"The Hexologists" by Josiah Bancroft is an absolute delight, blending intricate world-building with captivating characters in a spellbinding tale. Bancroft's wit and creativity shine through every page, offering a perfect balance of magic, mystery, and humor. The story's pace keeps you hooked, with unexpected twists that make it hard to put down. Whether you're a long-time fantasy lover or new to the genre, this book is a refreshing and thoroughly enjoyable read that leaves you eagerly anticipating the next adventure.

The Hexologist was a fun read. It was steampunk meets magic mystery. The main characters, Isolde and Warren, were witty, intelligent, and unforgettable.

The writing and use of figurative language was astounding without being verbose. I saw the scenes and action vividly in my head.

I’m looking forward to the future adventures of Iz and War!

I was provided this novel by NetGallery and the publisher to review. All opinions are my own.

This was good! It didn't leave a huge impression on me the way Bancroft's Books of Babel series did, but he's a master at world building for sure. I liked the aesthetic of this book more than I did the story or characters I think, although the main couple was really sweet and I enjoyed their relationship a lot. There were some twists and turns that surprised me and that I really enjoyed as well. Bancroft is definitely an author I will continue to read!

This book was ok. It did grab me at first, but over time it started to lose my interest. An interesting idea.

Read book this if you are looking for:

- Mysteries set in an industrial city
- Humour
- Fantasy creatures, spells, and magic items
- A pair of protagonists that are a loving couple
- Out of the ordinary characters and locations

Overall, this book wasn’t a great fit for me. I’m not a huge fan of mysteries or investigations. It was conceptually cool and featured some engaging elements, but several things didn’t work for me:

Narration: The prose in this novel is very rich, so much so that I found it to bring too much attention to itself rather than focusing on moving forward the plot. I found it hard to follow the mystery because of the writing, and very often had to reread passages because important information went straight over my head. While I see how the prose contributes to a particular atmosphere in the novel (making it feel like formal industrial London), it was difficult to picture what was happening and made the book hard to read for long stretches of time. I also found there to be awkward jumps between locations and scenes.

Plot: The plot moved forward at a good pace and had some surprising reveals, but I think that investigation novels just aren’t for me.

However, there were some qualities about it that I did enjoy:

Characters: The characters and characterizations are what I enjoyed most about The Hexologists. Isolde is funny, snarky, and driven, while her husband Warren is emotional, supportive, and doting. While I would not characterize this novel as a romance novel, it does feature the love and support that they have for one another, and I think this is this book’s biggest strength. It is rare to see married couples as protagonists in fantasy, and I appreciated that it did not lean into miscommunication to move the plot forward. Isolde and Warren are engaging both as individual characters and in the ways that they lean on each other to balance out their faults. 

Worldbuilding: Bancroft’s forte is odd and obscure worldbuilding. He has a unique way of capturing attention with his world building, and this book is no exception. This book features the odd and wacky, but it is not overly humorous: it is well balanced with a serious tone. Fantasy creatures and magic are the norm in this post-industrialist world (there are cars and factories). His knack for writing cooky characters, locations, and objects are reasons I keep reaching for his books, and make me wish that I had come up with them.

I’m a huge fan of Bancroft’s work. This book just didn’t work for me personally, but it won’t stop be from picking up his other series in the future.

A huge thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

While reading and even afterwards I struggle to put my finger on what I enjoyed about this book. The vibes just worked for me as did the rather esoterical, academic writing style. I also adored the relationship between the two married main characters, Warren and Isolde (Warren + Iz). I also loved the addition of a murder mystery to this fantasy plot. (It's more fundamental to the plot than the word "addition" implies but I cannot think of a better one.) I think this might be the genre mashup for me. I eagerly anticipate the sequel as well as getting to start his other series.

Dnf at 40 percent. I really wanted to love this quirky fantasy but it was too wordy and I could not keep track of what was going on. I am a fan of some prose but this felt a little to overwhelming to the point of I’m too busy trying to figure out why they used this weird word or that weird word and I just completely lost track of the plot. I could see this being enjoyed by people who don’t mind a slower paced fantasy story with some pretty unique language for me though this author is going to be a pass. I would like to thank net galley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review

A pretty solid book.

Bancroft is not lacking in talent so of course this book was good. The second half did lose me a bit so that's why it is not a 5 star read.

Bancroft's Books of Babel is one of my favorite series and continues to rank among my top 5 of all time. Bancroft's wit and humor combine with an imagination that seems to know no bounds. Seriously - I am both enticed and terrified about the possibility of crawling in this man's head and seeing what goes on in there. Thus, I was more than ecstatic to see what else Bancroft had to offer, and his second series does not disappoint!

The Hexologists is a very different kind of book than the Books of Babel, but Bancroft's humor, understanding of character, and absurd worldbuilding are still on full display here. Having said that, The Hexologists is a more "toned down" version of Bancroft, perhaps a slightly more commercial or digestable version of the chaotic creations ruminating in his brain. I think this may dissapoint some long-time Bancroft fans who are looking for the same majesty and scale of his previous series. However, what this also means is that The Hexologists might be a better entry point for readers who liked aspects of Babel, but who were turned off by how slow and weird Senlin Ascends could be.

The Hexologists is the kind of fantasy mystery that only Bancroft could tell. It starts with the king wanting to bake himself into a pie, forcing the Crown to bring in Iz and Warren Wilby, two Hexologists (hex magic users) to investigate the case, leading them down a path of magicians, gods, royal scandals, and so much more.

Absolutely every element of this book works to near perfection. The mystery plot is a lot of fun, and unlike most fantasy mysteries you actually get to play along with the characters. Magic is used to help them gather clues and move the story along, but Bancroft never deploys any deus ex machinas at the end where you had to know some previously unrevealed element of how magic works to solve the mystery. This was such a breath of fresh air because we don't get many really good fantasy-mystery mash-ups, and the ones that we do tend to really emphaize the fantasy, with the mystery becoming an afterthought to the worldbuilding.

As The Hexologists develops, Bancroft slowly and gradually builds out his world, never letting the worldbuilding obstruct the pacing of the story. Books of Babel fans might be a little suprised about how subdued the worldbuilding is here after exploring the massive and legendary Tower of Babel, but Bancroft's restraint helps the story from becoming bogged down in the worldbuilding (as it did a bit in Senlin Ascends) or sprawling out of control (as happened a bit in the third and fourth Babel books). Bancroft introduces us to a Victorian-esque world on that has just entered into its own Industrial Revolution, causing sweeping social, political, and economic changes. We are thrust into a world in flux, one in which magic is losing its prominence to the power of modern science. There are four kinds of magic in this world - "traditional" magic, necromancy, hexagy, and alchemy. The first two are completely outlawed, while hexagy is allowed but (culturally) is dying out. Only alchemy continues to rule the day as it offers much to economics of industry. I was impressed with Bancroft's attention to detail, and how he has considered and explained the ripple effects of social change. A lot of fantasy is dominated by narratives of cultures and empires that have not changed for thousands of years, but Bancroft's world is one that is always changing. Sometimes these changes can benefit magic, but other times they make some magic irrelevant.

It is in this changing world that Iz and Warren Wilby are just trying to get by. I feel head over feels for this married, magical, mystery solving duo. They are middle-aged-ish (in their late 30s if I understood it correctly), and they have such a healthy and mature relationship that only adds to the charm of the story rather than creating unnecessary conflict. Iz is headstrong, smart, and brave, while Warren likes to cook and is obsessed with the decor. I love how effortlessly Bancroft builds both Iz and Warren as individuals, but also has a couple that works together and respects one another. They eschew gender conventions (Iz is really good at compartmentalizing while Warren is emotional) without feeling forced or unnatural. These are two strong people who love each other, and they were a breath of fresh air.

The Hexologists works as a standalone novel and the central mystery is tied up before the last page. The end does have a little tease of what the Wilby's next adventure could be, and the book is marketed as the first in a series. I haven't heard anything from Orbit or Bancroft about if a second book is definitely happening (and if it is, when), but I am eager to jump back in with Iz and Warren. I can't wait to explore another mystery with these characters, and to see more of this world that Bancroft has built. There are so many things that happen at the end of the book that open up new possibilities for what Bancroft could do with this story next, and I hope he gets the opportunity to explore them.

Concluding Thoughts: Bancroft follows up his exquisite Books of Babel with a new series that is a bit more grounded and subdued, but still has Bancroft's wite, humor, and prose on full display. This is the perfect place to start with Bancroft's books if Babel was a bit too slow or weird as Bancroft drops readers immediately into an enticing mystery that you will want to help solve. The characters of Iz and Warren are some of my new favorites in all of fantasy, and the worldbuilding is sometimes subtle, but always complex. A huge recommend for fans of fantasy and mysteries, and I really hope we get more books in this series.

In The Hexologists, Josiah Bancroft has crafted a mesmerizing tapestry of the fantastical crashing into mystery that will captivate readers from the very first page. This gripping fantasy novel is a rollercoaster of exhilarating twists and turns, plunging readers into a world where darkness and light collide seamlessly.

From the moment you crack open the spine of this enchanting work of literary art, you'll find yourself swept away on a breathtaking journey through moments of wonder and danger. The prose is electrifying, crackling with an intensity that leaps off the page and seizes hold of your imagination. Each scene is painted with vivid detail, immersing you in a landscape alive with both beauty and peril.

The characters are nothing short of extraordinary, each one leaping off the page with their own unique blend of strength, vulnerability, and complexity. Every character is crafted with such depth and nuance that you can't help but be drawn into their world.

The Hexologists delivers thrills at every turn. Each chapter leaves you breathless, desperate to know what happens next as the stakes soar ever higher. It’s an adrenaline-fueled adventure that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. Dive into its pages and prepare to be transported to a world of mystery and imagination unlike any other. Plus, it’s just a ton of fun.

THE HEXOLOGISTS started off strong and seemed intriguing but ultimately fell flat by the middle. It started off fast paced with a great hook and introduction to a fascinating mystery and magic system. The MCs were a married couple, which was a very interesting dynamic because we got to see how they worked together already having a background together.

By the middle of the book, it began to feel very repetitive with fight scenes over and over again that did not move the plot forward at all. Because of all of the focus on the fighting, there were interesting threads from the beginning of the book that were never talked about again. For example, they have a magical bag that is infinitely large and has a TALKING DRAGON inside!! I was expecting the dragon to be an important character throughout, but he was barely referenced throughout the rest of the book.

I am undecided if I want to read the second book in the series or not.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy!

Thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for an ARC of The Hexologists in exchange for an honest review.

In this super-fun new series, we follow hexologists Isolde and Warren Wilby. Their current job is to help a King who is desperately trying to bake himself into a pie. They encounter several witty and memorable characters who try to help or hinder their investigations.

This book was very British, and I loved it. The intelligence and wit that the characters and language portrayed were perfect. Isolde was my favourite character; her no-nonsense attitude had me rooting for her from the get-go. And the relationship between her and Warren was so lovely and balanced. They support each other through thick and thin!

The writing paints the story perfectly but can be wordy at times. It took a little effort to read it when I first picked it up, but I was fully immersed again once I had read 5-10 pages. There are lots of twists and turns and mythical creatures. Felivox is probably my favourite!

If you want a fun mystery with lots of fantastical elements and characters you can’t help but love, then The Hexologists is for you! I’m looking forward to the sequel.

This is a new series by Bancroft and while I have only read the first in the beloved Babel series, I have enjoyed both and plan to read more. This one seems lower stakes and more small-time magic and plots. The mystery was less enthralling than the characters, but I enjoyed both. I will be interested in where Iz and Warren as a pair go in future books with one concern on there being much room for character and relationship development, which is important. Recommending for fans of the author as well as an interesting urban/historical fantasy system.

This book was funny, whimsical, well paced, and had amazing and mostly likable characters. I think the mysteries and wonder of the world far succeeded my expectations set by the description. I think this is a book most people can pick up and read and have a great time with.

I really enjoyed this one and found the writing in particular to be so well-done and enjoyable. I was rooting for the protagonists and was happy to read a story that was lead by a very happy couple! I found the mystery enjoyable and it kept me interested and wanting to keep reading to find out more.

Thank you netgalley for providing me the ARC of The Hexologists to review! This is the first book in a new series by Josiah Bancroft and I am excited to read the remainder of the series. The story follows the Wilbies as they research a mystery. The story is highly imaginative, magical, and full of an exciting new world to discover.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

What's some of the fastest ways a story can hook you? For me it was the name of one of the protagonists in Josiah Bancroft's new series "The Hexologists." Thank you for the copy Orbit (apologies for being a mood reader).

Iz and Warren Willby do not like working for the crown. They would much rather assist the people when they come up against the weird and magical. But the King's secretary is in their living room with a letter that could spark civil war when they are attacked. Spilling the biscuits. So begins us following ever curious Iz and affable Warren as they tangle with things people have tried to keep buried. Now they just have to avoid joining the evidence.

Reasons to read:
-Bancroft keeps the whimsy of the Senlin series there and the sudden and harsh brutality
-The Willbys are fantastic and I'm worried what the author is going to do to them
-The world has legs and isn't just Not-England
-Remember the gentry and the rich are trying to divide us so we don't look at the distribution of wealth
-A surprise gourmand

Cons:
-The fact that the green on the cover matched my walls made paranoid for a while...

Unfortunately I don't think Josiah Bancroft is going to be for me! I can see the merit in the writing and characters, but this kind of weird, vague fantasy is just not for me.

The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft. A little hard to get into this book in the beginning, needed more of an intro into the characters but wound up being a good read and an enjoyable book.