Today’s review is about EMILY WILDE’S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAERIES by Heather Fawcett. This is the first book in the Emily Wilde trilogy. I’m so happy I finally got around to reading this because it’s just lovely!

Author: Heather Fawcett
Series: Emily Wilde, #1
Age Category: Adult
Publisher: Del Rey
Publish Date: January 10, 2023
Print Length: 336

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Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries Synopsis

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries Review

EMILY WILDE’S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAERIES is a delight of whimsy, smarts, and magic. I now totally understand the hype about and love for this book (and series). Emily has a long-standing goal to write an encyclopedia, complete with an extensive bibliography, about faeries. One of the last things on her list is to visit Hrafnsvik, where she hopes to study the northern fae, of whom scholars know very little. While she knows how to deal with fae, she’s not nearly as nimble with humans and quickly makes a mess of their hospitality. Moreover, her academic rival, Wendell Bambleby, decides to show up sans invitation. While he at least makes everything right with the townfolk, the same can’t be said for how he approaches field work. As the work together, Wendell’s ambitions slowly reveal themselves.

First, I love the written style of this book. The point of view is Emily’s as she writes in her journal. Since she is a scientist, she tries to convey events as objectively as possible. Thus, the style is more formal than one may be used to reading. But after a chapter or two I fell right in step with Emily’s written word. By far her interactions with the various fae were my favorite parts to read, followed by her interactions with Bambleby.

I admit I side eyed Bambleby hard when he joins Emily’s field expedition. As a scientist myself, I was so afraid he’d irreperably muck up Emily’s carefully cultivated relationship with one fae subject. Or muck everything up in general and scoop her research. However, it becomes clear Bambleby has little interest in actually doing any work. He’d much rather mingle with the locals, have dalliances, and cozify their shared cabin.

EMILY WILDE’S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAERIES, however, is more than diary entries of field work. The plot becomes evident and the stakes rise in this objectively cozy and light-hearted historical fantasy. Conveniently, this provides opportunities for Emily to learn more than she ever expected she might on this expedition. Although she is a good person, these events make Emily realize she naturally cares more about the new research than, say, the human lives it might impact. This is an uncomfortable realization for her, one she acknowledges and begins to remedy.

There is also an animal companion, a dog named Shadow who accompanies Emily to Hrafnsvik. Everyone loves an animal sidekick, so I’d be remiss not to mention him. I also found Emily and Wendell’s interactions amusing once I realized he wasn’t exactly interested in field work. They are each other’s foils, with Wendell an amiable social butterfly and Emily a hyperfocused, introverted researcher (and possibly neurodivergent coded?).

This is a unique addition to the multitude of fictional books about the fae. It has whimsy and darkness, a self-absorbed male main character and a studious female one, and dangerous fae. The diary entry method of storytelling is excellent and I can’t wait to read the next installment. Fans of historical fantasy with academic and whimsical vibes should definitely pick up EMILY WILDE’S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAERIES.

Rating: 4.25
Content warnings: death, violence, sexism
Reading format: Hardback (Fairyloot)

For additional thoughts about EMILY WILDE’S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAERIES, check out reviews by Dini Panda Reads and Pages Unbound. If you liked this book, you may also enjoy THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEWOMEN WITCHES by India Holton.