Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Pub Date: January 16, 2024

4.5 stars
I liked this one so much more than the first! The action starts right away and doesn't let up. We get to meet new characters, learn more about existing characters, and see some character growth and development. I also think it helped that I read this right after I finished the first one. I had struggled a bit getting into the writing style with the first so it helped me to keep that flow going once I got into it.

I'm excited for the next adventure!

This book and in just did not vibe. It was whimsical and a wonderful world but it just did not captivate me. I'm so upset as I was so hopeful and excited.

The character development is wonderful and the writing is good. To each their own with reading though! I would recommend this book to other friends who enjoy fairies and magic!

Ugh, I adore this world so so much! I loved going back to it, I just want to crawl into the pages and live there! I daresay this book was just as good, if not maybe even slightly better than the first. I wanted to re-read it as soon as I finished! I can’t WAIT until the audiobook comes out, I’ll be listening on release day because Ell Potter and Michael Dodds KILLED IT in the first book. (I actually could hear their voices in my head as I was reading, especially Wendell’s voice with his sexy Irish accent *drools*)

I think Wendell and Emily are my OTP of the year. Their banter gives me life!! I actually laughed out loud many times because they cracked me up. Emily would be all practical and Wendell would poke fun at her for her practicality…he never took anything seriously and she took everything too seriously. I just freakin’ love them together! In addition to their banter, they had some incredibly sweet and tender moments that made my all mushy inside! View Spoiler »

This one BROUGHT the action! There’s action in the first book, yeah, but there’s even more in this one! I loved taking a deeper dive into the world of Faerie and getting a glimpse at more of the Folk. We’re introduced to a new set of characters (umm, ORGA!! and Snowball), but we still get to see beloved characters from the first book. (Poe!!!) You don’t really get to know the human characters very well, though – that would be my only real complaint. When Emily was in Ljosland, the human characters play a prominent role, and you got to know them by personality. It’s not like that in this sequel, which makes me kind of sad.

While some of the side characterization was lacking, Emily’s character more than made up for it. She and I would totally be friends in real life. She’s just so incredibly relatable. She loves her books (and prefers them to people), is totally socially awkward, and can’t handle emotional attachment to people. She’s also kind of selfish sometimes in the fact that she gets so wrapped up in her research that she forgets that people have feelings, resulting in hurting those around her on occasion. She’s a bit obtuse when it comes to people, despite the fact that she’s so smart. I like that she was able to admit her faults, though, and would actually think on it when she realized she was wrong and tried to make up for her wrongs. She never meant to come off as callus as her intentions were always in the right place, but she was totally blind to others’ feelings.

In addition to being brilliant, she’s also a total badass! She’s confident in her ability to deal with the Folk because of her extensive research, so she shows almost no fear in the face of some of the more terrifying Folk. She unfortunately tends to go blundering into some less than ideal situations, but she always handled it with a level head and thought her way out. [spoilers removed]

Umm, Shadow is getting old?! I CANNOT DEAL with that fact. I thought he would live forever because he’s a grim. He is the bestest boi and I will be heartbroken if he dies in the next book *puppy eyes*

I will be anxiously anticipating the third book (and more Orgaaaa, please please please!!!), but in the meantime, I’ll be re-reading via audio. If you haven’t read these books, I 10/10 recommend audiobook format!

Original review posted on Novel Heartbeat

Emily and Bambleby are the toast of Cambridge after their perilous adventures in the wilds of Scandinavia, and it looks like the fae realm isn't quite done with them yet. When assassins show up during one of Bambleby's lectures, Emily is determined to find the hidden door to his realm so they can put a stop to the queen's murderous machinations. So off they go to the Alps of Austria, with a few new tagalongs and higher stakes than ever.

This was SUCH a cute sequel to Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries! I love when authors remain true to their characters throughout a series, and Heather Fawcett has definitely done so here. Wendell is as roguish as ever while Emily retains her scholarly resolve, though both show definite signs of softening as their relationship continues to grow. I greatly enjoyed the addition of Ariadne, Rose, Snowbell, and a handful of other minor characters, though I was even more pleased to see a few from book one make appearances!

Cannot wait for the third book in this series, it's such a cozy read with perfect atmospheric vibes and lovable characters. Thank you to Heather Fawcett, Del Rey, and NetGalley for my advance digital copy!

Here we are in a new year starting off with one of my most anticipated reads of 2024 right off the bat! And with a highly anticipated book always comes a bunch of nerves. What if the first book was a one-off?? What if the story takes a turn in a direction that I won't like? What if I was slightly delirious when I read the first book and it was all in my head?? (Well, less so on that last one, as the first book was well received by pretty much everyone!). But, gentle reader, I am here to assuage your fears: not only did I enjoy this book as much as the first one, I think I liked it even more!

Now, given how much I liked the first one, that's a pretty big claim to make. But I think it's pretty easy to back up by simply going through what I liked in the first book and how well this book built upon and expanded on those original concepts. First of all with the world-building and fairy elements. While the first book follows Emily's experiences out in the field, this book not only does the same (this time seeing her and Wendell off to the Austrian Alps) but we also get a brief look into her life as a professor on campus. The story only briefly stays in this location, but through these insights into her life as professor, we meet other important side characters, such as another professor who is a more senior member of the faculty, and a student assistant who bewilders Emily constantly. I really enjoyed these academic elements of the story. Yes, of course, the fairy stuff is the most exciting, but you can't have academic fantasy without the "academic" stuff as well, and I was pleased to see this book lean into this aspect of the story.

Speaking of side characters, Emily and Wendell are not the only two off on the expedition to the Alps. The aforementioned professor and student tag along as well. Through this book and the first, it becomes clear that while Emily is a great character on her own, she's at her best when bouncing off of other characters. Wendell is the main focal point, but I think that these other two characters also allowed Emily's character to grow and expand as well. We see her struggle to connect to a colleague who approaches their shared work in a very different manner, forcing her to reflect on her own choices, recognizing which are strengths worth fighting for and which could do with a second glance. I also enjoyed watching her interaction with the young woman, Ariadne, her student. These interactions are as hilarious as you'd expect, especially in the light of the fact that it's obvious that Emily herself probably presented many similar challenges to her own mentor.

I also really enjoyed the fairy elements. I remember mentioning in my review of the first book that I enjoyed how vicious the members of Fae were, something that you don't always see. Here, we get even more of the same, from some truly frightening new creatures to a much larger exploration of some of the realms of Fae itself. There were moments where this book very much walked right up to the line of horror, which is such an odd thing to say about a book that also falls solidly within the "cozy fantasy" subgenre. Yes, bloodthirsty foxes with baby faces are "cozy!" You heard it here first.

The larger exploration of Fae also touches on another area of improvement in this book (again, this is all "improving" from a very high starting point to begin with.) Due to the nature of the first story, Emily ends up as a fairly passive character in the final section of that book. It works for that story and I didn't have an problems with it there. But I was incredibly happy to see this book swap Emily and Wendell's roles in this story, with Emily spending the majority of the book fighting to break a curse brought down upon Wendell. And in pursuit of this, she must enter Fae without him, putting to test all of her skills as a scholar and adventurer. There is so much great stuff in this final third of the book, but obviously I can't get into much of it without falling into spoiler-y territory. It's all action-packed, tense, and highlights just how awesome of a character Emily is! She's smart, brave, and, of course, unintentionally hilarious!

And, lastly, the romance! Obviously, I loved everything we got from Emily and Wendell in the first book, but we get even more here. I was mildly curious how the book would manage the change in their relationship, but they and their interactions with each other are, at the same time, exactly as before and, of course, much further along in their relationship with one another. Each is still bewildered by the other, and their bumbling around within their own emotions is just as cute as you could imagine. There were several moments that were incredibly sweet, and I enjoyed Emily's internal exploration of what it means to love and trust another in this way. This is just the sort of romance that I love to see in my fantasy stories.

I was so happy with this book! It really met every expectation I had built up in my head and exceeded my wildest dreams in many ways. High praise, but in this case, well earned.

Rating 10: Take the high that was reading the first book and somehow expand it a million times over! Absolutely brilliant in every way!

(Review will go live on The Library Ladies blog on Jan 5)

This book is slightly insane, and I think that's why I love it! A brilliant story of Faeries and magic and romance, this book has everything. And I desperately hope there's another in the series!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for review

I absolutely loved this book! It topped the first for me even though I loved the first as well! It had the same cozy/fantasy feel that the encyclopedia of faeries had and also being a historical fantasy fiction was set in the early 1900s which I really enjoyed. Both Emily and Wendell’s stories are continued in the book and you see more about their lives relationship and families. As well as Emily continuing her “field research” on faeries. Definitely worth reading especially if you loved the first book as I did!

I thought there was no way that the sequel could live up to the incredible first novel, but I am more than happy to admit that I was wrong! In fact, I think that I actually like this one more than the first book!

I am amazed by Heather Fawcett's ability to make such a fantastical book read more like a cozy mystery. All I wanted to do was curl up with the characters I fell in love with. The quirky footnotes were icing on the delicious cake, and I appreciate getting to know more about Emily personally and not just her profession.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This book is so cozy and comforting for me. I loved the first Emily Wilde book so much that it is hard to follow it up. But Map of the Motherlands was just as cozy like a warm cup of tea on a cold day. I love the universe that Heather Fawcett has built.

3.5/5

I felt this installation went quicker than the first in the series—maybe even too quick, yet if it went on any longer, I may have gotten bored, so I should stop nitpicking and accept that this book was a solid dose of Emily Wilde.

Now that we are fully enmeshed in the world, there’s less working toward understanding faerie academia and more exploring of it, which makes for a more interesting read. The introduction of new characters worked seamlessly into the narrative, and the return of the “side” characters from the first book also fit into the narrative while further developing it, in that I am left with more questions I hope will be answered down the line. Seeing as the world of faerie is linked across nations and geographical boundaries, I feel there is something larger at stake in how it is all supposed to come together. These curiosities I am left with after finishing the book do not feel like obnoxious cliffhangers, but rather potential routes of exploration in future installations. It feels like we have an expansive project at hand, and I’m curious to see how Fawcett will pull it all together.

Despite the positives I have mentioned, I don’t feel this is a story that has particular staying powering with me. While, yes, I was excited to get my hands on this book early, my judgment immediately following my finishing this book does not sway toward wanting to share this series with those around me. It’s something I am comfortable with keeping to myself; I am not itching for someone else to read it so that we may discuss. I find this book (and series overall) was (is) a pleasant little read for my personal enjoyment, and it will most likely remain as that.

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Fairies was one of my top 2023 reads and this follow up did not disappoint! I love Emily’s character - her social awkwardness, her relentless pursuit for knowledge, and the way she protects those she loves. Her interactions with Wendell were just as adorable as the first book. I enjoyed the introduction of Emily’s niece Ariadne and colleague Dr. Farris Rose. I am already eager to see where book 3 will take Emily and Wendell and highly recommend this book.

5 stars / This review will be posted on goodreads.com today.

Heather Fawcett has done it again. This amazing followup to the first book, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Fairies, does not disappoint. If you love fantasy and fae, you will love this book.

When we left Emily in the first book, she’d returned from Ljosland and published her book. We pick up now at Cambridge where Emily now has tenure. She is also alongside her trusted grim, Shadow, and her dear coworker Wendell. Emily’s niece has joined as a student of dryadology.

Suddenly strange things start happening around campus. Wendell has been attacked. A strange man appears to Emily talking about ribbons and turns. Emily decides it is time to flee to Austria for their field research. Somehow Emily’s niece and the head of the department end up joining them on an adventure to find a famous dryadologist and her professor partner, and solve the mysteries of fairy doors.

These books are so much fun. Such a joy to read and immerse yourself in the world of fae. I can’t say enough about it. I loved the first and possibly the second even more!

What a delightful way to usher in 2024!

"Emily Wilde" is packed with mythology and fairy lore. Emily (mortal scholar) and Wendell (faerie king) are wonderful characters to journey with. Comparisons include Erin Morgenstern, Susanna Clarke, and one of my personal favorites, Marie Brennan. The details of the faerie world are as beautiful as the plot is compelling, and I was torn between reading fast to find out what happened next and taking my time to enjoy the sights and smells of the faerie forest.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I didn’t get the opportunity to finish this book but plan to go back to it when I have more time. What I did get through was interesting but hard to follow as I didn’t realize it was a sequel and I haven’t read the first book.

OMG, this book is an absolute delight! It's got everything you could ask for - cozy vibes, banter, darker faerie elements, and romance.
The writing is superb, and the academic journal format used in the series continues to work wonders, immersing the reader even more into the new adventure (while amusing Wendell to no end!).
But that's not all - we also get to see Emily and Wendell's relationship take a more central stage in the plot. Wendell's devotion to Emily is just heartwarming, and I was pleasantly surprised to see Emily finally confront her feelings for this gloriously vainglorious beam of sunlight (with a terrifyingly chaotic side).
And for those who are wondering, yes, his infamous cat finally makes an appearance!
Honestly, I can't wait for the third book in the series to come out. I'm already on the edge of my seat in anticipation!

I liked the first book in this series but I feel the second didn’t have enough romance to keep my interest, personally. I DNFed around 40%

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the ARC!

4.5/5 stars

This was such a great addition to an already wonderful series and I’m just in love. This sequel has higher stakes and more blood-pumping action than the first, but it’s still an amazing cozy read. It will make you sigh and smile but also there is murder and assassination attempts and poison and body parts being attached backwards and….well, you get the point.

Emily and Bambleby continue to have my WHOLE heart and Shadow continues to be the bestest boy. Ariadne and Rose are fascinating new characters and while they weren’t my favorites at first, they wormed their ways into my heart by the end and now I would absolutely (fictionally) die for either of them. Fawcett is so great at creating unique, colorful, just-plain-weird-yet-charming characters and it’s honestly my favorite thing about her writing.

Be prepared for very slow pacing and then a lot for action….slow, then fast - a lot with this book. If you’re in it for a character driven story with a common plot put on its head, you’re going to have a great time. If you want constant action and discoveries and just stuff….this might not be the series for you and that’s okay!

This has lovable quirky characters, an adorable romance, and vastly higher stakes than its predecessor while maintaining a warm hug feeling. I am absolutely head over heels for these books and hope you will be too!

There is more romance here compared to book one, but it is closed door and deals a lot with Emily trying to get her head around the idea of marrying a fae prince feared and revered

I preferred book one - the icy, yet cozy atmosphere Fawcett created filled with community, discovery, and hope flowed more naturally.

I also felt more endeared to Emily and her character and how I could relate to her.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! I loved the first one, and this was even better.

The biggest change, structurally, between this and the first book was that this one had a clear goal. You knew where the plot was going and what the characters were trying to do. The plot engine is more focused and tight.

What I really love in this is the journalling narration. It's so much from Emily's perspective that it provides room for reading between the lines. Emily is not the best at emotional introspection, so the reader gets to do it. I loved the game of reading between the lines, seeing what Emily missed and what she doesn't want to admit to herself.

If you liked the first book, I think you'll love this one. Highly recommended.

A video review including this book will be on my Youtube channel in the coming weeks, @ChloeFrizzle.

Thanks to Netgalley and Del Rey for a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.

Utterly charming. As was true in the first book, Emily Wilde's Map of Otherlands dips a toe into the actual lands of faerie while simultaneously capturing the most humorous, delightful relationships between the characters. Poe IS STILL my favorite Fae and I loved the absurdity of everything filtered through Emily's flat point of view. I actually liked this book more than the Encyclopaedia. It's written with the zest and vibrancy of Fairytales from my childhood. Fantastic sequel.