LoveReading Says
Hats off to Josiah Bancroft, he has created the most wonderfully magical world and a cracking investigative team in the start to this new series where the Wilby’s are tasked with solving a forty year old mystery involving the king. I really enjoyed meeting a married couple as the main protagonists, with each supporting and highlighting the strengths of the other. The world-building with its classic Victoriana feel is subtly done, allowing understanding to organically grow alongside the plot. The fantasy elements are gloriously full-on with different strands of magic and an abundance of marvellous beast and beings. The plot whips along, with the mystery just begging to be solved. Plenty of action peppers the pages and the outcome is a successfully entertaining read. I’ve chosen The Hexologists as a LoveReading Star Book, and Liz Pick of the Month, I look forward to the next in the series. The Hexologists dances a jig as it spins and weaves its web of magical mystery, quite simply loved it, highly recommended.
Liz Robinson
Find This Book In
| Primary Genre |
Fantasy
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The Hexologists Synopsis
From one of the most exciting and original voices in fantasy comes the second book following the adventures of the Hexologists, Iz and Warren Wilby, as they tackle a case that could redefine the nature of magic itself.
As the nation's foremost investigators of the paranormal, Isolde and Warren Wilby are accustomed to bumping up against things that go bump in the night. They have made quite a name for themselves as the Hexologists: detectives of the uncanny, the monstrous, the strange. After a decade of wedded bliss and dozens of fantastical adventures, there is little in the world that can still surprise them.
But when a famous artist dies under suspicious circumstances, Isolde finds herself investigating a murder that may not have happened, and a crime scene that seems to shift beneath her feet. The mystery will carry the devoted duo to seedy underworlds, enchanted gardens, and subterranean military zoos. Old friends will come to the Wilbies' aid as they infiltrate secret societies, battle vicious imps, and flee from a pack of venomous wolves. Equipped with Isolde's hexes, Warren's muscle, and an enchanted bag full of magical relics, the Hexologists will have to risk life and limb to unravel the riddle at the heart of A Tangle of Time.
Praise for the series:
'Bancroft is a wonder as ever! The Hexologists was a joyous delight on every page - buoyantly inventive, witty, poignant, gripping and deeply satisfying' Madeline Miller, author of Circe
'Fantastic! The Hexologists fizzes eloquently with wit and elegance, but also has marvellous worldbuilding and an excellent plot - and a central pair of characters who I quite simply love. A cocktail of a book made with the very best champagne' Genevieve Cogman, author of The Invisible Library
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9780356519074 |
| Publication date: |
9th September 2025 |
| Author: |
Josiah Bancroft |
| Publisher: |
Orbit an imprint of Little, Brown |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
400 pages |
| Series: |
The Hexologists |
| Primary Genre |
Fantasy
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Josiah Bancroft Press Reviews
Bancroft is a wonder as ever! The Hexologists was a joyous delight on every page - buoyantly inventive, witty, poignant, gripping and deeply satisfying -- Madeline Miller, author of CIRCE
Josiah Bancroft's imagination will astound you. One of the most inventive fantasy authors out there -- Fonda Lee, author of the Green Bone Saga
Bancroft has returned to the page in force, deploying his crystal prose and razored wit around a tale that mixes whimsy and threat in equal measure. He's a gift to the genre and we should support his work -- Mark Lawrence, author of THE BOOK THAT WOULDN'T BURN
Fantastic! The Hexologists fizzes eloquently with wit and elegance, but also has marvellous worldbuilding and an excellent plot - and a central pair of characters who I quite simply love. A cocktail of a book made with the very best champagne -- Genevieve Cogman, author of THE INVISIBLE LIBRARY
The Books of Babel are something you hope to see perhaps once a decade - future classics, which may be remembered long after the series concludes -- LA TIMES
It's rare to find a modern book that feels like a timeless classic. I'm wildly in love with this book -- Pierce Brown, author of RED RISING, on SENLIN ASCENDS
This light and charming tale encompasses a twisty mystery, detailed Victorian-esque worldbuilding, and nuanced protagonists who love each other dearly, all relayed in Bancroft's superior prose. Readers will be eager to see how the series evolves -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review)
