Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A curmudgeonly professor journeys to a small town in the far north in this “incredibly fun journey through fae lands and dark magic” (NPR), the start of a heartwarming and enchanting fantasy series.
“A darkly gorgeous fantasy that sparkles with snow and magic.”—Sangu Mandanna, author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
HUGO AND LOCUS AWARD FINALIST • A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, NPR, PopSugar, Polygon, The Globe and Mail, She Reads
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 encyclopaedia 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, muddle 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.
Book One of the Emily Wilde Series
Don’t miss any of Heather Fawcett’s charming Emily Wilde series:
EMILY WILDE’S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAERIES • EMILY WILDE’S MAP OF THE OTHERLANDS • EMILY WILDE’S COMPENDIUM OF LOST TALES
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Community Reviews
Professor Emily Wilde takes a sabbatical to study the lesser-known Scandinavian fae. Because Emily is so academically focused, she struggles to relate to the locals and accidentally offends them, leading them to isolate her. Fortunately, her academic rival and closest friend, Professor Wendell Brambleby, surprises her by crashing her studious adventure. Wendell is able to help Emily connect with the villagers so she can conduct more in-depth research, which relies heavily on local tall tales and personal accounts. Emily is simultaneously writing an academic paper on the unknown Scandinavian fae and a general encyclopaedia of fae. She often uses her vast knowledge of folklore to problem-solve the magical dilemmas she encounters.
I really feel like Emily is on the autism spectrum. She has a hard time making small talk, avoids hanging out at the tavern, and struggles to understand social norms, which causes issues for her at first. She also has a hard time accepting help out of fear of how to respond appropriately. Interestingly, she understands and conforms much better to fae customs because they are her hyperfixation. She is obsessed with learning everything she can about them. Emily routinely spends her lunches in her office researching and only socializes with Wendell because he inserts himself into her space; if he didn’t, it's clear she wouldn't socialize with anyone. During their trip, Wendell beautifully bridges the gap between Emily and the locals. By the end, she successfully befriends the villagers, learning to care for them and be cared for in return.
The story is told through Emily's journal entries, which emphasize her role as an observer of her surroundings rather than a participant. Her inner voice is strictly academic rather than casual—there were definitely a few words I needed a dictionary.
I attempted this book many times before originally DNF’ing it, but this last time I read it all the way through, and I am so happy I did. I loved the story and Emily's character development. Emily is extremely intelligent, and her analytical mind can make her seem cold at times, but she does care. I deeply related to her anxiety over social norms and how that fear can impact your ability to be around people.
I loved this story! I was so pleased by the slow-burn romance and the ending. I especially loved the Irish fae story at the end. This book has made me fall in love with the fae world, and I hope to continue delving into this magical realm. I absolutely recommend such a cute and cozy slow burn romance!
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