I want to first thank NetGalley and Little Brown Book for the opportunity of reviewing this book.
The first thing I've got to say is that this wasn't a book for me. There's nothing wrong with it, it just didn't appeal to me. But let's start by saying t what the book is really about. Emily Wilde is a Cambridge professor; "she is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world's first encyclopaedia of faerie lore". So, she heads to Hrafnsvik where she will meet new folks alongside "her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby".
In terms of narration, for someone who usually hates to read books narrated as journals, it was a nice surprise to actually like it. On another note, I didn't like how little the reader could appreciate action, which is one of the reasons I tend to dislike journal narrations. On the other hand, I didn't get to connect much with the characters. And the action was interesting but it just came very much at the end and very easily resolved.
This book was too slow for my liking and there were very few descriptions that really caught my attention; hence the three stars. But like I mentioned before, this wasn't a book for me; just like I didn't enjoy the humour of the novel, I didn´t particularly like the characters.
That being said, if you are into slow cozy fantasy books with low stakes and light romance this is your book.

If any of the following appeal, pick up this book:
- light academia
- Cottagecore
- Fae
- Cosy fantasy
- Atmospheric writing
- Fantasy Romance
- Grumpy x sunshine where she’s the grumpy one

Synopsis:

Taking a field trip to Hrafsvik to continue her study of faeries, Emily is determined to complete her encyclopaedia which could be groundbreaking in the academic study of dryadology.
But Emily’s strong suit is books and research, not people.
And as if her rocky start with the town’s people wasn’t bad enough, her persistently charming and aggravating handsome rival, Wendell Bambleby, decides to arrive.
Working together Emily and Wendell attempt to piece together the secrets of the Hidden Ones, while exploring their partnership and hearts.


This was beautifully written and a perfect winter read to curl up with. It was atmospheric, lyrical and full of whimsy.

I can see how this might not be for everyone as it has very flowery language and a Howl Pendragon type love interest, but I loved that as it felt accurate to Emily’s distinct voice and they complimented each other well.

(This will come as a surprise to no one who knows me, but I love Anne of Green Gables with my whole heart so know I don’t say this lightly, this has a strong Anne and Gilbert dynamic)!

The world building was intricate and reminded me a lot of Margaret Rogerson’s books and the A Natural History of Dragons series.

Emily is also autistic-coded which was really nice to see!

🧚🏽‍♀️BOOK TOUR REVIEW🧚🏽‍♀️

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by @heather_fawcett

Huge thanks to @thebookdealer over at Compulsive Readers for having me along for the tour and to @orbitbooks_uk and Heather for my #gifted copy of the book.

When I think of Faeries I think of lovely creatures like the ones in Disney’s Fantasia who fly about adding beauty to the world and are essentially good. Talk about a Disney-fied view of the Faerie world. But after reading this book I now know that not all faeries are good, some are in fact not only bad in a mischievous way but also in a dangerous capacity.

The undercurrent of secrecy and tight ranks of the villagers of Hrafnsvik adds a lot of tension to the book and Emily’s Fae seem to be the cause of this.

I really enjoyed the story from Wendell’s entrance and his and Emily’s friendship and interactions is cause for several laughs throughout the book.

I would say that the format of journal entries wasn’t always a great way to ‘view’ the story as I would have liked a bit more information rather than what sometimes felt like a summary of the events. I’m wondering if it would be better in this e parts as an audio.

Overall I did enjoy the characters and the story and would definitely be interested in book 2.

#Faeries #EncyclopediaOfFaeries #EmilyWilde #Fae #FantasyBook #ReadAndReview #BookReview #Bookish #Bookstagram #PrettyBooks #FairylootEdition

Written as a journal, the adventure slowly unfolded as she travels to the cold depths of Norway to study the elusive Hidden Ones for her project. This gave them the opportunity to find out about her as a character through her actions and thoughts. Highly focused, scholarly and straightforward, it was fun to read a strong personality with such dedication to her field who thinks differently with surprising results. I related to her attraction to books, journaling and nature, solitude over social interaction, her in-depth curiosity and she understood why studying the fae became priority. The more I read, the more Emily Wilde became her literary hero. She had worked hard and nothing would get in her way. In Emily’s journals, her reasonings, flaws and social floundering were in full display. And her hatred for Wendell.

Wendell Bambleby was Emily’s opposite, and seen through her eyes it took a while to warm to him but with a flamboyant attitude, charisma and love of homely decor and fashion, he became a character to love and root for whatever his secrets. His unrequited love for her provides humour, chemistry and clashes. It was a joy to watch this slow, subtle romance and attraction grow.

Every character was well-developed, including side ones from the village, so was easy to be immersed in the comings and goings of the village, the horror of fae abductions and attacks. The Faeries themselves have personality, depth and a darkness seen in fairy tales of old, not the sanitised Disney versions.

Highly imaginative in characterisation, plot and setting, the small details gave this story heart. The wintery Norwegian location was an ideal place for the investigations for its landscape and otherworldly atmosphere. The freezing temperature emanated from the page the further Emily’s investigations took her, so lots of hot beverages were required while drinking. I didn't want this book to end and excited to see its part of a series.

This beautiful, heart-warming fantasy has everything needed for a magical tale exploring the dark world of the faeries and self-discovery; immersive worldbuilding, humour, mystery, drama and soul. More, please!

Thanks to Little Brown Books, Netgalley and Heather Fawcett for providing me with an arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed the way the story was written, the characters were great. Whilst it wasn't enemies to lovers, it did give me a similar vibe with the academic rivals situation, and I am a big fan of that trope.

I loved that the fae were more wild and less human too - it was just refreshing, really.

Would love to see a sequel!

Absolutely adored this, loveable characters and awesome storyline.

This type of fair folk is my favourite as well, not close to human, wild and inviting.

Cute as heck slow burn kinda friends (academic rivals) to something, Wendell has some real Will Herondale vibes which I’m here for.

More please!!!

This book did not disappoint at all!!

I had such high expectations also considering my friends all loved it and I’m so glad I did love it too indeed.

The story was just amazing
The characters were so well built that I had not complain or whatsoever

Thank you Netgalley and Litlle, Brown Book Group UK, Orbit for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

With this book, I had no idea at first what it was about and where the story would go. This was a very soft and lovely story about faeries that really spoke to me. Additionally, I loved the research aspect of the story and how it was told and highlighted

The story follows Emily Wilde as she takes the last part of her research journey before she completes her encyclopaedia of faeries. She is a driven researcher who wants to contribute to science for science. She goes all the way north in search of the elusive Hidden Ones, never before documented. There she starts the last part of her research journey for her encyclopaedia and the first part of the rest of her journey.

This fantasy story has kept me engaged from the first page to the very last page. Heather has passion and emotion in her writing that kept me hooked. This book was lovely, intriguing and a version of faeries I had not read before. I can definitely recommend it and am curious as to what Heather Fawcett comes up with next.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley UK in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wonderfully whimsical, magical, and cosy fantasy book that I could not put down! Emily, our scholarly and (seemingly) cold and detached academic makes a wonderful protagonist and the journalistic writing style of the book does really well at conveying Emily’s POV. There’s some great character development as Emily discovers the power of community. I loved that the romance wasn’t the main plot of the book yet it still provided us with some adorable moments and sets us up for (hopefully) a sequel!

I will definitely be picking this book up again for another read through, and I’m already eagerly anticipating any sequels that may be planned!

Dark academia is OUT, cosy whimsical academia is IN // 4,5 stars

I thought I was going to like this book, but I didn't expect to love it as much as I did. Emily's story kind of reminded me of A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan, which also features a female academic doing fieldwork on magical creatures while also trying to navigate the social world (which is much more dangerous obvs), but where Isabella tries to fit in Emily is fully okay being herself in the corner, and I really enjoyed that she was just fully throwing herself into the fairies, weird little town be damned. The slightly academic and sometimes a little detached writing style really fit Emily as a character, which I liked, and I found her an extremely relatable MC, as well as a funny and enjoyable one.

And SPEAKING OF PEOPLE WHO ENJOY EMILY you know I've got to talk about Wendell Brambleby (unappealing name but hear me out), he's my new favourite incarnation of this type of character (trying to be vague to avoid spoilers ifykyk). It was hilarious that he was so clearly obsessed with our girl from page 1 (same), which was all starkly related to us by Emily, who absolutely Did Not See It. I think he has a glorious future ahead of him as Emily's trophy husband, altering her dresses and making her living spaces cosy, and he would 100% agree on this point.

If you're someone who enjoys a fast-paced, highly plot-driven book, this is may not be the story for you. You spend a lot of time traipsing through the Scandinavian wilderness and trying to make sense of the townsfolk with Emily, which I personally enjoyed a lot, and I was actually kind of disappointed when the more plot-driven part of this book kicked in in the last 100 pages or so (what I was really invested in was Emily's attempt to write in a tavern (mood) while Wendell constantly rearranged the cottage, idk what that says about me). All in all, though, this was a delightful experience, and I found myself laughing out loud throughout the book. Would recommend.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries is an enchanting dark and whimsical tale combining a delightful mix of fantasy and history, with a sprinkling of romance and mystery. The atmosphere and magical feel of the book is heightened by the beautiful snowy setting.

The main protagonist is such an interesting character, Emily Wilde is intelligent, strong and fearless but she’s also a loner, preferring her own company as she struggles with social interactions and conversation. It was a delight watching her character grow and overcome many of these difficulties as the story progressed. Some of her interactions with Wendell Brambleby are hilarious and she gives back as good as she gets. I enjoyed this love-hate relationship and the fact they’re academic rivals, with completely contrasting personalities. The romance, however, is kept quite light and although it blossoms slowly in the background there are so many other elements going on in the story.

I haven’t read a faery themed book quite like this before, it’s from an unusual perspective and really quite unique. The writing is superb, with beautiful prose, descriptions and some wonderful little humorous moments. I’m looking forward to reading the next book.

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC via Netgalley and for sending me a gifted copy of this beautiful book to review.

5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Initial Thoughts
Everything about this book was perfection. I loved the format, the characters, the magic and the banter. I didn't want it to end.

What's great about this book?
- I thoroughly enjoyed Emily as our narrator. She's strong-willed, intelligent, eager to achieve results and expects a level of performance from herself that I quite enjoyed (aka, the perfectionist and academic in me revelled in her similar mannerisms). I also liked that initially she didn't want to rely on others, and didn't understand the importance of making connections outside of her academic studies in the beginning. During her stay in Hrafnsvik, she came to learn more about herself and how to work in a community, and I enjoyed this character growth. It didn't diminish her strong opinions any, but she adapted, made friends, and realised she can't do it all by herself (even if she wishes to do just that).
- Wendell is a delight and I loved him from the first moment we hear about him. His cheeky inserts to the journal over time were helpful, both with getting to see the situation and Emily from another perspective. Their banter was the best thing, and whilst I guessed early on about his heritage, I thoroughly enjoyed the process of uncovering it and what it led to. His complaintive nature over the smallest issues compared to Emily's lack of letting much hold her back was a great contrast.
- I admit I was a little dubious that the story was told from journal entries at first, but I came to love this writing device. It meant we didn't have to spend time needlessly in areas to set up things and could skip parts of the day or full days where needed. But it equally had plenty of story-telling and world-building that made this balance of journal entries as opposed to other types of narration setups work well for this book.
- The magical system of the Folk was darkly enchanting, and I enjoyed it all, but I preferred the lighter moments, such as the time spent with Poe, and how different courts and species existed under the label of the Fae. I found it fascinating, especially when Emily was so knowledgeable on how to best them or work alongside them, despite some having a complete disregard for her intelligence due to being a mere human.
- I briefly mentioned it above, but the world-building was amazing. I think this would make the most perfect cosy autumn/winter read, especially with how unforgiving the weather is in Hrafnsvik. The village is described well, much as the forest surrounding it, and it felt easy to imagine and get immersed in.
- The romance, whilst a subplot, worked well in among all that was happening. I loved the slow pace of it brewing constantly in the background, and how rewarding it was at the end.
- I liked the side characters and the storylines they added to this world too.

Things I didn't quite enjoy
- It did feel a little towards the end like things would just resolve with one thing and the next immediately followed, but given Emily's nature, and that the journal dates work to show time is passing, this is such a small issue that it hardly deters from the nature of the read. It was just mildly exhausting to have so much adrenaline after long pockets of simple navigation of the woods or township.

Final thoughts
This was my first time reading something by Heather Fawcett, and I couldn't stop raving to anyone who would listen as I did so. I highly recommend this book and will be checking out others written by the author.

I really loved this book. It was really fun - it put a huge smile on my face. It’s quirky and clever and not at all what I expected to be. The story is told in the format of a diary, which I thought worked great. It’s fast-paced, too - there aren’t many dull moments to pause in this book.

The worldbuilding in this book is really solid - complex, but still easy to follow. The descriptions of the faeries were really magical as well as being unnerving; there was a general, pervasive sense of foreboding running through the whole book that gave it an edge I didn’t expect. There were some genuinely scary moments in this book, ranging from unsettling to actually horrific. There were a few scenes that were downright chilling and will stay with me for a long time.

But it wasn’t all creepy - in fact, there was a warmth to this book that was a nice contrast to the sinister nature of the faeries. The way Emily came to know the villagers, her friend Poe, and of course, her relationship with Rendell, was all done in a really lovely way.

Emily was a great character - she was so practical and sensible, and I liked that her tendency towards being cold allowed her to stay calm and rationalise situations in a way that other characters were not able to. She was also really brave! I loved how bold some of her choices were and I really rooted for her. Wendell was a good love interest for her. I loved his changeable nature over his unpredictability, and how this changed over the course of the book; he was chaotic and messy as well as being charming, and I liked how clear his affection was for her. Their relationship, even outside of the slow-burn romance, was quite sweet: their friendship felt genuine and I loved how well they knew and understood one another.

I just really, really loved reading it. It was exciting, well-written, gripping, with a good set of interesting, fleshed-out characters. The spookier, horror elements were woven well into the story, and there was a real sense of magic about the book that made it a joy to read. I couldn’t recommend this enough, truly; if you want to read a historic fantasy with a slow-burn, rivals-to-friends-to-lovers romance subplot, then this is definitely for you. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book.

Content Notes: Violence, kidnap, imprisonment, death, blood, injuries, self-inflicted amputation, mind control.
Review published on Goodreads: 17/01/2023

The protagonist of the story is Emily Wilde, a Cambridge professor and a worldwide expert on dryadology, the study of faeries. The story is set at the beginning of the 1900s, and, because she is a woman, Emily must prove twice as much as her male colleagues her value and her knowledge. Emily is working on a comprehensive encyclopaedia of faeries, the first of its kind, so she travels around the world researching. Her next trip is to Ljosland, an isolated island situated in the wild seas between the Norwegian and the Arctic Circle coasts.

While Emily is highly intelligent and really good at her job, she is not good at socialising or talking to people in general, so she manages to antagonize the villagers of Hrafnsvik on her first day there. And when her charming, handsome, and yet frustrating colleague and only friend, Wendell Bambleby, arrives to help her, things get much more interesting. Emily is focused on her research for the mysterious species of faerie known as “Hidden Ones”, and, as secrets are unravelled, she will have to figure out what she really wants…

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Fairies is an incredible story. I was completely engrossed in the writing style, the story, and the amazing characters. Emily is a unique character and I loved her. Socially awkward, smart, witty, and determined, she travels followed by her loyal dog Shadow and her many books. She has always been obsessed with fairies and she’s made her life mission to uncover their secrets, no matter the dangers. I enjoyed her relationship with Wendell and their slow-blooming romance, but he is keeping secrets. What happens when she uncovers them?

At the beginning of the story, Emily declares that she intends to give an honest account of her activities, so the story is told in first person in diary format which I really loved as it makes for a different and fantastic reading experience. Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Fairies is a cosy, magical, intricate, and engrossing academic fantasy debut, the beginning of a series that I can’t wait to keep reading.

I adored this book. I was so excited to get this arc and also thrilled when Fairyloot had it as their adult pick! If you love a slow burn then you know what book to pick up. The amount of knowledge this book has on the fae was immense and I am here for that. I can see how some found Emily hard to like/understand, but there would not be many people who would happily live by themselves for long periods of time exploring for the fae. I adored this book and I am so excited for the next one in the series!

Characters – 9/10
Our main character, Emily, is a bit of a prickly scholar who has a hard time making friends and reading people. I related to her so hard, and I found it a joy to read from her perspective. She’s intelligent and dedicated to her work, even if that makes her a little overzealous. I just loved everything about her. And I loved everything about Bambleby. He’s the chaos to Emily’s order and I am absolutely here for their dynamic.

Atmosphere – 8/10
This book is told as a series of diary entries, or rather, scholarly notes, and I had a blast reading it. The worldbuilding is amazing as far as the faeries and their mythology is concerned. It would be amazing if the print version includes some sketches and excerpts from the mythology. I also loved the setting of Ljosland. If you enjoy polar fantasy, this one is definitely for you.

Writing – 8/10
I enjoyed the writing, and the pacing was very consistent. I finished this book in a few sittings, and at one point I could not stop reading. I definitely need a physical copy so I can highlight all the banter between Emily and Bambleby.

Plot – 7/10
My one big complaint is that the winter king conflict felt unfinished, but perhaps it’s being saved for future books. I’m eager to see where it goes from here.

Intrigue – 7/10
This story is a light on the romance, which is by no means a bad thing. I really loved how Emily and Bambleby’s relationship played out. I just wish we had more clarity about where they stood at the end of the book. I believe it will do well enough to get a sequel, so I hope some of the unanswered questions get answered.

Logic – 7/10
As with anything to do with the fae, the magic system can be a bit nonsensical. Fae play by their own rules and hardly ever explain anything, which makes writing a magic system difficult. I did enjoy how magic and the fae were used in this book though. Their existence in this world is entirely natural, and because we’re following a scholar we get to see more of what makes them tick.

Enjoyment – 8/10
I’ve been wary of the cozy fantasy trend that’s been happening, as I usually like my fantasy books to have high stakes. However, I’m not disappointed that I picked this book up. I had the best time reading it, it was like a warm hug. I don’t know if this book counts as light academia, but I think it should. It was just an all-around good time.

I didn’t request many books in 2022, but Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries seemed like something that would totally be up my alley as I read many cozy Fantasy books recently, and that’s clearly been a theme with me. I went in absolutely blind as I didn’t know much about the book, or the author, although I’ve seen people singing praises about it on my feed. I, however, had no expectations and that’s always nice. And while I can’t say that I loved it, I certainly was entertained by it. Whether I’ll pick up the later books in the series…well, I didn’t quite decide yet.

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries is set on a small Northern European island, in a small village, where Emily arrives to do research on the Hidden Ones. Emily’s been fascinated by the Folk all her life and thus she decided to become an accomplished academic and compile an Encyclopaedia of everything that is known about the Folk. She only needs one more chapter, and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get herself immersed in some fieldwork. But working with people as an introvert is not really an easy thing to do. Especially if a very annoying person shows up practically unannounced and decides to stay for the long term.

But let’s start with what worked for me. The writing style, definitely. It’s clear that Fawcett has considerable skills in waving a story. I enjoyed all the bits about the fae, the folklore, and the included tales that added to the atmosphere without being info-dumpy. The pacing was also pretty good, there weren’t any dragging parts and Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries is not a fast-paced book, to begin with. The plot was engaging, although the ending felt a bit underwhelming somehow, I couldn’t exactly say, why. Maybe because everything gets solved a bit too easily, and solutions present themselves very readily. Plus, if we scratch at the surface a bit harder, then we might find that this book didn’t really have the depth one would expect from such extensive lore as the Folk can claim as theirs.

I think what stopped me from loving this book, were the characters. Especially Emily. I didn’t really like her, if I’m being honest. I kept wondering if I was *supposed* to like her. And I’m not at all sure. She is certainly headstrong, capable, smart, and has no people skills. Which is all too familiar. She has a lot of characteristics I also have and which I don’t like about myself. Even though they are not necessarily bad characteristics. It’s just that it’s too close to home which stopped me from bonding with her. But she does a bit of growing as a person throughout the book, which is pretty neat to see. Whether she has more to her, well… I can’t say for sure.

The rest of the characters, interesting as some of them were, remained kind of one-dimensional, and not as well fleshed-out as I would have liked. Although they all have their own sometimes gruesome stories to tell, it’s clear there is something mysterious going on in the village. Interestingly, I had fewer issues with Wendell as a character. Sure, he is annoying and self-centered, but the little bits written from his POV were the best. He seems a much more intriguing narrator than Emily herself. And has a much more fascinating background story as well, which doesn’t get explored nearly enough, although later books would provide plenty of opportunities.

As for the chemistry between Emily and Wendell, well… I don’t think there was much. While I understand where Emily was coming from, being uncomfortable with positive attention myself, often it felt like she was just unnecessarily cold/unfair. Like, I get it, banter’s great, I should know, it’s my love language after all, but it really didn’t work all that well between these two.

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries is an ambitious entry into this new series that I’m sure will find its audience. It’s perfect for curling up with on a cold winter night in a cozy nest of blankets if you want to get away for a couple of hours. It might didn’t wowed me, but it still has a charm that readers who like stories about the Folk will appreciate.

Once in a while you come across a book which is a perfect intersection in the Venn diagram of your reading tastes. I saw this recommended by historical romance writer Martha Waters and it absolutely did not disappoint. I’d recently wondered whether Evie Dunmore would have another book soon (- I like the modern sass of her historical romances). I’d also just reminded myself that I should re-read Melissa Marr’s urban faerie story Wicked Lovely as it is sublime. And, in that way that the book universe sometimes has, this book randomly crosses my path; a romance, set in 1909, about a Cambridge academic researching faeries. Perfect.
Emily and Wendell are charming in their flaws, I loved them immediately and now crave a graphic novel of this too, so I can properly see them. Just colleagues at first, they bicker with each other like old friends and truly see each other, warts and all. It was impossible not to cheer for their attraction. Fawcett describes the harsh environment of Ljosland beautifully, its Nordic nature lending itself perfectly to the veil of the Winter fae court. Being an expert on faeries, Emily brings facts about the fae of the world neatly to the reader without it becoming cumbersome, as she seeks to complete her Encyclopaedia. I delighted in her smart thinking when it came to dealing with the fickle Folk. Socially awkward Emily is a quiet, adaptive, cerebral hero and I loved her for it. This book is an absolute joy and I’m already wondering whether Fawcett will have a sequel out soon. Fingers crossed.

I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. However, I did really enjoy reading it. The depth of knowledge of 'Faerie' was extraordinary, the range of creatures described and the worlds they inhabited was hugely magical for the reader, and yes there was some elements of darkness to them - highlighting that 'fairy magic' is not all childplay.
The character of Emily I must admit was hard to like to begin with, but this book, its characters and its plot, is definitely a slow burn, and I think Wendell's appearance in the story was much needed. I definitely feel there's more to come from this world!

**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **

In a Nutshell: An entertaining and quirky read that will work well for fantasy readers. Well-carved characters, interesting writing. Gets a bit dark at times.

Story Synopsis:
1909. Thirty-year-old Cambridge Professor Dr. Emily Wilde lives life with a single-minded purpose – she wishes to complete her encyclopaedia of Faerie Folk and does all she can to complete this goal, even if it means suffering the company of other people, the most irritating of whom is her colleague and rival Wendell Bambleby.
When she arrives in the remote village of Hrafnsvik, she has no desire to mingle with its denizens. However, soon she realises that Hrafnsvik is full of Fae mysteries and to unlock them, she needs the support of its residents. When the ever-charming Bambleby also turns up at the village, Emily knows she has to make some tough choices.
The story comes to use through Emily’s (first person) entries in the journal she maintains as a part of her research.

Where the book worked for me:
😍 The story has appealing characters who are detailed out really well. Emily might be tough for some to like, but her introverted nature and her passion for organising and planning her work list made me feel rather close to her. Wendell is beyond description – he starts off as a self-obsessed snoot but his character starts peeling off its layers quite interestingly as the story progresses. Many of the village folk, while in small roles, have equally interesting character arcs. Can’t forget Emily’s pet canine Shadow – he’s adorable!
😍 Emily is a stubborn and demanding social recluse while Wendell is her exact opposite. Yet the two of them have a connection that is tough to resist. I loved their repartee and their easy camaraderie despite resistance from Emily’s side. I hope the next book in the series takes their arc ahead well without becoming clichéd.
😍 There are also plenty of lore characters in the story, not all of whom are commonly seen in this genre. They add a fabulous touch of magic to the proceedings. Mind you, things do get dark at times but not so much as would creep you out.
😍 I appreciate Emily’s journals being used as a narrative device. While this approach leads to some foreshadowing of what happened that day, it also ensures a focussed narration due to Emily’s very nature. There is not much focus on descriptions, but there is enough of it to make the little village come alive in our minds.
😍 As the first of a series, the book ends really well. The important arcs are closed, and yet we have an inclination of where the story might go next. No cliffhangers.
😍 Some plot developments caught me unawares but the author handled the unexpected nicely. It feels nice to be surprised when you aren’t expecting any deviations from the norm.
😍 The book is somewhat slow-paced, but the plot was such that I didn’t even feel like speed-reading. Every scene contributes to the story in some way or another.


Where the book could have worked better for me:
😑 There are a couple of folktales in between and at the end. These took away from the tempo of the main plot. (I did love the stories; I just wish they weren’t bang in the middle of the story we were invested in.)
😑 This is a complaint you will hardly ever hear me make. I wanted more of the romance! (Okay, okay, I know this isn’t marketed as a romance, but c’mon! It was like being offered a scrumptious cake but getting only one lick of it. I am hungry for more!)

All in all, despite the somewhat roundabout pacing, I loved the story for its characters and its writing approach. I’m definitely on board for the next in the series. Can’t wait to see where the author leads Emily and Wendell!

4.25 stars.

My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for the DRC of “Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.