Cozy fantasy is on the rise and I can’t say that I’m mad about it, especially when we get books like these. Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries was just the breath of fresh air I needed to finish 2022. Now that the release date is here, I can finally share my review with you! Let’s hop in!
{You might also like – The Best Books of 2022}
Quick Synopsis
A curmudgeonly professor journeys to a small town in the far north to study faerie folklore and discovers dark fae magic, friendship, and love, in this heartwarming and enchanting fantasy.
About Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries
Title: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries
Author: Heather Fawcett
Rating: 4 Stars
CAWPILE: 7.7/10
Genre: Fantasy
Content Warnings: Violence, blood, gore
Format: eARC
Publisher: Orbit
Date Published: January 19th 2023
Goodreads Description: Cambridge professor 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 encyclopedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party–or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, Shadow, and the Fair Folk to other 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, who manages to charm the townsfolk, get in the middle of Emily’s research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.
But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones–the most elusive of all faeries–lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, 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.
I received a review copy from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Purchase Links
{Purchase Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries here!}
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries Review
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.
Chat with me about Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries
Did you enjoy Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries?
If you enjoy my content, please consider buying me a coffee!
Pin This!
Terrific review! I have this on my TBR and now I want to read it even more!
I’m desperate to read this one! I’ve been seeing it everywhere lately and it sounds exactly like the kind of book I would LOVE. It was great reading your review of it and finding out even more reasons why I want to pick it up soon!
wonderful review Bianca! I didn’t have much interest in this one mostly bc the summary didn’t catch my attention too much (even though i love cozy fantasy😅) but I’m more interested in immersing myself in the style through the notes & entries!
This one sounds great! I’m a bit worried about the rising trend of cozy fantasy, but this one genuinely sounds like something I’d enjoy when I want to read something more slow-paced 🙂