I adore Emily and Wendell, and their relationship gives this conclusion to the Emily Wilde series all the stars. I appreciated the backdrop of Faerie to Emily's adventures, and her character development throughout the series culminates really nicely in this third installment with how she is able to be more comfortable being herself, find her people, and embrace her found family. Fawcett has some wonderful phrases that made me smile a lot throughout this book, even as I was sad to see this story come to a close. So there you go: A lovely finale to this cozy fantasy trilogy.

This was the third installment and a satisfying return to the adventures of Emily, Wendell, Shadow and crew. I’m not sure if this is the final chapter, but I hope not because I could read about these cozy academic shenanigans endlessly. There were some characters I felt were definitely missing some screen time, but we did get to know more of our favorites. I’m so glad for the character growth for Emily and her relationship, but I will say a bit of the aforementioned mentioned academic endeavors suffered a bit because of it. The pacing of this book was more calm and linear than the others, which could be a good or bad thing depending on your preferred reading style. That being said, I’m not sure I have recently read a series that leaves you wanting more while also wrapping up each so book nicely. This series will definitely be one of the few that I will read over and over again.

Thank you Ballantine/Del Rey Publishing for providing an arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a good ending to the series. I very much enjoyed it, though, not as much as the first two.

I absolutely love Wendell. He is a great switch up from the dark and moody male leads we've been seeing copy and pasted lately. He is still incredible powerful, but in nearly every other aspect is unique.

This one did fall into the same pattern as the first two, with having something like two climaxes. Which actually doesn't bother me, but does sort of take out the 'all is lost' feeling for the first climatic event.

<spoiler>The ending, magical fix with Shadow, was a bit cheesy... but hey, I am not mad about it. I would have been heartbroken of something horribly had happened to him. So I will take the silly potion rather than them killing the dog!</spoiler>

This is one of the few series that I do plan to collect the physical books to.

A perfect installment of the Emily Wilde series! The banter, the romance, the wittiness. I loved it all! If you liked the previous books this one will sweep you away.

nother delightful and moving installment to the Emily Wilde series.

I have loved Emily, Wendell, Shadow, and their various companions since the first book. They have journeyed with me through some dark times and given me comfort and a cozy place to escape. Book three adds more depth to the relationships, setting, and motivations that have been introduced in previous books. We see some old friends and explore some important questions at the hair of the story--who is Emily, exactly? A scholar? A Queen of Faerie? And in marrying Wendell, is she marrying the man she loves or the King of Where the Trees Have Eyes?

As always, Emily's research and knowledge of faerie guide us and the other characters as, once again, things go awry and our lovable curmudgeonly future monarch must find a way to put them right. I love Emily's voice and narration and think we could all learn something from her unique approach.

Curl up by the fireplace with your cocoa and a cozy blanket and get ready to welcome yourself home.

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales is the third book in the Emily Wilde series and is, unfortunately, my least favorite of the three. That’s not to say that it’s a bad book, so much as I didn’t feel like the Emily previously established in the other two books is the Emily we were given in book three.

The Emily in the first two books was full of dry humor and curiosity, and while she was always wary of the folk, she never felt overtly fearful to the point that she couldn’t save herself. It didn’t really feel that way here; she seemed timid and socially anxious rather than socially awkward for a good portion of the book, which felt like it undercut her previous development and adventuring.

Furthermore, her relationship with Wendell felt more like a prop rather than a point of interest, with very little needling or banter. And she spent too much time wondering when his capricious faerie nature would turn against her instead of simply trusting him and their relationship as she always had before.

I’m still excited for the next book, if there is one, but this dampened some of my enthusiasm for the series.

Thank you to Del Rey and Random House, and to NetGalley for an arc of Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales in exchange for an honest review.

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

I don't know if there's been any confirmation that this will be the final book? So I will hold on to hope that there will be more stories and adventures from Emily, Wendell and my favorite Shadow.

What do I say that hasn't already been said? This series is beyond fascinating! And magical. And oh, so beautifully written! I love going on adventures with Emily and her inquisitorial, no-nonsense brain full of Faerie facts and myths and stories. I am transported every time and I don't ever want to leave.

I do have one objection with this instalment. I didn't get enough of Wendell?! But I love seeing how down bad he is for our dear Emily. He's so smitten it's beyond adorable!

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales was the perfect read for Christmas Eve! Atmospheric, lovely, and adventurous with a dash of beheading and a smidge of bloodthirstiness.

This final installment of Emily Wilde was yet another whimsical and endearing tale with characters whom I have grown to love so much. Emily was just as Emily as ever, and I enjoyed her journey through Wendell's kingdom as she navigated being a new Queen of Faerie. I did miss the settings in ordinary, small villages that the first two books offered, as I enjoyed the fresh take of having fae characters in a mortal setting. However, this book wrapped up the series in a fantastic way, and fans of Emily Wilde will surely adore it.

I wholeheartedly adore this series and recommend it to anyone who will give it a chance! It has compelling characters, the most perfect settings, and such cute and enthralling plots.

The original dry humor, quick wit and artful antics continue—and it’s absolutely wonderful to be back with Emily and Wendell and pick up their story again along with all the contributing characters that make this righteous romp through fairy land that is “not all sun-splashed meadows and harmless archeology,” a marvelousness enjoyable and cleverly written read. 😉 They really do make such a great team, just brilliant! 🧚‍♂️ 👑♥️

Review 8.5/10✨ I still can’t believe I got an arc of this book. What an amazing holiday gift🥰📖🎄

I don’t want to spoil anything so I will keep it short and sweet! This was just as enchanting and cozy as the first two book in the series. More of it took place in faerie than the others, which was fun! The book never tried to over explain the land and customs, which I appreciated. The Otherlands are unknowable, even to those who live there, you simply have to accept the magic around you and go with the flow. I loved the emphasis on story and how it dictates the world. It reminded me a bit of The Hazel Wood in that sense.

My only con is that I wish we had most Wendell and Emily together as they did spend a few bits of the book apart. I’ve always yearned for more romance in these though. I feel like the journal entry writing kind of forces that to hold back.

However I overall adored this book. I think it might be the final one? But I will keep my fingers crossed for more!

You can get Emily Wildes Compendium of Lost Tales on February 11th! I’m excitedly awaiting the arrive of my copy🌿

Thanks to netgalley and Orbit books for a copy of this story.

If stories are the foundation of Faerie in Emily Wilde’s world, then Compendium of Lost Tales is the book that allows readers to join Emily herself as she learns what it is to live in one. Fawcett brilliantly weaves both characters and plot from the prior books into a fast-paced and deeply intriguing conclusion. All roads have led to this stunningly clever end, where even the most seemingly benign references prove integral to Emily and Wendell’s tale. Not lacking any of the series’ prior humor, readers are swept into the world of Faerie and the Silva Lupi, a whimsical, if unsettling, new setting reminiscent of the fairy tales and folklore of old. While Emily’s scholarly pursuits are never far from her mind, nor her social fumbling entirely overcome, love and found family rest at the forefront of her motivations, lending a new humanity to our beloved dryadologist. It is, in short, a perfect, fairy tale ending.

(Social media posts and cosplay content to be made and shared in early January @as.itseams)

🧚‍♂️ 𝔼𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕪 𝕎𝕚𝕝𝕕𝕖’𝕤 ℂ𝕠𝕞𝕡𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕦𝕞 𝕆𝕗 𝕃𝕠𝕤𝕥 𝕋𝕒𝕝𝕖𝕤 🧚‍♂️

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales is the third and final book in the Emily Wilde series.

I was relieved that it picks up just minutes after the second book ends. For those who haven’t read the series, book two ends on the verge of a big adventure, and I would’ve been disappointed to miss out on any of it.

That said, while the idea of the adventure is exciting, the actual journey feels less thrilling. The pace of the first half is a lot slower and much more introspective than the second book was, with Emily focusing just as much on her new role as Queen of the Folk and the dynamics of her Wendell’s relationship, as on the challenges they face together.

Another big change was the shift from a lot of Wendell and Emily to more of Emily with everyone else—or sometimes just Emily on her own. It was a mixed blessing. I missed the banter with Wendell, but it also made their moments together feel sweeter. Watching Emily interact with other secondary characters, or even stand on her own, really highlighted how much she’s grown throughout the series—especially in how she connects with others and learns to accept their help and friendship.

The second half of the book definitely picked up the pace, with more suspenseful adventures and several emotional roller coasters. I was thrilled by this shift and had a hard time putting the book down. I loved the ending and how the author brought everything full circle, much like Emily’s folklore legends and stories.

Even though I was a little let down by the beginning, I really enjoyed the book overall. I’m a bit heartbroken that this is the last adventure with Emily and Wendell and I hope Fawcett will choose to revisit these characters someday. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub date: Feb 10, 2024

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey/Ballantine publishing for my E-reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett is a charming, fun romp and a worthy continuation of the Emily Wilde series. Fans of the first two books will not be disappointed! It was a joy to be reunited with the original cast of main characters and meet some new characters. Fawcett has created an engaging and heartwarming story that entertained me and made me eager to discover what would happen. Her characters are enduring; you quickly care about and root for them. Keeping up the momentum in a series can be tricky, but in this case, everything you loved in the first two books continues in the third!

As usual for a book in the Emily Wilde series, this was an absolute delight.

This book has it all: gorgeous prose, a captivating world, witty characters, and a plot that perfectly blends high-stakes with the feeling of cozy fantasy.

For those who have already finished the first two books and are thinking about whether to continue, I fully recommend doing so. But for reference, this third installation felt much closer to the second book in tone and style than the first.

My only critique is that I would’ve liked to have seen more character development from Wendell and Emily. From the beginning of their time in the Silva Lupi to the end of the novel, both characters’ identities feel static. It felt to me like the Emily and Wendell at the beginning of the book would’ve made the same decisions as the Wendell and Emily at the end of the book.

I absolutely recommend reading the conclusion to this trilogy, and hope Heather Fawcett eventually adds to this series.

I received a digital advance readers copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, but I will be purchasing a copy for my own shelf. 4.75/5 stars.

THANK YOU to NetGalley & the Publisher for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Oh boy, where to start! So far I think this series is a solid 4 star read. There are parts that drag, or is lacking, and there are other parts that I really like. Usually it's the same things every book too, so those likes/dislikes remain consistent. I won't harp too much on these as a result, since they've been covered in previous reviews, but in a way it did make this book feel a little stale maybe? I'll get into it.

I think overall, the series just feels a little boring. A little dry. I think this is largely due to pacing issues. Both previous books suffered from this a little bit, but maybe not quite as straightforwardly. The previous 2 books struggled with having high stakes -- emotion -- that makes the reader keep turning pages. This one is no different, and in fact, almost feels a little worse. The timing feels off with this one. None of the books provide any real 'problem' and everything feels solved too easy. There are no plot twists. There is no real drama. This isn't necessarily a problem, but it does make it feel stale in this new age of Fantasy.

In this one, our main character assumes her new role without a second thought despite how careful/meticulous she supposedly always is. We had a moment were something bad happened via a particular method, then within the next chapter, neither of our MC's flagged any issues with letting the same type of situation happen a 2nd time. I thought Emily was smart and calculating? Would she let the same thing potentially happen twice without even a thought to it? But also, I sort of hate how casually snarky she is about her intelligence? That's the best way I can describe it.

So what I'm saying is... we need more inner/personal character emotions, expressions, actions, etc. Let the reader in on the Fae characters thought processes, emotions, decisions, passions, etc. One on One heartfelt moments that allow us to get to know other characters via our MC. Somethinggggg. The series just feels like it's lacking emotion. Reading it dragged, and I was only motivated to finish it to check it off my Read list, which is unfortunate because I really liked book 1. I just think as the main relationship progressed, it got lost, because the relationship/connection never made sense or felt right (because where was the emotion between Em & Wen, besides annoyance?).

This one had some parallels to other media that I really like. Def Howl's Moving Castle vibes, both in Howl and the Witch of the Waste. Narnia. And oddly enough I kept thinking of the Rush song "The Trees", which I love! I like the way the Fae world itself seems to operate, and enjoy seeing how quirky everything is as we all sort of stumble through the world together. I also love that Emily finds a way to form her own connections to little, unexpectedly helpful things (like Poe), etc. The world building definitely makes up for the emotional connections we're lacking between characters and is for sure a highlight of the reading experience. I am assuming there will be a 4th book, and I am hoping the main focus expounds upon the Fae world/different courts, and brings some characters together (in an emotional way too!!).

Alright, I've rambled long enough! I will be on the lookout for a book 4 in the future, and do encourage anyone with a taste for the influences mentioned above to continue on with the series

I was thrilled to return to this series, and love how the move to Wendell's kingdom and the progression of their romantic relationship haven't changed Emily's essential nature. The plot took a little while to really pick up, hence only 4 stars instead of 5, since it took me 5 times longer to read the first 15% and then 2 days to finish the rest of the book. I will read any book set in this universe, and only wish I could study dryadology myself.

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales is a delightful and emotional conclusion to a series that has cemented itself as one of my favorites. 



As much as I loved this book, I do think it’s the weakest of the trilogy, but it still retains much of what I’ve come to love. The pacing meandered during the 30 - 60% mark, but found its footing again in the end. The resolution was satisfying though I would have thoroughly enjoyed a different ending for a certain character.



Emily was clever as always and Wendell continued to make me laugh hysterically. I was kicking my feet and giggling as Emily and Wendell’s relationship progressed, but my god Heather Fawcett had me absolute bawling my eyes out during a certain chapter.



Overall I think this series wrapped up quite nicely, but I wouldn’t complain if we ended up with more books in this world.

I don't want this series to end! I love the relationship between Emily and Wendell and the true sense of partnership that is a breath of fresh air in the genre. This installment is another delight, and I love the Fae world Fawcett has built. It's very rare for me to give five stars to every installment in a series, but this one did it.

I do not want this series to end!

The short review: if you loved the first two in the series, you will also love this one.

The longer review:
I have loved each and every one of the Emily Wilde books and this might be my favorite. Wendell and Emily have my whole heart and I adore their relationship.

Much like the first two books, the love story is only a tiny portion of the story. The focus is on Emily's adventures in Wendell's kingdom.

We see some familiar faces, make some new friends, and are left with an ending that's satisfying, but left open enough there could be more. Please please please let there be more. I wouldn't mind an omnibus featuring Emily's actual books, maps included.

"An Unpredictable Adventure: A Captivating Journey with Fawcett's Brilliant Characters"

This book is exceptional. Each chapter offered a surprising and engaging experience, keeping me thoroughly captivated. Fawcett's two protagonists are both brilliant and witty, which made it easy to immerse myself in their journey. Unlike typical, predictable novels, this book constantly kept me on my toes with its unexpected twists and suspenseful plot. Every page felt like an adventure, and I found all three of her books to be a thoroughly enjoyable and unpredictable experience.