Thank you so much to Netgalley & Random House for the eARC of Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands! This sequel did not disappoint.

I whizzed through this book in a day. I absolutely adored the first, and this sequel is filled with even more fantastical creatures, lyrical writing, and Emily x Wendall sass. I was constantly shocked by the beauty of both the characters and the plot, both of which manage to be simple and intricate at the same time. The new side characters we meet along this journey are excellent additions to the story and force Emily to grow in ways she never imagined.

Emily Wilde is one of my favorite female protagonists to date, and I loved the continuation of her emotional exploration of her in this book. She is brilliant and awkward, and I cannot love her more. Wendall continues to be charming and curious, and their relationship together constantly leaves the reader wanting more.

I cannot wait to dive into the third book when it arrives.

Emily Wilde is back teaching at her beloved Cambridge when a swarm of mysterious faerie assassins burst in to attack her colleague – and potential betrothed – Wendell Bambleby, disposed king of a faerie realm he can’t find his way to return to. It’s all quite complicated. And oh so much fun.

I don’t know what all to say about this follow-up other than it was just as much of an utter delight as the first book in this cozy-yet-often-slightly-creepy historical fantasy series. Emily and Wendell’s dynamic and banter has only increased tenfold, their individual characters crystal clear, stubbornly so. The addition of a couple new supporting characters was unexpected yet the perfect way to expand upon the world; I started out loving one and hating the other but both proved to serve their purpose and their presence most definitely grew on me as the tale unfolded.

The story begins with Emily and Wendell back teaching at Cambridge and it was so cool and lovely to see them and how they interact in an academic setting – the one in which they’ve spent the majority of their friendship but one that we as readers have just never yet had the pleasure of witnessing. Obviously, there comes the need to venture to wilds unknown and a new research expedition is underway.

Emily’s voice is just so engaging, so entertaining, heartwarming, and oftentimes heart wrenching – and I just love it so much. No critiques. 10 out of 10. If you are a fan of cozy fantasy, love grumpy-girl/sunny-boy dynamics, and yearn for books that somehow feel original in an oversaturated market, this series is a must read.

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett is a charming, fun romp and a worthy sequel. Fans of the first book, Emily Wilde's Encylopedia of Faires, will not be disappointed! It was a joy to be reunited with the original cast of main characters and meet some new characters. Fawcett has created an engaging and heartwarming story that kept me entertained and eager to find out what would happen. Her characters are enduring, and you quickly care about and root for them. Sequels can be tricky and only sometimes live up to the original, but in this case, everything you loved in the first book continues in the second!

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands is the second book of the Emily Wilde Series by Heather Fawcett and it is currently scheduled for release on January 16 2024. I find that this is a series that should be read in order.


Emily Wilde is a genius scholar of faerie folklore—she just wrote the world’s first comprehensive of encyclopedia of faeries. She’s learned many of the secrets of the Hidden Folk on her adventures, and also from her fellow scholar and former rival, Wendell Bambleby. Because Bambleby is more than infuriatingly charming. He’s an exiled faerie king on the run from his murderous mother, and in search of a door back to his realm. So despite Emily’s feelings for Bambleby, she’s not ready to accept his proposal of marriage: Loving one of the Fair Folk comes with secrets and danger. And she also has a new project to focus on: a map of the realms of faerie. While she is preparing her research, Bambleby lands her in trouble yet again, when assassins sent by Bambleby’s mother invade Cambridge. Now Bambleby and Emily are on another adventure, this time to the picturesque Austrian Alps, where Emily believes they may find the door to Bambley’s realm, and the key to freeing him from his family’s dark plans. But with new relationships for the prickly Emily to navigate and dangerous Folk lurking in every forest and hollow, Emily must unravel the mysterious workings of faerie doors, and of her own heart.

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands is an interesting and engaging read, however I do think that reading the first book is a must to understand the settings and personalities involved. Emily and Wendell are off on another expedition, this time with a couple extra companions and Wendell being poisoned to add to the drama. I thought the story was well written, and the continuity with the first book was spot on. I thought there were well placed clues and hints about the nature of the mysteries they were trying to solve and the people and fae involved woven through the pages nicely. I will say that these books are not quick reads, at least not for me. The pace is slow and steady, much like proper research, and sometimes I get frustrated because of it. I enjoy the premise and the detail in these book, and I can appreciate the talent and skill involved, but it is sometimes hard for me to slow down and enjoy these more gently paced reads. It is very much a book I save when I am in the mood to slow down and fully immerse myself into a different world.

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands is a good follow up to the first book in the series, and if you enjoyed the first this will be a must read.

Emily Wilde, now-tenured Professor of Dryadology at Cambridge, is thrust into a new Faerie adventure in a new region. I really enjoyed the continued adventures of Emily Wilde, and her continued clear-eyed analysis of her own mistakes and failures—but especially her triumphs! I was fascinated by the expanding cast of characters, and how Emily's worldview and methods of relating to others changed (or didn't) based on various influences. This sequel was a bit heavier on romance than Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Fairies, but without sacrificing any exciting adventure or intriguing mystery, so I'll allow it!

I felt like this one had more of a cliffhanger at the end than the previous in the series, which I don't love, but on the other hand I can't help but be thrilled there will be more sequels!

This was a fun follow up to the first book. I think I enjoyed this one a little more, because it was a little more romance forward than the previous entry. Not hugely, but it's fun to see Emily and Wendell, (his pretentious name is still one of my least favorite things FYI) interact with the idea of marriage on the table. This new adventure was a fun one for sure. I would say it's an improvement over the first, but the actual letter format wasn't so forced this time, so that helped my enjoyment.

I absolutely loved the first book and so I had high hopes for the second one and it delivered! I immediately sat down and read the book straight through. Emily and Wendall are just as wonderful as in book 1 with such banter and made me laugh out loud. In this book they are joined by some others on their adventure and I thought the whole group was so fun. I will say most of the main action is towards the last third of the book but it still never feels slow because of the great characters. Will be purchasing for sure to add to our library collection right next to book 1.

I enjoyed this sequel! It was really very sweet, and grew the main story we were introduced to in book one. It's hard to give too long a review without spoiling the first book but suffice it to say that the tone/adventure/fae weirdness from the first books was still prevalent here, slightly tinged with darkness but not overbearing. Worth picking up if you enjoyed book 1!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy of Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands in exchange for an honest review!

I genuinely, sincerely, loved this book. I read book 1 last year in preparation for this ARC I received and I cannot express how much I love both books.

Emily has become one of my favorite characters ever. She's intelligent and clever, which sometimes comes off wrong as she is so ingrained in her books, methods, and theory. But she also has self-awareness that makes me want to step in her shoes. The slow-burn romance in both books makes my heart so happy.

This book had quite a lot of set up (travelling, searching) to get to the main event (getting to Wendell's faerie land), probably 75-80% through the book is when the main action happens. There's also a bit of unexplained inconsistency with how the faerie door was missed if you put a lot of thought into it, but I loved the book so much that I didn't mind so much. Plus, it's faeries. They're inconsistent anyway.

I genuinely hope Emily's story will continue!

I absolutely love this series and this story was everything I hoped for! I'm always nervous about the second book in a series because the initial story can be so hard to live up to. Nothing to fear here, however, as I loved this book every bit as much as the first. Emily Wilde continues to be her 'charming' self and we once again get a glimpse into her journal entries as she is off on a new adventure. Wendell, and of course Shadow, are right there with her. I certainly don't want to give anything away so I will just say again how much I adore this cozy fantasy series! 10 out of 5 stars if that were possible.

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is as enjoyable a read as it’s predecessor, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faerie. I found that I liked spending time with Emily, Wendell, and Shadow even in the places where the plot dragged a bit. Emily is as prickly as ever, and I love her all the more for it. The marriage proposal remains unanswered, but Wendell remains delighted by her. I only wish there had been a few more of the “my dear dragon” endearments.

Emily and Wendell are back at Cambridge and getting ready to look for a backdoor to Wendell’s kingdom in the Otherlands. This is made more necessary when the Faerie Queen’s assassins try to kill Wendell after poisoning him at his birthday party. Wendell is deeply offended by this violation of his birthday. Now that Emily knows for sure that Wendell is a deposed faerie king, he is less interested in keeping his secret and is freer with his magic.The head of the Dryadology department, Dr. Rose, calls into question all of Emily’s work, accusing her of being as loose with the truth as Wendell. His evidence being that her observations of the Folk in Ljosland are contrary to the commonly accepted scholarship.

If there is a moral to these books, it’s don’t underestimate beings or dangers. Emily’s confidence in herself is one of her finest attributes, and she rarely underestimates those around her. When she does, she learns quickly that she has made a Mistake and that Mistake happened because she underestimated the danger of faerie. But more often, she is able to use the dismissiveness of others for her benefit. Emily is a remarkable scholar because she doesn’t look at the Folk only through the lens of “commonly accepted scholarship.”

I’m going to go off on a tangent here about how to show someone is remarkably skilled in a book. I get so irritated as a reader when I am told that someone is the best at what they do and then in the action of the book they are terrible at that thing. In contrast, only Emily and Wendell think she’s the best at what she does, but as readers, we see her in action and we see the way that changes her understanding of the Folk based on her experience with them. As a reader, I find this so much more satisfying.

CW: poisoning, violence, animal attack, assassination attempts, faerie attacks on humans

I received this as an advance reader copy from Random House Publishing and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

A big thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for providing an advance copy of Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

Having previously delved into the inaugural installment, Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, earlier in the year, this sequel surpassed its predecessor in narrative pace and intrigue. The narrative swiftly unfolds as Emily and Wendell, accompanied by new allies, embark on an expedition prompted by the sudden appearance of perilous faeries in Cambridge. The diverse array of faerie characters introduced, both benevolent and malevolent, enhances the storyline's depth. Notably, the evolution of Emily and Wendell's dynamic, characterized by mutual banter and support, adds a compelling layer. While the narrative hints at potential continuation, this installment possesses a satisfactory conclusion, leaving readers anticipating further adventures yet content with the current culmination.

EMILY WILDE'S MAP OF THE OTHERLANDS by Heather Fawcett
5/5

A massive thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.
An even more massive thank you to Heather Fawcett for writing a lovely, wonderful, perfect follow up to Encyclopaedia of Faeries. At this point, Fawcett is becoming the queen of writing faerie lore to many of us.

This review will be spoiler-free and rather simple:

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands is a SOLID 5/5 for me. Once again, we are reading Emily's recounting of her adventures in her journal and once again, I fell in love with a book by Fawcett.

I'd rate it higher if I could. Overall, we couldn't have asked for a better addition to Emily's story. Emily is ever-focused and oftentimes shows a new warmth that I'm proud of her for. Wendell's charming antics continue to annoy her as they traipse around looking for faerie doors.
Two new characters join them on their adventure, much to the annoyance of Emily. They both add more charm to the story, though!

In conclusion, Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands is a cozy, charming, fantastic book that any faerie lore, romantasy, scientist, or wintery cozy aesthetic lover will enjoy.

Cozy fantasy truly couldn't get any better!

I can't wait to get a physical copy in my hands.

Another immersive and atmospheric read in the world of Emily Wilde and the Faie! I think I enjoyed this one even more than the first as I was already familiar with this world and I loved seeing Emily and Wendell's relationship progress. Those two are a hoot! I'm not a huge fan of epistolary novels normally as unreliable narrators are thus also employed, but with Emily being a scholar and less emotional about certain things I feel confident she is not unreliable and the writing style makes it easy to forget it is in fact a journal she is writing in most of the time. This is a great read for anyone looking to snuggle in a cozy blanket and drink some tea. I'm very excited to see where the series goes next!

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early e-ARC of this delightful book!

I will be posting this review on my bookstagram: @cartfullofbooks prior to release date, either 1/3 or 1/4. I will also share this review on my Goodreads account @Stephanie W (cartfullofbooks).

After what has felt like an endless string of disappointing sequels in 2023, I am pleased to report that Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands is just as charming and fantastical as its predecessor.

Emily and Wendell are back to their scholarly and whimsical antics, this time adventuring to the Alps in an attempt to find a Nexus - a singular faerie door that can open to multiple locations, including Wendell's own faerie kingdom in Ireland. They're also joined by Emily's eager-to-please niece Ariadne and stiffly traditional Professor Rose, who both seem to challenge Emily in their own ways. Rounding out this adventure is the mystery of two missing scholars who disappeared decades ago, but whose apparitions still seem to haunt the mountainside village where our gang is staying.

Map of the Otherlands is absolutely brimming with charm. Between Emily and Wendell's silly banter, the wildly unfathomable Faerie Lands, and the Small Folk that both help and hinder our characters, each page of this book had me smiling and full of wonder. Heather Fawcett has such a talent for combining Emily's scholarly writing voice with the inherently whimsical and magical happenings going on around her in such an engaging way. This series has been an absolute joy to read so far.

I absolutely loved this sequel and I can't wait to see what else is to come for Emily and Wendell!

4.5/5

Thanks to Del Rey Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

**MILD SPOILERS FOR BOOK 1**

So very, very happy to be back with Emily and Wendell (and Shadow too)!! All of the things I loved from the first book are here as the story picks up not too long after the prior story with Emily and Wendell being back at Cambridge. The lovely back and forth between Emily and Wendell is still going strong while Emily works to try and gather more information to find the door to Wendell's kingdom, while Wendell mostly just can't be bothered. However, things take a darker turn as threats from Wendell's kingdom become much more serious and action has to be taken immediately. Emily and Wendell must journey to Austria with some new companions and there are many new and dangerous Folk that have to be dealt with during the search for Wendell's door. Along with their new traveling companions we do get reminders of some of the dear friends from Ljosland, most especially, dear Poe who is so darn delightful!! (I am still waiting on a brownie of my own, sadly). This is a wonderful follow up to the first book, and while they are some darker, scarier moments, it is still filled with the occasionally lighthearted, silly moments we love, flying crockery included. So many possibilities for what may take place in book 3, I can't wait for the shenanigans to begin!!!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for sending me a copy of Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands!

I read the first book, Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, with my book club earlier this year, and I'm happy to say that I enjoyed this book even more than the first! Where the first book started out a bit slow, this sequel took off from the very beginning! We have dangerous faeries showing up at Cambridge, which sets off an expedition that sends Emily and Wendell (and some new friends!) to yet another small mountain village full of mystery and faerie.

I liked all the new types of faerie we got to meet in this story (both kind and malevolent), and was excited to see the return of some old friends, too. I liked that the conflict was less about Emily making mistakes, and more about her charging headfirst into dangerous scenarios ready to use her extensive knowledge to solve them.

I really enjoyed how Emily and Wendell's relationship grew, the banter that they developed, and the way they defended each other. It was a nice flip that, compared to the first book where Wendell came to save Emily, this time Emily got to traverse her way into Faerie to save Wendell's life. (Also I have to love that a cat is the one who truly saved the day!)

There's signs that there's going to be a 3rd book, but I felt like this one was finished enough to be the end of the series, but I could also read another book about these two!

I really enjoyed this one! The few things that I complained about from the first book weren’t a problem here; Emily has more personality and is less dry, there was a sense of adventure, there was a real plot with an end goal, etc. I even found it humorous at times.

I still love Wendell and his sass, and I liked all the new characters that were introduced. I also appreciate that none of them felt frivolous, they always had a purpose and distinct personality/description.

Overall, I’m excited to see where the next adventure takes them!

This was just as good as the first one! I really loved it, even though I normally like fast pased fantasy books, this was an amazing book. Also, it doesn't help that her name is Emily, same as mine. This was whimsical and beautifully fantasy-like, something that I crave in books. I can't wait to read more!

I'm not going to lie. I requested this ARC before I read the first book. And I'm glad I did. This is going to sound odd because, I wasn't a fan of the first book. I actually would not have continued reading the series if I had not requested this ARC and gotten approved for it.

I am SO GLAD I did because I enjoyed this book SO MUCH and plan on continuing the series now.
The atmosphere in this book was much more my vibe, there was more action and sooner. Plus, I loved seeing my favs again - Shadow and WENDELL (swoon) and some others old friends you will need to read about to find out about. Plus, we me meet new amazing characters.

I really really enjoyed this one!