I have been in love with this series since the first page of book one. This third installment is by far my favorite. Wendell has had so much growth throughout the series and it was lovely to see how that came to fruition in Compendium. The relationship between Wendell and Emily is one of my favorites. It was fun to once again be back in Faerie and see some new and familiar characters. I enjoyed this story line and the adventure. There was a sub story line that was kinda hidden when it comes to Shadow and it had me all in my feels for most of the book. By the end there is a scene that addressees this and it had me sobbing. I am sad to see this series come to an end and can't help by try to hold on to Emily and this world and cast of characters for a bit longer.

This book was fantastic. I look forward to sharing it with library patrons looking for reading materials like this.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC.

What a wonderful conclusion to an excellent trilogy. I think it's a trilogy? It feels final, and while I am sad that it has to end, I'm also glad it's not getting dragged out until it's a husk of its former self. The whole series has an interest in examining our stories to guide our future. This one especially takes you through not only the folklore of Ireland but through Emily's past adventures. The story is so well plotted, all the pieces coming together are so satisfying! The romance between Emily and Wendell is so sweet. They are willing to do so much for each other, and they're so happy with the other in all their flaws. And I love Shadow, he's one of the best dogs in fiction. No spoilers, but I did nearly cry at the ending because of the damn dog.

Thanks to Ballantine and NetGalley for this eARC (though I didn't get to this one until after the pub date).

This was a great final entry into the Emily Wilde series! Fascinating world building and excellent characters. I like the ideas about how story impacts the Faerie realms. I'd be in for future installments, but I'm happy with how we've ended up here!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett! One of my best of the year so far, can't wait to see where else Fawcett takes Emily!

I received this as an ARC and was absolutely ecstatic to read this during my winter holiday between semesters. On the first day of holiday, I received a phone call that my father had unexpectedly died. I found myself on a 24-hour plane journey from my home in Southeast Asia to the east coast of the USA. A handful of those hours were spent reading this book from beginning to end. I really cannot give this book higher praise that in some of my darkest hours, I found solace within its story. I experienced the gambit of emotions, especially chuckling, as Emily continues to wade through unknown lands with her wit and wicked sense of researcher duty. This series has become a favorite of mine and I will always be grateful that it was a mental sanctuary during an emotionally difficult trip.

Another beautiful escapade into the realm of the fae with Emilie Wilde! A perfect 3rd book. I can not wait for additional stories to come. If you like an adventure take a trip with Emile.

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett is a captivating and whimsical adventure that introduces readers to Emily Wilde, a charming and brilliant scholar of magical creatures. The world-building is rich and full of enchanting details that make it easy to immerse yourself in Emily’s journey. I loved the quirky characters, the magic system, and the overall lighthearted yet mysterious tone of the story.

Though I gave it 3.5 stars, it’s important to note that I haven’t yet read the first two books in the series, which may have provided additional context and background to the characters and world. I’m sure I’ll appreciate the story even more once I catch up, but even as a standalone, it offers a delightful blend of humor, magic, and intrigue.

If you’re a fan of whimsical fantasy with strong, witty protagonists, this book is definitely worth checking out! I’m looking forward to diving into the rest of the series.

What if telling a story affects how the story ends?
Emily, Wendell, Shadow, and the rest of the gang reappear from beyond The Veil to give us another look into Faerie politics, love, and the definition of reality! With Wendell recovering from his assassination attempts and his stepmother off the throne of the faerie kingdom, Emily must find her place within a world where the rules aren't specific but the smallest details may result in life or death. Backstabbing, treason, loopholes and research combine to create a story with just the right amount of cozy fantasy academia! While I certainly don't want to be left alone in a room with Lord Taran, I am beyond thrilled to spend a few hundred pages learning all about him and the rest of the faerie population in this latest edition to the Emily Wilde saga. A satisfying conclusion (if the series ends here) with just enough left unknown to allow for more in the future.

The strong and determined personality of Emily, her witty writing, and interest in learning stand out throughout this series, along with the contrast of Wendell's easygoing personality. Our familiar formula changes a bit as Emily shifts gears from researching the fae to saving Wendell's kingdom from his wicked stepmother -- though Emily still finds time to take careful field notes. I found this a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, but not my favorite of the bunch. The pacing is a bit odd, certain plots end on a somewhat anti-climactic note, and some conflicts are a bit too easily resolved. There are also a LOT of different new types of fae introduced that get a bit difficult to keep track of. Still, I kept reading both to find out what happens and to continue enjoying Emily's dry observations.

From the publisher:
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The third installment in the heartwarming and enchanting Emily Wilde series, about a curmudgeonly scholar of folklore and the fae prince she loves

Emily Wilde has spent her life studying faeries. A renowned dryadologist, she has documented hundreds of species of Folk in her Encyclopaedia of Faeries. Now she is about to embark on her most dangerous academic project yet: studying the inner workings of a faerie realm—as its queen.

Along with her former academic rival—now fiancé—the dashing and mercurial Wendell Bambleby, Emily is immediately thrust into the deadly intrigues of Faerie as the two of them seize the throne of Wendell’s long-lost kingdom, which Emily finds a beautiful nightmare filled with scholarly treasures.

Emily has been obsessed with faerie stories her entire life, but at first she feels as ill-suited to Faerie as she did to the mortal world: How can an unassuming scholar such as herself pass for a queen? Yet there is little time to settle in, for Wendell’s murderous stepmother has placed a deadly curse upon the land before vanishing without a trace. It will take all of Wendell’s magic—and Emily’s knowledge of stories—to unravel the mystery before they lose everything they hold dear.

Emily Wlde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett was released February 11th, 2025 from Del Rey.

My Thoughts: In this third book in the series, the story is told from Emily's point of view. We see her worries and her joys as she and Wendell claim his throne in Faerie. This is the perfect point of view for the book considering it is pretty much Emily and her adventures for a good portion of the book. Nothing wrong with that.

Former Queen Arna has put a curse on the land. It's harming groves of trees and killing both plants and Folk that happen to be within the area it strikes. Together Wendell and Emily must find a cure for the blight and a suitable punishment for the former Queen.

Wendell's assuming the throne and having to deal with such problems allows us to see how far he's grown since meeting Emily. And Emily consults her books to find the best path forward that will yield the best results.

There is some travelling around the kingdom with Emily and Wendell. Once the problem escalates though, it's mostly Emily and ever-faithful Shadow on the road together. I think she shows great bravery and strength of character.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was a little slow in places, but it didn't stop me from wanting to know what was going to happen next. I would recommend reading the books in the series in order to get the most out of this one. There are previous characters who have parts in this book. And there are some references to previous adventures. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy a good fantasy based on the Folk.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my review. All opinions therein are my own.

“Stories are the architecture of Fairie, more powerful than magic, more powerful than kings.”

This is one of my all-time favorite series. I love the contrast between academic and reticent Emily with exuberant and fun-loving Wendell. I found this particular book interesting because Emily is forced into a more prominent role in Fairie than she ever intended, for almost the first time, she is unsure how to interact with the Folk and suddenly finds the mortal world a comforting place. She is also a lot more social this time around and is more willing to rely on the people she cares about. Meanwhile, we finally see Wendell in his own realm and how that might affect him moving forward.

Note: This is the third book in the Emily Wilde series and should be read in order.

Oh wow. Yeah, this one ended much like it began: cozily creepy! Heather Fawcett's fae are morally gray beings with almost entirely absent moral compasses. Throwing an endlessly practical, grumpy academic into the middle of them creates the best sort of chaos. If you've read the first two titles, this one is much the same, though it has a sleepier pace for the first 2/3 of the book. Fawcett wrapped up the series quite well. I was left feeling satisfied, with all my questions answered, and not hungry for more. The series doesn't feel overdone or excessive - just complete.

If you're planning to enter the Emily Wilde trilogy here, don't. Do not pass go. Turn around, seek out "Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries", and begin there. This is very much not a set of interconnected standalones. The stories each build on the previous, and you'd only be left (a) entirely lost, or (b) confused at why we care about 2/3 of the details.

Lastly, a warning: if you're reading The Compendium close to bedtime, DO NOT go beyond 65ish%. There WILL be lost sleep. Because yiiiiiiiiiiiiikes. This one was cozy ... until it wasn't. And then it made up for cozytime ... in a major way.

Content:
Violence: ...Yes. It's faerie. It's ruthless. It's pretty, but bloodthirsty. Upper mild to moderate levels of gore as well.

Sexual content: There are 1-2 allusions of sex prior to marriage, but nothing on-page or overt.

Language: Light, mild swears. Nothing significant.

Relationships: The previous titles had two sets of couples that were m/m and f/f, and they both have significant presences in the Compendium as well.

Other content: Unhealthy relationships and questionable morals are pretty much a given. Additionally, twisted familial relationships continue to play a role.

Would I continue with this series, if the author chose to release additional titles later on? Honestly .. probably not. As mentioned earlier, this is a solid stopping point. And I probably wouldn't have picked up the series to begin with, had I had a full view of what content to expect. But, here we are. And I did enjoy Wendel and Emily. They were delightful.

Thank you, author and publisher, for an advance copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC. I wanted to reread the first two before diving into the last. This world can be very overwhelming. I have to say the last book in the trilogy was my favorite. I loved seeing Emily shed her academic skin and embrace a new role. That is completely different from anything she’s done. Wendell as always was as selfless and love sick as ever. Shadow stole my heart and never returned it. All of the characters were so fun, and added so much to the storyline. They didn’t just blend into the background. I loved the plot of this book and all the twists it held. This trilogy is one of a kind and just so comforting. I can’t recommend it enough.

If there isn't a sub-genre for Cozy Academia, then there should be. "Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales" would fit right in. The entire series has all the things I love about cozy fantasy, and yet, it's filled scholarly research and the quest for knowledge of all things Fae. Old Fae tales like the ones I heard as a child. All the whimsy and fantastical things that make this genre great. I loved Heather Fawcett's writing and the world she created. This is the perfect seasonal read. All you need is a comfy seat, a hot drink and time. The series remained consistent throughout. I loved Wendell from the very beginning and Emily's passion and intelligence. I'd definitely recommend this book and series to those who love autumnal, cottage core vibes. Or those looking for a lighter fantasy with low stakes.

I may have been avoiding this review so that I didn’t have to acknowledge that the series was over 😭

The Emily Wilde series has been a favorite for the past couple of years, and I am thrilled that our last story in the series was everything I hoped for and more. In The Compendium of Lost Tales, we follow Emily and Wendell as they seek to reclaim his fairy kingdom from his wicked stepmother, who still lurks in the shadows. As Emily adjusts to life in faerie and the new expectations of her as Wendell’s queen, she can’t shake the feeling that their story isn’t quite finished yet. These fears are confirmed with the discovery of a blight on Wendell’s kingdom, a curse enacted by the evil former queen. It’s up to Wendell’s power and Emily’s academic abilities to track down the story that might save them all before it’s too late.

I loved everything about this finale in the series—Wendell coming into his power while acknowledging his limitations, Emily’s trust in herself and her own abilities, and their faith in one another despite the odds make this series a favorite. I think Heather Fawcett did an excellent job of remaining true to the story and characters she’s built while giving readers an exciting final adventure to conclude the story. For me, the ending was the perfect way to wrap up the series in a way that was both satisfying and felt authentic to the characters.
I highly recommend this book and series to fans of fantasy, emotional and funny characters, nerdy and academic ways of seeing the world, and those who believe in the innate power in all of us to make a difference.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Acknowledgments & Disclaimers ✨ Thank you to NetGalley, Heather Fawcett, and Random House Publishing/Ballentine/Del Rey, for providing an ARC and the opportunity to share an honest review of this book. ✨ All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. ✨ My reviews and ratings strive to evaluate books within their own age-demographic and genre.

In Book three of the Emily Wilde series, Heather Fawcett has continued her charming and full of wonder narrative surrounding Emily Wilde, as Emily comes to terms with the immortal world, her place beside Wendell and the mystery of a deadly curse. Once again Emily’s knowledge of fairy tales must help unravel the curse before it is too late.
One of the aspects I like the most is the research that is obvious in the telling of the series. Just as in the previous two books, the mingling of fairytales and romance is a charming mix, inviting the reader into Emily’s world. I love that Emily is nothing as we expect but is a force to be reckoned with, both in her knowledge and her ability to love.
This novel in particular focuses as much on the politics of Faerie and Wendell regaining his kingdom. In the process, we learn more about his background as well as Emily’s but the focus on stories is the key to the curse and to the beautiful ending.
If you like stories that are charming and full of wonder, this one is the one for you. With this being a strong continuation of the previous novel, I do suggest you read the previous two books in the series. At least the previous book is required to fully enjoy this one, the third in the series. I love the whimsy, the fairy tales and most of all the romance between Wendell and Emily.

I should have reread book 2 before I read this [the wait was 2 months long at the library when this thought finally jumped into my brain and I went looking, so that ended up being a no-go], but I am not sure that would have helped me actually enjoy this more; I have a feeling it would have just made me feel even more let down by this book and then I would have been even more disappointed. It just didn't fully work for me [what on EARTH happened to Wendell? I loved Wendell and he is just a shadow of his former self in this one], even with my love for Emily [she felt strangely flat and constantly anticlimactic all of the time]. I DID love that we had a lot of Shadow [and what Wendell does there was truly a huge GREEN flag {IYKYK} ], we get to see some old friends of Emily and Wendell's [though not nearly enough IMO], and Poe. Oh how I love Poe. Even if it was only for maybe 4 pages total [which was sad. Poe is so lovely]. And for what the story was about, I expected something on a MUCH grander scale, and got a teeny miniature instead and it felt so flat by the time it is all over.

For a series I have truly loved, this was pretty disappointing end.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Del Ray for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t know how she did it, but Heather Fawcett managed to build upon the setting of the first and second books and finished this trilogy on a high note. It was a beautiful and cozy read throughout with a satisfying end to Emily & Wendell’s story. This book cements the series as a favorite for me.

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am OBSESSED with these Emily Wilde books, and I have told everyone I know to drop everything and read them so we can discuss. Wendell is the best book boyfriend who has ever book boyfriended and Emily’s wry, tongue in cheek academic tone is the perfect backdrop for the charms of their relationship and the perils of fae culture. I find the magic system thoroughly fascinating and swoony and every book has delighted me more than the last. For me, Fawcett is right up there with Naomi Novik as one of the very best writers of folklore.