Big thank you to the publisher for sending me an eARC of Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands, which comes out next January.

I devoured this book! It was everything I wanted from this world, these characters, and more. Emily and Bambleby are again, to die for. Fawcett is a brillant mastermind at writing her world of faeries. Stay tuned for my full review closer to the release date, but this is definitely one you want to preorder.

Emily and Wendell embark on a new adventure, complete with new crotchety companions, a remote village, very normal interactions with faeries, and the scholarly footnotes we all know and love. If you liked the first book, you’ll like this too. The structure follows the same theme of “beleaguered dryadologists go on expedition to uncover secrets of remote fae,” with the added bonus of a glimpse into somewhat ordinary university life before Emily and friends set off into the wilds.

While romance plays a big role in the story - there is a pending proposal after all - it remains delightfully understated. Emily and Wendell’s relationship blossoms between the lines of kissing and implications, which is so refreshing in the current explosion of fantasy romance where passion is spilled across the page. I wouldn’t be scared of this series falling into the hands of precocious young readers.

As of writing this review, I’ve yet to see confirmation of any planned sequels (my copy has an end note saying the adventures will continue in book two…maybe it meant to say book three?). But the ending definitely leaves doors open for the story to continue, and I’ll be here if it does.

**Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC**

A lovely follow-up to the first book. Cozy fantasy might be one of my new favorite genres.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the eARC.

Firstly, thank you SO much to the author and NetGalley for the advance copy of this fantastic work!

The first book has been one of my top five reads for 2023, and the sequel did not disappoint! Like the first book, this is cozy, witty, full of adventure and magic, and a wonderful cast of characters. I absolutely cannot wait to add the physical copy to my collection when it releases, and am eagerly awaiting the final installment to what I understand will be a trilogy!

Definitely read this if you like:
- fairies and other magical creatures
- cozy fantasy
- journal style writing
- An adorably grumpy main character
- A main character who's just a beam of sunshine, but still a badass
- Lovely, slow burn romance
- Loveable dogs

Ahhhh! I love them so much, I don't want to give them up! I adore Emily and Wendell and love this one as much if not more than the first book - a rarity for me. This second book picks up several months after Encyclopaedia of Faeries ends, as Emily and Wendell are settling back into their scholarly lives at Cambridge. As they continue on their search for Wendell's door, they find themselves on yet another expedition to unravel a mystery and joined by two new companions - Ariadne (Emily's niece) and Rose (Emily and Wendell's colleague).

I am so grateful to NetGalley and Del Rey for allowing me to review this book early. It was precisely the cozy fantasy vibes I needed and did not disappoint in the slightest.

When I say I could not put this book down. I am so attached to the lovely lovely characters that Heather Fawcett has written in this series! Emily and Wendell's dynamic is as perfect as ever, and made up the best parts of the book. I enjoyed the new characters introduced in this book a lot, and I was happy to see mentions of characters that we got to know in the last book. I would say that book 2 is a little bit more complicated than book 1 when it comes to the specifics of the plot and magical details, but that didn't make it confusing. I think I actually prefer this book to the first Emily Wilde book which is saying a lot, but I found the plot even more entertaining.

Surprised and Delighted!

I found Map of the Otherlands to be a vast improvement to An Encyclopedia of Faeries and enjoyed it very much!
Emily is much softer in this book and had many opportunities to demonstrate her growth which I really appreciated . Every single character in this book helped to build a very compelling foundation to the plot and moved the story forward. The pacing was much better this time around and I felt like the writing wasn't as pretentious and overwritten as the first book.

All the characters were well developed and the different relationships formed between them all had me really invested in the story.

I thought Rose and Ariadne were BRILLIANT additions to the series and I hope to see them return to future books. Wendall continues to PERFECT and of course Shadow is the star of the show for me. I really didn't like Emily in book one but she definitely grew on me in this book. I look forward to continuing this series.

Fawcett has done it again! I didn’t think I could possibly love a sequel as much as I did the first Emily Wilde book, but boy oh boy am I infatuated with this book!

We have new characters, new magical beings, and an awesome wintry setting that will be sure to make you cuddle up with a blanket and a mug of hot cocoa. I can’t wait for this book to be released so I can read and read it again.

Look for an episode featuring this novel on the Books Are Magical podcast on publication day.

I loved this book! I really enjoyed the first, but the second was great!!

This series is so unique and quirky, academic and fun. I love Wendell and Emily separately but also as a couple. The romance in these books is not the focus, but they have the best banter and a very mature/understanding relationship (no spice though).

It was a bit of a cozy mystery with new characters, faeries, and a more personal quest. I'd definitely recommend this series if you love faeries, fun characters, and academic FMCs.

I've never wanted faeries to be more real while reading this book! This is the kind of STEM I want to read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Emily Wildes is one of my favorite reads so far for this year, and when I got approved for the ARC for book 2 I just couldn’t believe it. In this book Emily and Wendell travel to Germany in search of the door that will return him to his realm so he can claim his throne. This book was so much better that the first there was always something happening in each chapter since assassins were after Wendell trying to stop him from returning. The feels of this book are so whimsical full of magic and faeries. All the little creatures were so cute even though there were hideous looking.

Emily and Wendell my favorite couple. I love Emily’s character, strong will and always taking charge of the situations even though Wendell is the one with magic powers, she is always giving him orders always bossing him around. And he always saying yes to her 😍, because he loves her. But don’t get me wrong he is a strong character too just that we don’t get to see his bad side often but he can kill without remorse trying to protect her from any dangers. I like his wittiness and laziness. I feel that there is more to his character that we don’t know yet. He is such a fun character. Emily and Wendell are two wrongs who make a right!!

The only thing that I hoped that this book will had was more Wendell’s POV. I hope we get to have more of his POV in the next book. I’m just sad that I have to wait so long to see more of them.

I want to adore this book so much but find it's over-descriptive nature to really take me out of the story rather draw me in. I found this with the first book as well but I like the characters enough to want to know how it ends. This is the same with the sequel, I wanted to know what happens to the characters but struggled to get through the fluff.

I still would recommend this book because I know it dives into cozy-ish reads and I do love a bookish headstrong female character! Plus who doesn't love a "dog" companion!

A Whimsical Journey into the Faerie World

Heather Fawcett's "Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands" is a delightful sequel, brimming with whimsy, adventure, and the enchanting allure of the fae. The second installment in the Emily Wilde series delivers an even more thrilling journey, exploring the mysterious realms of faerie with our beloved scholar, Emily Wilde, and the charming exiled faerie king, Wendell Bambleby.

Fawcett skillfully blends the captivating world of the fae with the historical setting of early 20th-century academia. She expands on the enchanting world-building from the first book, introducing intriguing new folk and realms, and delving deeper into the faerie lore. Initially a reserved academic, Emily evolves into a courageous adventurer with a heart of gold. Her relationship with Wendell deepens, revealing a tender and vulnerable side to their dynamic, which is both heartwarming and relatable.

The plot is full of suspense and intrigue, with Emily and Wendell's search for a secret door to his realm, and the threats from Wendell's stepmother adding an element of danger and urgency to their quest. The addition of new characters, such as Emily’s niece and her department head, further enriches the narrative, providing opportunities for Emily to grow and navigate complex relationships.

"Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands" is a treasure trove of adventure, magic, and heart. Its exploration of friendship, loyalty, and courage, coupled with its enchanting world-building, makes it a must-read for fans of fantasy and historical fiction. This book leaves me eagerly awaiting the next chapter in Emily Wilde's enchanting journey.

Book Review - Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

After finishing book 1, I immediately requested book 2 on Netgalley. Thank you, Netgalley and the publishers, for blessing me with the eARC of this incredible novel. I was ECSTATIC to find I could dive right back into the adventure with Emily Wilde and our beloved Wendell Bambleby.

Again, I DEVOURED this book - Fawcett’s writing transported me completely into her historical fantasy where fae exist and wreak havoc on the world. Emily is back at her research, but this time with a more personal stake in it: finding a back door into Wendell’s kingdom so he can reclaim his throne. With the aid of a few new side characters, we venture deep into Scandinavia to follow the path first trekked by other long-gone-missing dryadologists.

The townspeople of St. Liesl are quite aware of the fae and do their best to keep them appeased. They agree to assist the scholars in their search, but warn our Dear Emily not to anger the fae or stray outside the cabin after dark.

This story was captivating from the offset, a lot of action and laughs, and we even get more development of the relationship between Wendell and Emily. My absolute favorite thing about this series is the harmony in which we get the feeling of reading a cozy fantasy romance while at the same time we deal with terror from creatures and things that go bump in the night. I’m addicted to Emily Wilde and her adventures.

Things to look forward to in this book:

More Bambelby banter and swoon-worthy moments
Emily having more awkward social encounters
Little clues throughout the story that end up being so much more important than you imagined
ONE TENT!…. However - fade to black - Grrr lol

Projected release date: January 11, 2024

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

This is book two in the Emily Wilde series. I do believe you should read book one before jumping into this one.

This book continues where book 1 left off. We jump right back into September of the same year.
Heather Fawcett's writing style is so unique. I can honestly I haven't read any other books that come close to her writing style. And that's a great thing. It sets her books apart, that's for sure.
I also love the journey entries aspect of this book. I think that adds to the unique nature of the writing.

The world building in this novel and the other are brilliant. I feel like I can SEE everything she describes perfectly.
The character development is also fantastic. I adore not only the main character, but the side characters as well.

If you're into whimsical, cozy-feeling adult fantasy books, check out this book / series.

I absolutely loved this book and wished it had never ended. I could not put it down and cannot wait to see what Fawcett writes in the future.

I loved the continued format of journal entries but what made it even better was getting to watch the character growth of Emily (and others).

Thank you NetGalley for the Free ARC. I can’t wait to get the book in January!

Heather Fawcett's writing is so interesting to me. Like with the first book in this series the sequel was simultaneously boring and interesting. I have never read a writing style quite like it where there is so many curious things happening while also very mundane things are happening or being described. I absolutely love the characters in this series. Emily, Shadow and Wendell specifically however the side characters that Heather brings in truly do enhance the story and I find myself rooting for even the side characters. I think this book was less enjoyable to me compared to the first. There was so much build up to many different climaxes and I felt that each one was resolved in a manor that could have been given more complexity or detail. While I appreciate the leisurely pace this book has, I think those moments could have been more climactic. Overall I am so thankful to have been given the ARC to read and I was so excited to sit down and see where book two was going to take me.

Such a good ending, I loved this one even more than the first. I loved it so much that I read it in two days!

There is a whimsical quality in this novel unlike what I've been able to find in any other. I've yet to find an adult fantasy novel that has made me laugh quite like this one. Emily Wilde, our dear narrator, has such a unique and fun voice. She's not even trying to be fun, but Fawcett is such a good writer that you can't help but be charmed by everyone pulled into Emily's orbit.

Speaking of pulling into her orbit, the Wendell-Emily dynamic of this book really made the experience for me. Emily is not the gushy, romantic type (Wendell most certainly would be if Emily let him) and it's so refreshing. It makes the romantic moments well earned by Wendell (and the reader). Honestly, it was hard to let go of these characters, I didn't want it to end! I feel like this stort has found its natural end, but I would still love to see more of these characters in the future.

If you love whimsical and slightly weird takes on fantasy, this is the series for you. It is so charming and clever, and I really think this is Fawcett's best work.

Thank you to Del Ray and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

5/5 stars
Recommended if you like: cozy fantasy, fairies, light academia, epistolary narrative

This review has been posted to Goodreads as of 7/19 and to my book blog and Instagram as of 8/4.

I'm so so happy I got approved for this! I absolutely loved Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia and am very thrilled that I got to read more about her, Shadow, and Wendell's adventures so soon after reading the first book (now if only I can get that luck with the Divine Rivals sequel).

This book opens in September of the same year the last one ended in. Emily and Wendell have been back at Cambridge for some time now and Emily, now tenured, is working on research to locate Wendell's door. Emily does seem to have some new social skills, though these seem largely to be remnants of what she learned in Ljosland more than anything and she is still overall the same grumpy, focused professor that we loved from the first book.

The stakes in this book are a little higher, with Wendell's stepmother upping the ante, which results in more than one dangerous encounter (along with all the other, normal dangerous encounters). Admittedly I did like the more laidback pace of the first book more, but I was also interested in seeing how things would play out with Wendell's door and his stepmother, so I was glad to see that come into play in this book. It also means we get to see a bit more of Fairy, albeit a different realm/kingdom than the frosty one we saw in book 1.

Emily is, as mentioned the same as usual, if not a smidge less reticent when it comes to socializing. She remains focused on her work and has an avid interest in cataloguing everything they come across on their adventure. I appreciated her methodical thinking paired with the instincts she's gained over years working with/among fairies. I also liked that her caring side was shown a bit more in this book. She's worried and cares for Wendell on numerous occasions, which brings out that softer side of her, but there are also moments when she worries for her niece, Ariadne, who is a member of this expedition.

Wendell is also the same: strikingly glib and woefully uninterested in hardships/labor (and ridiculously in love with Emily). I enjoyed the humor he brought to the book and the fact that even with everything else going on he was still fussy about their accommodations. We get to see more of Wendell's magic in this one, and it was interesting to learn more about what he can do.

Ariadne, Emily's niece, is a new addition to the team. At 19, she's an undergrad in the dryadology department and somewhat idolizes her aunt. She's eager to learn and has a fierce stubborn streak that helps her get her way on more than one occasion. Ariadne is quick on her feet and also makes friends easily, which also helps the group out on more than one occasion. Personality-wise, she provides a nice counterweight to Emily and adds a bubblier aspect to the story.

Another new member of the team is Rose, the dryadology department chair and someone who is not on good terms with Emily and Wendell for the first part of the book. Rose is an old-school professor and is resistant both to new methodologies as well as to Emily's trust in certain fairie elements. He kind of bulldozes his way onto the expedition and I wasn't a huge fan of him at first, but the longer the trip goes on, the more tolerable he becomes, and he and Emily reach a sort of understanding and actually end up being buddies by the end.

Shadow returns in this book as the loving and spoiled dog we know him as. There were some mentions of his advanced age in this book, which I don't remember being a thing in the first one (though perhaps I forgot), but I was glad to see the pup again. Poe also comes back and I was glad to see him. Things seem to be going well for him and his lady, and I was glad to see the little guy.

Wendell's cat, Orga, also makes an appearance and I already like her. She's aloof and fierce and more than willing to claw people up if they aren't doing what she wants. We don't get to see much of her, but I'm looking forward to more appearances. We also meet a fuchszwerge, a new kind of fairie, that Emily names Snowbell. He's a vicious thing but has the excitement of a kid, and I did like the interactions with him.

Overall, I enjoyed this continuation of Emily's story and the new characters and settings it brought. The end of the book said the adventure would continue in "Book 2," which I'm assuming is a typo for "Book 3," so I look forward to whatever comes next for this little group!

Wowowow! Thank you so much for this ARC review! This book had me in its clutches within the second chapter! It’s grabs your hand and tells you the sprint. I really enjoyed this book truly for what it was. Now if your expecting the same cozy fantasy as Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries it has elements of that but darker so keep that in mind. But seriously I couldn’t get enough of this book and I knew Wendell was a cat dad.

This book had fixed all of my problems that I had with the first book. The pacing was quicken the story truly felt linear and didn’t stall at random points. I felt like the author truly took in the criticism of the first book and learned from it.

First off thank you to Heather Fawcett and NetGalley for the ARC!!

Another amazing Fae adventure with Emily and Wendell! I just love the dynamic between these two. This book is the perfect recipe of academic, whimsical, and cozy fantasy with a dash of romance. The style of writing is beautiful and fits especially with how the mfc Emily is. I think I might love this more than the first and that is saying something because I rated the 1st book 5 stars as well! I really hope we get a third book!!