The Hexologists (The Hexologists, 1)

I expected this book to be a fine star read. I would say that is not true for me. Though I love the magic systems and the world, I did find myself distracted through parts of this story. That being said, I found the twists and turns to be delightful. I think the traveling port manteau full of magic is fascinating. I will most definitely read the second in the series as they come out.

This was quite good! The world-building and writing were creative, witty, and dense. There were many instances where something was described in such a clever and vivid way I took notice. It's refreshing to see a book led by a happy married couple that works seamlessly together, and yet the book manages plenty of drama and tension. The plot has the speed and whimsy of books like The Affair of the Mysterious Letter by Alexis Hall or The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton, but is more grounded and human than both, despite being somewhere between the two in terms of fantasy level. I honestly feel bad because I didn't pay as close attention to this audiobook as I feel like I should have; there was a lot to enjoy, and this is a style of book I tend to love. I feel like the writing was so packed with info and flavor that I definitely missed things by not being 100% focused while listening. I will caution that this may not work well as a standalone if that's how you plan to read it, things aren't fully resolved by the end of this story.

I requested a copy of the ARC from the publisher, Orbit, on NetGalley and was approved in exchange for consideration of a review. All opinions discussed are my own and are subjective to myself as a reader.

If you thought Josiah Bancroft was going to be a one-hit series wonder, then you are in for an incredible surprise with the start of his new series, THE HEXOLOGISTS.

Having read and loved Josiah Bancroft's series, The Books of Babel, I hungrily cracked this one open expecting another dark, whimsical fantasy mystery. That wasn't at all what I got - instead it was an exciting mystery fantasy full of magical creatures, monsters, a unique magic system, a vast array of intriguing magical relics, characters I fell in love with instantly and a new adventure in every chapter!

"The Hexologists--hunters of wraiths, slayers of bugbears, champions of the common pleb, determined sleuths in search of the truth--at least when the truth pays the fare."

Couple Iz and Warren Wilby have built quite the reputation solving challenging cases involving troubled ghosts, wraiths, demons and many other such bugbears found in their city. It was known that if your troubles fell on the weirder side, it was the Wilbys you wanted to hire.

"People who tell you not to be afraid of things are usually the first to get eaten by tigers. Fear helps us prepare. I say, gather your supplies, arm yourself, and make the dark afraid of you."

When the royal secretary knocks on the door with a case, Iz and Warren's initial response is to refuse the case. The last thing they want is to work for the Crown. But the little fellow mentions the King was very ill, wanting to bake himself inside a cake - which piques their curiosity. It got my attention as well - I just had to know why - and maybe I also wanted to know if they guy ever succeeded during the course of the book.

The real mystery the couple is hired to investigate is a letter received claiming the author was the illegitimate son of the King...which could mean a disaster should the King perish in one of his attempts to crawl into an oven. The last thing needed was contention for the Crown.

Sounds simple, right? The Wilbys think so too - until the first attempt on their lives. Following these two as they search for answers was an exciting adventure, start to finish! I admit, there were some very lengthy descriptions as our characters were introduced in the first chapter that seemed a bit clunky, but the rest of the book flowed just fine. Bancroft is such a clever wordsmith - it's just as much fun experiencing his prose as it is seeing all of his creative genius on the pages as he builds and fleshes out this incredible world. I kept thinking, okay, he can't possibly come up with a better character than Warren Wilby...then I met Felivox. Or I'd think, the portalmanteau is the coolest thing ever....and then Iz started pulling out and using all of the magical charms and relics stored in the portalmanteau.

This was a delightful romp that I think would make a wonderful adaptation to a tv series. Each chapter could be an episode because each one had its own adventure, which all connected into a bigger story with an awesome payoff. I admit, I did think I predicted the outcome...but as per usual, I was wrong. When I re-evaluated and came up with a new conspiracy theory, that was wrong too.

Bring on more fantasy mysteries! I hope this trend continues because I have read several of these lately and I just can't seem to get enough.

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

You can find this review and many more on my website, https://thenerdynarrative.com or if you prefer video format, you can find those on my BookTube channel, https://youtube.com/thenerdynarrative

This book is just plain FUN. Do you know those weird folks who are scientists but also cosplay Egypt in the 1920s? This book is like that. It’s weird, smart but a little… outlandish and indulgent. I enjoyed it immensely. I’m often wary of books that seem to simmer with their own intelligence and tend to dislike the narrative. (See my DNF of Master of Death.) Books that seem to be aware of their cleverness don’t always set right with me. But for some reason, this one does! I will absolutely read many a sequel. Read this if you love secrets; true loves and strange, magical chaos. For those that find magical chaos and hilarity, this is a gem. Also, I was really taken by the two main characters’ love for each other. She’s rash, driven and too intelligent. He’s strong, emotional and willing to give it all a try. And they have a met dragon. I just. It’s a silly but enjoyable read and still manages to be smart. I like that. It’s a feat that many novels try to reach— a levity in their cleverness that still keeps you tethered, if soaring. This book achieves it.