This one picks up about a year after the events of book 1. Emily has published her encyclopedia and gained tenure at Cambridge.

We see more of the relationship between Emily and Wendell, as well as some new faces! Of course, there's going to be shenanigans during any expedition that involves the Folk and fairies alike. The romance between the two does warm up a bit, but this book is a fade to black, still keeping with its YA theme.

All in all, this book held up to the first one!

I enjoyed this book almost as much as the first one, though this book was much more fast paced and less academically inclined. While I still loved the characters and the concept, I missed the more academic and leisurely pace of the first book, not enough to take away from any of my enjoyment of the book, but definitely a little more than I anticipated this book being. Highly enjoyable and a delightful, if slightly different sequel. I am excited to see where this series goes next 4.5/5

Last year, I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries. When I saw this second book available on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to request it! I liked Map of the Otherlands for the same reasons as the first - It was a great blend of academic fantasy and unique adventure with a whimsical writing style that kept me turning the pages!

This book picks up a little after where the first left off - Emily and Wendell are back at Cambridge, but still working on finding the faerie door they were searching for in the first book. I don’t want to give away any of the plot details for those that haven’t started the series, so I’ll just say that this leads them on another research journey to a remote mountain town in the Alps and exposes them to all sorts of new Folk and adventures.

I think the writing style is my favorite part of this book! It’s such a unique combination of scientific observation, footnotes, and whimsical subject matter. The humor is dry and kind of unexpected. I laughed at Emily and Wendell’s antics and banter the whole way through! I love them as characters, especially Wendell. I can totally relate to him in a roundabout way! I also need my breakfast, coffee, and a clean house before starting my day. I think the scientific writing style does make some of the bigger moments in the book and the action scenes feel a little anticlimactic to me. The whole story builds up to a few important moments and they happen so quickly and matter-of-factly that I almost missed them!

If you enjoy whimsical fantasy and stories set in academia, I think you’d enjoy this series, too! I would absolutely read more from this series, if there are other books in the works.

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands is the second book in this delightful historical cozy fantasy by Heather Fawcett. Released 16th Jan 2024 by Penguin Random House on their Ballantine imprint, it's 352 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a historical academic fantasy with light romance elements set in Edwardian England and is so beautifully written that the descriptive prose is occasionally breathtaking. The titular protagonist, Dr. Emily Wilde, is a prickly strong-willed academic who is performing field studies to categorize and understand the fae. This often lands her and her colleagues in dangerous situations, though she usually manages to extricate herself using her prodigious knowledge and sheer will (and cleverness). She finds it easier to confine herself to codifying the unspoken rules which govern the fair folk than to understand the same with her fellow humans.

There is (naturally) an element of slow-burn romance in the form of an undisguised frenemy (now firmly in the romantic lead role), the exasperating (but devilishly handsome) Dr. Wendell Brambleby, well-born (he's royalty in exile), charming, and infuriatingly indolent. It's marketed as a YA selection, so there are some smouldering kisses, but nothing outré or explicit.

For fans of Katherine Arden, Natasha Pulley, Cat Rambo, and Catherynne Valente, this book will recall the wonderful feelings from those authors' books. It's not derivative in any way, but it *is* magical. I also enjoyed that despite being set in the early Edwardian period, the author doesn't have any problems dispensing with the more annoyingly rigid social mores of the time. Dr. Wilde is refreshingly forward thinking and the book more or less simply ignores the inconvenient proscriptions against women being unchaperoned and engaging in academic careers on a somewhat level playing field with their male colleagues.

The unabridged audiobook format has a run time of 12 hours 4 minutes and is expertly narrated by Ell Potter, and Michael Dodds. They both have eminently listenable voices and make a nice contrast to one another; Ms. Potter's cut glass RP accent contrasting nicely with Mr. Dodds' lower tenor Irish lilt. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.

Five stars. Gorgeous. It's a continuing series, and would make a great short binge/buddy read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

4.5 stars

This follow-up to The Encyclopaedia of Faeries had everything I'd loved in it and then some more. A tad less cosy and definitely darker than its predecessor, but not to its detriment. Emily's diary entries still work as a narrative device, and she is as delightfully curmudgeonly as ever, though with newer shades to her interactions with people that I found endearing, especially having seen her grow so much during her time in Hrafnsvik in book 1. The addition of new characters who never felt superfluous or without their own personalities. A beloved character from the first book makes some special appearances to my delight. There is one more book to come, and this one wraps up this book's plot threads, while setting up everything for the grand finale.

Longer review at https://anushreenande.substack.com/anu-recommends-43

Another 4.5 read this year. January has been so good.

As I only read the first Emily Wilde book at the beginning of last month, I remembered everything well and was very excited to get to this sequel. While I wish I could have gotten my hands the audiobook, the waitlist was just too long and I didn’t wanna hold out any longer. And I’m so happy I read it already.

The author continues to maintain the same charming and cozy vibes from the first book, this time transporting us to a setting in the Austrian alps. The journey to a new place in search of more fae (or in this case faerie doors) is quite similar to the first book but this time Emily and Wendell have company in Farris Rose, Emily’s superior at the dryadology department and Ariadne, Emily’s niece and also assistant. We are introduced to more new characters in a new idyllic but also gloomy village in the alps and to my delight, we also meet an old friend. While the purpose of this trip might be slightly more personal than scholarly, the author keeps the proceedings very familiar - so despite the stakes being dangerous, we know things will be ultimately alright. We meet even more new and deadly fae - fae assassins and guardians - and while there are some truly terrifying moments, things get resolved fairly quickly.

It was nice to see Emily try to be more communicative with Wendell, though she still hasn’t given him an answer to his marriage proposal. She is very much determined to find the door to his realm, both for him to go home and for her own research - and her quite impulsive nature gets them both into and out of troubles quite a bit. I love how even when she is scared and uncertain, she remains confident in her knowledge and believes that she will be able to find a solution somehow. At the same time, she trusts Wendell too to save them from dire situations, and is on the other hand resolved to protect his life from his stepmother.

This book also gave us another side to her, by exploring her relationships with both Rose and Ariadne. Rose is an older professor, set in his ways and always questioning Emily’s methods and conclusions - so they are very argumentative with each other - we almost get a feeling that they don’t like each other but whenever the need arises, Rose is quick to give advice and help out Emily, and Emily too wants Rose to understand and approve of her research.

Ariadne on the other hand idolizes her aunt and wants to be a dryadologist just like her, but is not sure if there’s love from her aunt’s side. She is also very enthusiastic and full of questions, which kind of grates on Emily who needs her peace, but it also means Wendell loves chatting up Ariadne. But as the story progresses, we see how much Emily and Ariadne care for each other and it was refreshing to see Emily’s equation with her family.

Overall, I had a lovely time with this sequel, though there were some scares in between. The fae are tricky and dangerous, but the characters make an amazing found family, and together with the epistolary narrative style and beautiful setting, this book still firmly remains in the cozy fantasy territory. And with the way the book ended, I’m quite excited to know more about what the next and final adventure of Emily and Wendell will be and what it’ll mean for their future.

This is a charming addition to this trilogy. Emily and Wendell are in full search for the door to his Kingdom and the stakes are definitely higher. Along the way they are confronted with dangerous folk and equally playful mischievous ones. It is never a chore to learn more about the different kinds of Fae and see Emily’s interactions with them. This adventure we get new additions to this little scholarly family and I love that Emily sees begrudgingly that being alone isn’t always better…no matter how much she just wants to rush off by herself. We also see Poe again! Poe is darling and I’m glad we get to see him being brave and making more friends. There is also a side mystery about a missing scholar to unravel along the way.

There were many lines I highlighted and of course most of them were Wendell’s. The way he quietly takes care of Emily is sweet and hilarious. This book kicks up the romance more than the first but never in a way that overtakes the main quest. This is another great cozy read and it's fun to be on yet another adventure with prickly, but loveable Emily, and our sunshine Wendell.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Del Rey for sharing this book with me in exchange for my honest review.

This is a delightful continuation of the series that revolves around the brilliant scholar of faerie folklore, Emily Wilde. The story delves into Emily's adventures and her relationship with the infuriatingly charming Wendell Bambleby, an exiled faerie king seeking refuge from his murderous stepmother. Having penned the world's first encyclopedia of faeries, Emily finds herself entangled in the magical realms again when mysterious fae creatures attempt to kill Wendell. Love him so, so much. Simultaneously, she embarks on a new project—a map of the realms of faerie.

The whimsical and dangerous nature of the fairy realm is beautifully captured. The characters, with their endearing (and not so endearing) habits and quirks, make for a delightful read. I adore Emily and Wendell. The side characters weren't bad either, but they can't shine past the two adorably lovable leads.

Overall, 'Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands' surpasses its predecessor, leaving readers eager for the next installment. The characters, the magical realm, and the heartfelt relationships make this book a truly enjoyable read.

Thanks to Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Del Rey for the eARC. This is an honest review.

Book Name: Emily Wildes Map of the Otherlands
Author: Heather Fawcett

ARC
Thank you to Netgalley & Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey ****for an ARC of Emily Wildes Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

Stars: 5
Spice: 1 (Fade to Black)

Book 2 in the Series
Cliffhanger
Fast Paced
FMC POV
High Fantasy with Academic Bend

- Thoughts.
- Book 2 Leveled Up
- Romance x10 from Book 1
- Higher Stakes
- More Fae
- Less Cozy
- Just Perfection

Just perfection! going into more will add too many spoilers for those who have yet to read book 1. If book 1 was a top read for you or if you thought it needed more romance but it was at least a 4 … you will not be disappointed with this sequel… not at all!

Let's talk about Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands! This is a sequel and it picks up a few months after the events in book one. Emily is still just chugging along not paying too much attention to those outside of herself and Wendall, but her niece (Ariadne) is now in her life, whether Emily is pleased about that fact or not is another story. We also get to know this other guy, Rose, who is the... Chair? maybe? of her department. Anyway, essentially, Emily and Wendell have to go on a trip because Emily thinks maybe she's figured out where to find Wendell's door. Only, Wendell is, um, experiencing some issues because his step-mother may have decided to move forward with assassinating him.

In a lot of ways, I liked the plot of this book better than the first one, but in some other ways, I... didn't? I'm not sure how to explain what I mean, but I feel like book one was more cozy winter vibes and Map of the Otherlands felt like our characters were in mortal peril a little too often for what I was expecting. Also, I loved the side characters in book one and as lovely as Ariadne is, I didn't care much for the side characters in this one. That said, I loved the romantic developments in this book and I really hope there will be a book three because I would like to see what happens after the way this book ends!! (There will be a book three, right??)

Just as beautiful and whimsical as the first book.
I adore the romance between Emily and Wehdell, I feel like it really tracked with their dynamic in the first book as well.
Emily's nieces were great added characters to this book and the change of scenery was fun.
I can't imagine anyone loving book one and not loving this book as well.

LIGHT SPOILERS FOR BOOK ONE & TWO

this book was such a fun ride! i adored book one, and this felt like a fresh continuation of the story that had begun there. i love the writing style and worldbuilding the most. faerie in the emily wilde series feels vast and unknowable but so magical and dark and twisty and fascinating all at once. learning about it through emily’s eyes is a treat, as she is a dedicated scholar at the top of her field and leaves no stone she encounters unturned.

i like how the romance blossomed here; it’s still a side plot, but a sweet and delectable one nonetheless. bambleby is a loveable dumb faerie who only wishes to have breakfast and be near his dear dragon. his singular journal entry here and in book one had me smiling so hard my cheeks hurt.

the way heather fawcett wields character voice in her work is truly magnificent. voice-y stuff isn’t for everyone, especially with someone as prickly as emily as our narrator, but i adore it and cannot WAIT for more in book three!

4.5 stars

my review spread will be up on instagram soon!

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands was just as delightful as the first installment in the series. As someone who has one foot in the academic world but a deep love for fantasy books, I love how Fawcett melds the two through Emily Wilde's journal entries.

When we meet Emily and Wendell again, they're fending off fairy assassins at Cambridge. Then they're on their way to the Austrian Alps to search for a forgotten faerie door to Wendell's realm so he can stop his mother's plot to murder him.

There's high-stakes. There's romance. There's a weird severed foot that moves of its own accord, a strange man covered in ribbons, and a cast of cute fairy creatures.

If you like fantasy books, this should absolutely be on your reading list.

This review is based on reading a complimentary advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley.

I love that the Emily Wilde books are getting released each winter, as it’s truly the perfect time of year to read these books. They’re cozy fantasies, yes, but they still have a hint of darkness.

As a folklore freak, the fae here are my absolute favorite kind - they’re unsettling, unpredictable, and a little bit ridiculous. Despite the academic tone, this book still has plenty of action and moments of tension, where I truly became worried about how things would play out. But luckily I trust in Emily’s good judgment and sense…usually.

Emily has my dream job and also my dream boyfriend. Just like in book one, I love the contrast of her no-nonsense personality with Wendell’s Howl-like frippery and chaos. Their dynamic is just so delicious and fun. The secondary characters here are also a riot - shoutout to Poe, my favorite little baking brownie.

I adore this series so much and can’t wait until next January (hopefully), to get under some blankets with a cup of hot cocoa and read the conclusion!

A delightful sequel!

Though the fae elements were not as strong in this one, I did enjoy that our main cast of characters were interacting from nearly page one. I love Emily's voice in the narration, and I equally--if not maybe more so--love the pushback she gets from our endearingly annoying Wendell.

Shadow continues to be a precious companion.

I'm sad to already be done with this book, and I really hope we'll be seeing this quirky crew again in a third installment.

Emily Wilde and her rival, friend, and proposed finance, Wendell Brambleby, embarked on a new adventure. Driven from Cambridge by fair folk danger sent by Brambleby’s estranged step mother, Emily, Brambleby and new traveling party members embark on a search for Brambleby’s door to the fairy lands.

I have to be honest and say I requested an arc of this book before I read book one, because it’d been so highly recommended and then I ended up not loving book one as much as I had hoped. I was only able to get through book one by doing the audiobooks, so I actually waited to read the arc until the audio was available. With that said, I would HIGHLY recommend you do these books in audio. The narrator makes Emily and Brambleby’s banter and charming relationship, which fell flat for me on the page, come alive and be much more enjoyable. I really came to love Brambleby and his sense of humor, soft love for Emily, and conviction for the importance of good brewed coffee. I enjoyed Emily’s character growth in this book which was evident not only in her self reflection in her diary but through her evolving interactions with the new characters in this book.

I think if you were a fan of book one you’ll greatly enjoy book two. The same charm and quirks are present.

This series has just blown me away! This reads like a cozy mystery with loads of adventure. The setting is superb, and it tackles the academic side of cozy where the last book tackled more of the cottage side of cozy. The writing is so cleverly phrased, the marginalia always entertains, and somehow it all feels so cozy!! I am utterly content reading these books and I hope the series continues indefinitely.

Emily and Wendell's banter is a delight. Their romance becomes a bigger plot point in Map of the Otherlands (YAY YAY YAYYY!) I haven't gotten this giddy over a fictional couple in quite a while.

This is also such a nice adventure with faerie doors and these fox fae creatures, new and dangerous magic that adds tension and mystery. I loved this from start to finish and would book a ticket to this world right this second.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The follow up to Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia is just as delightful as the first book. The chemistry and adventure is just so FUN! I would read 25 books (at least) about Emily and Wendell.

A perfect sequel to Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia! One of those very rare books that feels like an absolute adventure from start to finish. Emily and Wendell are so dear to my heart and their chemistry in this is even more intense than the first. I loved the first one & was nervous that the sequel would disappoint. It did not; pure, adventurous fun. I felt as though I was trekking the mountains with them. Brilliant!

4.75⭐️

Returning to this world felt like a warm hug but like in a creepy way.

This book follows Emily on a second expedition, this time to Austria. I absolutely adore the ways these books are written, and how much it feels like I’m genuinely reading her journal and going through it with her.

Also (spoilers from the first book) her and Wendell!!!!!!!! I adore them. The cutest ever. I have so many tabs/highlights of just them interacting because I adore it.

I cannot wait for the third book in this series, even though this one literally just released

Thank you Netgalley and Del Rey for an advanced copy of this book!