This was such a cool book and I absolutely adored the writing! I can’t recommend this book enough and will definitely be reading more from this author!

Overall 4
Spice 0

• Alternative History with Fairies
• Great Use of Diary/Field Notes Format
• OMG the Footnotes!
• Light Academia
• Cozy & Rambling.
• Academic Rivals
• Slow Burn
• Romance Lite
• Quiet &
• Low Stakes Adventure
• Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell vibe
• Introverted FMC
• Book 1 of a New Series
• Satisfying Ending IE NOT a Cliffhanger

BIG thanks to Netgalley and to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, for an ARC of Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries (Book One of the Emily Wilde Series)
by Heather Fawcett. If you could read Evie’s notes/diary (from the mummy AKA my favorite movie) but make it Fae complete with a quick talking male read, You have this book. As an academic, I love the author’s use of footnotes (the last time I loved footnotes it was Kevin Kwan’s crazy rich Asians series, and this is VERY similarly used) Overall this is a very cozy low stakes adventure with an academic stroke and a touch of romance. I will be reading book 2.

For fans of the far folk or for those wanting to settle in to a quiet, cozy story!

This book is a quiet, contemplative fantasy set in the cold prickly north that pits a young researchers ambitions against the aloof townspeople, the complicated fae and her own personal interests.

Slow to start, the book packs steam about 1/3 the way in.

A fun read! Perfect for cozy winter reading!

Simply delightful! Emily is the famous expert on fairies and is writing an encyclopedia of fairy folklore. There is humour, romance and I felt it was a great escape from this current problematic world.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey via NetGalley.

This book is delightful. It takes the form of the detailed field notes/journal of Cambridge scholar Emily Wilde, who in 1909 undertakes a research trip to the fictional Scandinavian region of Ljosland to study a previously undocumented and elusive group of fae, in the hopes of including them as the crowning entry in her very hefty and groundbreaking encyclopaedia. Emily is a brilliant scholar but not much of a people person, and finds herself stymied in getting information out of the locals until her colleague/frenemy, the effusive Wendell Bambleby, shows up to (extremely presumptuously) involve himself in her field research.

Though the plot’s momentum is slow to build, I appreciated the time taken to lay the groundwork for Emily’s character, scholarship, and the sense of place (icy and isolated!). The footnotes did a great job of hinting at a wider world of “dryadology” scholarship outside of Emily’s research in Ljosland, and had a Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell vibe to them. The oddness of faerie behavior also resonated with JS&MN in some ways, but as Emily demonstrates through her expertise, the faeries in this world are slightly more scrutable to someone well-versed in their ways. In that vein (and in its icy setting), this book also reminded me of Naomi Novik’s Spinning Silver: there are rules to faerie tale logic that can be manipulated to one’s advantage, and Emily doesn’t hesitate to do just that.

I got so hyped on this book that about 3/4 of the way through my friend told me that I was “scaring her” with my manic grin. I don’t know, it was just really hitting the spot! I’m really looking forward to more adult fantasy from Heather Fawcett!

This was just okay. I wanted more romance out of it, and because that was my expectation going in, it didn't sit as well as I hoped it would.

3/5 ⭐

This was charming. I didn't love the writing style, but it was enjoyable. I just wish it had been less epistolary, I just don't really care for epistolary novels, but thats just a personal preference thing.

Book: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries
Author: Heather Fawcett
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Del Rey Books, for sending me an ARC.

In this historical fiction fantasy, we follow Emily, who is one of the world’s leading experts in fairies. She is going to a small remote Scandinavian country with the hopes of getting to know more about their local Fae population, called the Hidden Ones. She has no intention of interacting with the local population, making new friends, or letting her rival, Wendell Bambelby get the best of her. She is there to gain new knowledge and work on her book. However, once she arrives, she is forced to come to terms with the fact that she must go against her initial intentions. She is wrapped in the world that she thought she wanted with the Hidden Ones, only to find out that it is not what it seems. She has to come to terms with the fact that she is going to have to rely on others and listen to her heart. Her emotions are taking her to places that she never thought of.

First off, let me start by talking about writing. The writing makes you feel as if you are in this world with the characters. You are in the bleak and cold plot. However, hidden in this winter world, there is magic. Lingering along the edges are the fairies, whose world seems to blend in but remains separated. It is just right on the edge of the human world. Now, humans do know about the existence of the fairies and live with them. The fairies are always there, watching. Their lives are mixed. The idea of knowing that they are there and not knowing what they are going to do was very interesting to me. On the one hand, we have Emily, who is your typical academic. On the other, we have the locals who have to live with these beings. Even though we are getting the story mainly through Emily, we do get a sense of both sides.

The plot is a little bit on the slower side. The author takes her time in building up what is to come. Like Emily, we are discovering everything that the world has to offer. We get to see how at first everything is harsh and cold. With time, these layers start to break down. The beauty and horror of the landscape blend. As Emily becomes more open to the idea of interaction, we start to see the world through the eyes of the locals. The divide between outsiders and locals begins to blur, which makes for an immersive world. This slow development fits the book so well. If this had been rushed, all of the feelings would not have been there. It would not have made me feel like I was a part of the story.

Like the plot, the character development is slow. The author takes the time to allow the characters to almost feel their surroundings. Again, this makes you feel like you are in the story. It makes everything feel all that much more real. At first, Emily comes across as your typical academic in the quest for knowledge. She doesn’t think or care about anything else. She is all about the pursuit of knowledge. She also prefers to work alone. Bembelby shows up and this changes. She did not want him to come, but he does. Throughout the book, we know that they don’t get along. As in many other books, this changes. The more that they are together, the more they come to rely on each other. It’s a slow burn of a bond, which I like. Had the author decided to rush it more than this, it would not have worked. He changes her. I don’t know that without him she would have branched out having a sole focus on academics. She comes to care for those around her and doesn’t see them as simply being something to study. She starts to form bonds with others. She starts to see his charm and wit. In a sense, she comes to value his input, even if, at times, she comes across as not.

Overall, I had a great time with the story. I didn’t realize that it was part of a series though. I cannot wait to see where the next book takes us.


This book comes out on January 10, 2023.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/gB74yypiQ1A

This book was just what I needed and I thoroughly enjoyed it. From the very start I was drawn into the story and the characters. I really ended up liking Emily and Wendell and am hoping there are plans for another book about them. Heather Fawcett's writing is wonderfully descriptive and I thought the pacing in the book was great. Some reviews complain about the beginning being slow, but that was not my experience at all. This book grabbed my attention right away and didn't let go. I'm looking forward to reading future books by Heather Fawcett.

I received an eARC from NetGalley and couldn’t be any happier that I did because this is a new favorite! “Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries” follows Cambridge professor, Emily Wilde’s, journey to a small town to study faerie folklore. I was so excited to read this based off of that description alone, but was so delighted to find that there was MUCH more to the story than that. I loved every second of this and absolutely loved Wendell. I have a feeling this is going to be the next popular book and I’m so thankful I got the chance to read it early.

Loved it! This is probably in my top 5 favorite books for the year. Emily Wilde has been studying Faeries for years for her encyclopedia. Though she's brilliant, she feels very uncomfortable around people, having to manage small talk, etc. This is the story of her latest trip to do research/field work, the people she meets, the faeries she encounters, and how it all changes her. interesting and fun characters, faeries, good guys and bad guys, danger, drama, humor - this is one of the few books I've read this year that I really couldn't wait to get back to each evening. Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House/Ballantine/Del Rey for the e-arc. 4.5 stars, rolled up to 5 for being such a unique and pleasurable read.

Thank you to NetGalley, who gave me the book in return for an honest review.

When I first heard about this book, I was excited alone by the premise of faeries. I had read a handful of books that mentioned the fae, but I was not expecting the amount of fae magic and stories that were explored in this book. If you want to learn more about fae and the various worlds, magic, and lives they live as they interact with humans, this book definitely will provide that and more. Emily Wilde made for a most fun protagonist. Reading her diary logs and her findings made this novel much more immersive and I couldn't stop putting it down. The inclusion of local or regional fae tales from the peoples she met were also a welcome treat. I was not familiar with 'Northern' fae in general, and reading this book made me actually do some research of my own so I could better understand the people and tales surrounding the cold North. I am always happy to learn about faery tales and explanations for how or why they do the things they do that can vary depending on the region. Emily reminded me a lot of myself in how I ignore the world around me once I get invested in something. Her passion and love for the fae and the mysteries surrounding them were so endearing; I felt like we would've been kindred spirits had I the chance to meet her in person. Granted, her introverted personality might be a bit of a hurdle, but I feel eventually that would be overcome once I shared my own thoughts on the fae.

I will admit that Wendell Bambleby took some time for me to like - just as Emily mentioned time and again how bothersome he was. It was amusing to see their interactions at times. I could tell right away that he saw the pair of them as good friends, even though he exasperated poor Emily and the other characters at times. Although he acted spoiled for much of the book (and for good reason, all things considered once we learn of his background), he came out to be an exceptionally brave character who had more heart than I expected for someone of his stature. I warmed up to him toward the end.

All in all, this is a lovely book. If you like fae at all and seeing how one could approach and even outwit them in some occasions during the adventure, this book is for it. The book's ending tells me that the author might not be finished with this world and its characters yet. I look forward to the next chapter in Emily Wilde's life and the fae she encounters as she strives to share her findings with the reader and the people in her world.

I was really intrigued by the premise here and the cover is absolutely gorgeous but oh my goodness was it slow going.. . I've read a number of reviews that say it doesn't pick up until 25% or more in - unfortunately I do not have the patience or the time to spend that much effort waiting for a story to develop to find out if I'm interested in reading it. .. This one wasn't a good fit for me as a result.

I enjoyed the academic jouornal format of this story; really made it unique! I also loved the the faery stories with the story, too. Very entertaining. Especially liked that the tale took place somewhere other than Britain; it made the it just that much more intriguing of a read! Nice twist on the run of the mill faery stories!

This was such a unique and well written story. I loved every second of it. It takes place in the early 1900s. Emily is a very scientific professor who would rather be working on her field notes and studying fairies than having to deal with people. The story revolves around her journey from England to a remote part of the North. Although she struggles to fit in with the locals, she soon finds her solitude interrupted by the arrival of her academic rival, Wendell. When Emily finds her self in trouble from an encounter with the Hidden ones, she must rely on the help of the local villagers. This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys fantasy/folklore. I would love to read more about Emily and Wendell! I received a complimentary ebook from Netgalley.com

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries has an intriguing and interesting start that hooks the reader from the very first pages. A young 30-year old scholar, Emily Wilde, with her aging dog travel to a remote Scandinavian town near the Arctic, reachable only by boat, where a species of fae not yet studied resides as she strives to continue her work on the first known encyclopaedia of the fae. The town is cold and mysterious with many secrets and our writer is in some ways as cold in her execution of her research as the very subject of her writing.

Written from the perspective of the protagonist's research journal, we are quickly lost in this world that is like ours but different and a cast of characters that it's impossible not to fall in love with. There is Brambleby, her fellow Cambridge professor, who is charming and handsome and fancies himself her only friend and his gaggle of "research assistants" who follow him around. The townsfolk each have their own mystery and story that slowly unfolds. I personally connected with Emily's studious nature and her struggles to sometimes disconnect from her work to connect with other people. I suspect readers on the spectrum may too as Emily is sometimes a bit odd in her elocution. And then there is the fae which are familiar and yet unique to this world that Heather Fawcett has built.

Overall, this book quickly became one of my favorites and if it doesn't launch Heather Fawcett's name into the households of fantasy readers everywhere I will be shocked. If you are a fantasy reader or fan of fae books and magical academia and are given an opportunity to read this book, don’t pass it up. This was a delight from beginning to end and I will be highly recommending it to every one of my friends and colleagues upon its release in January.

Thank you again to Net Galley, Ms. Fawcett, and Ballantine for the advanced readers copy in exchange for this honest review.

I will be posting this updated review to Goodreads on the 10th of January 2023 as well as to Amazon and the blog I am launching this summer Thoughts from a Millennial Fantasy Reader: https://themillennialfantasyreader.wordpress.com/.

What a delight! Fawcett's story is a series of fairy tales, nested within each other like Russian dolls. The determination, competence and insatiable curiosity of Emily Wilde form the endearing fulcrum around which they are all centered.

For lovers of stories, of fables and of faerie... this book is a gift.

I was so excited about the premise of this book, yet something was off. It was super slow for about the first 25% 30% and didn’t pick up til after that. I was tempted to just dnf it a few times but really wanted to give it a shot. What should have taken a few hours to finish, took me days of picking it up, getting distracted by another book and then trying this one again. The cover is so pretty though.

You had me at Faeries. My love for everything supernatural is grand. I loved this story. The author did an amazing job getting me hooked in the first chapter. I can't wait to get this for our fantasy loving patrons.

I was given an Arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Over all I really liked this book but it took me quite a while to actually get into it because it started out slow and I had a very hard time actually relating with the MC.

This was a very unique story about the fae and Emily (a professor from Cambridge) who sets out to study them with her colleague Wendell!

I would recommend this book and will buy a physical copy for my shelf!