A Snow White Retelling Unlike Anything You’ve Read Before

Forget everything you think you know about Snow White. This story trades in the sanitized fairy tale version for something darker, stranger, and far more interesting.

Hemlock & Silver comes from T. Kingfisher, the pen name of New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award winning author Ursula Vernon. This novel became an instant bestseller across the New York Times, USA Today, and Indie bestseller lists the moment it hit shelves.

What is this story about?

Anja is a healer who regularly drinks poison herself, not to harm but to find cures for people everyone else has given up on. Her quiet, herb filled life gets interrupted when the King summons her for an urgent task. His daughter, Snow, is dying, and nothing seems to explain why.

With help from a quiet, no nonsense guard and an unbearably narcissistic cat, Anja races to figure out what is slowly killing Snow. Her investigation leads her somewhere she never expected, a hidden world tucked inside a magic mirror that holds answers darker than she imagined.

Why This Retelling Feels So Fresh

Most fairy tale retellings play it safe. This one doesn’t.

What makes Hemlock & Silver stand out:

A grounded, science minded heroine instead of a passive princess
Real mystery and intrigue woven into a familiar tale
Dark, atmospheric worldbuilding with genuine emotional stakes
A memorable cast, including a wonderfully self absorbed cat
Themes of grief, motherhood, and the cost of power

Author Sarah Beth Durst called it a new favorite, praising its masterful storytelling and unforgettable heroine. Critics have described the book as both eerie and aching, calling it some of Kingfisher’s best work yet.

Quick Question: Have you ever read a fairy tale retelling that made you question everything you thought you knew about the original story? That is exactly what this book does with Snow White.

Is This Book Right for You?

If you enjoy fantasy that blends fairy tale familiarity with genuine horror elements, this book delivers both. Readers who loved Kingfisher’s earlier work, or fans of dark fantasy writers like Naomi Novik and Alix E. Harrow, will feel right at home here.

This book works well for readers who want:

A fairy tale retelling written for adults, not children
A capable, resourceful female lead
Slow building dread mixed with genuine warmth and humor
A story that respects the source material while making it entirely its own

About the Author

T. Kingfisher is the pen name of Ursula Vernon, a New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award winning author known for blending dark fantasy with sharp wit and genuine heart. Her work consistently earns praise for combining eerie atmosphere with deeply human characters.

Why Buy From BookWharf

We only feature books that earn real reader loyalty, and Hemlock & Silver has already proven itself as an instant bestseller. This is the kind of fairy tale retelling that stays with you.

Order your copy today and step into a version of Snow White you have never read before.

Weight

408 g

Dimensions

14.0 × 2.7 × 21.0 cm

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The Life Council: 10 Friends Every Woman Needs By Laura Tremaine

Name: Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher (Paperback)
SKU: BW-00113390
Price: 14.99 USD
Availability: InStock

$20.00

Binding: Paperback
Language: English
Reader’s Age: Adults 18+ (Perfect for Women 25–55)
Ships Within: 5–10 Business Days
Author: Laura Tremaine
Release Date: April 4, 2023
Genre: Self Help & Motivation

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Description

Build Your Life Council: The Essential Guide to Meaningful Friendships for Women

About the Book

Are you waiting for one best friend to meet all your needs? It’s time to rethink friendship. In The Life Council, Laura Tremaine introduces a revolutionary approach to building adult friendships by identifying ten specific types of friends every woman needs in her corner. From the Business Bestie who understands your career ambitions to the Old Friend who knows your history, this book helps you recognize the value in different kinds of relationships and shows you how to nurture each one intentionally.

Rather than searching for the perfect friend, Tremaine encourages women to build a “council” of people who collectively support, challenge, and celebrate them. This practical guide is filled with personal stories, actionable advice, and honest reflections that will change how you view connection.

About the Author

Laura Tremaine is a writer, speaker, and podcast host known for her warm, relatable approach to modern living. As the voice behind the popular 10 Things to Tell You podcast, she’s built a devoted community by sharing honest conversations about creativity, lifestyle, and relationships. Laura’s work has been featured in major publications, and she’s become a trusted voice for women seeking authentic connection in an increasingly digital world.

Who Is This Book For?

This book is perfect for women who feel lonely despite being surrounded by people, those who’ve moved to a new city and struggle to make friends, or anyone who wants to be more intentional about their relationships. Whether you’re in your twenties and building your first adult friendships or in your forties reassessing your social circle, The Life Council offers a practical framework that makes friendship feel less overwhelming and more achievable. It’s for women ready to stop waiting for friendship to happen and start creating the community they deserve.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the Life Council concept?
The Life Council is a framework that identifies ten different types of friends every woman needs—like the Daily Duty Friend, the Fellow Obsessive, and the Yes Friend. Instead of expecting one person to fulfill all your friendship needs, you build a diverse council of people who each play a unique role in supporting your life.

Q: Is The Life Council only for women who struggle with making friends?
Not at all. This book is for any woman who wants to be more intentional about her friendships, whether you’re building a new social circle, maintaining long-distance friendships, or simply want to deepen the connections you already have. It’s about quality and intentionality, not loneliness.

Q: How does Laura Tremaine define the different types of friends?
Tremaine breaks down friendships into ten categories based on what each friend brings to your life—from practical support to emotional understanding to shared interests. Each chapter explores one friendship type with real examples, helping you identify who fills these roles in your current life and where you might need to invest more.

Q: Can this book help with maintaining adult friendships when life gets busy?
Yes. The Life Council addresses the unique challenges of adult friendship—busy schedules, competing priorities, and geographic distance. It offers practical strategies for staying connected without overwhelming yourself, and helps you focus your energy on relationships that truly matter.

Q: Do I need to have all ten types of friends right now?
No. The book isn’t about checking boxes or creating pressure. It’s a framework to help you understand the different roles friends can play and to recognize where you might want to invest more intentionally. Some friends may fill multiple roles, and your council will naturally evolve over time.

Additional information

Weight	0.65 g
Dimensions	5.85 × 1.05 × 8.65 cm

Short Summary

The Life Council teaches you to identify and cultivate ten essential friendship types that collectively support every aspect of your life. You'll learn how to recognize which friends fill which roles, how to invest your time wisely, and how to create a balanced social circle that sustains you through every season. By the end, you'll have a clear roadmap for building meaningful connections that last, along with the confidence to nurture friendships that truly matter.