Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries (Emily Wilde, #1)

by Heather Fawcett

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

'A darkly gorgeous fantasy that sparkles with snow and magic, this book wholly enchanted me'
Sangu Mandanna, author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

Enter the world of the hidden folk - and discover the most whimsical, enchanting and heart-warming tale you'll read this year, featuring the intrepid Emily Wilde. . .

Emily Wilde is good at many things: 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 encylopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people

So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby

But as Emily gets closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones - the most elusive of all faeries - she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she'll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all - her own heart.

'Forget dark academia: give me instead this kind of winter-sunshined, sharp-tongued and footnoted academia, full of field trips and grumpy romance' Freya Marske, author of A Marvellous Light

'A thoroughly charming academic fairy tale, complete with footnotes and a low-key grumpy romance' Guardian

'Enchanting in every sense of the word. . . This book is real magic' H. G. Parry, author of The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep

'A book so vividly, endlessly enchanting, so crisply assured, so rich and complete and wise and far-reaching in its worldbuilding that you'll walk away half ensorcelled, sure Fawcett found Emily Wilde's journal in some sea-stained trunk' Melissa Albert

'The ideal book to curl up with on a chilly winter's evening. . . this book is an absolute delight.' Megan Bannen, author of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy

'A charmingly whimsical delight. . . Five dazzling, gladdening stars' India Holton, author of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels

'I enjoyed every word of this gorgeously written fairy tale featuring a grumpy heroine and an utterly charming love interest' Isabel Ibañez, author of Woven In Moonlight

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

4 of 5 stars

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Book Summary:

Emily Wilde is not your typical Cambridge Professor. Why? She studies faeries. She's also not great when it comes to talking (or doing anything with) people. She'd much prefer to be left alone for her studies, thank you very much.

Despite this, Emily is about to go on an adventure. Or rather, a field research trip. It's the best way to uncover new secrets and lost history about her preferred subject. Yet we all know what happens when somebody gets too close to the truth...

My Review:

Guys, Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries is such a fun read! If you love fae and their lore, you will love this book. It has a lot of fun tropes and elements, such as the cantankerous professor trope and Hidden Ones' mythology. In other words, it's pretty perfect. Oh! Did I mention there's even an academic rival?

The characters really make this book, if I may say so. I know the description probably doesn't make it sound like Emily's character is super personable, but she's a fantastic character on the pages. Maybe not the best person to take to a party, but a great character to follow!

This was such a fresh take on a world I love so much (fae and mythology). It's the sort of thing I didn't realize I needed – until it was in my hands. So, what are you waiting for? Go read it!

Highlights:
Faeries
Historical Fantasy
Field Research...of fae
Cantankerous Professor Trope
Academic Rivalry

Trigger Warnings:
Ableism
Kidnapping
Animal Abuse & Death (mentioned)

Thanks to Del Rey Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 27 January, 2023: Finished reading
  • 27 January, 2023: Reviewed