The second installment in Heather Fawcett's charming series follows Emily Wilde into the Alps and on another fast-paced adventure. I loved how we continue to see Emily and Wendell's relationship develop, as well as introducing some fun new side characters. I'm always impressed by how well-developed all the characters are despite the fact that we pretty much only get Emily's unreliable narrative perspective. My only gripe is that the ''journal'' format really pushed my suspension of disbelief a bit too far this time around. While I can believe that Emily would be annotating her own journals (I love that!), I really wish this book would trust its readers a bit more and pull back on the heavy-handed exposition--it feels so out of place in a journal format. That being said, this was a really enjoyable cozy-day read, and I'm looking forward to the next book.

“One of the guiding principles of dryadology,” I said, “is this: do not cross the sort of Folk who make collections of human body parts.”

My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group U.K. Orbit for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands’ by Heather Fawcett.

This is the sequel to ‘Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries’ (2023) and continues the adventures of Emily Wilde, the foremost expert on the study of the Hidden Folk, and her infuriatingly charming fellow scholar, Wendell Bambleby.

As this is a continuous story I would suggest that it is best to read them in order for continuity. In addition, I don’t wish to stray into spoiler territory for Book 1 for those who may not have yet read it - so just a brief overview.

Emily’s new project is the creation of a map of the realms of faerie. This takes her to the picturesque Austrian Alps. She is accompanied by Wendell and her niece, Ariadne, who had arrived in Cambridge with a deep-rooted love for dryadology. Ariadne is now serving as Emily’s research assistant. The project involves unraveling the mysterious workings of faerie doors. Many adventures follow.

I was pleased to reunite with these characters, including Emily’s canine companion, Shadow. In addition to the enthusiastic Ariadne we are also introduced to Wendell’s cat, Orga.

Heather Fawcett skilfully blends horror with whimsy, including some fantastic action sequences along the way. Emily’s wry observations in her journal were a pleasure to read.

Overall, I found ‘Emily Wilde's’ Map of the Otherlands’ a worthy sequel to the first book. Again, it was well written and full of fascinating faerie lore. As I reached its final page I was pleased to see the statement: ‘The story of Emily Wilde and Wendell Bambleby will continue in Book 3’. Hurrah!

What a book. I really enjoyed this and the atmospheric cozy vibes it gave me. I love how it teeters on scary and funny and lovely all at once. Definitely worth reading if you loved book 1. Emily and Wendell are just 👌🏻👌🏻. Really loved reading this and I took my time with it because I genuinely didn’t want it to end and I don’t want to binge read it and miss anything. It’s a belter!

My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK, Orbit, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. It was one I was so excited to read!

In "Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands," Heather Fawcett invites readers on an extraordinary journey that transcends the boundaries of imagination. A sequel to her first work, "Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries", the novel picks up where the first left off, and is a testament to Fawcett's storytelling prowess, creating an enchanting narrative through Emily's journal entries that captivates readers.

Told in a series of first-person journal entries alongside the protagonist's research, the novel is set in the early 1900s in a world where the fae (faeries) exist, the novel's protagonist, Emily Wilde, is on a 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 working on a new project at the same time: a map of the various faerie realms known to humans.

As a reader, I found myself enchanted by Fawcett's exquisite prose and the vibrancy of the Otherlands. The opening to the book was engaging and caught my attention straight away. Emily is a relatable protagonist, one whom I found myself readily identifying with throughout the novel, and both Wendell and Emily are characters I easily fell in love with. That her story is presented through first-person journal entries also feels quite unique and pleasing to read in a world saturated with fantasy novels.

However, while I found the side characters enchanting in this book, I also wish that a bit more focus had been devoted to them. Also, the pacing felt a little off to me, becoming a little slow-going about halfway through after an attention-grabbing opening, until it picks back up once more in the last quarter of the book.

In the realm of fantasy, "Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands" stands shoulder to shoulder with heavy-hitters in the genre, such as Holly Black's "Folk of the Air" series. Fawcett's work is distinguished by its unique format of first-person journal entries, and an imaginative depth that rivals the most beloved tales of magical realms.

This book comes highly recommended for readers who enjoy well-written fantasy in a different format to typical fantasy novels. "Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands" is a delightful journey that beckons to the adventurer in all of us, offering a respite in a world where the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary.

Heather Fawcett has crafted a literary gem with "Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands." I sincerely hope that Fawcett will continue writing books in this world because I would be incredibly happy to read more adventures in this world. A resounding five stars for a book that not only invites readers into a fantastical realm but also leaves them with a treasure trove of imagination.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, and I’m pleased to report that I LOVED this sequel. Everything I enjoyed about the first book is heightened, the sense of academia, the exploration of the world of Fae, Emily’s relationship with Wendell - it’s pitch perfect and made for such a fun reading experience.

When Wendall is attacked and harmed by faeries that burst into Cambridge, Emily, her niece Adrienne, a fellow scholar Rose, and Wendall himself set off to the Austrian alps to try and find a hidden door into the fae world, to put a stop to the attacks - and maybe solve the mystery of two scholars, who went missing decades ago, along the way.

Emily is such a brilliant character - she’s headstrong, smart, always thinking on her feet, boldly surging forward on her quest for knowledge, and to help the people she cares about. Wendall, being more laid back and achingly charismatic, is the perfect match for her, and they play off of each other so well. The dynamic between the two is just so fun. The new secondary characters made for good additions to the story, and Poe makes a few welcome returns.

There’s so much trickery and mischief to the faeries in this world - these books are touted as ‘cosy’ fantasy, and, while they’re incredibly charming, the threats are so incredibly real (and so are the consequences!) that I do still find myself on the edge of my seat, while the characters attempt to untangle the mysteries they find.

The writing is beautiful, which really excels in selling this world, and the pacing of the story was perfect. The journal writing mechanic remains, although this time it’s more of a way for Emily process information, as she got into the habit of writing while researching her encyclopaedia - which means it gets a little bit juicer, as she doesn’t really intend for anyone else to read it.

If you enjoyed the first one, then rest assured, that this is every bit as good (and, in my eyes, even better) as the first book. I cannot wait for book three, and to see just what, exactly, awaits Emily and Wendall next.

Thank you to the publishers, and Netgalley, for the copy to review.

Title: Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands 🍄
Author: Heather Fawcett
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was so excited when I got accepted as a ARC reviewer for this book as I enjoyed the first one so much. This book is honestly such a cosy read, following on from Emily & Wendell’s story in the first book Emily Wilde’s encyclopaedia of faeries.

In this book we see Emily & others searching for the fairy door back into Wendell’s kingdom and I am so happy we finally got to see what this kingdom looks like. I for one, absolutely cannot wait to see more of this in the next book!

Wendell is still my favourite character but we are introduced to a few new interesting characters in this book who definitely add to the plot 💝

I will definitely be buying the paperback copy of this to add to my bookcase as I think my daughter will love reading these stories in a few years!

If you love a cute fantasy read then give this series a go!

I was looking forward to diving into this sequel, as I was captivated by the original approach to fairy beings and the characters of Emily and Wendell. What makes this approach original is that the fairy beings are seen from a scientific point of view, as the protagonists are researchers (called dryadologists in the book). Their romantic relationship remains largely in the background, which I personally appreciate very much.

The book picks up exactly where the previous one left off, with Emily and Wendell in Cambridge. Emily is engaged in a search for a door leading to Wendell's kingdom, and literature suggests it may be in the Austrian Alps. The place names and references are invented. The greatest expert in this field, the scientist de Grey, has disappeared while searching for the same door. So, Emily decides to follow her trail together with Wendell and two new characters: her niece Ariadne (I don't remember if she was introduced in the first book) and the head of the department, Rose.

The story continues to be narrated like a diary, but it felt more like a fluid first-person narration. I don't know if it was because the chapters were longer than in the first book or if the tone was slightly different. Being in tune with Emily, I enjoyed seeing the events from her point of view. However, the characterisation of secondary characters such as Ariadne and Rose was rather shallow and they come across as flat, especially Ariadne. Rose, on the other hand, had more personality.

The pace of the story was rather slow in the first half, while in the second half it became more frenetic and somewhat rushed. The delicate writing, lively exchanges and cosy atmosphere made up for these aspects for me. I enjoyed seeing characters like little Poe and one of the villagers in Iceland again through a letter. Poe remained in my heart with this book.

In conclusion, this is a short and entertaining fantasy read, ideal for cold days. If you love scientist protagonists who are a bit eccentric and willing to put themselves in dangerous situations for the sake of science and their curiosity, and appreciate a view of fairies that goes beyond the seductive aspect, you might like this book.

P.S. I hope for a spin-off prequel about Wendell's past and his history and evolution as a character. I also hope the next book is set in Greece and comes out in the summer 😜

It was a cozy, light read, and very enjoyable. The academic vibes grab you in an instant and the writer's style is whimsical and magical.
It has had action and pause times perfectly ordered so that the pace of the book is pleasant.
I love the characters and how Wendell and Emily complement each other. I'm really looking forward to reading the third one.
I would recommend it to anyone who is in the mood for a light and enjoyable fantasy book with dark academia and cozy fantasy vibes.

After her escape from the icy court in Ljosland, Emily Wilde is settling back into life as the pre-eminent scholar of Faerie at Cambridge University. Despite Wendell proposing on a regular basis Emily is reluctant to marry a faerie king, even one in exile, but she is keen to help him discover the door back to his lands. Therefore the pair travel to the Alps ostensibly to look for a missing academic, alongside Emily's boss, the annoying Professor Rose and her niece. When Wendell is poisoned by an assassin Emily risks it all to travel into Ireland and confront his evil stepmother.
The first novel in this series I loved. It's not really what I would normally read and I was drawn in by the beautiful cover illustration then hooked by the prose. Here the story takes up from the first with new characters and new faeries to discover. Emily is terrific heroine, flaws and all, and the narrative bounces along. It's thoroughly entertaining, light and joyful reading - even down to the faerie cat and dog!

Contents:
In the second book of the series we follow Emily and Wendell into the Austrian Alps on their quest to find the door to Wendell’s realm. Unfortunately that search turns out to be more difficult than anticipated, as they are not only haunted by a weird spectre with ribbons in his pockets but also hunted by assassin’s sent by Wendell's stepmother out to kill him. To find the door and protect Wendell, Emily must use her wit and all she knows about faerie and its inhabitants. Will she succeed or will she fall prey to the confusions and dangerous inhabitants of faerie she encounters?

The first book in this series already didn’t convince me completely, though I loved the Ljosland community and Poe, but the second book was no improvement. Let me explain why. First of all, I still love the intricate world of faerie and wished we would see more about it, though there was definitely more in this book than in the first, which was great. I like all the different kinds of creatures Emily encounters on her journey and wish there would have been a little more room for them. The local community on the other hand got almost no room in the book and even though she befriends other common fae, it doesn't reach the levels of book one.

What did not work for me was a) the journal-style and b) the relationship between Wendell and Emily. The writing itself in its journal style is fine, intelligent, well thought-out, with interesting facts and footnotes. I just find it unlikely how detailed the dialogues are in her journal and every time a little action was finally happening, it was either thwarted by the slow, matter-of-fact journaling style or skipped altogether to be rattled off in a kind of report afterwards. I also find it a very convenient cop-out that Emily forgets much of what happened in fairy due to the enchantments. That saves the author from a lot of world-building and imaginative descriptions, kinda disappointing.

If the relationships of the core characters was fleshed out enough to sustain the book on its own, I might be able to overlook the rest, but unfortunately, for me it doesn’t work at all. Wendell is always said to be oh so charming, but on the page I mostly see him complaining, being childish, spoilt and annoying. He also frequently violates her boundaries. If they are so different and are criticising each other all the time, why would they want to be in a relationship? I also don’t like how self-critical Emily is all the time about her supposedly missing social skills. If that’s just not who she is, that’s fine, we don’t all have to be social creatures!

So if you enjoyed the first book and found Emily and Wendell a believable couple you will probably also enjoy book two. For me it wasn’t fantastic and I’m still unsure whether I want to continue the series. Nevertheless thanks to Little, Brown and Netgalley for the ARC!

I received a free copy from Netgalley all opinions are my own.
3,5 stars

So I really loved the first book, and have been looking forward to the sequel.

The books are very similar, the writing style and the vibe.
I was a little bored, but it's just because Emily is an intellectual and possibly has some autism trades. So the matter of fact and emotionless voice we get from Emily didn't totally pull me in.

I could do without Rose and Ariadne.
Overall it wasn't a bad book. I like learning more about the different fae. Especially happy to see Poe again!
Also some things didn't make sense like the cottage had 3 rooms. But they are 4 people and all had their own room??


I never knew what to expect and I love that about this book! I like this a little less than the first book, at least for now.

This book is -by far- my favourite read of the last few months, and of my January reads.
Like the first book, the chapters are written as a journal and the academic writing style was adapted to storytelling is still very refreshing and something that I loved in both books. And I do think that's something that Heather Fawcett excels at. Transporting us to the peculiar, academically inclined mind of Emily Wilde, who with her little quirks wins the hearts of both the characters around her as well as the readers. The little footnotes were also as refreshing and as useful as they were in the first book. They give us information about the folk, that is not convoluted or hard to understand and as someone with ADHD, I do appreciate that little touch.
Emily is very interesting, and her keen interest in both Wendell's kingdom as well as the common folk makes her very interesting to read because it projects her love and makes us care for both the folk and the other mysteries that are still left to uncover.
I'm not going to lie and say, that this book is only comfort and cosiness. There are several moments where I was at the edge of my seat, worrying about characters that I didn't know I would worry about, or very beloved ones.
There's action, and romance ( Very cute scenes between Wendell and Emily). Emily became more comfortable with showing her love for others (Which was very endearing ) as well as learning to care for others even if her scholar's heart blindsights her sometimes.
The characters have flaws, flaws we can all relate to. Apart from- of course- the fantastical ones. And they are constantly growing. Making mistakes, and learning. And that's something i look for when i read. Because it makes me care.

Her quest to the nexus, to finding the scholar that disappeared so many years ago and finding the door to Wendell's kingdom. All of those quests, and other unexpected ones made this book better than the first one by a landslide.

It was an absolute delight to read, and I 100% recommend it if you love cosy, adventure and the Grumpy x sunshine trope.
A truly wonderful read.

I am deceased after finishing this book. ALL THE STARS!!
I love Emily and Wendell, and their dynamic and witty relationship.
Just as the first book, this was full of with adventures, laughter, more fairy lore and I think the added character to their duo made the story even more layered! Loved how much more we got to know Wendell’s backstory and see how he offered marriage for Emily again and again. :)

An absolutely cosy, magical and heart-warming story. I am sure I will be reading this many many more times!

This is cosy fantasy at its finest, perfect if you enjoy low-tension adventure with quirky characters, cute villages, and lots of descriptions of freshly baked bread.

I enjoyed the first book in the series and would recommend reading it first, this one probably wont make much sense without it. I was a bit worried this sequel would be too repetitive, but found I was pleasantly surprised by the fresh adventure and character development. The style of writing is similar - I can imagine that Emily will annoy some readers but I love her obsessive journaling and forthright nature. I also love the way the romance isn't the main event of the plot, Emily has more important quests to focus on!

Overall a very enjoyable read, and a great ending - I look forward to the third book.

Thank you to Little Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Emily is back researching another as of yet undiscovered area of the Faerie realm but this time she’s in a race against time. Wendell has been poisoned by his step mother and is slowly dying. Emily, accompanied by Shadow, her new and slightly overzealous assistant and her grumpy department head must find a way to make it into Wendell’s realm and find a way to save him before it’s too late.

Lots of times sequels fall short for me but this one pleasantly surprised me. It was still very much the same formula of the first book, but with new characters and further character development for familiar faces. Emily’s POV can get slightly annoying at times and the first 75% of the book felt like a bit of a slog to me. That being said, the last 25% had me on the edge of my seat and I really enjoyed it. I just felt like the earlier pacing could have been better, and the ending then felt rushed.

The imagery was just as beautiful as the first book and if you’re looking for a light-hearted, relaxed read this is a great option.

This was still a great sequel to the series and I look forward to seeing where the third book takes our dear Emily.

Thank you NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK, and Heather Fawcett for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Another fantastic tale in the world of faeries and academia as the search for a faerie door takes Emily and Wendall into the town of st. lisel and a whole new host of faerie related problems. I still love Emily and Wendall just as much as I did in the first novel , their romance is still as cute as ever, I love exploring the faerie world with them and being introduced to a whole new cast of characters.

First of all, I would like to thank NetGalley and Orbit UK for providing me with an ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is the second book in the Emily Wilde series in which we follow Emily and Wendell as they escape to another adventure in Austria in the hopes to find Wendell’s door that leads back to his realm.

I have to admit that I did not really enjoy the first book in this series, but this second one changed my mind, and I am so glad that I requested it. This book is less academic and contains way less worldbuilding information than the first one, it is more focused on adventure and their quest(s) and it is quite fast-paced, so I really enjoyed that. Wendell’s identity and the search of his door was something that I truly liked and that grasped my attention in book 1, so I am really glad that we got to explore this subject a lot more in this instalment. While the first one felt very wintery, this second one felt more middle-seasony (autumn because of the time stamps and spring because of the nature vibe). I liked Emily better in this book, although her chemistry with Wendell is not on point and I sometimes wondered how they can be in love, but they are kind of cute together in their own way because she is a grump and he is the sunshine.

I cannot wait to read book 3 (which doesn’t have a title yet) (and yes, this has been confirmed by the author that the Emily Wilde series is a trilogy), which will probably be published around mid-January 2025? Fingers crossed, and turning my clothes inside-out!

Thank you to Little Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely loved the first instalment in this series and fell in love with how cosy and whimsical it felt and book 2 did not disappoint- I was so excited to return to this world!

This story followed Emily and Wendell on their quest for the door leading to a land of faeries and was equally fanciful and wonderful. Similar to the first book, I loved the writing style, and I liked that it was structured like journal entries still. This book is more plot-focused than the previous, and lots of interactions with faeries which I liked and felt it added depth.

I love love loved the understated romance that you can't help but cheer for between Emily and Wendell.

A truly whimsical read that I highly recommend and I can’t wait for book 3!

I didn't (or rather couldn't) enjoy the book due to the writing style. I saw the book recommended but didn't fit me unfortunately. A great premise and plot though.

Thank you to Little Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is the second installment in the adventures of Emily Wilde.
The sequel follows on from book 1 in the whimsical tone and magical setting, however I feel we got to know our main characters much better as well as the introduction of some more secondary characters.

I love the addition of Ariadne, Emily's niece as she very much furthered Emily's personal development, (even if Emily would never admit it).

Wendell softens Emily and together they make a well balanced set of main characters.
We also see their relationship build as Wendall shows more of his abilities and his real self, to Emily.

Overall I think this is an excellent follow on to the first book, with it's developing characters and plotlines.
I cannot wait for book 3 and to see how Emily and Wendell's story will pan out.