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.

Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher is a fascinating tale of intrigue and magic, a re-envisioning of the classic Snow White into something incredible. One of the elements I love most about T. Kingfisher’s writing is that every character is quirky, different and absolutely riveting. The characters crawl under your skin and stay there, even the minor ones. And in Hemlock & Silver, that same dynamic is in play.

Anja is a brilliant and engaging character. Her voice is compelling and her reasons for her work are logical and compassionate. Adding in the intrigue of Snow’s dilemma and a magic hidden in a mirror, I was hooked. I loved the side order of romance between Anja and her guard. The world building of magic is incredible. But the cat does steal the show quite a bit. Written by someone who clearly understands cats, I loved his personality and the ways he ‘assists’. The story is not just brilliant but it is engaging and fun.

If you love intrigue driven fantasy, T. Kingfisher and magical mirrors, I suggest you check out Hemlock & Silver. In a re-invisioned Snow White, the poison expert is the hero and the bad guys not who you expect. The ending is enthralling and this is a fascinating tale with compelling characters and an impossible to put down story. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 cats 

MacMillan Publishing

T Kingfisher website