An amazing book, just as imaginative, heart warming, and beautiful as the first one. Cannot wait for book 3!

*SPOILERS* I especially loved the scenes that took place in Faerie, as they were so interesting and lush.

I received this ARC for free from Netgalley, but this did not impact my review. The expected publishing date of this book is January 16, 2024.

“I wanted Farrie. It’s every secret and it’s every door.”

This book was such a fun, magical read and I couldn’t put it down. While I loved the first book in this series, the second one really did everything right for me. The stakes were higher, the pages in this novel brimming with action and adventure.

Map of otherlands felt like something right out of a studio ghibli movie with an eccentric cast of characters. In the second book we revisit some of our favorite characters from the first book, including Poe, and meet new characters who become a staple in this story.

Wendell and Emily fit together so perfectly, like puzzle pieces made for each other. We meet new creatures, some friendly, some not so friendly. The author skews reality as we know it in these pages, as we are introduced to new fairy realms and new, more dangerous creatures. Nothing is ever as it may seem.

This was such a whimsical ride that had me laughing out loud and on the edge of my seat until the very last page. Even when it was over, I felt myself longing for this fictional universe and can’t wait to revisit this world in the third and final novel.

“What awaited me beyond the horizon?”

Genius faerie folklore scholar Emily Wilde is back in a brilliantly exciting tale that takes her, her rival-turned-potential-intended Wendell Bambleby, her niece Ariadne, and fellow curmudgeonly scholar Rose to the Austrian Alps in search of a door to Wendell's kingdom. They hope to evade assassins sent by Wendell's stepmother, further the field of Dryadology, and, in the process, maybe solve the 50-year-old mystery of a fellow scholar's disappearance.
Fawcett has once again created a complex web of details that eventually coalesce into quite a captivating story full of magic, adventure, and the perfect dash of romance. Emily has her quirks, but following her along her journey as she is forced to interact with people she doesn't understand and the Folk she is intrigued by is incredibly entertaining.
The details that have gone into fully fleshing out every aspect of the world and the people and creatures that inhabit it are impressive. You really do feel as if it's perfectly normal for Cambridge to have a Dryadology department and for the whole world to be cognizant and versed in the wide variety of fae creatures that share it with humans. You can tell a lot of research and care came into the crafting of it.
This is the second book in the series and, while I do feel having read the first one would be useful to fully understand everything that's said (not to mention it's a phenomenal read), I think it would be possible to enjoy the story if you jumped right in. I wouldn't recommend doing that simply because Encyclopaedia of Faeries is brilliant, but it's doable.
Overall, another fantastic adventure with Emily Wilde that has a little of everything in perfect quantities.

Delighted thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the wonderfully magical read!

When you love the first book in a series and are excited for the next book in the series, there is always that slight bit of worry that the second book won’t live up to the first. There is no reason to worry here. If you loved Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries, the second installment will not let you down.

Emily and Brambleby are back with a whole new adventure as Emily works to map the realms of faerie. In addition to academic pursuits we have assassins (yes, you read that correctly) and a whole new level of faerie drama.

I didn’t think it was possible, but I enjoyed this book even more than the first book in this series. I loved the increased level of adventure that came with this book and I felt more on the edge of my seat in the best possible way.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily.

Just a Sip: Emily Wilde is on a new journey with her charming partner, Wendell Bambleby. The two must find a way to get back to the face realm. Emily’s new project takes the two to Austria where they may just find the faerie door and perhaps open that door to their hearts.

The Whole P(l)ot: My family did not see me all day, I had to finish this in one sitting. Taking place after Emily’s publication of the Faerie Encyclopedia, Emily and Wendell must continue their exploration of the fae realms. On the run from his mother and trying to get home, the two have to put so much trust into each other which is very hard for Emily. Their journeys are so fantastical, I cant get over the tension and swoon worthy banter between these two. There better be more to their story, I need their love to consume me. Oh and the cover is immaculate, I will be purchasing the hardback when it is released.

If there was one book I was looking forward to in January of 2024, it was going to be Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands. This is Heather Fawcett’s follow-up to the Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries. Suffice it to say, I was more than ready to be back with the smart, adventurous, but awkward—and as the book synopsis describes her, “curmudgeonly”—Emily Wilde.

This book had the same style as the first one, in that it’s essentially Emily telling the story to the reader via her journal.

In Map of the Otherlands, Emily, Wendell, Shadow, and two new characters, set off into the Austrian Alps. It’s partly to continue research for her next project, the titular Map of the Otherlands, as well as the potential of finding a door into Wendell’s realm. There was also the necessity to get out of Cambridge for a while.

The set up for this adventure happens relatively early in the story. The threat to Wendell’s life—and the collateral damage that comes from a sudden attack fueled by magic—ensured Map of the Otherlands, from that point, had VERY high stakes for the remainder of the story. It also had a good balance between Emily’s penchants for putting her desire for discovers first with the danger posed by the very subjects of her studies. There was action, and also an element of whimsy. The fairy realms—the doors and the places that share borders—were bizarre in an ethereal, if not surreal, manner.

I loved the setting from the first book, but I also liked this one as well. It too shared a relatively remote locale, being in the mountains, and it was described as very quaint and picturesque with a lot of open land. The terrain once again posed its own issues, and the local customs had certain requirements and dictated the time of day they could be out and about. It’s one of the things I appreciate about this book: the attention to detail.

This series has such a lively cast. A few faces from the previous book were present here as well, but I also liked getting to know the new characters as well, particularly one who she could verbally spar with. Wendell is in a tough spot in this one, but he still manages to come off as witty, sometimes a little arrogant, but also very caring for the people he holds in regard.

Fawcett’s use of folklore, particularly with a focus on fairies as a subject of intense study, remains one of my favorite versions of a fey-themed novel. Emily’s approach is very analytical, but she’s self-aware. And it’s always fun to see her in her element but, with the addition of new characters to this expedition, she also had new relationships to navigate. It wasn’t her strong suit, to say the least. But there was development on the platonic as well as romantic fronts.

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is a fantastic sequel. If you’ve read the first book then I highly recommend this one too.

Disclaimer: this copy of the book was provided by the publisher (Del Rey) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!

Saying I was thrilled to receive the email that I had been sent the second book in the Emily Wilde series would be an understatement. I could. not. wait to dive in (except I did wait, because I personally think this book is best enjoyed during a cozy season with a warm drink and a blanket).

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries was one of my favorite books of 2023, and Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands will without a doubt be one of my favorite reads of 2024. I absolutely loved it, maybe more than the first.
Emily is a rare relatable character in a fantasy novel, and Wendell is charming and I can’t get enough of him. The story is exciting and romantic at the same time. The atmosphere is cozy and whimsical. I just can’t applaud this series enough.
Also, the cover art! I never purchase physical copies of ebooks, but these might be the exception. They’re beautiful!

Thank you to Del Rey/Random House for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars! Thank you, netgalley for my advanced copy of this book. I absolutely loved book one in this series and was so excited to read more about Emily and Wendell .
The storytelling was amazing and I laughed out loud so many times.

Highly recommend this series to all!

I love the world of Emily Wilde. I love the extended found family that Fawcett grew throughout this book. I love the extension of the faerie world and the addition of new magical and horrifying fae creatures. I'll gladly continue traveling with Emily and Wendell again and again and again.

Once again, I loved delving into the world of Emily Wilde created by Heather Fawcett.

In this newest work, Emily leaves the halls of Cambridge to avoid assassins and sets out into the field for adventure and research; Emily is joined by her Faerie king love interest, Bambleby, her niece, and another professor as they search for a hidden door into Bambleby's kingdom so that he can reclaim his throne. Wonder and danger are interwoven throughout this tale, and I both didn't want to put it down and didn't want it to end.

The pacing, world building, and plot are terrific. Both Emily and the supporting characters are well fleshed out and developed enough that I care what happens to each of them, even Rose.
Fawcett puts just enough romance and conflict into this book and leaves such a great set up for the next book that I cannot wait for it to be released!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the dARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.

"Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands" by Heather Fawcett was a highly anticipated continuation as someone who thoroughly enjoyed the first book. While the diary-style storytelling, witty banter between characters, and vivid descriptions of the Austrian mountains with their plethora of faerie folk remained a highlight, I couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu as the plot echoed too closely to the first installment.

The repetition of plot points from the previous book, particularly Emily venturing into dangerous situations and needing rescue, became a bit monotonous, especially after the fifth occurrence. However, Fawcett's charming faerie king, Wendell, and the eventual journey into Faerie did add the magical touch I was waiting for, even if it took a while to get there.

Despite the familiarity of some plot elements, the author's skill in capturing the essence of Emily and Wendell's developing relationship and the enchanting world of Faerie kept me engaged. While the journey had its tedious moments, the eventual destination and Fawcett's storytelling style made the overall experience worthwhile.

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

I decided to save this ARC to be my first read of 2024, and it did not disappoint. Everything that made the first Emily Wilde book so fun was included here; same cozy fantasy vibes dictated through Emily’s journals, only this time with more faeries and a little more action. The goal this time around is to find Wendell’s door, which proves difficult as the stepmother who ousted him has decided it would be best if he was no longer in the picture. Much like the first book, my favorite aspects were getting to know the faerie friends Emily makes along the way, whether it be more about Shadow and Poe or the new types of fae from this book. The ending was not at all what I expected as we were racing towards the conclusion, and has me so excited for the next installment (will there be another installment? please?).

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for giving this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

“𝐄𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞’𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬” 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

A light and cozy fantasy sequel in the form of journal entries with faeries, adventure and romance.

This book came with some more of that charm and whimsy that “Encyclopaedia of Fairies” had. I didn’t get quite as much of the “cozy fantasy” vibes as I did with the first, maybe because the setting change (that cold Norwegian island was the perfect setting in my opinion!) but I enjoyed the Austrian Alps setting in this one nonetheless. I feel like so much of this book was set up for book 3, so I’m really interested to see how that plays out!

Thank you so much to the publisher and @netgalley for my arc copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 𝐄𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞’𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 is out January 16th!

This is the second book in the Emily Wilde series and it is just as good as the first one--another fun, cozy fantasy. In this installment, Emily is working a map of all the fairy realms. However, Wendell's stepmother, who took the throne in Wendell's fairy world by killing the rest of his family, has sent assassins to Cambridge to end Wendell's claim to the throne. This bold move hastens their quest to find a door into Wendell's realm and so Emily, Wendell, and other college folks head to the Austrian Alps on the trail of a scholar missing for one hundred years who was also looking for the door.

The dynamics in this book have changed a bit with Emily accepting help from her assistant (who happens to be her niece) and Rose, the other Cambridge scholar who tagged along. There is some more adventure in the mountains and more different types of fae are introduced along with a few familiar faces from the first book. The banter between Emily, Wendell and Rose is always fun.

Other than one moment towards the end when they got out of danger in a completely unexpected way, this was a delightful read from start to finish. Fortunately, the ending is set up for at least one more adventure with Emily and Wendell and I look forward to seeing what they do next.

Fawcett does it again with this beautiful sequel! Loved every second, adore the journal format and quirky footnotes. Emily is brilliant and loved seeing more of her relationship with wendell. It’s cozy fantasy and grumpy sunshine heaven.

It was absolutely delightful to be back in this world of Emily Wilde. This was again a cozy but adventurous good time and the author did an excellent job expanding the world and mystery of faeries.

I also adored seeing the relationship between Wendall and Emily grow.

This is be begging for a third book plz and thank you.

I received an ebook in exchange for my review.

Emily Wilde learned a lot when putting together her famous encyclopedia, including from her infuriating rival and possible love interest Wendell Brambleby. He’s an exiled faerie king on the run and in search of a door back to his realm. Emily’s not ready to accept his proposal and instead focuses on creating a map of the realms of faerie. Assassins after Brambleby invade Cambridge, so the two are off to the Austrian Alps, where Emily believes they may find the door to faerie and the key to freeing him from his family’s dark plans.

This is a direct sequel to Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Fairies. As with the first book, the novel is her journal, which is complete with footnotes regarding the academic history and stories of dryadology. It's not just her and Wendell this time, but her niece Ariadne as her assistant, and then the department head Farris Rose joins them on the search for the door. Two other researchers had disappeared fifty years ago, and the circumstances of that period contained faerie references that were similar to Wendell's home kingdom. But with assassins after him, poisoning him, or attacking, time was of the essence.

Emily is a bit better with people this time around, though Wendell and Ariadne have a much easier time approaching others. The fae are more dangerous here, capriciously wreaking havoc just because they can. Charmed items as well as the history of the place offer clues to the missing researchers and the nexus point that Emily wants to find: it's a point where people can cross over from one part of faerie to another, and would be integral to the map that Emily wants to make. That area in the Alps is riddled with doors to homes and entire tracts of faerie or the borders between worlds. Finding Wendell's kingdom isn't easy, and the dangers inherent in dealing with the fae still apply. Emily has never backed down from a challenge, and trying to save Wendell from the poison as well as keep her expedition safe is certainly a challenge. The book is engrossing from the start, and I loved seeing the deepening relationship between Emily and Wendell. She's had a lot of growth since the first book, and I'm sure we'll see how else she's changed in future books.

This book was a beautiful follow-up to an enchanting first novel. Heather Hawcett once again brought me into this creative and intriguing world that she built and I was sad to see it go at the end! Emily's story is truly so fun, and I loved seeing her relationship with Wendell develop. I definitely recommend this to anyone who read book 1!

I loved getting back into the world of Emily and Wendell! It was great to see old favorites:Poe and Shadow, as well as meet new friends: Rose, Ariadne, Snowbell and Orga! This book was just as fun and entertaining as the first! I love the diary format. I cannot wait for book #3!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine books for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for an ARC of this book and here is my truthful review. Review will be posted to my Tiktok in the upcoming week.

This series is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.

In this we pick up with our favorite characters back at Cambridge and Emily is thinking over the proposal. Her niece has also becomes her assistant. For unknown reasons Wendell’s stepmother has sent assassins after him. Because of this the hunt for a door to his kingdom gets moved up on the priority list and that’s where our adventure takes place.

I will say I love this mystery in this book and how everything unfolds. Heathers writing style is so wonderful and I love her storytelling. I will say in this book we get more romances but it is a fade to black which I think was a good choice for this series. Also we get to see Poe again which made me so happy!! I loved him so much in the first book.

I love reading these books and then looking at all the little Easter eggs on the cover. I also love that we got more of Wendell writing in the journal because it’s just so special and fun. I can’t wait for the next book!!