Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. I want to start by saying that I would read pretty much anything related to faeries! This was the first book of Fawcett's that I've read, and I was not disappointed. It is clear that she is a talented author, I just struggled to finish this title. The book seemed to drag on and though the descriptions were gorgeous, I was relieved when the book finally ended. Overall, I think our patrons would enjoy this title and I can imagine some of our book clubs discussing it.

There are so many differing books on the Fae and how each race of fae are so completely different that I could very well see how someone could spend their adult years trying to write an encyclopaedia. In fact, it sounds like a job for me.....well maybe not. This is the first book in a series. The first book must spend the time and effort to build a story line, a community and a cast of characters to carry the readers into this world. Heather Fawcett does this but the book itself suffers as this detracts from the actual fairies. It is going to be very interesting to see how Emily moves to the next step in her research and her interactions with those around her.

If you are looking for an easy step into the fantasy world, this is a book to try. Emily is a dryadologist and aspiring to finish a large manuscript and publish it on the same subject. The story begins with her venturing off to a far northern cold land to find specific fairies that she needs for her publication. This small town is small. Everyone knows everyone and Emily is stranger. Her introverted nature doesn't win her many friends at first and she struggles to get herself settled but still clammers on with her intended work. Abruptly her colleague arrives and moves his way into her space, her work and charms the new village folk and gets them to know the real Emily. During this process, more fairies are found in the surrounding woods, a child in the village is rescued, and Emily and her colleague learn alot more about each other. The final adventure involves a fairy king and a daring rescue. It's a fun, inventive world created by the author. The characters are very likable written with witty dialogues and the scenes are easy to visual with descriptions. I am looking forward to seeing where Emily lands in the next book.

This was amusing to read, but also a bity wordy so it took me a bit of time to finish. The storyline was interesting and I found most of the characters to be fairly entertaining. The ending seemed a bit rushed, but I assumed that was because the author was trying to push into a sequel.

I very much enjoyed the characters in this and the journey we go alongside with Emily not just her scientific journey but also her learning to build relationships even without her really recognizing it with the people around her. I think it gave exactly what it was trying to do.

Wonderful story, excellent world building, lovable characters - I enjoyed this very much!! Wonderful story, excellent world building, lovable characters - I enjoyed this very much!!

I read this book with my book club,. I enjoyed the flow of the storyline, the character development, and the characters in general. I would definitely recommend to others for an enjoyable read.

I really enjoyed this one. It is a fun read and entertaining, if it's not exactly the most original thing ever written. I did not purchase it for my library due to budget constraints, but that wasn't because of any lack of quality with the book.

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries was a good read, but I had a hard time forging a bond with Emily. Her personality is abrupt and harsh which I couldn't warm up to. Emily's personality aside, the story was wonderful. Bambleby is a great character who I fell in love with right away. I also enjoyed the villagers. The magical world that Fawcett concocted for this story made my heart light up. I wanted to join Emily on her treks through the forests and mountains. I fell in love with her little fae friend who baked her bread.

This is a cozy story that I am glad I read. I wish the writing weren't so dry.. I had a hard time really finding a good flow throughout.

"If something is impossible, you cannot be terrible at it."

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries is told through Emily's field notes. She's a dryadologist at Cambridge with only one last entry to write for her encyclopedia, the culmination of nine years of work. She's traveled Europe studying the Folk, and now she turns her eye to the Scandinavian Hidden Ones. In Ljosland, Emily faces challenges that she's used to in fieldwork-- there are language and cultural barriers as she collects information about the local fae. It's especially fraught given that Emily isn't great at peopling, regardless of the setting. She's interested in categorizing and describing with perfect academic detail, not getting friendly with the neighbors or getting snagged by small talk. In other words, she's got big neurodivergent energy, if I do say so myself.

Emily's spirit comes across strongly on the page, which emphasizes the academic vibe without stifling the natural humor of the situations she finds herself in. The footnotes, when combined, have yet another story to tell, dressed up in stuffy academic speech befitting their position. Emily also shares the local folktales she collects, contributing not only to the academic ambiance but also to the fairy tale one. Because this book blends the two so effortlessly, it makes you wonder how they don't crossover like this all the time. Emily's actions are carefully guided by the themes and rules at the heart of fairy stories (not the cute, sparkly ones but the dark, thorny ones). Whether she's befriending a tree dweller or manipulating a member of the high fae, she filters through her vast catalog of knowledge to think on her feet. It makes for a compelling type of heroine in a style of story where most characters are victims of fairy tale themes rather than agents of their own success.

So I loved the protagonist, the setting, the humor, and the plot, but anyone who knows me knows that it's relationships I show up for first and foremost. This book DELIVERS. For starters, I'm obsessed with Emily's gentle giant of a dog, Shadow, who accompanies her on all her adventures. And when Emily's annoying colleague shows up with servile grad students in tow (same), everything gets a million times more excellent. Wendell Bambleby is effortlessly charming and well-regarded in their field... and likely a fae in exile, though Emily isn't sure how no one else in the department has picked up on it. He's all mischief and grandiosity, leaving his grad students to do all the mundane tasks he doesn't know how to do. The tension between the two academics is comfortable, built on a foundation that Wendell would call friendship and Emily would refuse to acknowledge. Where Wendell looks for opportunities to admire and impress Emily, Emily finds the perfect moments to deflate his ego. While there are obvious romantic undercurrents between Emily and Wendell, the book isn't a romance in and of itself. The potential there is delicious enough for this reader. Wendell thinks of Emily as a fire-breathing dragon-- dauntless and in a league of her own, and he'd follow her to the ends of the Earth. See? Delicious!

Finally, I live for a found family. It's especially fulfilling when it finds a character who doesn't think she needs it. Emily's transformation once she has a community at her back is heartwarming. It doesn't change who she is or demand she make herself smaller to fit. Rather, it means she doesn't have to go up against greater forces on her own, and it gives her people to fight for rather than merely chasing knowledge for its own sake (she still totally does that, but now she has more going on). This book was satisfying in all the ways, and I am HYPE that there are more adventures for our dryadologists to come. Thanks to Del Rey for my copy to read and review!

An academic writing an encyclopedia on faeries travels north for research and is followed by her overeager--& quite possibly magical--colleague. Chaos and fairy magic ensues. Emily is so delightfully stoic and socially inept, and Brambelby is her perfect foil. What a fun read! Definitely going to have to read the sequel ASAP.

‘Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries’ by Heather Fawcett is novel that blends fantasy and folklore.

Emily Wilde, a scholar, visits a remote village to research faerie lore. There she finds a cold climate as well as a cold reception. When her annoying, and handsome, research partner Bambleby shows up, the villagers greet him warmly. She uncovers village folk who have been affected by fairies and she encounters not only the magical creatures of legend but also danger and intrigue. Using her vast knowledge, and the secrets that her dog Shadow and her partner Bambleby possess may not be enough to keep Emily out of danger.

I liked this story and these characters. The romance is light and doesn’t overshadow the story. The story has some dark turns and character development and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This was an incredibly whimsical, wintry delight. It featured both Emily’s story and faerie folk tales. It felt like a fever dream in some parts. While I don’t think I’ll remember exact details, the vibes will be around for a while.

I really liked the world the author created here, and the way fairies were such a part of life that they were being studied academically. Loved the characters and development although didn’t necessarily need to the romance but it worked. Didn’t really this was going to be a part of a duology ( or more) but I’d read the next one!

I loved this book. The intersection of fantasy and academia, the smart main character, and the clever journal format (with the footnotes!) made this book a joy to read. I look forward to adding many more Emily Wilde books to my shelf in the future.

I found Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett utterly delightful. It was nothing like I expected, and I think Ms. Fawcett's writing style is a breath of fresh air in a genre that has become stale.

Absolutely fantastic. So fun, magical, whimiscal, and heartwarming. I would absolutely stock this book in my classroom and recommend to those students interested in fantasy.

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries invites readers into a cozy, enchanting world where Emily, a dedicated Faerie professor, embarks on a whimsical quest to observe and document the elusive faerie species. Accompanied by her clever canine companion, Shadow, and her charming yet exasperating academic rival, Wendell Bambleby, Emily sets off for the icy village of Hrafnsvik to compile a comprehensive encyclopedia of faeries.

I went into this book knowing the absolute minimum about the premise which made my reading experience so enjoyable. This book can just be described as comforting yet a refreshing take on fantasy. The true magic of the story lies in its characters. Emily Wilde, portrayed as a socially awkward professor consumed by her research, quickly won my affection and empathy. Her journey of personal growth and her unique perspective on the world resonated deeply with me.

However, it was Wendell Bambleby who truly stole my heart. Refreshingly different from the brooding male leads often found in fantasy novels, Wendell's quirky personality and comedic outbursts had me laughing out loud. His dynamic with Emily is both heartwarming and entertaining, showcasing a perfect balance of compatibility and contrast.

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries has earned a cherished spot among my favorite cozy fantasies, perfect for curling up on a rainy day. Whether you're looking for a heartwarming tale or simply in need of a good laugh, this book is sure to delight and enchant.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Heather Fawcett is my newest obsession. Love this world she’s built!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cozy little fantasy novel…

⏰ 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫: Emily Wilde isn’t into people. She’s more into fairy folklore and studying fairy communities for documentation in her upcoming encyclopedia, when she’s not a fussy professor at Cambridge. Her latest journey takes the on-the-brink-of-recognition professor to Hrafnsvik, an icy-cold village where the villagers harbor secrets of the Hidden Ones… and plenty of fairy stories. Along for the ride is Emily’s insufferably handsome colleague, Wendell Bambleby who shows up with a plan to make them both famous. But can Emily trust him? Or will Emily famously fall for Bambleby (and who IS he, really?)

💡𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: This was a cute respite from my usual reads - mysteries, serial killers, murders, et al. Emily is extremely likable even though she isn’t likable (INTROVERTS UNITE!!) which makes the story better. I’m never a fan of perfection. I like my characters flawed and fabulous and that’s Emily.

Fantasy is not my usual genre but I loved the style of writing - academic in Emily’s voice and that made the “romance” part tolerable (for the non- romance folk!) and perhaps (gasp!) enjoyable.

The plot was engaging, well paced, and since it’s not my usual genre I massively enjoyed this journey to a frozen land full of fantasy, fairies, and secrets.

📚𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Fantasy

😍𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨: Cozy fantasy fans. And hey - my murder loving peeps might enjoy a break!

🙅‍♀️ 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨: Those who love the smut (no smut), or those who roll their eyes at fantasy stuff like fairies.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Random House Ballantine/Del Ray Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my always-honest review and for being insanely patient the past year as I worked my way back to better health and allllll these amazing books!