The Iron Hex

Iron Hex Trilogy #1

by Victoria S. Walsh

She doesn’t remember her past. But some memories come with a cost.

Eira Eckhart has spent years building a quiet life in a small town at the edge of a recently overthrown kingdom. Her memory is fractured, her past a blur—but with her shop, her loyal rabbit familiar, and practicing only the potions magic still legal under the watchful eye of the Iron Empire, she’s managed to remain unnoticed by the empire’s witch hunters.
 
Until Hugo Venton walks through her door.
 
Brash, clever, and infuriatingly handsome, Hugo is searching for something…and seems to know more about Eira than she knows about herself. But when a terrifying encounter with an unnatural, deadly new breed of soldier puts a price on her head, she has no choice but to join Hugo on his quest.
 
Their hunt for a missing princess pulls Eira across the continent—and deeper into a past she can’t recall. As buried memories, mysteries in the Iron Empire’s capital, forgotten feelings, and the truth behind her identity begin to surface, Eira realizes the forbidden magic simmering in her veins might be the very thing that could save them from the Iron Empire’s forces as they draw ever closer…if she can remember how to control it in time.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Audiobook, Fiction, Witches, Fantasy Romance

391 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication August 4, 2026

About the author

Victoria S. Walsh is the author of The Iron Hex Trilogy. Born and raised in Ontario, Canada, she earned an honors BA in English and History from McMaster University. When Victoria isn’t writing she’s creating self love, fashion, and book content on social media under @victoriashaz. She spends her free time relaxing with her Westie, Obi-Wan Kenobi, gaming and cooking with her husband, expanding her fantastical wardrobe, or playing D&D with her friends and family. You can visit her online at www.victoriaswalsh.com

Reviews

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote this, and I think it’s pretty great 💃🏼

[Krysta ꕤ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ☆

”𝑰𝒏 𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑬𝒊𝒓𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒏𝒐 𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒓, 𝑯𝒖𝒈𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒓: 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕.”

as a debut, this has positives and negatives in equal measure. there’s two things that pushed it forward though : the fact that’s it’s easy to read and the potential for Eira’s elemental magic. the amnesia trope is one I’ve never been a fan of, it doesn’t do the character or the readers any favors by withholding info that everyone else in the book seems to have.

the romance had a wonky balance, since Hugo had all these feelings & Eira didn’t remember him or her life previously at all. the other pov — Rhona, provided a different perspective, but i was just wondering what sort of connection she’d have to the rest of the characters the whole time. i wasn’t sold on Evangeline at first, but i grew to enjoy how blunt she was and the fact that she wasn’t the type to cower or back down.

the ending was sort of abrupt, but i have some questions that I’d love to get answers on. as someone who loves elemental magic, i was so beyond happy to see that Eira was a witch with the ability to control them all. a mixed experience for sure, but im willing to give the benefit of the doubt this time.

➳ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the arc, all opinions are my own.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to HTP for an early ARC and Harlequin Audio for the ALC of this Read. All opinions are my own.

The Iron Hex (Iron Hex Trilogy #1) by Victoria S. Walsh
Book Blurb: She doesn’t remember her past. But some memories come with a cost.

Rating: *****
Feels:
Style: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fiction, Witches, Fantasy Romance
First published August 4, 2026: 400 pages

Themes & Setting: Knowing yourself and growing into what you feel you should be were strong themes in this story and I really loved how each character personified their development. There were some definite dark themes from the previous royal family being overthrown and the events that lead up to the start of the book which were very well handled. The setting is of a nation recovering from a regime change but also a shift in theology with witchcraft being thought of as outlawed and wrong. It brought on some very powerful insights and conflicts for the characters !
FMC: Eira Eckhart's memory is fractured and she can not recall her past. This sets everything up for so many interesting things to happen. I love how she has to blend her ideas of what she feels now with what people tell her about her past and navigate everything as it crashed together.
MMC: Hugo knows how to yearn !! It was just super hot and I already love the whole body guard vibe. His story is tragic on sooo many levels and I love his character so much.
Conclusion: Witches , hidden identities, memory loss and a body guard romance!!! Yah I ate this up. I’m all in for the vibe of the persecuted witches and a kingdom in turmoil. I loved all the twists and turns this story took us on and all the surprises !! Soooo much pining between our girl and her bodyguard!! Like I need more of that background !! Loved the setting were basically they have outlawed witchcraft and overthrown the government to “make a better world “ yet things just aren’t adding up it seems to alot of people. The sapphic sub plot between one of the knights and someone at court was also spicy delicious!! Just all the longing fun in this between so many characters !!! I can’t wait for the next book cause I want to know all the things !!!

Audiobook Review:
Narration Style: Solo
Listener Rating: *****
Audiobook Notes: I listened to this as an audiobook and just fabulous!!! Total immersion and wonderful tension!! Was easy to follow along with and fall into the story and I did not want to stop listening at all !!! Easy to know whose POV we were listening to and who was talking each time. I typically listen at 1.5 to 2.5 and listened to this at 2.0. Tone, pitch and accent were all amazing as well as speed. Highly recommended as an audiobook.

This book has:
Hidden Identity
Bodyguard Romance
Politics and Intrigue
Magical System
Persecuted Witches
Touch her and Die
Forbidden Romance
Lots of Tension !!!

[Samantha Gaudious · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4⭐️
This is SUCH a good time!!!
I will forever be a lover of a memory loss trope
and this definitely did it for me! 🙌

We have witches, a witch hunter, knights, and lots of mystery. I really enjoyed more of the cozier fantasy vibes and the ending was perfect with the twists!

This is definitely more Romance forward, the yearning ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 but overall a great balance and I really enjoyed this!

Definitely looking forward for what’s to come!

[suonnahbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Iron hex by Victoria S. Walsh
ARC from harlequin audio
Release: Aug 4th 2026
-this world is so cool
-THE COVERRR 😍
-I love Ira and the shop, eating up this fantasy small town
-the rabbit 🥰🐇
-Hugo sounds fine and cool
-the tension / back and forth is chefs kiss
-this adventure is funnnn
-I’m eating up the potion making/ herbs 🌿 I find it so cool
-the memory gaps add a mystery element I love
-there were moments that felt long which disconnected me
-the magic is so cool and badass ngl
-also we love a curvy FMC
-this was very fun and intriguing I can’t to see how this series will continue
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

[Selene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this! The world building felt cozy and real while still having incredibly high stakes and some dark elements. The pacing was EXCELLENT and the way it ended , definitely a perfect build up for book two. Cannot wait for it to come out! There’s a lot going on , lost memories, witch hunting, impending war, secret identities, lost princesses…. But it never feels like too much , it just effortlessly keeps the story moving along! Loved it. The narrators did a fantastic job as well! Thanks to Netgalley, the authors and the publisher for my alc.

[Dadreadsanreviews (james) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks Net Galley for the early review copy! The Iron Hex brings together familiar tropes of Romantasy, epic fantasy, and YA banter. Walsh brings multiple story lines to paint the picture of a kingdom after a populist coup. Where magic is outlawed and witches are hunted. She brings together slow burn romance and yearning with action, adventure, and self discovery. The story is engaging, the romance is touching, and the politics crates for a real world feel.

Some things that pulled me out of the story were the vocabulary and resolution of tension. Thinks more of a personal feeling, but modern vocabulary and speech patterns often throw me in fantasy. This is not a slight on the author or story, but part of my reading experience. Walsh does a good job of crating tension between characters, but she often resolves the tension within the scene. I would love to see the anger, disappointment, fear, and betrayal last longer between scenes..

Overall, it is a wonderful debut with an engaging story with layers and threads to be resolved

[Joseandbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

The Iron Hex by Victoria S. Walsh completely surpassed my expectations. It’s hard to believe this is a debut because the writing felt so confident, polished, and immersive from start to finish.

Set in a world where dangerous magic, ancient secrets, and political intrigue collide, the story follows a determined young woman whose life is forever changed after she becomes entangled in a conflict much larger than herself. As hidden truths come to light and powerful enemies emerge, she must learn who she can trust while navigating a growing attraction that complicates everything. The blend of magic, mystery, action, and romance kept me invested from beginning to end.

I absolutely loved both main characters. Their chemistry developed naturally, and I found myself fully invested in their journey, both individually and together. What impressed me most was how original the plot felt. With romantasy being such an oversaturated genre these days, this story managed to carve out its own identity instead of relying on familiar tropes.

I also had the opportunity to experience this as a NetGalley ALC, and the narration did a fantastic job bringing the characters and emotions to life.

This is an amazing debut, and Victoria S. Walsh is definitely an author I’ll be keeping an eye on. I already can’t wait to see where the story goes in book two!

[Danielle Strona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Harlequin Audio for the ALC and ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

The Iron Hex follows Eira, Hugo, and Rhona on a journey that’s packed with romance, twists, and, more importantly, only one bed! I mean, come on. Who doesn’t love a one-bed trope? Eira’s memory is fractured, leaving her with little memory of her life before. She now lives a quiet life running a small shop and keeps to herself. Rhona, a knight in the Iron Retinue, dreams of something more than being a guard, while Hugo, a former guard, is on the run. When Eira and Hugo’s paths unexpectedly collide, they find themselves thrown into a journey together, while also accompanied by Eira’s familiar, her adorable pet rabbit.

One of my favorite aspects of this book was the multiple POVs. I always love being able to get inside different characters’ heads and understand their motivations and reactions. While the story primarily follows Eira and Hugo, I especially enjoyed Rhona’s POV. I liked the world-building in this book, and the magic system felt fresh and unique. In this world, magic is outlawed, forcing those with magic abilities to hide them. The only acceptable form of magic is potion-making, which is how Eira gets by.

If you love forced proximity and the one-bed trope, then this book is absolutely worth picking up. The forced proximity was chef’s kiss, and the banter between Eira and Hugo was fantastic. Their relationship developed naturally, making the romance feel real rather than something driven by circumstance.

The narrator also did a wonderful job bringing the story and its characters to life. My only wish is that there had been a second narrator to help distinguish the different character perspectives. Still, I really enjoyed both listening to and reading this book. The audiobook added another layer to the experience and made the story even more immersive!

Overall, I liked this book, and I highly recommend it!

[Raven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Harper Collins Canada for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited for this one: a plus-size FMC, romantasy, and a Canadian author whose content I’ve enjoyed. While I did enjoy The Iron Hex, I didn’t end up loving it as much as I had hoped.

The worldbuilding was one of the strongest parts for me. There’s a lot of lore and an interesting magic system, but it never felt overwhelming or difficult to follow. It managed to capture that cozy fantasy atmosphere while still telling a larger story.

Eira was easily my favourite part of the book. She’s feisty, intelligent, older than your typical romantasy heroine, and refreshingly confident in who she is (considering the memory loss). I appreciated the representation throughout the cast, especially having a plus-size FMC whose entire personality wasn’t centred around her body.

Hugo, on paper, has so many of the qualities I usually love in an MMC: loyal, protective, dependable, and clearly devoted to Eira but also flawed and made makes. A little grey if you will. He should have been a character I adored. And yet, for some reason, he never fully clicked for me. I found him lacking a certain depth or spark that would have made me truly invested in him as a character or as a romantic lead.

Unfortunately, the romance didn’t work for me as well as I’d hoped. The memory loss trope is always tricky, and because Hugo already knew and loved Eira before the story began, it felt like readers missed out on the moments that made him fall for her in the first place. As a result, parts of the romance felt closer to insta-love than earned emotional development, which made it difficult for me to fully invest in their relationship.

I found parts of the story became repetitive, with a surprising amount of the plot revolving around taverns and something inevitably going wrong there.

By the end of the book, I found myself becoming less invested in both the story and the characters. The ideas, premise, and major plot points were all there it just didn’t fully connect with the execution. That said, this is a debut novel, and I think Victoria has a lot of potential as an author and an exciting future ahead of her.

I was also lucky enough to receive an audio ARC, but unfortunately the narration didn’t work for me. With three POV characters, I was hoping for stronger differentiation between voices, and I ultimately enjoyed physically reading the book more than listening to it.

Will I pick up book two? Honestly, I’m not sure. Part of me wants to know what happens next, but another part isn’t quite invested enough in the characters or romance to commit just yet.

[Gabby Dinsmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Iron Hex starts off feeling almost cozy and magical, then slowly tightens the screws until I was way too emotionally invested and honestly a little mad it was over. The magic here feels old and rooted, more unsettling than flashy, and the atmosphere really carries that through from start to finish.

Eira is exactly the kind of main character I always root for, soft in some ways, steel in others, and clearly carrying more history than she’s ready to face. It took me a minute to fully settle into the characters, but once I did, I was locked in. The relationships build naturally, and the tension simmers in a way that keeps everything feeling just slightly off-balance.

I also loved how the story takes its time. It’s not fast-paced, but it works. The world expands gradually, getting bigger and messier while that underlying unease keeps creeping in.

By the end, I was completely in and already counting down for book two.

Thank you Mira (HTP) , NetGalley and Victoria S Walsh for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Kaitlyn Chieh · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨🍃🔮 ARC/ALC Review: The Iron Hex by Victoria S. Walsh 🔮🍃✨

🗓️ Release Date: August 4, 2026
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4/5 stars)
Spice: 🌶️

🔮 About the Book: Eira Eckhart has built a quiet life in a small town, keeping her head down and practicing only the potions magic permitted under the watchful Iron Empire. But when the mysterious and infuriatingly handsome Hugo Venton walks through her door, her carefully constructed life is turned upside down. Suddenly hunted and on the run, Eira joins Hugo on a quest that pulls her deeper into a past she can’t remember — and toward a forbidden magic she may need to survive.

💚 What I loved:
🍃 Eira is the kind of FMC you root for from page one — confident and fierce
🍃 This book gave me the feeling of going on a grand adventure and I was here for every second of it
🍃 Every female character in this book was strong and powerful and I absolutely loved that about it

🧙🏻‍♀️ Tropes:
🪄 Yearning
🪄 Enemies to Friends to Lovers
🪄 Forbidden Magic
🪄 Plus Sized Main Character
🪄 Powerful Women

Thank you so much Victoria S. Walsh and The Hive for this gifted ARC and ALC! 🥹✨

[kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the billionth time, I am not a fantasy reader let alone a romantasy one, but here I am again. I follow Victoria Walsh on Instagram and her self-love platform has helped me with my own body confidence and love for my curves. I have seen her posts progressive through this novel from drafts to editing to starting the second book, and now her debut is out. I knew I had to read it and I’m honoured to have the ARC.

(And she’s a fellow Canadian). This reading and review is one curvaceous goddess supporting another.

My points are in no particular order:

So, one of my gripes with fantasy novels is that I find that so many of them are just a slew of world-building lore at once that I cannot be bothered to remember and, a lot of the time, aren’t important. In this book, it’s simple. Details and lore are given to the readers in pieces and spread throughout the book, when it relevant to the part that’s about to happen. I greatly appreciate that from The Iron Hex.

It’s quick-paced, adventure-filled, romantic, magical, cozy—and it all works so well together.

I also loved how there were aspects of more modern prose, notably the dialogue, where the language present wasn’t so olden or fantastical. For instance, it was cool to see the words “ale” and “tavern” while also having characters say “yeah.” It was a wonderful blend that I know a lot of people aren’t fond of when reading fantasy, but I, an infamous contemporary reader, applaud it.

Pennyroyal was such a little sassy cutie. I debated if the rabbit here actually counted as an enchanted creature for the prompts … but once I got to that halfway point … I won’t spoil it but I love what the reveal we got there. This book was full of amazing twists. I tried to guess them as I read and got super close to some, but not exact.

I adored the characters. Eira and Hugo? Hot. Amazing chemistry. A man who yearns and is protective and cherishes his curvaceous lady? A slow burn with a past she can’t remember and he can’t tell her but they slow let fall in love again? Both of them on an adventure? Y E S. (My boyfriend says Sir Rhona is hot and I agree). I love how both sides of the story, Eira/Hugo and Sir Rhona showed up both the characters and the Iron Empire. They were woven so well and I can’t wait for them to cross paths one day.

Back to tropes for a second, I got ones I love and more—one bed, princess x guard (close enough, times two but iykyk), the tending to wounds while shirtless, fake husband and wife covers, etc. I won’t drone on but let you read for yourself. I can’t see what other ideas are in the series as well as Walsh’s next books.

Also, that cliffhanger at the end? Emotionally diabolical. (I loved it).

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!

✨💜Taylor Swift Readathon: Speak Now💜✨
Enchanted - A Book with Magical Creatures

[Deanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Iron Hex ⭐️ ⭐️.5
Rating: 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

Iron Hex follows Eira as she becomes entangled in a dangerous magical conflict, forced into close proximity with the brooding and secretive Hugo—whose past and loyalties are far more complicated than they first appear. As tensions rise and truths come to light, Eira must navigate shifting alliances, hidden agendas, and a romance that’s meant to burn just as intensely as the magic surrounding them.

I was really drawn in by the premise—there’s a lot here that should have worked for me. A fantasy setting with high stakes, layered characters, and a bodyguard-style dynamic is exactly my kind of story. Unfortunately, the execution just didn’t quite land.

One of the biggest issues for me was Rone’s POV. It felt unnecessary and didn’t add much to the overall story or emotional depth. Instead of enhancing the narrative, it often pulled me out of it and slowed the pacing.

I also found the characters, overall, didn’t stand out as much as I had hoped. While there were interesting elements to each of them, none felt especially distinct or memorable, which made it harder to fully invest in their journeys.

The central romance between Hugo and Eira also fell flat for me. Their chemistry felt underdeveloped, and I never fully believed in their connection. The spice, rather than adding tension or emotional weight, felt disconnected from the story and didn’t contribute much to their relationship or the plot.

I also struggled with the Evangeline/Hugo storyline. The reveal and its implications didn’t fully make sense in the context of their actions, and it left me with more confusion than impact. Given how significant it was supposed to be, it ultimately felt underwhelming.

Another aspect that didn’t quite land for me was the handling of the murdered witches. This felt like a major plot point with serious emotional and narrative weight, but it ultimately seemed to be brushed aside too quickly, without the depth or attention it deserved.

Overall, this is a book that reached for something compelling but didn’t quite get there for me. There’s definitely potential in the concept, and I can see how other readers might enjoy it more, but unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley ,Victoria Walsh, and the publisher Harlequin Trade Publishing and MIRA for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[BookishKB]

🖤The Iron Hex 🖤

📖 Bookish Thoughts
Full review coming closer to release.

🪄What to Expect
• Outlawed magic
• Romantasy
• Witch FMC
• Guard MMC
• Quest Adventure
• Witch Hunters
• Memory loss
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: August 4, 2026
📝 Thank you to Harlequin Audio, Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Astrophel Beeneedssleep · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for an arc. All opinions are my own.

★ Rating: 2/5
Genre: Romantasy
Are There Gay People in this?*: ✅

I was really excited for this one, but I just could not enjoy it.

Narration: 4/5 - Easily the best part of this book is the narration. Jeremy Carlisle Parker gave a great performance which made it way easier to get through this book even when I wasn't enjoying the story.

Characters: 1/5 - Evangeline and Rona where the only characters I was even vaguely interested in, but they could not make up for how much I despised Hugo. I found him utterly irredeemable, not for the atrocities he committed (though I will get back to those later), but because I never once believed that he respected Eira. Like, it's easy to believe that he loves her, and he definitely desires her, but he never really treated her like an equal in their relationship.

Also, I genuinely cannot imagine why you would write a man we are supposed to be rooting for behaving the way he does at the beginning. I know he isn't aware that she lost her memories, so I totally get why he would be kind of rude and snappy with her. However, regardless of whatever history is between you, if a woman is telling you that she doesn't want to be around you because you've kidnapped her, and you supposedly like this woman you should never be putting your hand around her waist and trying to white knight around other guys. Like there's literally a moment where she is yelling at him to back off and he grabs her, then has a moment where he's like oh no, this probably looks bad like dude it IS bad. Another woman in that scene even does the thing where she's trying to check in on Eira to make sure she's okay, because Hugo is acting like an abusive controlling partner. WHY would that be one of the first introductions with the love interest?

And back to his atrocities, I feel like most of this was pretty easy to infer based on his first interaction with the Iron Retinue, but Eira sure is surprised when we figure it out later, so I guess it's a spoiler. Hugo used to be a member of the Iron Retinue who's whole thing is killing witches, and Eira is a witch. I don't have any issues with this premise, I actually thought Rona's relationship was pretty okay, but I don't really like how it was handled here. We are told that he needs to live with the guilt and consequences of his actions, but narratively we are being shown that those things shouldn't be held against him. Eira, who has one million reasons to distrust him, keeps saying that the people who resent him "don't know that he's not that person anymore." But like, he IS the same person. He's holding your potion-crafting hands in the same ones that took countless witch's lives. Every time he opens his mouth it is a masterclass in shifting blame. He says at one point that he wants to help take down the empire that "made him" do those things, but like, this dude helped establish that empire. Your guilt does not absolve you if you're still refusing to actually take the blame.

Plot: 3/5 - The plot was fine. I wasn't desperate to know what happened next, but I was fairly engaged. This is the first book in the series, and I could definitely see some irons being put in the fire for later; however, most of this book's runtime was focused on establishing the romantic relationships.

Worldbuilding: 2/5 - My main issue with the worldbuilding was the magic system. It's super underdeveloped, and I know this is the first in a series, but I don't feel like we established a strong foundation. Magic is mostly innate except when it's plot convenient for it not to be.

Overall: This book didn't work for me, and I can't see myself recommending it.

Will I be continuing the series?: ❌

* I count a book as including gay people if any of the main or secondary characters are implicitly or explicitly queer or trans. This does not necessarily mean the protagonist is queer or that there is a queer romance

[Lily · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC Review:

I did not enjoy this at all. The book read like someone trying to recount a Romantasy from memory. Very basic. Very juvenile except it had smut…even the smut was very juvenile. Wouldn’t recommend:(

[ChronicallyYou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Victoria S. Walsh, MIRA, and NetGalley for the ARC!

The Iron Hex is an epic fantasy romance (with a hint of cozy) that completely swept me away, and then left me staring at the wall in shock and longing for book two when it ended.

From the very first pages, Victoria delivers a world that feels both expansive and intimate. Eira Eckhart is a powerful FMC: a plus-size potions witch who is sweet as pie, resilient to her core, and carrying a past she can’t remember. Her fractured memories, magic, and desire for a peaceful life under an oppressive empire create an emotional tension that hums beneath every chapter.

One of my favorite aspects of this book is the multiple POVs and dual storylines. The Eira/Hugo arc is layered with adventure, longing, and aching restraint, while Sir Rhona’s storyline is filled with her unwavering morals, love of knighthood to the Iron Empire, and partnership with the sharp and noble Maeve. Rhona's POV adds depth, a view into the realities of the Iron Empire, and a powerful exploration of honor in a man-ruled world. Watching these storylines slowly gravitate toward each other was truly phenomenal storytelling.

Hugo is a fascinating, tortured character. He's haunted not only by the secrets he keeps, but also by what he has done in the name of the Iron Empire. The yearning between him and Eira is top-tier: quiet looks, loaded silences, and moments that had me absolutely feral when they finally paid off. And yes, there is a sassy as hell side character (unnamed for spoiler reasons) who nearly stole the show and had me laughing out loud.

Reading this book during the Minneapolis ICE protests added an additional emotional weight. The Iron Empire’s control through fear and sanctioned brutality felt uncomfortably familiar. When Maeve projects, "I suppose it’s not surprising that those who incited a violent uprising would choose to use violence as a primary source of education" it perfectly captures how power justifies cruelty while calling it order. When ordered to potentially torture a prisoner, Rhona’s reflection that it was her duty to protect the Iron Empire, not to torture people further highlights the moral fracture between service and complicity. What makes this so effective is that Victoria never bludgeons the reader with commentary. These moments live naturally within making the story feel deeply relevant without losing its sense of wonder.

The twists had me cackling one minute and yelling the next, and the ending? Absolute emotional damage. I was not okay. Still am not okay.

Knowing this is a debut makes The Iron Hex all the more impressive. It’s a story about reclaiming power, embracing both softness and strength, and choosing who you become even when your past is lost or dangerous. I originally followed Victoria for her body positivity; now I’m following her as an auto-buy author.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t usually read much fantasy, but The Iron Hex turned out to be a great way for me to get into the genre. I liked that our FMC is 30. It was nice to follow a heroine who’s a bit older than usual, and I got invested in her story right away.

I liked the multiple points of view in this book. Eira and Hugo’s journey is the main story, but Rhona’s perspective gave us a look at what was happening inside the Iron Empire's capital. Sometimes extra POVs feel unnecessary, but here they made the world feel bigger without being confusing.

I also liked how the worldbuilding was done. I usually struggle with fantasy books that throw a lot of lore and history at you all at once. The Iron Hex gives you information bit by bit, only when it matters. That made the story easier to follow and kept me interested.

The forced proximity and bodyguard-like dynamic were fun, and the pacing made me want to keep reading. There were a few plot twists that really surprised me. The ending did what a first book should, it left me wanting more. I’m definitely planning to read the next one!

My main complaint is that I still have a lot of questions about the world, especially why witches and magic were outlawed. That seems like a big part of the world’s history, and I wanted the book to explore it in more depth. I hope the next book goes into that.

There were also a few moments where the writing felt a little repetitive, with certain ideas or sentences being repeated back-to-back. The overall writing style occasionally felt very YA, and some modern phrases pulled me out of the story. Hearing things like "no worries" in a fantasy setting felt a little strange. At the same time, as someone who doesn't read fantasy often, the more modern language sometimes made the story feel more approachable.

The Iron Hex is a great pick if you want to try fantasy or romantasy without getting overwhelmed by complex worldbuilding. It’s a solid first book and sets things up well for the next one. It wasn’t a perfect read for me, but it kept me hooked, and I’m looking forward to book 2.

[Alyx Gough]

Thank you Harlequin Audio for the ALC!

Unfortunately, The Iron Hex was a bit of a middle-of-the-road read for me.

The premise was intriguing, and I enjoyed the mix of magic, mystery, and a forgotten past, but I struggled to fully connect with the story. The writing felt like it needed another round of editing, and I found myself repeatedly noticing characters asking questions and then answering them in the same sentence, which pulled me out of the narrative.

The romance also didn’t quite work for me. The yearning felt more forced than natural, so I never fully bought into the connection between Eira and Hugo. I also had a hard time with the level of animosity directed at Hugo for being a witch hunter when it seemed clear he wasn’t fully aligned with the empire and would have walked away if he could.

That said, I did enjoy the world-building and the mystery surrounding Eira’s lost memories, and I think readers who enjoy fantasy adventures with magic, hidden identities, and slow-burn romance may have a better experience than I did.

Overall, this one was just okay for me.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Iron Hex is an incredible debut novel; a fast-paced, high stakes read that kept me hooked from the beginning!

One of the most interesting aspects of this book is that we get three different character POVs and dual storylines. I felt this added depth, intrigue, and a better understanding of the world, politics, and the magic system.

Despite losing her memories, Eira is an independent, sassy, and resilient potions witch. She yearns for a simple, peaceful life, alongside her pet rabbit, despite existing under a powerful and oppressive regime that uses violence to destroy almost all forms of witchcraft and associated magics.

Hugo stumbles into Eira’s life and immediately turns it upside down. He is a broody (ex)witch hunter, on the run from the Iron Empire, and is a secretive and tortured MMC. Hugo whisks Eira across the country as they seek to recover her memories, evade capture, and try to figure out how to move forward with the knowledge they uncover.

Sir Rhona was one of the highlights of the book for me, as I felt like her character development added depth to the plot, a raw and emotional level of self-discovery and morality, and clarity to my understanding of the Iron Empire.

The reader also gets DOUBLE the amount of yearning between the characters! The yearning between Eira and Hugo is dynamic and electric, whereas the slow burn between Sir Rhona and Maeve is tension filled and emotional, leaving me gasping, squealing, and kicking my feet. The dual storylines coming together throughout the book were fantastic and a refreshing experience within the romantasy genre.

I loved the author’s positive and empowering portrayal of several characters, despite their weight, height, appearance, or sexuality. As a fellow Canadian, I also connected with the similarities and commentary of the Iron Empire’s rise to power, operating tactics, and prejudices and the current situations and conflicts happening today, especially in North America.

Jeremy Carlisle Parker did such a fantastic job narrating the book; keeping the pace consistent, adding an extra layer of emotional depth to an already tense storyline, and distinctly performing the three MCs, as well as the other side characters.

The Iron Hex is a story about self-discovery, resistance, accountability, and reclaiming power, and I cannot wait to read book two!

Thank you to Victoria S. Walsh, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for the ALC.

[Ashley]

Thank you to Mira Books and HTP Books for providing me with a gifted ebook copy of The Iron Hex through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Iron Hex had a great premise and I always love storylines with witches having to hide their magic but the writing didn’t have that much depth for me and I wasn’t drawn in by the dialogue or interaction between the characters so this one was a DNF at 20%.

[Paige Wuerdemann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Audio and Victoria S. Walsh for the ALC of The Iron Hex.

I've been seeing this book just about everywhere and the synopsis (and the amazing cover) pulled me in! Book two cannot come soon enough for me because I need to know where the plot line is going!

Jeremy Carlisle Parker did an amazing job bringing this story to life in the audiobook. For a debut novel from Victoria S. Walsh, she's knocked it out of the park! From the opening lines I was absolutely hooked and could not wait to see where Eira's story went. The way Walsh has created this story is refreshing in that we're experiencing the world first hand, as someone who has no idea of the secrets lurking in the dark. Each secret uncovered has readers feeling like they're right in Eira's shoes and experiencing it for themselves.

The Iron Hex follows Eira, a potion witch who has no recollection of the last three years, but that doesn't seem to bother her too much. That is until the mysterious Hugo walks into her store. With him comes the knowledge that he knows more about Eira than he's letting on. And slowly but surely, the pleasant life Eria has constructed slowly comes crumbling down.

I love the fact that not only does the story focus on Eira and Hugo, but we also get an inside look into the Iron Empire's knights and what they get up to. At first I was curious as to why we got the POV of Rhona, but as the story progressed I understood why it was so important. I became just as invested in her storyline as I was with Eira and Hugo's.

The twists and turns that Walsh takes the reader on are ones I never saw coming. If this is what the debut is, I cannot wait to be part of the journey into the second book.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️

Ever since I saw Victoria S. Walsh’s video where she was writing The Iron Hex, I knew I’d devour her book, and I was sooo right. 🫠

From the first chapter to the last one, I was hooked and I couldn’t put it down. I was in a reading slump before starting The Iron Hex, and it helped me getting out of it!

The characters, the witches, the world and the plot-twists were all so perfectly balanced to make me keep reading. I am so intrigued to know how it’s going to go for Hugo and Eira because of how the book ended…I need book 2 as soon as possible! 🥹

Also, Rhona and Maeve!! I truly hope they’re both going to stay safe (and end up together) because I love them as much as I love Hugo and Eira! Every characters were so incredibly written, it almost felt like they were real.

As always, writing a review isn’t my best talent, but The Iron Hex was incredible and I can’t wait for book 2 to release because I need to know what is going to happen to everyone. The ending was so intriguing and I am going to be thinking about it for a while!

Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an ARC. 🤍

[Savannah Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 stars

outlawed magic? memory loss? forbidden love? sign me up pls 🙂‍↕️ i absolutely loved eira, hugo, & rhona!! i also loved that eira’s familiar was a bunny!!! how cute. this has such a fun magic system that pulled me in immediately. another major selling point of this one for me was all the pov’s we get! enough to add so much depth and excitement to the story without it getting confusing. this was such a cozy read and i feel like the witch aspects would make this a fabulous fall fantasy! this had the perfect amount of tension and yearning and really kept me rooting for the main characters to get together!! and personally i LOVE a good cliff hanger that’s going to have me foaming at the mouth for book 2 & this has just that!!! such a fun and exciting read that you won’t want to miss!

[Dayle (the literary llama)]

DNF: This one will probably find a lot of love when and where it finds its audience… but that was unfortunately not me. The writing style and plot progression just weren’t working and I had no motivation to discover more or resolve the story or characters. I bounced before apathy could turn to antipathy.

* I received a free early copy from the publisher

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun time that reads like a Disney princess adventure movie but with smut.
*THANK YOU NETGALLEY FOR THE FREE ARC*
The book got repetitive with the horse riding to a tavern then an inn then being ambushed and sword fighting over and over and over. The Iron Hex is an easy read.

[Kyla Branston · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this ALC

This one just wasn’t it for me. I was bored for pretty much the entire book and kept waiting for something to pull me in. Sadly, it never happened.

[Kimberly Holder · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Romantasy with a plus size fmc? Count me in! The Iron Hex is full of whimsy and adventure! If you love cozy fantasy like Legends and Lattes, you will love this book.


Thank you NetGalley for the ALC 💚

[BookmarkedByDrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic debut for Victoria S. Walsh! I absolutely loved this book and I cannot wait for the next one. I found the characters compelling, the story was gripping and the twists really took me by surprise. I enjoyed the audiobook a lot, I do wish we had multiple narrators since there are so many different POVs but I still really enjoyed the narrator, she kept me immersed the entire time and I was on the edge of my seat as I listened. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ALC