Curmudgeonly Emily and amiable Brambleby have set the bar for "grumpy sunshine" romance novels. I cannot wait to read book two.

Fascinating. Once I got past the first couple entries I couldn’t put it down. It was such a slow start I have literally tried to start this over the course of months and got distracted by other books.

But I was stuck in a car with few other options, and I’m glad I was! This book ended up being so much better than I thought.

Emily is delightful. Wendell is delightful. The townspeople are the most charming ever in their own gruff way.

I have no idea how this can end happily for Emily, but I have high hopes Heather will find a way. I can’t even begin to imagine the kinds of fae research Heather must have done to write this. But is was excellent and so well done. I can’t wait for the next book.

Do you hear that Netgalley approvers?? I want it. Please approve my request. I’ll read it faster this time I promise.

Emily Wilde is going to write an encyclopedia about the Folk and all their varieties. In order to fulfill this dream she heads to a remote mountain village to study the final “category” of faeries for her book. When Wendell Bambleby shows up to “help her” with the book so that they both get what they want from a conference, shenanigans ensue plus the Hidden Ones keep abducting youth from the village…..why?!

This was very interesting to read as it’s in diary form, I enjoyed the banter between these two and I’m looking forward to future books!

This is an adorable historical fantasy novel following Professor Emily Wilde on her adventure to the remote town of Hrafnsvik to document their fae for the final chapter of her encyclopedia.

This cozy and hilarious story features an academic-rivals-to-lovers romance, a hilariously annoying colleague named Bambleby who Emily suspects may or may not be a fairy, and a small town that Emily entirely fails to impress upon first arriving.

The portrayal of the fae here actually aligns a lot with that of Holly Black's folk, which I absolutely devoured. I love the focus on the importance of stories, any mention of a deal that an individual makes with a fairy, and Emily's cautious but brilliant manner of outsmarting the fae at every turn. Also, I was mesmerized by all of the descriptions of fairies and their realms, trinkets, and enchantments.

I really admired Emily's boldness throughout the book, along with her impenetrable dedication to academia. Plus, all of her interactions and banter with Bambleby are beyond entertaining.

I'm looking forward to seeing what ridiculous situations our MCs find themselves in during the next book!

Also, this story has the same wholesome vibes as H.G. Parry's The Magician's Daughter!! If you liked that story, you have to read this!!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

3.25

I was really excited about this book and started the eARC from NetGalley but slowly put it to the side. I picked it up again and started over and was enjoying it. It’s a very slice of life book. There’s not much plot but it was cozy and I was reading a little each day. I knew it wasn’t going to be a 5 star read but the setting and the local townspeople and Wendell really made the book for me. Once I got to 70% I just wanted it to be over but I finished it. Can I just say that Emily was annoying? I think this should’ve been a novella and it would’ve been much better. I still enjoyed most of it but unsure if I’d want to read the next one.

I really enjoyed this one!
The subtle world building was just enough for me to imagine the dreary countryside Emily had traveled to.
The appearance of her academic 'friend' gave a bit of comic relief to the story.
One thing that I didn't really care for was Emily's romantic relationship. It was completely sudden in her part. There was no buildup or hint to her feelings. I'm not the biggest fan of romance, but this one seemed to be a bit forced on Emily's end.
Overall, the combination of all the elements, mystery, fantasy, comedy, lead to an enjoyable novel. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a free and unbiased review. I appreciate it!

This book did not go in the direction I was anticipating but it didn’t leave me disappointed. I didn’t realize it was going to be a series until a couple of plot points near the end of the book that I couldn’t figure out why they would happen so close to the end, I am looking forward to the second book! I’ve never read anything like it and I absolutely loved learning about all the different types of faeries. I did want a little more romance between Emily and Wendell though.

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries is a cozy read in which you follow an academic as she goes to a small remote community and tries to navigate the intricacies of human relations while also trying to learn more about the Faeries that inhabit this region.
The coziness of the first half of the book made the final few chapters feel quite rushed, but still enjoyable. There are parts towards the end that sound much more like book 2 material instead of a book 1 conclusion, but overall definitely worth the read for anyone into cozy fantasies and faeries.

This was such a fun book. I was able to connect well with the introverted mc and her lack of social graces. I loved the semi realism mixed with the deep lore of the fae in a academic setting. I loved the light start and the deeper dark side coming out as you got more into the plot and the character development was spot on!

This was a good time.
Veronica Speedwell meets Spinning Silver. Happy to have another cosy fantasy to add to my shelf. Can't wait to start book two.

“Oh, Em. You are the cleverest dolt I have ever met.”

If the first 55% of this book was as good as the last 45% this could have been a 5 star read for me. It really struggled to hold my attention in the beginning and Emily was so obtuse I wanted to DNF. I loved Wendell’s character so pushed myself to keep listening and I’m glad I did. The second half had much more plot and Emily’s character had enough growth that I could finally see her charm.

Adored this fun adventure, featuring a heroine whose internal sense of self and narrative are so strong that I think I'd spend time with her doing anything. I'm just so glad I get to go with her on her academic fae studies.

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries" by Heather Fawcett is a whimsical and enchanting novel that immerses readers in a unique and captivating world. Set in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, the book introduces us to Emily Wilde, a Cambridge professor and expert on faerie lore.

Emily is a complex character, and while I found her immensely relatable at times, there were moments when she veered into caricature territory, which was disappointing. I wish that, instead of leaning on tropes, Fawcett allowed Emily to evolve more naturally and that she was a little more realistic, which is a great way of standing as a contrast to the wild world of whimsy she inhabits.

One of the standout aspects of the book is its unique setting. Fawcett paints a vivid and richly detailed picture of Hrafnsvik and its surrounding icy forest, setting it apart from other fantasy and fairy novels. The world-building is immersive, and the descriptions evoke a sense of wonder. I feel like so many fairy novels are set in places like England or in Europe and general and have "spring-like" settings and qualities. I loved the different path Fawcett took here.

The supporting characters in the story are lovable and add depth to the narrative. Their interactions with Emily and the dynamics between them are engaging and enjoyable to read. They bring warmth and humor to the story, enhancing the overall reading experience.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the first and third acts of the book, I found the middle act and Emily's capture to be a bit overwhelming and confusing. This may be intentional, as the writing reflects Emily's interior feelings, but it left me longing for a clearer progression and a deeper understanding of the plot during those sections.

In conclusion, "Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries" is a charming and imaginative novel with a unique setting and lovable characters. While Emily's character could have been more realistic and less reliant on tropes, the overall reading experience is enjoyable. The book captures the essence of whimsy and showcases Heather Fawcett's talent for crafting fantastical worlds.

What a cozy read. I read this is the heart of spring and couldn’t have loved the setting more. I enjoyed Emily’s adventure to find the last of the fairies and the cozy love story along the way. This book is loved for good reason. I’m lucky enough to have received an advance copy! I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a cozy fantasy to dive into.

Absolutely loved this book. The only downside I had was the start was a little slower than I would have liked. But it definitely picked up and I completely fell into the story. The atmosphere was fantastic I could really feel myself in those cold forests. The characters were absolutely amazing and I loved the whitty banter between Emily and Wendell!!! Very intrigued by the world and the story and very excited to see where it goes in book two.

This was a sleeper surprise love for me. I figured it would be ok, maybe a little too academic and not enough fun, but I was wrong. I've seen some reviews calling it boring, and I do understand that, so if that worries you, I would suggest listening to the audio version to increase the pace. I did not find the reading boring at all, however. If you love fairy tales, deeply flawed and complicated characters, and a level of magical realism that is just so cozy, this is the book for you. Though, if the idea of a narrated story told journal style with footnotes and inserts isn't interesting for you, this is likely going to be a disappointment. I think Fawcett has done something truly impressive with this tale of a cold-hearted Brainiac and her charming but unhelpful co-worker as they work to uncover the mysteries of the faerie realms.

**Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the eARC**

A lovely fantasy story about a researcher of an unknown group of Fae in the far north. Along with a fellow professor, they become deeply embedded in the village. A loved the characters and the story. Unique and lyrical..

I LOVED this book! The cover is gorgeous, the concept is cool, the voice is intriguing. It felt so short while reading it because I breezed through it. Can't wait for the sequel.

I took a bit of a gamble on Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries based on the book title and description alone, having no knowledge of author Heather Fawcett's prior YA and middle grade books. It seemed like it would check all my boxes for a comfort read, but we all know that marketing can deceive and books can under-deliver. So I am delighted to report that this book provided just the right mix of entertaining characters, humor, peril, folklore, and warmth (even in the coldest of climes and fae lands) to thoroughly charm me.

This is an alternate history set in what I would guess to be the early 20th century, in a world where faeries of both the common and courtly types are known to exist and are indeed the subject of an entire branch of academic study. Emily Wilde is a brilliant but under-appreciated Cambridge scholar working on her magnum opus: an encyclopaedia of all known fae species. The novel is told through entries in her journal as she chronicles a final field research expedition to a remote town in a fictional Scandinavian nation to document the existence of their heretofore-unstudied fae. Emily may be brilliant at understanding fae logic, but she is absolutely terrible with human people, and immediately antagonizes most of the townsfolk, whose help she desperately needs, both in collecting local lore and in surviving the harsh winter. Emily's narrative voice in her journal entries is just excellent. Comparisons come to mind to Murderbot, Lady Trent, and a no-nonsense T. Kingfisher protagonist all rolled into one. I adore her.

You know who else adores her? Fellow scholar and charming people-pleaser Wendell Brambleby. Wendell is Emily's best friend by virtue of being her only friend, and when he shows up uninvited, she is certain that he must be there to steal credit for her academic research. Wendell is also a very distinctive character, but because Emily is narrating most of the book, we see him mostly through her opinions of him, which are sometimes sharply perceptive, but often way off the mark where his intentions towards her are concerned. She also harbors suspicions that he isn't human, though she has long kept these to herself. Their interactions are hilarious and kept me laughing throughout the book, even when Emily finds herself in increasing magical peril and the stakes are raised.

I was unsure going in how much (if at all) this book would hinge on romance. Having read it, I would say that it depends on what you expect from a central romance plot. Emily and Wendell's relationship is a major focus of the story, and it does turn romantic by the end, but the romance doesn't progress very far in this book (this is meant to be the first in a series). I'd say go into this expecting the grumpy/sunshine dynamic to be front and center (Emily is grumpy, Wendell is sunshine), but don't expect anything to get hot and steamy until the sequels, if at all.

Alongside Emily's relationship with Wendell, we get to see her slowly develop a genuine connection with the townspeople she is able to help through her expertise (though she would tell you her primary motive was scientific discovery). The alternate history here is not a major focus, though it seems to allow not only for invented countries but also for greater gender equity in academia and also a couple of openly queer supporting characters who don't seem to face any prejudice. For me, authors taking this sort of casual liberty with history works really well in a fantasy book that's supposed to be a comfort read, and I don't really require further explanations, but I do wonder if subsequent books will explore this world's alternate history a bit further.

I finished this book eager not only for further installments of Emily's story, but also to explore some of Fawcett's backlist, especially her middle grade novels. The strong narrative voice of this book and its central whimsy were what convinced me that Fawcett could become a new favorite author for me, and I can imagine these strengths lending themselves especially well to middle grade.