Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is the next installment in the delightful Emily Wilde series. Emily Wilde is back in Cambridge and searching for her friend Bambleby’s door. Bambleby is a challenging scholar and also an exiled faerie king. While she helps him, Emily is working on her next book- a map book. When assassins start to hunt Bambleby, they decide to take a research expedition to the Alps to search for the door to his home. Adventures, new friendships, and new fae/Folk are in store for Emily and Bambleby in this outstanding sequel.

Emily is such a great heroine and unique in that she can be coldly brilliant, yet still very lovable. Scholarship is everything to her and matters of the heart take a little more work. Emily must decide whether she will accept Bambleby’s proposal and what that might mean for her. The pacing is excellent; I did not want to put this book down! This series is cozy fantasy and filled with an awe-inspiring level of beautiful details. In this book, classic fae/Folk stories are seamlessly woven in and tiny fae with fascinating stories fill the pages. I enjoyed seeing characters from book one (like Poe!). I know that I’ll be rereading this book/series many times.

Readers who enjoy cozy fantasy such as Legends & Lattes (Travis Baldree) will love this book. I hope to read more stories in this world and see what happens next to Emily and Bambleby!

Thank you so much to Heather Fawcett, Del Rey, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc

I rarely am able to say this, however I enjoyed this sequel better than the first one and that’s saying a lot due to my love of it.
I struggled to adult while having this book to read, I just wanted to stay curled up and continue to dive deep into the story! Loved the addition of the new characters and the return of some familiar ones, their interactions and development felt natural.
We are back at Cambridge with Emily and Wendell. Her paper has been published at this point and she now has tenure with the University. Wendell is desperate to find a door back to his land, searching nonstop. Emily may have some clue and a location of a door. They set forth on another adventure.

You’ll have some fun within this book, there is of course the adventure, an assassin attempt, witty interactions and some family drama…let the story begin!!

10/10 recommended!! Preorder it!!!

According to my records, the last ARC I reviewed was “Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries”. It only seems fitting that the next ARC I’m going to review is its sequel, “Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands”. When faerie assassins sent by his stepmother infiltrate quiet Cambridge looking for Wendell Bambleby, he and Emily are forced into a quest to look for a door to his Faerie kingdom. Soon they are on a train to the Austrian Alps, joined by Emily’s niece/assistant Ariadne, a grumpy colleague from the Dryadology department Dr. Farris Rose, and of course Emily’s loveable, faithful sidekick, her dog Shadow. Their time in St. Leisel is spent searching for both a door to Wendell’s kingdom and a long lost faerie researcher, Danielle De Gray. Woven into all of these adventures is Wendell and Emily’s relationship and as uncertainty looms over Wendell’s life, so does his unanswered question from book one, will Emily marry him?
As with the first book, this sequel was written from the perspective of Emily recording the events in her journal. I loved that for someone as clever and professional as she is, she has no idea how to be in relationship with others. It’s so nice to watch her work through that both romantically and in a familial sense over the course of this story. Heather Fawcett’s attention to detail in this book in regards to the field of “dryadology” makes the story that much more believable. The book comes out in January 2024 and you should definitely pre-order it today from your local independent bookstore!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this lovely ARC!
I read Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Fairies so quickly; I was so in love with the cozy world and the story, despite its flaws. I was incredibly excited to start this ARC right after finishing the first book, but I will admit that I didn't fall in love with Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands like I did with the first book. This felt a bit too busy with tangled strings of plots, and the additions of Rose and Ariadne felt somewhat unnecessary until the very end. The end was also unsatisfying and anti-climactic in my opinion. I also am not always a fan of Wendell and Emily's romance, as while I think it works incredibly well as a plot device and can be very endearing, they just have no chemistry for me. Pros: I loved the setting, and Heather Fawcett is incredible at imagery and inventiveness. Emily's diary format continued to be a lovely way of conveying the story and worked just as well if not better than the in the first book. I would recommend reading this book if you are in love with the world of Emily Wilde, but I will admit that I am hoping the third book will delight me as much as the first one did rather than following in steps similarly to this second addition to the series.

"Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands" by Heather Fawcett picks up seamlessly from where Book 1 left off, plunging readers back into an enchanting world of magic and mystery. This second installment has, without a doubt, deepened my affection for the series, surpassing even the first book in its allure.
What truly sets this sequel apart is its impeccable pacing. Fawcett has masterfully balanced the narrative with heightened action, making each chapter pulse with excitement. Moreover, the romance and banter have grown more compelling and evocative, as they skillfully weave into the storyline, leaving readers utterly captivated.
A highlight of this book is the witty interplay between Emily's grumpy demeanor and Wendell's effervescent positivity. Their banter is an absolute delight, reaching its peak in this installment and often causing bursts of laughter that took me by surprise.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Book Two is a definite upgrade from Book One. Emily still reminds me of an early British maiden scientist, but better than one might picture if Pride and Prejudice had fairies and scientists, and no one was looking for a husband. Wendell is a riot; I love him. The only thing is the number of words. Sometimes I just put it aside and read something a little less wordy, then came back to this novel. It’s brilliant, certainly, but there is no hurrying through this treat. Five stars for something different than the usual, and for making improvement.

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands, the second novel in the series, is a remarkable improvement on the first. The portrayal of the romantic bond between the protagonists, Emily and Wendell, seems more credible, with enthralling action scenes and intricate world-building. It feels like an extensive leap in the growth of characters, and the narrative shines as a result. Overall, it is an excellent read and is perfect for anyone seeking an enjoyable and unexpected journey into a different world.

The second novel is a must-read for those who loved the first and those who liked but didn't love it. It will be released on January 11th, 2024.

I want to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing me with the E-ARC of this book. In return, I'm offering my sincere feedback and review.

This is such a delightful series! Traditional faerie story vibes, cozy mystery, historical setting, sweet romance with grumpy x sunshine characters, fun academic details (the footnotes!) It easily appeals to fans of many genres. An ideal rainy day, fall, vacation, anytime read. It took me a bit to get used to the journal entry format when reading the first book in the series, but I think it works so well for the series and is especially well highlighted in this sequel (the Wendell take over is so in line with his character, such a joy!) I can't wait to continue exploring this world

Let me start by saying I’m in love with Wendell Bambleby. Definitely one of my top book boyfriends.

This was a great sequel. I love the first book and I loved this one too. I adored the new fairy lore and all the new characters we get to meet and the return of some old ones too!

If you like whimsical and cozy reads you’ll love this book! Especially cozy books that have a winter/fall vibe.

Overall this was a great read and I thank the publishers for giving me early access to this ARC through NetGalley for free.

"Emily Wilde's Map of Otherlands" by Heather Fawcett was a great story. I might have liked it even more than the first one, and I really like that one! I loved the quest and the hints of the romance. Their little jokes and cute encounters, and how openly they have to rely on each other much now. It just made the whole story so much cutter and more depth to the world-building.

*4.5 stars

First thank you so much to Netgalley and Heather Fawcett for providing me with an ARC kindle copy of this book. This in no way impacts my review.

It took no time at all for me to be swept back into the story of Emily and Wendell. I ate this book up even faster than the first. The story picks up right where we left the first book. Emily and Wendell stay true to character, but slowly develop their relationship. I was so happy with the author's dedication to Emily and Wendell's characters and their adorable opposite personalities. Their relationship is a sparkly and quirky slow burn that has me smiling every time they banter. I enjoyed the addition of new characters and the reappearance of others from the first book. I hope that we continue to meet them as the story continues (there has to be another book, right??). The only reason I took off .5 stars is that I would have liked a more decadent description of some of the faerie realms encountered on this adventure (again though, I am hoping a third book will touch on this more).

This book stays true to form as the first book with Emily’s field journal writing style and fun footnotes scattered throughout. I love when Wendell journal’s for her. Their banter is absolutely adorable and I cannot get enough of their dialogue. Overall an enchanting follow up to the first and I look forward to a re-read after the book is released. A gorgeous cover to boot that has me highly anticipating getting my hands on a physical copy for my library. Perfect cozy faerie read with adventure and a charming lead couple you can’t help but fall in love with.

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands is the perfect finale to the duology. The story continues to unfold in the form of journal entries and has the same cozy feelings as the first book. Often I find sequels don't match the ambiance of its predecessor, and I am happy to say that Fawcett did an excellent job capturing all the emotions we know and love.

Map of the Otherlands takes us to the Austrian Alps--a fine difference from Ljosland--but we still get a few glimpses of some of the characters we came to love in Book 1. Throughout the series, Emily has grown to be one of my favourite characters. She is intelligent, cunning, and at times a little terrifying. And Wendell...He is still Wendell. (Do not fret, I love him, too.)

The journey Fawcett takes her readers on is so magical. I love how true she stays to the dark side of Faerie folklore whilst also making it fun and whimsical. Emily Wilde gives me such a wonderful sense of nostalgia and I will hold this sequel close to my heart.

I loved this book so much that I finished it within 48 hours (that includes a working day). I love Fawcett’s detailed world-building and the narrative device that she uses to deliver a cozy, delectable, gripping story. It is quite a feat considering that by nature of the storytelling method, we know our character is safe and sound as she records her latest accounts. Additionally, I must commend Fawcett for improving the pacing of this adventure compared to the first series’ installment.

It is idiosyncratic to say another reason I adore this book is because a dear little brownie shares his name with my beloved dog. What a great name it is! ;)

Perhaps, I’m a little discombobulated from the non-stop reading—as was Emily in Faerie—but the reason that I’m giving the book four starts, not five is this: I found gaps in the writing that shook me out of the story, rather than keeping me engrossed. The flow, overall, is good, yet, like I said there were some parts—like during the action and romance scenes—that required me to re-read the text. I thought I missed something or misread it, but in most cases, I didn’t. Sometimes, the flow in those scenes jumped rather too quickly for my liking. I’m summary, my question was “how did we get from there to here so quickly?” Again, I may redact my rating to five stars later upon a re-read if I determine it is my own eyes that betrayed me.

However, it is a book that I adore with its footnotes and all. Will there be another installment? I hope so! I will certainly be eager to read it.

I figured I would be in for the same adventure we were on in the first book, but I was wrong. There was a deeper connection to the characters as well as the story this time around. I’m not sure how it was possible, but it felt as if there was a touch more magic and whimsy this time around. I absolutely love this series.

Emily Wilde returns in book two of this cozy and captivating series, back home at Cambridge, where her companion Wendell Bambleby is being targeted by assassins sent by his stepmother. While book one took Emily and Wendell to snowy Ljosland, this sequel takes the pair to a remote village in Austria, along with Emily’s niece and the surly, disapproving head of the dryadology department. Emily believes there to be a forgotten door to Wendell’s home realm in Faerie somewhere in this section of the Alps, where another notable dryadologist went missing decades before.

What I love about these books is the balance Fawcett strikes between cozy and engaging. I’d happily continue traveling the word with this crew, setting up house in distant villages, befriending minor fae and townsfolk alike, listening to Emily and Wendell lovingly bicker while solving mysteries with Shadow and Orga. The world Fawcett is weaving in these first two books seems endlessly explorable, and I hope we get to continue to explore it!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I would like to thank Netgalley for the ARC of Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands.

This second installment has Emily and Wendell traveling to the Austrian Alps in search of a faerie door that will help Wendell with his murderous stepmother. They are joined by Emily's niece Ariadne and fellow scholar Dr. Rose.

I was so happy to be able to come back to Heather Fawcett's world. This is just as cozy and lovely as the first book. It keeps the journal format but it feels more personal than academic. Emily is a resourceful character that has a singular focus for her research. Wendell is sti;l as vain and searching for his comforts as well. The addition of Ariadne and Dr. Rose was a delight. I hope they become staples of future installments of the series.

There was more exploration of the relationship between Wendell and Emily but it is still a slow burn which is logical considering the characters. The romance is there but it is not a huge focus of the book it is just on the edges. Their interactions feel natural and not forced which had me smiling through out the book.

I recommend this to anyone who enjoys cozy fantasy. It has mystery, thrills, and spooky fox creatures. What more could you want? I am very much looking forward to the third book.

Rounding up from 3.5 stars.

Emily and Wendell’s adventures continue on!

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is a comfortable, cozy read. The first half of the novel is slow moving, but with beautiful imagery, placing the reader in a magnificent setting with very little story to grasp onto. I would still say, even if the story didn’t pick up (which it eventually did) it might still be worth the read to escape into a beautiful landscape.

The story picks up quickly right at the halfway point, bringing us back to the dangers of the folk that we encountered in the first novel. The storyline from the Encyclopedia of Faeries to find Wendell’s door is beautifully continued with the dark and dangerous creatures from other lands. I was also pleasantly surprised at the return of a beloved character from the first novel.

The conclusion of Maps of the Otherlands promises a third book returning to Wendell’a true home. I’m excited to continue on with their adventures and to see what other perils lie ahead!

Professor Emily Wilde remains odd, brave, and engaging; Wendell Bambleby remains sexy and besotted with Emily and only semi-scrupulous. Shadow the grim disguised as a dog is worrisomely old but he rises to every occasion; we have, in addition, Emily's niece, Ariadne, and a university colleague, Dr. Fariss Rose, whose characterization is for my money the only significantly wobbly feature of this book.

I thought Map of the Otherlands sagged a little at the outset, but the adventure picked up quickly; by about 20 pages in, I was gobbling up this second installment as fast as I did the first, and for the same reasons -- the principals, the endlessly inventive worldbuilding, the scholarly apparatus (God, how I love those footnotes), the way Fawcett leans into the preposterous narrative device of Emily's journal.

As I said, Dr. Rose's character is the one wobble -- he goes from being an outright enemy not only to Wendell but also to Emily, to taking a paternalistically protective attitude toward Emily while remaining hostile to Wendell, to apparently being onside with both of them, which is fine. But I never quite understood why any given change happened when it did -- his attitude seemed to lurch from point to point rather than to evolve organically, if that makes sense.

But that falls under the heading of "Who cares, when you're having this much fun?" Delicious, well-made confectionery is what Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands is, and there's not enough of it in the world.

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands-Heather Fawcett
5⭐️
Thanks to Netgalley and to De Rey publishing for the advanced copy. Publish date: January 16, 2024
This is the second installment in the Emily Wilde series and honestly I loved it. In this one we’re still following Emily and Wendell but instead of making an encyclopaedia of faerie Emily is making a Map while also trying to find the Nexus (a door that opens to many realms) to help Wendell get back to his home. I thought it was great, all the new characters introduced were entertaining, the storyline was interesting and kept my attention. I honestly didn’t know if I was 100% onboard with the romance between Emily and Wendell in the first book but I loved their dynamic in this one. Overall highly recommend and think it was a great sequel.

Loved the first book in the series and the second didnt disappoint. I found this book to be really engaging and I loved the premise. I'm a sucker for romance mixed with fantasy so this story was right up my alley. I am looking forward to reading other books by the author.