What another fun adventure from Miss Emilie Wilde. I came for the banter and was not disappointed. Her and Wendell have me kicking my feet in the air and squealing like a little girl. I will give a more detailed review once the book is released so I won't spoil anything, but if you loved the first book you will not be disappointed with this next installment.

Thank you Netgally and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this e-arc!

ABSOLUTELY CHARMING!!! I love this series so much. While I didn’t love this one quite as much as the first, I still adored it. We got more faerie creatures than ever, and tons of faerie lore. Plus, there was extra suspense around the Irish faerie court and the threat to Wendell’s survival.

I’ll be honest, I read this series 100% because of Wendell. I love him SO SO MUCH. His charming personality, his little quirks, his desire for comfort while occasionally showing inclinations to be a violent, vicious thing. I love the way he balances Emily. I love his little signs of humanity, despite what he is.

I think the only reason I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first, was because I was familiar with the setting/world building. In the first book, all the faerie discoveries are new and novel. By the second book, you know all about the existence of faeries and so you’re not as surprised when things happen. However, I think Heather Fawcett did a great job by upping the stakes, throwing in more magic and faeries than before, and creating more depth to the world.

Okay, can I just say I freaking love Poe. I was bursting with happiness when we got a few cameo appearances from him. I was worried that we’d never get to see him again. I also adored the fact that Emily picked up a new little folk friend, Snowbell. SNOWBELL!! I love how these are vicious, gnarled, little creatures and yet, in my head they are tiny and CUTE! Like when they crawl into Emily’s lap to nap, or cling to her cloak for comfort. OMG. Soooo cuttteeee!!!

The most satisfying moment was when Emily PROVES to Wendell, never underestimate the little folk. The little folk who were the real MVPs of the story. The little folk helped keep Wendell alive. The little folk had secret solutions. The little folk knew far more than everyone gave them credit for! And by the end, Emily helps Wendell see this.

Side note: Poe’s adoration for his tree house, that Wendell gifted him, made my heart so FULL. Like, he wants to talk about it all the time. He wants to show everyone how proud he is of his home. GAAAHHHH.

There is going to be a third book!! I almost screamed when I saw that. I don’t want this story to end.

𝐌𝐘 𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: 𝟓/𝟓⭐️

I was so happy to be swept back into the world that Emily Wilde, exiled faerie king Wendell Bambleby, and Shadow live in. Leaving Cambridge with others in tow, the high peaks of the Austrian Alps are where they all settle as they hope to find the door back to Wendell’s land, and escape the assassins his evil step mother has looking for them. Emily’s dedication to her scholarly research maybe the key to saving Wendell in this land of icy peaks and strange creatures. The turn that is revealed during her trip to Wendell’s realm, a mossy green land, surprised me, I can’t wait to see what it means for their next visit in book three.
Many thanks to Heather Fawcett, NetGalley and Random House for book two of this series with its imaginative, well written world, it’s a fabulous place to spend time. If I could give it ten stars instead of five I would!

> [it] was objectively horrifying - not only because I was nearly killed, but because I inadvertently crushed several snails beneath my fingers, which emitted tiny, high-pitched screams of agony.

I think this book and its predecessor tickled that part of my brain that is always itching to go back to school just so I can crouch in the tidepools and look at little weird critters that might as well be fae. (I would like to think that the anemones and hermit crabs are not making tiny screams but who am I to say.) I was so excited to read this and get more of my favorite fae/academia/grumpy-sunshine combo that I haven't found elsewhere. I like that the academia isn't just aesthetic (it feels more real dealing with other faculty egos and eccentric scholars) and having the grumpy half of the romantic pair be the female protagonist is always fun. Can't wait for future Emily Wilde installments - I have a feeling there will be plenty more on the horizon.

many thanks to netgalley for the advanced reader copy.

Emily Wild's Map of the Otherlands is the second book in this series. Our favorite characters have returned with the banter that have charmed their way in a permanent spot on our bookshelves.
In this installment the story begins not long after the end of the first book, Emily has turned into a budding author and Wendel is waiting for an important question to be answered. Life seems to have calmed down a bit when Emily suddenly makes a promising discovery.

Determined that they can probably find Wendel's missing door to his kingdom, they decide embark on a journey to a new land to find it. Unfortunately right before they leave Emily's niece and Professor Rose catches wind and insist accompanying them.

When the four of them plus Shadow arrive, they discover there may be hidden secrets and mysteries getting in the way.

I was so delighted to read along with some of my favorite characters on their new journey. The banter between Professor Rose, Wendel, and Emily was so funny and witty.

We are given a few new characters, a visit to a new to Emily fae realm, and an unexpected rescue.

I did not want this to end and eagerly await the next book in the series.

I think I've already found my favourite book of 2023!!! I've seen a few other reviewers say that it's even better than the first book of the series and I wholeheartedly concur. Emily is my favourite type of protagonist - a smart, driven, no-nonsense woman who deeply cares for the people around her even if she denies it at times. Bambleby continues to be charming, sweet, and unfortunately deceptive with a good heart underneath all his faerie secrecy. I'm anxiously anticipating the next book and can't wait to uncover more of the fantastical world of faeries.

Can I give this more than 5 stars? Is it possible I loved this even MORE than the first book? Do I need Wendell Brambleby to manipulate time so I can get the next book in the series NOW?

Heather Fawcett has created a world of Fae and Folk and Mortals that I completely fall into and never want to leave. I adore Emily Wilde and her bravery in venturing into the Fairy Realms. I love her grim, Shadow, and all the creatures she encounters, especially Poe and his love for his fantastic tree.

Fawcett writes with a clarity and precision that puts me right in her world and makes me believe it could exist - it DOES exist, right?

This novel picks up where the first left off, with Emily helping Wendell find the door to his realm while also mapping out the nexus and finding a lost dryadologist. Despite the turn of the century setting, Fawcett keeps the story very contemporary, particularly in romantic relationships, and there is very little in the way of sexism.

I love the derring-do of Emily Wilde, her independence, and her curiosity. She could easily succumb to Wendell's charms and live an enchanted life but she wants more for herself. A great role model.

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc to review and thanks to Heather Fawcett for another terrific novel keeping me up late at night.

I was surprisingly delight by this title. I love the juxtaposition of uptight British scholarly pursuits and magic as a field of study. And just enough romance and mystery to keep it spicy! A real treat for fans of urban fantasy with a historical touch

A thoroughly enjoyable second foray into the adventures of Emily Wilde. Fawcett has built a unique world in which magic is both mundane and uncanny, and it was a pleasure to dig deeper into that world.

Fantastic continuation of the Emily Wilde story! New characters added some texture and many laughs (and gasps). The banter between Em and Wendell was so well written and kept you wanting more. Once again, we get the chance to explore a lush and wild wilderness. I just adore this series; a little cosy fantasy, a little grim and bloody, actual laugh out loud moments. Thanks to NetGalley for providing the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

I had high hopes for this sequel, and I was not disappointed! I was nervous that it would be difficult to recapture the magic of the first book, but Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherworlds was just as witty, fun, and rich in world building as the first (if not more)!! I loved this deeper dive into Emily’s feelings and relationship with Wendell while still staying true to the ‘academic’ journal of it all. I absolutely blew through this book and will be anxiously awaiting a third (hopefully)!

I fell in love with Professor Emily Wilde and banished faerie king and hapless academic Wendell Bambleby in the first book of this enchanting cozy fantasy series, so I immediately wishlisted the second book and was immensely excited to get a sneak preview.

And it did not disappoint. The second book is another charming entry in this wonderful, unassuming series. In this world Emily Wilde is a mousy, bumbling scholar of dryadology in a world in which the Fair Folk are very real in a richly imagined and well researched universe. You can tell that the author has an advanced degree in archaeology, one of the best elements of this series is how it is rooted in science and scientific study.

In the second book, Emily wrestles with the terrifying prospect of being wed to a mercurial fae monarch and all the dangers to humans that can bring, while balancing that with her trust and love of the Wendell she knows. In the first part of the book I did not see the chemistry between these two as much as in the first, but like in the first, it grew on me by the end. It is one of those excruciatingly slow burns and I love how the second book in the series builds their relationship and deals with very real internal conflicts and human concerns.

Amid that tension, Wendell’s stepmother, who has assumed the throne, has sent assassins after him, which makes it more imperative than ever to locate the door to his realm. Never underestimate the cleverness of a mousy scholar, though, who assembles a motley crew of fellow scholars, creatures and common folk to rescue Wendell and engage in scholarly research along the way.

This book continues the same quirky, irreverent tone that in the hands of another author I would have found irritating but in this book I fell in love, instantly charmed by its rambling allure and scholarly grounding.

And the characters in this were wonderful. Finally, a properly strong female main character who doesn’t need rescuing but continuously saves the day based on nothing but wits, curiosity and knowledge. I loved the transformation of the spoiled, selfish fae monarch into a Wendell who is generous and warm.

Emily Wilde, against all odds, has won me over again, just like she does the villagers on all her field studies. I hope this will be a trilogy instead of a duology.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I loved this one more than the first book of the series! Emily and Wendell’s reverse grumpy sunshine relationship is great, and I love this cozy fantasy read. I hope this series continues beyond duology! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC! I gave this book four stars and would recommend this to any cozy fantasy lover.

This book picks up a few months after EWEOF left off. Without giving away any spoilers from book one, the sequel sees Emily and Wendell happily teaching at Cambridge until a faerie invasion targeted at Wendell forces the duo to team up again on some field work. This time, they have two other companions, Emily’s teenage niece Ariadne and Emily and Wendell’s head of department, Rose (a male). Again, they find themselves nestled in the coziest town imaginable, this time in the Alps, and searching for a door to the faerie lands.

I enjoyed this book more than the first; the sequel outshines the original! I almost feel like you could read this book without reading the first; you’d just need a short summary of the first. I love both Emily and Wendell’s characters and how they’ve developed.

I gave the first book three stars because I loved the characters but thought the plot could be plodding at times. This book has much better pacing, for the most part. Like the first book, I thought the action climax scene was pretty anti-climactic. Like the first book, the book from about the 70% to the 90% mark just doesn’t have super interesting story telling. Maybe it’s the fact that the author is constrained by having to write each day journal entry style. Also, the author has self-imposed the rule that memory is rusty for mortals in faerie lands… this means that perhaps the story suffers, as Emily must write many times, “here my memory goes hazy” and “I don’t remember doing this, but”.

Cut the 70% to 80% mark of this book (just have the door go straight to the castle) and make the 80-90% writing style a little more fitting to an action scene, and this book would be a strong 4.5 star!

There are a couple of awkward moments, but this is still an ARC that won’t be published for six months, so perhaps they’ll be edited. Sometimes, it’s unclear who characters are talking to, since they address a person different from the one who just spoke. At one point, it seems like Fawcett is about to attempt an “only one bed” trope, only to change her mind at the last minute as Emily abruptly finds another guest room to sleep in.

I enjoyed this way more than I expected to, and would recommend that even readers who gave the first book three stars continue on with the series!

The quality of this series is immaculate. I am always worried going into a sequel that quality will dip, but Emily and Wendell felt so consistent in this new adventure. I loved the new settings and the new “side” characters as well as some old friends revisiting. If you loved the first book, I think you will love this one. Heather Fawcett’s writing style is just so good. I occasionally had to tell myself to slow down so I could savor it!

I loved this one just as much as Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries. It has a good pace, a nice blend of story, world building and characters. The banter between Wendell and Emily is great. I was delighted to see a certain little character return. Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the chance to read this one early.

This is the second book in the Emily Wilde series, and it follows a similar pattern to the first, with Emily and Wendell traveling to a new area to research the local Fae, then Emily winding up within the Fae realm at the end. I loved Emilies and Wendell’s banter, and I loved the inclusion of Ariadne, Emily’s niece. I also really enjoyed the world getting a little more expanded and the new characters, like Rose. It lacked a little bit of the same magic as the first book in the series, and I missed a lot of the interactions with the townies the first book had. The climatic conflict also felt a bit too similar. I still really enjoyed it and will continue reading this series.

"Oh Em!" Returning to the deliciously curmudgeonly and cozy journal of Emily Wilde was like slipping back into a comfortable robe. This time, Wendell's stepmother has sent assassins after him to prevent him from finding a door back to his realm and they have to journey to the Austrian Alps to find said door, a long missing dryadologist, and hopefully cure Wendell of poisoning (and on his birthday, as he keeps hilariously reminding us).

Heather Fawcett is an auto-read for me and she always captures vibes immaculately. However, the pacing of this sequel felt off and could have benefited from a heavy editing hand. Unlike some, I love Emily's footnotes and academic meanderings, but it led to this feeling like a draft. In Encyclopedia of Faeries, the plot unraveled so cleanly and felt incredibly intentional. While everything did end up coming together, it felt rushed at the end and somewhat unsatisfying.

That said, I will never get enough of Wendell and Emily. I'm not even sure you can call it Grumpy/Sunshine because, while Emily is certainly delightfully grumpy, our blissfully charming Wendell can also be wonderfully grumpy in his own bratty royal fae way (and certainly murderous when anyone dares lay a finger on his Emily). He adores her exactly how she is and trusts her fierce brilliance so completely. Every character Fawcett writes feels so wonderfully fleshed out, unique, and richly conceived. We even got to see some old friends from Encyclopedia.

Overall, I adored this book and honestly it's probably closer to a 4.5 than a 4, but just not quite perfect enough to give it a 5 star read. Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I was so excited to see this available on Netgalley and immediately requested it. This installment was just as charming and clever as the first one. I adore Emily and Wendell, and I hope they have more books coming in the future.

I was kind of surprised when I realized that this was going to have a sequel, and now that I’ve read it, I kind of wish it didn’t. It really didn’t need one. I think the first book could have very successfully been a standalone with a few tweaks and then I wouldn’t have to be so disappointed now. The plot was nearly cut-and-paste from the first book. The pacing in this one, however, was terribly sluggish. The world-building wasn’t really expanded upon, more so reiterated. The secondary characters weren’t nearly as loveable or in-depth as in the first book. I absolutely adored Emily and Wendell from the first book so much and I was excited to get more of their story. I like Emily and her quirkiness and the unique tone she brings to the voice of the story. But their relationship dragged here as much as the plot did and it all just felt lackluster. There wasn’t a whole lot of development with each of them personally nor together, not in any way that I was expecting. Almost like everything just stalled out, rather than a continuation of how things escalated in the first book. Unfortunately, I think all the hyped up fans from the first book are going to be largely disappointed with this sequel. I don’t think I’ll be continuing this series if there is more to come. This second book has lost all of my interest. The first book was so magical, charming, captivating, and unique. And now it has all just flat-lined for me. My advice, read the first one for all its worth and pretend that it ends there.