Thank you to Netgalley & Hachette for the opportunity to read this book. This was my highest anticipated book of 2025 and I was honoured to be lucky enough to read it before publication. I gave this read a 5/5 star!

This was an enjoyable end to the Emily Wilde series, I found myself both trying to read as quickly as possible but also wanting to soak up every last page knowing it was the end. Poe has my heart and soul, I love when an author is able to make the reader adore characters and yearn to meet them again: every-time we got to see Poe again I was excited! It was like coming home to a dear friend. This book just felt like coming home, all the characters from previous books making reappearances was so lovely.

When I really love a book sometimes I forget to read it for the plot, more so for the vibe it gives me. This is one of those books, I feel like I don’t do much critical thinking when I enjoy a book this much because I’m more so focused on the feeling and characters. I did love the storyline and will keep this spoiler free but this book overall gave me so many emotions! I love Emily & Wendell but most of all this book felt like a love letter to Emily and Shadow. I felt so emotional about the love that they have shared together through Emily’s exploration and fieldwork. And the ending!! Was so lovely and bittersweet for multiple seasons. I just wanted to hug this book close to me and these wonderful stories from the perspective of a dedicated academic that loves her craft & exploration of knowledge. I will forever recommend this book series to everyone I know who reads fantasy!

a great third book in the emily wilde series. perfect for a cozy fantasy series you can read right before bed

I again absolutely loved the storytelling of Heather Fawcett.

In this book we follow Emily and Wendell as they confronting a deadly curse left by Wendell's murderous stepmother, requiring both his magical abilities and her extensive knowledge of faerie stories to lift it.

Themes of
- found family
- personal growth
- adventures

With every book Emily becomes more emotionally open while still be herself. Again, I love the way these books are written in a journal entry style and I am here for more. Its cosy with still high stakes, the is as always romance and magic and I love love love!

I love Wendell and Emily so much. I have seen many reviews saying that the enjoyment vs this book and the others was different because it’s turned from Emily learning and venturing into Fairy versus now living inside it. Losing its academia charm.

Emily Wildes Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to review this book.
Following the events of Book Two, we find ourselves in the beautiful but brutal lands of the Silva Lupi, where turmoil is rife without a monarch. Emily, Wendell and their faerie army arrive to take back Wendell’s throne, only to discover that his stepmother has cursed the land. Cue Emily and her deduction skills!
We get to see slightly more of Professor Rose and Ariadne, as well as Ljosland friends in this book, but the settings were the biggest positive for me- lush flora and a touch of whimsy surrounding the Folk. I was hopeful for more romance, but this really is a cosy/academic fantasy- not a romance story. I also enjoyed the trademark footnotes.
Slightly more action than the first two books and highly enjoyable!

‘Compendium of Lost Tales’ picks up right where Emily Wilde’s adventures left off in book two: our favourite curmudgeonly dryadologist is joining fae prince Wendell in his home kingdom at last.

Wendell has promised to show Emily all the delights of his strange realm, but all is not well in his faerie kingdom. His stepmother is poisoning the land – and it is up to Wendell and Emily to stop her. I won’t elaborate much further because ~spoilers~ but let me say: YOU’RE GONNA LOVE IT.

We’ve got FOREST ROT. We’ve got POSSESSED FAE. We’ve got creaking hordes of SPOOKY TREES.

Honestly, if you’re a fan of Ghibli films, ‘House of Hollow’, or ‘What Moves the Dead’, you’re going to have a fantastic time. Heather Fawcett leaned into the darkness in this one and I am HERE FOR IT.

What really had me punching the air was Fawcett’s dedication to folklore and the self-aware relationship Emily has with it. (Think Diana Wynne Jones’ ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ or Terry Pratchett's ‘Witches Abroad’).

With the return of old characters and the introduction of some new ones, I can’t express enough how much I want to see this trilogy adapted into Ghibli films. They’re just the right balance of whimsical, cosy and terrifying.

Thank you so much NetGalley and HachetteAus for the e-ARC. I had a rollicking time with it!

I have loved this cozy fantasy trilogy by Heather Fawcett, it’s such an enchanting blend of faerie folklore and academia. It has a unique charm in the way Emily experiences the faerie culture and writes her academic journals. It’s refreshing to have a female protagonist who doesn’t all of a sudden become the best fighter or produces the most magic in the world but who is observant and uses her brain to tackle the problems she comes across.
As with the rest of the series, the descriptions of Faerie are vivid, and the world-building is rich, painting a landscape that feels alive and hauntingly beautiful. It’s a whimsical world where faeries are as fascinating as they are dangerous.
Emily and Wendell are, as always, a joy to follow. Their relationship, built on banter, mutual respect, and an unspoken tenderness, continues to deepen in this instalment. Their dynamic is one of the series greatest strengths, combining humour, warmth, and just enough romance to make readers swoon.
Special mention must go to the supporting cast whose antics add a touch of levity even in the darkest moments. These characters, along with new allies and foes, ensure the story never lacks intrigue or heart.
While this third book may not reach the highs of the first instalment, it remains a cozy, heartfelt read that fans of faeries, folklore, and fantasy will adore.

I've read all 3 of the Emily Wilde books this month, and this series is a solid 4 stars overall for me. The first book being my favourite, this one (whilst I still loved and enjoyed) was the least of the 3 for me!
I still absolutely love the style of diary entries and academic extracts about whatever creature, and it is perfect for this kind of cozy. Emily and Wendell were great, and I loved seeing more of their relationship in this book.
The only slight (very minor!) issue that I had was that the pacing felt a bit off where it was low and dragged out at times, but, the ending 30% was great.

Overall, a great 3rd book and a solid 4 star series!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for granting me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
~
It was absolutely WONDERFUL to return to the world of Faerie alongside our beloved Emily and Wendell. As was evident in the first two books, the enchanting prose really lures you in and keeps you engaged, even when the pace of the narrative slows down. The characters — both old and new — were unique, likeable, and continued to grow. I found myself laughing one moment and breathing through a panic attack the next (I won’t spoil anything, but I was STRESSED). Emily and Wendell absolutely own my heart. They have become one of my favourite fictional couples!
~
Out of the three books, this one was probably my least favourite. I found it somewhat slow and dragged out at times, and it lacked that third book intensity I’m used to when ending a trilogy. With that being said, this was a cosy fantasy that explores the DARK side of faeries, even loveable characters like Wendell, without straying too far from lightheartedness. One thing I’ve always loved about these books is that faeries are described quite similarly to real life faerie folklore, as though we’re reading a real life report on faeries. Overall, though, I definitely recommend this series if you’re a fan of faeries, folklore and fantasy with a sprinkle of romance.
~
RELEASE DATE: Jan 14 2025

4.5 Stars

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of the eARC - this is my honest review*

This was a wonderful completion to the trilogy (?). It was satisfying in terms of story, emotional development, character development, and left me feeling happy with where we left off.

Emily and Wendell are such a great team. Wendell, the ever positive golden retriever, and Emily, the neuro-spicy, scholarly queen. They complement each other perfectly and delivered enough romance through a surprisingly healthy relationship dynamic to leave me happy whilst not overwhelming the fae court intrigue and academia of the story.

In this story, we follow Emily and Wendell shortly after the end of book 2 in travelling to the fae realm to take back Wendell’s kingdom. It was full of twists and turns and I rarely found myself able to predict where it was going. I loved the return to the winter court, the use of the veil, and the action scenes scattered throughout. It was a cosy, engaging plot that never felt dull - though did begin to feel a bit long and slightly repetitive by the end.

Extra points for Shadow and Orga and unlimited hearts for Wendell being so dreamily devoted to Emily.

I’m going to miss these two. Truly with my whole heart I adore this series, and this trilogy is so much more immaculate with them in it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read the ARC!

Thank you to Hachette for this gift.

A wild ride of adventure and edge of your seat tension. This story went a whole different way as to what I expected - and just kept surprising me!

Once again, we are back with "Emily" and "Wendell" on an adventure of a lifetime, and what may very well end their lives.
Venturing into the dangerous realm of the "Silver Lupi", they are faced with a vengeful Queen and that is just the beginning.

Our author has done an incredible job in keeping the story interesting, believable for this world and with the same tone as the previous books. It truly was an extension of "Emily's" story as if nothing has changed from the very first page of book 1.
I was captivated the whole time and loved the twists throughout.

4 stars.

I absolutely adore this series and everything about it. Emily as a protagonist is a refreshing breath of fresh air and there is always something wonderful about unreliable narrators. I've come to love Wendell deeply, especially the more we get to learn of him and see his devotion to Emily.
Shadow is easily my favourite part of the series, and it is so interesting the way Fawcett includes him as if he were a normal dog. Turns out being an eldritch horror doesn't prevent you from arthritis and as a geriatric pet owner myself, it definitely endeared me more.
The worlds crafted in this series are so rich and full that it is easy to imagine yourself there, as topsy-turvy as any imagining of Faerie is.
The writing is always a fun time, I was unable to put this book, and the previous two down, and I look forward to grabbing a physical copy as soon as it's released.

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales is the much anticipated third (and assumed to be final) instalment in Heather Fawcett’s delightful cozy historical fantasy series.

After her success in finding the elusive door to Faerie and rendering the Queen vulnerable, the ever resourceful dryadologist Emily Wilde is both nervous and smug as she and her fiancé, Wendell Bambleby (aka Prince Liath), along with a motley assortment of allies including Emily’s devoted canine companion Shadow, and Orga the troublesome cat, march into Faerie to reclaim his throne.

There’s plenty of action as Wendell faces a gauntlet of challengers, including his Uncle and sister, along with a plethora of would-be assassins, but the real threat comes from the last vestiges of the former Queen’s power and a lethal curse she has laid on the kingdom. Tension is high as Wendell and Emily scramble to find a solution to an impossible dilemma.

Once again it’s Emily’s keen mind and research skills that provide the answers to the trials the couple face. Recognising a pattern in the stories of Faerie, Emily sets out to write a new ending which sees her call upon friends and enemies alike. Readers will enjoy the appearance of characters from the first and second instalments of the series including Margret, Lilja, Ariadne, and the Hidden King.

Though the mantle of Queen weighs heavily upon her, Emily is as earnest and brave as ever. Faerie is an intimidating place for a human with its mix of wonders and monstrosities and, while Wendell is determined to make her feel like she belongs, Emily needs to make her own peace with her new life.

The dynamic between Emily and Wendell remains largely unchanged, though Emily is perhaps more demonstrative than she has been, and I enjoyed their banter. The strife in Faerie has the potential to divide them but the pair are committed to one another, even beyond the veil.

Though there is potential for Fawcett to continue the series, Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales provides an enchanting fairytale conclusion to Emily and Wendell’s story, told with heart, charm and wit. Long live Queen Emily!

Heather Fawcett does it again in the third book of the Emily Wilde series! In my humble opinion, Heather does faeries in the best possible way; dark and eerie but also hilariously quaint and funny at times. I can't help but rave about this series to anyone that will listen and I sincerely hope we get more content from Heather in the future, whether in this world or another. Following characters Emily and Wendell through these books and watching their relationship blossom was a feeling unmatched; all the warm and fuzzies!

Heather Fawcett delivered another cozy fantasy in the final installment of Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales. I was thrilled to jump back into the story with Wendell and Emily navigating life as fairy royalty in Silva Lupi. The imagery that Fawcett painted of this beautiful and mysterious land had my imagination running wild. Emily remains her reserved, bookish self, while Wendell enjoys life back among his people, embracing his destiny as their ruler.

While the plot centered on finding Wendell’s evil stepmother to stop the blight from spreading further through the land, the pacing felt a bit off at times. It was slow and at points, predictable. Overall, the story felt rushed, and although I’ve enjoyed this trilogy immensely, the third and final book fell a bit flat for me. I still enjoyed it, but I was hoping for more in the closing of this series.

Thank you to Netgalley, Hachette Australia & New Zealand, and Heather Fawcett for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

To those of you who have listed Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales as their most anticipated release of 2025, how does it feel to be correct? Not only is this next instalment in Emily's journey as fantastically whimsical as its predecessors, it is also a book that has left me reeling with artistic inspiration. I want to paint, I want to draw, I want to write a silly little note or twenty and mail them to my friends around the world. Heather Fawcett, the woman that you are, you utterly mad genius. I aspire to have your ability to get into your characters heads and develop a story so bizarre it always leaves its readers guessing what could possibly go wrong next.

If you are still reading this review (see: formal love letter) and remain unsold on whether or not you should read this book... you should read this book. Heather Fawcett will sell it to you herself from page one, starting off with a comedic anecdote about cats.

As always, Emily is wonderfully oblivious but growing oh-so-beautifully into herself. The way her emotionality steadily becomes more visible in her writing over the three books... and Wendell, oh dear. Never have a read a book that does such a compelling job convincing me that its main male protagonist is definitely not human and is, in fact, completely terrifyingly inhuman in a way that makes you pause and think "what the hell did I just read" (a moment of stunned disbelief we seem to regularly share with our main protagonist, poor Emily).

If this book were a person, I'd buy it dinner at a five star Michelin restaurant, take it for a walk on the beach, and then I'd give it a little kiss as I say goodbye to it on its doorstep. I'll miss you, Emily. Until we meet again.

Please text me back or call me, I love you I love you I love you—

4.5⭐️!!

I love Emily and Wendell so much and this book was no different 🥹. Their banter is so funny but also their love for each other is so sweet. I just love Emily as a character so much 🫶🏻. The adventure this book was so much fun (and also stressful?!) and we got to see quite a different part of the world. I did find it dragged a tiny bit in some parts, but overall still really enjoyed ❤️. I already want to reread this whole trilogy and experience it all from the beginning!

Ahhh I was so excited to read this third book. I reread the first and second one in preparation, which made me really love the series even more then I already did.. I think this book had a great plot and followed on from the ending of the second one really well. I liked seeing more of Wendell’s realm.

The characters continue to be really lovely and cute and I also enjoyed the new characters we saw, both Faerie and mortal. Similar to the others and with a nice cozy read and definitely recommend this series to pretty much everyone. I really hope that there are more coming.

Such an amazing conclusion to a truly magical adventure!

I read the first 2 books in preparation for this one, and I must say, book 3 had me hooked. The depth of the characters and the world building was so rich and complex, it truly captured me in a way that the first 2 books didn't quite reach.

Fell in love with so many characters such as Poe and of course Snowbell, and of course Shadow and Orga!

I will admit, the style of writing was not my favourite from the start, so I did read along with the audiobook - for book 3 (without audio) I was reading along with the same accent and poise as the narrator - brings the book alive!

A great adventure for lovers of scholarly whimsy.

Fantastic!