This was a very charming fantasy with great settings and impressive world building. The romance is a bit hazy and it definitely reads as YA. The characters are simple and the quest lacks any real suspense because the MC triumphs so easily. But sometimes stories like this hit just right. The capacity for the universe that this author has built is endless. She has multiple potential mortal realms to explore as well by virtue of the setup. I hope her characters gain more depth over time.

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands is a delightful continuation of the series. If you're looking for a cozy fantasy, this is a great series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I am really enjoying this series and looking forward to more. This book was better than the first and I loved the persnickety, competent, and (maybe neurodivergent) Emily even more in this book. While this book had a lot more excitement and action, my only complaint was that the pacing was still a bit off for me. Like there were things that I was anticipating reader and it wouldn’t happen for 3-4 more chapters after I expected it. The visual imagery, descriptions and worlds she creates are absolutely stunning though and it was an absolute pleasure to get lost in this world again.

many, many thanks to random house and netgalley for access to this title! expected publishing date is jan 16, 2024.

i apologize ahead of time, i have a lot of thoughts and this will be fairly long.

3.5 ⭐️ i will admit i went into this sequel with very high hopes, as emily wilde’s encyclopedia of faeries is currently my favorite and most loved read of 2023. i don’t want to say it didn’t live up to the standards i had, but it took a looooong time for it to get there. i went back and forth on whether to give this 3 or 4 stars, as the last third of the book really made up for the rest, but ultimately i’ll round down to 3.

<b>tldr:</b> a sequel with great potential that didn’t quite live up to my hype for it. it lacked the same depth as the first one, and although there is character development, it’s few and far between. i still liked the book and would recommend if you enjoyed the first one. i’m eager for more information on the next book and what the conclusion to a series most close to my heart will entail :’)

full review:
it starts off strong with almost immediate action as were thrown back into their cozy cambridge setting, as wendell’s stepmother has sent assassins after him. still looking for his elusive door and eager to flee for fear of a second attack, they travel to the austrian alps with their superior, professor rose, and emily’s niece ariadne. the next 60~% of the book was so clustered with random, sporadic things happening and getting resolved promptly - some of which added to the main story, but others i felt were a bit convoluted. i didn’t feel as captivated by the setting or characters in this book, at times it felt like it lacked depth, and throughout the beginning-middle i felt it wasn’t believable as a journal.

our new supporting characters both added to the plot in different ways: professor rose, emily and wendell’s superior who, in the beginning, intends to get them fired based on his belief that they lied about their time in ljosland. due to his expertise in the areas they’re traveling to, he joins the expedition, if not only to keep an eye on them (wendell, really lol). regarding his place in the story, i felt it was a nice, interesting addition that maybe didn’t live up to its full potential. now ariadne, on the other hand…

ariadne is new to the field of dryadology after initially wanting to be a dressmaker, but finally following her heart. she joins in their research excursion, a warm, happy girl, though usually quiet and anxious when she’s in the presence of her aunt emily. there was so much potential in their relationship and in ariadne in general, but by the end of the book it felt like there was little to no actual development between the two of them, or for her character at all. they rarely interact, as emily almost always snaps at her, rendering ariadne usually afraid to be in her presence. they do end up going on quite a journey together as ariadne finally “stands up” to her aunt, but with so little development to show for it!! from how emily finally made friends with the girls in ljosland, i thought she would have developed a different view of relationships (especially one with her niece, who looks up to her above all else!), but alas. she could’ve just been a filler character, if they weren’t made to be blood related. i’m hopeful that she may play a bigger part in the next title.

and of course, emily and wendell. the first book was filled with banter and i, MYSELF felt the pining through the book! it came up short in this area, and while there were some nice moments, their scenes and communication overall lacked the depth the first book brought.

i will end this review saying that i still enjoyed the book. the last 30~35% fully captured my interest and attention and brought back the same wonder of the first book. i’m very much looking forward to see how the story will end (?) in the next book.

The first eight words of Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands was all I needed to see to know this was a book I couldn't wait to read! Talk about a hook! I had to know the who, what, when, where, and why of this second installment of the Emily Wilde series. There were so many plot twists flowing naturally one into the other, it kept me reading to find out what was going to happen. Heather Fawcett's world building and descriptive language gave me clear pictures in my mind of the different settings in this story.
I love Emily and the personal growth she experiences throughout the book, building relationships with others and learning it is okay to need help. Emily and Wendell's relationship showed how opposites can attract and then help each person to be a better version of themself, and the sacrifices they made for each other show what it truly means to love someone and want the best for them. Witty conversation between the characters definitely added to my enjoyment of the book, along with the fantastical elements.
If you enjoy fantastical elements, witty banter, a plot that continues to surprise, and all the good feelings in your reading, this book is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I find most good books are difficult to write reviews for. And that stands true with this novel as well. While not as strongly constructed as the first book, this sequel carried plenty of charm, misadventure, and twisty-turny faerie magic (and faerie sass!) to keep the reader turning page after page.

As a huge fan of the epistolary form in my childhood, reembracing it as an adult has been a wonderful experience, especially through Heather Fawcett’s writing. I found book one to be both whimsical and academic, and truly captured Emily Wilde’s voice in an all-encompassing way. That stands true for this sequel, although I found it to be less whimsical and more focused on the academic side of Emily’s voice. Which made a lot of sense, considering she was trying to track down an impossible task: a nexus, otherwise known as a faerie door, that can transport someone to multiple rounds. While I did miss the whimsical, softer tones of book one occasionally, I can say that I learned many new vocabulary words thanks to this book!

I’ll admit, I went into this book anticipating a plot that jumped around similarly to book one. In the first book, the way the plot jumped around completely made sense—faeries are chaotic creatures, after all, so it’s understandable to expect some form of constant chaos to follow the characters. But, that chaotic rambling through the various subplots wasn’t the case in book two. In fact, the plot was rather straightforward, which was unexpected. There weren’t as many pivots into side quests—although the one where Emily visited our dear, beloved Poe absolutely melted my heart and I do hope we see even more of him in book three!—which I surprisingly missed. Although I did love that this plot felt more personal to Emily, even if she wouldn’t want to admit it herself, as she tried to help Wendell find his way back to his home realm.

I never believed myself to be a fan of subtle romance until I picked up this trilogy. Because, oh my god, does this soft romance between Emily and Wendell make me giddy with joy. These two will absolutely burn the world down for each other and that’s what makes the tension work. Fawcett knows how to sprinkle in the right number of tender moments and relationship development to keep the reader wanting more, without making the romance the absolute focus of the story. And I was very impressed by that romance control. If the romance took too much over the plot, it wouldn’t feel like an Emily Wilde novel. After all, she isn’t a soft character, but a clever, analytical one. Anything bringing the romance into a sharp focus would pull the novel out of its characterization, which further proves that the sprinkling of romance is the perfect amount for this trilogy.

I can’t help but feel that this book would be utterly enchanting in audiobook form. I listened to book one partially on audio and read the rest physically, but having that narration really took the story to another level. I cannot wait to reread this book in audiobook form, to see if that adds yet another layer of magical enchantment to the tale.

Overall, I deeply enjoyed this novel! Book one is still my favorite, but this is one of the stronger sequels I’ve read in a very long time. I cannot wait to see how Emily and Wendell’s adventure wraps up in book three.

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

𝒜𝑅𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌 𝑜𝒻 𝐸𝓂𝒾𝓁𝓎 𝒲𝒾𝓁𝒹𝑒’𝓈 𝑀𝒶𝓅 𝑜𝒻 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒪𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝓁𝒶𝓃𝒹𝓈, 𝐵𝓎: 𝐻𝑒𝒶𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝐹𝒶𝓌𝒸𝑒𝓉𝓉 (spoiler free)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tropes:
🧚 slow burn
🧚 mystery
🧚 cozy, autumnal, cottage core vibes
🧚 historical fantasy
🧚 opposites attract
🧚 faerie realms
🧚 adventure in the alps

I was so pleased to find that this sequel built wonderfully upon the ground covered in EWEoF. The stakes are higher world building more expansive with a bit of a darker turn.

In this installment Emily and Wendell must search for a hidden faerie door as well as tracking down a missing fellow dryadologist in the process.

I loved that the setting remained just as magical as its predecessor and the plot remained solid. All of the cozy, cottagecore vibes remained. I enjoyed the introduction of new side characters (and reappearance of some old faces) and felt that they helped the story be more well rounded. I appreciated the folklore approach to fae and magic remained consistent to the first book as well as our MCs personalities and actions.

I adored the progression of Emily and Wendell’s relationship. I will never tire of Wendell openly obsessing over how brilliant Emily is. I loved seeing Emily a bit feral in a deeply cerebral, academic way and watching herself battle over her feelings for Wendell. I also enjoyed seeing her growth because of having to face challenges that were out of her comfort zone.

This was an excellent sequel that I highly suggested if you enjoyed EWEoF. The cliffhanger ending has me eager to find out how their story progresses in the third installment of the series!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing an eARC of this title in exchange for a honest review.

Publication date: 16 Jan, 2024

I absolutely adored this novel!
The characters are so warm and familiar! I love Emily & Wendell! If you enjoyed the first installment of the series than you will absolutely enjoy this! If you have not read the first book than you should! I was privileged to receive a very early arc from netgalley.

I very much enjoyed this book. And I am hoping there will be a third!

Parts did feel a bit too convenient at times, but honestly I didn't mind. (Like, here's a convenient compass that we don't know what it does, but suddenly we do and it's specifically helpful at the right moment?}

I loved seeing inside fairy and all the types of creatures Emily met, and I desperately want more in the next book, if there is one. I still love Wendell, even with all of his whining and complaining. I was worried I wouldn't like either of the two new side characters, but they really weren't too bad.

I also liked the journaling aspect of this book. I don't think I ever have before or I've been indifferent to it, but it's done in such a way that it's prefect for this story. I think it helped present the first person POV in a much more unique way. I find when I read first person POVs the characters can't help but feel a bit similar (at least in an over all general sense), but Emily felt very unique.

This is also one of those books that I would probably reread and at the same time not feel the need to if there is a next volume- as I think I'll remember it well enough that I wouldn't have to.

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands is everything I wanted from the sequel to Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries. Emily continues to be delightfully relatable, Brambleby disarmingly charming, and their relationship exactly what you want out of an opposites attract romance. In addition, the adventure is highly engaging as they attempt to find a door back to Brambleby's realm. My only complaint was that I would have liked more interactions between Brambleby and Emily, however even with both of them apart the book is incredible. Highly recommend to anyone who loves fantasy romance or fantasy academia stories.

Absolutely delightful follow-up of the first Emily Wilde novel. I was so excited to read this copy of EW's Map of the Otherlands, and it did not disappoint. Heather Fawcett's writing style is so warm and comfortable, like a cozy blanket that you want to snuggle up into on a cold autumn day. I couldn't put this down once I started.

Thanks for NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Who’d have thought a sequel would be better than the original? But here we have it.
The first book was fun and cozy but nowhere near perfect. This sequel upped the ante significantly. Excellent job by the author.

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is a wonderful follow up to Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries. I couldn’t put it down and never wanted it to end. An excellent read.

4.5 ⭐️

The first Emily Wilde book wasn’t my favorite, I found the characters pretty one dimensional and found the plot to just be okay. But this one completely turned my opinion around. Love that we got to see another side to Emily (while still keeping her hard edge), learning more about Wendell and loved the two new characters introduced this book. As for the plot the mystery portion of it was definitely intriguing & the stakes definitely felt higher for the rest of the book.

I’m so glad I gave this series another shot and got all the cozy fantasy “Howl’s Moving Castle vibes” that I was expecting.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an early copy for review!

I can't get enough of Heather Fawcett's writing and the gentle and dark world of Emily Wilde. The Emily Wilde series is both so comfortable and cozy, and yet also dark and menacing. Heather Fawcett writes the fae in such a wonderful way that you can't help but admire and fear the mystical beings that haunt legends and folklore. The stakes in this sequel are higher, more nuanced, and it gives room for more side characters to flourish alongside our darling Emily. What more can be said besides 'buy this book immediately'? Does the story end on a cliff hanger? Of course it does.
Does the world need book 3 ASAP?
Duh.

This was adorable and such a fun read. The dynamic between Wendell and Emily is always a joy. This book was filled with humor in all of the right places, adventure, magic, terrifying faeries, and the addition of new characters who were all appreciated in their own ways (plus the reappearance of some favorites from the first book).

I enjoyed this as much as I did the first book, and a lot of the same elements were present. Wendell and Emily embarked on a new project in a new setting, but the vibes were very similar to those of the first book- a cozy village, an interesting set of locals, faerie haunts, and high stakes quests. Emily's writing style was essentially the same (although the footnotes seemed shortened compared to the first book, to my disappointment and probably the relief of many others haha).

This book started off with mystery and action right off the bat, and continued on with adventure after adventure. We also got to see more of the development of Wendell and Emily's relationship, which was definitely a plus, and learned more about the families of both Wendell and Emily. Overall, a charming read to continue this series and anybody who enjoyed the first book will likely find this book just as endearing.

Loved this book! From the start of this book, I became immersed in this world and it did not let up until the very last page! Loved how this story starts and how the reader is brought forward in time from where the previous book in the series finished. It felt like jumping into a new story that in a way still tied the reader and characters to the last book. Love the plot of this one and how it developed as the book progressed. Love the character development that is seen in this book and how much they have all grown from the last book. Loved the introduction of new characters in this one and how they played a part in the development of this book. Loved Emily and Wendell’s relationship in this one and how it has progressed. So excited to see what comes next for these characters! Love the footnotes that are through this book and how they add a bit more information to some of the references made through the story! Loved learning more about the faeries in this world and how the magical aspects of this world were explored more in-depth in this book! I definitely recommend reading this one if you enjoy fantasy books with the fae, great magical elements incorporated into a story, addictive characters, academic vibes, and well-developed plots that have lots of twists! I got a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Well, once again, this series is just really perfect for me. This was 5 big ol' stars from me.

This book didn't suffer from middle book syndrome like so many series do. The action started right out of the gate and the plot picks right back up to keep things moving. I loved all of the new characters we meet and the dynamics they bring to our lead as wonderful foils for Emily. Part of why this series works so well for me is how adeptly Fawcett handles the interpersonal aspects, the stakes for all of their relationships just feel very real. Fawcett also grounds the fun, romance, and fantasy in darker scenes with consequences, which helps balance the story.

I absolutely can't wait for the next book!

4.25/5

I really enjoyed the second book in the Emily Wilde series! The same cozy fantasy vibes as the first with such an interesting world, with a significantly improved pacing (perhaps because the world building had been done in book 1?) I devoured this book. There were a few too many characters and I got lost a bit with some of the descriptions which is what held me back from 5 stars, I did really enjoy it.

If you’re looking for a cozy winter read that will take you on a magical adventure, these two are a lovely unique read!

I absolutely could not put this book down! I loved returning to the world of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries for more adventures in book 2. I find the characters in this series so lovable. They are each so quirky and that’s what really makes the book for me. This, paired with a mystery to be solved, the creepiness of being stalked by otherworldly assassins, and a mission of looking for fairy doors around every misty corner creates an atmosphere that is enchanting, fun and just a little bit spooky.

Thank you to NETGALLEY for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion