Hemlock & Silver is a standalone novel by T. Kingfisher, published in 2025 and marketed as a dark retelling of Snow White.

I don’t usually gravitate toward fairytale retellings, and I’ve also been reading a lot of standalones lately. I’m mentioning this because it might have influenced how I felt about the book. To be honest, I didn’t particularly like Hemlock & Silver—but I didn’t dislike it either. It landed somewhere in that strange middle ground of “good, but not quite memorable.”

Would I still recommend it? Actually, yes. It’s a quick, entertaining read with an easy writing style that makes it perfect for a weekend or seasonal pick-up. Even though it didn’t fully click with me, I enjoyed the time I spent reading it.

Characters

We follow Anja, a healer who specializes in poisons. I appreciated her pragmatic, almost old-fashioned approach to science and her curiosity about the natural world. She’s practical and unflappable, sure, but I found her lacking depth. There’s also a vague sense that I have seen this character a few times now, both in Kingfisher’s works and other books.

Unfortunately, the supporting cast didn’t help matters. Princess Snow barely registers as a real person; she’s more of a plot device than a character. The guards, including one who becomes Anja’s love interest, felt equally flat. Their dialogue and interactions were fine, but they never left an impression. When the romance appeared, it felt sudden and unnecessary rather than meaningful.

Plot and Pacing

As a retelling, Hemlock & Silver plays fast and loose with its source material. Normally, I’d appreciate that. However, the story often felt too detached from the original fairytale, like it was following a roadmap it didn’t care much about. The pacing felt off too, because there was a sense of urgency in the storytelling that didn’t quite manifest in the characters, if that makes sense.

There were also a few moments where the internal logic didn’t hold up. For example, when characters dramatically warn that eating two apples could be fatal, but later someone eats five and survives quite easily, all things considered. Those inconsistencies pulled me out of the story and made the stakes feel less real.

Writing and Atmosphere

Kingfisher’s writing remains as sharp and darkly witty as ever. She has a way of blending horror and humor that feels unique to her. The mirror world sections were particularly compelling.

That said, the worldbuilding outside those moments felt a little thin. It gave me just enough to understand what was happening, but not enough to get fully immersed. I kept wishing the book would slow down and linger on its atmosphere, because when it does, it shines.

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Final Thoughts

In the end, Hemlock & Silver was a good October read. It was short, spooky, and clever in places. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t regret reading it either. It’s the kind of book that scratches an itch for reading without demanding too much emotional investment.

If you’re new to T. Kingfisher, though, this wouldn’t be the one I’d start with. She has stronger, more cohesive works that better showcase her storytelling and worldbuilding strengths. Still, for a moody autumn evening, Hemlock & Silver is a decent choice.