Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

The Hexologists follows Isolde and Warren Wilby as they are hired to solve a particular mystery by the royal secretary. Along the way they meet a variety of strange creatures and other practitioners (Iz is a hex caster, as the name suggests, but this world has a variety of magics, such as alchemy and the outlawed wizardry and necromancy). Both Wilbies are fairly anti-royalists, but Iz can’t say no to a mystery and her husband will follow her anywhere.

I was intrigued by the premise of the novel, though it’s my first Bancroft, so I didn’t know what to expect. Still, I went in with high hopes as the synopsis sounded like something I would be interested in and I do so love to read about a married couple. Unfortunately, this ultimately did not mesh well with me, though I chalk this up more to a mismatch between reader and book than anything being seriously wrong with the text. To be clear, I really did love Bancroft’s prose—I thought that it was lovely and lush, it’s just that I personally did not always get on with Iz and War, and I found the plot to be a little too jumbled. I think sometimes the prose felt a little like it was getting in its own way, but I think this has more to do with my feelings about the overall content.

It’s been a couple of days since I finished The Hexologists and I’m still not entirely sure where things went wrong for me. As it is, I’m not a super plot-driven reader, but there were a lot of times where I felt like the plot was going in directions for both the sake of forcing Isolde and Warren to keep investigating and so that the reader would get a different look at the world Bancroft has crafted. This was a low stakes whodunnit type of story, and I guess it’s possible these types of novels just aren’t my cup of tea. I do think that Bancroft knows the world well, but sometimes it felt like this was taking place in an established world rather than it being the first in a series. For me, it felt like a lot was going on and that I was supposed to understand the established rules of the world—I don’t mind being thrown into the deep end and being told to swim, but this sort of felt like the rules had already been described to the audience so there wasn’t a necessity to go back and revisit them, despite this being a new universe. I don’t think this would have bothered me as much if I had found something to latch onto, unfortunately between feeling like I entered a series halfway and bouncing off the characters, I never fully found my footing.

I had expected to like Isolde and Warren, a married couple in their thirties who solve cases and mysteries together. While there was the occasional time that I liked them, I mostly did not vibe with them as characters and found it difficult to be in their points of view. I think this is primarily a me thing; reading other reviews it seems like these two were well-received. Still, I didn’t feel emotional attachment to any of the characters, nor did I particularly like them, and that made this challenging for me.

Overall, I think that Bancroft’s prose is absolutely incredible, but the story and the characters did not work for me, personally. There’s a chance I’ll pick up the sequel eventually to see if maybe I feel differently then, but I’m really quite sad that this one didn’t stick the landing. Still, I think that my issues were primarily me things, and there were no glaring faults that I think would land poorly with a wider range of people. There’s really excellent prose here and I think that if a lower stakes whodunnit sounds appealing it’s worth picking up.

Despite a blurb that had me highly intrigued, this one just didn't resonate with me at all. I found the characters interesting enough but the pacing just never seemed to click along as quickly as I wanted it to and I had a tough time connecting to the story. The world-building was excellent and very evocative though, and that part I definitely enjoyed.

I feel mixed about this because while the world was enjoyable, I found the doubling up of whimsical writing and a densely packed fantastical environment bogged down the pacing of a mystery that seemed better suited to fleetness. It started as an almost Nick and Nora romp and ended far closer to a noir only to seem to want to tilt back the old way again. I think if there was more depth to the characterizations, that might have worked for me, but the language and characters never really dropped past their enjoyably screwball surface. Rather than feeling like they'd delved into a deeper web than they could be expected to resolve, I felt like they'd been presented as more clever than they were.

I've been wondering about how magic and mysteries intersect. I like it best when the magic feels like technology, a tool rather than an answer in itself. A few times here it felt more like a plot device, something that supplied the answer and again left me feeling like our duo weren't as clever as their often vaunted reputations. I almost wish we'd met them earlier in their careers. I think that would have taken some of that expectation off of their performance. but we were told they were brilliant and the best at what they do, only to see them constantly on the back foot and all too often wrong. It felt like a disconnect between what the author wanted us to see and what was there.

All of that made it hard for me to grip onto and hard to love although Warren and Iz were delightful and the imagination on display twining strange magic with the world's industrial revolution was entertaining. The political backdrop was intriguing but blunt, another reason why the plot twists felt they should have been more obvious to the main team. All in all, it had a lot of charm and engaging elements. I wish the pieces had worked for me as a whole.

Loved this one!

My unexpected treat of 2023. There is SO much to enjoy here: Iz and War are fantastic main characters. The mystery! The magic! The completely bonkers world building. I can not wait to read more of this series.

You can read the synopsis in a hundred other reviews but you won't be able to enjoy the experience of reading this for the first time more than once. Just well done.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this Advanced Readers Copy of The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft!

The story itself was interesting, and the characters were fun to read about. Unfortunately Josiah’s writing style did not sit well with me, which really dampened my enjoyment of the story, which is completely subjective. If you want to read about a quirky bunch of characters and supernatural antics, then you should definitely give this book a shot.

Do you love detective stories, but wish they had more magic? Or say that Holmes and Watson were a married couple? This is the book for you. Don't be fooled, this is the first in the series, Bancroft is just offering us a world that is already filled out and a detective team that has already established themselves and had adventures. Very fun, rich, well developed world. The characters are all really interesting, the right balance of quippy, serious, and heart felt. The mystery at the core of everything is wonderfully knotted, but the reveals feel very earned and well paced. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for the next one.

The Hexologists
by Josiah Bancroft
Fantasy Urban Mystery Cozy
Ages 16+
NetGalley ARC
Release Date: September 26, 2023
Orbit Books

Iz and Warren Wilby are the Hexologists; Iz is able to create hexes easily and her husband is her muscle for those times their cases involve chimney-wraiths, incubi, or a ghost, but when the royal secretary knocks on their door, Iz doesn't want to hear him out because she does not want to aid the royals because of how they treat the people. Then from the basement comes a mandrake and now it seems the Hexologists don't have any other choice.


I would call this a slow cozy mystery because there was a lot of going here and going there without descriptive detail, or seeming to go anywhere within the plot. Maybe if there was a deeper dive into these plots, more about the graveyard, the gravediggers, the palace, the king, the princess and her husband and kids, etc., I wouldn't have felt as if I was supposed to know more about this world.

Even though there were some funnies, overall I didn't care much for this story since I had to force myself to read it. There wasn't anything in it to make me connect or care for the characters, except maybe for the dragon, he was the only one who seemed to have any real 'personality', everyone else blended together.

But having a happily married couple as MCs was a change from the 'norm' of today, and it was even better that the 'romantic' scenes weren't erotica. While there were some descriptions, they weren't detailed to the point of grossness so this book is suitable for readers 16 and older. But even with the mild adult content, mature younger readers could pick this up because there's not a lot of violence or language.

If another fifty pages of descriptions, backstories, and a little more 'darkness drama' were added, this could be a much better story, but as is, I won't be keeping an eye out for the next book.

2 Stars

4/5
Not nearly as compelling as the Books of Babel but theres still lots to like here with Bancroft returning for more of his whimsical dry wit and humor injected characters in a mystical setting. It just didn't capture me the way Babel did, but I am curious to hear if the audiobook might bring this one to life a bit more for me too.

CAWPILE SCORE
C-10
A-8
W-9
P-8
I-9
L-9
E-10
TOTAL-9/10

<spoiler>

CAWPILE

Characters
I absolutely love the characters in this book.
Warren—Love his personality that he loves to cook and that he sometimes has a bit of a scary side.
Isolde IZ—her obsession with figuring things out and the love that She and Warren share together was amazing.
Old Geb
Princess Constance
Horace Alman
Victor Cholmondeley
Dr. Luella Timmons-Wilby
Professor Silas Wilby
Turdus Feliovox—Just hilarious Dragon

Atmosphere
The feel of the city and the pollution was real and everpresent and the scenes describing the places they visited really worked for me.

<b>Writing</b>
Josiah’s writing in this book was amazing. It had so many hilarious parts that had me laughing hard at silly jokes, and then turn to some serious thinking

Plot
Great plot with lots of twists, turns, and stumbling blocks to keep me entertained the whole time I was reading it and guessing with the characters who was responsible for what.

Investment
Loved every minute of reading this book. Very funny. Very hard to put down especially after 75%

Logic
Everything followed the rules that it should. And was easy to follow without me having to concoct loops for it to work.

Enjoyment
Absolutely amazing book. So much fun. I’m so glad this is the start of a series, I can’t wait for more adventures of the Hexologists

<b>Misc</b>
Small Sherlock Holmes Vibes mixed with Warehouse 13 vibes.
Humor was amazing
Dragon Tug of War
Great opening line. The king wishes to be cooked alive,” the royal secretary said
The love that Warren and Iz show each other. Maybe a bit too frequent reminder that they have lots of loud sex, but I’m not really complaining.
Chapter Titles amazing.
Incubus not really.
Infinite Goat
Warren Wore the anguished expression of a man who had inadvertently set his own house on fire while trying to kill a spider , touching off a conflagration that could leap to the homes of his neighbors, consuming first the block then the city.

This book will also be talked about on the Green Team of the Legendarium Podcast

I love the way Bancroft writes, his prose leans towards the poetic with long flowing sentences but his story is character driven. More of his excellent previous work.

Bancroft is a gifted world-builder, and this new series of his takes place in a vaguely steampunk-feeling, pseudo-Victorian world that is both fascinating and engrossing. Isolde "Iz" and Warren "War" are a very happily married couple (something we don't see enough of in literature!) who solve magical mysteries together. Bancroft clearly went out of his way to take traditional gender norms and swap them in his couple, and while I mostly appreciated it, it also rubbed me a little wrong at times, which is the only reason this wasn't a 5-star read for me. It was also a bit of a slow starter, but that's not a bad thing, as I allowed myself the time to sink into the world Bancroft created. Iz and War have been engaged by the monarchy to investigate a possibly illegitimate heir, and their efforts uncover decades-old royal secrets, at great personal risk. I'm psyched for this series and can't wait to see where Bancroft takes this couple next! Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for a digital review copy.

I'm not going to be able to get to this before the release date so I purchased a copy for myself. Thank you for the ARC, I appreciate it

I thought this was a charming book sometimes to charming. It seems like we are out in this jumbled up realm in which he could have written more about. It was hard for me to get through because it just felt lackluster to me. I do want to thank the author, NetGalley, and Orbit books for letting me read this arc and giving an honest review about it.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

A good read! The characters are quite complex and I enjoyed reading about them. The prose was outstandingly good. This story is lots of fun with all of its twists but also humour added into it. I loved reading about the magic, the relics, the spells, and the creatures! The world building was very nice too, it’s very Victorianesque. The only thing I was not so happy about was the ending, because I believed it was slightly rushed and certain plot points were left without being wrapped up nicely.

I found this book to be really engaging and I loved the premise. I'm a sucker for magical tales so this story was right up my alley. I am looking forward to reading other books by the author.

The Hexologists, the first book in a new series by Josiah Bancroft, will be released on September 23, 2023. Orbit Books provided an early galley for review.

I have not read Bancroft's earlier works like his Babel series; this novel was my first exposure to him. I like his writing style, and his use of language is elevated and smart. He displays a broad vocabulary and rewards his readers who do as well. I will note, though, that more elevated words tend to slow down my reading progress - so this one took longer than normal for me to complete.

The relationship of our married protagonists Iz and Warren felt very natural and true to me. Here is a couple who balance one another, playing off each other's strengths and balancing one another's weaknesses. They work well as a team. I enjoyed their interplay with everyone they encountered during the investigation.

Bancroft eases the reader into the worldbuilding here in a logical way, giving the reader details as things move along. Its world is a mix of our own industrial history with a cross-section of magic and mythical. Think along the vein of the Harry Potter series. He does a good job explaining how different schools of magic work in his setting, giving each distinctive elements and aspects.

If you are looking for a mix of fantasy and mystery, The Hexologists might be one you'll want to check out.

"The Hexologists" by Josiah Bancroft is a whimsical and inventive fantasy novel that invites readers into a world of magic, mystery, and oddities. With its charming characters, imaginative world-building, and a dash of humor, this book is a delightful start to a promising new series.

The story follows the Hexologists, Iz and Warren Wilby, a pair of eccentric individuals who specialize in solving magical mysteries plaguing the city. Equipped with hexes, charmed relics, and an array of odd magical artifacts, the Wilbies take on cases that range from the bizarre to the extraordinary. When they are approached with an unusual request from the king himself—to be baked into a cake—their investigative skills are put to the test in uncovering a royal secret buried beneath decades of deception.

Bancroft's writing is a blend of elegance and whimsy, crafting a world where magical anomalies and peculiar occurrences are part of everyday life. The descriptions of hexes, relics, and the various magical phenomena are vivid and imaginative, immersing readers in a world that is both enchanting and unpredictable.

The characters of Iz and Warren Wilby are endearing and relatable, despite their quirks. Their dynamic as a brother-sister duo is heartwarming, and their banter adds a touch of humor to the narrative. Their determination to solve the mystery and their genuine care for each other create a strong emotional core for the story.

The plot is a mixture of mystery and adventure, with unexpected twists and turns that keep the reader engaged. The mystery of the king's request and the layers of deception surrounding it are intriguing, and as the Wilbies delve deeper into the case, they uncover a web of secrets that could have far-reaching consequences.

In addition to the main characters, the book introduces a colorful cast of supporting characters, from alchemists with otherworldly connections to a bookish dragon with a unique appetite. Each character brings their own flavor to the story, enhancing the richness of the world.

Overall, "The Hexologists" is a delightful blend of fantasy, mystery, and humor. Josiah Bancroft's imaginative storytelling and inventive world-building create a captivating reading experience. With its charismatic characters and engaging plot, this book is a promising introduction to a series that holds the promise of more magical adventures to come.

This isn't quite what I would've expected as follow up to the Tower of Babel series. Don't get me wrong The Hexologists is nothing short of brilliant, it just goes in a completely different direction from is first books. Of course all that shows to me how cool Josiah Bancroft is.
The heroine is Izolde is an no nonsense hexologist/investigator(almost a polar opposite of Thomas Senlin) who along with her husband solves mysteries. This has royal intrigue, magic, a talking dragon and some brilliant world building.
What sells this for me is just how uniquely Josiah Bancroft tells a story and just how damn funny he is.

The Hexologists is a charming and delightful fantasy mystery that was a great departure from all the heavy epic fantasy that I've been reading lately. I am once again a fan of Josiah Bancroft's prose. He creates whimsically strange worlds that can be compared to the likes of Alice in Wonderland or any Tim Burton movie. If you are looking for a fast paced escape than this will scratch that itch.

My favorite parts of this book were the uniquely married protagonists and the multitude of themes that could be sieved out of the story. At times marriage almost seemed like a character itself and it was portrayed in such a respectful way. Throughout the mystery there were heavy themes such as class imbalance, climate, the faults in human nature, but they were always balanced out with honorable acts of humanity and the beauty of the love between the main characters.

I deducted one star because the conclusion seemed a little convenient to me but overall I enjoyed my experience. If you enjoyed the writing and world building of Senlin Ascends but not the plot than give this one a try.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.