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.