Huge thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 stars (rounded up to 5 stars)

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales absolutely stole my heart. This sequel had everything I hoped for: magic, mystery, romance, and plenty of folklore goodness. Heather Fawcett has once again proven she’s a master at creating enchanting worlds and unforgettable characters.

The book kicks off with Emily discovering the faerie door to Wendell’s kingdom—a door he’s been searching for years to find, only for her to beat him to it (much to her smug delight). However, Emily is faced with solving a mysterious sickness that's been sweeping through Wendell’s realm. And on top of that, she's also trying to figure out her place among the courtly fae amidst feelings of homesickness and imposter syndrome. Her struggles felt very real and relatable, and it was beautiful to see her try and grow into this new role while also staying true to herself.

If you loved the first two books, you’ll be thrilled to see some familiar faces return. <spoiler>Ariadne, Farris Rose, Poe, Lilja, and Margret</spoiler> all make appearances, and it honestly felt like reuniting with old friends. Their relationships with Emily bring warmth and humor to the story, balancing out the higher stakes and more intense moments.

Emily and Wendell are as charming as ever. Their relationship continues to be one of the most endearing parts of the series (and I'm not usually a romance person), and their moments together are even better in this book.

This book hit all the right notes for me, especially in the second half. It’s magical, emotional, and filled with the richly imagined folklore that makes the world feel alive. Heather Fawcett has taken everything that made the first two books special and cranked it up a notch. If you’re a fan of fantasy with heart, humor, and a dash of romance, you need this book in your life.

The third installment of Emily Wilde follows Emily and Wendell into his faerie kingdom, where they left off in the second book.

This book absolutely does not fit in the Cosy genre. Whilst still containing found family, tea, romance, baked goods and other familiarities, Compendium is much higher stakes than the previous tales.

This book is nerve wracking by comparison to its predecessors, it contains much more death and addresses mortality in general too often to be considered cozy. Emily puts herself in danger much more often and with much less hope of rescue this time. She is finally proved the feminist hero she always was, rather than the rash damsel in distress she sometimes ended up as.

This book will make you cry.

Although all is well in the end and I think this does fit the requirements for a romance as well, this one is much more adventurous and edge of your seat. Especially as if you're reading the third book, you're already invested in the characters.

I absolutely adored Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales but you should know that my preferred genre is horror and so creepy descriptions of brownies and trees with eyes and death and purgatory like realms don't bother so much, but this is probably not a cup of tea, wrapped in a blanket on your sofa while it rains, book as the other two are so often billed. 5 stars, amazing world building and a very satisfying conclusion. Bravo Heather Fawcett.

4.5 stars rounded up! The third book in the Emily Wilde series did not disappoint. If you enjoyed the other two books, you will love this one.
This book was cozy, academic, and, at times, heartbreakingly tense.
Emily & Wendell’s relationship is truly one of my favorites. Such a great dynamic.
A perfect read for late winter-early spring!

Thank you NetGalley & Random House- Del Rey for the eARC! All opinions are my own.

Fun conclusion to a lovely series! I loved that faerie was so about stories, making Emily perfectly suited to work through all the troubles there.

This was enjoyable and on the mark for what I expected. The writing was on par with the previous books and it was nice to be back in this world again.

I love Wendell and Emily and seeing how their relationship has grown. However, I do miss their banter. There was some humor and it was fun to see (mostly) old and new characters. I enjoyed the use of lost tales to guide Emily through various adventures, I thought it was a fun touch.

I do feel like the plot was pretty flat. Every “problem” was solved quickly and easily, so the endgame kept changing. I kind of wish this was more emotionally driven to make up for Emily’s very dry POV, and to add some reader connection. The writing is good and the characters are interesting, but it was hard to feel the momentum sometimes.

Overall, the second one in this series remains my favorite, but this was still a good addition that I think is worth reading.

Thank you to Ballantine Del-Rey for an ARC of this book!

This is one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I have loved every book in this series so far, and this one is no exception. In this third book we are in Wendell’s world, and he is trying to retake his kingdom and save it from a curse.

I ADORE Emily so much – she is such an amazing character and her relationships with the people around her. Plus, her and Wendell’s romance is honestly just perfect. I love every moment they are together in this book. The moments between them, the sweetness, the – I don’t even know what to call it, the chemistry? Well, it was all lovely.

There are some moments in this book that had me outright chuckling. It’s still written in an epistolary style as Emily journals her adventures. Heather Fawcett is an amazing writer, and Emily has such personality in her journal entries. You really feel as if you are there with her. Also the descriptions? Love. I love all the different types of Folk mentioned. I could go on and on about world building, but I think you all would tire of that very quickly.

This book is much less cozy fantasy than the previous, it definitely leans more into a typical fantasy book. Historical alternate fantasy? Whatever the case may be, it absolutely works for me.

This one brought the series around in a full circle kind of way, and I don’t want to say too much on that. But we do have some returning characters from previous books!

100% recommend and while it does have a solid ending, it does feel as if it was left open for more to be written…

While I don't think this is the strongest of the three I still really enjoyed it. I think there are certain aspects of the book that I wish were longer portions, if only to keep some of the excitement up. While I do think she could finish the series here, I do hope to get even some side character stories going (like the story of Callum and Taran). I've always really liked her writing and I'm glad I wasn't disappointed, I know it's hard to keep the momentum going and I think she's doing a really great job.

Heather Fawcett has written a wonderful finale to the Emily Wilde series. While I feel the book started off a bit slow, it does pick up and leads us to a satisfying conclusion. We get to meet a whole slew of new characters to love and hate and the return of some of our favorites. We also get to experience more of Wendell’s kingdom, which the author gives us an extensive introduction too. All in all an highly enjoyable read!
Now my only question is when does a companion book for the series get written with the stories that Emily has collected? Or how about a book written like a journal with descriptions and drawings? I would be all in on those as well.

Thank you to Random House, Ballantine/Del Rey and NetGalley for the digital ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Reading about Emily and Wendell is always such a delight, and I’m thrilled that I loved Compendium of Lost Tales just as much as the other two installments. I thought it was a very satisfying ending for the trilogy and I loved seeing characters from the previous two books make appearances. I appreciated the focus on stories and their importance in Faerie, and it was fun to see Emily puzzle out how to get out of the mess she and Wendell are in. As always, Emily’s voice is wonderful, though I do think the pacing/plotting of this installment wasn’t as tight as in the other two. Still, the ending felt fitting and on some level comforting, and I will undoubtedly revisit this world in the future.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review!

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5 stars - a delightful conclusion to what has become one of my all time favourite series, filled with warmth and whimsy

“Hand you the right storybook, and you are capable of anything.”

This book was a wonderful return to and continuation of the story, picking up right where the last book left off and jumping headfirst into the wonderful magical atmosphere. It was a reunion with beloved characters, as well as a more in-depth introduction to the newer cast and world of Faerie. Emily gets to put her knowledge to the test as she navigates Faerie court politics, and the whole book feels like a love letter to the magic of stories.

“For it is in writing that I will discover a way out. A door within the story.”

I loved reading about Emily trying to adapt and come to terms with the changes in her life, while still remaining true to herself and her goals. Wendell also remains a top tier fictional man for me, and I loved seeing him continue to be so supportive and encouraging of Emily and her interests and pursuits.
I’m sad to see the series go, but I’m so grateful and happy to have found it and the conclusion felt satisfying if a little bittersweet. It’s brought me so much comfort, joy and excitement and I can’t wait to tell everyone I know that they absolutely need to read this!

“Yet I suppose that one cannot spend one’s life half in love with Faerie without wishing to be part of it, to wonder if it might feel like home in a way no mortal place ever had.”

Vibes:
- Whimsical light academia
- Neurodivergent coded heroine
- The best magical pets
- Fairy tales, folklore and the power of stories
- Faerie court politics
- Winter weather outside, cozy cup of tea inside
- Nerds infodumping about their special interest at each other
- Academia/research as a love language

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales is the third installment of one of my absolute favorite series - and it surpassed my already quite high expectations! 😍

📖 The Premise:

Renowned dryadologist Emily Wilde and her academic rival-turned-fiancé Wendell Bambleby journey to his Faerie homeland Silva Lupi (aka The Place Where the Trees Have Eyes) to reclaim his throne.

However, upon arriving, they discover that Wendell’s stepmother, the former Queen, has cursed the land itself, poisoning the kingdom from its very roots.

What I Loved:

✨ I've been obsessed with Emily since the first book! I find her very engaging, with her characteristic bravery, sharp intelligence, academic curiosity, and endearing irritability!

✨ There are several appearances from beloved and not-so-beloved personalities from the previous two books!

✨ Emily and Wendell's new kingdom is magnificent and we get to meet a slew of new magical creatures including but not limited to a butter faerie, a boggart, and shockingly sentient & resentful snails.

✨ This is the academia x faerie crossover of my dreams! I love following Emily and Wendell as they unravel faerie mysteries on their adventures. Together, they employ a fascinating combination of Emily’s quick thinking and academic props - tracking patterns through the stories that form the very essence of faerie - and Wendell’s magical talents, tailoring expertise, and combat skills!

I have so enjoyed this series, I truly did not want it to end. I loved Emily and her tenaciousness and Wendell and his Wendellness and a sensibility about the fae that, for me, harkens back to Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. Dark and cozy at the same time, this series is heading to my re-read shelf.

The plot and story were exactly what I was hoping for—engaging and immersive. However, I did find myself wishing for more focus on the romance between Wendell and Emily, or perhaps another glimpse into Wendell’s POV, as seen in Map of the Otherlands. While I enjoyed the introduction of new characters from Wendell’s land, they didn’t seem to have the same depth as characters from previous books. That said, it was a treat to see Poe and Snowbell again, as they continue to bring charm and humor to the series. The ending left a tantalizing hint that there could be more to come, and I’d certainly welcome that!

This is the third and final installment in the Emily Wilde trilogy, and it’s just as wonderful as the other two. We get a lot more details about Faerie (especially Wendell’s realm) and as you might expect, it’s both enchanting and viscerally disturbing. We also get to meet some new fantastic side characters, and revisit some favorites from previous books. Wendell and Emily’s relationship remains delightful, and one of the best parts of the series. He’s so soppily devoted to her, and I adore it. Emily’s own expressions of love seem more understated, but she proves that she will go to extraordinary lengths to keep him safe. Overall this was a really excellent and satisfying conclusion to the trilogy (though if the author wanted to continue in this world, I certainly would not complain!)

Prepare for a vague review, as I do not want to offer up spoilers for new reads to the series.

While Encyclopedia read as a standalone, Maps and Compendium are neatly woven together.

Compendium picks up right where Maps leaves off and we follow Emily and Wendell on a new adventure.

I adored watching their relationship grow. The juxtaposition of Emily’s bluntness, despite her best attempt to lean into her feelings, and Wendell’s unabashed fawning was my favorite aspect of this read. And of course loved reading about one of my favorite animal companions, Shadow.

Fawcett’s prose continues to be lovely. The pacing is slower for the first half, but is still immersive. The high stakes were unexpected, but appreciated that the cozy atmosphere did not disappear.

If this is the end of this series, I was left feeling nothing but pleased.

I adored their Fawcett’s writing and will pick up anything that she writes.

If you enjoy:

Realism take on fantasy and classic folklore.

Quirky humor.

Fantastic fantasy elements with an academic perspective.

Cottage l-core, but with dark elements.

Do not hesitate to pick up this series.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group- Ballentine and the author for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date: 02-11-2025

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.