Thank you NetGalley for an eARC of this book! I loved the first book, I was super excited to get approved an ARC for A Tangle of Time.
You do not necessarily have to read the first book to enjoy A Tangle of Time, but I would recommend reading it just because I loved book 1 and it introduces you to the characters. But if you have not read book 1 in a while, you are fine to go ahead and jump into this one!

Similar to book 1, this book follows a mystery to be solved by our married duo Isolde and Warren. Isolde is a hexologist and Warrant is her support/ encourager. Isolde has come across a murder and feels duty bound to solve it, but every time she is close to solving it, the facts some how are changed/hidden (hence the tangle of time). So Isolde is forced to constantly reevaluate the situation. She consults old ‘friends’ (I don’t think she really has any friends per se), and magical creatures to try to get answers.

While I did really enjoy this, I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first book. I had a harder time seeing the relevance of some of the scenes, but once the ending was revealed, it started to make more sense. This is one of those books where you almost need to read it a second time to really appreciate it. The ending definitely threw me for a loop. I did not expect it at all.

My main complaints was all the sexual reference scenes of Isolde and Warren. It got to be a little too much and it was happening just about every time there were near each other. Irt was completely unnecessary to the story. I also felt like Warren was not as useful as he was in the first book. He felt like an accessory to Isolde or a trinket. He was apparently only useful for cooking and cleaning… I get the gender roles were swapped, but it was a brought up constantly.

I really do love Josiah Bancroft’s writing, he writes in such a unique and descriptive way that you can constantly picture what is happening. I enjoy his books and I do look forward to the third book!

i love you iz and warren.... one of my very favorite fictional couples after only TWO BOOKS. they scratch the itch i first encountered while watching the thin man films on tcm as a kid. obsessed. a million more please.

Was not able to read due to file not being available on kindle. The NetGalley Reader is a good alternative, but the formatting is too small for me to read comfortably.

Isolde and Warren have had a wonderful night out, but Isolde wants to stop and check in on an artist she has admittedly blown off. Margit was commissioned to create several hexes and she is worried that they are dangerous. Finding the building unlocked Isolde heads upstairs only to find that Margit has been murdered and adding more chaos to an already chaotic situation Det. Broxburn appears suspiciously on the scene, he immediately accuses Isolde of murder. But in the next second, an explosion takes place on the horizon and Isolde finds herself preparing for a night out on the town with her husband...

I know a lot of people aren't fans of time traveling but I'm saying give this one a chance! It was a lot of fun and it's not a blatant time travel. It's subtle, there are small shifts that hint at changes to the timeline, plus we the reader know it's been changed where the characters have no idea what's going on. I found it really cleverly done and completely plausible in the world Bancroft has created.

In terms of the mystery, I feel like I knew who it was almost immediately but the why of it escaped me. When I found out, it genuinely was such a whiny, poor me reason that I was incensed when I learned the reason they had murdered numerous people, it was seriously selfish.

I think what I really loved about this is that we find out some stuff about magic that genuinely seems like a no-brainer to anyone looking from the outside in. Magic has kind of stagnated, especially Hexology, Basically they believe they've uncovered all of the possible Hexes, but thanks to the bad guy not being aware of this he's able to discover that they've only really touched the surface of what they can do.

Highly recommend this series, it's just a lot of fun with some lovable characters!

As always thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for the eArc!

The second Hexologists installment was as fun and suspenseful a romp as the first, with the added bonus of a good old "timey-wimey" mystery. Iz and War are back at it investigating the suspicious death of an artist. The dangers are once again myriad; a bumbling detective with a grudge, bloodthirsty pixies, demon dogs, snooty art-collecting elites, an angry stinky planet that wants to eat them, and an elusive time-traveler who threatens the universe itself.

Isolde and Warren continue to be delightfully developed, and we also get a fair helping of Luella, Felivox, and new characters such as an unassuming aristocrat, a mob boss, and a medium. A Tangle of Time was as eloquently descriptive as I've come to expect from Josiah Bancroft, and full of new magical creatures and problems as well as lots of daring moments.

Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for an advanced copy of this book.

My thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for an advance copy of the second book in this fantasy series featuring a married couple of investigators, whose specialty is both magic and bizarre, dealing with a criminal who can change the crime, eliminate suspects, even steal clues, all with none the wiser, including our detectives.

There is a line from the Simpsons television show where Marge asks her husband Homer: Homer, is this how you pictured married life? Homer responds, Yeah, pretty much, except we drove around in a van solving mysteries. This sounds like a fun life, well except for the people whose murders we investigate, I guess. I have always loved this kind of entertainment, from movies, television and books. Nick and Nora Charles in the Thin Man adventures, Maddie and David on Moonlighting and now Isolde and Warren Wilby, paranormal investigators. The love between Isolde and Warren is as strong as their sense of right, and both will go to extremes to solve their cases. A Tangle of Time is the second book in the series The Hexologists featuring this intrepid duo, trying to muddle their way through a case where the crime keeps changing, the evidence disappearing, and the world around them slowly changing in ways that could mean the end of everything.

A night at the theater should end in a good meal, and maybe something else for Isolde and Warren Wilby. Instead they brave the rainy night to try and follow up on a case that Isolde had sort of ignored. The duo find a body and a foul muder scene, but suddenly everything changes. The muder has become a suicide, and Isolde can't remember anything about the night except a headache a sense of something missing. However Warren and Isolde have a secret weapon, a bag full of rare magical relics, in a world where pure magic is banned, but Hex magic is still allowed. And inside that bag is a dragon who shares what Isolde told him before things became confused. Little things begin to change, birds become deadly creatures, eyewitnesses disappear. To find out what is going on the two enter the dangers sections of the city. Become artworks in a very ribald art collection. And risk their lives, occasionally winning and losing as events escalate.

A great book, not only a fantasy story that is unique and different, but a story about two people who really love each other. Bancroft does a great job of keeping these characters real. There relationship has its problems, but instead of letting it fester, they share. They care for each other, go out of their way for each other. Also, which is rare like each other. The world is really well set-up as is the magic system, and the capitalism that is ruining both magic, and the city they live in. The supporting cast is good, and hints are dropped about where the series is going, and what is going to be involved. A series I really like and want to read more of.

A book with a strong story, fascinating world and characters that one wants to know more. From Immortal goats, gourmet loving dragons, and missing fathers. Plus a love story that is not part of the plot, but something that really moves the story along. Fantasy fans will enjoy, as will romantasy readers of a type. The characters are randy in some ways, well a lot of ways, but nothing to over the top. Also role players will like this for the interesting magic system, and how a game could capitalize on magic, creating a very interesting world to explore.

For one of my most anticipated books this year I'm sad to say this is a dnf at 35%.
What started as a normal murder mystery quickly turned just odd! I may return to this one day but throw in an alien planet (yes that actually happens) and you've lost me I'm sorry to say.
I still love Iz and Warren they are such a perfect couple and great main characters but too many weird things happened for me to enjoy them and the mystery

This sequel deepens the magic and mystery with a brilliantly inventive plot and the irresistible chemistry of Isolde and Warren. Bancroft’s rich worldbuilding and clever twists make this a standout fantasy that’s impossible to put down.

The magic in this book is phenomenal in that it is different than most other books. I love the witty banter of Isolde and Warren, and they are great main characters that I wanted to see again in this 2nd book. I love that I never knew what was going to happen next. These books feel a bit like Sherlock and Holmes, just with magic and they are married. I cannot wait until the next book to see where this goes!

While less obviously droll than The Hexologists, this equally well-written and compelling sequel features the engaging Isolde and Warren Wilby, unconventional, deeply in love, and unafraid to snap rules and convention for the sake of good. With this pseudo-Victorian world clearly established, author Bancroft is free to dig into details, skewer the pompous and corrupt, and weave an exciting tale that starts with an apocalypse and takes off from there. Well written, thrilling, ingenious, and compelling, readers should be enchanted.

Starts out similar in tone and scale to the first book, then escalates to "everybody is going to die" stakes. The "tangle of time" promised in the title is fun, you get some dream-logic shifts in reality that work because no one in the book really understands what's happening at the time. Since the characters have no idea why the thing did the thing, the reader just follows along and everything works out surprisingly well.

First, I want to thank Orbit for letting me read an early copy of this book through NetGalley. As my first review, I couldn’t be happier that the subject is this particular book by an author I can’t seem to get enough of.

Consider me officially entranced. Bancroft’s prose, main cast of characters, and plot blew me away yet again, with very few notes for this installment of the Hexologists.

Prose: his line by line use of the English language makes all his books feel like classics to be read in high school, and this one is no different. The way Bancroft can make two separate situations or feelings commune with each other for the reader’s (and sometimes character’s) benefit is incredible. I’m not a writer, and his prose makes me want to be a better one. His larger writing structure can be likely off putting to some at first; I liken it to listening to a wonderfully doting partner with raging ADHD tell a story. You’re going to listen to every word no matter where it drifts off to because you WANT to and you believe with some certainty that it will all come back around.

Characters: Bancroft must really love his wife. I sort of got this vibe when reading really any of his previously published books, and the Hexologists series is no different. The way our two main characters show life in a loving marriage is both implicit and explicit in this book. The small moments of knowing what your partner says and means with few words, and the blind trust shown, especially by Warren in this novel, is simply infatuating. They are unique, and especially among a host of unique side characters our married investigators shine bright. My only note is that I would have liked more background with our main antagonist besides one lengthy scene, but even they had depth to them.

Plot: So obviously this book has to do with time, and while I was hoping it would be a specific trope that has to do with that because I think Bancroft would absolutely thrive in it, he did something different and I’m so glad he did. Magic and science combined in this book, adding more to the world that raised the stakes I hadn’t even thought about. The final act was so breakneck that once you figured out what was really happening, you don’t want it to stop. I wished the conclusion to the main conflict was drawn out a bit more, but again it was selfishly because I knew he could fill 10-15 more pages that I would happily devour.

That mystery plus fantasy itch is again satiated with the second installment of this series, and I know it will flare up just in time for the third (of hopefully many). Read this series!

This was really well written. Some of the language is a bit above my head but I don’t mind a challenge when reading!

I really enjoyed the twists and turns this book made but some of the scenes were quite repetitive. There was a reason for it, of course, so I can’t fault the author for it. It is just one of those things that made the book kind of drag a little for me. Overall, the story was amazing and I did not see the twist at the end. I’m really looking forward to the next book!!

Josiah Bancroft, a name synonymous with imaginative and distinct fantasy, returns with The Hexologists: A Tangle of Time, the highly anticipated second installment in the adventures of Isolde and Warren Wilby. Building on the established charm and world of the first book, this new chapter promises to deliver another captivating mystery for the nation's foremost paranormal investigators.

From the outset, Bancroft plunges readers back into the delightful dynamic of Iz and Warren. Their seasoned sensibilities are tested when a seemingly impossible murder case lands on their doorstep. Isolde, with her sharp intellect and hex-wielding abilities, finds herself grappling with a crime scene that defies logic, shifting and twisting beneath her feet, pushing her to take increasingly audacious risks.

What truly pushes A Tangle of Time beyond a mere detective story is the looming threat to the fundamental laws of magic itself. As the Wilbies delve deeper into the artist's perplexing death, the cracks in the magical order begin to spread, spilling into the mundane world. This larger, existential crisis adds a compelling layer of urgency and stakes to their quest, promising a narrative that is both intimate and epic in scope.

Bancroft's signature world-building shines as the devoted duo's investigation leads them through a vibrant tapestry of settings: from the gritty underbelly of society to enchanting gardens and even subterranean military zoos. The journey is not a solitary one; old friends lend their aid.
The Hexologists: A Tangle of Time appears to be a masterful blend of mystery, adventure, and fantastical world-building. It's a testament to Bancroft's storytelling that he can weave such intricate plots while maintaining the endearing core of Iz and Warren's relationship. For fans of unique fantasy, clever mysteries, and characters you can truly root for, this promises to be an unmissable read that will leave you eager to unravel every riddle alongside the Hexologists.

This second book in the Hexologists series begins with bloody murder, an arrest, and a gigantic explosion. Then is starts over in a less fraught manner. After that, it gets really strange. The portalmanteau loses its portal sending Iz and War on a search for a killer and a way back into the carpetbag, because Warren is worried about their dragon. Isolde is becoming more distracted by deja vu moments when she can’t say why but the world just wrong. For example, she is sure that the sky was not always purple. It is soon apparent that someone powerful is rampaging through time changing things and Iz must find out who and why before the world becomes too chaotic to hold together.

I like these books on several levels. The main characters, Isolde and Warren Witby, are mature, very happily married and supportive of each other. The world is interesting and the magic system is coherent and consistent without being complicated. These are qualities I don’t think are common enough in modern fantasy. At heart they are murder mysteries set in a familiar enough world in transition from magical to industrial following a war, though it is magic that powers the industry. The plots are multi-layered and complex enough to hold interest without becoming confusing and no threads are left hanging. Sometimes I don’t think Isolde earns her answers but that is a quibble. I look forward to the next installation.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

I'm giving this three stars. The mystery itself is great, so this should have been a 4 star read. Unfortunately, I kept getting pulled out of the story by the gimmicky way the main characters had to stop what they were doing periodically to have "marital relations". Not kidding. It is like Sherlock and Holmes stopping between clues to get it on, then resume their business. It was so very distracting. It happened enough to be way over the top. I do love Warren and Isolde, but they apparently love each other TOO much.

What a strong follow up to the first book in the series! Iz & Warren make such an excellent duo and their banter helps to offset the more serious moments.

The story we follow in this book was so engaging. The time disruptions kept me guessing and wondering what's next, while also giving an explanation to some of the stranger aspects of the world. I will be interested to see how the events in this book carry over to the finale.

A Tangle of Time is an imaginative continuation of the series. Bancroft brings us back to our beloved friends, Iz and War, along with their relic-hunter-esque escapades. The sequel shines through their relationship dynamic while throwing us into a brand new mystery.

This book continues the confounding and mesmerizing magic we came to know in The Hexologist. At times, the storyline seems to meander, and an opportunity was missed to deepen our understanding of the magic system. However, this is more than made up for by the dynamic duo’s banter and wit.

It’s a satisfying sequel that will keep you guessing until the very end. So, for those like me..yes, it’s a satisfying read and a worthy follow-up!

Thank you to Josiah Bancroft for the mystery, and to Orbit Books and NetGalley for letting me be wonderfully puzzled right up to the final page!

I’ve read Josiah Bancrofts other works and I’m happy to say the hexologist series is him at his best! The protagonist of this series are extremely relatable and complex. What I love most about this world is the Victorianeque world that also includes magic, spells and creatures. And on top of that Bancroft has blended genres to give us fantasy and detective story in one! The mystery in book two was just as gripping at book one and will keep you guessing untill the end! I truly hope this series goes on forever!

Thank you to NetGalley and to Orbit Books for the ARC of The Hexologists: A Tangle of Time by Josiah Bancroft.

The first book in this series, The Hexologists, was published in 2023 and was one of my top books of the year -- I was beyond excited to receive an ARC of the sequel. For new readers, I do recommend reading The Hexologists before reading the sequel to best understand the worldbuilding and the character relationships.

Bancroft has made something really special with this series. The Hexologists is an endlessly creative and humorous steampunk urban fantasy. I think it would appeal to fans of Heather Fawcett's Emily Wilde (but steampunk!), or Robert Jackson Bennett's The Tainted Cup (with more romance),

This book diverged from where I thought he was headed in the first book, which my previous review thought was aimed at threats to the future of the monarchy. Instead, Bancroft takes us back to Iz and Warren, still happily in love and spending their time solving hex crimes and cooking for a dragon. Iz has a bad feeling about a woman she halfheartedly responded to about hexes in artwork, and she and Warren go to check on her only to find her murdered. From here, the mystery blossoms in multiple different directions. Similar to the first book we are entertained and chased through a variety of dangers that further Bancroft's exemplary worldbuilding and enrich both Iz and Warren's incredibly solid and beautiful marriage, while also asking questions about what they really know about the magical system that exists in their world, what might Iz's father have known before his disappearance, and more. The mystery of the murdered artist is centered in the plot, but a lot happens around it that digs into the world itself.

Bancroft's language once again makes this a laugh-out-loud adventure that allows Iz and Warren's missteps to be both anxiety inducing and funny. I truly do not think there is another author out there with his wit and turns of phrase - they elevate every sentence of this series.

There are two reasons I removed a star, and I will be a bit vague on them to hopefully avoid spoilers: 1) The murderer feels too easy to identify. This was similar to the first book as well. I am mostly forgiving toward it because, now that I have two books to compare, the murder, while central to the plot, tends not to be the plot. Bancroft writes so the plot is everything around the murder. It's more about what he is building then what is in front of our face. 2) The book is "A Tangle of Time" which will mean time travel. I greatly struggle with books about time travel because they always leave too many paradoxes and plot holes. Bancroft tries to fill that issue by making time jumps erase time -- so, more like waking up on Groundhog's Day to a new world but not remembering anything previously and starting over with the same goal from the previous day unaware of any changes. This works for the majority of the story except for the end, because it means we have learned so much more than Iz and Warren about everything because time jumps have erased our story from their minds. When I finished I was really frustrated by this because, while I think Bancroft does an amazing job of setting us up for the third book which will hopefully solve a reoccurring and ever important mystery from the first two books, it means so much of this second book was just filler because Iz and Warren cannot carry over memories of something that never occurred to another book. It feels like a huge, unnecessary loss, but also like we were just whiling away the time that could have led the third book to be the second if the second doesn't actually matter once separated from the tangle of time. But, before I contradict myself, I did say in my first point that Bancroft writes so that it's about what he is building rather than what is in front of our face, so I have high hopes he's going to make it all worth it in the next book.