Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

An absolutely perfect end to this delightful series. I never tire of Emily and Wendell and their adventures. This time it’s to reclaim his throne!

I loved how important stories are to this story. What we learn about a world, the truths we find, and what threads connect them all—it was a really beautiful exploration.

I loved seeing all our old friends like Poe, Margret, and Lildja, plus Rose and Ariadne. I loved how Emily remained above all, truly and authentically herself. She and Wendell just make me smile. I laughed at the two of them quite a bit too.

The mix of whimsy and adventure is just perfect. I will definitely recommend this series to anyone, and it will be one I revisit in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Compendium of Lost Tales picks up directly where we left off in Book 2, with Emily and Wendell opening the door into his faerie realm. Luckily I read all three of these in quick succession, because it really felt like this was a direct continuation of Map of the Otherlands.

Like with the other two books, I absolutely adored this installment. Overall, the world-building for the faerie realm wasn't overwhelming in any way, which made it easy to follow and very enjoyable to read. There were several more characters in this one, as well as all of my favorites from the first two books. It was a nice build-up for anyone who wants to start to read more fantasy, but has been intimidated by it in the past because of how the world itself and number of characters can get overwhelming. Fawcett does a great job of building on the foundation of the first book, and growing the world and characters at an enjoyable pace. I also really loved that this book focused even more on the actual fairytale aspect and included various tales from folklore as a way to explain how the world itself worked - I was constantly blown away by how Fawcett was able to incorporate these cultural aspects and create an entire world and book series off of it. It was so unique compared to other fantasy books I've read. I also loved that Emily is in her 30s and not making the same mistakes and falling into the same romantic tropes that are common in other romantacy stories.

I do wish there was more of a conclusive ending - unless we will be getting more installments, which I would definitely read and purchase as soon as they were published. It feels like we are just getting started with Emily and Wendell's adventures. Some plot points were still left unresolved, so I'm hoping we get at least one more novel for this series, if not more. This series is definitely something special.

A satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, although I did feel the love story was given rather short shrift in this one (lots of plot to get through!) and it did feel maybe a touch shaggier than the first two.

"I am bored most of the time. Bored of politics and adventure and feasting and quarreling. Of vengeance and loyalty. I have learned there is one thing a person never tires of, no matter how long they live. And that is being in love. All else is ash and ember."

Book 3 follows Emily and Wendell into the latter's own realm as they try to sort out the some things with the previous monarch. This installment of the series has a lot more emotion and a bit less in-depth faerie lore, but the adventure levels are top tier as always. I was even brought to tears at one or two points. Fawcett has perfectly weaved humor and intellect into a whimsical, dark tale of the Folk, that is all together massively clever. I've always loved how each book corresponds to the whatever project the Emily is working on. The series concludes in a satisfactory way that I will personally hold hope that it leaves the faerie door open for a future return, should the author take a fancy. Fawcett is genuinely such a fantastic author and world builder, with an astounding vocabulary (I learn so many new words reading her work). Every book is a literary treat. I'm sad to see the Emily Wilde series come to a close, since I believe this is a trilogy, but I am really excited to see what Fawcett comes out with next.

This book is the perfect way to end the trilogy. Delightful, gorgeously evocative, funny (I love Emily and her voice - her diary entries are the best way these stories could have been narrated), absorbing, imaginative. These are cosy grey academia stories that the author has managed to get just right, and I know I'll be returning to them, the world, and its characters in the future.

Series Info/Source: This is the 3rd book in the Emily Wilde series. I got this on eGalley from NetGalley for review.

Thoughts: I enjoyed this book just as much as the previous books in this series. We spend a lot more time in faerie in this book and learn a lot more about Wendell's past.

Emily and Wendell head into faerie to take back Wendell's throne. Sadly, this isn't as easy as expected as there seems to be a curse on the lands; a curse created by the apparently not-quite-dead former queen. Emily rushes to analyze various faerie stories and try to figure out the best way to break this curse. Wendell is healing the land as he can.

I really continue to enjoy both Emily and Wendell as characters; they have a sweet relationship and are very supportive of each other through some rather trying times. We meet some new and intriguing characters in this book as well and get to spend some time with some of Emily's friends from the first book too.

I enjoyed the crazy inhabitants of faeries, the detailed analysis of various faerie tales, and Emily's bravery in facing some tough situations. This is a well written and cozy, heart-warming fantasy. I hope there are additional books in this series.

My Summary (5/5): Overall I really love this series. I love Wendell and Emily and their relationship, and I enjoyed all the time we get to spend in faerie. This is a well-written fantasy with heavy faerie themes, a lot of humor, some adventure, and a cozy feel to it. I really hope there are additional books in this series.

Emily and Wendell's story ends in a satisfying conclusion with a return to the beginning. Emily navigates the challenges of being a human queen in the Faerie world by putting her scholarly knowledge to use. I loved the cast of characters in this book and seeing some familiar favorites. I had a slow time getting into the book, but once I was in the story I couldn't put it down.

Overall, I really enjoyed the third book in the Emily Wilde series. Compendium of Lost Tales has the same pacing as Encyclopedia where it really picks up about halfway through. We start right where Map of the Otherlands ends with Emily and Wendell looking for a door to Wendell’s realm and general exploration and politics begins from here. The mysterious curse placed by Wendell’s stepmother is a little slow to make itself known and didn’t really grab my attention. It wasn’t until things became life threatening for characters that I truly was on the edge of my seat to finish. I enjoyed having characters return from previous books and loved that Wendell wasn’t asleep for half the book. In all honesty, I love this series because of his complaints, magic, and general attitude. I felt the pivotal moment (I cried on a train in front of everyone) was resolved rather quickly and would have enjoyed more of Shadow showing off his powers.

I love this series and this entry is as lovely and whimsical as the last two. Emily and Wendell are a great pair to follow around, and their adventures in Wendell's realm are just serious enough to keep you entertained. I love the romance, the settings, the cozy nature and high stakes of it all. I would read just about anything involving these two. I hope this is not the last entry in the series, but if it is it's a lovely send off for these two.

Overall I enjoyed this series enough, but I am glad I am finished with it. While I did look forward to this book and am very thankful I got to read it early... I don't look back on any in the trilogy with especially incredible or memorable things to say.

If you like cozy fantasies, then this book is 100% for YOU, and you will ADORE it. It has all the perfect elements that make cozies what they are....a slow pace, with very whimsical writing and magical aspects, and a little bit of a romance. But maybe this genre is just not for me. I am at a point where I need a little bit more substance in my plots, and I rely more on intrigue to keep me going rather than vibes alone.

Wendell and Emily are great characters, and I love their interactions together. The relationship they have is so funny and peculiar but entertaining all the same. It is nice to watch their relationship grow and change throughout the three books and nice to see a more non-traditional relationship too. In the sense that Emily is a bit more of a shyer and less outwardly romantic person. Shadow (her dog) did have a larger arc in this novel, and I can't say I'm disappointed. The animal companions in this are great, and both dog and cat people will be appeased.

I was quite shocked by some developments of the story and twists along the way, but the ending conclusion was still a little predictable. It was still nice to have a little change of pace for a moment. And the mystery element and sleuthing was a bit of fun.

There is potential for a following series, and I could be tempted to read that...simply because the writing is so lovely here and the world is nice to dive into. When I was getting into the story more, it was in moments where the setting was being described vividly. The magical elements were done very well here and those are Heather's strongest pros. The descriptions are very vivid and her magical elements feel like they are coming out of a fairytale itself, and one I would want to visit.

Overall, I enjoyed it enough...but I never found myself truly wanting to pick this up and needing to know where it ended.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Emily Wilde's series has been a favorite of mine since I picked up the first book in early 2023. I was a new Netgalley member and had been requesting books based off of their descriptions. The synopsis for Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries sounded like all my childhood faerie obsessions come true in a book. I requested it, was approved, and loved it from the first page! I have been lucky enough to read each installment since as an advanced copy, and my love for the series has only grown.

Whereas the first book, Encyclopaedia could have been a standalone (although with several questions left), the second and third books, Map and Compendium, are closely tied together. The story picks up in Compendium right after the events in Map, with Emily finally bringing Wendell home to his kingdom. Not all is as it seems, though, and our dear heroes must find a way to overcome even more enemies.

As a result, the plot is more straightforward than previously. There's less tangents. While there are a couple turns and unexpected moments, the main goal of the book stays the same - heal the problems Wendell's stepmother left behind.

This book takes faerie stories a step further than the previous installments - where Emily would consult faerie stories previously, she relies heavily upon them here. And honestly, it does feel a bit convenient. However, Emily is reminded to look at the overall pattern of faerie stories rather than just one story. This formulaic aspect of the plot didn't dampen my enjoyment, but it was a consistent thought that niggled at my brain. I imagine some readers will not like it.

Overall, though, Compendium feels like the natural evolution of Emily and Wendell's story. Their relationship growth, Emily's increased confidence in her decisions, and even the way the plot unfurled effortlessly flowed from one book to the next. I think Compendium's increased focus on faerie stories and the formulaic nature of Faerie was a nod to everything we've learned with Emily since book one. As she says,

"The politics of Faerie - indeed, everything about the place - revolves around stories. Stories shape the realms and the actions of those who dwell there."

Speaking of, Wendell's realm is awful and lovely and dangerous. Sure, we got a look at it in Map, but it was rushed and not under the best circumstances. Emily goes through just about every feeling in regards to the Silva Lupi, and we get some vivid descriptions of things both terrible and beautiful. We spend so much time in Faerie!

Shadow, precious old dog that he is, had my whole entire heart. Orga even managed to steal into my affections a bit... but, I also enjoyed seeing her be a capricious, tricky cat. Haha. Poe makes a small appearance, and Snowbell is as vicious as ever. New common fae are met, and some disturbing courtly fae as well. But don't fear! Several mortals also feature (including some familiar faces!), giving Emily a reprieve from Faerie minds.

Moving onto the more gushy matters: Emily and Wendell! I love their relationship. Wendell is very much a faerie, and we see that even more in his actions in Compendium. But his love and care and observance of Emily is soft and wholesome. Emily, too, leans into her feelings as best she can and is open with Wendell. Her blunt manner and Wendell's frivolity mesh in an unexpected way, and I love to see it. They're perfect. I love seeing them together in Wendell's realm. That's all.

How does one end a review like this? I am sad to be leaving Emily and Wendell, but I know I'll revisit their story often. I am nothing but pleased with the ending of this series and where we leave them. Heather Fawcett has my full trust as an author, and I am so thankful to her for this world!

Bored out of my MIND. You can’t have stakes this high and keep it cosy, and the attempt at having both clashes badly, rendering Compendium a mess that can’t decide what it wants to be: it doesn’t have the cosy-whimsy-charm of the previous books, and it definitely hasn’t managed to transition or transform into a high-stakes high-tension save-the-realm epic. (Which: nobody wanted that! Literally nobody asked you to suddenly try and turn this into a fate-of-the-realm story. Why couldn’t we just have a novel about Wendell settling in as king and Emily finding her place in the scariest fairy realm?)

But the main problem is how simple and convenient it all is. Why is Emily suddenly saying ‘I somehow knew’ all the time about random magical details she can’t possibly know? Why is every problem and conflict wrapped up neatly in ten minutes or less? Why bother introducing all these mini problems if you’re just going to magic-wand them away? Do you know how hard it is to stay interested when you do that? I’m not even choosing not to care about each new problem, you’re not giving me TIME to care before you’ve fixed it!

Being up close and personal to Fawcett’s Folk is…making it very clear that they’re quite dull, actually. At least the ice fae in book one felt alien and strange; Wendell’s court, despite allegedly being the Courtly Fae of, again, the scariest fae realm to ever fae, are just…humans playing dress-up. And not even interesting dress-up! At LEAST give me fae fashion, for crying out loud, and no, a cloak so soaked in blood it leaves a trail on the floor doesn’t cut it. Dresses made up of water and sunlight and envy! Necklaces studded with mortal dreams instead of jewels! Folk with fur or porcupine quills or wings instead of hair! There’s no strangeness, there’s no beauty, they’re not even scary or monstrous. And don’t get me started on the giant foxes they use instead of horses. HOW DO YOU MAKE GIANT FOXES BORING?

And listen. Listen. I love Emily. Emily is amazing. But chapters and chapters of her being ‘uneasy’ instead of excited and delighted and obsessively trying to Know Everything about the realm she finds herself in is a) disappointing b) exhausting and c) BORING.

I read to 45% and honestly, that was 35% too much. Genuinely made my eyelids heavy.

I want to be clear that I absolutely adore Emily Wilde. Encyclopedia of Faeries was a 5 Star Read for me. I was not quite as taken with Map of the Otherlands, though I still enjoyed it. I enjoyed Compendium of Lost Tales more than Map of the Otherlands but not more than Encyclopedia of Faeries. Overall, I would give the trilogy as a whole 4 Stars.

I found the pacing of Compendium to be rather slow. I didn’t feel the story picked up until about 40% of the way in. After the 40% mark there were moments that were peppered in that peaked my interest but I didn’t feel they always entirely followed through to be as interesting as they could have been.

I’ve found Map and Compendium to be less charming than Encyclopedia. I loved how whimsical and at times cutting the setting and story of Encyclopedia was. I excepted more of that in Map and Compendium but felt they were both lacking in this.

While, I do think overall the trilogy is worth the read; I don’t think either compare to the first novel that I actually feel could have worked just as well as a stand alone with a few minor tweaks.

Emily and Wendell are as dramatic (in their own respective ways as ever) I mean this as a compliment as their dramatics compliment each other and are as endearing as they are entertaining. I also thrill over any new faerie beast or creature that we encounter and there are several moments to be had for that as well.
There is plenty of affection and tender moments shared between Emily and Wendell as well as the return of familiar faces and it makes for a wonderfully cozy read.

What I liked about Encyclopedia so much is that while it had an air of cozy fantasy it still had a depth and some dark edge to it that made perfect sense for a book centered around Faerie. I felt that Compendium could have had more of that edge and I would have appreciated more Faerie lore as well.

I also think that Emily Wilde would make an engrossing and fun tv series and that Emily Bader would make an excellent Emily. I’m also interested to see if Heather Fawcett will release an actual Encyclopedia and or Compendium “written” by Emily. I think that would do a lot to fill in the gaps that I found were missing in the series overall.

Basically, I would have preferred for the second and third books to have the same edge and unpredictability that the first book had. As a whole, Emily Wilde is still utterly enchanting and a series worth reading. I do think there are mixed reviews because I know many readers actually preferred Map of the Otherlands to Encyclopedia, so please take this review with a grain of salt as maybe the other two books are just not as much to my personal taste. However, Emily is sure to appeal to a variety of readers!

Lastly, Shadow is forever the best boy.

Sa-woon. Last book in the trilogy. Simply fantastic.
Fantasy but scholarly. Whimsical but dark.
I’m sad it’s over and I’ll never get to read them for the first time again. Here’s hoping she will release Emily’s “works” in the future. I’ll miss all the characters, especially Shadow….

4.5 stars

I can’t decide which of the three I liked the best, but they are all the same rating. So maybe I like them all equally!

There was so much more of the relationship between Emily & Wendell in this one, which OF COURSE I loved. And still the same quirky humor that had me laughing out loud. Is this really the last book in the series? Because I don’t want it to be. 😢

this third installment in the emily wilde series features faerie royal court intrigue as em and wendell reclaim the kingdom. as always, i admire heather fawcett’s whimsical vocabulary which brings the atmosphere of the book to life and creates a fun experience!! i just admire how real her faerie academia concept feels at times.

I was head over heels for the letters wendell sends to Emily !!
i absolutely loved the magic of this story!! i hope all the emily wilde fans enjoy this one because we see a new side of the faerie world along with wendell’s sword fighting and em solving mysteries to save the kingdom. wendell is absolutely one of my most favorite book characters ever and i adore the dramatic flair he adds to each book. 🌷
thank you for the arc netgalley

Emily and Wendell's adventures continue! This time their quest is for Wendell to reclaim his kingdom from his evil stepmother. Funnily enough, Shadow and Orga were my favorite parts this time around, the best dog and cat ever. This is in the same vein as the first two books. Some people may find comfort in the sameness but I can't help but want this author to mix things up a little, especially since the stories themselves are getting farther from what their titles (Emily's current project) promise. How I would have loved for the lost tales to be front and center! Instead we get one story thrown at us repeatedly while Emily works to save Wendell and his kingdom. Plus, Wendell and Emily are apart for much of the story. I want to see much more of their actual relationship!

Now to be clear, I still really enjoyed this and I fully plan on reading as many Emily Wilde books as are written. It just didn't work quite as well as the first book. Hopefully next time we'll get to see what it looks like for them to rule the kingdom and how Emily gets on with being a queen.


Characters: Emily is 31 year old white dryadology adjunct professor. She has a dog named Shadow who is a Black Hound/Grim (type of Fae pet) and blind in one eye. Wendell is a 29 year old white dryadology professor and Fae king. He has a fae cat named Orga. This is set in 1910.

Content notes: suicide and resurrection, blood magic, murder, attempted murder, physical assault, wraiths, lacerations, broken bones (secondary character), land corruption, aging pet dog (he’s fine, aside from arthritis), past execution of MMC’s older siblings and father and banishment by stepmother, past death of MMC's mother, story of fae queen who died by suicide, story of faerie who died from bee stings, past murder of FMC's grandfather by the Folk (left his wife for a Fae woman), past death of secondary character’s wife, past abduction of secondary character's sister as a child, blind secondary character, FMC missing finger on left hand, off page sex, alcohol, ableist language, hyperbolic language around suicide

Thank you NetGalley and Del Ray Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was introduced to the author's writing and the Emily Wilde series just back in November and found myself loving them all.
Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales is a beautifully written third book in this series (and I think the last?) about her journey as a dryadologist from just a scholar to the future queen of a faerie realm, and a dangerous faerie realm at that. The author uses fabulous word choice that had me pulling out a dictionary and filing away words I want to use in my daily life. The story is written in a manner that made me want to savor the story instead of plow through it. I felt that the character development in this book was exactly what I hoped for. Shadow and his story felt like such a perfect bow to add and I am thrilled it was included.
Overall, I love this book and appreciate how well the series connects and uses stories.

A worthy conclusion to the trilogy. I know this is a bit more niche, but I love this type of academic cozy fantasy. The grounding in actual folklore, as well as the footnotes citing fictional sources of information are so much fun. I would love to live in this alternate history and be a dryadologist.

A satisfying conclusion to a wonderful, cozy series. Emily and Wendell are my absolute favorite literary couple.
Full review to come on Instagram and StoryGraph upon publication.