A fun fantasy, slow mystery with a married couple as the central protagonists, The Hexologists added something a little bit different to the fantasy genre. I loved the dynamics between Iz and Warren - as a married couple we skip all of the will-they-won't-they drama you can commonly see in fantasy couples, and the pair aren't afraid to speak their mind to each other. Iz is the logical, less emotional one while Warren is her more sensitive counterpart, and the two just work together really well.

However I rrwlly didn't like the writing style, and really struggled to get through this at time. It's a stylistic choice, but I found it slowed the pacing down and often I had to reread passages to get to grips with what was going on. Not something I look for in a story, but especially a fantasy.

Some great glimmers of character building, but I just didn't gel with the writing style.

This advanced copy was provided by Orbit, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

The Hexologists begins with Iz and Warren Wilby, a couple that you could consider to be private detectives and fixers, with a visit from the royal secretary who asks them to investigate why the king would want to be baked. Yes, baked like a cake.

Needless to say, this story is not only interesting but humorous and fast-paced. It is also one of the most original stories I've read in a while, and I was sad to finish it.

The characters, the banter, the story, the mystery, the world-building, everything that adds to create this book was done perfectly, and I can't fault it.

I will be eagerly awaiting book 2 and I will definitely read more by Josiah Bancroft.

I am super pleased to finally have read this one and it did not disappoint. Somewhat between an urban, a mystery, a detective story and also an immersive and cultured lyrical and verbose drama, is the story and world of the Hexologists. Iz and Warren are a married, loving couple who have defied the norm by doing their own thing and using magic most people have opted to forget in their world. They work together in a charming manner to solve mysteries using Hexology, and they do it whilst bolstering and supporting one another, something very unusual and cosy which you don’t often see in fantasy. I was really thrilled to read from the PoV of a healthy and kind married couple and I also felt excited to dive into their plot. It’s a windy one and yet it feels joyous and like a run ride to be on.

Iz was a feisty and determined character who knows her own value and worth and brought a lot to the story. She’s powerful and yet she also leans on her husband when she’s having a hard time, something I felt was very genuine about her. I liked her resourcefulness and the way that she narrowed things down and took the lead in their problem-solving a lot of the time.

Warren is a charming delight to read about. His wit and snappy dialogue can charm anyone and he always manages to soften Iz’s exterior for those around. He’s able to really capitalise on the people and what they know as he gains trust and friendship easily. I liked seeing him work to balance out Iz.

Together the duo are a fun pair who don’t take themselves too seriously, never forget to have a good time, and who are very good at what they do. They’re determined and resourceful and able to laugh as they get into some tricky situations too. They are fun and full of life and they kept me engaged as a reader.

The plot felt a little secondary to the characters for me in this book, although there is a mystery of the king and whether he’s sired an illegitimate heir, that felt like the backdrop to showing off the characters. I was interested in the story but really I think I’d read about these two whatever they were up to so I am glad that there should be more to come in this series.

4*s from me.

Unfortunately, I gave up reading this book and I regret it. I didn't find the characters deep enough and I wasn't carried away by th plot.
Sadly it's a DNF :(

4.5 stars

I had heard plenty of praise for Josiah Bancroft before, mainly for his Books of Babel and I was very curious how this first book in a new series would be like. So how lucky was it that I received an E-ARC of the Hexologists?

The Hexologists are Isolde "Iz" and Warren "War" Wilby, living in a strongly Victorian flavoured alternate and differently named England and offer their services as - you will have guessed it - Hexologists. Hexegy is one of four existing types of magic in this world, together with Alchemy, Wizardry and Necromancy. The latter two are being currently banned while Alchemy is being of great economical value in this era on the brink of modern times (think creation of energy sources!).

The first sentence in this story is a very good one and also sets the right tone for the amount of whimsy you are going to find in this book: "The king wishes to be cooked alive".

Well, who doesn't want to know what is going on there after reading that?

At the core of the plot is a mystery surrounding the king and a possible illegitimate son who might be trying to blackmail his father by using magic. Since this is a very scandalous matter Iz and Warren start investigating right away using all available magic means to them while keeping everything under cover. And as it often goes with investigations - the longer you dig, the deeper and more meandering the hole gets. There will be twists and turns which I did not all see coming and they provided plenty of momentum for the plot.

Still, I do have to say that this was not a quick read for me - the language is very dense and using a Victorian style (think long sentences loaded with adjectives, purposefully lacking any straightforwardness) that makes it more difficult to breeze through. But that also makes it just the right read if you feel like really savouring the words. And I do have to say, I absolutely loved the inventiveness in Bancroft's language that really needs to be appreciated. He seems to be so full of ideas and that's just a lot of fun to read (e.g. the Portalmanteau is the best idea ever)!

Another aspect I did like a lot was the relationship dynamic between Iz and Warren. They are a married couple that truly is actually supportive and caring of each other. They clearly are still very much in love after many years and attracted to each other, which I really appreciated. Those two have a deep trust and understanding for each other and it was a great foundation for the story.

I do have a tiny little caveat there however - a lot of the surprising aspects of their relationship stem from the simple fact that the usual gender roles are just swapped. Iz is the blunt and straightforward driving force of their little two-person-company, while Warren is the supportive sweetheart who loves baking up sweets in the kitchen. I would have preferred something altogether different instead of just switching male and female stereotypes around.

Other than this tiny caveat I can really recommend this one to just about anyone who isn't put off by working a little bit for the reading experience!

I have received an advance review copy via NetGalley from the publisher and voluntarily provide my honest opinion. Thank you very much!

I notice several amazing series from this author but The Hexologists was my first read from him.
The story following Iz and Warren Wilby, wife husband agent to help client with unusual paranorm and magical issues.

First of all I love the premise with all promises of adventure, actions and genre bending, steampunk world. The prose and writing style totally new for me but totally enjoyable after I get uses to it. I love the couple and their dynamics as spouse and partner. I found out I got interesting story with layer of magic, adventure, historical, enough romance, drama and mystery. This book is unique, very imaginative, and engaging for reader who love twisty unusual story. I hope to see more of the couple in the future books.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Publisher from Little Brown Books UK for providing copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Expecting Publication : 28 Sept 2023

I think this was possibly one of the strangest things I have ever read, and I was brought up on Douglas Adams. Sometimes it was the most nonsensical, confusing things ever, but then followed by moments of clarity where everything suddenly made sense. I didn't love Iz and War much, they had such potential to be new favourites, but despite spending 330 pages with them I don't feel like we ever really got to know them. The world building was pretty solid, and the magic system was fun.

I couldn’t have picked a better book to start my year. Isolde and Warren Wilby are characters that have hexed their way to a permanent place in my carpet bag of favourites.

The Wilby’s are supernatural investigators armed with shadow rings, teacup volcanos, monstrous eldritch beings, not to mention the ravenous dragon that lives in their bag of holding. This was a delightful morsel of a book, a steampunk whodunnit stitched with effervescent humour and thrilling adventure, and every page was magical.

I've read The Hexologists recently, and honestly, I've been putting off writing the review, as it's yet another book in a short time, where I really appreciate what the author had done, but it didn't 'click' with me.

We follow a pair that solves a mystery, starting with a king wanting to bake himself into a pie. That sounds ridiculous and sets the tone for the entire book. I've really enjoyed the more unconventional characters and the sense of humor in this story, but the pacing didn't really work for me, and sometimes I've felt like the author was trying too hard to make the story funny and unique. Think of Discworld, but on steroids. 😅

I've overall liked what the author was trying to do, it just turned out to be a bit too over the top for me. It sometimes pulled me out of the story and made me feel disconnected.

I will definitely follow Josiah Bancroft in hopes that his other works will fit my taste better.

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for granting me the access to the arc.

4.0/5.0

This book sure was a rollercoaster. I loved the Victorian-esque world and the use of different veins of magic. But my absolute favourite part was the charming and heartwarming relationship between Mr and Mrs Wilby. Altogether a fun premise for a book although some of the prose was at times difficult to digest.

The Hexologists is a story of Iz and Warren Wilby, a married couple, living in the fantasy city of Berbiton, whose business is to solve magical mysteries. There's a bit of the famous Edwardian consulting detective both in the way that the popular press follow their exploits, and in the wider context. Berbiton is the capital of a powerful empire, with resident royalty whose peccadilloes, and political shenanigans, create many opportunities for mischief (magical or not). It is also at the forefront of (magic assisted) technological development - the equivalents of the telephone and wireless are novelties, and that of motor cars is beginning to be a nuisance, with pollution blanketing the city.

I liked this setting. I also enjoyed the politics. The Wilbys' fierce anti-Monarchism means that when, at the start of this story, they're visited by a Royal flunky asking them to carry out an assignment for the Palace they take a lot of convincing. There are hints of revolution in the book, and also of scandal in the Wilbys' past, and of past dabbling in Forbidden Magicks - always fun. (The theoretical side to the magic here was a little hard to follow. I grasped that Hexology is a particular discipline of magic among several, some of which have fallen out of use while others are suppressed, but the relationship between all of them, despite being the subject of detailed exposition, was still a bit obscure).

Anyway, once the Wilbys' scruples are satisfied and their investigation of the Royal Family's current difficulties begins, the story fairly rattles along with plenty of jeopardy - both moral and physical - numerous red herrings, double crosses, and no-holds-barred fights. Berbiton certainly has its seamy side, with slums, sweatshops and the magical equivalent of dark Satanic mills in evidence, so there's plenty of grimness here but I'd say nevertheless the story remains in the cosy subset of fantasy with the Wilbys' banter and sheet middleclassness playing a large part in keeping it there. That makes the book fun to read, though at times, it seemed to me that it did seem to lower the stakes rather, however desperately perilous things things are supposed to be.

Another aspect of the story that didn't really work for me was the alleged lustiness of Iz's and Warren's relationship. While the fact of this is stated a number of times, and indeed, given any opportunity, they're at it like there's no tomorrow, the atmosphere between them seems in contrast quite passionless. It's as though this strand has been written in to add spice to the story but doesn't quite touch the characters as they're drawn.

In contrast, the hints of past misbehaviour, especially by Iz who has some dangerous friends, were intriguing and I appreciated this fantasy focussing on a middle-aged couple rather than a young upstart or other chosen one. All in all, an entertaining and engaging story but one which felt like it could have done a bit more.

The Hexologist by Josiah Bancroft is a magical fantasy novel featuring crime and good humour. The novel revolves around a couple (Iz and Warren) who work together to solve mysteries for their community and Crown.
This was the first book I’ve read by Bancroft, which I found difficult to get into at first, but was definitely worth it. I mean, who wouldn’t want to read a book featuring a ‘pet’ dragon who helps solve mysteries?
I look forward to reading the sequel.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and of course the author for gifting me this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this small crime detective fantasy magic novel which had elements of charles dickens esque take on it. The leading characters are a married couple, Iz and Warren, and I loved the character development, Victorian style world building and overall writing style of this book. Although Bancroft has written previous books (The books of babel), this is my first book by him that I have read, and now I want to go and investigate the other series he has written!

I’ve not read a Bancroft book before and I must admit it took me a while to get into the swing of the style of the writing. However, I soon fell completely under The Wilby’s spell, or should that be hex. The world-building was fantastic and the characters were so perfectly described they appeared fully formed in my head. I’m already looking forward to part two.
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own unbiased opinion.

This was the amusing supernatural historical investigation story I needed in my life.

I enjoyed all the magical hijinks, the pet dragon, the debauchery of the high society, the intriguing power system involving different dimensions, the kind of steam punk vibe was cool.

This really was genuinely funny, suspenseful in all the right places with a very engaging plot.

I would absolutely love to read more stories with these Hexologists!

I did read this as an e-arc so thank you to the publisher and Netgalley.

This was my first Bancroft book so I didn’t have any real expectations for it. If I’m honest I found the prose style a little heavily on the descriptive side for me. That said I did still enjoy this, it just took me a little longer than expected as I read it in small bursts rather than long stints.

The ‘odd couple’ aspect was fun – Isolde was very much a barrel through and not care what anyone thinks character, while her husband was a much more approachable personality – they balanced each other out well.

I loved some of the magical systems and devices such as the storage method for magical items the couple used. Despite its magical world setting this story was at its heart a twisty whodunnit in an alternate victorian setting.

If you like Holmes stories but wish they came with a bit more of a magical twist this book is probably for you.

DNF. Was a hard book to keep trying to go through. The pacing was painfully slow. The characters seemed to have promise but just wasn’t for me.

The first book in a new series set in a world where magical mysteries are abound and the Wilbys are the ones to investigate it.

In my head (and hopefully it’s right) I thought of this as an 1800’s aesthetic style mystery but set in the future. I am not sure why but that’s what I have. The Wilbys are hired to investigate a mysterious claim to the throne by staff of the crown and we follow them as they use their hex magic to solve the case.

Two things I immediately want to get off my chest: the names they are called change between Isolde and Warren to Iz and War (and for some reason War rubs me the wrong way) and sometimes within the same paragraph which is off putting. Secondly, I found the prose…confusing at times. I found it to be quite verbose at time and it meant the book felt a lot longer than it was. Not to mention the use of words that I had never heard of, someone got a thesaurus for Christmas!

I really enjoyed learning about the world and following the case with the Wilbys and their unique investigation style. My problem was that by 50% through the book that mystery was solved and then another mystery started, it almost felt like two books squished into one but there was somewhat of a tie up at the end at least!

I also liked the characters themselves, Iz was a great strong female lead who was smart and reckless at times. Warren was a great counterpart, a much more relaxed character who just wanted to work with his wife. I thought the interplay between them was funny and endearing at the same time, you felt there was love there.

I wanted to love this book but there was something stopping me and I think it was the prose - the writing style that some may absolutely love, was not for me. Which is a real shame. I can see some people absolutely loving this series and I could see why.

DNF.

I am genuinely distressed that I could not like this book. As a fan of the author's previous works I was so ready to like this book. I found the protagonists uninteresting and the prose very jumbled.

Thanks netgalley for a review copy, also listened to the audiobook via Spotify.

The audiobook is excellent.

Such an enjoyable start to a new series from Josiah Bancroft. Interesting magic system and mystery. Likeable characters and It also has a talking Dragon which is always a plus.