Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft in exchange for an honest review. This book is one of the most fun fantasy reading experiences I’ve had all year. The Hexologists is basically Sherlock Holmes meets whimsical urban fantasy. Our main characters are a married couple of paranormal investigators, Isolde and Warren Wilby, who are tasked to explore a mystery within their city’s royal family. The characters were one of the biggest strengths of this novel for me. First of all, Felivox the gourmand dragon is a new favorite character for me. Iz and War’s healthy and loving relationship was so refreshing as well. Reading how much they liked and respected each other made the scenes where they kick ass together that much better. I really appreciated having the cast of characters listed in the beginning of the book, as well as the glossary in the back because the book drops you right into the middle of the action. I was tripped up by the plot at times, but these lists helped to navigate the many characters and plot twists. The writing in general is quite strong and fun to read; I enjoyed how the author played with language and furthered the book’s whimsical tone. The worldbuilding that went into this novel is abundantly clear, and it makes me excited to read the next books in the series. My absolute favorite part of the book was the setting. The descriptions of the city of Berbiton were so vivid, I felt like I was there. It has a sort of British turn of the century vibe which I am a sucker for.  I might seek out the final published version of the book at my library just to see what the map will look like. I think you’d like this book if you enjoyed the Athena Club series by Theodora Goss. I’ve never read Senlin Ascends, so I can’t say how it compares, but I will definitely be seeking out the next book in the Hexologists series when it comes out.