The Iron Hex by Victoria S. Walsh ~ a Review

by MK French

Eira Eckhart can't remember much about her past, but makes the potions that are still legal in the Iron Empire along with her loyal rabbit familiar, avoiding the empire’s witch hunters. When Hugo Venton enters her potions shop, he knows more about her than she does. A terrifying encounter with soldiers puts a bounty on her head, so she joins his quest under duress. The two are seeking the missing princess, and gradually Eira recalls more of her hidden past. Eira realizes the forbidden magic simmering in her veins might be the very thing that could save them from the Iron Empire’s forces if she can remember how to control it in time.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

August 2026; MIRA; 978-0778306696
audio, ebook, print (400 pages); fantasy

Hugo is haunted by the witches he sought and killed on behalf of the Lord General, who had murdered the royal family and seized control to create the Iron Empire. Hugo had been loyal until he learned what the Lord General planned for the future, and has tried to atone ever since. He finds Eira, who is more than the potions witch she thinks she is, and the two are on the run. She has the very magic the Empire wants to destroy, and a memory witch can unlock her hidden past. At the same time, Sir Rhona is a knight who once served with Hugo and now answers to the Lord General. Things are not quite right in the capital and with the nobles, and she starts piecing it together. 

The book drew me in with its magic and the way Eira and Rhona search for the truth. The two don't know each other, but are starting to piece together how wrong things are going in the country. The experiment creating soldiers is ongoing, leading to a different kind of horror for the most loyal knights. The romance between Eira and Hugo is rather expected from the start, but with more complications and identity issues in the final quarter of the book. We find out as she does, with a cliffhanger ending that promises a lot of intrigue and action in the next book.

Buy The Iron Hex at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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