First of all, this physical book is stunning. The artwork on the naked hardback is gorgeous. And the words inside are crafted in such a wonderful and cozy fantasy read. I found that this book brings the atmosphere and the cozy vibes that are perfect for the winter season. The expertise in the world of fae is a great premise for the protagonist. I definitely enjoyed it and will be recommending it to the fantasy readers out there.
And it’s only book one!
#EmilyWildesEncyclopaediaofFaeries #NetGalley #RandomHousePublishingGroup #DelRey

I really enjoyed this book. Perhaps it is from my academic background, perhaps the idea of the fae intrigues me - why not both? It was fascinating to have this from the point of view of a journal, with Emily (for the most part) reflecting on what she is seeing. It is interesting to see events and her opinions on events after they happen and she has had time to marinate in them. Hope to see more books like this!

I absolutely adored this book! I loved learning about this story, the main character was very real feeling and i enjoyed every minute of this adventure!

4.5 stars

Based on the cover and the book’s summary, I hoped and assumed this would be a cute and cozy read. Guess what? It was pretty cute and cozy. The whole thing is written as Emily’s journal as she continues her studies of the faerie folk, so a lot of it is academic observation and theories and tangents, and honestly, I really enjoy that aspect of it all.

But Emily also speaks on her interactions with the townsfolk in Hrafnsvik, and Emily is not exactly the most social of people. It is something she definitely struggles with, and honestly, I relate to that so much. When I find the right people (you know, people who share similar hobbies and passions), then I’m okay around people, but otherwise…I’m a big ole’ geek and I don’t fit in with “normal” folks.

Naturally we get to see Emily in contrast to Bambleby, who is personable and charming, and also happens to be a scholar specializing in faerie research and reports and the like. I mean…it’s pretty obvious that Bambleby likes Emily, and seeing them explore the area around Hrafnsvik, and get more intertwined into the lives of the townsfolk, as well as getting involved in the local faerie situations, only helps to push the duo together more and more…and get them to finally admit to their feelings and such.

I did bump the rating down slightly because it took a little bit for me to really get hooked on the story, because even though I found the information about faeries fascinating, I wanted something to happen. But as soon as Wendell Bambleby arrived in town and more action and interaction really started to happen, I was really drawn in and wanted to keep on reading.

There were so many smaller plots around various faerie folk and/or the townsfolk, and then there was the mystery of Wendell Bambleby, and of course there was the dancing around the possibility of romance.

Overall this was a cute read and I had a nice time reading it. I’m excited about the fact that we have another book coming, because I do want more Emily Wilde and Wendell Bambleby.

“Perhaps it is always restful to be around someone who does not expect anything from you beyond what is in your nature.”

🌟🌟🌟🌟

I was so excited to read this book! I love fantasy AND historical fiction so it was the best of both worlds. It was such a cozy comfortable read.

The beginning is a bit slow as you get to know Emily’s typical routine with her fieldwork but the story quickly pickups when Wendell Bambleby arrives. The banter between the characters was great and helped you develop a better understanding of both Emily and Wendell. The world building was thoughtful and realistic but my favorite part of the whole book was watching Emily evolve throughout her time at the village. Overall, I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to read it again.

❄️grumpy/sunshine
❄️found family
❄️quick banter

This book is light and cozy and lovely. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was interesting and quirky, and the characters were well-developed and likeable.

If there is a theme for this book is “please stick with it”.

When I started the book, I struggled a lot. Not for the obvious factors like the overly descriptive text, sometimes academic voice, and slightly detached main character, but rather because I was struggling to find the point in the story. However, about 10% things clicked and then I found myself rather enjoying this book.

Both lead characters are quirky and their dynamic is fun, the story is low-stakes, and has and overall cozy fairycore vibe. What really sold me on this story was the banter between Emily and Wendell and how they get into all sorts of interesting situations. I also loved the Emily is a scholar and she is unapologetic about it, which kind of gives her a nerdy badass vibe even if she isn’t aware of the fact.

In the end, I found this a quick and diverting read. While I often reach for darker and more elaborate fantasy stories, this was a nice change of pace. I think that anyone that could read though writing similar to Babel, and enjoys elements of fairy stories like The Cruel Prince - will certainly have a fun time diving into this one.

A cozy fantasy written primarily in the perspective of Emily as she has set out to study different varieties of fae. Overall, I enjoyed it, but did feel that it dragged on and was slow in a few parts. Different from what I typically read and was a nice change.

Perhaps it was the recent ending of Dracula Daily, but Emily’s journal here reminded me strongly of Mina’s journal. They had the same feel to them, so if you like the one, you will most likely enjoy the other. Instead of vampires, however, Emily is dealing with faeries. They are slightly less bloody, but just as dangerous.

What was refreshing about this novel was that the curmudgeonly, misanthropic, intellectual character here is Emily herself, and the gregarious people-pleaser is her colleague and rival, Wendell. Insufferably handsome and charming, Wendell comes along to ride Emily’s coat-tails (again) and to muddle up both her research and her personal equilibrium.

The story itself is a bit meandering, but enjoyable. Emily herself has a great emotional arc throughout the story. I don’t know if there are sequels, but there certainly could be. If you have the time to pick this one up, I’d suggest you give it a try.

So fun! Extremely lovely and full of whimsy, this book is a knock-out. I loved each of the characters and how they grew throughout the story. The various relationships felt well thought-out and well-written and I think it'll appeal to both fantasy and romance readers, even if one or the other isn't normally their preferred genre. Highly recommending to my coworkers and our customers.

Such a wonderful, cozy, light fantasy. It truly is a book of pure joy and magic and I enjoyed every moment of reading this book. It is well written and the perfect mix of wanting to keep reading without it being like some other fantasies. High recommend for those looking for a light, cozy fantasy.

Heather Fawcett’s new book is a charming romp through the two disparate worlds of faery and academia. Her choice of writing style was fascinating and she held to it with amazing discipline. The book’s heroine and main voice depicts an academic scholar from a time when Cambridge and Oxford produced the highest and most disciplined examples of professorial scholarly behavior. Somehow, she gets pulled deeper into the world of the fairies, her academic subjects, than is perhaps good for her safety and security. To say that her celestial viewpoint, far above ordinary human concerns gets severely challenged is a severe under-statement. The author knows her subject very well and her depiction of her fairies and their realms is thoroughly credible, if something so incredible can be considered in terms of credibility at all.

Fawcett is masterful in her ability to define characters about whom you can quickly find yourself caring. She also knows how to weave her plots so that you stay interested but cannot guess the endpoints too quickly.

All in all, Emily Wildes Encyclopedia of Faeries was a remarkably good read.

Strongly recommended!

I was so charmed and delighted by this book! I loved Emily and all her prickliness and Wendell filled the Howl-shaped hole in my heart. I did feel that framing the book as Emily's field notes was a little limiting but I loved everything else about it that it didn't detract that much from my enjoyment. I need the next book immediately, please and thank you.

I truly enjoyed Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries. A good cottagecore fantasy, well written and good humored.

*3.5 stars*

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, it was a fun quick read. It would be great for anyone interested in a story heavy in fae lore and academics.

The beginning was a little hard to get into because of the overly flowery drawn out prose. I would definitely have rated this higher if it hadn’t been so over written. The story was enjoyable and the characters were fun, although I felt like the pacing was a little off. There were several plot lines that could have been a little more interwoven to make the book feel a little more cohesive.

I really enjoyed the footnotes as part of the experience, it was a fun way to make the book a little more engaging.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this work. All opinions in this review are my own.

This was a lot of fun and surprised me a little bit — fairies always bring to my mind Tinkerbell-esque fluttering creatures, and while some of the fairies in this book are like that, others are decidedly not. Prickly Emily though is the best part of the book — hearing directly from her through her journal entries is wonderful, and her sly commentary and reluctant care for the townsfolk and the charming Wendell brought a smile to my face. I read this one on NG originally, but the cover was so pretty that I grabbed a library copy to take a picture!

A lovely low fantasy book that really pulled me in.

This book reminds me a lot of Jasper Fforde books in that you can tell the author created an entire world outside the story. Using a journal as framing and loads of footnotes on books, people, and cultural asides, this book feels pulled from parallel universe rather than a written piece.

It is a slow beginning, but the book and plot just builds and builds until the ending is just edge of my seat, what is happening next. The author completely captured the voice of a bookish academia focused woman, and the interwoven descriptions of the location really added an almost travelogue tone to the endeavor.

This is a wonderful book, and I cannot wait for the next one.

What I adore so much in Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Emily Wilde is how effortlessly and completely enchanting the story was for me. Emily Wilde seamlessly blends the gruesome nature of old fairy tales with the romantic delight of the modern era. Not only are Faeries real in this novel about a professor studying the Fae but I love how well the main character, Emily Wilde, captivates and opens up emotionally as a character throughout the story. Bambleby is pure delight, not only in his tricks and subtle manipulations but in how his magic is demonstrated and his attachment to Emily. 

Besides the main characters, the other reason this story enchants is how three dimensional even the secondary characters are written. Every character has a purpose and place in the story and help weave a wonderful story. I love the challenges Emily faces and particularly I love that nothing is perfectly easy but a lot of it follows the traditions of fairy tales and forces the main character to use their wits to succeed. In this case, Emily must also have friends and emotional connections to escape her final challenge. 

All in all, the blend of romance and fairy tales is a win for me. I love the characters and as this is book one, I can’t wait for more of Emily Wilde’s adventures among the Faeries. The story is completely enchanting and lovely.

A solid 4.5 stars

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book!

I have always loved a good fairy tale or legend retelling and this one took things in a whole new direction (in a good way)! Emily Wilde is a smart, no-nonsense woman determined to make her mark in faerie research. Her struggles with understanding social cues and lack of interest in other people due to her focus on her research (a neurodivergent main character?), create difficulties in her quest but also showcase her dedication to her research and, at times, her empathy for others—that she claims not to have.

This was a delightful read that had many of my favorite fairy tale elements with a more adult twist. My only dislike is the love interest (namely their behavior for the first half of the book) who I struggled to like until the last part of the book. Their growth was good, but I instantly disliked him and was definitely shipping Emily with someone else.

Looking forward to the next one!

The night after I finished this wonderful book, while taking a shower,I composed an amazing review in my head. Unfortunately, I am extremely well versed in the shower, not so much when I go to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard as it is.

Don’t let my minimal, lacking review stop you from reading this book. It is so good!

Emily Wilde is collecting information about faeries and folk for a massive encyclopaedia that she is writing. Her last stop in her research is a small village, Hrafnsvik. Where she hopes to find information (and possibly see!) the Hidden Ones, a very elusive set of faeries.

She settles in a rustic cabin, with her dog, Shadow. She is great with faeries and research and all things scholarly, but not so great with people and this isolation suits her. However, she is soon joined by her very handsome colleague Wendell Bambleby.

Yes, this has some romance, but romance definitely takes backstage to the story. It’s there, in just the right amount. Just a little, will they won’t they that adds to the tension of the story.

I really loved how Emily grew and blossomed in this story. Her strength and abilities developing with each chapter, both in her dealings with faeries and in her dealings with people.

This is Emily Wilde Book One and I will definitely be looking out for book 2! I received an ARC of the book.

It was atmospheric and twisty, and I enjoyed it, but I feel like it could have been more. I received an ARC of the book.