The Iron Hex by Victoria S. Walsh:

4 stars

Eira Eckhart doesn’t yet know it, but her small, happy village life—running her potions shop, evenings at the tavern, and cuddles with her rabbit, Pennyroyal—is built on a deception. Hugo, a mysterious wanted man, takes her on a journey to uncover the truth.

Rhona is a knight of the Iron Retinue dedicated to her duty. She begins doubting her cause, however, when she discovers that the beautiful Lady Maeve is a witch. Soon, everything she believed is in flux and, if she’s not careful, she—like so many other knights—will mysteriously disappear in the night.

The Iron Hex takes on the challenge of telling one story from two very different perspectives and does so successfully, with clean transitions between points of view. However, the narrative takes some time to demonstrate why this structure was necessary. Eira and Hugo’s storyline can feel repetitive, often revolving around arriving in a new town only to be attacked again, while Rhona and Maeve’s storyline benefits more directly from the slower development of trust before the story can move forward.

The character development feels somewhat uneven at first but solidifies into a more compelling dynamic after the first few close calls. Once Evangeline is introduced, the dialogue gains additional texture and depth.

Rhona feels unfinished to me. She loves being a knight and rationalizes both her relationship with Maeve and her investigation into inconsistencies within the Iron Retinue to the point where deceiving her superiors seems patriotic. It’s good that she questions things, but she bends a little too easily and too quickly.

There are a few conveniences in the plot, and though I’ve been critical in places, I did enjoy the story. Tackling multiple points of view inevitably creates some friction, and Ms. Walsh handles that challenge well. The dual perspectives enrich the world considerably. The pacing lags here and there, but not without purpose.

Ms. Walsh is also very clever in how she closes the story. Rhona is already off on a new adventure, and we have no idea how that will go now that her guide is beyond reach. Eira and Hugo have accomplished their two most important tasks, but the consequences create entirely new difficulties. Readers will already be invested in the second book.

The Iron Hex will likely appeal to arcanepunk fantasy readers who enjoy medieval settings, political intrigue, frantic journeys with narrow escapes, and science gone wrong. It’s a solid, engaging story that takes some risks and delivers a few satisfying twists.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this story. I received a complimentary copy through NetGalley, and I am writing this review voluntarily.