Iz and Warren Wilby, are husband and wife and also known as The Hexologists. With the help of hexes and relics they take on all sorts of cases for the ill represented and desperate. When the royal secretary comes knocking asking for help. The king is being plagued by an ailment and a mysterious letter making claims and threats risks upsetting the power dynamic of the land. Although reluctant, The Wilby's take the case, what they unearth is a cover up decades buried, a run in with a ghoul, anti-royalists, a bookish dragon, and an alchemist.

This was one hell of a fun time. The magic system was so unique, the setting and world building was so expansive. The writing was so accessible, and had so much humour woven throughout, it was a joy to read. The 2 main characters were so loveable, humble, and warm I was desperate for the story to never end. This was like a Sherlock Holmes esque story with zainy magical detectives, magical creatures galore, a mystery that kept you on your toes, and a very satisfying conclusion to the story. I truly cannot wait for more books and adventures in this story. Josiah Bancroft really hit it out of the park with this one.

I really wanted to like this story. It had a lot of building blocks that drew me to it. I like the mix of our real world with supernatural elements. I enjoy the somewhat Victorian feel of the setting. And I love the fact that the main characters are a couple who have been married for more than a decade, who are partners on ever level, and who not only deeply love but genuinely like one another.

And yet, for all of these wonderful components, for all that the central mystery seemed promising, there was something about this book that felt disjointed. The humor felt forced. The characters seemed fun in the surface, but cardboard underneath. I could never find anything to connect with, and I eventually had to quit trying. I regret to say that I put this book down around the halfway mark. I'm sure there are readers who will love this, but it just wasn't for me.

Thank you for the chance to review this book!

I really enjoyed the characters Iz and her husband War. They have a great dynamic that keeps the dialogue interesting. I even loved the concern of the King (the original one, not the letter).

This unfortunately quickly fell away for me upon their research into the person who might have sent the letter. I somehow found it both interesting and drawn out. I can't figure out why that is. I do know the dragon was fun- and I read the dragon's parts the fastest.

At some point, I realized I barely got started reading the book, though it felt I had been reading for a long time. (I was a week into it but only around 1/3 read.) I wish I could say this book kept me captivated but it didn't.

This really does have a great premise with great characters! I just don't think this book is for me. I did DNF this book about 30% through.

This author has been on my list to read for a few years, so when I saw his name and this cover, I knew I had to pick this one up. My absolute favorite thing about this book was the central married couple — she’s hard headed and revered and absolutely in charge, and he’s there to support her and listen and hold her stuff (for the most part). And they absolutely fancy the pants off of each other, which is always cute. The central mystery kept me intrigued throughout the story, and I liked the overarching story that will be visited in future books. The magic system felt like there was more to explore too. A couple nitpicks: it was set in an alternate sort of steampunk 1920s London, but I’m not sure the different world was entirely necessary? And the writing was beautiful, but often so flowery that I was a little distracted. Minor things though, in a story I enjoyed a lot!

Dnf at around 50%

I really adored this book, I just couldn't get into it and wasn't super motivated to continue.

Overall, I think it was so fun and there's so many people who will love it. I loved the writing style and how it contributed to the overall feel of the book and the world. The relationship between Iz and Warren was so warm and wholesome and one of the best parts of the book.

I think fans of cozy mystery or people looking for a low stakes fantasy will love this book.

I’d never read any of Bancroft’s books prior to this one, but it’s definitely made me want to check out his other works!

The prose was very rich. I found the book warm and cozy.

The relationship between Isolde and Warren was great. There wasn’t any unnecessary drama. Just a nice, established, healthy relationship. This gives the book necessary time to spend on the plot.

The worldbuilding was really interesting. It was steam punk and combined multiple time periods. It seemed to be inspired by the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The magic system was unique and interesting, with hexology being the focus.

The story is a low-stakes mystery. Isolde and Warren are private investigators who take a case on behalf of the king. But Isolde in particular is pretty anti-establishment, which I loved.

Overall, the book was a great read and I really enjoyed it!

I was so excited to receive this review copy, and I did like it, I just feel like it needed something more. Overall a good read!

Despite having tried several times, the material didn't capture my attention the way I expected it to.

I had such high hopes that the book would meet my expectations, but alas it did not.

I will try again at a later date and hopefully change my review.

Thank you, NetGalley/Josiah Bancroft/ Orbit Books.Orbit/For this eARC in advance for my honest review. My opinions are of my own volition.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc.

I did not know what to expect from this book, but it was a fun and atmospheric book. It is witty and action packed while balancing heart and character building. The story had a very whimsical vibe that I think fit the story really well. Im excited for the next installment.

It's been a hot minute since I've actually written a whole review for a book. Life's taken a million turns, and we've been so busy lately that I just haven't had the brain power to do anything other than sit and play video games at night. But I finally scrounged up enough oomph to finish an ARC. It's late, of course, but it's done!

The Hexologists was a book that I grew interested in after hearing about it from Orbit's monthly newsletter. It looked vaguely steam-punky, vaguely historical, and it just sounded extremely unique. Well - I'm happy to say that it lived up to all of that and more. I'm not sure I would have picked this one up without Orbit harping about it. The cover is beautiful, but it doesn't really give you a hint at what's inside. I think they maybe did a disservice with the cover, but whatever. The book is worth picking up!!

However, it's hard to find something similar to compare it to. The closest I can come is -- The Parasol Protectorate series. There's differences, of course, but it has the same ~serious but also a little silly~ vibe to it. There are tentacle monsters, talking birds, ghosts, magic, and just...it's just wildly original, and so much fun. The setting is interesting but vague enough that the author can add on to it at any point without it feeling forced.

I adored the main characters - Iz and War. Iz is a no-nonsense hexologist (a type of magician) who investigates mysteries for a living. Her husband does not appear to have any magic, but is more of her body guard than anything else. I love love loved how much they cared for one another. This was so apparent right away, I never had any question that War or Iz would give their life for the other.

The mystery at the center of the book had so many twists and turns that it was hard to follow. The reveal at the end was jaw-dropping, mildly terrifying, and so worth the journey. I will be lining up to read the next book in this series, no question.

I did not like this as much as I thought I would. The characters seemed very one-dimensional to me and I didn't feel like the plot was moving fast enough. It just felt like I was watching the characters sit around and talk to each other about little things instead of moving the story forward. Did not finish.

Review copy (eARC) provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I applied to review this novel based on the great word of mouth from "The Books of Babel" series, and I wasn't disappointed in this initial entry in "The Hexologists" series.

The book was (for me) a nice change of pace from the fantasy I've been reading recently. It was a Victorian mystery starring a husband-and-wife team and a case involving royalty.

I found the book engaging and quirky. Would probably give it a 3.5, but I'll round up based on gut instinct.

3.5/5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thank you Orbit and NetGalley for the free Advanced Reader Copy. This is my honest opinion.

It took me a little bit to get into this book, but I was intrigued about the world (some sort of Victorian steam punk with more than a sprinkle of magic). By the time I got to about 40 percent, I was fully invested and was starting to piece together the overall theme and mystery. This may be listed as a fantasy book, but this actually reads as a mystery fantasy, which love this!

Warren and Isolde Wilby are known as the Hexologists (although that really is just Isolde, Warren is her sidekick husband with his own set of skills) and they are engaged in a mystery solving who is blackmailing the King. I appreciated the fact that there is a map of the city, a glossary, a cast of characters, and some additional information on the various hexes used in the book. Also, there's a dragon.

This is an amalgamation of Sherlock Holmes, The Parasol Protectorate, and BioShock Infinite. So it appeals to a particular type of fantasy reader, one who enjoys mysteries and piecing together stray information. This is filled with fun conversations, quips, and snarky dialogue, very similar to Sherlock Holmes. There is a dual perspective via a third party omniscient view.

4 out of 5 stars. Recommend for mystery lovers who like a magical solution.

This story is told in third person following a married couple Isolde Ann Always Wilby and her husband Warren, known as the Hexologists, private investigators of the paranormal. Although Is and War are antiroyalists, the couple has been hired by the king’s secretary to find out if an unsolicited claim to be his heir is legitimate and the source of his current ailment.

I really enjoyed the quirky characters in this novel from the established married couple and their comfortable, witty and sometimes humorous repartee to the dragon Felivox who was enamored with the delicacies War fed him and often waxed poetical. The magical setting was intriguing with hex magic, wizards and sorcerers. However, at times the story was too slow for me, followed by bits of adventure before slowing down again. Others might find the writing too descriptive. It gave my kindle dictionary a workout with some of the obscure language.

Recommended for the quirky, adventurous characters and magical world and creatures.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for a copy provided for an honest review.

The Hexologists is indescribably delightful. A fun and humerous mystery with a husband and wife duo engaging with every type of magical creature/being possible with the use of a Mary Poppins-type bag called grandfather... what more could you ask for?

With everything going on in this novel, I never found it too chaotic or hard to follow. I was along for the ride, and Josiah Bancroft did not disappoint. It was a genuinely good time with vibes that are very different from Bancroft's previous works. Senlin Ascends didn't work for me,

I don't want to say more so as not to spoil the book, but if you're in the mood for something light that has you smiling and feels like you're caught up in a whirlwind without the dizziness... pick this up.

This book was release on Tuesday 9/26/23 and I realized that I had yet to review it. Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit books who provided me with an ARC of this delightful read.
I have not yet read Bancroft’s Books of Babel series, however after this frolic of adventure I will definitely be moving them up on my TBR.
The Hexologists was such a fun read. It is in the vein of a Sherlock Holmes “whodunnit”, but filled with magic and hexes, along with mischief, mayhem, twists and turns.
I loved the main characters and their quirky personalities. I was so glad that we got some small glimpses into their lives and relationship as Warren and Isolde Wilbur seem to be two totally opposite ends of the spectrum, however I think those tiny glimpses also show us that they have the same morals and beliefs at heart. I hope that the next installments in what I hope is a series, give us even more crumbs to nibble. Bancroft’s prose was wonderful and made me feel like I was traversing the worlds and streets right alongside the Wilby’s on their adventure to find clues and solve this mystery. As always there are characters that I was sad to see go and some that I hope get their due, but I look forward to reading the next book.

Hexes, necromancy, wizards, a dragon and a lovable quirky married couple?! This story was right up my alley.

I had so much fun reading this book. Our main characters Iz and War has me cracking up most of the book. Reading a couple who works together and genuinely love each other was a delight. The quirks that made them stand and their differences out made me fall in love with them.

There is a mystery at the heart of the story that our main characters are requested to solve by the king’s secretary. The adventure this leads them was fun to read even if it was a tad predictable at times. The world building was great although I will say it was a bit wordy at times. I understood how the magic worked, the rules of the world and could imagine the setting. I couldn’t quite grasp what time period we were in though. While the dates mentioned placed us about 2000 years in the future, the descriptions and the way the characters spoke had me feeling like we were somewhere in the late 1800s maybe early 1900s. Maybe it was intentional but it did leave me a bit confused.

Overall I had a good time reading this. At times it felt a tad pretentious to me, as though I was reading from a more academic lens but it wasn’t difficult to read if that makes sense. Just felt that at times the tone was off at times during certain situations. It could have been a little shorter but I honestly have no real qualms. It was a surprising read for me.

I loved The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft. The Hexologists has a lot to recommend with its mystery, magic, witty banter, clever characters, humor, and plenty of plot twists. The Hexologist of the title is Iz Wilby who along with her husband Warren, help solve clients besieged by a variety of supernatural conundrums. I especially appreciated the sweet romance between the happily married couple; Iz is a smart and independent woman whom Warren respects, but the novel depicts their relationship as partnership of equals and Warren is also shown as competent and compassionate.

This adventure starts when they are approached about the current King wanting to be baked in to cake and a mandrake runs amok inside their home. There are plenty of plot twist and although some supernatural creatures are based on familiar fantasy favorites, there is a lot of originality in what Bancroft has created, my favorite of which is a dragon gourmand. Not only is Iz skilled in her use of hexes, patterns that she is able to create for magical purposes, but she also has inherited a bag dubbed the portalmanteau from her explorer father that leads to a variety of cursed objects that frequently come to the Wilbies’s aid when they need it the most.

I am definitely hoping for more adventures with The Hexologists in the future. This novel is highly recommended to fantasy fans and general readers who love creative, funny fiction.

Thank you Netgalley and Orbit books for access to this arc.

I wasn’t quite sure what this was going to turn out to be but the blurb was so intriguing that I knew I wanted to find out. To be honest, this is a book that takes time to get into and rewards the effort. The payoff is a long time in coming but it arrives with a wallop as the many and varied strings are tied together. And kudos for having main characters who are subject to making mistakes rather than being perfect.

Hmmm, where to begin? I’m afraid the answer is that I can’t. Whoever wrote the burb managed a much better job than I can do. When I began reading, I thought based on the page count that it wouldn’t take me too long to finish the book. I was wrong. There is so much here, so much plot, so many characters, so many twists and turns that require concentration and attention to catch and remember so that when these things come into play later one, a reader can say “Ah, ha! That’s why that was there.”

“The Hexologists” is written in a leisurely writing style. The background and world building are relayed via slight side steps from the action before heading back in. The truth is that I usually don’t care for this as I feel it derails the forward momentum of the plot. I got more used to it though. It’s very descriptive but also amusing so I didn’t mind the verbosity.

Iz and War are well defined married main characters – with joyous and active though offscreen sex lives. They are two different sides of a coin. Iz is withdrawn, driven, and somewhat lacking in the social graces when she’s on an investigation. Warren is open, generous, smiling, gathering friends wherever he goes. They are utterly devoted to each other and would, I feel, go to the depths of hell to save the other.

Iz and War’s house (originally Iz’s family’s. War also chooses to take her last name upon their marriage) is pure Victorian decoration while the city is Edwardian steampunk in a pseudo British-ish setting. Of great fun is a Mary Poppins style carpet bag but one full of much more interesting and sometimes dangerous things. Worlds can be stored in it and a dragon lives in it. Turdus Felivox is educated (he’s read a great deal of the papers and books that Iz’s father put in it), well spoken, and once his palate has been expanded beyond a goat, he’s on his way to being a budding epicurean. He also has decided opinions on man kind and how they have dealt with dragons.

Running through the story is a great deal of social commentary that I feel is directed towards much of what is going on in the world today. Iz is a decided anti-royalist and only takes this case in order to possibly embarrass the monarchy. Aristocrats are also on her list of villains. There is a group (mentioned in the plot) who I thought might take more of an active role but alas, they don’t. This is somewhat made up for by a character and his “social experiment” that is enough to turn your blood cold. Given all this, I can’t say I was surprised by the ending. I will say that there was a definite tinge of fear Iz and War have regarding what they uncovered that appears to be brushed aside before a new adventure jumps at them which is “to be continued.” This story plot is wound up – mostly I guess – and I look forward to seeing what the Wilbys will be up to next and what they’ll face. B

I loved this book. It was very funny, adventurous, mysterious, and heart warming. The book had great world building and magic systems. I love the creatures in this story. The couple in this story was adorable. I can't wait for the next book.