A beautifully written book with a cozy feeling and charming characters. To be honest I didn't even know there was going to be a sequel to Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Fairies. I'm glad there was. I really enjoyed stepping back into this world.

The settings are done so well allowing me to just sink into reading. It was great seeing how Emily and Wendells relationship progresses. I love how he accepts that she is a little prickly but doesn't mind.

While reading this I did feel like one of the side characters could have been left out. It felt like some of Emily's actions in the book seemed like ones she shouldn't have made. That they were there to only drive the book forward. Making it more unnatural/unbelievable at those times.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an eARC of this title for my honest review.

This series is like a snuggly hug, a warm mug of tea, or slipping into your favorite worn sweater. I am so happy to be back in this world and with these familiar characters. I waited for a particularly rainy day to sit inside and cozy up with this book because that's what this called for and I knew once I started that I would absolutely devour this one. This lost none of the magic and whimsy that was established in the first novel and did well to build upon the world that I was craving to know more about. This book just made me want more and more of this lovely world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for this ARC.

Rating: 4 stars
Spice: 0/5 stars

I am so incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to read the arc for Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett. After reading the first book, I was dismayed at thinking I had to wait a year for the second, so I am very thankful.

After finishing Map of the Otherlands, this series has easily taken first place when it comes to cozy fantasy. It was so lovely and whimsical and at parts, made me feel giddy with happiness.

I loved the banter between Emily and Wendell and the fact that despite Emily’s more abrasive personality, Wendell accepts her as she is. The way Heather writes Wendell’s character and how enamored he is with Emily really comes across in her writing and you can feel the depth of emotions he has for her.

I loved the additions of her niece and co-worker which gave Emily the opportunity to learn and grow and deepen her relationships, which she has a hard time doing. Emily is very relatable for more neurodivergent individuals who also have a hard time forming authentic friendships.

I’ve come to love this fictional world and find myself wanting to stay in it. The lightheartedness and coziness make this a perfect read for when you’re wanting to escape inside a book.

Some things I wish there were more of:
•Dialogue between her and Wendell. I felt that compared to the first book, this book lacked dialogue between the couple, and I would have loved to see more significant moments/conversations between the two.
•The book seemed more slow-paced, and I would have liked to have seen more time in Wendell’s kingdom, though I can imagine that’s what the third book will focus on.
•more spice, though I know that is not to everyone’s taste.

Overall, I loved this book and can’t recommend it enough. Now I will anxiously await the third.

And we’re back for another adventure with our curmudgeonly Dr. Wilde, her ever faithful Shadow, and her Fae king-in-exile, Dr. Bambleby. I had so much fun with this romp into the Austrian Alps. We’ve got a new town, a new mystery (assassins!), a new goal, new friends, and some old ones come back for a bit of fun. Emily and Wendell’s relationship deepens as Emily no longer fights her feelings for him, but cannot commit to becoming his mortal queen. Along the ride is Dr. Rose, a colleague who forced his way onto the expedition, along with Ariadne, Emily’s 19-year old niece who is staying with her to get some worldly experience. As you can expect, Emily isn’t exactly thrilled to be around more people on this very important academic expedition, but the more the merrier! There is so much banter to be had between characters, expanding the world of Faerie, a fair amount of political intrigue as Wendell’s stepmother starts to take steps to eliminate him as a potential rival to her ill-gotten throne. There’s also new Folk and they aren’t going to be as sweet as Poe this time around. In fact, the adventure this time is more dangerous, the stakes are higher, and through it all, Emily will journal every single thing down. I love it.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVE THIS SERIES! Honestly it is so whimsical, fun and original. Emily and Wendell don’t disappoint, and are up to their usual fairy hunting shenanigans.

My only criticism, and reason this isn’t a five star, is that there is simply not enough dialogue. Between Wendell and Emily, but also with secondary characters. I think we could have completely foregone the addition of the niece, and kept the new focus on Professor Rose. Emily is also substantially less involved in the community this time, so we don’t get unique moments to develop her personality.

Overall, I love this series! I just wish there was more! Especially more of the romance stuff ( there is no spice, this is a fade to black!)

The ending is a bit of a cliff hanger, so I cannot wait for the next book!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! It made my week :)

This sequel to Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries picks up very soon after that one leaves off. Emily still hasn't accepted or refused Wendell's proposal of marriage; Wendell still hasn't figured out if or how he will take back his throne. They're back in Oxford, deciding where to go next in their search for Wendell's home ... plane? ... when forces come to a head: Wendell's stepmother sends faerie assassins after him. Emily and Wendell (Wendily? OK we'll stop) organize an expedition to the Swiss Alps on the heels of a couple we have encountered mainly in footnotes: Danielle de Grey and Bran Eichorn. De Grey disappeared over 50 years ago, and Eichorn went missing in pursuit. Emily believes that the mystery of their disappearance could hold the solution to finding Wendell's faerie plane.

Tagging along on the expedition are Ariadne, Emily's niece and research assistant, and Dr. Farris Rose, Head of the Dryadology Department at Oxford (and so technically, Emily and Wendell's boss). As in the first book, Emily's staunch practicality and difficulty understanding emotions make her the perfect faerie researcher, as she is able to apply seemingly nonsensical rules and extend their logic to any situation. They also make her a difficult person to love (or even like), meaning that human relationships are much harder for her to grasp. For example: Is Farris out to get Emily and Wendell fired, or is he just concerned for their welfare? Is Ariadne truly interested in dryadology, or does she have an ulterior motive for sticking close to her aunt?

This book sees growth for the Wendily relationship (we didn't stop). Wendell is truly ineffable at times, but Emily does the best she can to understand and accept him. And from the opposite perspective, Wendell does the same for her.

The series is shaping up to be a long, detailed one, and we're ready to find out exactly where our intrepid heroes go next!

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

I absolutely loved this book. Encyclopedia of Faeries was such a fun and unique read, and getting to continue on the adventures and research of Emily and Wendell was great. The addition of Emily's neice really expanded Emily as a character, as well as the additions of new types of faeries. I hope we get to hear more of their story!

Book: Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands
Author: Heather Fawcett
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Del Rey Books, for sending me an ARC. As this in the second book in the series, please keep in mind that this review may contain spoilers for book one. I will start out by saying I that did enjoy this one more than the first one. The first book was mainly about the academic side of Emily, but this one is more about her personal side.

In this one, we follow Emily and Wendell, who are back at it. These two started as almost rivals and have morphed into something more. Wendell is a banished Fey king and finds himself teaching. Emily is a scholar on all things Folk. After their adventure in the first book, both have returned back to their university. Emily has finished her book and is working on a new project, while Wendell is being, well, Wendell. He is not put together at all. Now, his teaching job is in danger and he doesn’t seem to grasp that. He doesn’t seem to grasp much at all these days. This makes Emily worry. Even for Wendell, this behaviour is rather odd. Something is wrong and this sets them on their adventure to find Wendell’s door. Everything may just as well depend on it. There is also this annoying that in that the head of their department is coming along as well as Emily’s niece. This group must now find a way to come together and to stay alive.

As I started my review out saying, this one focuses on the more human and personal side of Emily. Yes, she is still a scholar, but she has let her walls down. In the first book, it was all about the research with her and her book. It was nonstop work. While Emily is still very focused on her work, she has scaled it back a bit. She shows great concern for those around her. She is more worried about their well-being than finishing her next book. In the first book, all we heard about was getting the research finished her book and getting it out into the world. Here, it’s almost like that takes a back seat. Wendell is very sick and Emily puts most of her attention on making sure that he is okay. Actually, now that I think about it, I would say that is what she all of her attention. Everything she does from seeking the door to teaming with up Rose, is for Wendell and taking care of him. It’s a very different Emily from the first book. I like this. It’s almost like we are getting through that thick core of the first book and are now getting to see Emily the person. I am very curious to see what the author does with her character in the third book.

Wendell is still Wendell. Even with that, I do feel like his character has changed. He is still very over the top, but he care and concern for Emily shines. Everything that happens, he shows great worry for Emily, even if he doesn’t show that much with anything else. I don’t know about anyone else, but I do enjoy Wendell’s character. Yes, he can be annoying, but the book needs him. Without his light nature and over the top personality, these books would not work. Every place that he and Emily stay, he attempts to make it at home. Even Emily points out that it makes the place not so boring. He and Emily just go together so well. I believe that neither one of their characters would work without the other. They just need other and their chemistry is so good.

Like I have already said many times, this book does focus on the more personal side of things. There is still academics and research, but we get to see the more human side of our characters. They are still researchers and are still working on their different projects. However, the goal is not always to learn the next thing for books and papers, but to help someone in need. Yes, they still do add notes and whatnot, but it’s about the helping someone in need that drives this book. We needed this. I will be the first to admit that there were many times in the first book that the characters came across as very standoffish and untouchable; this one changes that. We needed this book here. We needed to see that while our characters are these great academics, they also have a human side.

Overall, I am very happy with this one and I did enjoy it more than the first book.

This book comes out on January 16, 2024.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/o2OA1LiLjSY

This sequel was a fun follow up to the first book. I did find the first book to be easier to read pacing-wise. I adore the characters and had fun in general! Thank you very much to netgalley and the publisher for letting me read an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I was so incredibly excited to return to my dear friends Emily Wilde and Wendell. I truly cannot get over how well written these books have been thus far. I feel as if I am reading a real field journal; the footnotes make you wonder if you really are. Emily is so witty and I just find her hilarious. Wendell is no exception. Put the two of them together- I am laughing.

The quest for find Wendell’s realm continues while evading assassins sent by his stepmother. Ending up in another charming town with helpful, friendly townspeople, Emily and her crew once again have to fight off Folk, make new friends, and not get lost in Faerie.

While not a quick read that I am tearing through, this book is a wonderful continuation of Emily’s scholarly journey that I am glad I savored each page. Overall, it’s an easy read with completely lovable characters, and enough realism that makes you want to grab your journal and find a Faerie door.

I absolutely loved being able to slip back into the world of Emily Wilde.

This sequel has everything great about ‘Encyclopedia’ (adventure, amazing creates, awesome characters), with a new and enjoyable story. The book manages to have its own individuality while being reminiscent of its predecessor.

I loved Emily and Wendell’s relationship, and can’t wait to see what they get into next!

If you haven't read book 1 I highly suggest to stop, go back and read that now because this book will be very confusing otherwise. It gave all the cozy, fluffy, grumpy but lovable vibes of book 1 but with less backstory which is just a big yay in my book. You needed it in book 1 but not this one! I do with they spent a bit less time searching but meh, I plan on getting a physical copy and rereading this by my fire this fall with a cup of cider and enjoying all of the cozy vibes yet again.

The first book in Fawcett's Emily Wilde series, Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, was extremely charming if a but uneven in it's plotting. The sequel, Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands, is similarly charming but a bit more uneven and, unfortunately, a bit less kind to it's characters, especially the supporting ones. The settings that Fawcett paints are picturesque and full of interesting faerie creatures. The overarching framework of faerie scholarship and the people that inhabit it feels authentic. Even the somewhat rushed relationship between Emily and Wendell Bambleby is sweet and cozy, for all her prickliness.

Emily's scholarship and faerie intuition are touted throughout both books. There are cracks in this narrative in the first book but it feels much more obvious in this story that Emily makes some pretty glaring mistakes for someone supposedly so naturally gifted. Of course these drive the story forward but they seem inauthentic. Her treatment of secondary characters, either callous dismissal or uninterested disregard, feels like a real misstep, for the story and for the character.

It is not egregious enough to make the series unworthy of continuation but one hopes that there is a slight course correct in the forthcoming books.

A huge thank you to Heather Fawcett, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey, and NetGalley for an eARC of Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands. I don't know how I got lucky enough to be approved for an early release of this book, but I am extremely thankful.

This is the second installment in Emily Wilde and Wendell Brambleby's journey, which started almost right where An Encyclopedia of Faeries left off, with their search for the door into Wendell's kingdom. This story had the same adorably cozy vibes and quirky writing (I love the footnotes) as book 1, and I really loved watching E&W continue fostering their relationship.

Unfortunately I did not love this book quite as much as book 1. I was hoping that we would spend more of our time in this book in Wendell's realm, but the majority of the book was spent searching for people who might have knowledge of the door. The pacing just felt a bit off to me, because the searching took a very long time; however, once items/people were found the resolutions all happened extremely quickly.

This was still a fun read, 3-4 stars for me, and I cannot wait for the next book in the series! Again, I don't know how I got so lucky, but I'm so thankful to be able to read and review!

Thank you netgalley and the publisher’s for giving me the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My bad once again for requesting a sequel. There were threads of an earlier story I couldn't capture and it felt important. The book was a bit wordy and fluffy but I think there were enjoyable aspects.

I found this book just as fun as the first! They aren’t perfect by any means, but I think they are so unique and just a silly good time. Book 2 was a little more fun because some of the setting up from book 1 wasn’t present, but it generally followed the exact same formula. This sequel is book 1 just slightly modified and I am not mad at it. It is fade to black for those of you wondering, but I found it wasn’t necessary. I love the characters and the world - it’s so cozy!

I want to thank the publishers, author, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of "Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands". This portion of the review will contain spoilers for book one! Proceed with caution!

Emily and Wendell are back at it again. Months after their return from Hrafnsvik, Emily and Wendell are on the hunt for Wendell's door, a secret back door to his kingdom. Emily is working on a new book after publishing her Encyclopaedia--this one, a map to the Otherlands. Her research will put her and Wendell in the perfect position to look for Wendell's door, and they venture to the Austrian Alps after an unfortunate encounter at Cambridge. Along with two new companions, they encounter dangerous new Folk, shadowy horsemen, and time travelers? Emily is learning more than she could ever dream about the workings of faerie doors, and learning about herself, too.

I love this book even more than the first one. Of course, by now I was already invested in Emily and Wendell, but we also have a new cast of characters--Ariadne, Emily's niece, and Farris Rose, Head of the Department of Dryadology at Cambridge. It is a colorful group of characters and I love them all. This book also started off much quicker than book one, which was my only complaint about book one!

Once again, Emily and Wendell are great. Their dynamic is so fun and lighthearted that they might just be one of my favorite comfort characters. Adding Ariadne and Rose into the mix gives the reader an ensemble of characters that both conflict and mesh so well with each other. The stakes are higher in book two, the Folk more gruesome and dangerous, and the reward so much greater. I devoured this book. Fawcett once again creates a compelling world with new twists and turns that set it apart from book one in the perfect way.

In my review for book one, I noted that Emily and Wendell's dynamic reminded me so much of Howl and Sophie, and that remains true. Even more so, while reading this book I thought, several times, "I could see this as a Ghibli movie", which is one of my highest compliments. Another cozy fantasy you can't help falling into. I haven't seen anything about book three, but I so hope that Fawcett will return to these characters and this world because I am obsessed and you should be too! This is my new favorite cozy fantasy series.

This was one of my most anticipated reads and it did not disappoint! The continuation from the first book felt so natural that it was almost as if I was picking up a book I’d simply put down for a bit. Otherlands maintains that perfect blend of adventurous, cozy charm, with a touch of darkness that I found so enjoyable in the first book. Emily’s character progression felt very natural while also still keeping the core of who she is intact. We get quite a few more glimpses into how deeply Emily cares about the people she loves, but in true Emily fashion it comes as a bit of a shock or begrudging admission. I find Emily’s curmudgeonly nature to be just as endearing as Wendell’s natural charm. Every conversation between these two remains my favorite part of the series. It is endlessly entertaining and highlightable. They are a perfect complement to each other. This second installment did a nice job of introducing new characters while also providing a few appearances/references to favorites from the first book. Fawcett has created some truly lovable characters & an endlessly fascinating world! I thoroughly enjoyed exploring these new landscapes & learning about the various types of fae living within them. I’m fully invested in following Emily & Wendell’s journey, wherever it takes them! Ready for the next installment immediately.

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

5.0 / 5.0 This book is just as good as the first or maybe even a little bit better…

Emily and Wendel are out searching for a door into his home realm and following a mystery of sorts in the process. We get more backstory on the main characters as well as more information surrounding the way the world is built out. The cast of supporting characters are fantastic, creating a support structure that informs the reader as needed so that the writhing never becomes an info-dump.

The book is written in the same style as the first, journal entries that then develop into scenes with Emily as our narrative voice. There are even a few guest entries into Emily’s journal, as there was in the first book, which are written as though by a completely separate person, an entirely different voice then the majority of the book. Faucett’s ability to describe action scenes is so clever, never overdoing it, and she dabbles in the romance at just the right times to lets us see these characters’ growth.

Like the first book, I highly recommend this one. If “Emily Wilde’s” is only a two book series, then it ends wonderfully and I am completely satisfied. If Fawcett decides to give us 3… 4…. many more adventures for these two, then I will happily continue to read them. This could so easily be translated into story arcs that encompass other characters we have met so far, prequel stories of dryadologists of history, or even a presentation of the encyclopedia and atlas as an adult coloring book (one can dream); the possibilities are limitless.

Until Next Time,
MC

I read an advanced copy of this ebook for my honest review on NetGalley.

Just like the first of the Emily Wilde series, Map of the Otherlands was a perfectly whimsical voyage into fairyland. Emily & Wendell are their imperfect selves but we grow to know them even more and it only colors the world more vividly. With their pursuits changing from academic to more personal and a greater look into their lives, the book picks up effortlessly from the first and leaves me excited for another story. It reminds me of Narnia, where I just want to keep reading of their adventures and learning more about them. Cannot wait for the (hopeful) next chapter in Emily Wildes series!