I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is such a joy- I liked the first book, but LOVED this one. It’s rare that the sequel is better than the first. 4.5 stars.

The way Fawcett writes is so flowing, I really feel immersed in her world. I loved every new introduction of the Fae and artifacts, which felt as though I was discovering them at the same time as Emily.

My two biggest complaints about the first book in the series (which I also liked, to be clear) was that it was a bit slow, and Emily’s character a little too cranky- this book does not have either of those problem. The pacing is much more consistent, maintaining intrigue and action, whilst also keeping with the cozy, low-stakes feel of the series. Emily’s character development is wonderful, feeling true to the character, but a little more relatable

I'll be back with a more detailed review closer to publication date. The only thing I can say now is that I loved the first book, but this one?

IT IS ON ANOTHER LEVEL. These books just keep getting better

I always think that I won't like Emily Wilde. I think that she's too slow paced or that I won't be interested. But then I read it and I get hooked. Emily and Wendell are so adorable and grumpy. She is set in her ways and scared and he is just his own self absorbed, smart goodness. In this second adventure, Emily is looking for the door to Wendell's home. And then he gets in trouble. Solving both of the problems leads them on another grand adventure. It's so romantic and sweet, but also quirky and fun and smart. I loved the addition of new side characters and a new faerie world. I enjoyed so much watching Emily grow through this story. Is there more? I don't know. But I sure hope so.

I do feel like this reads a little like a cozy mystery of sorts. I don't read a lot of them but this is slower paced and softer than a lot of fantasy/romance that I read. It's just right for a cup of coffee and a blanket.

Somehow I loved this even more than Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, and I didn’t think that was possible! This book was an absolute joy.

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands picks up a few months after the events of EWEoF. The story follows our beloved Emily and Wendell on more of their faerie-chasing adventures. Emily is now working on a map of the Otherlands, and she ends up in a small town in the Austrian Alps trying to uncover clues to solve a mystery (or two).

The writing in this book is so lovely! The scenery was described so vividly, I could practically feel the chill of the air myself. I felt entirely pulled into the story, so much so that I kept forgetting that I was reading. Something about the way Heather Fawcett writes just hypnotizes me.

In this book, we dive deeper into faerie artifacts, faerie doors, and faerie court complexities. I found myself constantly fascinated and excited to see what information Emily would uncover next. The faeries in this world are so mysterious, intriguing, and impossible to understand completely. It’s addictive!

The characters are still so lovable. I adore Emily and Wendell, both on their own and together (though of course I prefer them together, they are absolutely adorable). I found that the new characters introduced tugged on my heartstrings as well- especially Emily’s niece. I was thrilled to see Poe again, he is still my favorite!!

I would read 100 books about Emily’s crazy endeavors. Emily Wilde has stolen my whole heart!

As much as I have enjoyed this series, I always feel like there is some connection that is missing for me- like I am a shade removed from the story some how. However, this series is sweet and fun and I will continue recommending it.

I really enjoyed this book. I hope the author continues to write more books in the future. I can't wait to see what this author releases in the future.

Emily Wilde has been working on a new project to map out the Otherlands. However, her university life gets upended when assassins come in search of former academic rival and exiled faerie king Wendell Bambleby. Now Emily and Wendell must set off for the Austrian Alps in hopes of finding Wendell’s missing door to Faerie while evading dangerous foes before it’s too late.

Fawcett brings a fresh take to more recent fae inspired books by focusing on the more violent nature of faerie species. Emily continues to be a stubborn scientist preferring to focus on studying faeries over interacting with colleagues, her niece, and villagers. Emily proved that not every heroine needs to be bubbly and personable to have a successful story. I love the Fawcett uses the grumpy/sunshine trope — Wendell is the perfect balance to Emily’s nature. With that, I did enjoy watching Emily open up to her niece throughout the course of the story. I felt that the pacing of the plot moved along well between solving the mystery of ribbon man, skirmishes with various faeries, and the pursuit of Wendell’s door. Another element I really enjoy in this book is the use of journal entries to tell the story. It’s such a departure from most books that I read, but I find it works really well with this series. I particularly love the entry by Wendell. It’s such a stark contrast to Emily. I highly recommend picking this up if you’re into cozy fantasy, faeries, grumpy/sunshine, or slow burn romance.

I adored Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries and I was both excited and apprehensive to read this next one. I was not disappointed. This book was a complete delight. Emily, Wendell, and Shadow are back and this time they are joined by several new characters.

This book is a bedtime story for adults – all cozy, fun, and full of adventures and surprises, but also smart. The world Heather Fawcett has created is an authentic early 1900s United Kingdom – but with Fae. As in her first book, I have no idea of the accuracy of the Fae lore in this book, but neither did I care. It was all entirely believable and well-crafted, and I felt like I had a front row seat to the extensive Fae knowledge of Professor Emily Wilde. The book is written as Emily’s field journal which works incredibly well as a way to provide an extra layer of intimacy and authenticity.

Heather Fawcett does a great job of writing the character of Emily in a way that depicts her as independent, intelligent, and strong without also falling into the common trap of making her hard-nosed and unlikeable. Wendell, by contrast is flamboyant and enigmatic, but never crosses the line into foppish or annoying. As a couple, their banter and intellectual jousting is wonderful to read. In this book we get to know Wendell a little better and get our first look into his kingdom. I also appreciated that the storyline reconnects us with Poe, a charming character from her first book.

The storyline of this book comes to a satisfactory conclusion, but leaves that Faerie door wide open for the next adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with Emily and friends during this latest installment in her adventures and cannot wait to go back and visit – hopefully soon!

Special thanks to Random House Publishing, Ballantine, DelRey and Net Galley for an e-arc of this novel. Publication date Jan 16, 2024

This is book 2 of the Emily Wilde Series.

I gave book 1 ~ 5 stars. Book 2 only 3 stars. I flew threw book 1, however I found book 2 to be quite slow and just didn't contain my interest like book 1. It's still a good read if you want to continue the series, then you should try it.

A solid sequel to Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands, which was one of my favorite fantasy books of the last year. In this book we get to explore a different corner of both the fae and human world, an alpine village where the residents have a more understanding relationship with the local faeries but still treat them with guarded respect. The main focus of the story is the search for the door to Wendell’s kingdom in Faerie, which he must find in order to stop his mother’s attempts to assassinate him as a claimant to the throne. This all sounds very epic fantasy in concept, but you must remember it’s undertaken by a group of Cambridge scholars, this time expanding to include Emily’s overeager niece Ariadne and the disdainful Professor Rose, Wendell and Emily’s traditionalist department head. Major conflicts are initially differences in scholarly approach to research and clashes of personality, but the peril soon escalates as the dangerous and mercurial fae of the region are stirred up by the researchers. The search soon evolves to include the trails of two decades-lost dryadologists who disappeared on their own scholarly ventures in the area, and it’s up to (mostly) Emily to trace the ribbons of connection to their sources and face the weird and fantastical answers to their questions.

Heather Fawcett does another wonderful job of bringing the setting to life. I wish there’d been even more explanatory footnotes in this one, they’re my favorite. I really enjoyed the clashes with Professor Rose and the eventual understanding he and Emily come to. I wasn’t as completely hyped on/absorbed by this book as I was by the first one, but it’s still excellent.

Once again, Emily Wilde and her enchanting adventures have transported me into a world where faerie impossibility meets practical reality. Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands is the second tale of her scholarly escapades with fellow dryadologist (and love interest) Wendell Bambleby. This time Emily is on the hunt for a special doorway to another world, and she seems to have bit off a bit more than she can chew. It turns out the Alps are rife with faerie portals, murderous Folk, and exquisite scenery at every turn! But Professor Wilde is nothing if not stubborn and dedicated to her research, and so begins her search for a doorway that shouldn't exist...

One of the (myriad) things I find outstanding about Heather Fawcett's writing is her sense of place. Her descriptions of the setting are so exceptional it made me want to buy a plane ticket to Austria just to see the views for myself (and try to catch a glimpse of a brownie or two). Emily and Wendell are both delightfully imperfect and quirky, and I adore their top-notch banter and mutual trust. The action and adventure do not disappoint, and I loved reading about the different folk hiding in the ridges and valleys of Austria. This book feels like a warm hug, even though it's set in the chilly and rather foreboding mountains! I consider it soul food of the highest quality and already want to re-read. I can only hope that this isn't the last of Emily's adventures, and I happily volunteer to be her new assistant if Ariadne ever needs a sabbatical!

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group for providing me an advance reading copy of Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands. I will post this review two weeks before release on January 2nd, 2024!
My review is, as always, truthful and unbiased, and I hope it helps introduce readers to new books they will love!

Emily Wilde remains as prickly as ever in her latest adventure. Picking up where the last book left off, with Emily and Wendell in search of his door, the book adds Emily's erstwhile niece and a grumpy colleague from Cambridge to the gang as they set off for the Alps in the hopes of finding Wendell a way home just as his stepmother starts to hunt him outside of Faerie. Never a dull moment in this books and the world building continues to be top notch as it grows this alternative Victorian world more with each installment.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

For me there is a special kind of fantasy that isn’t cozy per se—there’s too much danger, violence, & disappearances etc for that—but that feels cozy because it’s so quirky & whimsical.

The Emily Wilde series by Heather Fawcett has Fae—sometimes cruel, sometimes helpful, depending on a bunch of factors including their mercurial personalities.

It also has suspense, humans who are often trying to live their lives without bringing the wrath of the Fae upon them, & an amazing protagonist named Emily Wilde who is brilliant, amazingly resourceful & quick on her feet, brave, not terribly skilled in engaging in social interactions but very aware of this (as well as aware of lots of other undercurrents many wouldn’t notice), & an all around fierce explorer of Fae & their culture.

Accompanying her is Wendell, a Fae ruler who was deposed & happens to be someone she kissed in book 1 (!).

Like in book 1, the interplay between charming Wendell & practical Emily in book 2, Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands, is amazing. Both of them are occasionally snarky toward the other but in a way that makes it clear they actually find the mannerism endearing; both of them clearly find spending time together wonderful even though they are very different in some ways (& similar in others).

Even more amazing for me is Emily Wilde’s writing style as relays her adventures in the diary we get to read. I could read them every day, & the sense of intimacy they create—particularly when we get Wendell’s POV—amps up the immediacy of the contentment, the adventure, & sometimes the sense of peril.

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is another fabulous adventure that captured my heart & imagination & I’m so excited to read more in this series & more by this author in general!

5 ⭐️. Out 01/16.

[ID: Jess’s white hand holds the ebook in front of a river view.]

Fans of Emily Wilde rejoice! For we have another exciting adventure with Emily and Wendell, and this one is just as, if not better, than the first!

Emily's journey takes her to the Swiss Alps this time, with yet another charming cast of characters in tow. I was so overjoyed to see the return of some of my favorite characters from the first book, as well as getting to make some new acquaintances. I just LOVE Fawcett's characters. I think she does such a great job of fleshing them out with all their little quirks. My reading experience is always filled with smiles, appreciating the witty dialogue and clever asides.

These books feel like grown-up fairy stories in the BEST possible way. Mushroom rings, secret fairie doors, enchanted fairie objects. Emily Wilde has my dream job, and I will settle for living vicariously through her journals. Can't wait to see what's in store for Emily and Wendell next, and I will follow wherever they go!

This book is so magical. It totally lives up to the first book! Emily and Wendell have my heart forever.
Their adventure in Australia is captivity magical and atmospheric.
Heather Fawcett can do no wrong.
I highly recommend 🧚‍♀️🧚✨✨

Another engrossing adventure for Emily Wilde! I loved this next edition in the series and her unique perspective told through her journal entries. You’re really rooting for her in spite of, or because of, her “curmudgeonly” nature. The expanded world building of faerie and Dryadology was everything I wanted. HIGHLY recommend the continuation of this series and can’t wait for the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Heather Fawcett for sending me this eARC. Wow, this book is the epitome of cozy fantasy and cute moments, especially between Emily and Wendell. I was smiling to the end. I adore how Heather writes her books, in the form of scholarly diary entries, it will never fail to pull me in. This book did NOT suffer from second-book syndrome and did an excellent job tying the first book to the second way, doing it in a way that felt like it didn't fall flat. I'm in love with the characters of Wendell and Emily, and watching their relationship finally progress, just felt like finally finishing a puzzle and watching all the pieces fall into place. Emily's prickly personality with Wendell's charm is a chef's kiss.
I'll be honest, I was worried having Rose and Ariadne join on the adventure, would take away from the main characters. Would they bog them down? But, I was pleasantly surprised by both characters and really enjoyed watching Emily warm up to her young, energetic niece, learn how to outwardly show her affection, albeit very minimally, and learn how to accept the help and company of others.
I cannot wait for the third book and hope I get the opportunity to experience another ARC.

I loved "Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries," so it was a no brainer to request the digital arc from NetGalley in order to review the next book in the series. Thankfully my request was approved and here is my honest review:

After publishing her Encyclopedia of Faeries, Emily Wilde is back at Cambridge teaching dryadology to eager students and contemplating a proposal. While Emily doesn't question her attraction to the handsome Wendell Bambleby, she isn't sure if she can marry a fairy, especially a member of the high court. When Wendell's mother sends assassins to Cambridge, it becomes clear that Wendell needs to find the backdoor into his court and reclaim his throne, and Emily is the only one who can help him. Emily, being the genius that she is, not only has an idea where this door could be but is planning her next book "Maps of the Otherlands." Can she help Wendell find his door in time? Will she finally answer his proposal?

Impressions

The latest adventures of Professor Emily Wilde are a mix of high fantasy, a touch of mystery, and a surprising dose of coziness, especially considering that this book can be a bit gory at times. I mean, Emily is basically using a severed fairy foot as a map to find the door back into Wendell's kingdom.

The level of graphic injury that Emily and her compatriots endure is jarring when you read it expecting a cozy fantasy. Yet, I still find it a welcomed change from all the "hot fae" books that have saturated the bookstore. In Emily's world, the fairies should not be trusted. They usually lure unsuspecting humans into their world, use them until they are bored of them, and then leave their victims to a horrific fate. Whether or not any fairy can be trusted is a recurrent theme in this book as Emily contemplates accepting Wendell's proposal, all the while being subjected to constant reminders and warnings about the true nature of fairies. Professor Rose, a cranky colleague from the university who goes on this trip with Emily and Wendell under the guise of academia, has his true intention to protect Emily from being lured into Fairy by Wendell, whom he doesn't trust now that he knows Wendell is a high fae.

This book is ambitious: there is a quest, a half-century-long missing person case, constant peril, and a proposal hanging in the balance. However, Heather Fawcett does a great job juggling all of these plot points, creating a perfectly balanced story. Highly Recommend

I am absolutely delighted by Heather’s second installment in this series!! I feel like she really solidified the characters and the story line in this one, and I loved every minute - I’d say this is definitely my favorite of the two. I can picture both Emily and Wendell so clearly, and the addition of Farris and Ariadne really rounded out this group, but then the returning characters I was so excited to read about again made me so happy!! Strong return to this world, and i hope to read more adventures of this reticent Faerie queen!!

It's cozy, it's mysterious, and there's faeries. What more could you ask for? It was a little more intense, I feel, than the first one but it was all and all really good. I enjoyed the vibes and it was definitely something I wanted/needed to read during the fall season. I love Fawcett's writing and look forward to more of their work.