It's not an exaggeration to say I loved everything about this book. I really did. I knew from the first pages it would be a five-star read for me, and it was for every page. This book has everything I love in a compelling story:
✨Engrossing, empathetic characters
✨Interesting world building
✨Strong voice
✨Amazing, otherworldly faeries

The plot was intriguing and fun. I love Emily and Wendle's character growth. I am so very excited we will get more of Emily Wilde. I cannot thank Random House/Del Ray enough for gifting me an e-arc of this gorgeous book.

What an absolute enchanting read! I was offered an ARC by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review and I absolutely enjoyed this. A great start to a new series. It was whimsy, cosy, with a hint of mystery. The only thing I’d critique was the pacing. It’s slow, but this is also book one of a series; I find it hard to fault anyone for wanting to make sure there’s a solid narrative and foundation.

If you’d like a read with an incredible protagonist, determined to leave her mark on the world and that world has fae, check this one out.

This just wasn't for me. I was interested in the story but Ilut was slow and boring and hard to get into. And the dialougue was weird and monotone.

This is Heather Fawcett’s first adult novel featuring an enchanting story of the adventures of a solitary dryadology academic, Emily Wilde, her friend and colleague Wendell Bambleby, and her enigmatic dog Shadow. Emily sets out to do observational research in the icy Norwegian village of Ljosland. She plans to uncover The Hidden Ones, as any knowledge of them will complete her encyclopedia.

I absolutely loved it! I am a big Holly Black fan, so this was right up my alley. In fact, I learned about a few types of faerie mentioned in Black’s books so that was a plus. I’ve always been fascinated with the world of faeries; this is probably due to watching FairyTale: A True Story as a child. The combination of fantasy, academia, historical fiction, plenty of fairy tales, and a bit of romance was a dream come true. This was an adventure I couldn’t put down and I got goosebumps while reading. Full of gorgeous descriptions of the wilderness, a secluded snowy forest, and a cosy charming cabin, I took great pleasure in reading this by a roaring fire.
The characters were masterfully crafted and full of life. I especially loved the older women characters, Aud and Thora, who are tough as nails and take no shit. Emily is also very tough (Wendell endearingly refers to her as a dragon.)

I’ll definitely be waiting for the sequel.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and NetGalley for this eARC.

This book slaps! It’s the most fun I’ve had reading this year (admittedly, it’s January). I think the pacing would have been improved if Fawcett were forced to trim 10% of the book, because there is definitely some purple prose. It didn’t really bother me, because I was having a lot of fun with the vibe! I’d say it is pretty close to “A Natural History of Dragons” thematically, and makes up for being a little clunkier by being about faeries, which I personally enjoy more than dragons!

This book was so much fun. I loved every second of it. Emily Wilde is such a refreshing character. Book smart but seriously lacking in any sort of people skills I found myself feeling a kinship with her. Her development through the book is perfect. Wendell is another treasure of a character, his sharp wit and the way he gets under Emily’s skin is down right hilarious at times. The witty banter these two share is well written and I found myself laughing out loud throughout the entire book. I loved the Fae lore that is written through out the book. Whimsical stories full of hidden meanings and impossible situations. Poe was easily one of my favorites. This story has a little something for everyone. And I think that everyone needs the magic of this story in their lives.

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries was a fun read that was rich in world building and interesting characters. I really enjoyed Wendell’s character and the dynamic he and Emily had. There were a couple of things that I just didn’t enjoy based on my own preferences for books. I don’t particularly enjoy books where the narrator is retelling what happened. In this case the story is told through Emily’s field journal so she recounts everything that has happened to her to the journal. I also found the first part of the book to really drag. I understand the story required a lot of world building, especially because the setting was the real world with just the addition that faeries were real, but it slowed the pace of the story. Overall the book was entertaining and I am looking forward to the sequel. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the eARC of the ebook.

*Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an eARC via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review
I was really looking forward to this novel and I wasn't let down, per se, but I didn't *love* it. It follows Emily as she meets and learns more about Faeries in order to write her encyclopedia. The beginning of this book was a bit slow until about the 20% mark when Wendell shows up (he's the love interest and balances Emily out quite nicely). There's not too much action until about 60% of the way through the book, which is why I didn't love it. The book is written in journal format, and I really loved how it worked in this particular story. I also thought there was some great dialogue and interactions between Wendell and Emily, though this is not a romance. If you like slower-paced, whimsical fantasy stories, this is definitely for you! Just don't expect too much action.

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett follows a young dryadologist as she heads to a fantastical Nordic village to study all manner of Folk and fae. Emily is smart and independent but not particularly friendly or socially competent and her relationships with the endearing villagers and her rival academic, Bambleby, are the heart of the story. But make no mistake, there are multiple sources of magic afoot, some menacing, and not always in the ways or places you might expect.

I could not put down this lovely combination of fantasy and historical fiction with lovable characters and perfect wintery vibes. Fans of The Bear and the Nightingale and Neil Gaiman’s Stardust will find similar satisfaction here. It’s cozy fantasy-esque, my new favorite micro-genre, but with real peril and stakes.

This is my first five star book of the year and I will be anxiously awaiting the sequel.

This title just released on January 10th, 2023 and is a perfect winter weather read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey Books for the ARC.

I enjoyed this very unique read. Overall, I found this very charming and interesting read. I liked the quirky characters, and the world building is excellent. I found this book very easy to engage with and thought the storyline was extremely entertaining. I will definitely be excited to see what happens in future entries of this series.

Where to begin? This book was so amazingly good. It filled my soul and I will definitely be rereading soon.

Emily Wilde, a Cambridge professor, sets off to a remote location to collect some field data to finish off her encyclopaedia of faeries. When she first arrives, the villagers are cold. This is distressing because Emily's research relies on the stories of the Folk from the villagers. She makes some progress, but the villagers finally start to warm up to her when her colleague, Wendell Bambleby unexpectedly shows up to help. They start interviewing villagers and exploring the land around the town using the info theyve collected. However, it soon becomes evident that something is wrong here. More young people from this town have abducted by the Folk in recent years than there have been for many generations. Bambleby is reluctant to get involved but Emily is determined to find out what is going on...

The stakes are not necessarily as high as a typical fantasy. But not so low as to be lacking any excitement or action. I think I'd call this a cozy fantasy. And really well done because there were still moments were I was on the edge of my seat, and I was very invested in the characters and their safety.

I really enjoyed all of the characters in this book. Especially the way the relationship between the villagers and Emily thawed and then grew. It was beautiful.

**Spoilers below**
Bambleby's pining for Emily was top notch, their banter perfection. And his declaration of love to her was romantic but also very funny. I really loved watching Emily go from thinking of him as a lazy colleague who was just always around to begrudging friend to good friend to more.

This was my first book of 2023 and it did not disappoint. What a fun, magical, whimsical read! Fawcett did an excellent job creating a delightful fantasy atmosphere, interesting characters, and an (at times) laugh-out loud but mysterious and intriguing story. Loved it and will be recommending!

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey Books for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for the arc!

Plot: 4/5 Really fun premise, and reminded me of a bit of a faerie version of The Natural History of Dragons. Once the plot picked up I was really enjoying the story.

Characters: 5/5 I absolutely adored Emily and I do resonate with her character, as I also feel she is heavily autistic coded. I also enjoy the very blunt quality that she was given. Being written like a journal, I felt that the delivery of her character felt very genuine.

Wendell is whiney, dramatic, and over-the-top. I love him. I understand where his character would rub people wrong, but I think his character was incredibly fun. He reminds me very much so of Howl Pendragon and Cardan Greenbriar, and something I have learned about myself is I love pathetic, whiney *book* men.

Pacing: 3/5 With the way this book is written, and sometimes feeling a bit overwritten, the pacing was too slow for me in the beginning. It wouldn't have been a problem, as when originally reading this I thought this would be a more low-stakes cozy type of fantasy. Once we reached the second half, you could really see the plot developing, and once I realized that it put me a bit off for how long we took to get there.

Worldbuilding: 4/5 I felt like this landed right in the middle of *not too much, not too little* descriptions that I find myself drawn to. I felt very connected to the world she was building, and could fully imagine it in my head, without feeling too bogged down with descriptions.

I would also like to make a side note that Poe was the best thing in this whole book, I truly fell in love with him.

Overall, such a fun read. I am excited to read the next one!

I can't get over how much I adore this book!

I devoured Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett in one sitting. Literally couldn't put it down!

Emily is such a refreshing main character - smart, excellent at her job, awkward with people, and her passion and persistence shine through. I love the growth as she forms various connections with others.

Then there is Wendell. Handsome, charming, vain, and wonderful. Didn't know I could love a male love interest named Wendell but I am obsessed with him.

I'm already dying for the next book. Wish I could give this more than 5 stars!

I liked that this story was different than any fae book I've read. The interaction between Emily Wilde and Wendell Bambleby was cute. The world building was engaging and left me wanting to read more. Heather Fawcett knows how to bring her characters to life.

On the surface, it doesn’t sound like it would be a wonderful adventure. Anti-social professor of dryadology (the study of faeries) travels to the far north to complete her academic work on their Folk. It was so much more! I truly hope this becomes a series. Emily Wilde was delightful (I’m sure she did t mean to be), and the relationships she forges were endearing. It was a wonderful adventure and I was sorry when I finished this book. (2 days!) What a fantastic novel. I do hope we’ll be meeting Emily Wilde again.

*Special thanks to NetGalley & Del Rey Books for this awesome e-arc.*

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing!

For a short period of time, I was able to enter an entirely different world. I was able to leave my reality behind and was able to enter a world where Faeries are real and secret kingdoms exist.

I absolutely loved the concept of this book, and some parts were written so well. The only issue I had is that some parts did seem to drag on a bit. But overall, I really enjoyed the escapism this book provided.

Loved the unique format and really loved the commentary on being a social being. It provided a depth to her character and quickly made me invested in her story. I wish the ending were more neat and cozy but that’s my only criticism!

I absolutely loved this book! It’s cute and funny and so different! Filled with some action, science, found family, and love. I highly recommend it and cannot wait for more of Emily, Wendell, and Shadow adventures. Also would love more Poe!

Highly recommend you won’t regret it.

Thank you to Heather Fawcett, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for the ARC.

This story had me enchanted from the very first chapter.
I wasn't sure if I was going to like the journal entry style chapters as much, but the author did a phenomenal job with each chapter and keeping the story flow.
This story is small village, and some side romance. It's dark fae, and magic. It's dry wit and edge-of-your-seat!

I highly recommend this fantastic, adventurous story!



What to expect: There is some dark fantasy in this story!