What do you think?
Rate this book
Iron Hex Trilogy #1
The Iron Hex
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.
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.
12 pages, Audiobook
First published August 4, 2026
About the author
Victoria S. Walsh
2 books990 followersVictoria S. Walsh is the USA Today Bestselling 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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 621 reviews
September 5, 2025
I wrote this, and I think it’s pretty great 💃🏼
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
”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.
August 5, 2026
i wanted to like this book, but i didn't /:
the writing is INCREDIBLY juvenile - people might say that it "reads like ya" but i find that to be pretty dismissive of ya writing, so i will instead say that it reads like a plot summary without depth or nuance. there's a lot of repetition as well, and it's very much a telling without showing situation.
importantly, the mmc has been complicit in a genocide against witches, but he "regrets" it now for...reasons? and the fmc (who is a witch) is like oh ok it's alright because you're sorry! like...what??
all in all, not for me lol
**thank you to Mira for the ARC copy**
the writing is INCREDIBLY juvenile - people might say that it "reads like ya" but i find that to be pretty dismissive of ya writing, so i will instead say that it reads like a plot summary without depth or nuance. there's a lot of repetition as well, and it's very much a telling without showing situation.
importantly, the mmc has been complicit in a genocide against witches, but he "regrets" it now for...reasons? and the fmc (who is a witch) is like oh ok it's alright because you're sorry! like...what??
all in all, not for me lol
**thank you to Mira for the ARC copy**
June 30, 2026
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 !!!
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 !!!
August 9, 2026
Well this was awful. I saw this book doing the rounds on social media, and decided to read this.
Ever heard of show, don't tell? This book is only tell. And not just tell, but repeat everything about 7 times. Dialogue written as if the author has never had an actual conversation in life, characters reacting very strangely to anything that happens and oh god the editing.
For example (and this is one of many moments) it's mentioned it's the full moon. Logic would dictate it's night. Then why does it, only 2 sentences later, say that the MC sees the sun going down. Or a few pages later, when 2 characters are running away from a closed door, they mention they have run away from it, and then they mention not only hearing muffled voices behind the door, but even understanding what the voices are saying.
I don't even see the romantic tension, the whole crux of this book, between the characters, since they're written so badly. The only character descriptions are "ruggedly handsome" and "ample curves"
Would rate 0 stars but it's at least not written by AI, which in this day and age, deserves at least one star.
Ever heard of show, don't tell? This book is only tell. And not just tell, but repeat everything about 7 times. Dialogue written as if the author has never had an actual conversation in life, characters reacting very strangely to anything that happens and oh god the editing.
For example (and this is one of many moments) it's mentioned it's the full moon. Logic would dictate it's night. Then why does it, only 2 sentences later, say that the MC sees the sun going down. Or a few pages later, when 2 characters are running away from a closed door, they mention they have run away from it, and then they mention not only hearing muffled voices behind the door, but even understanding what the voices are saying.
I don't even see the romantic tension, the whole crux of this book, between the characters, since they're written so badly. The only character descriptions are "ruggedly handsome" and "ample curves"
Would rate 0 stars but it's at least not written by AI, which in this day and age, deserves at least one star.
Did Not Finish
August 4, 2026DNF @ chapter 4
The author knows that people don't actually talk like that, right? Out loud? What terrible writing.
Thank you to Harper Collins Canada for the physical ARC! I'm sorry I DNF'd it lmao
The author knows that people don't actually talk like that, right? Out loud? What terrible writing.
Thank you to Harper Collins Canada for the physical ARC! I'm sorry I DNF'd it lmao
August 13, 2026
I was incredibly excited to receive an ARC of this debut novel from Victoria Walsh and the audiobook from NetGalley, as I’ve been a devoted follower and really admire her as a creator. I even had the incredible opportunity to be on her Street Team to help promote the book and chatted with Vic directly. All that said, while the book had so much promise, especially in its representation of a curvy heroine, the execution didn’t quite work for me.
The plot felt repetitive, cycling through riding a horse, stopping at taverns, and moving on without much evolution. Era, the main character, remained flat; her sudden forgiveness of Hugo (who killed her fellow witches) felt unearned, as she never really got the chance to know him. The story just told us he’d changed, but never showed us, so her trust felt unearned.
The worldbuilding was also thin. There was no clear explanation of the magic system, and we never really understood why the Iron Empire overthrew the kingdom other than that they hate witches? The romantic scenes also fell flat, especially one where Hugo touched Era’s “apron belly.” As someone with an apron belly who is also plus-size, it felt awkward and more like a fetish than a romance.
Though a few twists surprised me, most were predictable. My favorite character was Evangeline. Her sass and depth really stood out. I just wish she and Hugo were the main focus, as their dynamic felt more earned and could have been an incredible enemies-to-lovers story.
I’m really bummed overall because I was so, so excited for Vic and the ideas in this story. I was genuinely hoping I would love this book. Unfortunately, as other reviews have mentioned, it is written in a very juvenile manner and felt more like a YA cozy fantasy to me (if you take out the two awkward smut scenes). I really wish Vic the best with her future stories and am excited to see how her writing grows, as this was only her debut novel.
The plot felt repetitive, cycling through riding a horse, stopping at taverns, and moving on without much evolution. Era, the main character, remained flat; her sudden forgiveness of Hugo (who killed her fellow witches) felt unearned, as she never really got the chance to know him. The story just told us he’d changed, but never showed us, so her trust felt unearned.
The worldbuilding was also thin. There was no clear explanation of the magic system, and we never really understood why the Iron Empire overthrew the kingdom other than that they hate witches? The romantic scenes also fell flat, especially one where Hugo touched Era’s “apron belly.” As someone with an apron belly who is also plus-size, it felt awkward and more like a fetish than a romance.
Though a few twists surprised me, most were predictable. My favorite character was Evangeline. Her sass and depth really stood out. I just wish she and Hugo were the main focus, as their dynamic felt more earned and could have been an incredible enemies-to-lovers story.
I’m really bummed overall because I was so, so excited for Vic and the ideas in this story. I was genuinely hoping I would love this book. Unfortunately, as other reviews have mentioned, it is written in a very juvenile manner and felt more like a YA cozy fantasy to me (if you take out the two awkward smut scenes). I really wish Vic the best with her future stories and am excited to see how her writing grows, as this was only her debut novel.
Did Not Finish
August 3, 2026This is a huge day for me, because I NEVER DNF anything. But I hit page 200, the exact middle of this book, and the main character, a princess, and a former military commander (all approximately 30ish years old) are sitting in the 7th tavern/inn of the book having a conversation that is going nowhere because the princess and the commander won’t stop arguing with each other, and the main character tells them knock it off because they’re bickering “like children” and the next paragraph is:
“ “Humph!” They both huffed in unison, leaning back and crossing their arms. This journey was going to be terrible if they kept up like this. “
Two grown adults that either have occupied, will occupy, or should occupy positions of power, and they behave like this? And we’re meant to believe that the main character is overwhelmingly attracted to this man?
The journey so far has already been terrible because the writing in this is so first-draft underdeveloped I don’t give a damn about a single character or what happens to them. The world-building might as well be nonexistent despite most of the text reading like exposition, the thoughts of the characters are constantly just rehashing the same information over and over again, and please for one single chapter can we not comment about the size and shape of all the female characters’ bodies? Pretty please?
Teeny tiny grain of salt that I was reading an ARC of this book, so maybe an editor finally got their hands on this and transformed it into something that isn’t juvenile and repetitive and boring, but I won’t get my hopes up.
I should have given up many times already, including the part where the main character (who is a witch), finds out that the commander that she has the hots for used to be a very prolific witch hunter, who admits to her face that he murdered “dozens” of witches, and while she’s standing there devastated he’s actively wondering what she “tastes like” ……………?????????? man shut the FUCK up.
“ “Humph!” They both huffed in unison, leaning back and crossing their arms. This journey was going to be terrible if they kept up like this. “
Two grown adults that either have occupied, will occupy, or should occupy positions of power, and they behave like this? And we’re meant to believe that the main character is overwhelmingly attracted to this man?
The journey so far has already been terrible because the writing in this is so first-draft underdeveloped I don’t give a damn about a single character or what happens to them. The world-building might as well be nonexistent despite most of the text reading like exposition, the thoughts of the characters are constantly just rehashing the same information over and over again, and please for one single chapter can we not comment about the size and shape of all the female characters’ bodies? Pretty please?
Teeny tiny grain of salt that I was reading an ARC of this book, so maybe an editor finally got their hands on this and transformed it into something that isn’t juvenile and repetitive and boring, but I won’t get my hopes up.
I should have given up many times already, including the part where the main character (who is a witch), finds out that the commander that she has the hots for used to be a very prolific witch hunter, who admits to her face that he murdered “dozens” of witches, and while she’s standing there devastated he’s actively wondering what she “tastes like” ……………?????????? man shut the FUCK up.
June 17, 2026
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!
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!
May 28, 2026
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
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
June 3, 2026
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.
February 28, 2026
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
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
August 4, 2026
My first read of August and it did not disappoint!! I will try to keep this review as spoiler-free as I can!
A fantastic debut and I am so proud to have been on the street team for this book!
I loved the premise of this story and felt into it immediately. A potions witch who loses her memory and the guard that guarded her and her family who has also loved her for ten years?! SOLDDDD
“She was the most beautiful creature he'd ever laid his eyes on, powerful and ethereal... and he'd gratefully spend forever trying to deserve even just a shred of her light.”
I was also right and Pennyroyal was my favorite character 😏
“Hugo woke up as the sun was setting in an empty room with a rabbit glaring daggers at him. How a rabbit was conveying that it was glaring daggers at him he wasn't entirely sure, but he did know that he was alone in the room, and that the energy coming from the rabbit was malicious.”
I loved Eira’s character so much. Having to lose your memory and chase to get it back must be so hard and it was portrayed so well in this book as we saw her struggle between getting it back and having it stay gone.
“Eira grabbed one of the wanted posters from Hugo's hand, unrolling it to see a relatively good rendition of the man standing in front of her, just with shorter hair...and absolutely the wrong nose shape.”
I also am absolutely obsessed with the little mini Rapunzel moment we got here with a wanted poster and I may have squealed just a little bit.
“Hugo wondered if he had died and gone to the afterlife he didn't expect, or if he was dreaming—the most beautiful woman he'd ever known had chosen to embrace him, to trust him.”
I became very attached to these characters too and I love that it’s a multi-POV! I am also a fan of the emotional cliffhanger between the characters at the end because I need to know what happens between them next. My only thing is that I just wanted there to be more show than tell throughout the story.
“When nothing came to him, he finally believed that the woman he'd been in love with for years, his assignment, he'd been desperately searching for, had been lying to him the entire time he knew her.”
And the best part is it is out now and I cannot wait for people to read it and fall in love with this story!!
A fantastic debut and I am so proud to have been on the street team for this book!
I loved the premise of this story and felt into it immediately. A potions witch who loses her memory and the guard that guarded her and her family who has also loved her for ten years?! SOLDDDD
“She was the most beautiful creature he'd ever laid his eyes on, powerful and ethereal... and he'd gratefully spend forever trying to deserve even just a shred of her light.”
I was also right and Pennyroyal was my favorite character 😏
“Hugo woke up as the sun was setting in an empty room with a rabbit glaring daggers at him. How a rabbit was conveying that it was glaring daggers at him he wasn't entirely sure, but he did know that he was alone in the room, and that the energy coming from the rabbit was malicious.”
I loved Eira’s character so much. Having to lose your memory and chase to get it back must be so hard and it was portrayed so well in this book as we saw her struggle between getting it back and having it stay gone.
“Eira grabbed one of the wanted posters from Hugo's hand, unrolling it to see a relatively good rendition of the man standing in front of her, just with shorter hair...and absolutely the wrong nose shape.”
I also am absolutely obsessed with the little mini Rapunzel moment we got here with a wanted poster and I may have squealed just a little bit.
“Hugo wondered if he had died and gone to the afterlife he didn't expect, or if he was dreaming—the most beautiful woman he'd ever known had chosen to embrace him, to trust him.”
I became very attached to these characters too and I love that it’s a multi-POV! I am also a fan of the emotional cliffhanger between the characters at the end because I need to know what happens between them next. My only thing is that I just wanted there to be more show than tell throughout the story.
“When nothing came to him, he finally believed that the woman he'd been in love with for years, his assignment, he'd been desperately searching for, had been lying to him the entire time he knew her.”
And the best part is it is out now and I cannot wait for people to read it and fall in love with this story!!
July 3, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 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!
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!
August 8, 2026
The Iron Hex was a solid 3.5 stars. Overall I liked the story, but it didn’t make me super excited to pick it up every time.
I was confused for a good portion of the story when switching POVs in between Eira/ Hugo and Rhona — because I wasn’t sure why we were getting glimpses into Rhona’s perspective as a guard.
There was also a lot of romantic tension because Hugo cared for Eira, and she had absolutely no idea who he was. I thought the main characters’ romance was a bit lackluster, but the side plot with Rhona’s love interest is sweet.
There was a lot of traveling and adventure throughout the story which helped prevent the timeline from feeling too stagnant. When we get the reveal about the missing princess, it did surprise me and make me laugh.
We get a lot of character growth (or at least characters admitting their previous mistakes), but I really didn’t feel connected with any of the characters. Eira also learns a lot about her abilities, but it didn’t feel super exciting.
One minor thing that I appreciated was Eira being described as curvy/ plus size — but that wasn’t harped on every other sentence. I appreciate the representation, but focusing on her other qualities and not ONLY her weight.
I thought the epilogue from the Lord General’s perspective helped grab my interest enough to potentially pick up the next book! It kind of pulls some pieces together, and also shows his thought process which is odd and he seems very unhinged.
The author wrote the world in a way that made me feel similar to the universe that When the Moon Hatched takes place in. I would say that’s high praise and good world building (but this world is much less confusing than WTMH)
I received an ALC, and the narrator did a fine job. But I do think the story could have benefitted from having multiple narrators.
I was confused for a good portion of the story when switching POVs in between Eira/ Hugo and Rhona — because I wasn’t sure why we were getting glimpses into Rhona’s perspective as a guard.
There was also a lot of romantic tension because Hugo cared for Eira, and she had absolutely no idea who he was. I thought the main characters’ romance was a bit lackluster, but the side plot with Rhona’s love interest is sweet.
There was a lot of traveling and adventure throughout the story which helped prevent the timeline from feeling too stagnant. When we get the reveal about the missing princess, it did surprise me and make me laugh.
We get a lot of character growth (or at least characters admitting their previous mistakes), but I really didn’t feel connected with any of the characters. Eira also learns a lot about her abilities, but it didn’t feel super exciting.
One minor thing that I appreciated was Eira being described as curvy/ plus size — but that wasn’t harped on every other sentence. I appreciate the representation, but focusing on her other qualities and not ONLY her weight.
I thought the epilogue from the Lord General’s perspective helped grab my interest enough to potentially pick up the next book! It kind of pulls some pieces together, and also shows his thought process which is odd and he seems very unhinged.
The author wrote the world in a way that made me feel similar to the universe that When the Moon Hatched takes place in. I would say that’s high praise and good world building (but this world is much less confusing than WTMH)
I received an ALC, and the narrator did a fine job. But I do think the story could have benefitted from having multiple narrators.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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
★ 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.
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
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
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.
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.
June 15, 2026
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!
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!
July 28, 2026
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:(
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:(
April 9, 2026
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
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
August 4, 2026
I had a lot of fun with this!
As a debut, it is a little clunky at times, but once I got further into the story I was so hooked. The one thing is that I wish I hadn't gotten an arc because now I am waiting patiently for the second installment in the series.
This had everything I am looking for in a romantacy, it is fairly cutesy and cozy, while also behind the curtains, especially as more and more info is gathered by the reader, things get darker and darker. I could eat this shit up for days. I also had multiple points where I could kinda tell where things were going but had not collected all the information before the big reveal, which is my favorite kind of reveal. The pieces are all there, and as much as I did not like the amnesia at first, I think it does help bring the reader into the world slowly, especially as the plot started ramping up.
I am so excited for Rhona's storyline and where the rest of the series will take these characters.I was kinda hoping that Hugo would die by the end of this book, but I am interested to see how his story plays out as well lol.
Thank you so much to Netgalley, the author, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me a free and advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
As a debut, it is a little clunky at times, but once I got further into the story I was so hooked. The one thing is that I wish I hadn't gotten an arc because now I am waiting patiently for the second installment in the series.
This had everything I am looking for in a romantacy, it is fairly cutesy and cozy, while also behind the curtains, especially as more and more info is gathered by the reader, things get darker and darker. I could eat this shit up for days. I also had multiple points where I could kinda tell where things were going but had not collected all the information before the big reveal, which is my favorite kind of reveal. The pieces are all there, and as much as I did not like the amnesia at first, I think it does help bring the reader into the world slowly, especially as the plot started ramping up.
I am so excited for Rhona's storyline and where the rest of the series will take these characters.
Thank you so much to Netgalley, the author, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me a free and advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2026
✨🍃🔮 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! 🥹✨
🗓️ 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! 🥹✨
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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!
(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
April 4, 2026
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.
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.
July 15, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy of The Iron Hex! ❤️
I want to say that I had incredibly high hopes for this book and maybe that was my downfall. I love the authors presence on social media and what she stands for. However, this book was a letdown for me, for a multitude of reasons.
This book is written in 3rd person with 3 different POVs, which is totally fine. The world building is simple enough and it’s an easy read - almost too easy. The writing felt very…lackluster and basic. The same descriptive words were used over and over and over (looking at you ‘handsome stranger’ and ‘perfect’).
The plot line is mostly the same as every other fantasy romance novel on the market right now - FMC who doesn’t know she has powers, missing princesses and kingdom rebellion. The memory loss plot line was interesting though. I really struggled with this book and just found myself bored.
Unfortunately I do not think I’ll be continuing this series.
I want to say that I had incredibly high hopes for this book and maybe that was my downfall. I love the authors presence on social media and what she stands for. However, this book was a letdown for me, for a multitude of reasons.
This book is written in 3rd person with 3 different POVs, which is totally fine. The world building is simple enough and it’s an easy read - almost too easy. The writing felt very…lackluster and basic. The same descriptive words were used over and over and over (looking at you ‘handsome stranger’ and ‘perfect’).
The plot line is mostly the same as every other fantasy romance novel on the market right now - FMC who doesn’t know she has powers, missing princesses and kingdom rebellion. The memory loss plot line was interesting though. I really struggled with this book and just found myself bored.
Unfortunately I do not think I’ll be continuing this series.
August 17, 2026
3.75✨
A hidden identity, missing princess, dangerous magic and the rather inconvenient realization that everyone seems to know more about the main character than she does herself. Eira goes from her quaint potion shop to being hunted down alongside a supposed stranger. There is a cozy little heart underneath all the chaos that I was not expecting. Usually I am not a fan but it works very well here paired with the political intrigue and many secrets.
The amnesia gave Walsh plenty of room to play dirty with the reveals. Just when I thought I had Eira’s past somewhat pieced together, another detail would throw things sideways. A few I saw coming while others absolutely got me. Thankfully the answers felt worth all the suspicious side eyeing I was doing along the way. Also, I love having a secondary romance. Maeve and Rhona delivered in more than one way. Rhona seems to be reflecting the society around her. Taught to fear magic because of the Iron Empire’s teachings. Only through her own experiences with Maeve does she begin to question everything.
Where things got a bit strange was placing the age range. This is marketed as adult romantasy. Yet large portions read distinctly YA to me. Then occasionally wandering into NA territory. Some of the dialogue and character interactions felt noticeably younger. So when I entered those more mature scenes it pulled me right out of an otherwise intriguing plot.
Jeremy Carlisle Parker did a decent job juggling the multiple POVs. The performance also influenced that younger vibe at times. Making the jump from YA-ish dialogue to the more mature scenes feel even more noticeable. Maybe more narrators or even a duet would have helped create some separation between the tones.
Did it blow me out of the water? No but there was plenty here to keep me curious about where the world was heading. Especially with such a big cliffhanger.
Thank you to Victoria S. Walsh, Harlequin Audio | MIRA & Netgalley for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review.
A hidden identity, missing princess, dangerous magic and the rather inconvenient realization that everyone seems to know more about the main character than she does herself. Eira goes from her quaint potion shop to being hunted down alongside a supposed stranger. There is a cozy little heart underneath all the chaos that I was not expecting. Usually I am not a fan but it works very well here paired with the political intrigue and many secrets.
The amnesia gave Walsh plenty of room to play dirty with the reveals. Just when I thought I had Eira’s past somewhat pieced together, another detail would throw things sideways. A few I saw coming while others absolutely got me. Thankfully the answers felt worth all the suspicious side eyeing I was doing along the way. Also, I love having a secondary romance. Maeve and Rhona delivered in more than one way. Rhona seems to be reflecting the society around her. Taught to fear magic because of the Iron Empire’s teachings. Only through her own experiences with Maeve does she begin to question everything.
Where things got a bit strange was placing the age range. This is marketed as adult romantasy. Yet large portions read distinctly YA to me. Then occasionally wandering into NA territory. Some of the dialogue and character interactions felt noticeably younger. So when I entered those more mature scenes it pulled me right out of an otherwise intriguing plot.
Jeremy Carlisle Parker did a decent job juggling the multiple POVs. The performance also influenced that younger vibe at times. Making the jump from YA-ish dialogue to the more mature scenes feel even more noticeable. Maybe more narrators or even a duet would have helped create some separation between the tones.
Did it blow me out of the water? No but there was plenty here to keep me curious about where the world was heading. Especially with such a big cliffhanger.
Thank you to Victoria S. Walsh, Harlequin Audio | MIRA & Netgalley for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review.
August 2, 2026
🎧 Audiobook - ALC
So, this book is a sweet and straightforward launch into romantasy. The book read very cozy which is not a style that works for me, especially when it comes to romantasy. It is playing in a challenging adult romantasy genre where it reads more as YA. I struggled to stay engaged and often found myself skipping forward through entire sections without feeling a loss.
The plot and characters are fine but a bit too simple. I wanted more complexity in the world, the characters, the relationships and the magic to hold my attention. Eira was a fine FMC and I enjoyed the elemental magic and the discovery of her powers. I grew tired of being force-fed her beautiful curves and wide hips. I was more interested in how her power defined her and that never really hit. The amnesia story line made that especially challenging as everything unfolded as a mystery. The bunny rabbit sidekick was a tough one for me also. Again, I wanted some edge.
Hugo as a MMC was also fine but also defined heavily and repeatedly by his handsomeness and big muscles and both his and Eira’s physical draw. I liked that he had yearned for her from their earliest days and how his love compelled him to protect her. He had a pretty nasty past, though, and that felt a little too easily handled.
The narration was very good for single narrator. Would have preferred dual or duet but the performance here was good.
Overall, not really a book for me. I enjoyed it for the most part but wasn’t drawn in to it and often felt bored or disinterested. If you like a simple and straightforward romantasy with some good magic that leans into cozy and YA then I would say definitely give it a try.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio and Victoria S. Walsh for access to an ALC and the opportunity to share my thoughts.
Want to Read
July 3, 2026🖤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.
📖 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.
August 8, 2026
Thank you to HTP Books, Mira, Harlequin Audio, and The Hive for letting me read an ARC and listen to the ALC of this book!
This book was SUCH a good time!! I’ve followed Victoria for her fashion and plus size representation for a while (pre-having my own book account) and I’ve always loved how supported and confident her videos had made me feel.
Hearing that she was writing a fantasy book about a plus size FMC, I knew I had to jump on it as soon as I could!
I had such a fun time reading this book. So much fun that I truly think it reignited my love for fantasy! The world building is immersive and feels like a classic fantasy environment if that makes sense? Plenty of taverns on a long journey, and the cold stone castle being run by The Iron Empire.
I wasn’t sure how I would like the three POV’s at first, but I ended up really enjoying it! I loved Eira so so much! I’ve never read from a characters pov whose memory is lost and I think Victoria did a such a good job sharing her journey and struggles with not knowing who she was before.
I also really appreciated the reminders of Eira being plus sized throughout. I think, unfortunately, in a lot of fantasy books the FMC is written to be frail and/or small. Without these reminders of Eira’s true size readers could forget and slip back into picturing her like the millions of other generic fantasy FMC’s. Idk, I just feel like it might have healed something for me and I really appreciated being reminded that a woman like me is on this journey and doing these badass things!!!
Hugo’s pov was super captivating! I won’t spoil anything, but he’s had a past he regrets and he’s working to live with that while making choices to repair what he can and find his future.
Rhona’s perspective was unexpected but SO interesting to me!! I loved having a viewpoint of the other side and how the mindset of The Iron Empire affects someone working for them.
Specifically for the audiobook, I think the narrator did a great job reading from each perspective! Her emotions did just enough to tell the story and the change in her tone was just subtle enough for me to differentiate between each character. (Though I’ll be honest, I would have LOOOVED seeing this as dual narration)
I think that’s kind of all I can say without spoiling anything, so I’ll leave it with this: I am absolutely too excited for the next book! I think Victoria S. Walsh is writing the fantasy I’ve always wanted to see, and I am so excited to support the rest of this trilogy and her projects to come!
This book was SUCH a good time!! I’ve followed Victoria for her fashion and plus size representation for a while (pre-having my own book account) and I’ve always loved how supported and confident her videos had made me feel.
Hearing that she was writing a fantasy book about a plus size FMC, I knew I had to jump on it as soon as I could!
I had such a fun time reading this book. So much fun that I truly think it reignited my love for fantasy! The world building is immersive and feels like a classic fantasy environment if that makes sense? Plenty of taverns on a long journey, and the cold stone castle being run by The Iron Empire.
I wasn’t sure how I would like the three POV’s at first, but I ended up really enjoying it! I loved Eira so so much! I’ve never read from a characters pov whose memory is lost and I think Victoria did a such a good job sharing her journey and struggles with not knowing who she was before.
I also really appreciated the reminders of Eira being plus sized throughout. I think, unfortunately, in a lot of fantasy books the FMC is written to be frail and/or small. Without these reminders of Eira’s true size readers could forget and slip back into picturing her like the millions of other generic fantasy FMC’s. Idk, I just feel like it might have healed something for me and I really appreciated being reminded that a woman like me is on this journey and doing these badass things!!!
Hugo’s pov was super captivating! I won’t spoil anything, but he’s had a past he regrets and he’s working to live with that while making choices to repair what he can and find his future.
Rhona’s perspective was unexpected but SO interesting to me!! I loved having a viewpoint of the other side and how the mindset of The Iron Empire affects someone working for them.
Specifically for the audiobook, I think the narrator did a great job reading from each perspective! Her emotions did just enough to tell the story and the change in her tone was just subtle enough for me to differentiate between each character. (Though I’ll be honest, I would have LOOOVED seeing this as dual narration)
I think that’s kind of all I can say without spoiling anything, so I’ll leave it with this: I am absolutely too excited for the next book! I think Victoria S. Walsh is writing the fantasy I’ve always wanted to see, and I am so excited to support the rest of this trilogy and her projects to come!
August 4, 2026
I am so torn with how to rate this. It was one of my most anticipated reads as I have been a long time follower of the author on social media. I think I was expecting more of an epic fantasy and the majority of this felt like a romance with fantasy elements.
I initially enjoyed the cozy whimsical vibe but I felt like it really lacked world building. The magic system and political structure are never really explained, and the character development was a bit flat.
I was thrown off by the chapters switching between character POVs when everything is written in 3rd person. It felt a bit unnecessary.
I didn’t initially connect with Hugo and Eira’s romance, I felt like it was missing emotional depth and they were essentially still strangers. I think the events at the end of the book will make the stakes higher for their romance in the second book and I am hoping for more banter!
The side characters were the best part of this book for me. I really enjoyed Sir Rhona and Maeve’s storyline and would like to continue reading their journey.
The last 20% did get exciting and I will give the next book a chance because I’m intrigued enough by where the story is going and I hope the world building will expand in the second book.
I would recommend this if you like a cozy lower stakes more character driven fantasy with simple world building!
Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Victoria S. Walsh for the eARC!
I initially enjoyed the cozy whimsical vibe but I felt like it really lacked world building. The magic system and political structure are never really explained, and the character development was a bit flat.
I was thrown off by the chapters switching between character POVs when everything is written in 3rd person. It felt a bit unnecessary.
I didn’t initially connect with Hugo and Eira’s romance, I felt like it was missing emotional depth and they were essentially still strangers. I think the events at the end of the book will make the stakes higher for their romance in the second book and I am hoping for more banter!
The side characters were the best part of this book for me. I really enjoyed Sir Rhona and Maeve’s storyline and would like to continue reading their journey.
The last 20% did get exciting and I will give the next book a chance because I’m intrigued enough by where the story is going and I hope the world building will expand in the second book.
I would recommend this if you like a cozy lower stakes more character driven fantasy with simple world building!
Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Victoria S. Walsh for the eARC!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 621 reviews