Hemlock & Silver
An Instant New York Times, USA Today, and Indie Bestseller
DELUXE EDITION—a gorgeous hardcover edition featuring bright green sprayed edges, a foil stamp on the casing, and custom endpapers illustrated by the author.
From New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award-winning author T. Kingfisher comes Hemlock & Silver, a dark reimagining of “Snow White” steeped in poison, intrigue, and treason of the most magical kind
Healer Anja regularly drinks poison.
Not to die, but to save—seeking cures for those everyone else has given up on.
But a summons from the King interrupts her quiet, herb-obsessed life. His daughter, Snow, is dying, and he hopes Anja’s unorthodox methods can save her.
Aided by a taciturn guard, a narcissistic cat, and a passion for the scientific method, Anja rushes to treat Snow, but nothing seems to work. That is, until she finds a secret world, hidden inside a magic mirror. This dark realm may hold the key to what is making Snow sick.
Or it might be the thing that kills them all.
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Community Reviews
If you are a fan of fairy tale retellings, this one is worth your time. T. Kingfisher's reimagining of Snow White is funny, suspenseful, and dark in all the right ways. The pacing is great. It takes its time building atmosphere and drawing you in before the action and horror kick in. The story wraps up cleanly with no loose ends, which I appreciate.
Anja is a healer who specializes in poisons and venoms, summoned by the king to uncover what is slowly killing his daughter, Snow. It is a clever reimagining of the source material, and Anja's expertise gives her a unique perspective that makes this feel like a fresh take on a familiar story.
Her dynamic with Javier is one of the highlights. They share funny moments, tender moments, and conversations with real depth that give you a little romance along with the fantasy. A few surprises along the way round it out nicely. This was my first T. Kingfisher book, and it will not be my last. I've already added A Sorceress Comes to Call to my list!
wholesome, poison science, fairytale vibes, lovely character dynamics as always, great animal companion (based on the author's cat yes i teared up when i read those acknowledgements). Another T. Kingfisher for the win!
Edit : i'd like to add that the supernatural element was introduced pretty far into the book and was a good surprise!
but i also really thought some answers to the mystery were obvious but also the characters are like. very very tired and living all of this in a few days? so it's fair lmao
Edit : i'd like to add that the supernatural element was introduced pretty far into the book and was a good surprise!
but i also really thought some answers to the mystery were obvious but also the characters are like. very very tired and living all of this in a few days? so it's fair lmao
When you pick up a fairy tale retelling, you expect the usual suspects: dwarves, a pretty passive Snow White, maybe some woodland creatures singing backup. Hemlock and Silver politely tosses all that out the window. Sure, there are poison apples and mirrors (more like mirror-worlds), but Snow herself? Basically a side quest.
The real star is Healer Anja — and I adored her. She’s got the driest humor, a brain that insists on logic even as magic keeps smacking her in the face, and the kind of inner commentary that makes you feel seen. (Case in point: in a near-death moment she considers confessing her crush to her bodyguard… but only if she’s seconds away from dying, because who has the energy for that mortification while alive?).
Also: she’s a poison doctor. T. Kingfisher continues her streak of delightfully bizarre, oddly specific protagonists (looking at you, insect scholar from A House With Good Bones). The mystery of who’s poisoning Snow weaves neatly with Anja’s puzzle-solving, the banter sparkles, and the horror elements? Just enough to give you a shiver without hijacking the whole story.
All in all: smart, funny, and unexpectedly charming. If you like your fairy tales spiked with poison, logic, and wit, this one’s a winner.
The real star is Healer Anja — and I adored her. She’s got the driest humor, a brain that insists on logic even as magic keeps smacking her in the face, and the kind of inner commentary that makes you feel seen. (Case in point: in a near-death moment she considers confessing her crush to her bodyguard… but only if she’s seconds away from dying, because who has the energy for that mortification while alive?).
Also: she’s a poison doctor. T. Kingfisher continues her streak of delightfully bizarre, oddly specific protagonists (looking at you, insect scholar from A House With Good Bones). The mystery of who’s poisoning Snow weaves neatly with Anja’s puzzle-solving, the banter sparkles, and the horror elements? Just enough to give you a shiver without hijacking the whole story.
All in all: smart, funny, and unexpectedly charming. If you like your fairy tales spiked with poison, logic, and wit, this one’s a winner.
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