Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher is a 368 page standalone novel published in 2025 by Tor Books.

Genre:

Fantasy, Fairytale Reimagining

Synopsis:

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.

Opening Line:

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

My Thoughts:

Five isn’t a lot when it’s grains of rice, but a great deal when it’s bites of hemlock or forty-foot monsters.

Another lovely story from one of my autobuy authors! This one includes:

➼ A thirty-something big and tall scholarly female main character
➼ The mystery of how a twelve year old princess is getting poisoned
➼ Frightening magic mirrors (just wait until you meet the mirror-gelds!)
➼ A dash of romance
➼ A very special and cryptic cat

Hemlock & Silver is a reimagining of the story of Snow White (not the Rose Red version, although this Snow does in fact have a sister named Rose). Kingfisher’s signature wit is on display as she weaves her tale about an expert in poisons and antidotes being brought in by the king to try to save his daughter. The scope of this fantasy story is limited to a city called Four Saints and a private villa called Witherleaf, but there is plenty of worldbuilding in regards to the theology and customs of the land. And, of course, some laugh out loud lines sprinkled throughout the narrative.

There were no severed limbs and faces lying on the ground below, which was a relief, and also not something that I’d ever had to worry about before.

I have to admit, though, that the pacing of this one felt a bit off to me. I grew a tad bored at times. Additionally, I had a hard time following some of her descriptions of how things worked with the mirror world, so just had to shrug and go along for the ride. But things got exciting by the end, and when I was finished with the book I had the urge to to hug it–always a good sign!

Maybe the point of gods and saints is that they can make the monstrous choices that people can’t.

Kingfisher’s autobuy status continues!

Goodreads