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lackyducks's review
- 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 book is told in first person, through journal entries of the titular character. Emily makes a fun narrator, and Fawcett uses character voice to shape the experience of the world and story well. The entries themselves demonstrate the growth of the character and her shifting priorities, as entries grow from having footnotes to more personal thoughts and feelings. I really liked this medium for telling a story, and Fawcett used it so well!
Emily herself is an enjoyable, well-rounded character. Her flaws and analytical mind stayed consistent throughout. Her cleverness comes at the consequence of some social skills, but this provides a lot of room for growth.
Wendell also perfectly embodies himself. There's no other way to put it. Ridiculous at times, but still cunning and smart when inclined to be. The relationship between the two felt like it developed naturally throughout the book, and was enjoyable to follow.
The side characters we meet are also well-developed. You're able to grow attached to them, worrying for them and celebrating their victories. I particularly loved Aud and her straightforward attitude towards getting things done.
I just had a really good time with this book. The worldbuilding was a lot of fun, presenting Folk as their own, complicated culture that we only get a glimpse into. I am also pleased the book had a proper conclusion to the story, despite its continuation. I hope I'll be able to get hold of the second book in time!
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, and Injury/Injury detail
The story deals with the darker side of Fae, so be aware of topics around kidnapping, mistreatment, enchantments and violence.craftysnailtail's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries is an interesting take on the fantasy genre: a low-stakes novel that's not quite so cozy and is a perfect blend of magical realism and Victorian elements. Written entirely from journal entries during Emily's time in Ljosland, the epistolary format works really well for this book as readers are transported in the intricate world-building behind Fawcett's fae world.
Additionally, Emily is such an interesting narrator for this book, and provides a unique POV throughout the book. While Fawcett doesn't say that she's autistic in the book, as an #ActuallyAutistic reviewer, one can notice that there are some of her attributes are similar to other autistic individuals. Regardless of whether Emily is autistic or not, Fawcett does a stellar job with detailing Emily's growth throughout the book as she learns to open herself up to others.
That being said, if you're looking for a low-stakes fantasy novel with fae, cozy aesthetic with dark undertones and a hint of romance, and/or a strong female protagonist (who may be autistic), you would probably enjoy reading Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries.
Graphic: Confinement, Blood, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Violence, Vomit, and Murder
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Child death, and Alcohol
aileron's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Kidnapping and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Animal death, Child death, and Blood
tacochelle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
flohbeutel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Ich denke, ich hätte das Buch mehr gemocht, wenn es, wie in etwa die Wayward Children-Reihe von Seannan McGuire, in kleineren Episoden erzählt worden wäre. So war es eher wie eine Aneinanderreihung verschiedener Ereignisse, die nacheinander passiert sind, alleine stehend allerdings viel spannender gewesen wären. So hätte sich auch Bamblebys und Wildes besser als wie aus dem Nichts entwickeln können.
Was ich mochte:
• Der Hund überlebt (falls noch jemand realisiert, dass das Buch viel dunkler ist als erwartet, und mittendrin panisch googelt, ohne eine Antwort zu finden)
• Der Name Bambleby
• Das Buch ist schön Goth und Horror
• Das Kleine Volk ist böse (nach menschlichem Standard. Nach ihrem sind sie nur gelangweilt)
Was ich nicht mochte:
• Soll das eine Liebesgeschichte sein? Weil "Hast du nicht gemerkt, dass ich etwas für dich fühle?" "Ich hatte gehofft, du sprichst es nicht aus", das Ganze ziemlich gut zusammenfasst
• Als KollegInnen und FreundInnen wären sie viel besser gewesen
• Es ist einfach lang
• Und unzusammenhängen
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
takarakei's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
The romance felt a bit lackluster to me - it's a historical kind of setting so in a way it reads like a historical romance in that aspect, where everything is very internal (also because the book is written in journal entries).
Graphic: Blood, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Gore, and Violence
Minor: Animal cruelty
louisallama's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Animal death
dragonaion's review against another edition
- 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
As a lover of fae of all kinds, I was tickled and delighted by the smoothness and almost natural involvement of the fae in the story. None of it was out of place (which is saying something, given the nature of some of the scenes) and it all blended and came into place perfectly. With such expressions of high fantasy, it is hard to mistake some parts
Moderate: Death, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
There are scenes that may constitute "child abuse", but the character is not technically a child but a magical creature in the shape of a child, and the "sexual content" includes barely a kiss.ymziegler's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Animal death