A Tangle of Time (The Hexologists #2), by Josiah Bancroft
8 Jan 2026The Book
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 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. Not one to be easily thwarted, Isolde is compelled to take greater and greater risks in pursuit of her elusive answers. Meanwhile, the laws that govern magic appear to be breaking, and those cracks are spreading to the everyday world.
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.
My Review
A Tangle of Time is the second novel in the mystery urban fantasy series The Hexologists, written by Josiah Bancroft, published by Orbit Books. Another magical adventure with our favourite pair of investigators, which can be read as a standalone, in which Bancroft plays again with the complicity and the chemistry between Isolde and Warren, all with a good dose of wit and humour while the marriage try to solve a death whose facts seem to be a bit more unstable than usual.
Our story opens with Isolde worried about an artist that she has been corresponding with about hexes; but when she decides to pay a visit, what she finds is a crime scene. To rub salt into the wound, a strange phenomenon takes hold over the Wilbies, with the reality shifting, the facts about the death changing, and even worse, the portals change their location, cutting our pair off from accessing their warehouse and the artifacts inside; who is making this happen?
I think I said this in the previous book review, but will repeat it: it's delightful to have a pair of characters like Isolde and Warren; not only because it's the definition of a healthy, in-love marriage, but also because how well they complement each other. The introvert and social-anxious Isolde, talented with magic, while Warren is the extrovert and the one that can oil the social interactions; a bit more deep than the brain and the muscle that you could think. Isolde being witty and sarcastic towards law enforcement is too much fun, and I'm totally in with it!
As in the previous book, as we follow the Wilbies' adventure, we get to know more about the nature of magic, and in this case, more about the portals and how they work; the nature of this kind of mystery makes it a bit repetitive, but Bancroft's writing makes reading it an excellent experience.
A Tangle in Time is a really enjoyable novel, a delightful return to the Hexologists' world; if you are for healthy relationships in SFF, this series should jump straight to the top of your list. Can't wait to see what will be the next Wilbies' adventure!
The Author/s
Josiah Bancroft
Josiah Bancroft is the author of five novels, a collection of short fiction, and numerous poems. His books have been translated into eight languages. Before settling down to write fantasy full-time, he was a college instructor, rock musician, and aspiring comic book artist. When he’s not writing, he enjoys strumming a variety of stringed instruments, drawing with a growing cache of imperfect pens, and cooking without a recipe. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Sharon, their daughter, Maddie, and their two rabbits, Mabel and Chaplin.