This is a fantasy novel. Our female main character is extremely smart but not much of a people person. So she takes herself off alone (with her dog) to investigate one last type of Fae for her encyclopedia.

She's not particularly impressed when her academic rival, along with a couple of students, turns up at the door of the small home that she's staying in, but tolerates it because he's much better with people than she is and might get more answers than she does.

But as she investigates the legends around a king of the winter fae in the area, her curiosity gets the better of her and she lands herself in a bit of trouble.

I enjoyed this, it's a very wintery book (which the cover does not reflect). It's interesting that the blurb positions this as a romance as, reading it, I thought this was going to be romance free. The kind of character that she is, I would have loved it if she'd turned down these various proposals in favour of just writing her book!

This is clearly intended to be the first book in a series but it could be read as a standalone as this adventure has been completed by the end. Just with more adventures to come!

This book was so beautifully written, it's the perfect read for a cosy day inside with a cup of tea and the sound of rain.

I loved the way it was written like a journal and adored the faerie stories that were told/referenced. I've always loved faeries and this book made me want to live in a world, where they exist, though I have to admit I'd also be a bit scared. Just like Emily I'd love to study them though, wanting to work in academia with a charming partner. The way Wendell had an understanding for Emily and her behaviour and habits made me so happy, their bantering always brought a smile to my face. Also the townspeople of Ljosland have a place in my heart. I really didn't want to part from any of the characters.

I honestly can't say much more, I just absolutely adore this book and can't wait to read the next one!

After reading quite a few books that weren't for me, I had already written this book off (decided to skip the FL month and everything). After seeing the reviews that it was a fun read I decided to request on NetGalley and give it a go.

I am very happy to announce I'm an idiot and this book is amazing! Clearly my intuition needs re-adjusting.

This book is so well written, even though it has the whimsical feel the pace isn't slow and stifling. The world-building is fantastic blending the everyday with the fantasy. Heather is amazing at sprinkling in hints of twists, things-that-aren't-as-they-seem, and yet also immediately telling you something isn't quite right. It was a refreshing style to read.

Lastly, I love the characters. I had thought Emily and Wendell would irritate me. Those two are brilliant characters individually, but work even better as a team in any capacity. Their banter, arguments and interacts feel real, which I find most books aren't able to accomplish.

To conclude, don't be an idiot like me, read this book!

Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Fairies by Heather Fawcett is a book that I enjoyed but not as much as I was expecting.
It is written in the form of Emily's diary, which makes the writing a little dry. However, we get to see Emily's thoughts in more detail. I found the story really interesting,with some really good twists.
Our main character Emily is very introverted and thorny. Also, I wanted the romance to be more built up. It felt a little flat and the book wouldn't have been different without it.
Overall, the book is cute, funny and light and full of faerie lore that I loved.

An absolute joy of a novel. I loved every page and couldn't put it down! Is it too early to call it my book of the year?

Emily Wilde is a scholar and faerie expert, one chapter away from completing her Encyclopaedia of Faeries. She's on a field trip researching the secretive Hidden Ones and has no time for befriending the townsfolk, or putting up with her academic rival and only friend, Wendell Bambleby. And she definitely doesn't need thier help. But as Emily finds herself caught up in more and more faerie dramas it starts to seem as if she's about to become a cautionary chapter in her own life's work.

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries was everything I wanted and more - cosy, romantic and filled with dark and tricky faeries. I'd seen a lot of buzz about this online before reading, and it was absolutely worthy of the hype. I cannot recommend it enough.

I am not sure what I was expecting exactly when I went into this, but I ended up enjoying it by the end.

This was a cute, and fun cosy fantasy with low stakes for the characters involved which considering it included the fae wasn't exactly what I was expecting.

I found the faerie to be well written, and the faerie descriptions were delightful. The start of the book was a little on the slow side and the description of the book is right, Emily doesn't do people. I found some of the journal entries a little bit drab and not as engaging as I would have hoped, but I feel that fitted Emily well. The story really picked up once Bambleby arrived to help or hinder, you decide.

I think the thing I loved the most was the inclusion of faerie tales and folk lore that Emily had gathered and used as a way to navigate through some of the faerie based challenges she came across, and the fact that she eventually found a family and home.

I would rate it 3.5 stars because even though the faerie lore was on point, and the characters were actually quite enjoyable, it just dragged in a few spots that I don't think it should have.

I was the whole intended audience for this book. I’m genuinely not sure I could give a useful review, since it hit so many of my absolute favourite things, and if there was anything about this book that didn’t work it was thoroughly overshadowed by everything I loved to the point that I didn’t notice (I don’t think there were problems with craft etc, but again, I’m not reliable right now).

An inexhaustible list of stuff I loved: bickering academic rivals (friends, maybe something more) on a research trip; clueless analytical grump/indolent sunshine dynamic; proper faerie folklore; prose written as field reports (a bit like a diary); historical setting; complaints about research funding; quietly besotted man who goes feral with protectiveness; BIG DOG; woman constantly putting her foot in her mouth.

I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series.

Thank you to Orbit and Nazia for giving an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

When I first read the blurb, I was immediately excited for more cozy fantasy. I’m not a huge fan of the Fae but this seemed like a good perspective. Emily knows faeries and their mischief so she’s not a naive woman trapped inside their magic. She’s aware and knows how to fight it. I also normally don’t like cold settings, but the author made sure to make the snow seem cozy warm instead of freezing cold. As if there’s magic at work.

Emily is working on the last section of her book and wants to find the Hidden Ones, way up north. And winter is just starting. She isn’t averse to harsh environments and is used to do everything herself. But she needs to learn how to ask for help. Only then will the villagers warm up to her. I love Emily and she goes through some amazing things during her months in Hrafnsvik.

Emily’s main task to get to know The Hidden Ones also leads to uncovering the village’s secrets. Being so close to where the Fae reside, they have had their share of bad luck and hauntings. But even those incidents seem weird. The tiny mysteries are a nice layer of extra depth. Not only to make the village seem more alive, but also set up the layer of intrigue that goes with a Fae book. Nothing is as it seems and there always seems to be more than you initially though.

The mystery, the exploration, Emily, her charming companion Wendell, and her dog Shadow, are all the perfect mix for a genuinely sweet fantasy book that’ll warm your heart on the coldest of days.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes the Fae or wants a cozy winter book. It’s the perfect book to snuggle up under a plaid with hot cocoa next to the fire. It’s an adorable story that’ll keep you reading.

Set in a Gaslamp era world where the Fae are real and a subject of academic study, one young woman is set to provide the first Encyclopaedia documenting their various types and natures. Emily Wilde is meticulous, disciplined, and very knowledgeable. She keeps rigorous notes for her publications, and a journal documenting her travels and discoveries on a more personal level. This is what we get to read, as she chronicles her journey to the remote -and very cold- island of Hrafnsvik to study their elusive version of the Folk, hoping to be the first to actually document encounters with the High Fae of the area.

What she encounters is a tight-knit rural community, who may have stories to tell if only Emily can gain their trust. However, social interaction is not her forte at the best of times, and without realising it she quickly offends the head of the village, stalling her progress. The situation is both aggravated and smoothed over by the arrival of Wendell Bambleby, an apt name for the dashing academic rival that he is. He is everything that Emily is not: charming, full of confidence, and very averse to any sort of hard work. He moves himself into the cabin Emily has rented, and begins to meddle in her research.

Bambleby is delightful to read, and his and Emily’s interactions were for me the highlight of the book. Their rivalry is a complex thing, with both of them being two of the youngest academics at their college and both vying for recognition in the same field, yet because of this also being the closest they have to friends. Plus, there is something odd about Bambleby and the way he keeps unveiling new discoveries despite his dislike of fieldwork, and that plays a fun part in the plot.

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries is a feel good read, fitting into a growing category of ‘low-stakes fantasy’ where a big part of the reading experience comes from exploring the world through the eyes of the characters. The plot is not intricate, though there are a few twists and a dangerous brush with the dark magic of the High Fae, and yet the narrative style and the developing relationships kept me hooked. If you are looking for something to curl up with and lose yourself in for a few days, this is definitely one to put on your list.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I've been wanting to read this book for so long and I had super high expectations and I can say it didn't let me down.
Emily Wilde is a Cambridge professor, who specializes in the study of faeries, and she wishes to complete her encyclopaedia of Faerie Folk. While doing her research, she ends up in a small remote village in Scandinavia with her dog Shadow, however everything changes when her annoyingly charming super-handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby shows up uninvited in order to help her.

I really liked this book and I'm anxiously waiting for book 2. I loved Emily and Wendell's characters and their interactions. I loved the folklore and the descriptions and, in general, all the characters we encounter throughout the story. However, to be honest I was about to DNF it several times because I found the first half of the book very slow-paced, heavy and hard to understand, but right now I'm glad to have pushed through and to have finished it.

My rating: almost 4!

One of those books that looks so enticing, but it did take me a while to get into, and it's not until at least half way through that the pace picks up and the story starts to get super exciting.

If you're into mystery and magic, this is a good read; the characters are interesting and colourful, and there are little twists along the way to pull you along.

I enjoyed this a lot, the writing style took a few chapters to get into but once I was then I was hooked. I really like Heather Fawcetts characters and stories. And Emily was such a sweetheart, a bit of an idiot at times but aren't we all? Looking forward to book 2.

WOW THIS IS ALREADY ONE OF MY FAVOURITE READS EVER?

I am obsessed with the idea of magical beings hiding in and around us in plain sight, so this book did not disappoint.

I loved the dynamics between Emily and Wendell, the world-building was fascinating, and the prose was just so lyrical, I just fell in love with this book.

The cover of this book entices you in straight away and you know you're going to be for a treat and escapism.
This book added a twist to what seemed to be a historical/fantasy read but with added touch of modern feel without being too far out of reach. The whimsical, fairy tale, grimm stories worlds all collided together which made it a very intriguing read.

This is the faerie book I've always wanted. Forget the smutty soap opera's that fill the shelves these days, this takes faeries back to their roots and shows you the charm of a good faerie story. It also was fantastic that they made a alternate historical setting where women were respected scientists and LGBTQ+ side characters were accepted without question. It's refreshing to have a world where such prejudices aren't around.

Emily Wilde is capable, scientific and the perfect protagonist for this book. She isn't a simpering idiot caught up in over her head who still somehow manages to overcome all the odds, she knows what she's doing and is able to befriend, trick or charm the faeries on her journey to research them. But the character I loved most was Bambleby. Bambleby is wonderful. He infuriates Emily to no end and they snipe at each other constantly and his name is Bambleby! What better name is there than Bambleby?

I also loved the dog, Shadow. My only criticism of this book is a small one and that is sometimes it seems the author has forgotten Shadow exists. There were a couple of scenes where I was distracted from what was happening because I didn't know where the dog was and why he wasn't intervening. There was one crucial scene where I think he should have done something at least.

But that didn't take away my enjoyment of the book too much. It was still one of the best faerie books I have ever read.

First off the world building and faerie lore woven throughout is phenomenal. It’s darkly whimsical and absolutely fascinating. I love that this is contrasted by the insanely pragmatic, clever and scientific Emily. I was already smitten and then Wendell arrived and he was cheeky and rascally and just continually teasing Emily and dragging her out of her shell. It’s their cheerfully antagonistic best-friendship that ultimately make this book absolute perfection. This is sort of low stakes (we’re not saving the world here) but an engaging plot with realistic stakes and an increasingly badass Emily. Additional things I liked- Beautiful prose, delightful banter that often made me laugh out loud, queer characters and this small Nordic village in winter that gave the book a warm found family feel by the end.

Such a gorgeous book!

I really enjoyed how fierce the main character was, and the romance was done really well! I liked how fast paced it was, and the writing was whimsical and magical. I would highly recommend this to academia and fantasy lovers! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an e-arc!

Emily Wilde is an expert on the study of faeries, she has travelled to the remote village of Hrafnsvik in Norway for further research of The Folk.

She has studied Dryadology ( the study of fairies) at Cambridge University since she was fifteen. Emily introduces the reader to Wendall Bambleby, another doctor at Cambridge. Emily is convinced that Wendall is not human and she is not sure if he is folk or something else.


Written in diary form we follow Emily and her adventures in Ljosland a mountainous Island in Scandinavia off the Norwegian mainland. She is soon aware that the islanders think she is there on a wild goose chase and that she will not be there very long in it’s freezing climate.

She is shocked to find Bambleby in her little cottage, when she returns one day. He has come to assist her and she for one is not thrilled by this prospect.

This is a really lovely book, I loved the bleakness of the island and Emily is a independent woman who is used to her own company and is so passionate about her studies. I felt like I was reading a fairy tale, slowly being drawn into the plot and I am in awe of the imagination of the author. If you like an escapist read which you can totally be immersed in this is the winter read for you. The best part is that there may be more of Emily and Wendell in the future and I for one cannot wait.

5 fairie stars 🧚‍♀️🧚‍♀️🧚‍♀️🧚‍♀️🧚‍♀️

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries sounded right up my alley and sure enough, it did not disappoint!

We follow the titular scientist Emily, who has devoted her professional (and, let's be real, entire) life to exploring faeries and their mysteries. Her big goal is to write and publish a comprehensive Encyclopaedia, to further her personal success in the field and the field in general. So, to add a couple of chapters, she travels to a small town off the coast of Norway to research species that haven't been throughly documented thus far.

I'm a big sucker for the subgenre of "women doing research into mythical beings". I love the scientific approach to things we consider to be magic, and I usually end up being a fan of the odd things that happen along the way. Emily obviously becomes deeply entangled into the rich lore and internal politics of the local faeries, supported by her trusty canine companion Shadow. AN ANIMAL SIDEKICK!!! Another thing I can never get enough from. Joining her is her academic rival/only friend/very odd and slightly suspicious colleague Wendell Bambleby, who I unsurprisingly also really enjoyed. Their dynamic of antisocial, awkward scholar with a secret heart of gold meeting outgoing, vain and actually less morally just than his many admirers may believe just really did it for me. It was like grumpy/sunshine both ways.
And Shadow... he's just an absolute showstopper. I love him.

All in all, I really enjoyed the reading experience, and I am intrigued to see where the sequel will take this story. I felt rather satisfied with the way things wrapped up, so we will see where this goes!

3.5 rounded to 4.

I found this one a little unusual, its not the norm and I loved that. I appreciated the writing style and I loved the quirky-ness and cosy feel that this read brought me.

I enjoyed the progression throughout and I am a sucker for a romance and it was well played out. I did find our protagonist Emily was a little away with the fairies when I was questioning her choices, her attention to detail, given her life work was a little sparse and she was just un-observant. That was frustrating.

I look forward to seeing what's next though, its an interesting concept and format and I just loved the detailed descriptions and how each species is portrayed.