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adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
This is a novel with what I consider to be all the essential T. Kingfisher hallmarks- fascinating worldbuilding, compelling characters, a touch of horror, and a very cute romance with a brooding bodyguard. In some ways things were a touch predictable, but it made sense in-world that the main character wouldn't connect certain dots.
I also want to say that I appreciate the way T. Kingfisher writes young girls. In both this book and A Sorceress Comes to Call, the child characters really resonate in a way that feels true to what it was like being a 12 year old girl.
I also want to say that I appreciate the way T. Kingfisher writes young girls. In both this book and A Sorceress Comes to Call, the child characters really resonate in a way that feels true to what it was like being a 12 year old girl.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Child death, Death, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I don’t even know where to begin with this book. I absolutely loved it and ended up devouring the entire thing in a single day. I just could not put it down.
The story felt so fresh and unique, a true breath of air in the fantasy genre. You can really see the amount of thought and care T. Kingfisher put into crafting this world and plot, and the execution was flawless. The conversational first person narration was one of my favorite parts. It is as if we are getting a direct window into Anja’s unfiltered thoughts, which makes the whole story feel so intimate and real.
There are so many layers woven into this book: mystery, science, fantasy, magic, comedy, and even a touch of romance. I especially loved Anja as the FMC. She is not the typical fantasy heroine, and her quirks, interests, and voice made her stand out in the best way. The plot itself kept me on my toes from start to finish. I never knew where it was going next, and I loved being surprised in such a good way. The unpredictability and complexity made it an incredibly engaging read.
The cast of characters was also wonderfully diverse and memorable. Each of them brought something different to the table, but I have to admit, Grayling the cat completely stole the show for me. That said, there were a few spots where I felt like I was missing some context, such as the details around Snow’s sickness when it began and how it tied into the king’s decision to move her, which later became clear that her location played into her sickness. It did not take away from my overall enjoyment, but it did leave me wishing for just a bit more clarity.
All in all, Hemlock & Silver is a brilliantly crafted and refreshing fantasy read. It is equal parts clever, heartfelt, and unpredictable, and it reminded me why I love T. Kingfisher’s writing so much.
The story felt so fresh and unique, a true breath of air in the fantasy genre. You can really see the amount of thought and care T. Kingfisher put into crafting this world and plot, and the execution was flawless. The conversational first person narration was one of my favorite parts. It is as if we are getting a direct window into Anja’s unfiltered thoughts, which makes the whole story feel so intimate and real.
There are so many layers woven into this book: mystery, science, fantasy, magic, comedy, and even a touch of romance. I especially loved Anja as the FMC. She is not the typical fantasy heroine, and her quirks, interests, and voice made her stand out in the best way. The plot itself kept me on my toes from start to finish. I never knew where it was going next, and I loved being surprised in such a good way. The unpredictability and complexity made it an incredibly engaging read.
The cast of characters was also wonderfully diverse and memorable. Each of them brought something different to the table, but I have to admit, Grayling the cat completely stole the show for me. That said, there were a few spots where I felt like I was missing some context, such as the details around Snow’s sickness when it began and how it tied into the king’s decision to move her, which later became clear that her location played into her sickness. It did not take away from my overall enjoyment, but it did leave me wishing for just a bit more clarity.
All in all, Hemlock & Silver is a brilliantly crafted and refreshing fantasy read. It is equal parts clever, heartfelt, and unpredictable, and it reminded me why I love T. Kingfisher’s writing so much.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Vomit, Death of parent
Minor: Gore, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Vomit
Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Sexual content, Blood
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
T. Kingfisher is an auto-read author for me, and I’ve loved all but one of her books that I’ve read so far. It was an absolute honor to receive an ALC of the Hemlock & Silver audiobook, and the author absolutely delivered in this twisted tale!
Poison expert and healer Anja is hired by the king to help solve the mystery as to what (or who) is poisoning his eldest daughter after a tragedy befalls the royal family. The story gives the vibe of a Snow White and Alice Through the Looking Glass hybrid with mysterious magic and touches of horrific elements.
Anja is such a delightful narrator, and Jennifer Pickens captures her essence beautifully in the audiobook narration. Anja is a snarky, dry-humored, autistic-coded, thirty-five-year-old, plus-sized badass. Some of her inner monologues and observations were often laugh-out-loud funny or painfully relatable, and they added so much depth to the plot and world building without being completely overbearing.
Did it get weird? Yes. Did I understand everything about the magic system and setting? No. Were there loose ends? Yes. Did I love it, and would I recommend this story? Absolutely (especially the audiobook). I’m grateful to Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for my thoughts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Vomit
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
An inventive, interesting take on the evil queen and Snow White tale! Our main character, Anja, is a poison specialist called upon to treat Princess Snow’s mysterious illness. Is Snow being poisoned? Will Anja find out in time? This was a twisty, mysterious but fun, horror jaunt, which is a great addition to T. Kingfisher’s collection! There was also a fun slow burn romance through the book which I wasn’t expecting, but enjoyed a lot! The narrator for the audiobook did a great job!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Vomit, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was my first T. Kingfisher book and I was pleasantly surprised perfect palette cleanser between darker books. Definitely makes me want to read more books by this author.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Terminal illness, Vomit, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Charming and a unique perspective. Most of the action is in the last 1/4 of the book but it doesn't suffer for it. Great world building and solid character development. FMC is autistic coded. Some romance, but no spicy scenes, just a fade to black.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Gore, Self harm, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Grief
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My new favorite book!
So... we all agree that Anja is autistic, right???
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness
Moderate: Violence, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug use, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Alcohol
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love fantasy retellings! Snow White is one of those very well-known princess stories, and T.Kingfisher has managed to turn what we already know into something unique, mysterious, and even better. I love how the prose is so detailed, easy to follow, and beautiful. I love how relatable the main character, Anja, had such an honest inner monologue, all while still being so well-spoken. It's hard to find a book that reads like this one. The language used in this book was so easy in certain moments that I had begun to think I was conversing personally with the characters as if they were my own friends.
I love the inner monologues and the ideas that the main female lead had, both out loud to everyone she interacted with and with herself. I found myself looking at her with the same fondness I have for Maomao of the Apothecary Diaries series, who is my current favorite anime character, who just so happens to be a poison taster with a similar personality; she's witty, logical, a problem solved, and intelligent.
Additionally, the cast of characters were so interesting and expertly woven into the story. I didn't know who would be important until they started to single-handedly piece the mystery of the plot together. I especially loved the dynamic between Anja and her guard. The whole story was so beautifully written and perfect with setting the scene, at certain points I was so scared I had to take breaks from reading at night. The dark elements of this book reminds me of House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland, which I loved, as well.
The audiobook performance was especially outstanding. I can be rather picky with the narrators that I listen to, however the narrator of this audiobook has such a pleasant tone and a calming voice. I truly enjoyed their performance and would love to read more from them, as well.
It's very easy to love a T.Kingfisher book and I'm so glad to follow along with her recent releases. This story has risen in the ranks of my favorite books of the 2025 and I'm so happy I got to read it! Thank you so much for this advanced reader's copy Net Galley, MacMillan Audiobooks, and T.Kingfisher.
I believe this is one of T.Kingfisher's best works and highly recommend you read it! Treat yourself to learn new things from an age-old classic shared as a brilliant fairytale retelling. Read this decadent piece of literature to stimulate your mind and remind you why you love to read. Because I know I surely loved reading this book!
I love the inner monologues and the ideas that the main female lead had, both out loud to everyone she interacted with and with herself. I found myself looking at her with the same fondness I have for Maomao of the Apothecary Diaries series, who is my current favorite anime character, who just so happens to be a poison taster with a similar personality; she's witty, logical, a problem solved, and intelligent.
Additionally, the cast of characters were so interesting and expertly woven into the story. I didn't know who would be important until they started to single-handedly piece the mystery of the plot together. I especially loved the dynamic between Anja and her guard. The whole story was so beautifully written and perfect with setting the scene, at certain points I was so scared I had to take breaks from reading at night. The dark elements of this book reminds me of House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland, which I loved, as well.
The audiobook performance was especially outstanding. I can be rather picky with the narrators that I listen to, however the narrator of this audiobook has such a pleasant tone and a calming voice. I truly enjoyed their performance and would love to read more from them, as well.
It's very easy to love a T.Kingfisher book and I'm so glad to follow along with her recent releases. This story has risen in the ranks of my favorite books of the 2025 and I'm so happy I got to read it! Thank you so much for this advanced reader's copy Net Galley, MacMillan Audiobooks, and T.Kingfisher.
I believe this is one of T.Kingfisher's best works and highly recommend you read it! Treat yourself to learn new things from an age-old classic shared as a brilliant fairytale retelling. Read this decadent piece of literature to stimulate your mind and remind you why you love to read. Because I know I surely loved reading this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent
Moderate: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Kidnapping