A solid ending to the Emily Wilde series. Did I expect something...just...more? Yes, yes, I did. Could I tell you what that "more" is? No, I can't.
The third book concentrated mostly on Emily and her experiences. Don't get me wrong, I do love Emily, but I wish we had a bit more Wendell added to the mix. The plot was kind of...slow and a bit...boring? It was interesting to see more of the Faerie world and their politics, but it did drag a little.

I do enjoy Heather Fawcett's writing immensely and will definitely pick up whatever she decides to write next!

I'm so behind on reviewing books that it's not even funny. I'm reading but just not getting around to actually putting words on the screen about how I feel about the books in question - this is bad, but what can I do? Anyway, over the summer while I'm not working, I'm going to try and catch up with the backlog...

So, if you've been reading fantasy any time recently, then you'll know how big 'romantasy' is in that genre. To be honest, it's hard to avoid it, try as I might, but while the books in this series probably fit fairly comfortably into that sub-genre, for me it's about the difference between two things: a fantasy book with a romance sub-plot vs. a romance book that happens to have a fantasy world as its background. Like its predecessors, Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales is the former rather than the latter, as its fantasy plot is strong enough to carry a romance sub-plot without it taking over.

This time around, Emily spends a significant chunk of this book in Faerie, as her fiance (and fae) Wendell takes the throne of his kingdom and she's forced to go on a quest to save his life/the kingdom from a curse. As usual, Emily is a capable and well-rounded character and everything in the plot holds together well. The relationship between Emily and Wendell is important in pushing things forward, mainly as he's one of the ones in peril, but it's not the main focus of what's going on (which is probably why I like these books while others more in the romantasy line leave me a bit cold).

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, via Netgally. This is my honest review of the book in question.

I loved being back in this world with Emily and Wendell. I fell in love with them and their dynamic since the very first book.
Emely Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales is a cosy fantasy with magical folklore, intrigue, wit, romance and a wonderful cast of characters.
I would never not recommend this book and this series.

I really enjoyed this series from the very first book. It’s an atmospheric cozy fantasy with magical folklore, intrigue, wit, and romance and a wonderful cast of characters, especially the protagonist, Emily Wilde, a highly esteemed professor of Folk studies and now their reluctant queen, and the always charming heir to the throne Wendell Bambleby. I have loved Emily and Wendell’s relationship from the very beginning, with their banter, her resolve and scholarly attitude against his easy and striking disposition and the way their rivalry turned into love.

If you’re looking for a fantasy book with an immersive world then look no further.

Last month I finally got round to reading the next instalment in the Emily Wilde trilogy and it was just as cosy and whimsical as the first two!

A cosy fantasy, that still showcases the ferocity and fickleness of the faeries, Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales brings us another whimsical adventure for Emily, Shadow and Wendell.

It was so fun seeing more of the faerie kingdoms and Wendell’s old home. The prose was immersive and I adored the lore behind the kingdom and faerie stories and traditions. Seeing a human try to survive in a faerie kingdoms will never get old to me and I love that Emily is a scholar trying to make sense of it all.

The pace felt a lot slower for me so I definitely took my time reading this, that said I always love being back in this world.

Emily and Wendell’s banter and relationship never fail to make me laugh and I have really enjoyed this trilogy. I can’t wait to see what Heather brings next!

I’m not sure if Heather Fawcett is planning to end the Emily Wilde series with Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales, but it wouldn’t be a bad spot to do so, with Emily and Wendell retaking his kingdom and trying to settle down to rule it. As you’d expect in a fairy tale, it doesn’t go quite so easily (and also that wouldn’t make half such a good story).

I did get a bit stalled on this one, but it was due to life events, rather than being about the book — when I was in the mood to read it, I ate it up in big gulps, om nom nom. I love Emily and her determined, matter-of-fact nature, and I love Wendell and his fairy-strangeness (tempered perhaps by his time among humans).

I also loved getting to see more of Taran, and the fairy court in general, and the appearance of some old friends into the bargain. And for those who might worry about Shadow (Emily’s dog/eldritch beast), he’s doing just fine by the end.

I continue to love the format of a female scholar getting entangled in big events through pursuing her curiosity, though Emily charges into it a bit more directly than my other favourite (Isabella, from Marie Brennan’s Lady Trent books).

"Stories shape the realms and the actions of those who dwell there. Some of those stories are known to mortals." - Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales.

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales begins just where Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands finishes, with Emily (Cambridge's foremost dryadolgist) and Wendell about to step through the magic door that will lead them from our world to Wendell's, so that he can reclaim his fairy kingdom. Emily's irritating colleague Wendell is, we have learned, in reality and exiled fairy prince who has been searching for a way back so that he can challenge his stepmother for the throne.

This story is, then, rather different from the previous two because it's less Emily trying to solve a mystery in the course of her research than a deliberate and planned incursion (even if Emily's diary and reporting style are reminiscent of an academic field trip - you can take the woman out of Cambridge, but...)

Or so it would seem. In fact, once the two set foot in Wendell's kingdom, their troubles have only begun. It's less the battle for the throne, more the elusive and downright sulky nature of the kingdom itself. Oh, and the curse that his stepmother has laid upon it...

And that does take us closer to the earlier books, which might be oversimplifiedlified as Emily drawing on her knowledge of fairy lore to solve a situation. In Compendium of Lost Tales, it's a brutal one, the kingdom is dying, how will it be saved? Wendell has an answer, but his solution is likely to cost Emily everything. can she find, as it were, a loophole in the contract? Surrounded by shifty fae, whose loyalty and friendships change like the clouds on a windy day, and with Shadow also ailing, it's a tough challenge.

I enjoyed this book the most of the three Emily Wilde stories. Until now, the fairy kingdoms have only been visited briefly, events being seen through human eyes from our world. While Emily's and Wendell's strong central characters have dominated, the human angle has distracted - I kept trying to pick apart the differences between Fawcett's Earth and our own, and to locate her Cambridge and Emily's and Wendell's society in relation to our own. That isn't really the point of the books, I think. In contrast the full blown engagement with fairyland in this third book rather frees the imagination to engage with the tricksy business of fairy magic, fate and Wendell's complicated family relationships. It also brings a slew of fascinating new characters who I enjoyed meeting.

Great fun, and a fine ending to this brilliant series.

Though a big fan of the first two books, I just could not connect with the story of this, the third instalment. Though having all the elements I enjoyed previously (independent and brave Emily, swoon-worthy Wendell, capricious fairies etc) I think the focus of the story shifting to something Wendell wanted to achieve rather than a purely academic pursuit of Emily’s contributed to my lack of enthusiasm.

Our intrepid fairy academics venture back to Wendell’s kingdom to reclaim is lost throne, and much of the book is devoted to Emily’s endless observations about the court’s denizens and culture. Though she’s ostensibly using these to write another paper and achieve more academic kudos, it does feel like her work is de-centred by the focus on Wendell and his position. She thinks he is ill-equipped to navigate the politics and complex relationships of being a ruler when actually he’s pretty comfortable in what is his natural environment.

The pace was glacial and I must admit to listening to the audiobook on super-fast speeds by the 3rd act. I had some troubles with the structure as well with the story feeling like it was ready to conclude but in reality being only 80% done.

Fans of the series will enjoy this book despite these critiques, as it’s still full of danger, evil villains, treachery and heroics we’ve come to expect from the series.

A phenomenal end to the series- this cured my reading slump and made it to my fave books of all time- I adore them and can’t wait to reread because i alr miss them 🥺🥺

Beautifully written and a great ending to the trilogy. I love this world so much and I'm.sad it's over

A beautifully atmospheric conclusion to the series, Compendium of Lost Tales delivers faerie intrigue, academic musings, and a slow-burning romance—but at a more measured pace than its predecessors.

✨ A scholar turned queen 💫 Faerie politics & hidden dangers 📚 A richly woven world of magic

Fawcett’s prose remains immersive, and Emily’s journey into Wendell’s faerie kingdom is filled with fascinating lore. However, the slower pacing and heavy focus on faerie politics make certain sections feel drawn out. While the emotional stakes are high, the narrative doesn’t always maintain the momentum of earlier books.

If you love intricate world-building, fae mythology, and scholarly protagonists, this is a solid, if slightly uneven, finale.

“I have learned there is one thing a person never tires of, no matter how long they live. And that is being in love. All else is ash and ember.”

A beautiful conclusion to the Emily Wilde books. The Compendium of Lost Tales is the third and final book in the series and while I am sad to see it go I think the ending was full, well rounded and satisfying to read while leaving it just open enough for another potential book in the future

This book keeps its cosy fantasy vibes while showing a different more darker side to faeries really leaning into actual folklore and myth. I loved seeing even more progression to the main characters Emily and Wendell and how they navigated there relationship being tested as well as a few appearances from characters that had been in previous books.

While I did enjoy the book and was happy with how it concluded I was a little crestfallen in that there didn't seem to be as much adventure as the previous books, the dialogue and academic explanations can be fairly wordy and the journeys and adventures they go on usually gives the books a nice balance but this instalment seemed to be slower paced than the previous and when something interesting sparked it got resolved a little too quickly.

That being said I still think the series as a whole is wonderful, its incredibly unique and I will miss the world and it's characters (especially shadow)

A lovely conclusion to a witty and lovable series. I really enjoyed all of the books in this series and often recommend it to others
Excited to read more from the author

A perfect ending to a great series. One thing that drew me in about the first book was the different approach to fae stories. Even when Emily and Wendel venture in the Fae realm, Emily's observant nature kept things interesting for me. The court intrigue didn't affect her as much and she played into it well, gently guiding and manipulating the players so they would do what she wanted. She's truly fit to be a queen of faerie, especially as a human queen. She knows the loopholes, sees then, exploits them. But she needs the help of others as well. The major mystery of the story she can't solve without help. I truly enjoyed the last third of the book as they work it out. The ending was deserved in so many ways.

Long shall they live, Queen Emily and King Wendell.

Many thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and Heather Fawcett for the advanced copy of Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales via NetGalley, in return for my honest and unbiased review. Quick note: I don’t recap plots in my reviews, as it’s easy enough to read the book’s synopsis and blurbs, I purely focus on my feelings & opinions of how the books makes me feel.
This book is the third in the trilogy. The first book (Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries) was on my list of favourite reads of 2023 and I gave it a solid 5/5. The second book (Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands) held strong at 4/5.
Unfortunately—for me—the trajectory continued down, rather than up. Perhaps too hastily written to follow on from the previous two, the Compendium just feels flat and like it’s going through the motions.
There was none of the truly adventurous spirit that I encountered in the first book, or the daring and spirited character of the second. There was a lot of info-dumping that perhaps the author *really* wanted to cram in there, or perhaps just to fill space, but I found myself glossing over it, rather than getting stuck in and actually reading it. And I LOVE folklore.
The tropes were a bit lacklustre and obvious, and overall it all just felt like it was just an exercise of crossing the Ts and dotting the Is before tying it all up in a neat bow. No pizazz, no surprises, no beauty or sparkle like the previous books.
And it made me sad! I absolutely ADORED the first book, and it’s one I’ll re-read many times. I’ll likely re-read the second as well. But this one – sadly – will not be.
Moods: adventurous, dark
Tropes: fairytale/folktale retelling, grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract, peril
Pace: slow
Character development: weak
Plot or character driven: 50/50
Diversity: high
Rating: 3/5

A wonderful conclusion to a trilogy I have enjoyed.

I requested this book being a fan of the previous two and it did not disappoint. It continued the cosy whimsical academic fantasy from the first two.

It did have the hard task of tying up plot points, some of which were done well and other felt rushed and disjointed.

There was more of a focus on the main romantic interests which I enjoyed and there were more new characters which interested me.

A well executed conclusion

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales is the perfect cosy fantasy series—funny, sweet, and full of faerie mischief, academic snark, and slow-burn romance. It picks up not long after the last book and sees Emily and Wendell gallivanting across Europe on a quest for missing stories and answers (and maybe also for Wendell’s crown, but he’s very chill about it, obviously).

I just love spending time with these characters. Emily is her usual prickly, slightly oblivious self, and Wendell remains a silly but charming fae king. Their dynamic is so entertaining—full of banter and bickering, but also real warmth and affection. I love their relationship and could read about them forever. There’s such a lovely tenderness under the humour, and I really felt the emotional beats land in this one.

The folklore and world-building are also gorgeous. Fawcett has created a magical world that feels layered and lived in, with each new region steeped in its own strange traditions. The pacing dips a little in the middle, but honestly, I didn’t mind too much—I was just happy to be along for the ride.

A cosy read that feels like curling up with a hot drink and your favourite blanket. A wonderful conclusion to this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC!

I love these books. I love the progression of Wendell and Emily!! They are slow paced books throughout but honestly I am ok with that and fit with the vibe of the book. I love the self narration in her diary style for her work! These books are just so cozy and whimsical I cannot wait to read more from Heather Fawcett!!

The footnotes, I will be honest got a little tedious for me. I read some and they were interesting but mostly found myself skipping these altogether as they either didn’t add a total lot or confused me.
Wendell could have also had a bit more banter like the earlier books! Yes their relationship has progressed however, that’s what I loved most about them! Wendell was the cocky, cheeky fae king and Emily was quite highly strung and focused! They complemented each other!

This is the third book in the series, one that I stumbled on without realising what I was starting. It is telling that the most bloodthirsty ( in its own way) of the books has such a light and delicate cover. This seemingly benign start doesn’t give an accurate introduction to what is to come. But then, if one is used to the series after the first two books ( as one should be because this is not the point to jump into the series), the irony is on point.

The footnotes in this series continue to be entertaining in just how seriously the subject of Dryadology and related fields is treated.

As I mentioned earlier this book will make almost no sense ( while continuing to be entertaining) without prior knowledge of the people and the complexities involved, especially since people from both the books make special appearances in significant times. Emily and Wendell are trying to settle as Monarchs but things are not easy. Everything from the approach to the appearance has to be carefully thought out. Once on the throne, keeping it is difficult. Here’s where the lost tales and Emily’s obsession with them comes into play. It is not a straightforward story. It may make more sense of the lot, but it was not necessarily my favourite. It does round off the books well ( if this series is meant to be a trilogy).

I would highly recommend this series to fans of the fantasy genre looking for something slightly different within it.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience of this and the previous two books

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands

Perfect conclusion to this witty, charming trilogy. Emily and Wendell completely won me over, their adventures, however dangerous, never fail to make me laugh. And it's nice to see Emily finally living her best fairy life. ✨💚