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Emily Wilde #2
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands
When mysterious faeries from other realms appear at her university, curmudgeonly professor Emily Wilde must uncover their secrets before it’s too late, in this heartwarming, enchanting second installment of the Emily Wilde series.
Emily Wilde is a genius scholar of faerie folklore who just wrote the world’s first comprehensive encyclopaedia of faeries. She’s learned many of the secrets of the Hidden Ones on her adventures . . . and also from her fellow scholar and former rival Wendell Bambleby.
Because Bambleby is more than infuriatingly charming. He’s an exiled faerie king on the run from his murderous mother and in search of a door back to his realm. And despite Emily’s feelings for Bambleby, she’s not ready to accept his proposal of marriage: Loving one of the Fair Folk comes with secrets and dangers.
She also has a new project to focus on: a map of the realms of faerie. While she is preparing her research, Bambleby lands her in trouble yet again, when assassins sent by his mother invade Cambridge. Now Bambleby and Emily are on another adventure, this time to the picturesque Austrian Alps, where Emily believes they may find the door to Bambleby’s realm and the key to freeing him from his family’s dark plans.
But with new relationships for the prickly Emily to navigate and dangerous Folk lurking in every forest and hollow, Emily must unravel the mysterious workings of faerie doors and of her own heart.
Emily Wilde is a genius scholar of faerie folklore who just wrote the world’s first comprehensive encyclopaedia of faeries. She’s learned many of the secrets of the Hidden Ones on her adventures . . . and also from her fellow scholar and former rival Wendell Bambleby.
Because Bambleby is more than infuriatingly charming. He’s an exiled faerie king on the run from his murderous mother and in search of a door back to his realm. And despite Emily’s feelings for Bambleby, she’s not ready to accept his proposal of marriage: Loving one of the Fair Folk comes with secrets and dangers.
She also has a new project to focus on: a map of the realms of faerie. While she is preparing her research, Bambleby lands her in trouble yet again, when assassins sent by his mother invade Cambridge. Now Bambleby and Emily are on another adventure, this time to the picturesque Austrian Alps, where Emily believes they may find the door to Bambleby’s realm and the key to freeing him from his family’s dark plans.
But with new relationships for the prickly Emily to navigate and dangerous Folk lurking in every forest and hollow, Emily must unravel the mysterious workings of faerie doors and of her own heart.
342 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 16, 2024
About the author
Heather Fawcett
15 books5,585 followersHello! Welcome to my page.
I'm the author of books for adults and children, including Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, Even the Darkest Stars, Ember and the Ice Dragons, The School Between Winter and Fairyland, and more.
I'm only occasionally on Goodreads, so if you want a more reliable way to get in contact with me, I'd recommend using social media (I'm on Instagram and Facebook) or the contact form on my website.
Review policy: I only review books that I love, which is why you'll only see 4 and 5 star reviews here. Because readers often ask me about my favourite books and authors, I'm aiming to use this page as a place to collect all of my recommendations.
Also, I am NOT the author of More Than a Mom: Living a Full And Balanced Life When Your Child Has Special Needs. I've asked Goodreads to remove it from my page several times but it keeps getting re-added. If you have questions about this title, please direct them to the other Heather Fawcett!
I'm the author of books for adults and children, including Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, Even the Darkest Stars, Ember and the Ice Dragons, The School Between Winter and Fairyland, and more.
I'm only occasionally on Goodreads, so if you want a more reliable way to get in contact with me, I'd recommend using social media (I'm on Instagram and Facebook) or the contact form on my website.
Review policy: I only review books that I love, which is why you'll only see 4 and 5 star reviews here. Because readers often ask me about my favourite books and authors, I'm aiming to use this page as a place to collect all of my recommendations.
Also, I am NOT the author of More Than a Mom: Living a Full And Balanced Life When Your Child Has Special Needs. I've asked Goodreads to remove it from my page several times but it keeps getting re-added. If you have questions about this title, please direct them to the other Heather Fawcett!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,456 reviews
May 4, 2024
ily wendell bambleby my man in stem (sewing, tidying up, errand running, making dinner)
January 2, 2024
In a Nutshell: A worthy sequel in the Emily Wilde series. Retains most of the feels. Enjoyed it almost as much as Book One. Good for cosy fantasy readers. Can’t be read as a standalone. The series doesn’t end here!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note: This review contains minor spoilers from Book One: Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries.
Story Synopsis:
Bookish Yays:
😍 This book works excellently as a sequel. It continues from the end of the first book and offers hints, wherever needed, of what happened earlier. There’s no wastage of time with extensive character build-up or plot recaps. It also doesn’t rush things to an end but brings the current arc to a proper close, while setting up the foundation for what’s next in store. I love it when sequels don’t just rehash events from the earlier book, but take the plot as well as the characters ahead. (For all these reasons, this book shouldn’t be read as a standalone.)
😍 Emily begins the same as before – an obstinate organiser who finds it tough to let go of her sterner side even in relaxed moments. It is a treat to see her let go of her grim façade and give in to her emotions as the story progresses. Wendell is as amazing as in the first book, probably even better. We get to see a lot more of his fae side in this sequel, and what a delight it is!
😍 The banter between Emily and Wendell is as strong as ever. Their repartee offered the perfect light relief in the first book, and the same continues in this book as well. I love their individual character development, but as a pair, they truly shine.
😍 I remember asking for MORE romance in my review for the first book. (If you know me, you will know that I NEVER ask for MORE romance!) The sequel satisfied me by upping the couple-connect but not letting the romance overrule the core storyline. You might be disappointed if you were looking for more spicy stuff, but as we hear the story only through Emily’s journal, she obviously keeps things clean, which is perfectly fine by me.
😍 There are a couple of new major characters in this sequel, of whom Emily’s young niece Ariadne leaves the strongest mark. Her bubbly and youthful enthusiasm offers the perfect counterfoil to curmudgeonly Emily.
😍 The first book showed the presence of several magical creatures, but those were nothing in comparison to the beings of this sequel. The magic becomes much darker, and the creatures also get more dangerous, but I’m not complaining! Shadow’s name deserves a mention in this comment because he is the best of them all!
Bookish Mixed Bags:
😐 The initial 25-30% doesn’t feel like journal entries. The language is too descriptive, and every conversation is in detailed direct speech, both of which make it appear like a typical first-person narration than like journal writing. It is only afterwards that the content feels more journal-like in its tone.
😐 The book begins at a great pace and maintains this until about 40% or so. Then the going becomes somewhat tedious. The final 25-30% gets the speedometer back up. So you need to have much patience in between, because not much happens and what little happens, happens slowly.
Bookish Nays:
😒 The human characters other than Emily and Ariadne don’t have much to do. Emily’s fellow professor Farris Rose has a stronger role, but not as developed as it could have been. The Austrian villagers are barely present, unlike in the first book where we had many memorable locals. I’d have loved for more local interactions to vary the monotonous plotline in between.
(On an aside, the professor’s being referred to as ‘Rose’ often confused me as I kept picturing a woman on seeing that name.)
😒 Emily has a tendency to add extended footnotes to her journal entries. This is much better than her modus operandi in the first book, where she diverged into lengthy appendices containing faerie stories. But the footnotes are still distracting, and mostly unused in the plot. After a point, I just stopped reading them, and don’t feel like I missed out on anything essential.
All in all, I had had high expectations from this book after enjoying the first book to a great extent. Despite the somewhat sluggish pace in between, the sequel managed to keep me mostly happy. I can’t wait to see what awaits Emily and Wendell in the third book of this series. Fingers crossed that it will be the final one!
Strongly recommended to those who have read and loved the first book of this series. If you are a cosy-fantasy-with-quirky-characters fan, make sure you read both books!
4 stars.
My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK, Orbit, and NetGalley for the DRC of “Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After a long time, my schedule allowed me to commit to a buddy read with my friend Srivalli. As we had read the first book together, we HAD to read this one too. Do you think our opinions matched? Check out her review!
Sri, looking forward to Book Three with you!! :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note: This review contains minor spoilers from Book One: Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries.
Story Synopsis:
1910. Set about a year after the events of the first book, Emily is on the quest to find the hidden door to Wendell’s faerie realm, while still avoiding a commitment to him by agreeing to his marriage proposal, and also working on a new project: a map of the various faerie realms known to humans. But all plans go askew when some mysterious assassins invade Cambridge to attack Wendell. Emily decides that they need to travel to Austria immediately, not just to evade the dangerous attackers but also because she believes that the door to Wendell’s realm lies somewhere in the Austrian Alps. Will Emily be able to figure out the faerie doors in the Alps and find the right one before the danger to Wendell’s life looms even larger?
The story comes to us through the first-person journal entries written by Emily as a part of her research.
Bookish Yays:
😍 This book works excellently as a sequel. It continues from the end of the first book and offers hints, wherever needed, of what happened earlier. There’s no wastage of time with extensive character build-up or plot recaps. It also doesn’t rush things to an end but brings the current arc to a proper close, while setting up the foundation for what’s next in store. I love it when sequels don’t just rehash events from the earlier book, but take the plot as well as the characters ahead. (For all these reasons, this book shouldn’t be read as a standalone.)
😍 Emily begins the same as before – an obstinate organiser who finds it tough to let go of her sterner side even in relaxed moments. It is a treat to see her let go of her grim façade and give in to her emotions as the story progresses. Wendell is as amazing as in the first book, probably even better. We get to see a lot more of his fae side in this sequel, and what a delight it is!
😍 The banter between Emily and Wendell is as strong as ever. Their repartee offered the perfect light relief in the first book, and the same continues in this book as well. I love their individual character development, but as a pair, they truly shine.
😍 I remember asking for MORE romance in my review for the first book. (If you know me, you will know that I NEVER ask for MORE romance!) The sequel satisfied me by upping the couple-connect but not letting the romance overrule the core storyline. You might be disappointed if you were looking for more spicy stuff, but as we hear the story only through Emily’s journal, she obviously keeps things clean, which is perfectly fine by me.
😍 There are a couple of new major characters in this sequel, of whom Emily’s young niece Ariadne leaves the strongest mark. Her bubbly and youthful enthusiasm offers the perfect counterfoil to curmudgeonly Emily.
😍 The first book showed the presence of several magical creatures, but those were nothing in comparison to the beings of this sequel. The magic becomes much darker, and the creatures also get more dangerous, but I’m not complaining! Shadow’s name deserves a mention in this comment because he is the best of them all!
Bookish Mixed Bags:
😐 The initial 25-30% doesn’t feel like journal entries. The language is too descriptive, and every conversation is in detailed direct speech, both of which make it appear like a typical first-person narration than like journal writing. It is only afterwards that the content feels more journal-like in its tone.
😐 The book begins at a great pace and maintains this until about 40% or so. Then the going becomes somewhat tedious. The final 25-30% gets the speedometer back up. So you need to have much patience in between, because not much happens and what little happens, happens slowly.
Bookish Nays:
😒 The human characters other than Emily and Ariadne don’t have much to do. Emily’s fellow professor Farris Rose has a stronger role, but not as developed as it could have been. The Austrian villagers are barely present, unlike in the first book where we had many memorable locals. I’d have loved for more local interactions to vary the monotonous plotline in between.
(On an aside, the professor’s being referred to as ‘Rose’ often confused me as I kept picturing a woman on seeing that name.)
😒 Emily has a tendency to add extended footnotes to her journal entries. This is much better than her modus operandi in the first book, where she diverged into lengthy appendices containing faerie stories. But the footnotes are still distracting, and mostly unused in the plot. After a point, I just stopped reading them, and don’t feel like I missed out on anything essential.
All in all, I had had high expectations from this book after enjoying the first book to a great extent. Despite the somewhat sluggish pace in between, the sequel managed to keep me mostly happy. I can’t wait to see what awaits Emily and Wendell in the third book of this series. Fingers crossed that it will be the final one!
Strongly recommended to those who have read and loved the first book of this series. If you are a cosy-fantasy-with-quirky-characters fan, make sure you read both books!
4 stars.
My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK, Orbit, and NetGalley for the DRC of “Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After a long time, my schedule allowed me to commit to a buddy read with my friend Srivalli. As we had read the first book together, we HAD to read this one too. Do you think our opinions matched? Check out her review!
Sri, looking forward to Book Three with you!! :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
January 23, 2024
The most perfect sequel ever!! This was one of my most anticipated reads this year and it exceeded all my expectations! I loved it so much 🧝🏻♀️🧚🏻
In her quest to map the Otherlands, Emily, with her faerie folklore wisdom and accompanied with Wendell and Shadow, sets out her new adventure. She uncovers mysteries as she seeks to discover the door to Wendell’s faerie realm, all the while navigating newfound relationships.
Just like the first book, Emily tells the tale through journal entries, and towards the end of book we get an entry from Wendell himself. The entries are written so incredibly well, their personalities really shine through with the way each of them describe everything that happens and also with their own thoughts and reflections on everything. It’s so beautifully written that it’s hard not to fall in love with the characters and the world. It’s one of those books where you can tell every word has been thoroughly thought out and has purpose.
Everything I enjoyed about the first book was done even better in this one. From the character dynamics and the banter, to the plot and learning more about the fae and their land. We learn so much more about the magic system. It’s enchanting and doesn’t really have any sort of logic to it that sometimes Emily has difficulty explaining it. But the way it’s done just makes so much sense and adds to the whole vibe of the book perfectly. At its core, it’s cozy fantasy but I loved how this book had a mysteriousness to it. It really added to the depth and made the adventure all the more better.
Emily was her usual awkward self, and Wendell was dramatic, charming and witty as always. They’re complete opposites but they compliment each other so well. Their romance in this book was everything. It’s slow burn done well. It’s been building steadily since the first book, and this book is no different. I loved seeing Emily grow so much, as I say she’s awkward, so she finds it hard to properly express her feelings. I can’t really say much without spoiling what happens from book 1, but just know it had me smiling like a fool 🥰🫶🏻
The side characters in this book are everything as well! We get appearances from some characters in the first book which was such a nice surprise. Especially dear Poe, he’s one of the Little Folk and is seriously so adorable. He’s such a sweetheart and one of my favourites, I wish to hug him too 🥹 The new characters introduced were just as amazing as well! Each character has their own personality and they all get to help Emily in different ways with her expedition.
The way the book ended was so good!! I truly loved it and I’m so looking forward to more fantastical adventures in the next book 🥰
In her quest to map the Otherlands, Emily, with her faerie folklore wisdom and accompanied with Wendell and Shadow, sets out her new adventure. She uncovers mysteries as she seeks to discover the door to Wendell’s faerie realm, all the while navigating newfound relationships.
Just like the first book, Emily tells the tale through journal entries, and towards the end of book we get an entry from Wendell himself. The entries are written so incredibly well, their personalities really shine through with the way each of them describe everything that happens and also with their own thoughts and reflections on everything. It’s so beautifully written that it’s hard not to fall in love with the characters and the world. It’s one of those books where you can tell every word has been thoroughly thought out and has purpose.
Everything I enjoyed about the first book was done even better in this one. From the character dynamics and the banter, to the plot and learning more about the fae and their land. We learn so much more about the magic system. It’s enchanting and doesn’t really have any sort of logic to it that sometimes Emily has difficulty explaining it. But the way it’s done just makes so much sense and adds to the whole vibe of the book perfectly. At its core, it’s cozy fantasy but I loved how this book had a mysteriousness to it. It really added to the depth and made the adventure all the more better.
"I'm sorry," I said, self-conscious now. "Perhaps I shouldn't talk."
"Whyever not?" He drew back, examining me with a perplexed smile. "I like the way you talk. And everything else about you, in fact. Is that not clear by now?"
I felt laughter bubble up inside me, but I hid it behind a mock-serious expression. "I'm not sure."
Emily was her usual awkward self, and Wendell was dramatic, charming and witty as always. They’re complete opposites but they compliment each other so well. Their romance in this book was everything. It’s slow burn done well. It’s been building steadily since the first book, and this book is no different. I loved seeing Emily grow so much, as I say she’s awkward, so she finds it hard to properly express her feelings. I can’t really say much without spoiling what happens from book 1, but just know it had me smiling like a fool 🥰🫶🏻
There was something about Poe sitting there vibrating with fear and proud excitement that made me wish to hug him.
The side characters in this book are everything as well! We get appearances from some characters in the first book which was such a nice surprise. Especially dear Poe, he’s one of the Little Folk and is seriously so adorable. He’s such a sweetheart and one of my favourites, I wish to hug him too 🥹 The new characters introduced were just as amazing as well! Each character has their own personality and they all get to help Emily in different ways with her expedition.
The way the book ended was so good!! I truly loved it and I’m so looking forward to more fantastical adventures in the next book 🥰
September 7, 2023
I happily liked this one even MORE than the first book (which I also liked, to be clear)! This still reads/feels like a cozy mystery novel to me, albeit one that is also a historical fantasy novel because it’s set in the early 1900s where Fae exist (and they’re mostly mean). However, this second book has everything I wanted more of in the first one - mainly further insights into Emily and Wendell’s relationship and the people in both of their family/social circles. With that, of course, comes new secondary characters that I liked and I hope will stick around in future books.
Without spoiling the first book, I also liked the more personal, instead of academic, reasons behind Emily’s “field research” this time. We still get the journal format and the quirky footnotes, but there’s more at stake now than just Emily’s professional reputation.
I received this ARC for free from Netgalley, but this did not impact my review. The expected publishing date of this book is January 16, 2024.
Without spoiling the first book, I also liked the more personal, instead of academic, reasons behind Emily’s “field research” this time. We still get the journal format and the quirky footnotes, but there’s more at stake now than just Emily’s professional reputation.
I received this ARC for free from Netgalley, but this did not impact my review. The expected publishing date of this book is January 16, 2024.
August 9, 2023
what an absolute delight this series continues to be. footnotes! bad spooky fox fae! academic ambition! a cold, brilliant woman and her charmingly indolent fairy king!! and such clever little turns--you're always a step behind emily, and there are few places i'd rather be.
March 16, 2024
"At this precise moment, I can genuinely say that my only wish is to remain here with you."
I got so much serotonin from this book, it'll last me the whole week. It's as funny and sweet as it is stimulating and intelligent. The story is immersed in classic faerie folklore, which is my one true Roman Empire. It is also incredibly well thought out, just as good as the first one, and it goes beyond all expectations. I honestly could not stop reading/listening to it, even when I got headaches. Besides, for some reason, I thought this series would be a duology, so you can imagine my surprise and delight when I found out there is going to be another book. I seriously can't wait. I need more ASAP.
Naturally, Emily and Wendell live in my head and my heart rent-free. Emily is the same research-driven, socially awkward genius that I fell in love with. Wendell is the same lazy, ass-kissing charmer, who stole my heart. I love that he will only lift a finger if Emily asks him to (maybe not even then sometimes). Both of them together make the perfect couple. They complement each other so well, and the way they instantly turn into feral mother hens when the other is hurt or in trouble is my new reason to live.
Finally, the best characters in this whole series, aside from the aforementioned, are Shadow, Poe, and Snowbell. Shadow has been Emily's most loyal and adorable four-legged companion since the first book. I am known to obsess over fictional pets and this floof is not helping. Besides, Poe and Snowbell are tiny faerie creatures that sneaked their way deep into my heart and took permanent residence there. They are so adorable, they could literally fit into my pocket. Poe likes to bake bread, Snowbell loves adventures, and they are both so helpful to Emily and Wendell, which is amazing given that they're faeries. You cannot imagine how bitter I am that I can't have my own faerie friends just because reality is so goddamn boring.
I got so much serotonin from this book, it'll last me the whole week. It's as funny and sweet as it is stimulating and intelligent. The story is immersed in classic faerie folklore, which is my one true Roman Empire. It is also incredibly well thought out, just as good as the first one, and it goes beyond all expectations. I honestly could not stop reading/listening to it, even when I got headaches. Besides, for some reason, I thought this series would be a duology, so you can imagine my surprise and delight when I found out there is going to be another book. I seriously can't wait. I need more ASAP.
Naturally, Emily and Wendell live in my head and my heart rent-free. Emily is the same research-driven, socially awkward genius that I fell in love with. Wendell is the same lazy, ass-kissing charmer, who stole my heart. I love that he will only lift a finger if Emily asks him to (maybe not even then sometimes). Both of them together make the perfect couple. They complement each other so well, and the way they instantly turn into feral mother hens when the other is hurt or in trouble is my new reason to live.
Finally, the best characters in this whole series, aside from the aforementioned, are Shadow, Poe, and Snowbell. Shadow has been Emily's most loyal and adorable four-legged companion since the first book. I am known to obsess over fictional pets and this floof is not helping. Besides, Poe and Snowbell are tiny faerie creatures that sneaked their way deep into my heart and took permanent residence there. They are so adorable, they could literally fit into my pocket. Poe likes to bake bread, Snowbell loves adventures, and they are both so helpful to Emily and Wendell, which is amazing given that they're faeries. You cannot imagine how bitter I am that I can't have my own faerie friends just because reality is so goddamn boring.
July 8, 2023
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ 5/5 stars
read if you like:
♡ fairies and other magical creatures
♡ grumpy x sunshine (but she’s the grump & he’s the blonde beam of sunlight)
♡ cozy fantasy
♡ slow burn
♡ epistolary (written in journal entries)
♡ howl & sophie coded
➸ deliciously whimsical and playful, heather fawcett has struck gold once more with her sequel, emily wilde’s map of the otherlands.
➸ emily wilde, prodigious professor of faeries along with her encyclopaedia brimming with its knowledge of faerie folklore and research are back. once again, she and her far more charming, if insouciant, fellow scholar wendell bambleby are united on an adventure. only this time they’re searching for a door back to his faerie realm, whence he was exiled. there’s a new cast which poor antisocial emily must begrudgingly navigate and more mysteries to solve, not the least of which are that of her feelings for wendell.
➸ ordinarily, it’s a rather rare author who pulls off a sequel on par with their first book in a series, especially when said first book is such a literary pearl. fawcett has done just that and with verve. reading the gorgeous, delicately selected words - an art unto themselves mind you - is akin to drinking a glass of bubbly (non-alcoholic will do too if you’d rather do without) and being absolutely buoyed up in this effervescent world. there is something so innately joyful in fawcett’s narrative voice which could perhaps be chalked up to her body of work having previously focused on middle grade/children’s works. there is crack in these books, which frankly, i’m not even sure i’m referring to the proverbial sort at this juncture. it’s everything studio ghibli and folk of the magic faraway tree brand of escapism. fawcett’s conception of fairies and other magical creatures continues to impress upon me a feeling of once again reading holly black’s imagined fairfolk, in that there is beauty and also a profound rich sort of ugliness and simmering if not untethered violence in many of these creatures.
➸ there was no divorcing from character, wendell and emily kept their hilariously singular dispositions here too. emily was just as resourceful and curmudgeonly as ever and wendell just as gloriously vainglorious as ever. the academic journal format continues to do wonders for this book and for the reader (as well as for the tremendously amused wendell).
➸ whilst there is finally more delving into and development of the romance between emily and wendell, it remains a more bashful slow-burn with a great deal else occurring at once. as far as i’m concerned this was the most logical outcome considering the first book, despite being furnished with their romance, does not align the whole story around it; rather it is simply one of many faces to this series. an overindulgence of their chemistry would have mauled this into a fanfiction. as always, their interactions and nature as being all but diametrical opposites had me kicking my feet like a schoolgirl and giggling from the hilarity.
➸ conclusion :
as someone who is most adamantly not a cozy fantasy fan and a zealous worshipper of this series, i beseech you to come be transported in emily wilde’s map of the otherlands, regardless of whether or not you have a partiality for the genre. my hunger for fawcett’s prose in the interim will be insatiable again as i wait, thoroughly impatiently, for the next emily wilde’s instalment as it’s looking like we will be provided with further nourishment.
thank you netgalley for the arc !
read if you like:
♡ fairies and other magical creatures
♡ grumpy x sunshine (but she’s the grump & he’s the blonde beam of sunlight)
♡ cozy fantasy
♡ slow burn
♡ epistolary (written in journal entries)
♡ howl & sophie coded
➸ deliciously whimsical and playful, heather fawcett has struck gold once more with her sequel, emily wilde’s map of the otherlands.
➸ emily wilde, prodigious professor of faeries along with her encyclopaedia brimming with its knowledge of faerie folklore and research are back. once again, she and her far more charming, if insouciant, fellow scholar wendell bambleby are united on an adventure. only this time they’re searching for a door back to his faerie realm, whence he was exiled. there’s a new cast which poor antisocial emily must begrudgingly navigate and more mysteries to solve, not the least of which are that of her feelings for wendell.
➸ ordinarily, it’s a rather rare author who pulls off a sequel on par with their first book in a series, especially when said first book is such a literary pearl. fawcett has done just that and with verve. reading the gorgeous, delicately selected words - an art unto themselves mind you - is akin to drinking a glass of bubbly (non-alcoholic will do too if you’d rather do without) and being absolutely buoyed up in this effervescent world. there is something so innately joyful in fawcett’s narrative voice which could perhaps be chalked up to her body of work having previously focused on middle grade/children’s works. there is crack in these books, which frankly, i’m not even sure i’m referring to the proverbial sort at this juncture. it’s everything studio ghibli and folk of the magic faraway tree brand of escapism. fawcett’s conception of fairies and other magical creatures continues to impress upon me a feeling of once again reading holly black’s imagined fairfolk, in that there is beauty and also a profound rich sort of ugliness and simmering if not untethered violence in many of these creatures.
➸ there was no divorcing from character, wendell and emily kept their hilariously singular dispositions here too. emily was just as resourceful and curmudgeonly as ever and wendell just as gloriously vainglorious as ever. the academic journal format continues to do wonders for this book and for the reader (as well as for the tremendously amused wendell).
➸ whilst there is finally more delving into and development of the romance between emily and wendell, it remains a more bashful slow-burn with a great deal else occurring at once. as far as i’m concerned this was the most logical outcome considering the first book, despite being furnished with their romance, does not align the whole story around it; rather it is simply one of many faces to this series. an overindulgence of their chemistry would have mauled this into a fanfiction. as always, their interactions and nature as being all but diametrical opposites had me kicking my feet like a schoolgirl and giggling from the hilarity.
➸ conclusion :
as someone who is most adamantly not a cozy fantasy fan and a zealous worshipper of this series, i beseech you to come be transported in emily wilde’s map of the otherlands, regardless of whether or not you have a partiality for the genre. my hunger for fawcett’s prose in the interim will be insatiable again as i wait, thoroughly impatiently, for the next emily wilde’s instalment as it’s looking like we will be provided with further nourishment.
thank you netgalley for the arc !
January 16, 2024
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands follows Emily and Wendell on another charmingly chaotic adventure. In this sequel, the two scholars seek a faerie door in the Austrian Alps. This book absolutely did not disappoint delivering the perfect balance of cozy vibes, darker faerie elements, and romance.
The interpersonal relationships between Emily and the other characters in this book really shone in Map of the Otherlands. Emily and Wendell’s relationship was, of course, my favorite part of the story. Their romance became a much more significant element in the plot. We get insight into the depth of their relationship and there are plenty of angsty and fluffy scenes to make you squeal. I particularly loved how Emily was forced to confront her own feelings. Wendell remains my favorite Howl/Cardan coded chaos king. We get to see even more of his “true nature” in this installment and his devotion to Emily remains as strong as ever.
Beyond the romance, it was also interesting to see Emily build relationships with more side characters. Emily—someone who repeatedly reminds the reader that she is not good with people—must learn to navigate family bonds, professional relationships, and friendships in order to accomplish her goals.
The fantasy atmosphere in Map of the Otherlands is both familiar and new. Once again the story is told through lightly academic journal entries—though they are no longer meant to serve as an encyclopedia. With a different location comes a new set of Folk and magical creatures including mischievous fox-like folk that were particularly charming. The faerie doors introduce even more realms to discover. The unfamiliar magic of this land adds wonder and tension to the story.
One of my biggest complaints about Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries was the slow start. Therefore, I was incredibly happy that Map of the Otherlands had a more engaging opening. However, that may also have been because Wendell was in it from the very beginning.
If I wanted to I could poke holes in the story that would lower my rating. It is not a perfect book and readers’ enjoyment will largely depend on their interest in the romance. Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands will not win over readers who disliked the first book. This is a sequel for people who want more; more of Emily, more of Wendell, and more of their romantic tension. The story made me so happy that I simply refuse to rate it lower than five stars.
I don't know if Fawcett plans to write more books in this series. The ending of Map of the Otherlands is complete and yet it leaves doors open (pun intended) for more adventures. I would happily read about more of Emily and Wendell’s scholarly pursuits.
Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the eARC
Links to my TikTok | Instagram
The interpersonal relationships between Emily and the other characters in this book really shone in Map of the Otherlands. Emily and Wendell’s relationship was, of course, my favorite part of the story. Their romance became a much more significant element in the plot. We get insight into the depth of their relationship and there are plenty of angsty and fluffy scenes to make you squeal. I particularly loved how Emily was forced to confront her own feelings. Wendell remains my favorite Howl/Cardan coded chaos king. We get to see even more of his “true nature” in this installment and his devotion to Emily remains as strong as ever.
Beyond the romance, it was also interesting to see Emily build relationships with more side characters. Emily—someone who repeatedly reminds the reader that she is not good with people—must learn to navigate family bonds, professional relationships, and friendships in order to accomplish her goals.
The fantasy atmosphere in Map of the Otherlands is both familiar and new. Once again the story is told through lightly academic journal entries—though they are no longer meant to serve as an encyclopedia. With a different location comes a new set of Folk and magical creatures including mischievous fox-like folk that were particularly charming. The faerie doors introduce even more realms to discover. The unfamiliar magic of this land adds wonder and tension to the story.
One of my biggest complaints about Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries was the slow start. Therefore, I was incredibly happy that Map of the Otherlands had a more engaging opening. However, that may also have been because Wendell was in it from the very beginning.
If I wanted to I could poke holes in the story that would lower my rating. It is not a perfect book and readers’ enjoyment will largely depend on their interest in the romance. Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands will not win over readers who disliked the first book. This is a sequel for people who want more; more of Emily, more of Wendell, and more of their romantic tension. The story made me so happy that I simply refuse to rate it lower than five stars.
I don't know if Fawcett plans to write more books in this series. The ending of Map of the Otherlands is complete and yet it leaves doors open (pun intended) for more adventures. I would happily read about more of Emily and Wendell’s scholarly pursuits.
Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the eARC
Links to my TikTok | Instagram
January 16, 2024
This Emily Wilde series is the answer for the need I wasn't aware I had of cosy fantasy romance.
I loved Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries and was ecstatic over the opportunity to read the eARC of Emily Wilde's Map of Otherlands, as it was one of my 2024 most anticipated releases. I must say this second installment exceeded all my expectations and I loved every second of it.
Why are Emily Wilde’s books such a hit for me?
- Emily and Wendel are everything the fantasy genre needed. Emily is a bit awkward (I agree Emily is neurodivergent coded and absolutely love this) and her main strength is her intelligence and passion for her work. She is sweet, caring, and fierce, all in her unapologetic way. Wendel is a breath of fresh air when compared to typical fantasy MMC. He is beautiful and vain (as all fae are), but also a home fairy obsessed with cleanliness, brave, resourceful, chaotic, protective, and utterly smitten for Emily. Their interactions are brilliant, and I can’t get enough of them.
- The story is interesting and told in an original voice/ way. I preferred Emily Wilde's Map of Otherlands because the stakes are a bit higher.
- There is romance but it never overshadows the plot.
- The set of secondary characters perfectly complements the MC interactions and add value to the story.
- Heather Fawcett writing is beautiful, engaging and vividly transported me to this brilliant light academia world.
I can’t wait for the third book when we will finally be able to experience fairy without the fog. This was a fantastic read!
I would like to thank Little Brown Book Group UK, Orbit and Netgalley for the opportunity to read Emily Wilde's Map of Otherlands eARC in exchange for an honest an honest review.
Pre-reading thoughts
Christmas came earlier! Thank you so so so much Orbit and Netgalley for the opportunity to read the eARC!
I loved Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries and was ecstatic over the opportunity to read the eARC of Emily Wilde's Map of Otherlands, as it was one of my 2024 most anticipated releases. I must say this second installment exceeded all my expectations and I loved every second of it.
Why are Emily Wilde’s books such a hit for me?
- Emily and Wendel are everything the fantasy genre needed. Emily is a bit awkward (I agree Emily is neurodivergent coded and absolutely love this) and her main strength is her intelligence and passion for her work. She is sweet, caring, and fierce, all in her unapologetic way. Wendel is a breath of fresh air when compared to typical fantasy MMC. He is beautiful and vain (as all fae are), but also a home fairy obsessed with cleanliness, brave, resourceful, chaotic, protective, and utterly smitten for Emily. Their interactions are brilliant, and I can’t get enough of them.
- The story is interesting and told in an original voice/ way. I preferred Emily Wilde's Map of Otherlands because the stakes are a bit higher.
- There is romance but it never overshadows the plot.
- The set of secondary characters perfectly complements the MC interactions and add value to the story.
- Heather Fawcett writing is beautiful, engaging and vividly transported me to this brilliant light academia world.
I can’t wait for the third book when we will finally be able to experience fairy without the fog. This was a fantastic read!
I would like to thank Little Brown Book Group UK, Orbit and Netgalley for the opportunity to read Emily Wilde's Map of Otherlands eARC in exchange for an honest an honest review.
Pre-reading thoughts
Christmas came earlier! Thank you so so so much Orbit and Netgalley for the opportunity to read the eARC!
January 20, 2024
2.5*
Reading this was like reading book one again with some modifications here and there.
Reading this was like reading book one again with some modifications here and there.
February 27, 2024
“ 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚔. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚎𝚕𝚜𝚎 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞, 𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚝. 𝙸𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚌𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚋𝚢 𝚗𝚘𝚠?” 𝙸 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚕𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚞𝚋𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚞𝚙 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚖𝚎, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝙸 𝚑𝚒𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚊 𝚖𝚘𝚌𝚔-𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗. “𝙸’𝚖 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎.” 𝙷𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚍, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚔. “𝙻𝚎𝚝 𝚖𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞.”
rating: ╰☆☆☆ ☆
OVERALL VIBES:
🧚 faeries
❤️🔥 slow burn
📚 cozy academia
🧝♂️ magical fantasy
🧭 adventure
⚔️ mild violence
🌎 world building
TW: missing person, illness, poison, blood, gore, dismemberment, aging pets, murder
my synopsis:
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett follows our brillant yet curmudgeonly professor & her former rival/faerie prince in yet another adventure in this charming second installment. Set in 1910, Emily has now finished her encylopedia of faeries and decides to continue her ambitious scholarly pursuits by completing her map of the faerie realms. While our genius Emily researches, her faerie prince eagerly awaits her answer to his proposal for marriage. All of this comes to a hault, when faerie assassins attack them at their university which forces our beloved duo to solve the mystery & uncover the secrets behind the assaults.
It’s not long before Wendell Bambleby, our exiled faerie prince, suspects that his murderous stepmother is the one behind this evil plan, so it is decided that to reclaim his throne he must find the door back to his realm. This quest aligns with Emily’s goals to find the nexus, which is a door that leads to several realms & to ultimately, complete her map of the Otherlands. With the help of her esteemed colleague, Rose, her overly-enthusiastic niece, & her loyal companion, Shadow, the group sets off for another quest where danger lurks around every corner. Emily must face the perils of folklore, and the even more perilous navigation of her relationships. She must come to terms with how she truly feels about Wendell whilst solving the mysteries that lie within the faerie realms.
What I adored:
Fawcett’s prose & storytelling
The writing is so vividly intelligent, whimsical & playful that you cannot help but wish to devour it all! There is true artistry in the manner in which she writes. Fawcett captivated me with her horrifying yet beautiful descriptions of these magical realms and the creatures who dwell there. Her imagined folklore created a cozy yet thrilling escapism that made it impossible not to indulge in!
Emily & Wendell
I simply adore these two. There are complete & utter differences between them, but somehow it makes it all the more heartwarming. Emily is a detached, scholar (who quite frankly doesn’t seem to know what the definition of fun is) whilst Wendell is a flamboyant, charismatic, *dramatic*prince who has no qualms of displaying his affections for her. Their banter is one of my favorite aspects of this book and charms me every time. This is truly a prime example of how opposites attract & I’m here for it!
Strong fantasy elements✨🧚
The sequel of the Emily Wilde series contains so much folklore it makes me so happy. I am a glutton for beautifully descriptive fantasy, world building & this book gives just that. Between the vulpine, fox-like fae, the owl guardians with spider legs, trolls, tree faeries, a river magically appearing in Cambridge University, it’s just too much fun! We delve into the magic systems a bit more as well. & of course, I am in love with Emily’s Grimm, Shadow always & forever <3
What I disliked:
How slow is too slow of a burn? ❤️🩹
SHEESH. I understand that Emily has yet to realize her feelings for Wendell & she does make great strides in her character development, but my goodness is it slowwwwwwww (lol). She is so focused on her research & she is overall quite awkward. Emily has a severe lack of human emotion with all of her relationships throughout the duology & its a bit painful after awhile. I’m hoping the next installment has more romance now that she has admitted her love for Wendell.
The pace is also slow in general
In the beginning, I was completely bewitched by this book & its enchanting world, but about 40-50% of the way, I almost DNF’ed. I felt as though everyone was searching for the nexus and once they found it the book was over. I wish they found the nexus a bit sooner & then as a reader get to truly experience the magic of it. Meh. It picks back up at the end, but the pace did disappoint which resulted in this book dropping from a 5 to 4 star rating.
The irrelevant missing professors
A significant portion of this book focused on two professors lost in faerie which seemed completely beside the point to me. One was essentially stalking Emily & haunting her with gibberish riddles which made no real sense while the other was absentmindedly clawing at her cottage door? (lmao) it all seemed utterly bizzare and in the end, yes they helped her find the nexus, but they were rescued & showed no gratitude. The mysterious, lost professors were found & then their characters were flat. It felt like an afterthought & quite frankly, really dumb. (sorry!) If you’re going to throw in a mystery of lost professors that haunt you, at least make them interesting!
Overall, this was a highly anticipated read for me & it was so charming! I thoroughly enjoyed the cozy academia fantasy elements & I am very much looking forward to the next book in this series! ✨🧚🧝♂️
✿.:**:.☆*.:｡.✿.:**:.☆*.:｡.✿ .:**:.☆*.:｡.✿
﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋
➵ 𝚄𝚙𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝟸.𝟸𝟷.𝟸𝟺
I have been so excited to read this since I’ve pre-ordered it & oh, how I’ve missed Emily & Wendell’s banter! Fawcett’s wildly witty and brillant writing is breathtaking. I may finish this within a day or two I cannot put it down!
﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋
➵ ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ 𝟸.𝟸𝟶.𝟸𝟺
why am I so obsessed w/ this book already? ✨🪐🧚♀️
rating: ╰☆☆☆ ☆
OVERALL VIBES:
🧚 faeries
❤️🔥 slow burn
📚 cozy academia
🧝♂️ magical fantasy
🧭 adventure
⚔️ mild violence
🌎 world building
TW: missing person, illness, poison, blood, gore, dismemberment, aging pets, murder
my synopsis:
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett follows our brillant yet curmudgeonly professor & her former rival/faerie prince in yet another adventure in this charming second installment. Set in 1910, Emily has now finished her encylopedia of faeries and decides to continue her ambitious scholarly pursuits by completing her map of the faerie realms. While our genius Emily researches, her faerie prince eagerly awaits her answer to his proposal for marriage. All of this comes to a hault, when faerie assassins attack them at their university which forces our beloved duo to solve the mystery & uncover the secrets behind the assaults.
It’s not long before Wendell Bambleby, our exiled faerie prince, suspects that his murderous stepmother is the one behind this evil plan, so it is decided that to reclaim his throne he must find the door back to his realm. This quest aligns with Emily’s goals to find the nexus, which is a door that leads to several realms & to ultimately, complete her map of the Otherlands. With the help of her esteemed colleague, Rose, her overly-enthusiastic niece, & her loyal companion, Shadow, the group sets off for another quest where danger lurks around every corner. Emily must face the perils of folklore, and the even more perilous navigation of her relationships. She must come to terms with how she truly feels about Wendell whilst solving the mysteries that lie within the faerie realms.
What I adored:
Fawcett’s prose & storytelling
The writing is so vividly intelligent, whimsical & playful that you cannot help but wish to devour it all! There is true artistry in the manner in which she writes. Fawcett captivated me with her horrifying yet beautiful descriptions of these magical realms and the creatures who dwell there. Her imagined folklore created a cozy yet thrilling escapism that made it impossible not to indulge in!
Emily & Wendell
I simply adore these two. There are complete & utter differences between them, but somehow it makes it all the more heartwarming. Emily is a detached, scholar (who quite frankly doesn’t seem to know what the definition of fun is) whilst Wendell is a flamboyant, charismatic, *dramatic*prince who has no qualms of displaying his affections for her. Their banter is one of my favorite aspects of this book and charms me every time. This is truly a prime example of how opposites attract & I’m here for it!
Strong fantasy elements✨🧚
The sequel of the Emily Wilde series contains so much folklore it makes me so happy. I am a glutton for beautifully descriptive fantasy, world building & this book gives just that. Between the vulpine, fox-like fae, the owl guardians with spider legs, trolls, tree faeries, a river magically appearing in Cambridge University, it’s just too much fun! We delve into the magic systems a bit more as well. & of course, I am in love with Emily’s Grimm, Shadow always & forever <3
What I disliked:
How slow is too slow of a burn? ❤️🩹
SHEESH. I understand that Emily has yet to realize her feelings for Wendell & she does make great strides in her character development, but my goodness is it slowwwwwwww (lol). She is so focused on her research & she is overall quite awkward. Emily has a severe lack of human emotion with all of her relationships throughout the duology & its a bit painful after awhile. I’m hoping the next installment has more romance now that she has admitted her love for Wendell.
The pace is also slow in general
In the beginning, I was completely bewitched by this book & its enchanting world, but about 40-50% of the way, I almost DNF’ed. I felt as though everyone was searching for the nexus and once they found it the book was over. I wish they found the nexus a bit sooner & then as a reader get to truly experience the magic of it. Meh. It picks back up at the end, but the pace did disappoint which resulted in this book dropping from a 5 to 4 star rating.
The irrelevant missing professors
A significant portion of this book focused on two professors lost in faerie which seemed completely beside the point to me. One was essentially stalking Emily & haunting her with gibberish riddles which made no real sense while the other was absentmindedly clawing at her cottage door? (lmao) it all seemed utterly bizzare and in the end, yes they helped her find the nexus, but they were rescued & showed no gratitude. The mysterious, lost professors were found & then their characters were flat. It felt like an afterthought & quite frankly, really dumb. (sorry!) If you’re going to throw in a mystery of lost professors that haunt you, at least make them interesting!
Overall, this was a highly anticipated read for me & it was so charming! I thoroughly enjoyed the cozy academia fantasy elements & I am very much looking forward to the next book in this series! ✨🧚🧝♂️
✿.:**:.☆*.:｡.✿.:**:.☆*.:｡.✿ .:**:.☆*.:｡.✿
﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋
➵ 𝚄𝚙𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝟸.𝟸𝟷.𝟸𝟺
I have been so excited to read this since I’ve pre-ordered it & oh, how I’ve missed Emily & Wendell’s banter! Fawcett’s wildly witty and brillant writing is breathtaking. I may finish this within a day or two I cannot put it down!
﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋
➵ ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ 𝟸.𝟸𝟶.𝟸𝟺
why am I so obsessed w/ this book already? ✨🪐🧚♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2024
I absolutely loved this. From the wonderfully descriptive backdrop of snowy Austria to the heated tension between Wendell and Emily and the richly woven Fae lore. This reminded me a lot of The Cruel Prince, with a lovestruck male main character and his prickly, socially awkward yet incredibly intelligent love interest but with more warmth. There's something just comforting and uplifting about the Emily Wilde books. There's adventuring and danger, but because Emily is recounting these moments into her journal there's no immediate threat or anxiety over what's going to happen to these characters. You know Emily will be OK, and as a result I always know I'll have a good time. I cannot wait for the next book.
June 18, 2024
DELIGHTFUL. I’ll take 40 more of these
January 23, 2024
"Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherland" by Heather Fawcett is a perfect example of how a sequel can exceed its predecessor.
The first book, in what seems to become a trilogy, was a wonderful entrance book to the cozy fantasy genre, but its sequel exceeded all my expectations.
For a cozy fantasy, I loved how it stayed a bit macabre, which contributed to the sometimes eerie setting of the novel, which was a perfect addition to the novel.
My primary winning point was the romance between our beloved Emily and Wendell.
I was head over heels for their banter and blossoming relationship in the first book, and I loved how we got to dive deeper into their relationship with each other. It is refreshing to read a novel with a strong-minded, independent, and, at times, vulnerable protagonist who allows herself to be who she is while still changing and growing more emotionally comfortable with the people around her. Wendell sees Emily for who she is and vice-versa. Their friendship growing into a relationship was everything and more.
Besides having two beautifully complex and likable characters, the book is beautifully written and is a delight to read. It is incredibly descriptive and paints a stunning scenery in the reader's mind.
The writing provided an interesting experience for the reader, especially considering it is written through journal entries. This provides a limited view of everything outside of the words of Emily’s journal, which proved to be quite interesting, particularly when Emily lost track of time and place.
As the reader, this made me feel like I emerged in the story on a whole other level, and while the first novel has the same writing style, I had these thoughts more prominently in the sequel.
Overall, It was a beautiful novel that should be on your "to-be-read" list.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an advanced reading copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The first book, in what seems to become a trilogy, was a wonderful entrance book to the cozy fantasy genre, but its sequel exceeded all my expectations.
For a cozy fantasy, I loved how it stayed a bit macabre, which contributed to the sometimes eerie setting of the novel, which was a perfect addition to the novel.
My primary winning point was the romance between our beloved Emily and Wendell.
I was head over heels for their banter and blossoming relationship in the first book, and I loved how we got to dive deeper into their relationship with each other. It is refreshing to read a novel with a strong-minded, independent, and, at times, vulnerable protagonist who allows herself to be who she is while still changing and growing more emotionally comfortable with the people around her. Wendell sees Emily for who she is and vice-versa. Their friendship growing into a relationship was everything and more.
Besides having two beautifully complex and likable characters, the book is beautifully written and is a delight to read. It is incredibly descriptive and paints a stunning scenery in the reader's mind.
The writing provided an interesting experience for the reader, especially considering it is written through journal entries. This provides a limited view of everything outside of the words of Emily’s journal, which proved to be quite interesting, particularly when Emily lost track of time and place.
As the reader, this made me feel like I emerged in the story on a whole other level, and while the first novel has the same writing style, I had these thoughts more prominently in the sequel.
Overall, It was a beautiful novel that should be on your "to-be-read" list.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an advanced reading copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 24, 2024
It has to be a more than a duology. Everything good and faerie has to be in three!
Edit: The cover!!!! 😍😍😍
Finally read it. Not as brilliant as the first book, but delightful nonetheless.
Edit: The cover!!!! 😍😍😍
Finally read it. Not as brilliant as the first book, but delightful nonetheless.
February 1, 2024
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FEEL ABOUT THIS.
Let me just say: Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia Of Faeries was one of my favorite reads of 2023. High up in the Top 5 even. So to be fair I came with high expectations.
This book just didn't do the same for me. I don't know why. Don't get me wrong, it's still a really lovely and whimsical book. But I just wasn’t as enchanted and it took me half the book to really get back into the story.
Of course the writing style is still beautiful. But I felt like it was just a little less poetic than in the first book.
Of course I still love Emily and Wendall. But their banter just didn't feel as natural this time around.
Seeing all the other positive reviews, I am starting to think that I just wasn’t in the right mood, though.
MAYBE IT'S ME NOT YOU, EMILY!!! I'M SORRY!!! I am coming back for you at some point to verify and I'm still looking forward to the third book.
Special shoutout to Poe, this cute little faerie has my heart forever and ever.
3.5/5 ⭐️
Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Let me just say: Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia Of Faeries was one of my favorite reads of 2023. High up in the Top 5 even. So to be fair I came with high expectations.
This book just didn't do the same for me. I don't know why. Don't get me wrong, it's still a really lovely and whimsical book. But I just wasn’t as enchanted and it took me half the book to really get back into the story.
Of course the writing style is still beautiful. But I felt like it was just a little less poetic than in the first book.
Of course I still love Emily and Wendall. But their banter just didn't feel as natural this time around.
Seeing all the other positive reviews, I am starting to think that I just wasn’t in the right mood, though.
MAYBE IT'S ME NOT YOU, EMILY!!! I'M SORRY!!! I am coming back for you at some point to verify and I'm still looking forward to the third book.
Special shoutout to Poe, this cute little faerie has my heart forever and ever.
3.5/5 ⭐️
Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2024
I glared. I’m afraid I have not gotten over my resentment of him for saving me from the snow king’s court in Ljosland earlier this year, and have made a solemn vow to myself that I shall be the one to rescue him from whatever faerie trouble we next find ourselves in. Yes, I realize this is illogical, given that it requires Wendell to end up in some dire circumstance, which would ideally best be avoided, but there it is. I’m quite determined.
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands journals Emily's activities as she searches for a door back to Wendell's faerie kingdom while dodging assassins sent by his enemy, following the trail of long lost scholars, bonding with her niece and saving Wendell.
The Emily Wilde series has a lot of components I like such as women in academia, researching magic systems and mysterious faerie worlds, but overall does not work for me. The characters seem flat to me, mostly because all the character development and important revelations happen off-page - as I noted while reading Book 1 Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries too. I couldn't relate to the characters - which is surprising as I would usually understand needing to be bribed with a book to attend a work party!
The plot rambled a little, suffering from the middle book syndrome. Or maybe that was just the dazed journal entries writing style - we get neither a clear third person narration of events as they unfold nor a reasoned documentation of relevant facts and important events written with hindsight. This detracts from my reading experience and I couldn't get invested in the story. Character relationships too are mostly glazed over - I would have liked to see more of Emily mentoring Ariadne (who could have been any assistant, her being Emily's niece was too much of a coincidence) and more of Emily's growing relationship with Wendell. What we actually see is too little for any private diary and too much to be included in a scientific journal.
The world-building, is interesting, but less detailed than I could have wished. I generally prefer magic systems that follow rules and complex worlds to stories that rely on random spells and artifacts acquired coincidentally. They also keep noting interesting tidbits suggesting they still don't understand much of the faerie worlds - to be expected - but don't seem to get around to researching any of them.
Overall, I might recommend this to people who like light academia as a quick read, but I don't think I'll be re-reading this series.
🌟🌟
[Half a star for the premise and whole book; 1/4 star for the characters; Half a star for the story; Half a star for the writing; 1/4 star for the world-building - Two stars in total.]
Emily Wilde #1: My Review of Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands journals Emily's activities as she searches for a door back to Wendell's faerie kingdom while dodging assassins sent by his enemy, following the trail of long lost scholars, bonding with her niece and saving Wendell.
The Emily Wilde series has a lot of components I like such as women in academia, researching magic systems and mysterious faerie worlds, but overall does not work for me. The characters seem flat to me, mostly because all the character development and important revelations happen off-page - as I noted while reading Book 1 Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries too. I couldn't relate to the characters - which is surprising as I would usually understand needing to be bribed with a book to attend a work party!
The plot rambled a little, suffering from the middle book syndrome. Or maybe that was just the dazed journal entries writing style - we get neither a clear third person narration of events as they unfold nor a reasoned documentation of relevant facts and important events written with hindsight. This detracts from my reading experience and I couldn't get invested in the story. Character relationships too are mostly glazed over - I would have liked to see more of Emily mentoring Ariadne (who could have been any assistant, her being Emily's niece was too much of a coincidence) and more of Emily's growing relationship with Wendell. What we actually see is too little for any private diary and too much to be included in a scientific journal.
The world-building, is interesting, but less detailed than I could have wished. I generally prefer magic systems that follow rules and complex worlds to stories that rely on random spells and artifacts acquired coincidentally. They also keep noting interesting tidbits suggesting they still don't understand much of the faerie worlds - to be expected - but don't seem to get around to researching any of them.
Overall, I might recommend this to people who like light academia as a quick read, but I don't think I'll be re-reading this series.
🌟🌟
[Half a star for the premise and whole book; 1/4 star for the characters; Half a star for the story; Half a star for the writing; 1/4 star for the world-building - Two stars in total.]
Emily Wilde #1: My Review of Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries
April 14, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
This was another cute addition to the series. I like seeing how Emily and Wendell’s relationship grows as they tackle new challenges.
I know this is supposed to be set in Oxford, so I did pick up on a few Americanisms that we don’t have in the UK (tenure and major being the main two I can think of right now)
But ultimately I enjoyed being back in this world with all the faerie folk and adventures they get into.
Roll on book 3 😊
This was another cute addition to the series. I like seeing how Emily and Wendell’s relationship grows as they tackle new challenges.
I know this is supposed to be set in Oxford, so I did pick up on a few Americanisms that we don’t have in the UK (tenure and major being the main two I can think of right now)
But ultimately I enjoyed being back in this world with all the faerie folk and adventures they get into.
Roll on book 3 😊
March 31, 2024
ugh i love emily and wendell
vlog: https://youtu.be/cSHirqJnvC8
vlog: https://youtu.be/cSHirqJnvC8
February 18, 2024
5 stars. Just as enchanting and enthralling as its fantastical subject matter, Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands is a ballad of a novel that expands the scope of the story, retains all of the qualities that made its predecessor so brilliant, and cements Wendell and Emily's love story as one that I find impossibly compelling.
Read
June 9, 2024DNF @51%. I was underwhelmed with the first book but interested enough to read the second—but not purchase it. It started off good. I was enjoying the set up, the new plot, the banter but it just drags. We do get two new characters: Rose, a department head at Cambridge and Ariadne, Emily’s niece. Lemme just say Emily is a bitch for an auntie. I hated all of her thoughts and actions towards her niece. It gave me jealousy vibes. Like your niece is also an academic, of course she’s excited! Emily is just a snot. And we’re just only in her head. I think a third person POV with journal excerpts from Emily would be better.
I wanted to know if they find Wendell’s door but then I realized I didn’t want to know bad enough. Also, Wendell deserves better than Emily. People who are saying there’s chemistry and tension between the two: WHAT BOOK DID YOU READ? Maybe there’s a little wanting from Wendell but Emily is closed off and has a stank attitude. She don’t care about that man! I’m done with this series. There’s not enough character development, the storytelling is limited by the first person POV, and the main character is a trifling heffa. I’m done.
I wanted to know if they find Wendell’s door but then I realized I didn’t want to know bad enough. Also, Wendell deserves better than Emily. People who are saying there’s chemistry and tension between the two: WHAT BOOK DID YOU READ? Maybe there’s a little wanting from Wendell but Emily is closed off and has a stank attitude. She don’t care about that man! I’m done with this series. There’s not enough character development, the storytelling is limited by the first person POV, and the main character is a trifling heffa. I’m done.
June 4, 2023
4.5⭐️ Just like with book 1, I devoured this in 2 days. The banter, the adventure, the writing-it’s just absolute perfection. I did enjoy the first book a just a little more, but this was still so much fun. I loved being back with Emily and Wendell. The swoon and giggles!! Some new characters, and some old friends made appearances. I will definitely reread when the physical releases…Pretty positive that we’re getting a book 3 and I cannot wait!!-thank you to netgalley and del ray for an e-arc
January 2, 2024
The way Emily interacts with her niece is actually appalling, it really made me dislike her character. I felt as though there was a strange jealousy from Emily towards Ariadne and it just didn't sit well with me. The romance felt so platonic from Emily whereas Wendell you can see really loves her. I'm disappointed at how much I disliked her character in this book and considering it's in her perspective, it was a frustrating read.
May 16, 2024
4.5⭐️ these books are so much fun! I listened to parts of it on audio and I think I sometimes just get a little distracted that way cause I found myself lost in the story at times but also I feel like some things are just a little complex and harder to understand lol. I really loved how this book had more of a plot and storyline that we were following. An objective so to say. I feel like at times it is a little anticlimactic and the more intense parts get a bit rushed over but overall I still really enjoyed it. I will forever just adore this world and these characters.
February 11, 2024
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley
1.) Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries ★★★★
this second installment is set in 1910 and obviously still follows emily wilde, who this time is focusing her research on creating a map that will track the nexuses that connect all the fae realms (and their doors) to our world. and maybe, just maybe, there is a special emphasis on a fae prince we know and love. but anyways, she is also bringing along wendell bambleby again for this adventure, but also her young niece who also has a passion for the fae and the different research involving them. yet this time, the stakes feel much higher even if the fate of these stakes rely a lot on locating a magical cat behind these fae doors. (again, even if this is a cozy set up and setting, this does deal with some darker themes showing the dark faery side of things!)
for some reason, i just didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first. the format of journal entries is still perfect for me, i love these characters so much, and we even got winter fox faes in this! i mean… so so so much for me and my reading wheelhouse to love! but i guess (while trying to not being spoilery here) i really didn’t like not seeing as much wendell in this one (or maybe in the way… i would have preferred to see him… again, no spoilers is hard but hopefully you feel me if you’ve read this!) but overall, i still had a fun time with this one and loved being back with these characters and exploring some new worlds.
trigger + content warnings: missing person, talk of animals/pets aging, poison, illness/sick partner,, brief mention of loss of parents in past, talk of loss of friends in past, grief, abusive step parent, mention of infidelity (not mcs), blood, gore, violence, spiders
blog | instagram | youtube | kofi | spotify | amazon
1.) Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries ★★★★
this second installment is set in 1910 and obviously still follows emily wilde, who this time is focusing her research on creating a map that will track the nexuses that connect all the fae realms (and their doors) to our world. and maybe, just maybe, there is a special emphasis on a fae prince we know and love. but anyways, she is also bringing along wendell bambleby again for this adventure, but also her young niece who also has a passion for the fae and the different research involving them. yet this time, the stakes feel much higher even if the fate of these stakes rely a lot on locating a magical cat behind these fae doors. (again, even if this is a cozy set up and setting, this does deal with some darker themes showing the dark faery side of things!)
for some reason, i just didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first. the format of journal entries is still perfect for me, i love these characters so much, and we even got winter fox faes in this! i mean… so so so much for me and my reading wheelhouse to love! but i guess (while trying to not being spoilery here) i really didn’t like not seeing as much wendell in this one (or maybe in the way… i would have preferred to see him… again, no spoilers is hard but hopefully you feel me if you’ve read this!) but overall, i still had a fun time with this one and loved being back with these characters and exploring some new worlds.
trigger + content warnings: missing person, talk of animals/pets aging, poison, illness/sick partner,, brief mention of loss of parents in past, talk of loss of friends in past, grief, abusive step parent, mention of infidelity (not mcs), blood, gore, violence, spiders
blog | instagram | youtube | kofi | spotify | amazon
Shelved as 'tbr'
December 1, 2023Many thanks to Netgally, the publisher, and Heather Fawcett for this digital ARC!
The best words to hear...YOUR APPROVED REQUEST
The best words to hear...YOUR APPROVED REQUEST
June 24, 2024
✩ 5 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼 🌳🍂🏔️🧚♀️
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i need this series injected into my veins! <33
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i need this series injected into my veins! <33
January 19, 2024
What. Happened. The first book was so good! I am devastated I did not like this since I gave the first book 5 stars.
I think the author leaned too far into the “journal” concept in this one. Emily was unobservant, confused, and/or enchanted for most of the novel, which makes sense narratively but is so damn unappealing to read. She can’t describe the trees bc they are too terrible, she can’t describe the fairies bc they are too beautiful, she doesn’t understand fairyland bc it is too magic. It just comes off as laziness rather than an intentional part of the book. And why, WHY would you have your protagonist “write” the climax of the book while half asleep???
Also: the main characters are suddenly so unlikeable and inexcusably self absorbed. Their ‘opposites attract’ thing might exist, but more likely their mutual attraction comes from a blatant disregard for other people. Admittedly Emily is upset when people are physically hurt. Yet she has no trouble displaying casual cruelty to those around her.
I think the author leaned too far into the “journal” concept in this one. Emily was unobservant, confused, and/or enchanted for most of the novel, which makes sense narratively but is so damn unappealing to read. She can’t describe the trees bc they are too terrible, she can’t describe the fairies bc they are too beautiful, she doesn’t understand fairyland bc it is too magic. It just comes off as laziness rather than an intentional part of the book. And why, WHY would you have your protagonist “write” the climax of the book while half asleep???
Also: the main characters are suddenly so unlikeable and inexcusably self absorbed. Their ‘opposites attract’ thing might exist, but more likely their mutual attraction comes from a blatant disregard for other people. Admittedly Emily is upset when people are physically hurt. Yet she has no trouble displaying casual cruelty to those around her.
March 23, 2024
4.5/5
just wanna be a scholar who travels world with her fae king lover boi and friends 😔
just wanna be a scholar who travels world with her fae king lover boi and friends 😔
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