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 is a dark fairy-tale retelling that blends elements of gothic horror, cozy mystery, enchanting magic, and slow-burn romance. Even though it’s a reimagining of Snow White, the narrative is flipped and follows Anja, a healer and poison tester summoned to a castle where Princess Snow is slowly wasting away from a mystery ailment. Anja approaches the mystery with pragmatism and science, but the more she digs, the clearer it becomes that the danger isn’t just poison—it’s something bound up in mirrors and magic that refuses to stay contained!
For fans of Kingfisher’s works, the characters are exactly what you’d expect—sharp, flawed, and easy to get attached to. Anja is a practical, skeptical, and resilient protagonist—her inner musings, logical reasoning, and analytical, dry humor carry the story. Snow is sympathetic but far from helpless, and she proves to be far wiser than your 12 years! The enigmatic talking cat, Grayling, is every bit the narcissistic, sharp-tongued companion you’d expect in a T. Kingfisher story. While he’s not always helpful in a practical sense, his wit and arrogance make him the perfect comic relief and an endearing ally. Javier, Anja’s love interest, is dependable and protective without being overbearing—and most importantly, he respects her intelligence and independent spirit. Their slow-burn connection is grounded in trust and companionship, making the romance easy to root for and satisfying.
The story has a very cozy, slow-burn start with good world-building and rich character introductions. Once the mirror magic comes to the forefront, the pacing improves and the story gets much more interesting and multilayered! Anya’s quiet investigation quickly transitions into a battle against a powerful magic that few know exists. There are unexpected twists, thrilling confrontations, and a high-stakes climax that will delight fairy tale and horror lovers! The ending is satisfying but also leaves questions unanswered to linger—and there’s definitely room for more storyline with these beloved characters!
Overall, Hemlock & Silver is a clever, cozy, dark reimagining of Snow White. It will delight fans of T. Kingfisher’s past works and readers who love dark fairy-tale retellings with gothic horror, humor, a unique magic system, and a dash of romance! The audiobook is expertly voiced and is the recommended format for enjoying this one—don’t hesitate to get a copy ASAP!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Hemlock & Silver is a magical, immersive listen narrated by award-winning narrator Jennifer Pickens!
Pickens portrays protagonist Anja so vividly and authentically that it makes listeners feel like they are eavesdropping on the fascinating inner musings and introspections of a very real person—and readers will be transported to her world and on her journey with her. Pickens uses a grounded, introspective tone to bring Anja vividly to life and shifts her performance when needed—especially when Anja is experimenting with poisons or thinking through problems—to show her calm demeanor, frustrations, and independent spirit. When Anja is forced to expand her rigid scientific beliefs after coming to terms with the mirror magic, Pickens’s performance becomes more emotive while still remaining convincing! The dialogue between Anya and (love interest) Javier is a highlight of the listening experience—their mutual respect and strong chemistry are well conveyed, and their ventures together in the mirror realm are brilliantly narrated with high intensity and great pacing and feel very immersive.
Pickens portrays Snow with a soft, vulnerable voice with an undertone of defiance that perfectly depicts a character who’s unwell and fragile but not passive. The performance of the talking cat (Grayling) is another major highlight—by using a smooth, smug, and somewhat narcissistic-sounding voice, Pickens gives the cat a very distinct personality without him ever feeling cartoonish. Be prepared to have a smile plastered on your face and laugh a lot during his dialogue sequences!
Overall, Jennifer Pickens’s performance elevates the story and brings the wondrous mirror realm to life, while providing distinct character portrayals that are immersive and entertaining. Her performance makes the audiobook the recommended reading format and a must-listen for fans of fairytale retellings, cozy fantasy, and highly immersive single-narrator performances. If you haven’t listened to Jennifer’s narration before, this is a great example of her mesmerizing narration, great acting skills, and wonderful pacing—and you’ll definitely want to check out her impressive backlist of diverse titles!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Hemlock & Silver is a magical, immersive listen narrated by award-winning narrator Jennifer Pickens!
Pickens portrays protagonist Anja so vividly and authentically that it makes listeners feel like they are eavesdropping on the fascinating inner musings and introspections of a very real person—and readers will be transported to her world and on her journey with her. Pickens uses a grounded, introspective tone to bring Anja vividly to life and shifts her performance when needed—especially when Anja is experimenting with poisons or thinking through problems—to show her calm demeanor, frustrations, and independent spirit. When Anja is forced to expand her rigid scientific beliefs after coming to terms with the mirror magic, Pickens’s performance becomes more emotive while still remaining convincing! The dialogue between Anya and (love interest) Javier is a highlight of the listening experience—their mutual respect and strong chemistry are well conveyed, and their ventures together in the mirror realm are brilliantly narrated with high intensity and great pacing and feel very immersive.
Pickens portrays Snow with a soft, vulnerable voice with an undertone of defiance that perfectly depicts a character who’s unwell and fragile but not passive. The performance of the talking cat (Grayling) is another major highlight—by using a smooth, smug, and somewhat narcissistic-sounding voice, Pickens gives the cat a very distinct personality without him ever feeling cartoonish. Be prepared to have a smile plastered on your face and laugh a lot during his dialogue sequences!
Overall, Jennifer Pickens’s performance elevates the story and brings the wondrous mirror realm to life, while providing distinct character portrayals that are immersive and entertaining. Her performance makes the audiobook the recommended reading format and a must-listen for fans of fairytale retellings, cozy fantasy, and highly immersive single-narrator performances. If you haven’t listened to Jennifer’s narration before, this is a great example of her mesmerizing narration, great acting skills, and wonderful pacing—and you’ll definitely want to check out her impressive backlist of diverse titles!
The audiobook of Hemlock & Silver is a magical, immersive listen narrated by award-winning narrator Jennifer Pickens!
Pickens portrays protagonist Anja so vividly and authentically that it makes listeners feel like they are eavesdropping on the fascinating inner musings and introspections of a very real person—and readers will be transported to her world and on her journey with her. Pickens uses a grounded, introspective tone to bring Anja vividly to life and shifts her performance when needed—especially when Anja is experimenting with poisons or thinking through problems—to show her calm demeanor, frustrations, and independent spirit. When Anja is forced to expand her rigid scientific beliefs after coming to terms with the mirror magic, Pickens’s performance becomes more emotive while still remaining convincing! The dialogue between Anya and (love interest) Javier is a highlight of the listening experience—their mutual respect and strong chemistry are well conveyed, and their ventures together in the mirror realm are brilliantly narrated with high intensity and great pacing and feel very immersive.
Pickens portrays Snow with a soft, vulnerable voice with an undertone of defiance that perfectly depicts a character who’s unwell and fragile but not passive. The performance of the talking cat (Grayling) is another major highlight—by using a smooth, smug, and somewhat narcissistic-sounding voice, Pickens gives the cat a very distinct personality without him ever feeling cartoonish. Be prepared to have a smile plastered on your face and laugh a lot during his dialogue sequences!
Overall, Jennifer Pickens’s performance elevates the story and brings the wondrous mirror realm to life, while providing distinct character portrayals that are immersive and entertaining. Her performance makes the audiobook the recommended reading format and a must-listen for fans of fairytale retellings, cozy fantasy, and highly immersive single-narrator performances. If you haven’t listened to Jennifer’s narration before, this is a great example of her mesmerizing narration, great acting skills, and wonderful pacing—and you’ll definitely want to check out her impressive backlist of diverse titles!
