This was a very enjoyable read! This book takes place shortly after the first one so I strongly recommend readers read Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries first.
In this book, Emily is working on a new scholarly project about the Fair Folk when Wendell’s family problems come into play. In the form of faerie assassins. Soon Emily and Wendell are whisked away on another adventure to try and set things right.
I really liked the plot of this book, and found it just as enjoyable of a read as the first book, if not more. I loved Emily and Wendell’s continual evolution of their relationship as they worked to help Wendall and solve a few mysteries along the way. I loved getting to know more about Wendell and about faeries in general. As always, Fawcett manages to weave an amazingly intricate world of faeries and humans living alongside each other that’s both magical and threatening. As with the first book, I’m left with the feeling that I wish I could live in the world of the book but am also glad I don’t. I’m especially glad that things were wrapped up enough to give this story a satisfying ending, but left open enough for future installments.
4 stars

This book is another entertaining entry into Emily Wilde's adventures. It's the sequel to "Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries" written by Heather Fawcett. The story continues as folklorist Emily Wilde and the fairy king, Wendell Bambleby seek the nexus or doorway from this world into the fairy kingdom to save an academic long trapped there. Joining them on this expedition is Rose, a stodgy scholar, and Emily's niece, Ariadne. The book depicts a spell binding world filled with dangerous creatures and many twists and turns. Emily uses her knowledge of stories and folklore to maneuver successfully through it, In this heroine's journey she both saves her love and finds the entrance into his land - a story that will be continued in the next book of the series. The book is best when Emily and Wendell are together, each attempting to make sense of the other's world and their relationship. And it is that dynamic that will bring the reader back to the series yet again.

The sequel to Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands is a a masterful continuation of Emily and Wendell's story beginning some months after their return to Cambridge. Emily is happily working on her next project, a comprehensive map of Faery places, and teaching her usual classes. She's picked up a new assistant, her niece Ariadne, and she's wrestling with whether she really wants to marry a member of the Folk, particularly an exiled member of the Royal Court of one of the most dangerous Fae realms in Ireland. When Wendell's stepmother sends assassins to Cambridge to take him out before he can challenge her for the throne, Emily decides the best way to keep Wendell alive is to begin her next research sabbatical in the Austrian Alps. She's determined to find a back door into Wendell's realm, fallowing the footsteps of famous researchers who disappeared in the area some fifty years earlier. Unfortunately, her prime rival at Cambridge is also the head of her department, Professor Farris Rose, who invites himself along on the journey, to Emily's protest. Emily has to contend with frightening, people-eating Faery creatures, a niece she doesn't know how to manage from a personal or professional perspective, a boss who highly disapproves of her relationship with a High Court Fae, and an ill colleague/partner who keeps asking her to marry him. It's an adventure full of complications.

I have to say, I adored this book. Fawcett's writing is incredibly witty, her characters all grow and have their own space to take up without feeling like a supporting cast, and she's built a superbly blended world of academia and myth. Oh the commentary on the pedantic aspects of court politics and academia is just as fun to read as Emily's socially awkward inability to make a decent first impression. I laughed out loud more than once, and am wholly satisfied by the ending. I usually try to critique something in a story, but honestly I just can't with this book. I loved every line, I think Fawcett's writing is lyrical and completely engaging, and I lost sleep reading, which is the highest compliment I can give any writer.

I read both of the Emily Wilde series through NetGalley ARC, but these are both books I have (or will have when released) hard copies on my limited shelf space at home. This is a five star novel, and I can't wait for book three, which I hope is in the works. If you want a fabulous adventure with magic, danger, otherworldly animals, drama, a little romance, and a whole load of smartass conversation with a no-nonsense woman at the center, this series is for you. Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands will be released in January, 2024.

Thank you, NetGalley and Del Rey, for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

I’m not sure when the term “cozy fantasy” first came on my radar. Like any genre, it means different things to different people. The Emily Wilde series is my definition of cozy fantasy.

Unlike others in this newly defined genre, Emily Wilde is not without plot or stakes. There’s assassins, adventures, and academic rivalry. Academic settings are always a hit for me, so I was a bit disappointed not to see more into Emily’s academic career, but that’s on me. This book is about other things. It’s possibly more personal and less academic than the first book, and that’s not a bad thing. It provides Emily’s character with more charm and heart, and we get to see more of the adorable Wendell.

I can’t help but love to watch a curmudgeonly woman older than 19 in the lead role, complete with increased romance and a deeper exploration of the fae world that Fawcett created. Now there’s only one problem: I received this book as an ARC, which means I will have to wait an incredibly long time before the next installment! (There’s going to be another, right?!)

Heather Fawcett can do no wrong in my eyes at this point. This book was wonderful! Kept my attention and I would definitely recommend to others.

Emily's Wilde Map of the Otherlands is an enchanting delight. I love the characters, and the connection between them. I was really looking forward to another book by Heather Fawcett, and it didn't disappoint!
It's a whimsical world, and I'm grateful for a brief glimpse!

I received this ARC in return for an honest review! Thank you NetGalley!

I was so excited when I saw I received the ARC for this book. Book one was one of my favorites of 2022, and thus I went into book two with high expectations. Needless to say I was not disappointed!

Emily, Wendall and Shadow return in this book alongside a new cast of characters. I absolutely loved watching the relationship between Em and Wendall grow, they are so cute together and their banter is so carefree. I adore the notion that they would do anything for each other and even if it puts their life in danger. It is just such a sweet love. I must say one of the funniest things to me is how mad Wendall is that he was poisoned on his birthday, not the fact that he was poisoned but because it was on his birthday 🤣

Along with the main three we have our spooky and fun Fae. Poe returns and is as always and absolute delight, I love his growing character development and can’t wait to see more of him! Snowbell was a spooky and funny addition, especially when he snows out of nowhere to help just because he wants to go on a quest. Orga is wonderful because well, she’s a royal cat and I adore cats.

I honestly adore the mix of history, lore and research that is in this book, you can tell it is a labor of love for the author. I can not wait to see what other adventures await our beloved main characters in books to come!

I cannot say enough good things about this series. It's a breath of fresh air compared to so many fantasy series out there and such a unique take of the fantasy genre. This second installment of Heather Fawcett's is just as clever as the first in the series. I love that we, as the readers, are acting as flies on the walls by reading Emily's journal entries as she, once more, does research after her highly successful Encyclopedia of Faeries. But on top of her research, her and Wendell have an ulterior motive - to find the nexus and a way back into Wendell's kingdom.

For starters, the banter and connection between Emily and Wendell are as good as ever. Emily with her inability to show her feelings or inhabit any sort of tact while Wendell is charming and despises dust. It's wonderful. A few new characters add nicely to the plot, especially Emily's niece - Ariadne. I really enjoyed her character.

I also loved that Fawcett changed things up from the first novel when it came to the footnotes. In the first book, the footnotes were at the end of the chapter and I couldn't remember what they were referencing to. In this second book, the footnotes were on the same page and much easier to follow along - especially as a fellow scientist, I like reading footnotes (although they aren't necessary to understand the plot of the book).

If you liked Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries, be prepared to fall in love with Emily and Wendell all over again. For what is usually a disappointment after a first book in the series gets a lot of hype, Map of the Otherlands exceeds all expectations.

Heather Fawcett's writing is so whimsical and enchanting. This series has a way of drawing you in immediately with charming characters, witty banter, comedic relief, and just the right amount of drama. This second installment didn't quite live up to the first to me; it was missing a bit of the found family and community aspect the first had. It also would often just drop convenient solutions to their problems into the middle of a chapter. That said, I still very much enjoyed this and will continue to read the upcoming books in this delightful series.

𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸? 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘵. 𝘏𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘴 𝘐 𝘥𝘰, 𝘌𝘮, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘐 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩: 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥, 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.

Book 2 in the Emily Wilde series was my most anticipated read for 2024, and I was so happy to be granted an ARC to review!

Map of The Otherlands continues on from where we left off in Book 1 in the familiar journal entry style. We see Wendell and Emily on a quest to locate a faerie door that will grant them access to the realm of the Silva Lupi, after Wendell was attacked by faerie assassins at Cambridge. Also, Emily still has to work on a new book despite the chaos. It's almost comedic to see their different personalities in how they deal with the situation at hand but they are still loveable nonetheless.

This new journey has them taking along a Head of Department from Cambridge, and Emily's niece, chasing down a spectre with ribbons on their journey to a find a magical door. There are a great deal of new characters lovable and fleeting alike, that add to the colourful journey of their quest. I did find that the ribbon quest was a bit anticlimatic once it was resolved. And there was also no mention of the scholarly impact of the appearance of the characters from that quest.

I was glad to see a reappearance of Poe from the first book, who I have started to grown fond of. It was also nice to see another native fae from the new land they visited, take to Emily and joined the motley crew, despite being a really creepy bloodthirsty creature.

Emily is much stronger in some ways than before and recklessly or bravely barges into Faerie more times than I can count. It was overall, more action packed than the first book as we get to see the plot escalate, setting everything up for the next journey (Book 3!) with bigger, and more formidable allies.

I'm glad for the much needed treat to get a journal entry written by Wendell so we can see things from his perspective, which are always more flowery and emotional compared to Emily's entries. The dynamics between them have changed greatly since the first book and I'm excited to see where the third book will take them.

I was so excited to dive back into this cozy, enchanting tale with Em and Bambleby. If you’re a fan of dark faerie magic, found family, romance, and big lovable dogs then you’ll need to check this series out. It’s comforting and whimsical and I loved getting lost in this magical world Fawcett has created.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book! I loved Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries & Map of the Otherlands was no different. This book covers Emily & Wendel's journey to find the door to Wendel's realm, bringing on another loveable cast of characters and even some of our favorites from book one.
Right away, the book began adventurous & whimsical, even more so than the first, which I enjoyed. As the book went on, I grew to like Wendel more and more (kind of wanting one for myself). I really enjoyed the writing style and how Emily was brought to life through her diary. I loved all the descriptions and world-building, making you feel as if you are truly there with Emily & Wendel.
There was definitely more action here than in book one and I found myself enjoying it more than the first - which is a lot because I thoroughly enjoyed book one. I did wish that some of the secondary characters were more prominent within the story, but I enjoyed them nonetheless. There was one part towards the end of the book that I felt was a little rushed, but I am hoping that we get more insight into it in book three, which I cannot wait for!
I love being able to step into Emily & Wendel's world (plus I just love Shadow & Poe). I can't wait to see what book three has in store for them after the ending of this one!

4.5☆ (rounded up to a 5) the chokehold the first book had on me has still not let me go! Wendell and Em are even more amazing than they were in the first! The banter - the sass - the jokes - I was laughing so loud during some parts and screeching during others!

Such a cozy and magical read! I will be (not so patiently) waiting for the 3rd and final installment. If you love magic, faeries, slow burns, dramione, and sass you NEED to read this!

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands
Written By Heather Fawcett
Release Date January 16, 2024


‘ When mysterious faeries from other realms appear at her university, curmudgeonly professor Emily Wilde must uncover their secrets before it’s too late, in this heartwarming, enchanting second installment of the Emily Wilde series.”


WOW! Fawcett has managed to continue to write amazingly awesome books and sure enough this one is a hit. I find it well written and very interesting how this particular book can impress upon many who never thought they would enjoy this type of writings. I myself am more of a mystery thriller type reader yet when I read the blurb for this book,I wished for iIt here on NetGalley just to see what it was all about. I was delighted when I saw that my wish was granted.

There are several fairytales that flow together with legends and lore. Emily Wilde is our protagonist and she is very knowledgeable in faeries. So much so she has just written an encyclopedia about them. We also meet another character Wendell Bambleby. Both being scholars and at one time rivals, things have changed for the two. Romance loom’s possibly in the future but for now Emily has work to do. A map of the realms of faerie. Bambleby has a dark history with his family. One he wants to be free of. So the two set off to the Austrian Alps in search of Bambleby realm to free him from his family’s plans.

I feel as though you could read this book as a stand-alone BUT if you enjoyed this one, you will really want to read the first one. The authors descriptive words and ideas are beautiful and endearing. The way everything flows together is captivating and perfect. Fawcett has done something most authors in this genre could only wish for, she tells a story that encompasses so much and so many worlds of fantasies and does so with hallucinatory ways that keep the reader enthralled and entertained in the book. This book is magical one otherworldly. Unlike anything you will read again.

5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

Heather Fawcett does it again. With the same charm and action, the second book of the Emily Wilde series hit a similar sweet spot. Admittedly I was anxious about whether Map of the Otherlands may land. And it did in spades.

A continuation to Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, Otherlands started out similarly for me. I already knew I enjoyed and cared about the characters, and it still lagged in the beginning. Like the first, it took me about the first hundred pages to get invested and into the action. I thought Fawcett introduced the action a little earlier this time, which helped me he involved sooner.

I will never cease to be impressed with the creative ways Fawcett comes up for Emily to get out of a sticky situation. Emily is a brilliant character and can rely on her own wits to survive.

I enjoyed the slight romance element continued from book one as well. It was unexpected initially, though it really brought me into the story in a different way.

At first I felt a bit dissatisfied by the ending. However, I take it all back now that I know a third is coming. I left wanting more and am so excited to anticipate the next.

Thanks as always to Net Galley, Heather Fawcett, and Random House Publishing House - Ballantine for welcoming me to share my thoughts in exchange for an advanced reader copy. Looking forward to reviewing the final installment!

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for allowing me to read this copy early!

I'll admit - I had not read the first book in this series before this one, but I am very impressed at the author's ability to make Map of the Otherlands an exciting adventure all on it's own! It certainly caused me to put the first book on my shelf, and I'm excited to read it.

Summary: Scholar and explorer of all things Folk , Emily Wilde is off again on another journey, this time to find the door to the kingdom of Silva Lupi. Emily and her band of companions - the faerie king Wendell, looking for his lost throne; the head of the Cambridge department of dryadology and curmudgeonly slight-antagonist Rose; Emily's energetic and bright-eyed niece Ariadne; and of course her dear companion, a hound of hell and grim, Shadow - head off to the Alps in search of a mythical portal and two lost souls who vanished in the search for it. There's action, adventure, lore, and romance - and a whole lot of cleaning.

Review: Overall I really enjoyed the descriptive prose in this book and the melding of multiple fairytales and legends. Personally it never felt like any one arc dragged on, and the scholarly language is what gives Emily her character. If I could take cottagecore academia (that's what the kids on TikTok call it right?) and put it into novel form, this would be it. I enjoyed all of the characters, even the side ones like the villagers and Snowbell, and each personality that every one brought. There were times during prose where it was a bit confusing, however I attribute this to the unreliable narrator - we read this story through Emily's journal, and her encounters with the Folk and within Faerie can seem jumbled and hazy. The author does a great job of portraying this while still conveying the major plot points. We know what happened, but upon trying to recollect exactly how, it seems ethereal.

I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a cozy, Fae fall/winter read that isn't quite so heavy as some other fantasy romances out there. I look forward to the continuation of Emily's adventures in the next installment!

I was beyond thrilled to be approved for an advanced copy of the highly anticipated sequel to Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries. I am happy to report it does not disappoint.

Cozy fantasy titles have a new, soon to take the book world by storm, addition with “Emily Wilde’s: Map of the Otherlands.”

We live in a fast paced world. Facet has an incredible ability to pull you into her world of fantasy like its something you could see yourself if you just step back and slow down. This second book picks up with Emily and Wendell continuing to look for Wendell’s door. You see your favorite companions from the first book as well as meet some new faces.
The stakes are higher for our main pair making this venture more personal as opposed to academic. There’s still the tracing of older stories to navigate our cast closer to their goals. So if you enjoyed that aspect of world building, you’ll get more of it this time round. We also explore their romance a bit more. I'm so happy that the author is taking her time in developing it. It’s so much more satisfying.
I adore this world. I can not wait to curl up with it again as a physical copy when it hits shelves in January 2024.

I thoroughly enjoyed book 1 and book 2 was just as great!

I love the feel good vibes that Heathers writing gives and the classic folklore involved in her stories. While keeping the creepy vibes strong at certain points the cottage core vibes still held strong.

I haven’t devoured a book this fast in a while now which is a telling sign of how much I loved it.

Emily and Wendell are off to figure out a mystery and find his door. Emily is faced with people who seem out to get her but we get to see her fiery and feisty self make its appearance. Emily basically gets 2 birds with one stone with this quest.

I certainly hope we have another book as they travel into Wendell’s realm!

Thank you, Random House, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I want to live in Emily Wilde's world. I don't even need to live in the Faerie world, just in Emily Wilde's world. Heather Fawcett's world-building is incredible. Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands seamlessly expands on the world introduced in the first book of the series, Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries. The faeries are more ominous and Emily Wilde's relationships, with Wendell and with others, are expanding. This book felt faster-paced to me than the first, maybe because I was more scared of these faeries.

I'm struggling with what to say next because I loved so much about this book and these characters. Characters from the first book even made an appearance, making it feel like I'd never left Emily Wilde's world.

May I quote Heather Fawcett herself to conclude this review and explain how much I love this book?
"Yet I found myself returning to the memory throughout the day, as a person might absently touch a favoured piece of jewelry."

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

Dare I say that this book was even better than the first of the series?

I am a huge fan of the Encyclopaedia of Faeries, and I was eager to read an advanced copy of the Map of the Otherlands.

Once again, Heather Fawcett delivers an enchanting story in a world full of whimsy, adventure, and mystery. The writing is immersive, and the first-person narrative of Emily’s journal entries feels so authentic.

I continue to adore both Emily and Wendell, and I look forward to visiting their world again in book three.

Thank you Net Galley and Del Rey Books for the advanced review copy. Opinions are my own.