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pandemonicbaby's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Never underestimate the power of an autistic bitch with a special interest in faeries
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder, Gore, Grief, Confinement, Death, and Kidnapping
Minor: Child death, Animal death, Cursing, and Alcohol
theintrovertsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Violence, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Medical content, and Kidnapping
Minor: Murder, Sexual content, Gore, Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, and Torture
teaspoonaddict's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
As a student and lover of anthropology, specifically cultural anthropology, this book felt like reading a textbook—in the best way possible. I was enamored with the way that Emily detailed the world around her and opened up to the community with the aid of Wendell by her side. It felt like love, too, was an academic conquest—one that she was succeeding at. While highly academic, the ethnographic nature lent itself to incredibly evocative language that was both beautiful and humorous.
I loved how flawed each character was and how deeply they stuck to their personal morals—especially Wendell. As we begin to realize he too is one of the faeries that Emily is studying, it’s interesting to fall into the mistake of thinking him human and watching his actions prove us wrong. Even then, his charming nature has both the reader and Emily falling deeper in love with him.
At times one could forget that this was in fact a journal, to be quickly reminded whenever the stylistic choice of cutting a word or phrase off in the middle of a sentence appeared. It was incredibly fun—especially Wendell’s perspective. And I deeply look forward to reading the next one!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore and Violence
cadence_e's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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
Oh my goodness this was so good. I struggled to put it down, it had such good elements of world building and lore without dragging the characters and plot down. Emily is incredibly smart and loveable, even when she can be a bit too calculating. Her growth and struggles as she learns to care more, while also having her research as a priority is such an important part of the book. Bambleby is equal parts fascinating and infuriating, managing to worm his way into my heart. I am a sucker for reluctant friendships, as well as pining . Taking you through a bunch of twists and turns , while also being so matter of fact through the format of Emily's scientific journal made for one of the most compelling and fun books I've read in a long while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
eni_se's review against another edition
3.0
I flew through this book. It's an easy read. And yet here I am giving you a trigger warning:
TW: finger mutilation
Wtf, Fawcett, this was supposed to be a feel-good, whimsical book with low stakes! And the finger being violently and unexpectedly cut off was really not even necessary for the plot! It happened for the stupidest reason. Literally not much would have changed.
This leads me to another issue I had with this book: the protagonist is very mousy and bland. While I love an academic or scientist protagonist, Emily Wilde was honestly as bland as UK food. Fitting, as she is British. The love interest Bamleby was much more engaging. It doesn't help that we get the story from her journal entries, and she writes as blandly as you would expect for someone with the personality of a filing cabinet the size of a mouse. It's not like she's cute in her reactions, or even relatable or understandable; she's not weird enough, or autistic enough, or anything that justifies her as the protagonist. She shines the best when she's interacting with faeries, as it's her area of expertise, or well... until she also makes amateur decisions that put the entire village at risk.
Speaking of, she wins over the people pretty quickly from one chapter to the next for someone who managed to antagonize the entire village in the first hours after arriving to the island where she's set to do some research.
While I thoroughly enjoyed this book (up until that traumatic amputation happened out of nowhere), I was also left warning much more from the romance. I was expecting either a little spice in the veins of [b:The Cruel Prince|26032825|The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air, #1)|Holly Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574535986l/26032825._SY75_.jpg|45959123] - Folk of the Air trilogy, or more swoony, sweet romantic moments. And I got neither. While the banter between the main character and the love interest is really good, they didn't connect deeply enough for me. hey rarely talked about deeper topics, about themselves outside of what we already knew from the get-go; they rarely touched softly, or had heated interactions charged with sexual tension. Nothing.
Honestly, Bambleby was a much more engaging character. I wish we'd gotten the book from his perspective. I love his attitude, friendliness and that he's an excellent tailor. I was half expecting the love interest to be a local from the island, but the sorry we got for him was good as well. Though I can't help feeling like the setting for this story was very interchangeable, there was nothing about the setting being a cold Nordic island that truly affected me much. It could have been set in a tropical town too and it would have been pretty much the same story. So the setting wasn't that well integrated into the story.
The writing is pretty good, some of the scenes had really cool imagery (the frozen lake market, the old white cursed tree) but I wish it was far more atmospheric. It would have helped a lot to elevate this story. The story overall is engaging, fast-paced, but sprinkled with a lot of awkwardness.
I do love me a black shadow puppy. He was the best of the story. And the little forest ice faerie who loves a good fashionable cape is also precious.
I am half tempted to read the second book because of Bambleby, but I'm also thinking I would rather read something else.
TW: finger mutilation
Wtf, Fawcett, this was supposed to be a feel-good, whimsical book with low stakes! And the finger being violently and unexpectedly cut off was really not even necessary for the plot! It happened for the stupidest reason. Literally not much would have changed.
This leads me to another issue I had with this book: the protagonist is very mousy and bland. While I love an academic or scientist protagonist, Emily Wilde was honestly as bland as UK food. Fitting, as she is British. The love interest Bamleby was much more engaging. It doesn't help that we get the story from her journal entries, and she writes as blandly as you would expect for someone with the personality of a filing cabinet the size of a mouse. It's not like she's cute in her reactions, or even relatable or understandable; she's not weird enough, or autistic enough, or anything that justifies her as the protagonist. She shines the best when she's interacting with faeries, as it's her area of expertise, or well... until she also makes amateur decisions that put the entire village at risk.
Speaking of, she wins over the people pretty quickly from one chapter to the next for someone who managed to antagonize the entire village in the first hours after arriving to the island where she's set to do some research.
While I thoroughly enjoyed this book (up until that traumatic amputation happened out of nowhere), I was also left warning much more from the romance. I was expecting either a little spice in the veins of [b:The Cruel Prince|26032825|The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air, #1)|Holly Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574535986l/26032825._SY75_.jpg|45959123] - Folk of the Air trilogy, or more swoony, sweet romantic moments. And I got neither. While the banter between the main character and the love interest is really good, they didn't connect deeply enough for me. hey rarely talked about deeper topics, about themselves outside of what we already knew from the get-go; they rarely touched softly, or had heated interactions charged with sexual tension. Nothing.
Honestly, Bambleby was a much more engaging character. I wish we'd gotten the book from his perspective. I love his attitude, friendliness and that he's an excellent tailor. I was half expecting the love interest to be a local from the island, but the sorry we got for him was good as well. Though I can't help feeling like the setting for this story was very interchangeable, there was nothing about the setting being a cold Nordic island that truly affected me much. It could have been set in a tropical town too and it would have been pretty much the same story. So the setting wasn't that well integrated into the story.
The writing is pretty good, some of the scenes had really cool imagery (the frozen lake market, the old white cursed tree) but I wish it was far more atmospheric. It would have helped a lot to elevate this story. The story overall is engaging, fast-paced, but sprinkled with a lot of awkwardness.
I do love me a black shadow puppy. He was the best of the story. And the little forest ice faerie who loves a good fashionable cape is also precious.
I am half tempted to read the second book because of Bambleby, but I'm also thinking I would rather read something else.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood
The main character self-amputates a finger with an axe.bellebeaumont95's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit, Gore, and Child abuse
gladiolus17's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.75
This book was one of the highlights of my year. (I’m glad I finished in time for this year haha.)
I loved loved loved Emily and Wendell’s dynamic. I loved how Emily was immune to his charm but slowly descended into liking him, and I loved the bickering between them. Their romance was so believable and developed in surprising ways. I also liked that there was always a sense of danger between them, as Wendell was a fairy, but then Emily grew to trust him.
The descriptions of the icy landscape of the setting were beautiful. I also loved the mysterious descriptions of the fairies.
I also liked the short sections of Wendell’s writing. They made me laugh how his character shined through!
This book was so heartwarming, and i am so excited for the next installment! I really have to love a book to read the next in the series, so this is high praise coming from me!
I loved loved loved Emily and Wendell’s dynamic. I loved how Emily was immune to his charm but slowly descended into liking him, and I loved the bickering between them. Their romance was so believable and developed in surprising ways. I also liked that there was always a sense of danger between them, as Wendell was a fairy, but then Emily grew to trust him.
The descriptions of the icy landscape of the setting were beautiful. I also loved the mysterious descriptions of the fairies.
I also liked the short sections of Wendell’s writing. They made me laugh how his character shined through!
This book was so heartwarming, and i am so excited for the next installment! I really have to love a book to read the next in the series, so this is high praise coming from me!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore and Toxic relationship
aysha_blake's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Murder, Confinement, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Blood, Alcohol, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence
Minor: Vomit and Panic attacks/disorders
xapoptosisx's review
adventurous
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
This book omg amazing. Soft cozy academia fantasy with grumpy x sunshine and 'touch her you die' and fairies. Emily is also 100% autistic, I'm not sure if that's something the author has said and I've never seen anyone else saying that she is but reading it she absolutely is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Body horror, Death, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, and Blood
Minor: War, Vomit, and Suicide attempt
prettynerdy3's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Self harm, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Violence, Animal death, and Vomit
Minor: Suicidal thoughts