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macliffe's review
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Super charming as was the first one. I liked the first one a little more but this was exactly what I had hoped: a fun faerie tale with lovable characters and new magical pieces around every corner! Excited for book 3!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Murder and Death
Minor: Sexual content
chrisljm's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.5
Emily is sooooo cool. I wish I had even half the tenacity, love, passion, and knowledge for anything the way she does for dryadology. This was such a good continuation of the first book and, while I hate that I'll now have to wait for the third installment to come out, I'm very happy to have something to look forward to as I know Heather Fawcett will release another novel that's on par to the previous two. I adore the cozy sort of magic she's able to soak these stories in, while providing adventure against such vivid and expansive backdrops. I loved getting to know Emily and Wendell in the first book, and now the loveliness of seeing more of them and watching their relationship develop. A great romance (and book) to me is when you can enjoy the characters separately as well as together, and Emily and Wendell are equally as strong and charming together as they are individually. It's so sweet seeing how far their relationship has come and how much care they have for each other, and of course I must include how strongly it warms my heart whenever we see a journal entry from Wendell and to witness the way he views Emily.
I'm also very happy, and relieved, to conclude this novel without seeing any deaths from our beloved characters, and instead were able to see even more of Shadow and Poe. They are two of the most sweetest companions, and what a treasure it is to be claimed as their fjölskylda.
I'm also very happy, and relieved, to conclude this novel without seeing any deaths from our beloved characters, and instead were able to see even more of Shadow and Poe. They are two of the most sweetest companions, and what a treasure it is to be claimed as their fjölskylda.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Stalking
Moderate: Infidelity, Murder, Animal death, Alcohol, and Blood
Minor: Sexual content
yourbookishbff'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? It's complicated
5.0
After struggling with the journal structure in book one, I switched to audio for book two, and that made all the difference. The narration helped the journal style to feel more natural, and Elle Potter conveyed so much personality for each character that I felt far more invested in the story (and I finally felt like I had a sense of Emily!). I could always tell when we moved to a footnote (bonus points to Potter, she always made it distinct!) and the moments of self awareness (and the moments of obfuscation) felt so much more obvious to me this time.
This series is the definition of cozy fantasy. While we have violence and injury (and mortal peril) the circumstances are so fantastic that they never feel truly dark. I loved seeing the relationship between Emily and Wendell deepen in this book, and so enjoyed their partnership throughout. This is closed door romance with such sweetness and sincerity, and I just loved it.
I loved the Narnia-esque moments in this installment, and the light comedy of our obsessively clean and tidy Wendell and ink-stained Emily. Of course he's a cat person (IYKYK). And the setting (the Alps!) was so fun. An expectedly surreal and raucous third act, and a perfect conclusion to set up our next adventure.
This series is the definition of cozy fantasy. While we have violence and injury (and mortal peril) the circumstances are so fantastic that they never feel truly dark. I loved seeing the relationship between Emily and Wendell deepen in this book, and so enjoyed their partnership throughout. This is closed door romance with such sweetness and sincerity, and I just loved it.
I loved the Narnia-esque moments in this installment, and the light comedy of our obsessively clean and tidy Wendell and ink-stained Emily. Of course he's a cat person (IYKYK). And the setting (the Alps!) was so fun. An expectedly surreal and raucous third act, and a perfect conclusion to set up our next adventure.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Confinement, and Murder
adancewithbooks's review
adventurous
funny
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to Del Rey and Netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.
Finally the second book of the Emily Wilde series has arrived! It took the book world over by storm last year and for good reason. But is the second book just as good? I say yes.
In this installment Emily is back at the university with Wendell. She is trying to find a way back for Wendell and work on her new project: a map of the Otherlands. After an assasination attempt on Wendell's life and having a good enough lead on a door to his realm, they head off to the Austrian Alps. This time followed by Emily's cousin and another staff member of the academy.
While the plot itself didn't quite stand out in any special way, the characters do. What I love about these books is the tone that Emily writes in. These books are diary entries by Emily and it is a joy to follow her around. Even more so it is great fun to read about her interactions with Wendell. Emily is a very focused woman and isn't always very in tune with her surroundings or the people around her.
'And if you are going to be an old hen about it and waste your time clucking over every scrap of clutter you should know in advance, I won't be assisting.'
'Old hen!' he exclaimed. 'Well of course you won't help. You'll spend the evening in your preferred manner, hunched over in some dark corner like a troll.'
That makes the relationships she has complicated. She struggles with how she feels about Bambleby and with how he feels about her. He is fairly obvious. The relationships with her co-worker and family member both weren't very deep at the start of this book. It was good to see her have more relationships and interactions with people that aren't Wendell or faeries to be honest. Though it was a joy to see a faerie from book 1 return.
Mostly this book is heartwarming and funny, taking you along a rollercoaster among all things faerie.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Animal death
Amputation | Attempted Murder | Poisoning | Animal Injurythehobbitbarbie's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror, Alcohol, Blood, Murder, and Sexual content
littleflowerfairy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
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
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for a honest review!
After I finished the first book, I immediately joined NetGalley in order to request an advanced copy, because I just couldn't wait to find out what happened next!
Heather Fawcett once again does an incredible job of building an intricate and lush world of faeries, weaving well-known folklore and her own additions in such a seamless way. I daresay I loved this book even more than the first one! I think it was because I was already invested in the characters, and I just loved all the time we spent with them, introducing new ones and fleshing out existing relationships. I particularly can't get enough of Emily and Wendell's relationship! There were so many beautiful and heartwarming moments between them in this book - moments that left me gushing and giggling every time!
And let's not forget the mystery and the high-stakes action that kept me holding my breath every time a new twist or a new danger was revealed! Even though it's in journal format, that doesn't lessen the fast pace with which we're pulled along in the action, every detailed description from Emily fully immersing you into the world, her emotions tugging at your heart the whole time. Though even with the higher-stakes, they weren't constant, and the book still very much felt as cozy as the first.
Personally, I don't like how most popular fantasy books write the fae. I love the complicated nature of faeries, exploring how separated their morals and ideals are from humans, how utterly inhuman and perplexing they are, and yet at the same time how almost similar to humans they can sometimes become in their curiosity and fascination with our world. Absolutely no hate authors who write their fae otherwise, but I just personally don't vibe with it. I absolutely adore how Heather Fawcett expands upon all the things I love about fae in the Emily Wilde series, and it's one of the reasons this series is quickly climbing up to my favorites list.
Again, thank you to NetGalley, and Heather Fawcett of course, for the opportunity to read and review this book, and I cannot wait until book three!!
After I finished the first book, I immediately joined NetGalley in order to request an advanced copy, because I just couldn't wait to find out what happened next!
Heather Fawcett once again does an incredible job of building an intricate and lush world of faeries, weaving well-known folklore and her own additions in such a seamless way. I daresay I loved this book even more than the first one! I think it was because I was already invested in the characters, and I just loved all the time we spent with them, introducing new ones and fleshing out existing relationships. I particularly can't get enough of Emily and Wendell's relationship! There were so many beautiful and heartwarming moments between them in this book - moments that left me gushing and giggling every time!
And let's not forget the mystery and the high-stakes action that kept me holding my breath every time a new twist or a new danger was revealed! Even though it's in journal format, that doesn't lessen the fast pace with which we're pulled along in the action, every detailed description from Emily fully immersing you into the world, her emotions tugging at your heart the whole time. Though even with the higher-stakes, they weren't constant, and the book still very much felt as cozy as the first.
Personally, I don't like how most popular fantasy books write the fae. I love the complicated nature of faeries, exploring how separated their morals and ideals are from humans, how utterly inhuman and perplexing they are, and yet at the same time how almost similar to humans they can sometimes become in their curiosity and fascination with our world. Absolutely no hate authors who write their fae otherwise, but I just personally don't vibe with it. I absolutely adore how Heather Fawcett expands upon all the things I love about fae in the Emily Wilde series, and it's one of the reasons this series is quickly climbing up to my favorites list.
Again, thank you to NetGalley, and Heather Fawcett of course, for the opportunity to read and review this book, and I cannot wait until book three!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, and Chronic illness
Minor: Death of parent and Alcohol
btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Violence, Blood, and Murder
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