 | “I had just taken poison when the king arrived to inform me that he had murdered his wife.” This opening line from Hemlock & Silver sets the ironic tone of this reimagining of the Snow White fairy tale. The novel has a villainous queen, a magic mirror, and a languishing twelve-year-old princess named Snow, but the novel forges a path distinct from the typical Snow White story. The main character, Anja, has been obsessed about poisons and their antidotes since she was a child. The king hires her to cure his daughter Snow, who is wasting away from an unknown illness. The court physicians have been unable to help her; Anja is the king’s—and Snow’s—last hope. |
The primary storyline is the mystery of who and what is poisoning Princess Snow. Anja’s investigation proceeds in a logical, straightforward manner, until she takes a bite of the apple she’s testing for poison and subsequently falls through a magic mirror. This experience shakes her belief that magic isn’t real, which is further undermined when Snow’s one-eyed cat starts talking to her.
The one-eyed cat names himself Grayling, and he’s a hoot: refusing to come when he’s called, and maintaining his independence and superiority to humans at all times.
The one-eyed cat names himself Grayling, and he’s a hoot: refusing to come when he’s called, and maintaining his independence and superiority to humans at all times.
 | Anja’s description of Grayling when they first meet: . . . it was short-haired and skinny, and it was missing an eye. Also, it had an expression like it was thinking about disemboweling everyone in the room. . . . I inclined my head politely to the cat, who gazed at me in silent contempt. Its one good eye was sulfurous yellow. |
Grayling speaking after Anja falls through the mirror:
“You’re not very observant are you?” The cat yawned, showing a ribbed pink gullet. “But you’re not bad at petting cats, so I suppose some allowances must be made. You fell through the mirror just now, while you were holding me. We’re on the other side of the silver now.”
More snippy dialogue from Grayling:
“I do not like to repeat myself,” said the cat. “I particularly don’t like to repeat myself for humans.”
“You’re not very observant are you?” The cat yawned, showing a ribbed pink gullet. “But you’re not bad at petting cats, so I suppose some allowances must be made. You fell through the mirror just now, while you were holding me. We’re on the other side of the silver now.”
More snippy dialogue from Grayling:
“I do not like to repeat myself,” said the cat. “I particularly don’t like to repeat myself for humans.”
 | And Grayling describing a human he loved: His thin voice grew thinner and sharp as a papercut. “She was no one, and nobody missed her. Except an old one-eyed cat that she’d pulled out of a pond once.” He turned his head and began savagely grooming his shoulder, not looking at either of us. |
Other key supporting characters are Anja’s two bodyguards, who take very seriously their duty to protect her from whomever is poisoning the princess.
As the story progresses, the bodyguard Javier becomes an active participant in solving the mystery. Since Anja tends to speak and act without forethought, he balances her by urging caution and calm deliberation. For example, when they debate smashing the magic mirror but fear this will alert the poisoner: “You can’t unbreak a mirror,” he said. “We’ll leave it for now and do it later if we must.”
As the story progresses, the bodyguard Javier becomes an active participant in solving the mystery. Since Anja tends to speak and act without forethought, he balances her by urging caution and calm deliberation. For example, when they debate smashing the magic mirror but fear this will alert the poisoner: “You can’t unbreak a mirror,” he said. “We’ll leave it for now and do it later if we must.”
 | I enjoyed how Kingfisher reveals the theology of this world as part of the storyline. Here are Anja’s thoughts when her stomach gets upset after eating the apple (which reveal how religion is generally practiced): The stomach is sacred to Saint Sheep, although some claim it’s actually sacred to Saint Fish in His Trout aspect. If you’re making a pilgrimage to ask for help with an ulcer, you’ll probably want to hedge your bets and visit shrines to both. If you’re puking your guts out, who you pray to is entirely up to you. |
The author also adeptly reveals Anja’s character through well-structured flashbacks:
. . . It’s not nearly as awkward as when you were thirteen and you begged Scand [her tutor] for months to attend a real autopsy and, when you did, you had to be sick halfway through. . . . The shame I’d felt when I walked back into the operating theater, knowing everyone had heard me being violently ill behind the curtain . . . no, this could never be as bad as that.
. . . It’s not nearly as awkward as when you were thirteen and you begged Scand [her tutor] for months to attend a real autopsy and, when you did, you had to be sick halfway through. . . . The shame I’d felt when I walked back into the operating theater, knowing everyone had heard me being violently ill behind the curtain . . . no, this could never be as bad as that.
 | Another flashback example: My sister Catherine had hit me on the side of the face with a bowl once. (It wasn't intentional, she was getting it down from the shelf and didn’t see me, and I stepped right into it.) What I remember is a bright flash in my vision and then a moment when the whole world slewed sideways and then snapped back into proper configuration. This was like that, only without the flash or the headache. I felt the world shift around me. |
Kingfisher’s use of language is another of the book’s delights. Here’s Anja’s elation after her trip through the magic mirror:
My chest felt as if it were full of ecstatic bees.
A description of a maid’s hair:
The maid who showed me to my room had hair that looked as if it was about to devour her head and go in search of other prey.
My chest felt as if it were full of ecstatic bees.
A description of a maid’s hair:
The maid who showed me to my room had hair that looked as if it was about to devour her head and go in search of other prey.
 | Although the mystery of Snow’s poisoning is the primary throughline of the novel, a slow-burn romance simmers in the background: “You think you’re not cut out for this? I’m a mere guard.” “There’s nothing mere about you,” I shot back. An indescribable expression crossed his face, and then he was holding my eyes again, a little bit too long. Saints, this is not the time. Not with everything else going on. And anyway you hardly know the man. |
The author deftly summarizes their first lovemaking:
For the record, it is not easy to make love to a man with badly bruised ribs. . . .
“I would like to try that again,” I said, “when I’m not afraid that you’ll puncture a lung if you get too enthusiastic.”
“This seems like an excellent plan.” He idly stroked his fingertips over my wrist, right where the skin was more sensitive, and I shivered. He made a noise, a furry sort of chuckle deep in his chest, and I decided that I wanted to hear that noise again, preferably as soon as possible.
For the record, it is not easy to make love to a man with badly bruised ribs. . . .
“I would like to try that again,” I said, “when I’m not afraid that you’ll puncture a lung if you get too enthusiastic.”
“This seems like an excellent plan.” He idly stroked his fingertips over my wrist, right where the skin was more sensitive, and I shivered. He made a noise, a furry sort of chuckle deep in his chest, and I decided that I wanted to hear that noise again, preferably as soon as possible.
Despite the passion and tenderness between the two lovers, the author doesn’t imply a simple happily-ever-after. Instead, Kingfisher makes clear that their relationship is a work in progress with the closing line of the book:
I went to collect my rooster, my snake, and my love, and to discover what happened after that.
I went to collect my rooster, my snake, and my love, and to discover what happened after that.
Twelve-year-old Princess Snow is more resourceful than any of the adults credit her, and she’s smarter and more courageous than the reader is led to believe, which provides a nice twist in the story’s climax.
In the two final chapters, Anja confronts the poisoner, lays out how the whole magic mirror progression started, and ties up the remaining loose ends of the mystery, providing a completely satisfying conclusion to a delightful story.
Hemlock & Silver is a perfect read for lovers of retold fairy tales, suspenseful fantasy mystery novels, and (or) stories with romantic elements that neither overshadow the main plot nor follow tired tropes. Highly recommended.
In the two final chapters, Anja confronts the poisoner, lays out how the whole magic mirror progression started, and ties up the remaining loose ends of the mystery, providing a completely satisfying conclusion to a delightful story.
Hemlock & Silver is a perfect read for lovers of retold fairy tales, suspenseful fantasy mystery novels, and (or) stories with romantic elements that neither overshadow the main plot nor follow tired tropes. Highly recommended.
Read other fabulous books by T. Kingfisher: Nettle & Bone, Thornhedge,
What Moves the Dead, A Sorceress Comes to Call, Paladin’s Grace, Swordheart
Read other novels based on fairy tale retellings:
Sistersong; The River Has Roots; Thorn; The Book of Gothel
Read other fantasy mysteries: The Tainted Cup, A Drop of Corruption
Read these fun fantasy fairy-tale collections:
The Starlit Wood; Kissing the Witch; Not a Princess
What Moves the Dead, A Sorceress Comes to Call, Paladin’s Grace, Swordheart
Read other novels based on fairy tale retellings:
Sistersong; The River Has Roots; Thorn; The Book of Gothel
Read other fantasy mysteries: The Tainted Cup, A Drop of Corruption
Read these fun fantasy fairy-tale collections:
The Starlit Wood; Kissing the Witch; Not a Princess
