🧚♀️ Book Review: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
A cozy, whimsical fantasy that blends academic rigor with fae mischief, slow-burn romance, and a heroine who prefers books to people.
Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries is the enchanting first installment in a new fantasy series that has charmed readers with its unique blend of folklore, academia, and character-driven storytelling. With a strong Goodreads rating of 3.97/5 from over 180,000 readers, it’s a favorite among fans of cozy fantasy and slow-burn romantic tension.
🧠 Plot Overview
Emily Wilde is a brilliant but socially awkward Cambridge professor and the world’s leading dryadologist—an academic who studies faeries. She travels to the remote Scandinavian village of Hrafnsvik to research the elusive Hidden Ones, hoping to complete her groundbreaking encyclopaedia.
But Emily isn’t alone for long. Her charming and infuriating academic rival, Wendell Bambleby, arrives uninvited, bringing chaos, flirtation, and secrets of his own. As Emily uncovers the dark truths behind the local fae legends, she must also confront the mystery of Wendell’s identity—and the possibility that her heart may be more vulnerable than she thought.
✨ Why It Works
- Unique Narration: Told through Emily’s journal entries, the story feels intimate, witty, and deeply personal.
- Academic Fantasy: The blend of scholarly research and magical folklore gives the book a fresh, immersive tone.
- Slow-Burn Romance: Emily and Wendell’s dynamic is full of banter, tension, and emotional depth.
- Atmospheric Setting: The fictional country of Ljosland evokes Nordic charm and eerie fae landscapes.
💬 Critical Reception
- “A somewhat uneven novel that will nevertheless charm readers of cozy fantasies.” — Kirkus Reviews
- “Reminded me of a grown-up version of the nature study books on fairies and gnomes I enjoyed as a kid.” — Peanut Blossom Book Club
- “Emily’s voice is delightfully prickly, and Wendell’s charm radiates off the page.”
Some readers found the pacing slow in early chapters and the prose occasionally dense, but most praised the emotional payoff and rich world-building.
🏁 Final Verdict
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries is a charming, character-driven fantasy perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes, The Ten Thousand Doors of January, or anyone who loves fae lore with a scholarly twist. It’s cozy, clever, and quietly magical.
