Thank you NetGally for the ARC

I recently delved into the enchanting world of "Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands" by Heather Fawcett, and it was a captivating read. This second installment of the Emily Wilde series offers a heartwarming and delightful adventure filled with faeries and hidden secrets.

One aspect of the book that particularly appealed to me was its captivating blend of dark academia and fantastical elements. Fawcett expertly weaves together the atmospheric setting of Cambridge University with the allure of faerie lore, creating an immersive and engaging reading experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for sending me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

The story of Emily Wilde and Wendell Bambleby continues in this second installment of the Emily Wilde series!

Emily and Wendell are off on another adventure to find Wendell’s hidden door to his kingdom. They find themselves in the Austrian Alps, where two adventurers went missing decades prior in search of the very same door.

I was introduced to a whole new cast of characters in this book and I enjoyed getting to know them and their individual contributions to Emily’s team. The townspeople did not have as much of a role in this book as I feel they did in the first, which is something I would have liked to see. They briefly touch on how they have a drop of fae ancestry, but it isn’t explored enough to satisfy my curiosity.

What I appreciated about the first book is the incredibly low stakes that made the whole story way more of a cozy fantasy. The stakes were significantly raised in the sequel, giving it more of a fantasy adventure vibe that I did not mind! The romance is definitely more slow-burn grumpy sunshine, if you’re into that kind of thing (I AM). What I appreciate most about these books is that the main conflicts are never resolved by fighting, but by cleverness and trickery using myths and folklore about the fae. I love this unique approach to conflict and I feel like it says so much about the knowledge and intelligence of Emily’s character.

If you love cozy fantasy with wholesome adventure, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries is definitely a top pick for me!

The continuation of this fantastic book, Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands, will be out January 16th, 2024!

Just as fun as the first book! I love that this series focuses more on the the traditional aspects of fae and their tricks. I honestly think this one is even better. We get more insight into their work and families that allows for more depth and story. Wendell and Emily are such a hoot and are great together. Can’t wait for the next one!

First and foremost I'd like to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for gifting me the opportunity to review this book . All opinions are my own.

At the beginning of June I read the first installment of the Emily Wilde duology. I was beyond excited to get the opportunity to dive right into the second book. To be clear I love them both, but Map of Otherlands was just so good. In my opinion this book is a great way for fantasy beginners (like me) to fall in love with the genre. The words that come to mind are cozy, light hearted (even though there is lots of adventure to be had), and cottage core vibes.

Between new characters, realms to investigate, and countries to explore and visit; the reader never gets bored. The story picks up with the main characters Emily and Bambleby back at Cambridge battling assassins sent by his mother and traveling abroad to find the door to Bambleby's realm before they catch up with them.

I loved this book and hope that there will possibly be a third installment to the series. Fingers crossed.

How fun was the first book?? Dark academia banter and mystery with a touch of romance. This second release didn’t disappoint. We’re reunited with our main characters and we dive right back in to the gorgeous relationship and hunt for the Fae. It’s set in a super fun era where we really get to dive into the academic and scholarly world of what Emily Wilde herself is accepted in. I loved meeting some of the new characters and I definitely hope they stick around. I also can’t wait to read more and purchase once there’s a physical because I can’t turn these down.

I absolutely loved this book. It’s the ultimate cozy read. I loved getting to know Emily more on a personal level and not just through academia. Grab yourself some hot cocoa and a cozy blanket cause you will not want to stop reading this cute fairy book.
I received this book from NetGalley for free. It did not impact my review in any way

I was thrilled to discover that one of my favorite reads of 2022 has a sequel, and that Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands is a worthy successor to Heather Fawcett's Emily Wilde and the Encyclopedia of Faeries. Although I don't read a lot of fantasy, I couldn't help being sucked in by both books about the adventures of two dryadology scholars in the early 1900s, researching and documenting various types of Faeries as they build relationships with helpful mortals and Folk, and battle a panoply of unfriendly Faeries.

Having published her Encyclopedia of Faeries and gained tenure at Cambridge University, Emily is now pursuing her new project, a book with maps of all known Faerie realms and their doors. But it ultimately turns into a search for a nexus--a door that connects multiple realms--and the researcher who disappeared while searching for it decades ago. Yet another quest taken on by the duo is related to startling revelations in the first book about Wendell, who is no longer just a colleague but now romantically involved with Emily. PLEASE NOTE: I highly recommend reading the first book before this one, to learn about these revelations rather than having them spoiled in my review..

Suffice it to say that Emily and Wendell have their work cut out for them. Accompanied by Emily's eager 19-year-old niece (and assistant), her huge and surprising dog, and an older university professor (Emily and Wendell are both thirtyish), they embark on an adventure that is both exciting and whimsical, featuring many species of the Fae--both friendly and vicious--, enchanted inanimate objects, talismans, and eccentric characters. I particularly admire the author's impressive imagination and attention to detail. It's a fun read, and one that makes me long for (hopefully) more books in the series.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

<b> <I> Thank you so much to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of “Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands” by Heather Fawcett in exchange for an honest review. All of the following opinions are formulated on my own. Any quotes in this review should be cross-referenced with the final copy for any possible edits.</I> </b>

<b> Overall rating: </b> 5 out of 5 stars

<b> Favorite quote(s): </b>

<b> My review: </b> I didn't think topping the first book was possible yet here we are! We return to adventure on the Austrian Alps with Wendell, our newly realized exiled faerie king. As Emily and Wendell search through the alps for a door to his realm, they try to free him from his family's dark plans. In this cottagecore and picturesque book, we get a deeper view into the characters and not left without seeing more exciting action. Is it too soon to ask for the third?!

<b> Does it deserves the hype?: </b> 100% yes.

<b> Notable Themes, Elements, and Tropes: </b>
- Cottagecore vibes
- Exiled Royals
- On Foot Adventures
- Historical Romantic Fantasy
- Light Academia

yay! I really liked that we picked up basically right where we left off. I will say that if a series is going to be a trilogy or quad-logy, I need to know up front. Because I need to understand that this isn’t the book where they get to point B. Apparently there was a secret point called point a (lowercase) which is what this book was. Regardless, it was great. But the whole mystery with the doors and Emily’s theories of how things work got too confusing to follow. It got to a point where I was just taking what she said at face value. But I’m still excited to continue and read the next one!

I am still loving this series. It’s so creative and different from other fantasy books about the fae.

Emily and Wendell maintain their banter and their love. I’ve really enjoyed watching Emily’s character grow as her inner circle and friends grow.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, but especially if you like cozy mystery vibes.

Thank you NetGalley for this eArc. I am submitting this review voluntarily.

WOW! I read the first Emily Wilde book the day before starting the second installment and was absolutely blown away by both! Set in the early 1900's, Emily Wilde is a scholar and tenured professor at Cambridge that specializes in all things Faerie, Emily recently published the first encyclopedia of faeries, and is beginning to work on her next project - A Map of the Otherlands.

When her kind of, sort of, maybe (???!!) boyfriend is almost killed by a murderous faerie queen; Emily will stop at nothing to save him (and gather as much data about faeries as possibly in the process.) Bringing along her over-zealous research student, and the head of the department that would LOVE to see her fail, she is on a mission to figure out how to keep her beau safe, and hopefully end this tirade for good.

The character tones are excellent, this book had me giggling and absolutely enchanted. I love how Heather Fawcett uses a very broad vocabulary, including foot notes in her writing. With the creative story-telling Fawcett uses throughout the book, I would compare her to the next J.K. Rowling.

And, since faeries love the rule of 3, I am going to cross my fingers a third one is in the works!

As the sequel to one of my favorite books ever, this book was exactly what I had hoped for and so much more! It picks up a short time after Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries ends, with Emily and Wendell back at their Cambridge offices and preparing for an expedition searching for a way into Wendell’s faerie home along with Emily’s niece . Before they even leave the university they find themselves fighting for their lives and their careers.

As with book one, it is written journal style which gives it a personality unique to Emily’s awkwardly endearing character. The world is so detailed that it feels like something from another time rather than pure fiction. And Emily and Wendell’s relationship continues to be charmingly sweet and understated in the midst of lush mountain landscapes and terrifying adventures.

I loved every minute reading this book and I cannot wait to see how the story continues!

I loved this! I was absolutely obsessed with the first book and now even more so with this follow-up!! I need more!! I can't wait for the next book!! Seriously I'm completely smitten with this series and this book just made me love it even more. I quickly ate this book up in one sitting!
I just reviewed Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett. #EmilyWildesMapoftheOtherlands #NetGalley
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4.5 stars

I love Emily Wilde so much. This adventure was fun, exciting, and heartwarming complete with awesome characters and a cute plot. Watching Emily bond with those around her just makes me feel good inside! Plus I love love Poe and seeing him again was perfection. Can't wait to read the next one<3

This review will be published on my Goodreads on June 21 and will continue to be up!
Reviews and videos associated with the book will also be posted on my Tiktok @Bookbaddie0for roughly a week starting June 21st and will remain published!

I started my journey of Emily Wilde with Heather Fawcett’s first book, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries. I’d definitely recommend starting there if you’re interested in this book, because I think the character development is a bit wanting overall and you’ll definitely feel like you’re missing out if you don’t read the first one. I’m big on relatable, well developed characters, so it stands out to me if I don’t feel like I know them well.

That being said - the big question for me in this book (as well as the first) is, do I like the main character, Emily Wilde? I feel like I do.

Emily has a way of speaking and narrating that is charming in a scientific, empirical way - I think that’s part of her charm. But there’s something about her character development that doesn’t quite get there for me and I wish I felt that development more. I like her character, don’t get me wrong, I just wish that over 2 books she was a bit more developed. I would have liked the author to lean into the eclectic traits a bit more, personally.
I felt the romance aspect of the story was unnecessary in the first book, and I’m not sure how I feel about it in the second. It grew on me in parts, and in other parts seemed really pointless and irritating.

I suppose it’s integral to the plot in some aspects, but I also feel like the relationship between Emily and Wendell could be one of begrudging respect/teasing friendship without needing the other romantic aspects to still convey a successful relationship to the audience.

For me the plot of this second book was more interesting than the first. The addition of Rose on the adventure was a little predictable, but I found myself enjoying his character and the interactions he has with the others. He definitely leans into the eccentricities (I couldn’t help but picture Doc Brown from Back to the Future) while being overtly dorky, a combination I thoroughly enjoyed. I particularly liked his banter with Eichorn – it was clever without being overly pedantic, which I struggled a bit with in the first book. I actually giggled a few times with this book. Ariadne was a cute addition to the cast as well. Her enthusiasm was a bit infectious.

Whereas the first book introduced a LOT of characters, this second book did a nice job of setting the village scene without overwhelming me with a host of names to remember. I appreciated that, because I could get to know the main characters better without feeling distracted by other people who really weren’t central to the plot.

I quite enjoy the author’s writing style. It’s eloquent without being overly complex, so it’s a really nice read. The plot in both the first book and this one seemed to move slowly, but whereas in the first one it slogged along a bit more than I would have liked, it’s a nice pace for this second book. It’s not a long book page-wise but it felt longer than its 274 e-pages to me.

This is a sequel that to me was more successful than its predecessor. Though I do like the world of fantasy I’m not sure I would have picked up the series if it weren’t for NetGalley (thank you!) but after reading this second book I’m intrigued to see where the rest of Emily’s story will go. Worth a shot especially if this is a genre you typically enjoy!

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries was one of my favorite reads of last year, and the sequel did not disappoint! I love the narrative style in this series; I love the incredibly logical way that Emily thinks; and I love Wendell so much! This book allowed us to see more of Emily's life besides just her time in Ljosland: we see her at home in England at the university, and we even get to meet her niece, Ariadne. As with the first book, the romance was fairly understated, but there was definitely quite a bit more than in the first book, which I really enjoyed. It didn't overpower the plot at all. I also really liked that one of the plot points was figuring out what had happened to a scholar who had been referenced extensively in the footnotes of the first book. It really added to the immersion in the alternate history of this world.
Fawcett's writing style is absolutely incredible, and I love the way that her faeries are depicted. Emily references so many faerie stories in her footnotes, some familiar and some not, but I really like the way Fawcett has set up the existence of faeries in this world. As far as I know, this is going to be a trilogy, but I hope there are more than that!

This was a fantastic sequel. I think this is such an interest style of writing, a journal but with "academic" footnotes. I think the characters are delightful and the storyline is interesting without being high stakes. This is a good addition to the new "cozy fantasy" genre.

I loved this book! The sequel was so good if not better than the first book. I am not anticipating the next book!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Loved this! The second installment in the series is as good or better than the first. I can't wait for the next book to come out. I'd also love to see a prequel of how Emily met Shadow and Wendell.

Emily Wilde and Wendell Bambleby are at it again on another fun filled whimsical adventure! This was such a fun and cozy sequel to Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries which I absolutely adored.

The story picks up where they last left off and the two venture out to find Wendall’s door while Emily puts together a “map” of faerie doors. We meet a new cast of characters that keep the pace moving along nicely. It does somewhat start off slow in the beginning but doesn’t take long to pick up which I felt the same with the first book.
Emily is still the head strong brilliant if not off put scholar and Bambleby the same charming and charismatic fae. I love their banter and endearment for each other. Heather Fawcett gives us the perfect atmospheric setting and excellent world building like the first one too. I love how the faeries are still whimsical and yet kind of terrifying and very much touch on the original Grimm stories.

Overall, I really enjoyed this sequel and feel it’s another comfort and quirky fantasy read with a bit light academia. Similar vibes to a TJ Klune book after. Definitely recommend if you read and enjoyed Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars