Rate: 4/5
Medium: Audiobook
Overview (No Spoiler):
Detective novels of any genre very rarely resonate with me due to exhaustive pacing but The Hexologists is a pleasant surprise with its delightful protagonists. Conventional detective novels are usually centered around a morally gray solo character who is filled with vices, but in The Hexologists, Isolde and Warren Wilby are a married couple who are very much in love. They carry this novel and heighten every dangerous situation with the anxiety each other feels for their partner’s safety.
In a world filled with four types of magic, with only hexology and alchemy still being legal. Isolde is a hexologist who dabbles in the strange, but her magic is often a source of scorn. Warren is often her muscle, but is also a fantastic cook. That said, with their skill set and a carpet bag of secrets, the duo are often called in to help when every other route has been exhausted.
Their most recent mystery comes from a most unexpected source when the royal secretary requests an investigation for the crown. Almost immediately, the stakes take a drastic turn as someone tries to discourage the Wilby’s research. Throughout their investigation, different loose ends pop up that only serve to confuse and confound the motives.
The cast in The Hexologists is my favorite part. Bancroft brings vivid detail to even the most minor of characters, really illuminating this steampunk world. Of course, supporting creatures are always a favorite of mine and this novel has such a fun twist in store for reader that is hiding away in Iz’s carpet bag. While the magical aspect of worldbuilding is intriguing and detailed, rife with charged history, Bancroft also weaves a city heavy in politics from the treatment of the poor to the rumors of a revolution that is waiting for the right spark.
Overall, The Hexologists is such a delightful surprise, especially with the power couple of Isolde and Warren who breathes fresh air into a genre I typically do not enjoy.
Additional Insight (Spoilers Abound):
- Does anyone practice necromancy?
- How does the King’s sister practice Sorcery with no ill side effects?
- What could Victor have accomplished had he not been such a terrible person? Will anyone question his death?
- Iz really made some dangerous deals. Will she tell Warren? Will she come to regret them?
- What happened to Iz’s father? Is he still alive?
- What other secrets does the magic carpet bag hold?
- What will happen with Iz’s wizard ex boyfriend?
The Critiquing Chemist 