I mean … fairy tale retelling … middle aged main character … auto buy author. Of course, I loved this!

This is a Snow White retelling but really an imaginative one. It strays from the main story in ways that makes this novel interesting and fresh. It’s not as action forward as some of the authors previous novels, but that is a really good thing here as it is very in tune with the main characters personality. She is one of my favorite types of characters, a middle age woman with a sharp mind, clever sense of humor and wit, and intellectual curiosity that gets her into no end of trouble. She is completely un-ordinary. I really enjoyed her a lot. I fully recommend this book just on the strength of her characterization. That is even with the great story, and a very nice, subtle slow burn romance.

There are some books you just know will be an absolute delight—T. Kingfisher’s Hemlock & Silver is one of them. I first discovered her writing last fall and immediately fell in love with both her storytelling and style. So when I was approved for an eARC of this book, I was geeking out.

Short description: Healer Anja regularly drinks poison—not to die, but to save lives. When the king’s daughter, Snow, falls mysteriously ill, Anja is summoned to help. With only a gruff guard, a vain cat, and her sharp mind, she searches for a cure—until a magic mirror reveals a hidden world that may hold the answer… or doom them all.

This book had everything I love in fantasy—relatable characters, a strong plot, action, mystery, suspense, and secondary characters that enhance the story rather than slow it down. The pacing was excellent, and where T. Kingfisher really shines. She keeps a good flow and the reader engaged, while providing background information on the characters, their past, and while dishing out science and medical information data. I know a book is good when I can’t put it down, even on my Kindle (which isn’t my favorite way to read).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5—I don’t hand out fives lightly, but this one earned it. Loved it so much, I’ll be grabbing the DELUXE EDITION!

4.5 stars, rounding up to five. T Kingfisher does such a good job of writing interesting women. I liked Anja a lot. I could relate to her awkwardness with people and her tendency to hyper focus and get excited about things. I liked reading her inner thoughts. I also thought Grayling was an interesting character. This was set in the same world as The Saint of Steel series and some of her other books, which I am familiar with and enjoyed. The romance aspect of this was very minor, no spice. My only complaint for the book is that it took a little longer to get to the meat of the plot than I expected, but once it got started the pacing was good.

I was gifted an e-arc of this book in exchange for a review. Thank you to Net Galley and Tor.

This was a really unique retelling of the story of Snow White! I was hooked right from the beginning and couldn't put it down!

Hemlock and Silver by T. Kingfisher, a really good and imaginative retelling of Snow White. The twists and turns of the story really leave you wanting more. Kingfisher has quickly become one of my top authors, and I am always on the lookout for a new book.

First off a big thank you to the publisher for letting me read Hemlock & Silver , and 2nd is they did amazing job with thus cover , it's absolutely beautiful and the colors draw your eyes to the book. Now on to my thoughts, usually I have a hard time with retelling but with thus one I didn't have that problem at all and the reason is because of how T.Kingfisher puts a dark and creepy twist on her retelling, while it does take some time to get into the story , I found that that's one of the reasons I was enjoying it so much because it helped the characters as well as let you see the world building come to life before your very eyes . Plus the story itself was different then any of the other Snow White retelling that is out there , ìts the perfect blend of magic,but at the same time dark and twisted, with a touch of romance, and fantasy that makes you want to set and read .

T. Kingfisher truly never disappoints, she has quickly become my favorite author. I really loved everything about the main character in this story, and found myself believing she was a real person and wishing I could ask her more about poisons! Kingfisher masterfully remakes fairytales so there's just enough of a hint of the original so you know the inspiration, but then completely makes it her own. I'm a huge fan of how she is able to write the characters in such a way that is so true to their age, and especially how many stories have FMC's that are in their 30's or older! This was an easy five star read for me!

This retelling of Snow White is not just a retelling, it’s a MASTERPIECE!

Anja is literally the coolest protagonist ever—she drinks poison to save lives, and I am HERE. FOR. IT! The way Kingfisher weaves magic, mystery, and suspense is pure magic. I was hooked from page one, and that vain cat? Iconic! The pacing is flawless, and the plot twists? Insert that mindblown gif! This is a MUST read.

Hemlock & Silver is a unique and dark Snow White retelling.
The characters were great.
Anja is an expert in poisons mostly because she likes solving problems. She's in her 30's, unmarried, and lacks tact 🤣
When the king asks her to try to figure out if his daughter is being poisoned, she's thrown into a world she's not used to.

The magic was interesting, but I don't want to give anything away.

While I would have enjoyed this even without a talking cat, it certainly didn't hurt. Grayling was a fun side character to have around.

Highly recommend for fans of twisted tales!

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor for an early copy for review!

Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher

Hemlock & Silver tells the story of Anja, a healer (problem solver) of poisons. She's 35, unmarried, with a wonderfully sarcastic un-tactful attitude. Anja is tasked with saving the kings daughter who may or may not have been poisoned. This was my favorite "Snow White" reimagined novel I've ever read. It was giving Snow White and Red Rose from a side character and I couldn't put it down.

It did start off a little slow but I think the world building and setting the tone for why Anja is the way she is was so important.

There are of course so many side characters and each of them were so different.
Some of my favorites:
- The love interest, ugh 😍, *loved* him.
- Snow was written exactly like a 12 year old.
- I'm not a cat person but I def would want a cat like Grayling.

You will not be prepared for the mirror-geld. Everything about this book was unexpected in the best way ever. I think this might be my new favorite T. Kingfisher book.

“It seems like the beasts in fairy tales might get lonely, being so different.”

Thank you to T. Kingfisher, Tor Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have so many emotions and feelings about this book but just know I'm screaming and crying this ENTIRE review.

This book gave me so much nostalgia for 2015, first stumbling across T. Kingfisher (Ursula Vernon)'s books and spending every waking moment reading and rereading them every second I could. It was so cozy, yet dark. meaningful yet lighthearted, and humorous yet with deadly serious stakes.

Anja is better with poisons than people, yet a visit from the king brings her into his circle, in search of a cure for his daughter, Snow, and her mysterious illness. whether its poison or not is up for debate, as no healer has found a cause yet, but the king will try absolutely everything to try and save his beloved daughter.

There, at remote estate Witherleaf, we meet our colourful cast of characters, including one particularly grumpy and aloof cat, and watch as Anja and King's Guard Javier try to get to the bottom of the young princess' illness.

To say anymore will be to spoil some of the delightfully crafted surprises throughout so I'll leave it there, but If I could give it more than 5 stars? I'd do it in a heartbeat

Thank you Netgalley for the arc for my honest opinion.

First off this book was absolutely amazing and I was so excited to get to read about snow white. But I will say this is very very loosely Snow White. With that said this was absolutely fun.

Like with most Kingfisher this is witty and humourous. It also has the most insane conversation that make you laugh out loud.

The cat carries a lot of the humor.

Now the mystery in this book is absolutely gripping until the very end when you find out who done it.

Do yourself a favor and pick this book up for a light horror mystery with witty banter and a hilarious cat doing cat things.

Kingfisher does it again. H&S is such an interesting blend of their fantasy genre mixed with their horror stories. Some of the creatures you encounter reminds me of the Twisted Ones which was a nice throw back. Overall the story is not what I expected, and the way it developed was a pleasant surprise. A twisty tale very reminisce to Alice in wonderland.
Anjas side comments were always fun, I just wish they weren't always in parentheses just for stylistic reasons. Sometimes they felt jarring. However, the content was always a blast and a fun way to know a character better.
I also loved how Anjas feelings towards Javier develop, and even more so how at some point she only thinks about confessing if they die to save off embarrassment, which is so relatable.
Also talking cats? Always a good choice.

T. Kingfisher is one of my favorite authors and "Hemlock & Silver" is now one of my favorite books. This is a brilliant retailing of Snow White and Rose Red."

The things I love about this story are numerous so here are just a few:
- the heroine is unashamedly plus sized but it's not an aspect of her character, it's just who she is
- the answers that need to be discovered don't just suddenly occur to our protagonists, they are explored and found organically with a background as to why they'd have the ability to figure the answers out
- the child character has agency in her own story also, she's clever while still making age appropriate mistakes
- the love interest is perfect for the protagonists station in life
- the religion throughout the story is subtly woven throughout and lends itself to the story without being the driving force
- the ending did not play out exactly as expected

I cannot recommend this book more and I can't wait to own a physical copy to add to my growing collect of T. Kingfisher books!

Hemlock and Silver blends mystery, science, and magic, and I am 100% here for it. Anja is a healer who willingly drinks poison in pursuit of cures. With her sharp wit, dry humor, and brilliant mind, she is relatable and deeply engaging, making her quest to solve the mystery easy to root for.
The story builds an atmosphere of curiosity and discovery, mirroring (Ha! I slipped in a pun) Anja’s inquisitive nature as she navigates the complexities of medicine and the dreadful secrets hidden within a magic mirror to save Princess Snow.

The story is filled with tension and conspiracy, made all the more enjoyable by a quirky cat that talks and a guard. The deeper Anja digs, the more the mystery unfolds. The book effortlessly balances humor and high stakes, offering a fresh take on the classic fairytale retelling. It would not be a T. Kingfisher if it did not have the eerie atmospheric feel, so you will not be disappointed. The author is a master at writing female characters of substance, developing clever, layered, and formidable women in literature. I was utterly engrossed in the mystery, the characters, and the intricately crafted other world, making it impossible to put the book down.

Thank you, NetGalley and Tor Publish Group, for the opportunity to review the ebook.

“‘Look then unto the Poison’s mirror, and so unlock the Curative to match it, each to each.’ I swept my hands across the stacks of books…’But how do I find the mirror image?’”
Healer Anja

Overall: 4.75/5, rounded up
Perfect for fans of: Dimension 20’s Neverafter, Botany Manor, and that one moment in Rupaul All Stars 2 where all the eliminated queens show up in the mirror
Follow up with: The Mirror Visitor quartet by Christelle Dabos, The Greenhollow Duology by Emily Tesh

T. Kingfisher is really just showing off at this point — another stellar take on a worn-out story that feels fresh and exciting all the way through. Hemlock & Silver is a “retelling” (generously defined; we’ll get into that) of Snow White that takes all the classical elements and transforms them into an entirely new story infused with Kingfisher’s iconic humor, romance, and a healthy dash of horror. Snow White is the classic pre-teen princess, but instead of focusing on her, Kingfisher introduces the reader to Anja: an expert in poisons and antidotes, driven by a personal tragedy in her earlier years. The king’s daughter Snow is terribly ill, and no one can figure out why. At a loss, the king turns to Anja, desperate to solve this mystery and keep his last daughter safe and alive. Once Anja arrives at the castle that serves as Snow’s sickbed, however, she discovers a magical realm hidden behind the many massive mirrors at the estate — and the way mere reflections are more powerful than anyone has ever imagined.

Anja is instantly loveable (for fans of Kingfisher’s other works, she reminds me a lot of Clara from Paladin’s Strength) which was the highlight of a mostly-slow first quarter. Her humor is pointed and familiar without being anachronistic, and while she is a successful heroine, Kingfisher makes it clear throughout that she’s not perfect. It was satisfying to read her struggles throughout the book; her wins felt earned and I was rooting for her success at every turn.

Every character in this book shines in their own way, although Anja (appropriately!) steals the show. Javier and Aaron are lots of fun as the grumpy and sunshine (respectively) bodyguards, Lady Sorrel’s wit and charm are refreshing, and Greyling is a unique take on the ‘talking animal’ sidekick — although I would argue Anja is his sidekick, and I’m sure he would too. Even Snow is entertaining as the spoiled and snippy 12 year old princess; I wanted to strangle her almost as much as I wanted her to get better.

Like Kingfisher’s other retellings, Hemlock & Silver isn’t really a retelling at all. The inspiration is obvious; the princess is named Snow, she’s eating a lot of apples, there’s a question of poison, and there’s plenty of mystery surrounding an absent queen and the mirrors she’d brought with her. That’s about where the similarities end, and Kingfisher deftly makes the story her own. There’s twists I expected and twists that I didn’t, and overall the framework of the story I expected was reflected back at me in a completely different way than I had imagined.

Kingfisher also generated an entirely new world and religion for this book, and while it definitely isn’t 100% fleshed out, it absolutely passes the five-second test and was way richer than I would’ve expected for a stand alone where none of the characters were really religious figures. Kingfisher’s theology is always exciting to me and this was no exception — the focus on animal saints added yet another layer of believability to the book, ensuring I bought in every time something new was introduced. Every element of the desert world felt connected; if there was anything odd that people did, it was handily explained by either a quirk of faith or setting. This was great fun for me and I really enjoyed that she took the effort.

The romance was definitely cute in this one; I never really read books specifically for romance, so it wasn’t a draw for me on its own, but it felt satisfying to see it come to life nonetheless. If you are an avid romance reader, there’s definitely plenty here to please you, but it doesn’t overpower the story or the plot. In fact, without the plot, the romance probably wouldn’t happen; there’s no magical chemistry or irrefutable force of nature drawing them together.

My only issue with the book was the pacing in the first quarter; I feel like a couple of plot elements were raised and then dismissed pretty quickly. While it didn’t affect the overall experience of the read for me, a lot of the details discovered during the group’s journey to the castle ended up being extraneous and probably could’ve been cut.

A dark reimagining of Snow White that feels familiar, while telling a stunning new version of the beloved fairytale. T. Kingfisher is quickly becoming an auto buy author.

What’s to love…
- dark fairytale
- strong, sturdy, & tall, over 30 FMC that’s smart, mature, and just a bit quirky
- dare I say this is a STEM book? yeah I’m saying it. Definitely STEM - Anja is obsessed with studying poisons
- romantic subplot that is slow burn and epically adorable
- ANIMAL companion (the feistiest cat)
- no spice
- laugh out loud funny
- weird af (and I mean that in the best way possible)

What’s not to love…
- My only complaint is that it starts a bit slow, but once you’re at the 40% mark the pacing is perfect and you won’t want to put it down.

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available for my review.

Such a lovely book, this is a retelling (of sorts) of the classic Snow White and Rose Red fairy tale. It includes apples, mirrors and the queen/mother figure, but adds in some of Kingfisher's horror and horrific monsters that give this tale quite the twist. The heroine of this book is not the expected Snow White, but rather a woman who is a scientist of sorts, called in by the king to investigate what is happening to his daughter Snow. Delightful in so many ways, you won't want to miss this one.

T. Kingfisher is a top five favorite author for me, so I am always excited to read her new books. Hemlock and Silver is a retelling of Snow White with that classic Kingfisher twist. The humor is dry, the plot is on point and I'm always a fan of fmc's that are older than 25. The story immediately sucked me in and I ended up finishing the book in a day. Snow White isn't one of my favorite fairy tales, but this retelling was so much better in my opinion. I appreciated the twists and turns and the sprinkling of romance in between.

Cozy horror isn't a genre, except that Kingfisher might be inventing it? I'm not sure how else to characterize this delightful, genre-bending novel. It is fantasy, except that the magic doesn't start until halfway through, and it is horror, except that the obvious monsters might not really be monsters. There is also a healthy serving of mystery as Healer Anja tries to figure out what is poisoning Snow.

In some ways, this is the most Kingfisherian of her books. It has everything I have come to love and expect from her fantasies-- a humorous narrative voice, a romantic subplot, and characters who get dealt a bad hand but just get on with it already. That last one may be my favorite element of Kingfisher's usual style. There is no angst, no protracted interpersonal drama caused by avoidable miscommunication, no woe-is-me attitude. Healer Anja, with her passionate but analytical personality, is the perfect example of this. She gets dropped into a dreadful situation, takes a moment to sigh, and then rolls up her sleeves and dives right in, shoving charcoal and snake venom exactly where it is needed to produce results. The tight cast of characters helps readers to connect with each of them. Healer Anja stands among my all-time favorites of Kingfisher's protagonists.

In other ways, this felt like a slight break with the rest of Kingfisher's oeuvre. Maybe it was the visual greyness of the second half of the book, or maybe that the rest of it takes place in the desert, or... I don't know, something. In her previous books, I have always had the sense of a lush fantasy world. (Albeit tinged with horror. There is always at least a little horror.) In this one, there was something that felt just a touch bleak that I couldn't quite put my finger on. I enjoyed it, but it was different.

Thank you, Kingfisher, for saving me from a reading slump with this page-turning fantasy mystery!

And many thanks to Tor and NetGalley for this eARC!

An intriguing, poison-filled romp through a desert world - Kingfisher tackles yet another classic fairytale, Snow White, with her usual wit and charm. I always like reading her books because I know I'll come away with a lot of information about really specific things, a new night terror, and a lot of laughter. A good time all around!

T. Kingfisher's Snow White retelling is another great book in the T. Kingfisher line-up. Filled with Kingfisher's unique, relatable, and humorous voice, mystery, and romance. It twists a perfect balance between the original story with Kingfisher's own vision.

For those who love fairytale retellings but long for something new, Hemlock & Silver hits the mark. This dark reimagining of Snow White is steeped in poison, mystery, and magic, told from a new perspective: a kind healer named Anja, whom the king has hired to figure out what is killing his daughter, Snow. Traverse the mysteries of poison, magic, and a world beyond the service of the mirror in this new dark fantasy.

Another great novel from T. Kingfisher. A woman who has made the study of poisons and their antidotes the purpose of her life is commissioned by the king to find out who is poisoning his daughter, Snow. If you guessed it was an evil witch with poison apples, you're right, but it's much more complicated than that. Fast-paced, wonderful read.

I am completely in love with this book. T. Kingfisher’s characters are always perfectly hilarious, lovable, and relatable and I was giggling and laughing through so much of the story. The horror aspects of it were so good and I was sad when I got to the last page. Another 5 star read from one of my favorite authors.. thank you!

T. Kingfisher comes through again with a fantastic twist on Snow White that will make you laugh and gasp. The main character in this book, Anja, is such a delightful character, maybe my favorite Kingfisher heroine of all! This is just such a wonderfully twisty and fun book, anyone that likes fantasy or fairy tales shouldn’t miss this one!

A dark and twisty Snow White retelling that you haven't read before.
T. Kingfisher does it again! I was absolutely absorbed into this world from start to finish.

Our story follows Anja who is not our typical 16 year old petite and fragile FMC. She's a 35 year old tall, hulking woman and a talented poison master. She found her love for studying antidotes through a childhood tragedy and worked with a teacher her father had employed to expand her knowledge. Many years later she is contacted by the King to help discover what is ailing his daughter Snow. Anja suspects that snow is struggling with grief after her mother murdered her younger sister and then perished along side her. With the help of two guards one of whom becomes our love interest she discovers that what is ailing Snow might now be poison after all. We explore a magical world with creepy creatures and fall in love with the characters along the way.

I didn't think I could love a companion animal more than I loved Bonedog but Grayling might take the cake. Any time he entered the scene I found myself laughing because the way Kingfisher created the dialogue is exactly how I perceive cats. Witty, self centered assholes. :)

If you're looking for a book where you will completely fall in love with the characters, the world and the magic of it all this book is for you!

OMG. I LOVED THIS SO MUCH! Hemlock and Silver is a unique retelling of Snow White. It was totally not what I expected, and I mean that excellently! This book will be one of my most recommended books this year. It has adventure, newfound friends, magic, and mystery. Thank you to T. Kingfisher, Tor Publishing, and Net Galley for the e-ARC.
After witnessing her cousin die from eating poison hemlock, Anja has committed herself to finding antidotes to poisons. One day, the King arrives in Anja’s lab, confessing to killing the Queen after catching the Queen in the act of cutting out one of the princesses’ hearts. His other daughter, Princess Snow, is in an undisclosed location, sick from what he suspects is poison. The king brings Anja to Snow to help cure her. As Anja observes princess Snow’s day-to-day actions, Anja starts to suspect there’s more than poison making Snow sick. Anja is determined to get to the bottom of who is doing this to Princess Snow.
I enjoyed Anja the most. She is an intelligent 30-something independent single woman. Being a plus-sized woman, I appreciate the representation of a plus-sized main character who isn’t ashamed of who she is or her size. I felt seen. Most women in fantasy books are described as tiny and light weight. Anja was taller and broad, but she owned it and knew her body could be substantial. There was a moment when Anja’s guard was trying to move full wine barrels. Anja asks him to move so she can use her strong legs to move the wine barrels. That made me laugh because sometimes I will try (and sometimes succeed) to do heavier leg presses than my sons and husband. I also thought Anja’s dialogue was funny.
Add it to your TBR now! It is such a fun read!

Snow White retellings are rare. Middle-aged protagonists rarer still! Both in the deft hands of T. Kingfisher make for a phenomenal fairytale retelling that is leagues above most that I have read ( and I am an avid fan of them as a genre!)

Thank you to TOR Publishing group and Netgally for providing me with an ARC for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Hemlock & Silver is a fresh take on the tale of Snow White and Rose Red, where the titular characters have taken a supporting role behind the main character, a particularly focused but seemingly unexceptional poison specialist.

As a character, Anja embodies Kingfisher’s typical heroines, which is to say that she is direct and intelligent while remaining endearing and utterly approachable. Kingfisher’s style of writing–dry sarcastic humor which dulls the edge of the horrors the characters face–has always appealed to me, and this book was no exception. At no point in the book did I find myself bored, even when there wasn’t major action taking place. It took me only two days to finish this book, and, as always, I found myself smiling at the end and wishing to flip right back to the first page and start again.

For fans of T. Kingfisher’s other books like Swordheart and Nettle & Bone, you absolutely will not want to miss this book. Hemlock & Silver is T. Kingfisher at her best, and an excellent introduction to those unfamiliar with her work. Whether you’re a fantasy, cozy, or horror fan, there will be something to appeal to you in this book, and it’s a perfect start to those spooky and cozy fall reads.

This was one of the oddest stories I've ever read, and I loved it.

This is a Snow White reimagining, and while it has some minor similarities, it is far from the classic fairy tale. If you're looking for a story that's a little dark, twisted, magical, creepy, and filled with snarky humor, look no further.

Anja is a healer who often poisons herself in an attempt to find cures. The King's daughter, Snow, is ill, so he comes requesting Anja's assistance in searching for both the poison and the cure. This leads Anja and her newly appointed bodyguard on a wild journey into a dark realm with high stakes.

I thoroughly enjoyed every character, from the bodyguards to 12-year-old Snow, to the sarcastic, furry friend (who may or may not be a cat). Grayling was one of my favorite parts of the story. I was actually laughing out loud at one point. He was so entertaining.
And to have a smart, plus-sized, 30-something, unmarried protagonist was refreshing to say the least. Anja's awkward and untactful. Her internal dialogue had me cackling.

I really took my time with this one, savoring all of the dry humor and witty wordplay. The pacing really picks up halfway through the book but overall, I think it had a good balance.

This was my introduction to T. Kingfisher, and I was blown away by her storytelling. It put me in a desert world unlike any other, crafted so well it left little to the imagination.

I had an absolute blast reading this, and I'm grateful to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. I'm excited to check out more work by this author. Thank you!

The mirror gelds... YIKES.

I don't have anything witty for you. It's exactly and absolutely what it is supposed to be, which, I suppose, for the right sort of reader (or the wrong sort), might be disappointingly perfect.

A new T Kingfisher is always a treat, and never one to savor. Absolutely obsessed, yet another banger (!!) from Kingfisher.

I'm really liking how all of her various genres have been enjoying a bit of a blend in the fairytale retellings. There's a tasty background romance with just enough intrigue to run a b-plot, a bunch of horrific creatures and magical concepts that usually populate her horror- and well, everything she does - and who isn't a sucker for an interesting twist on a fairy tale.

This is a retelling of "Snow White," sans the cute animals and soprano warbling and honestly most of the things that would make it recognizable (which is good, snow white is my least favorite) but I feel like I got some of the same interesting flavor as the Robin McKinley retelling of The 12 Dancing Princesses (a compliment, that one has stuck with me for years). Readers will note the fascination with mirrors, and apples, and other fun bits of symbolism and terrible implications in family relationships.

If T Kingfisher had a fan club I would fight tooth and nail to be the president. Going into this book I expected it to be very much like Nettle & Bone, so I was a bit thrown off by the beginning. It took me a bit to get into the story, but honestly, I think that was my expectations getting in my way.

Hemlock & Silver follows Healer Anja, a 35-year-old professional poison nerd. In this Snow White reimagining Snow is very much awake, but her father the King charges Anja with figuring out who is poisoning her.

As always, Kingfisher brings us a main character who isn’t a frail teenager or an angry skinny lady. Anja is just a normal human carrying around a poisonous snake and trying to find cures for poisons. She is delightfully real, hilarious, and prickly.

Now, Kingfisher normally has a tendency to write in genre. Horror books are contemporary, fantasies are weird and dark, and romances are delightful. In this book, she breaks from that mold, makes us fall in love with a loyal guard, gets weird, and then makes you afraid to ever look at a mirror again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for the ARC. I loved this book and I will continue to remain a loyal T Kingfisher fan, but I have to go remove all of the mirrors from my house now.

4.5⭐

In true T. Kingfisher fashion, this story was truly unique. I'm not sure of any other author who could come up with something as unique as mirror-gelds *shutter*. I enjoy the type of characters that they come up with and the fmcs are often some of my favorite characters. Anja is strong but flawed but I loved her thinking and how excited she got when trying to figure out the problems. A slightly cantankerous cat and a strong silent bodyguard help too.

I loved this book so much!! I was hooked from the first line and loved reading this. Thank you to Netgalley and T Kingfisher for the awesome arc!