In book two of the Emily Wilde series, the author does her best to shake things up by adding Dr. Farris Rose - an older, grouchier, suspicious colleague of Emily and Wendell - and Emily’s niece Ariadne. Emily is still studying the Folk, often incautiously, and bantering with exiled fairy king Wendell. Her tame pet grim is getting on in age. Things are further unsettled when it becomes clear that Wendell’s stepmother has decided the time has come to kill him and end his claim to the throne once and for all.

The magic in the world is further explored in some fun ways. Wendell has taken to enchanting various items belonging to Emily. Rose is wisely skeptical of Wendell and Emily’s relationship to him and often refers to Wendell in disparaging language, but Rose is also a fae expert who comes in handy. Emily, Wendell, Farris, and Ariadne are off to find a backdoor into Wendell’s kingdom and discover what happened to Danielle de Grey, a famous dryadologist who disappeared with a companion fifty years ago.

The book introduces us to another quaint village full of villagers who must learn to cope with the odd behavior of Emily et al. Emily’s brownie friend Poe makes some welcome contributions to the story. Mortal peril abounds, but we know our intrepid crew is up to the task. The chaos and the fun are real. Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands isn’t quite as good as the first book in the series, but I enjoyed it a lot.

If you like Genevieve Cogman’s invisible Library series, you should definitely check out the Emily Wilde books. Books 1 and 2 are a ton of fun, and book 3 should be along in 2025. I read an advance reader copy of Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands from Netgalley.

This book was very enchanting had lots of charm but showed a wild side. This had a great story line and keep the ready wanting more. Only downside was the end. Look for to what else the author has to offer.

Professor Emily Wilde and Wendell Bambleby are back in an adventure to search for a secret door into the exiled Fae king's realm. They believe this door and a nexus of passageways into and through the Otherlands was found by a Cambridge professor who disappeared many decades previously, along with her lover who went searching after her. Joining the crew is Rose, the department head of the dryadology department, Ariadne, Emily's niece who recently took up the study of dryadology, and of course, Shadow...the best grim puppy ever.

Emily seems a bit more settled. After the events of the last book, and the publishing of her encyclopedia, she has been granted tenure at Cambridge so that she may stay there forever if she chooses to. This increased comfortability also seems to have given her a slightly enlarged ego. While many of her actions in the first book would seem foolish and careless to someone not accustomed to dealing with Fae, some of her actions in this book are truly shocking. She is so used to being able to get herself out of a tight spot that she misjudges the situation at hand often, to her and her friend's detriment.

As for the main mystery, I figured out who the ribbon man was just as soon as Emily did, although the twist with Wendell's stepmother, I did not see coming.

Emily is still horrible at relating to people, it's kind of sad, but Wendell has a better relationship with Ariadne, Emily's niece, than she does. I don't know if it is because he is also childlike in many ways, but I wish Emily was better able to relate to SOME people around her, and not just to Wendell, Shadow, and random Fae (honestly, she is much nicer to toothy vicious Fae than to her own niece). I'll leave it at that.

This book also takes a swipe at classism. Emily points out several times that Wendell (courtly Fae) is dismissive of the talents of the common Fae, but in fact the common Fae have known how to get into and out of all of the different Faerie realms all along, while he has been stuck in exile in the human realm, unable to find a way back into his homeland. He never thought to ask one he considered lower than himself.

One of my favorite parts, was that we get to see Poe again! That brownie is so freaking cute I can't stand it. Emily also acquires a toothier friend who she names Snowbell, which is just such an adorable name for a murderous little Fox Fae.

This book is definitely worth a read, especially if you enjoyed the first one. As the first book was almost dry for romance, I am happy to report that this book has a bit more will-they-wont-they than the first. This ARC of #EmilyWildesMapoftheOtherlands was provided by #NetGalley, for a fair an honest review. Thank you for providing me with this gem...I can't wait for others to read it too.

This book is a continuation of a beautiful romp through the world of the Fae and the scientists that love them. I am so happy there’s going to be a third book. I haven’t gotten enough of Emily and Wendell. I love everything about them separately, but especially together. Their relationship is just something I will love forever. But one of the biggest things I find truly fantastic in these books is Emily’s personality. It’s just so relatable to me as someone who is at times PAINFULLY socially awkward and introverted. I love that she can be so focused on what her scientific mind is looking for, but some how *gasp* emotions among other nasty things sneak in before she notices. Thank you Heather Fawcett for showing this personality so well. Please please write as many Emily and Wendell books as the story allows!! Also, can someone please send a Wendell my way? I need me some capricious yet homey Fae man.

Thank you NetGalley, the publishers and the author for a chance to read this!

I was so excited that I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley.

This book was just as fun, cozy, and lovely as the first book. Emily and Wendell are off on another adventure! In this book, you are introduced to new characters and faeries. I love the dynamics (Grumpy x Sunshine) that Emily and Wendell have. I find their banter very cute and amusing. As their relationship progressed, I enjoyed seeing how well they complement each other.

This is written in the same style as the first book, one of Emily’s research journals. So, there are some parts where there is a lot of new information I was learning. I enjoyed all the little footnotes throughout the book. Like the first book, there are some moments that are darker and violent. Overall, this is a heartwarming book and a must read if you loved the first.

Em and Wendell are off again on another adventure! I love this spooky, academic story detailing the latest foray into Faerie. Emily and Wendell’s banter is perfect. They bring along new friends and see some old ones as well in a new dreamy location. This book definitely delves deeper into the creepiness of some of the different types of folk and I loved every minute of it. I’m personally a big fan of the academic feel of the story. If you enjoyed the first book, definitely add this one to your TBR. 🧚🏼‍♂️✨🥖

Thank you Del Rey for the eARC through Net Galley!

In this second installment of the Emily Wilde saga you will not be disappointed. Emily is up to her crazy antics again, but this time to help Wendell find the way home. Only before they leave Cambridge Wendell is poisoned and assassins show up during one of Wendell's lectures. They travel to Austria, with a few additions, to find a nexus or a door to multiple realms. She has a few run-ins with faeries and their magic. As Wendell gets sicker, Emily realizes there is only one way to save him. Will she be able to save him?
In this second installment of the Emily Wilde saga you will not be disappointed. Emily is up to her crazy antics again, but this time to help Wendell find the way home. Only before they leave Cambridge Wendell is poisoned and assassins show up during one of Wendell's lectures. They travel to Austria, with a few additions, to find a nexus or a door to multiple realms. She has a few run-ins with faeries and their magic. As Wendell gets sicker, Emily realizes there is only one way to save him. Will she be able to save him?

Aaaaaa I can’t explain my love for this series!

It is an amazing blend of magical realism, fantasy and found family. You instantly feel as if at home and they feel like your comfort characters but surprisingly they are realistic and relatable.
What else can i want? Only more books in this series!

This was fine.

The pacing was way too slow, I didn't enjoy the setting or side characters as much, and the whole thing was just very similar to the first book (which I also thought was just fine). Also, the banter felt like it was trying to hard to be funny, and I found it to be off-putting a lot of the time.

If you loved the first book, you'll probably love this one too.

In the next book of the series, Emily Wilde and Wendell start off on a new adventure to find the door to his kingdom with new characters in tow. Instead of the wintery village in the book 1, the characters travel to a whole new climate in a mountainous village.

I found I enjoyed this book a tad bit more than the first Emily Wilde’s book as we jump right into the plot being set into motion. I felt that the side fae characters felt more real and dangerous with their distinct personalities. I loved seeing Poe again and meeting a new mischievous fox-like fae. Poe might be my favorite side character, instant serotonin boost whenever he showed up to help Emily in his adorable, earnest way. Poe is so sweet and I loved how proud he was to claim Emily as family and how dedicated he was to caring for his tree gifted by Wendell. I’d love to read a side story from his POV someday!

The pacing slowed down a bit in the middle as Emily wanders around searching for the right door. The concept of traveling between fae realms was a little confusing at first. The faun foot business, fae assassins, and a disappearing ribbon-infested ghostly character also felt random and disconnected until later, but as I read on, I was intrigued as the pacing picked up again and everything fell into place. Once I understood how the magic worked, I loved the concept of traveling between worlds with keys to the right doors. It gave me Narnia vibes!!

Emily travels to the faerie kingdom again to save Wendell and the bizarre dream-like state she feels was well-conveyed, the stakes felt a lot higher. There were some scary/creepy scenes with lost human souls trapped in the faerie realm that had me in suspense, wondering if Emily would meet the same fate. The fae folklore Emily recounts to explain things currently going on was interesting as these side stories helped bring more depth to the world where magic and whimsical creatures coexist with humans.

The romance between Emily and Wendell was a very slow burn with slight moments of tension and banter. There’s a fade-to-black scene that took me by surprise as I didn’t see the build up to it, perhaps due to Emily’s dry, matter-of-fact voice in her journal. I personally wish there were more romantic scenes between the two in this book as I partially forgot why a charismatic powerful faerie king would be so enamored with a mousy scholar until the end when Wendell takes over the journal again. I love his flamboyant personality and confident voice, I found myself chuckling aloud at his antics.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and loved watching Emily grow and tackle new relationships with family, colleagues, the villagers, and of course, the fae. A very whimsical cozy fantasy read that has me hoping for a third book. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! All thoughts are my own.

I really enjoyed this series and I was so excited to get this ARC!

The pacing of the novel is well-balanced, and the author's vivid descriptions transport readers into the heart of the Otherlands, making it easy to immerse oneself in this magical realm. Emily's character is relatable and endearing, and her growth throughout the story is a testament to the author's skill in crafting believable characters. One of the book's strengths lies in its ability to explore complex themes such as courage, friendship, and the power of imagination within the framework of a delightful and accessible narrative. While the story is primarily aimed at a younger audience, it contains valuable life lessons and moral values that readers of all ages can appreciate.

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands is yet another charming story from Heather Fawcett. I will always be a sucker for Emily’s footnotes. But, the story itself is cozy. Fawcett’s prose is beautiful, and you won’t find anything written in this style anywhere else. Emily is a bad ass scientist learning about the fae and curious about anything and everything that she can learn about. Me, identifying as a grump myself, saw it rather cute to see lighter characters being her out of her comfort zone. I look forward to more in the series.

I don’t know why I thought this book couldn’t possibly be better than the first one, but my goodness, what a terribly wrong assumption that was!

First, I just want to say that I adore Poe, he’s so sweet, and I’m so glad he made an appearance. Usually I struggle with the side characters like Poe, especially when they’re of a different species—they’re more often than not written like obnoxious toddlers, but Fawcett has such a whimsical way of writing the common fae that, even though the some of them are vicious and violent one moment, they are adorable and endearing the next.

I also love the way Emily is written. She’s like the fantasy version of Evelyn O’Connell from The Mummy. There is something about stubborn scholar heroine that just speaks to my heart and strikes a sense of feminine pride.

And let’s not forget Wendell! He again proves himself the dashing, bumbling sidekick.

I am so excited to see where their story goes next. The adventures of Emily Wilde, Wendell Bambleby, and company have rooted themselves in my heart and my imagination. This series is a high recommend for fans of Charlie N. Holmberg and The Cruel Prince as well as fans of Indiana Jones and Evelyn O’Connell.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC!

5 WELL Deserved Stars

I have to start off with, thank you to NetGalley for bestowing upon me the honor of reading this advanced reader's copy. All thoughts are my own.

I loved this book even more than the last installment (Encyclopaedia of Faeries). To start off, I'm going to list some of the things this book has that may speak to you when trying to pick your next read:

- Grumpy human FMC x Sunshine fae MMC (who also happens to be blonde if you need a break from the dark/broody fae types)
- Forced Proximity
- Light academia
- Set in early 1900s Europe
- Journal entries

Are you still with me? Great, you should be. I absolutely adore Emily and Wendell's budding relationship that has carried over from the last book. She is often frazzled and exasperated by her colleague/friend, but Wendell has a penchant for being silly and often having a more lackadaisical attitude when it comes to their academic (and magical) affairs. As previously pointed out, the language Heather uses in this book really help immerse me in the time and place of the story. This read, while it has conflict and tension is still a low stakes read for those looking to just kick back and relax. I love how the author was able to portray the absurdity and ferocity of the various forms of fae we meet while maintaining a cozy, low stress atmosphere.

Once I hit about 96% of the book I felt so sad I didn't want it to end. It felt like having to say goodbye to an old friend. But it ended beautifully and already has me eager for ANY information about book 3.

Extra pros for me:
- Pacing. I felt like since are more established with the main characters, this book was able to provide a constant stream of entertainment. Both from new characters and old.
- POE. He is honestly one of my favorite little side characters. Such a sweet, misunderstood soul.
- I love the MFC being in her 30's. I need some representation over here once in a while.

I look forward to:
- Seeing Emily and Wendell progress their storyline together. I feel like we've already seen so much growth from Emily in terms of finding her place in her academic society amongst other scholars as well as opening herself up to others. She seems to struggle with expressing emotions (same, girl) and I love to see her taking baby steps toward being a more authentic version of herself.
- In the same vein, I hope we see Wendell prove he has more substance than being a flippant and lazy fae noble.
- I really, really, really hope I see Poe again.

Note: Spoilers for book one ahead!

In this novel, Emily Wilde (a notable expert in the field of Dryadology) and Wendell (her academic-rival-turned-faerie-king-paramour) attempt to locate a door back into Wendell's realm--Silva Lupi. Emily's studied the writings of a long-lost, notorious scholar and theorizes there may be a faerie "nexus" in the location this scholar went missing fifty years before. The task is simple--find the nexus, get Wendell a secondary way home, and write a brilliant map of the Otherlands while she's at it. The task seems simple, but there are well-intentioned yet troublesome nieces, stodgy department heads, complicated romantic feelings, and powerful Silva Lupian assassins standing in their way.

A spectacular follow-up to book one, Fawcett writes faeries with a ferocity and texture not unlike Holly Black, but with a story that pierces right to the heart of hygge. Exceptional, warm, cozy, and genuine, it’s well worth the read.

Book two took the characters I loved and made me love them even more. It dug deeper into dryadology’s academic nooks and crannies and provided numerous forays into the absurd. The plot was solid and entertaining, and built wonderfully on the ground covered in EWEoF.

This is a love letter to folklore and fantasy. It will easily be in my top ten reads of the year. I cannot recommend this enough.

4.25/5! Such a charming follow up to Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Fairies.

This story picks up not long after the events of book 1, and we follow Emily as she is working on her next book - a map of all the fae worlds and regions. We get to watch Emily and Wendell's relationship grow as they work on finding a door to Wendell's realm.

I really enjoyed the introduction of the new characters, and I found myself laughing and smiling to myself just as much as I did with the first book. I especially love the banter between Emily and Wendell. My only complaint is that it did feel like it dragged the tinest amount, but that did not take away from my overall enjoyment and love for it.

Looking forward to (hopefully) reading about more of Emily and Wendell's adventures!

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Fairies is an Autumn book in spirit, but not in practice. Despite the academic vibes, the book actually takes place over a dark, frigid, Norwegian winter. But the latest entry in the series, Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is a perfect fireside material. (Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the gift copy!)

Encyclopaedia of Fairies is such a fun read, especially because of the epistolary format. Map of the Otherlands builds on the successes of its predecessor, diving deeper into wordlbuilding while expanding on its protagonists’ arcs. But how does this approach map to the strengths of the first - will fans also enjoy this one?

Stories in parallel, not series

Emily Wilde has moved on from her Encyclopaedia. Her latest research project is the titular Map of the Otherlands, trying to catalogue all known fae spaces. She’s particularly interested in connections between Faeirie lands, hinted at but never proven by earlier researchers. This effort serves a dual purpose. It expands Emily's knowledge of the Fae world, while also aiding the hunt for Bambleby’s backdoor into his.

As Emily starts planning for an expedition, her world comes crashing down around her. A senior lecturer seems hell-bent on discrediting her paper from her time in Norway. A mysterious figure keeps popping up and giving her clues to a mystery she’s not aware of. Bambleby seems less in control of his powers than might be desirable. And then, angry Fae invade campus, causing massive destruction. So it’s no wonder she decides to start her travels early, Bambleby, niece / research assistant, and grumpy skeptic in tow.

As you maybe can tell, this story has quite a different structure from the last novel. Where the prior novel introduced new plotlines in sequence, Map of the Otherlands kicks them all off at once. Because the stories run in parallel, it’s easier to draw connections between them, to see the interplay in the themes. It’s easier, too, to focus on Emily’s growth arc as a character, to see how her reaction to the same type of challenge evolves.

But you lose a little bit of the spontaneity of Encyclopaedia of Fairies - the sense that different small adventures could combine to evolve someone more subtly. The parallel structure means that if you don’t particularly like the main cast, that’s too bad - you’re stuck with most characters the whole book through. It’s worth considering, then, how much you like these characters and this world before starting.

Expanding the view

Now, I adored Emily and Wendell and the entire world of the faeries that Fawcett set up. So despite the loss of my spontaneous structure, I was more than happy to spend more concentrated time with them here. We get to revisit some old character favorites, and meet some new ones. I particularly enjoyed watching Emily interact with her niece Ariadne, a younger mirror and a dedicated adventurer. And I cheered her on as she won the grudging respect of her more senior colleagues (and as we got to see exactly how effective she is).

But beyond the characters, I loved Fawcett’s worldbuilding. She’s got a great eye for just the right detail to make the entire setting come to life. Whether it’s the student traditions on campus or the vivid descriptions of magical happenings, I often felt as I was perfectly along for the ride. (High praise from a reader who has mild aphantasia and can’t visualize most scenes, period.) In Map of the Otherlands we also get to explore more spaces, from campus to the research sites, and that makes the characters and their story feel grounded and real.

We also get to spend more time than ever in the Faerie world - and this time, Emily’s a bit more aware of what’s going on. The Faerie sections of the novel were enchanting and spooky, not least because I cared so much about Emily by this point. Fawcett’s eye for detail expands to this setting, and she also knows when to let a character stay quiet, their refusal to share details speaking for itself. The idea of mischievous and dangerous Fair Folk that permeates the novel adds a new sense of depth and danger to this section that amplifies the stakes. I found myself consistently invested, despite the structural deviations from the prior novel.

Reader's notes & rating (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

I love Emily and Wendell as characters, so I loved this book. But reader warning - you’ll spend what feels like more concentrated time with both, tracking a parallel set of plots. Despite these changes, I fell even more in love with these characters and this world. Four stars.

Read this if...

You’re excited by the idea of Expeditions across the real world and the magical one

You adored Emily and Bambleby as much as I did

You’re ready to spend more time deeply in the magical world, and reading directly about magical battles (research plays much less of a part here)

Skip this if...

You haven’t read the first book in the series - it’s not really a standalone

You objected either to Emily or Wendell - the story centers them way more here

You object to romance being a driving factor for any characters, ever

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands will be published January 16, 2024

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5 stars

What an incredible follow up to Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Fairies!

In the sequel we’re introduced to new supporting characters and creatures, while watching the relationship between Emily & Wendell continue to grow. Instead of a frozen mountain village we’re now in the Austrian countryside as Emily attempts to solve a few mysteries - is there a nexus leading to all the Fae courts, what happened to two missing academics almost a hundred years prior, and why are assassins hunting Wendell?

This was a thrilling follow up filled with lively adventures and delicious banter between Emily & Wendell. Their relationship picks up the pace and we learn the answer to a very important question that was asked in Encyclopedia of Fairies.

Truly loved this book, it combines cozy fantasy, whimsical characters, fantastical adventures, a curmudgeonly main character, interesting lore, grumpy/sunshine romance, and the cherry on top, epistolary storytelling.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me the digital arc for review.

*4 stars*

This was so fun! A delightful follow up to the first book.

This felt like it had more adventure and stakes than the first one which I liked, but it still retained the whimsical coziness. I enjoyed the continuation of Emily and Wendell’s relationship as well as the addition of some charming new characters I hope to see again in the next book. I will definitely look forward to reading the conclusion to this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this work. All opinions in this review are my own.

Heather Fawcett does it again! Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands takes readers on the continued journey of our beloved Professor Emily Wilde and Wendell Bambleby, along with some exciting new friends. Readers follow along as Wilde and Bambleby traverse new territories to find the path towards Bambleby’s home— and encounter lots of fun on the way. Witty, deliciously written, and engaging from the start, Fawcett invites us back into their world like we haven’t even left. Excellent storytelling and fun til the end. I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next.