Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
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.
Is Hemlock and Silver appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
Contains moderate horror elements, poisoning themes, and dark magical realms that may be unsettling. The scientific approach to dangerous situations balances the darker fairy tale elements.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include death, poison/poisoning, and chronic illness (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens will enjoy this clever twist on Snow White with a healer heroine who uses science and poison to solve mysteries.