Very imaginative, very good pacing & well written.

The story intrigued me from the very start.

Would definitely recommend!

I quite enjoyed this book, and thought it was a great start to a new fantasy series! Originally I was drawn in by the gorgeous cover, and then when I started reading, I found the characters really enjoyable and I liked the relationship and chemistry between Isolde and Warren!

I also really liked the pacing, and felt engaged the entire time - the world building was also pretty unique as well.

Thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for the arc.

This is a great imaginative fantasy book. I loved the fresh and new take that this book has taken. It kept me very entertained and I simply couldn't stop reading this. I hope there is more coming like this!
I just reviewed The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft. #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

I enjoyed this book. It's very well written, with prose at times delightful and insightful. It's a mystery, with good pacing on the clues and a satisfying conclusion. The main characters are interesting and likeable, as a couple in some gender reversed roles. Isolde is the hexologist, but together with her husband Warren they are the Hexologists. Warren cooks and bakes, is kind and affectionate, and generally supports Isolde in everything including smoothing over her social gaffes. Isolde is uninterested in other people beyond what information they have that she needs, but she's intelligent and driven. She really adores Warren. It's so interesting that Bancroft states this relationship is based on his own with his wife. This book is very whimsical, much different in tone than the Babel books, which were weighty, weird, and utterly unique and brilliant. It brings to mind Brandon Sanderson's recent Tress book, which was also intentionally whimsical and which he said was the story his wife wanted. Maybe it's a thing that the wives of brilliant authors enjoy whimsical stories. In any case, set aside your hopes and expectations that this will be in the vein of Babel, and this story is quite enjoyable.

I requested a digital copy in order to sample the prose on my phone (since I don't have a eReader) before requesting a physical copy for review. My review will be based on the physical ARC I read (if I qualify)

This is a review of the e-ARC provided by NetGalley and Orbit Publishing.

The Hexologists has been popping up on my radar for a while now and I was so happy to receive an ARC of it! I haven't read any of Bancroft's books previously, so I didn't know what to expect. After reading this, I will certainly be picking up more of his books in the future!

In his new series, Bancroft introduces the reader to Isolde (Iz) and Warren (War) Wilby - a wife and husband duo who, as the title implies, are hexologists. Right off the bat, the presentation of both of these characters was so descriptive (e.g., "Her long-suffering stylist had once described her hair as resembling a porcupine with a perm..."), that it was effortless to picture them. In short order, I found myself enthralled with this wonderfully odd pair of individuals. I was initially drawn to Isolde (who in my head I picture as a young Helena Bonham Carter) and the manner in which she sticks to her convictions regardless of whom she's dealing with ("...I won't tolerate interference from my clients; I am not responsible if anyone is inconvenienced by the facts I uncover; and I will not, under any circumstances, appear before a judge, cooperate with the police, or accept questions from the press. I deliver answers, but I answer to no one."). However, both of these main characters are complex but relatable, and I quickly began to appreciate how they balance each other out.

Besides the Wilbys, there are several secondary characters throughout the story. Some, like Isolde's mother, Dr. Luella Timmons-Wilby, endear themselves to the reader and I hope they will play a more prominent role in the next book! I mean, come on, who doesn't like a librarian who uses a blowgun on someone who doesn't obey the rules of the library?! Others I was glad to see go (and we'll just leave it at that).

The magic in this world falls into four major classifications: wizardry, necromancy, alchemy, and hexegy. After the Meridian War, which takes place prior to this story, wizards and necromancers have become virtually nonexistent, alchemists are the dominant magic class because of their industrial endeavors, and hexologists are becoming increasingly irrelevant. While the magic system itself feels familiar and easy to follow, the introduction of things like the "portalmanteau" (a carpetbag, referred to affectionately as "Grandad," that houses magical artifacts) brings new life to the concept.

The reader doesn't have to wait long for the introduction of the mysterious case and you're quickly swept off with the Wilbys as they hunt for information in a post-war, Victorian-era land. The story itself is well-written (e.g., "Revolution may chasten the rich, but uncertainty torments the poor."; "All truth is born from the womb of rumor...") and there is an easy flow to it that should make it accessible to many readers. As the plot progresses, there as twists and turns that lead the Wilbys (and the reader) ever closer to solving the mystery. While I was able to deduce some of the realizations beforehand, it did not deter me from enjoying the book.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Hexologists and I will be picking up the second book once it's out!

Thank you, again, to NetGalley and Orbit for the e-ARC.

First I would like to thank Orbit for the arc. I am a huge fan of Orbit books and this book is another reason why.
I will be posting my online reviews closer to publication date.
I have to say, I love a story with a couple you find yourself cheering for! Their banter was straight perfection!! This was my first Josiah Bancroft story and if this kind of banter is present in all of his works, he has definitely gained a new fan!!
The world building was also a marvelous aspect of his storytelling! It never confuses me, and that’s saying something!!
The ending was satisfying and left me wanting more!!
All in all I enjoyed this story and want to thank Orbit and Bancroft for allowing me to read it early!

The writing style for me was over the top and hard to get into. I think it works for the story it's trying to tell, but that said, I didn't personally want to keep reading. I stopped at 7%. Two chapters felt like enough. I don't think it would go over well with our libraries.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC.

Thanks so much to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with this e-Arc! I have a planned review of this on my Instagram and will also review on Goodreads once I get to this read. This is one of my most anticipated reads of this year! Until then, I am giving a star rating as a placeholder on Netgalley. Stay tuned for my in depth review on all my social media platforms!

First off thank you for the arc!
This book wasn’t for me personally, I felt the writing style to be a bit excessive which in turn took my mind out of the story several times. I struggled to stay engaged and this took me much longer to read than other novels of this size. With that being said, there are still many aspects of this book that I enjoyed! I thought the two MCs, Iz and War, did have a great relationship and I found their banter very entertaining. I also give credit to the world building in this story, it was unique and definitely my favorite part of this read. Other magical pieces were a nice touch and made me smile throughout. In conclusion, I can’t see myself continuing the series, but I can see why others may love The Hexologists.

Big thanks to Orbit Books and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC! I'll be posting a full review closer to the time of publication.

In The Hexologists, we follow Isolde and Warren, a married couple of investigators in a magical world. The two are a match made in wizarding heaven, with their witty banter and undeniable chemistry.

It's not just our enchanting protagonists who steal the show. Bancroft has conjured up a cast of supporting characters that are as delightful as a cauldron bubbling with laughter. From Isolde's whimsical mother to a certain eccentric wizard, each individual adds their own sprinkle of magic to the mix.

The worldbuilding is imaginative, introducing readers to a realm filled with diverse magical practitioners, mystical creatures, and an assortment of spells.

The mystery at the core of the story is intriguing, and the gradual reveal is satisfying.

All in all, The Hexologists is an enchanting and thoroughly enjoyable magical mystery novel that I would recommend. I'll definitely be continuing the series, and can't wait for more people to read it!

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for giving me access to this arc.

This was my first Bancroft book and I was pleasantly surprised! I found this world to be so endearing and extremely immersive. I can probably see why some people may find it a little longer than it needs to be but that’s because the language that Bancroft uses for his descriptions allows you to actually feel like you’re in the midst of this story. It felt so inventive and bright.

It’s funny because I mostly read romance and fantasy and was taking a break from the former to reas the latter. While this isn’t a romance by any means, it’s beautiful to see the love from the MCs, who are a married couple. The way that Isolde and Warren balance each other out and compliment one another is so endearing. Bancroft does such a great jobs of distinguishing all of his characters and makes sure that no one’s personality is overlapping.

Objectively, I can understand why this may be hit or miss but it was a hit for me. In May ways, it reminds me of Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries and so naturally I gravitated towards this. I felt that, for me, this was a fun and whimsical introduction to this author that has SO much death. I highlighted so much and this story was just so immersive. I didn’t expect the plot twists at all. And to me? Whether one learns of the plot twist early on doesn’t necessarily indicate that it’s bad writing. I think it shows that you clearly understand the path the writer is laying before you. But I still didn’t really catch the plot twists.

I’m looking forward to the rest of this series. It was wonderful, full of life, sometimes too much and not enough but all in the best ways.

Thank you to Orbit for the arc.

At first glance this seemed really interesting, but the world and the writing style just did not work for me.

This novel takes place in a steampunky
world where several forms of magic exist. The protagonists are a married couple of Hexologists, hex-casters. They have a mystery to solve, and have various adventures along the way. Unfortunately I found the quirky characters to be annoying and the author made stylistic choices that prevented me from enjoying the novel.

Unfortunately this author’s writing style just doesn’t work for me.

Known for his Babel series, Bancroft has crafted another enjoyable read and the first in what I hope is another great series.

The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft follows the exploits of Isolde and Warren Selby, a pair of magical investigators who are also married to each other, as they try to solve a mystery using their specialised skills. Having very much enjoyed Josiah Bancroft's imaginative worldbuilding and beautiful writing in The Books of Babel, I was very eager to read this novel.

As always, Bancroft's writing was very good and flowed smoothly throughout the story. The main characters, Isolde and Warren, were a pleasure to read about as were some secondary characters such as Isolde's mother and a certain wizard. The worldbuilding was innovative - be it the various kinds of magical practitioners, creatures or spells. Especially enjoyable was the "portalmanteau" which was a key tool used by the Wilbys' during their investigation - suffice to say it was a repository of magical curiosities. A reader like me who at one point lived on an exclusive diet of Dame Christie's novels did see some of the twists coming but overall I really enjoyed the gradual unravelling of the mystery and the solution to the "whodunit". It was also lovely to read about Isolde and Warren's partnership both as professionals and as individuals - their commitment, their support towards each other and the mutual love and respect they shared was heartwarming.

There were a few things which didn't work for me as well. One was the writing felt overtly quirky and a bit too elaborate at times, which disrupted the smooth flow of the narrative. This is probably down to personal preference but for me whimsy is delightful when balanced - here it seemed at times that it was trying too hard. The second thing is there were a lot of magical elements, almost too many for me, and again at times it felt overloaded. I would have liked a more graded worldbuilding approach such as Bancroft accomplished in Senlin Ascends, his debut novel.

Overall this is a thoroughly enjoyable magical mystery novel that I would definitely recommend to readers of The Books of Babel but also to new readers looking for a fun, innovative fantasy read. Josiah Bancroft continues to shine as a novelist who writes like no other in the fantasy genre and I would encourage all interested in fantasy to give his newest creative endeavour a read.

Many thanks to Orbit Books and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Hexologists is a whimsical, heart-felt return to the imagination of Josiah Bancroft, but lacks the narrative propulsion and gripping stakes that drew me into the Books of Babel. The story follows a married couple, Isolde and Warren Wilby, the former of whom is renowned Hexologist, a master of spells drawn in ink, chalk, and air. Together, they form a formable investigative team, recently conscripted by the crown to unravel a claim of succession. Bancroft's creativity soars in this novel, with details as inventive and original as anything he's built in the past. From dragon archivists to shadow'dwelling cthulus and staircases into the underworld, the novel is not lacking for fun and flair. I especially loved there Wilbies' "Portalmanteau", a magical carpetbag in which the have stored a warehouse's worth of fascinating magical objects they frequently deploy throughout the book.

The story is also a beautiful portrait of the Wiliby's happy marriage. None of the conflict in the story ever comes at the cost of their relationship, which is a tender and supportive partnership defined by mutual trust. Most contemporary romance seems to be about two people falling in love, so it was refreshing to see a novel focused part that comes after, when the couple has built and settled into a pleasant life. They shone equally bright as individuals as they did partners, which is also an achievement in a story that so strongly centers their life as couple.

For all I enjoyed the story, however, I found it surprisingly hard to get through. While there aren't necessarily any sections that drag, I didn't feel the crackling tension and desperate need to keep turning the pages that I look for in a great book. Part of this might be that the mystery genre isn't always my cup of tea, but also the progression of clue to clue began to feel tiresome and predictable after a time. There was a very clear progression from the start to the end of the story, and rarely was I surprised by any of the reveals. The writing style might have also hindered my progression: while it is fun and quirky it also tends to be discursive and overly embellished. The minor characters also started to blur together after a time: a few, like Ochelos the wizard stood out, but the rest felt like steps along the way rather than anyone with meaningful narrative heft.

I really wanted to like this one as I was a HUGE fan of the Books of Babel but this did not seem to have the same sparkle. There's a good book/mystery in here but it's a bit overstuffed and overlong - the whimsy was here but the playfulness of Bancroft's other works was not.

Holy freaking cow this was an enjoyable ride. The duo in this will make you want more and with the ending more is to come, hopefully!!! It had me guessing until the end, and the twist in the 3rd act is clutch.