Magical and enchanting, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries combines the allure of faerie lore with the excitement of academia to create a cozy, charming tale that will sweep you off your feet and into the world of the mysterious folk.

For years, scholar Emily Wilde has meticulously studied and recorded the ways of the folk and has dedicated her career to building up an encyclopaedia of discoveries surrounding them. But when a new lead brings her to an uncharted land where stories of mischievous “Hidden Ones” haunt the local inhabitants, Emily must team up with her academic rival to unravel this mystery.

This book was unlike any I’ve read before! It was a mix of an intriguing fantasy read with rich academia undertones, enthralling storybook lore, and a bewitching wintery setting, and right from the beginning, it felt like I was reading from a fairytale.

The sheer number of stories brimming the edges of this book, making up the lore surrounding Fawcett’s brand of faerie, was incredible and distinctly compelling. Her attention to detail—down to each species of faerie, their varying behaviors, and the truth behind the stories eclipsing them, was utterly fascinating, and her passion shines through beautifully in her main character, Emily—who, like us, is completely entranced by the enigma of faeries.

The story itself is told to us by Emily as she describes her journey through scholarly journal entries. At times I loved this format and was so captured by her accounts, while other times, it felt like the build-up of the overarching story lost some of its momentum, resulting in the book having a slower, more relaxed pace.

With its tales of fickle changelings, faerie princes, magical enchantments, and a cute little found family, this book is the PERFECT read for any fantasy lover to snuggle up with on a cold, wintery night.

3.5/5

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 3.75(?)/5 stars.

I was super super super excited to read this because it combines my love of fantasy and the fae and folklore and all that goodness with academia and research and all of that goodness and that combination was BEAUTIFUL.

It’s set in the icy arctic (very much lowkey Norway and Sweden but NOT Norway and Sweden) and the quaint village Emily (and the dashing Wembley) add to the strangeness of the tales of the fae and the problems Emily and Wembley end up in while Em does her research and Wembley…kind of crashes her research Party (because…well, it is a romance plot on the side)

I really liked the plot and the combination of academia and fantasy, but I struggled with the narration because it is told through Emily’s journal entries. It takes a while to get used to it, and there are some things that are journalistic but then take me out of the immersion into the world.

While this is set up as a stand-alone, there are plans to continue this world and the characters.

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries was charming, cozy and heartwarming while also being a little terrifying at times (in a good way!). I think this book was extremely unique- I have never read anything quite like it and I really enjoyed it. I loved the author’s footnotes at the end of some chapters that clarified some things and also made it seem like you were actually reading an Encyclopaedia of faeries! I look forward to reading more from this author!

Emily and Bambleby are the epitome of an introvert adopted by an extrovert. Except the introvert is also a chronic wanderer who manages to get herself into a fair bit of trouble with the local fairies as a result of her endless curiosity.

This book was a mix of cozy/delightful and frightening/morbid. There were found-family vibes mixed with the ever-present terror of the Folk looming over the small village, and a cute friendship with a Brownie that warmed the wintery cockles my heart.

Emily is independent to a fault, which leads her to be cold, hungry, and without people willing to be interviewed by her for the first bit of the story. She's a scientist first, a human second, so she's bad at socializing, but ever curious and questioning. Then come Bambleby - an academic, yes; a source of exasperation to Emily, 100%; but not necessarily an academic rival, especially since he's Emily's only friend. He greases the wheels a bit, causes chaos in Emily's routined exploration, and is both helpful and unhelpful to Emily's studies.

I loved seeing Emily warm to this village, its people, and its Folk. There is a more academic side to the writing, as the story is told solely through journal entries meant to be used for reference in her development of the encyclopaedia. However, we get to see her growth as she interacts with more of the village residents, banters with Bambleby, and gets wildly mixed up with the Folk. I absolutely adored her by the end of the story and am excited to see more of her in the future as this series continues.

As a whole, the Folk were very much in the vein of Holly Black's fey - creepy, a bit evil in their lack of humanity, and generally fearsome and violent. The stories of them were fascinating and I enjoyed exploring their world with Emily (and being taken along for the ride as they wreaked wintery havoc on the poor villagers).

Would recommend this to fans of Uprooted, The Cruel Prince, and The Bear and the Nightingale! There are romantic elements to the story, but I definitely wouldn't classify this as a fantasy romance. All in all, this was simply a delightful and creepy read, and it is now a new favourite on my shelf!

TW: kidnapping, injury detail, self-mutilation (as a defense against magic), torture, murder, blood, manipulation, mentions death of siblings

Rep: sapphic secondary characters

Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Pacing: 4.5/5
Overall: 5/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by Del Rey in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries is a charming little story with a main character who has a single-minded focus on exploring the faeries and their world. When she arrives in Hrafnsvik to study about the Hidden Ones, her ordered life is thrown into chaos. Her clumsy attempt at socializing lands her in town folk's bad graces. Enter her only friend or 'rival', Wendell who is all that she is not. In no time, he charms the townsfolk but he has his own secrets. Though the story starts off with an info dump, I soon grew fond of the characters with their quirks. Emily and Wendell's adventures and the pieces of folklore in between were very interesting. At times, there was too much description about every little thing that I felt my attention wander away. Emily's interactions with the town folk and her relationship with Wendell were very adorable. Wendell was pure sunshine prone to the theatrics that I immediately fell in love with him. I would be looking forward to reading more about Emily Wilde's adventures. If you are looking for a feel-good fantasy with a winter setting and cosy vibes, this is for you.

Emily Wilde has travelled to Hrafnsvik to complete field work in her studies to create the first encyclopedia of all things faerie. She has no intent of making friends on this trip and even less intent to get along more than absolutely necessary with her overly charming co-worker and general annoyance, Wendell Brambleby. But as more the village's and area's relationship with the fae becomes clear, Emily finds herself more and more entangled with humans and faeries alike.

This was a fun way to start the year. The journal style that Fawcett uses for this book presents wonderfully like supplementary material for ethnographic research which was a particular delight to me. In fact, Fawcett continues to use more anthropological theory than I had expected in her characters. As always I am for the characters and everything else is just delightful edition.

Fawcett brings the sunshine/grumpy one dynamic into fieldwork in warm and genuine way. Despite the tension between Emily and Wendell for academic recognition and success and frustration between the two of very different approaches to their work, I believed they were friends. It was this dynamic that drove everything else for me and was the most enjoyable portion of the book by far.

Books like these are what really transport you into a different time and place and life. They completely allow you to be consumed in a story and let it encapture your mind in the absolute best of ways. The vibes of this book are immaculate and should probably be talked about for decades. If you're in love with witty banter, low-key romance, fae, dark academia, savants, and anything close to that this is right up your alley. A complete classical historical fantasy with such a dark and twisted underbelly, you won't want to put it down. The charming and endearing writing blew me away. This is definitely on my reread list once it's released and I can't wait to own a physical copy.

Another stunning NetGalley find!

Summary: It is 1909, and Emily Wilde arrives in the fictional Scandinavian town of Hrafnsvik to conduct a field study of the Folk residing in this winter wonderland. The Hidden Ones, as the tall and human-like fae are often called, have been haunting the townsfolk and stealing away their young. While Emily has a difficult time emotionally connecting to other people, she finds herself caught up in trying to help the town protect themselves against the malevolent nature of the Folk. Just when she thinks the harsh climate and the actions of the Folk are enough to drive her mad, her vexatious colleague from Cambridge, Wendell Bambleby, turns up on her cabin doorstep to offer her a hand in her study. The more time Emily spends with him in this little town, the more her old suspicions about who he really is are rekindled. Will what she finds about Wendell jeopardize her future?

What I Liked: I am obsessed with Faeries. This subgenre of fantasy hooks me every time, but sometimes it can get repetitive. This was not the case with this book, as Fawcett’s take felt fresh and new. The main character, Emily, appears to be neurodivergent, as she faces incredible difficulty relating to her human companions, does not know how to react to emotions of the self or others, and sticks to a pretty rigid internal rulebook. Her companion and potential love interest, Wendell, is hilarious and exhibits unique qualities that slightly differ from other fae-themed books I have read. Even the little creature she calls Poe charmed the socks off me. I really enjoyed the descriptions of Hrafnsvik and the realm of the frosty fae Emily finds herself tumbling into. Fawcett really digs into legends and superstitions, big and small, giving our heroine the credible quality of a learned scholar of Folk.

What I did Not Like: A fault I found in the novel was the time period not being believable. Besides communication happening by way of letter, everything else seemed like it could be the present day. I am not sure why the author chose the early 1900’s, as a more modern timeframe would have been just as magical for the setting. Perhaps as the series unfolds we will see more of that distinct 20th century charm.

I cannot wait for the next book!

4.5 stars!

I loved everything about this. Emily and Wendell are everything to me, truly. This book is essentially the main character Emily Wilde's journal as she travels to the far north to study some of the "Hidden Ones," (aka Folk/Fae). She's a socially awkward Cambridge professor who has dedicated her life to writing a comprehensive encyclopedia on all types of faeries. Her interactions with the local people are as entertaining as her interactions with her main rival and only friend, Wendell Bambleby, who of course arrives in the village to "assist" with her research into the Hidden Ones. As some of the locals disappear and winter sets in, Emily struggles to maintain her scientific objectivity and finds herself swept up in putting her knowledge to use in helping to save the day so to speak.

I loved reading Emily's journal, it really is like reading a science textbook complete with footnotes, and most of all I am obsessed with the rival-to-lovers aspect here with Emily and Wendell. It is comical and fascinating and heartwarming. I am excited for the sequel.

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

I'll admit, I had misgivings when I heard the entire book was written as a journal. That style of writing has never been my favorite, but the blurb for this one enticed me anyway.

And I'm SO GLAD I read it. I loved it. The characters are amazing. Emily is a curmudgeon, but she's a lovable one by the end despite still being a curmudgeon. Wendell is a delight. The townspeople feel real to me as if I could step out my door and see Aud or Lilja.

The storyline and setting are well-done, and the writing is entertaining, yet it still sounds like a staid scientist wrote it (other than the chapters taken over by Wendell).

This is a unique book and such an enjoyable one.

Emily whild thinks everything through she’s very taciturn she loves to write things down plan things out and although her work has her dealing with tricksters she really doesn’t like the unexpected. She’s traveling to an island where she heard a very rare Faye folk live and she wants to be able to see them in their own environment she is one of the leading experts on fairies and Faye folk and would love to add these rare fairy ies to her collection. This book is full of lovable characters I loved her diary entries which I will not lie help me understand most of the book I love when grumble (this isn’t the professors name just my best guess) came and how much it irritated her at first and every time she got into a situation with the fairies all I could think is how is she going to get out of this now and OMG if this isn’t the most original loveable story of magic fairies romance wonderful characters in original plot I just cannot say enough about this book and I haven’t even brought up her gorgeous “dog“ shadow yet. I have never wanted to read a fairy story before and as this is the first in a series I would definitely be down to read the next one. I think I am in love with fairies in magic or at least with Emily wild. I received this book from Net Galley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.gg

This was a fun book. Emily is a professor going out in the field to study faeries that few besides the locals have seen. But when she reaches the small northern town, she gets on the bad side of the locals with her poor people skills. Then her dashing colleague Wendell shows up and of course befriends the entire town. But the two slowly work together and begin to discover secrets of the Hidden Ones. Then they are pulled into the faerie world personally and need to figure out a scheme before it is too late. I really connected with Emily. She just wants to hang out with her books and dog. I get that. And then of course there is Wendell, who is not quite what he seems. I’ll say the story is a little slow at first, and the end goes at a breakneck speed. Still, overall, a fun and enjoyable faerie story with a dash of romance.

This is Book One of the Emily Wilde Series, and I am looking forward to seeing what other adventures Emily and Wendell get up to. The book is written in diary form, and at first it just catalogs her going about the process of getting setled into the little cottage she rented in the village of Hrafnsvik. Then Wendell shows up unannounced and throws everything up in the air. Emily's orderly process is shot. From there on out it is a wild ride, to say the least. There are abductions, rescues, marriage proposals, and so much more. This was a fun story and I look forward to many more.

I immensely enjoyed reading Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries (EWEOF) by Heather Fawcett. This is my first novel by Fawcett. I saw that one of my favorite authors, Laurie Forest, highly recommended this novel on her Instagram, which prompted me to request the arc.

EWEOF is a quirky, cute, and interesting novel about Professor Emily Wilde and her studies of faeries in a small town. Imagine her surprise when her planned alone studies are crashed by fellow academic and handsome Wendell Bambleby.

This was my first novel of the year and it was the perfect start. EWEOF is a fun read. The writing is unique and the characters are funny and witty. I did find myself wishing for a bit more plot but the banter-filled relationship between Emily and Wendell had me page turning. It ends on a wonderful cliff hanger that has me squirming waiting for the next book. 4 stars out 5.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this novel.
#EmilyWildesEncyclopaediaofFaeries #NetGalley

Perfect for capturing winter’s chill, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries is about Emily Wilde who is a professor of Dryadology and has gone to a remote Scandinavian island to study “the hidden ones” one of the most elusive groups of fairies for her encyclopedia. Her studies feel midway between a sociologist and a zoologist with the faeries being depicted as mimicking humans in some ways, but in others feeling completely alien in nature with their behaviors and emotions. Emily is one of those academics who feels more comfortable studying in remote locations with her canine companion, Shadow, than trying to awkwardly interact with other humans. When her only friend, Wendell Bambleby, a fellow researcher and academic rival shows up on the island, she is both annoyed and slightly relieved. As Emily’s suspicions about Wendell grow, she also finds herself falling for the insufferable enigmatic charmer. I enjoyed how the study of fairies is depicted in such a serious and thoughtful way as if it were indeed a real area of scholarship. The island is also captured in such detail, you’ll be wanting to up your thermostat as Emily explores its frozen woods. This novel should appeal to fans of Discovery of Witches and Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. Fawcett is able to build a sense of peril for the main characters, while still having moments of humor. Highly recommended to both Fantasy, Romance, and General Fiction Fans.

This novel was adorable, I read it in one sitting. What surprised me was the epistolary/journal entry format, but although that's not my preferred style, I still really enjoyed this one. Through the MC's eyes we really settle into the setting of this remote subarctic island where she has gone to study their local faeries--though an academic superior soon follows her to aid with the research. (Of course, he has motivations of his own...) I liked the dynamics between the characters, the villagers, and the fae. All in all I think this is an enjoyable and unique fairytale, and I'm excited for the next installment.

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries was an utterly delightful read, and I'm so glad it was my first book of the year!

Emily is a socially awkward professor who doesn't care much about connecting with the people around her and focuses her whole life on studying faeries. When she goes to the remote northern village of Hrafnsvik to investigate the tales of the "Tall Ones" who inhabit the area, her attitude quickly offends the locals. Luckily, her colleague Wendall Bambleby soon shows up to charm them and soften Emily's hard edges. Emily and Wendall soon become entangled with not only the people of Hrafnsvik, but the local faeries as well.

I immediately fell in love with Emily, her dog Shadow, and Wendall. Their interactions and the setting were all so charming that I wanted to be sitting in their cozy cabin sipping a cup of tea while Emily was writing her notes and Wendall was stitching his clothing. While I think Fawcett could have delved a little deeper into their motivations, there was enough there that they felt like fully fleshed out people. The side characters were less so, but I still enjoyed them and the setting and antics were so fun that they didn't really need to be more than they were.

Other than Emily and Wendall, the real highlight for me was the faeries. (I need more Poe in my life!) Just learning about the different kinds, their lore, and seeing their magic in action was all delightful. Fawcett imbued everything with such whimsy that it was a joy to read.

My only real complaint is that some of the action happened too quickly. I would have enjoyed seeing those scenes expanded more, but it did work for the style of story, so it's not a major issue for me.

4.5/5 stars and I'm already eagerly looking forward to the next installment of Emily's adventures!

Read if you like:
-Light academia
-Grumpy/Sunshine
-Wintery, whimsical, cozy setting
-Faerie lore and tales
-Journal-style books

As I began crafting my 2023 TBR, I was pleased to see how many amazing books are coming out this month. It has given me something to look forward to now that the holiday season is over. With many amazing books on the horizon, start the year strong with Heather Fawcett’s new release, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries

The small sea village of Hrafnsvik is not prepared for Emily Wilde. The cold-hearted professor arrives in town determined to conduct research on the local faerie population, and finish her project, the first faerie encyclopaedia. Emily is an intellectual with a one-track mind, and she ravenously searches for details about faeries. Her brusque demeanor does her no favors with the locals, but Emily’s prickly nature becomes more tolerable when her colleague Wendell Bambleby arrives unexpectedly. Together, the professors will unearth the village’s stories and immerse themselves in perilous situations to solve the faerie activity plaguing the town.

The story is told as though we’re reading Emily’s journal, and each chapter is listed as a specific date during her fieldwork. The professor writes down every minute detail of her day and interactions, so it feels no different from any other book. But Emily’s personal touch is ever present, and the book’s framing gives us insight into her mind and incredible faerie knowledge. To add to the intellectual vibe, there are footnotes throughout the book where Emily expands on the extraneous faerie information she mentions in her research. While some were more interesting than others, the footnotes did showcase how vast the field of study is. These additions are not necessary for the plot, but they do expand the world.

Our characters on this journey are over the top and incredibly fun. Emily thrives on the pursuit of knowledge. She is delighted by any toadstool-covered trail leading to mortal demise. She isn’t cruel per se, but she prioritizes scientific discovery above all else, and it doesn’t make her a popular person. Emily often reminded me of the fae with her emotionally detached perspective. The only person who finds her unbecoming nature endearing is her colleague and rival Wendell Bambleby. Wendell’s haughty and effervescent personality is captivating. Wendell is able to charm all those around him even though he is a selfish, spoiled prick at times. Put these two characters together and you get magic. I was enchanted by their playful, cruel banter and it played out nicely amongst the whimsy of faerie.

The most important part of this book is the faerie elements and it absolutely delivers. From references in the scholarly community to the illuminating tales told by the locals in Hrafnsvik to Emily’s run ins with the folk, it’s all as magical and terrifying as you hope it would be. The exciting part about this book is that faeries are real and are studied at length. The lore that is created about them is vast and they possess certain qualities based on their region. Emily tells us a lot about the variations and beliefs held by the scholars. Even though they are real, the fae are still elusive and much about them is not known. This is where Emily’s tale becomes so fun because even armed with incredible faerie knowledge she encounters situations that challenge her.

Snuggle with a warm blanket this January and explore the forests of Hrafnsvik for guaranteed run-ins with the fae in Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries. You can safely interact with the folk from afar and suffer none of the consequences. You will, however, have read a great book to start off the new year.

Rating: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries - 7.0/10
-Brandee

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries is the first novel in the Emily Wilde series. The story is written in journal format that recounts the journey of 30-years-old Cambridge professor Emily Wilde, an expert on Faeries, who travels to the small northern village of Hrafnsvik to further expand her encyclopedia in the early 1900s. In her journey she is later joined by her frenemy and colleague, 29-year-old Wendell Brambleby. Emily and Wendell are opposites, so I enjoyed when Wendell joined as it provided balance to Emily’s character. While Emily is not quite a people person and slightly socially awkward, Wendell is social and outgoing. The two approach their research on faeries differently, which brings a fun rivalry to the story.

Emily’s journey begins with her arriving in the village and trying to settle in with the locals and faeries. She is not exactly feeling welcomed, so the beginning describes her trying to adjust to her new location. The pacing is a little slower as the world is built up and picks up once Wendell arrives. Through the story, the reader follows the POV of Emily (and sometimes Wendell) on their journey to discover information about Faeries. The townspeople and faeries were all interesting and I loved learning about each. There is a mystery that takes place, which was fun and a great way to move the story along.

As the story is told through journal entries, this helped build up the world as it is described though the main entries and footnotes. There is a lot of character development throughout the story, and it was fun learning about Emily’s journey. While there is some expected romance between Emily and Wendell, there is a lot more to be told for their story. They have great chemistry, so I can’t wait to learn more about their developing romance in the sequels. While this story does seem to be wrapped up, there are hints and elements that lead to the next story and adventure. There is still a lot of potential for the sequels, so the ending makes the reader excited to read more.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey Books for the opportunity to read this novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

This charming and beautifully written book was a wonderful way to start 2023! I can't say enough about this whimsical book. It was a bit slow to start, but the second half was packed with action.

Emily a socially awkward Cambridge scholar is conducting research into the fae life in Ljosland, a Scandinavian country. At first, her prickly demeanor has the locals unhappy with her. She is however able to befriend a fae. Her relationships with the townsfolk improve upon the unexpected arrival of her friend and colleague Wendell Bambleby.

Emily is strong and independent and I enjoyed seeing her relationships with Wendell and the townsfolk grow and blossom during their adventures.

The story is told through Emily's journal in which she recounts her daily interactions along with fairy tales that she has learned during her studies. I enjoyed these little snippets into the fae world immensely.

By the end of this book, I was enamored with the characters and this world. I can't wait for a return visit.

Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.