event. Which works for me because romance is rarely my first choice.

Hemlock and Silver is simultaneously cosy and creepy and I'm not sure I'll ever quite look at a mirror in the same way again.

DNF (FOR NOW!!)

I’m intrigued by this book, and I can easily recognize this might be a case of right book, wrong time, so I will put it down for now, but I very much plan to pick it up again in the future

I really liked this!

I am pretty new to reading T.Kingfisher (this is my second book by her) but I’ve enjoyed so far seeing her different range / the similar things she does bring to each novel.

I loved how she took on the story of Snow White and made it her own. At some points, I really didn’t know where this was going — and that wasn’t bad! It was nice to be surprised with how the story could be twisted in to something new / different. I will say though I did not always understand the mirror world stuff and sometimes found the explanations contradictory and hard to understand, but this only irritates me at times . . . It did not, thankfully, have a large influence on how much I enjoyed the novel.

I really loved Anja and her curiosity about poisons and how she was always so unapologetically herself. It was great to see her not try to bend and twist herself to fit in to a shape she thought other people wanted to see her in. Of course she had her moments of self consciousness and doubt, but all of this made her feel so human. I loved her relationship with the guards, one in particular…

I like how the romance felt natural — even if it was pretty quick! I thought it was sweet.

I loved the cat.


This was a pretty good book and I’m excited to keep exploring more of T. Kingfishers work!

Hemlock and Silver is my second book by T Kingfisher and really enjoyed it, the writing is always so atmospheric with vivid descriptions and just the right amount of creepy and mysterious elements in the stories that are created that makes it so fun and engaging. I finished this book in two sittings I just found it such a joy to read.

It is a fun snow white retelling following the slightly quirky Anja, a healer also so fascinated by poisons who finds herself hired by the king to cure his ill daughter Snow. While trying to discover the mystery behind her illness Anja finds an alternate mirror world that might cure Snow or be the thing that brings the downfall to others. I found Anja so relatable and instantly loved her humour and the way she handles things and the situations that she finds herself in and just how refreshing it was to have a FMC who is older, awkward, intelligent and has a wicked dry sense of humour.

While the beginning did feel a little slower paced especially as we learn about all the different poisons and antidotes, I found it soon picked up and with the end making it so worth while. I loved that while the romance was more of a sub plot it still felt bittersweet and full of such beautiful moments.

I highly recommend to anyone who loves twisted fairytale retellings that feel original with clever twists and a slow burn romance that doesn't overshadow the plot.

Thank you so much to Publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book before publication, these are my honest thoughts and opinions.

I think this is my favourite fairy tale retelling from Kingfisher, though I did also really enjoy A Sorceress Comes To Call. I appreciated the older heroine in this one, who has advantages (wealthy family) but also challenges. The story beats from Snow White were recognisable, but only from a distance. I appreciated that all of the main characters (and some of the side ones) had personal growth / changes as the story progressed.

This book has Kingfisher's standard dry wit, I definitely cackled a few times while reading this. It also includes her usual creepy/borderline horror elements, though these weren't as pronounced as some of her other stories (including ASCTC).

I haven’t read much from T.Kingfisher before, I think I’ve only read a couple of horror books from her before and I’ve never read a fantasy book by her. I was thrilled to get approved for this by Netgalley (thank you!) as it’s a Snow White retelling, and I typically love Snow White retellings these past couple of years.

A thing that I immediately loved is our protagonist is 35 years old and a fat woman, neither of these things I see in fantasy very often (basically not at all actually). Not only that, but both things were brought up multiple times throughout the book rather than referenced briefly and ignored. Someone that is older than 30 and fat would normally be a side character and there for comedic reasons or to help the main characters but serves no other purpose than that. I loved that we got to see someone like this be the main character.

Alongside that, when we meet Snow, she’s just a normal child instead of what children in fantasy are normally like. They don’t behave like children, they come across as more ‘grown up’ or wise beyond their years or something like that, but Snow is immature, silly and impulsive, like any other child her age.

Another thing I loved about her is her love for curing poisons, her obsession with poison, and her commitment to finding out the truth. It was so interesting, as someone that doesn’t know much about flowers. I also don’t know much about historical accuracy, but it at least appeared that the author knew what she was talking about, which I also enjoyed.

Things were described so vividly and it made it easy for me to picture this unfolding in my head like a film. The writing was gripping, humorous and a page turner. My favourite was definitely the cat and, as a lover myself, described them very accurately. They act like they are barely tolerating you but they’ll still cuddle you in bed at night.

A thing that I didn’t love was the romance. It felt underdeveloped and there wasn’t nearly enough time on it. I think the book should have been a little longer so that we could see a relationship build up between the love interests, and feel chemistry between them.

I can’t wait to read more fantasy from Kingfisher and I bought Padadin’s Grace shortly after finishing this because how fun!

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Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher
Hemlock & Silver
by T. Kingfisher
netgalley-arcs
Hemlock and Silver was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and I was so excited when I got the ARC. So thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the ARC. All opinions are my own.
It's no surprise that I loved this book. I am a huge T. Kingfisher fan. Hemlock and Silver is another one of her dark fairy tale retellings. In this case it's a Snow White retelling. Instead of Snow White being the main character her we have Anja, a poison expert hired by the king who wants her to figure out who and how is poisoning his daughter. I loved this different take on Snow White. T. Kingfisher's blend of humor with some seriously creepy elements is perfect. The world building was also very interesting. I really liked our main character Anja. She was delightfully quirky. Her bluntness often made me laugh out loud. I also liked a dash of romance and I think Anja and Javier were sweet together. Their dialogue ( grunting 😁) was very cute and funny. We also had an animal companion in a form of a very sarcastic and opinionated cat
Overall I really enjoyed Hemlock and Silver. It had me hooked from start to finish. It was a fast read and I couldn't put it down. I highly

Over the past few years, T. Kingfisher has truly cemented her place as one of my favourite authors, and Hemlock & Silver is yet another fantastic addition to her impressive list of works.

This novel offers a fresh and unique retelling of Snow White. It’s a story that slowly unravels, taking its time to build the world and set the stage. At first, I found it a little challenging to fully immerse myself, but once the plot picked up, I was hooked. The twists and unexpected turns kept me engaged and eagerly turning the pages.

What I love most about Kingfisher’s writing is her ability to create compelling, relatable characters. Each one feels real, with their own quirks, struggles, and growth throughout the story. Her signature quirky, clever writing style shines through here once again, bringing the characters and the world to life in the most endearing way.

All in all, Hemlock & Silver is another solid, enjoyable read from T. Kingfisher. While it took me a little while to get fully invested, it definitely delivered in the end, and I can't wait to see what she does next.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Overall, I really enjoyed this and rated it a 3.5 stars.

I enjoyed the characters, loved the world building and thought the romance was really sweet, The horror elements were really creative and the imagery incredibly strong.

However, I did find myself skim reading some of the really long, info dumpy portions of the story which slowed the pace down quite signicantly. The twist, reveal of the villain, and the ending was quite predictable.

I'd definitely recommend this book to people but there were elements of the story that were quite weak. Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan and netgalley for this earc!

Let me convince you to read this book only by its opening line: ''I had just taken poison when the king arrived to inform me that he had murdered his wife."

ICONIC. And it just gets better and better.

An apple a day keeps the healer…investigating a poisoning of Snow White? This author takes the Snow White tale, steeps it in poisons, mirror-magic, existential dread, and academic sass, and somehow makes it feel both wholesome and deeply unhinged and at times even horrifying? I can't even begin to understand how she balances those themes, but she does it brilliantly. Our heroine isn’t a blushing maiden, she’s a mid-30s, socially awkward healer with a dry sense of humor and a deep respect for toxins.

There’s an insufferable princess. A definitely suspicious magic mirror. And a CAT with more attitude than sense, who offers vague wisdom in exchange for salmon and side-eyes everyone like they owe him rent. This book is strange, smart, and so darkly funny I was cackling. I loved every second.

Tropes you’ll feast on like a poisoned apple:
🍎 Dark Snow White Retelling
🪞 Mirror magic, but make it unsettling
😾 Talking Cat with a superiority complex
🧪 Poisons, antidotes, and medical mysteries
🏡 Cottagecore meets castlecore
💀 Mild horror, maximum sass
💔 Slow burn romance (No insta-lust, hallelujah)
👩‍⚕️ FMC over 30 and would dissect you for science

Hemlock & Silver is what happens when you cross a grim fairytale with a biology lecture and then throw in a talking cat who roasts everyone. T. Kingfisher once again proves she’s the queen of Weird Fairytales. I’d read an entire trilogy about Anja’s poison experiments alone, but I stayed for the mystery, the sly humor, the eerie mirror world, and THAT CAT. I beg of you: read this book. For the science. For the sass. For the salmon-demanding feline overlord. I have never read anything like it.

This was my first T Kingfisher book and after that I will definitely be checking out their other books!

The book gets straight into the action and gripped my attention from the start, with the king announcing to our fmc Anja that his daughter, Snow, is sick and he needs her help to find out why and save her.

I liked the witty comments in this from our fmc and how straight forward she was, and there was a talking sarcastic cat! Throw in a Snow White inspired plot full of mystery and you’ve got yourself a pretty interesting read!

I liked that Anja was older as it’s a nice break from the usual younger fmcs we see a lot in fantasy, and I found her career as a healer interesting. She was blunt and knowledgeable, coming across as a strong female rather than delicate and dainty and weak which is always fun to read.

I had a lot of fun reading this, the writing was smooth and flowed nicely so this was a breeze to read. The plot twist I did not see coming, and it was interesting reading and trying to work out what this plot twist meant and what was really happening to the kings daughter Snow.

It maybe could have been cut down a bit in parts, but overall I enjoyed this read and would recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Hemlock & Silver is a Snow White retelling… but honestly, I didn’t realize that right away. I was way too focused on Healer Anja, a woman who feels far too advanced for the time in which the book is set. She doesn't belong in a cozy little kitchen making soup—she belongs in her workplace, studying antidotes and messing around with poisons while keeping venomous snakes as companions.

The book opens with the king arriving at Anja’s home, and it captured me from that moment.

"I had just taken poison when the king arrived to inform me that he had murdered his wife."

Why is the king here? Because his daughter—Snow—is dying, and only Anja might be able to save her.
Yes, the “Snow” part should’ve clued me in on the fairy tale retelling, but I was too invested in the poison lore and Anja’s vibe to notice.

This book is smart, fast-paced, and hilarious. Every page throws a new problem at Anja—assassinations, magic gone wrong, shady politics—and she deals with it all while being sarcastic and sleep-deprived.

I’m not the only one to say that Anja seems to fall (you’ll get the joke when you read the book) into every mystery. Here’s a quote for our (mine and yours, after you read it) grumpy guard:

“Healer Rinald doesn’t get into trouble every time I leave him alone for five minutes.”

Now, while both Anja and her guard are amazing characters and I love their dynamic, my favorite is Grayling. I fell hard for this grumpy little beast. When Anja worried about a potential attempt on the king’s life, Grayling simply said:

“A man who has never, to my knowledge, fed me.”
That’s a cat if I’ve ever heard one.

What I really loved was how the book blends medicine, magic, and mystery so seamlessly. The study of venom and antidotes is central to both the worldbuilding and the plot, which made everything feel grounded despite the fairytale roots.

Final thoughts: it’s sharp, clever, and weird in the best possible way. A delightful read that starts with poison and ends with me screaming, “Why didn’t I read T. Kingfisher sooner?!”

HEMLOCK & SILVER - T KINGFISHER

I don't read a book's synopsis right before I jump into it; I prefer being surprised and following the twists and turns as they come up. That's just my personal preference, but, oh man, Hemlock and Silver surprised me over and over again - and in the best ways possible.

Poison expert Anja is summoned to assist with the King's daughter, Snow, who's wasting away from suspected poisoning. There's also been some recent dark history associated with the royal family, which may or may not be connected.

Judging from the above, I thought that this was going to be a poison whodunnit, but it is so, SO much more. The twists genuinely surprised me, changing the entire direction of the storyline at times. Hemlock and Silver is a retelling of Snow White, but T Kingfisher takes the reader on an utterly unique journey.

I don't want to give anything away, so I will instead say that this is one of my favourite reads this year. I loved Anja, who is unapologetically her quirky self. I loved the super-judgmental talking cat sidekick. I loved the sweet spice-free romance. I love how this entire book reads like a new fairytale, not shying away from dark events but also somehow still making this book feel slightly cosy too.

Thank you to T Kingfisher, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC.

Release date: 21 August 2025

Review score: 5/5

TWs: d*ath, violence, injury detail

First off massive thanks to Tor/ Pan Macmillian for letting me read this as an ARC!!
This has been an absolutely thrilling read from T Kingfisher. Hemlock and Silver is a fantastic twist on the fairytale of Snow White which keeps elements of the original tropes but reinvents them into something completely original. I am absolutely in love with her world building, especially the way in which she presents religious beliefs.
I could relate to Anja, glad to see someone in their mid 30s rather than a teenager who was ‘gifted’ in her craft. Her guard, Javier stole my heart. And a talking cat? Brilliant!
Kingfisher manages to blend, fantasy, horror and a pinch of slow burn romance on into one book. Along with a dash of wit, that had me laughing when I was close to screaming at points.
So all in all it’s a 5 star for me 🥰

T. Kingfisher is the master of a unique retelling. The original Snow White is quite dark and the way this story develops upon that darkness in a fresh and fearsome way is amazing. The initial plot was slightly slow and cozy before it ramped up and shook me to my core. There’s far more than apples to fear in this tale! Saying that there is also a sweet and awkward romance sub-plot, a talking animal companion (with plenty of personality) and a castle backdrop. These cozy elements created that balance I find with this authors work, it’s twisted but also strangely wholesome.
I feel this was also very well researched, I loved the academia aspect and exploration of poisons. The FMC is very much a curious person who is focused and a force. An absolute joy to read about!
I definitely recommend for those wanting that fairy tale magic with a sinister twist. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

5 stars as always T kingfisher never fails what an amazing re telling. It was written well and flew beautifully I fell in love with this book now I cannot wait until my SE of it is here!!

Hemlock & Silver is a darker retelling of Snow White. True to T. Kingfisher's style, it combines both dark and cozy elements. I like how she takes a well known story and makes it unique and original. Also, there is a talking cat, which is always a bonus for me. I love everything T. Kingfisher writes and will continue to read her newest books. Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

T. Kingfisher is one of my favourite authors and who loves to use the bones of a fairytale and create something fresh. This is a story very loosely connected to Snow White with our main protagonist being Healer Anja narrating the tale.
Since a childhood encounter with a poison induced fatality, Anja became focussed on why antidotes to poison were so rare and often ineffective. This leads to a lifelong and thorough study and testing antidotes and the poisons on herself or non-compliant roosters! Her reputation spreads and so she finds herself with the King in her workroom asking her to help his daughter Snow, who has sickened but without any definable cause. Anja was selected as she is not associated with the court and its politics and thus is a neutral party - to further ensure this once she has agreed to help she is assigned two guards Javier and Aaron.
The journey to Witherleaf passes through a desert environment and we learn more about the Saints of this world - all based on animals and who saved the people from the vagaries of the original Gods. As part of the Kings entourage Anja is looked after although the gossips are soon at work linking her to the King as his mistress. Once the party arrives at Witherleaf the mystery deepens and Anja needs to use all her analytical skills to solve the puzzle she is presented with - Snow's illness, the mirrors from Silversea, Lady Sorrel, and a one-eyed cat called Grayling.
I loved Anja voice throughout this, a sensible middle aged woman of a scientific nature but not adverse to a gentle romance. To say more would include spoilers which I am loathe to make as I found this book a joy and one I couldn't put down. In tone it is very much like the Swordheart books where a strong, independent older woman is at the heart of the story. My recommendation is to read this and anything else you can find by the author!
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for access to this ARC - all views are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I couldn't put this book down – absolutely loved it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Snow White, But Make It Weirdly Scientific and Potentially Toxic 🍎🪞

If Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher were a potion, it would be one part dark fairytale, one part academic thesis, and two parts “wait, did that cat just insult me?”

It’s a retelling of Snow White, but don’t expect singing dwarves or woodland creatures doing chores. Expect poisons, passive-aggressive child royalty, medical emergencies with no obvious cures, and a protagonist who has the social grace of a spiky mushroom but the heart of someone who would absolutely dissect said mushroom to figure out its botanical properties. Move over Prince Charming, we’ve got a woman with a pestle and some very pointed questions.

Anja is a poison enthusiast, socially awkward healer, and the kind of woman who would respond to a plague by asking for a tissue sample. She’s the perfect heroine for a dark fantasy; intelligenct but with a barely-repressed desire to test poison on herself when thinking of the scientific discoveries and achievements. But when she is summoned by the King to save his mysteriously ill daughter, Snow, even Anja cannot refuse the King.

If you’re a fan of Nettle & Bone and Thornhedge, or enjoy that gritty fairy tale realism vibe, Hemlock & Silver is very much in the same deliciously twisted and enchanting vein. The mystery unfolds in layers, like a cursed onion. Everyone's clearly hiding something, the castle is full of uneasy silences, and the magic mirror? Let’s just say it’s less “mirror, mirror on the wall” and more “interdimensional trap.” But through it all, there’s a comforting familiarity in the tone and a romantic subplot to be enjoyed as well.

In summary: Hemlock & Silver is Snow White if the apple came with a toxicology report, the heroine carried a poisoned chicken, a strange cat demands salmon in return for vague answers, and the magic mirror was hiding a whole cursed ecosystem. I adored this and I absolutely recommend.