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pvp_niki's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Death, Animal death, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, and Animal cruelty
startjpw23's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a fantasy that tells the story of Emily Wilde who is compiling an Encyclopaedia of Faeries. The story is set in an alternate version of the world from the later part of 1909 into early 1910. She travels to Hrafnsvik, Ljosland which is a village in Norway. Emily is very good at research. She is not so good interacting with people. Early on, the villagers become very upset with Emily for reasons she doesn't understand. Not long in her stay, she is joined by her colleague Wendell Bambleby. She is not particularly happy to see him. They have an interesting relationship. Emily has a very chill dog named Shadow. The book is written as journal entries with footnotes. I enjoyed the way that the book gradually talked about various types of fae (they often use the term Folk in the book). There were some thrilling, tense parts. Sometimes, the book told what happened after the fact which took some of the tension away. I would have liked for Emily's and Wendell's relationship to go it a different direction. I recommend this book to someone who would like a somewhat dark fantasy with two interesting main characters, a fun, dog, and an interesting supporting cast. I have heard people use the term cozy to describe this book. I did not find it so. I did enjoy the book a lot and will be reading the next book in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Death
torturedreadersdept's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Body horror, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, and Self harm
Minor: Cursing, Animal death, Confinement, Vomit, Alcohol, and Child abuse
aturb92's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The prose! So good, loved reading the journal format of this book. Cozy, reads like a fairytale, and the setting! So different, so magical. All of it. LOVE.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
kylieqrada's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Perfection. Neurodivergent MC in a cozy fantasy romance written in diary entries? Yes please thank you very much!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Animal death, Violence, and Death
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Blood, Violence, and Gore
Minor: Vomit, Child death, Death, and Child abuse
indigo_fox's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I could not put this book down! It was everything I wanted and more! The first couple chapters were kind of boring, I didn't think I would end up liking the book. But once it got past the set up things really took off.
The characters are absolutely lovable. I'm a huge fan of Wendell, seriously I'd do anything for him. His boisterous personality is just so fun and engaging, I couldn't tear my eyes away from the page whenever he was in the scene. Wendell and Emily have excellent chemistry, their bantering is so much fun to read. The dialog between them is great, I have a whole bunch of favorite parts marked.
There were times when Emily made me mad. Some of her decisions were a bit sketchy. But I still liked her as a character. She's mousey and intelligent, and I love how awkward she is in social situations.
The story itself was fun. I love all things fey so getting to read a story about someone studying the folk was the best thing ever. It was fun following Emily as she unraveled the mysterious surrounding the folk of Ljosland. I found the side characters to be enjoyable too. Ari, Poe, Aud and Thora were some of my faves.The changeling Ari will always have a special place in my heart (I play a changeling in d&d). I wish I could remember his true name but I didn't write it down before returning my library copy!
The world building is great. Fawcett did a great job of twisting lore into her story. I loved all the little stories that were sprinkled throughout the text, and the little at the end of each chapter. I feel like these two things helped to flesh out the world.
The folk in the book were great too. We got to see various sides from whimsical and fun to dark and dangerous.
The characters are absolutely lovable. I'm a huge fan of Wendell, seriously I'd do anything for him. His boisterous personality is just so fun and engaging, I couldn't tear my eyes away from the page whenever he was in the scene. Wendell and Emily have excellent chemistry, their bantering is so much fun to read. The dialog between them is great, I have a whole bunch of favorite parts marked.
There were times when Emily made me mad. Some of her decisions were a bit sketchy. But I still liked her as a character. She's mousey and intelligent, and I love how awkward she is in social situations.
The story itself was fun. I love all things fey so getting to read a story about someone studying the folk was the best thing ever. It was fun following Emily as she unraveled the mysterious surrounding the folk of Ljosland. I found the side characters to be enjoyable too. Ari, Poe, Aud and Thora were some of my faves.
The world building is great. Fawcett did a great job of twisting lore into her story. I loved all the little stories that were sprinkled throughout the text, and the little at the end of each chapter. I feel like these two things helped to flesh out the world.
The folk in the book were great too. We got to see various sides from whimsical and fun to dark and dangerous.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death and Child abuse
emilymhb's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Goofy little academic who learns to love and care about people while also falling for her obnoxiously handsome companion? How could I rate it anything other than 5 stars?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Gore
chelbelle122's review
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The writing is as flowery as the cover but still enjoyable
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Confinement, Death, and Kidnapping
gillian_aftanas's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, Blood, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Gore, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Death, Grief, and Animal death
Minor: Child death, Mental illness, Torture, Vomit, and Cursing