Reviews with content warning for Death - Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries

This book was equally charming and creepy in a Brothers Grimm sort of way. Emily is an independent explorer/researcher looking to uncover the mysteries or the Fairies. But on her adventure in the cold of a small town in the middle of nowhere where she uncovers more than she planned. This was part Brothers Grimm part Pride and Prejudice to me. I love the banter but wish there had been more romance. Hoping the second book develops that relationship a bit more. But it was a great read and a bit of a historic one as well. Perfect winter book.

Content Warnings

bree_h_reads's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was so fun and delightful and casual. It was just such a pleasant read, the more relaxed tone emphasising that.

The plot was consistent and largely casual. Things were happening, but not wild displays of action. The characters would learn things, do things, advance the plot, but in more casual feeling ways. It suited the story’s feel very well.

The character also all felt very dynamic and real. Each one felt unique and different. This variety of character also leant to interesting relationships. I especially appreciated the variety of women in the book and how unique each one felt. Though my favourite character was Shadow, easily the best character and goodest boy. The interest of the characters and their dynamics also really leant to the book’s subtle romance. It snuck up on me and when it did, I was delighted.

I especially liked the world building and how fey lore was handled in the book. Everything drew me in and kept me fascinated. It was also delightful when I recognised some of the lore and I liked learning more. The faerie lore was just so interesting and I’m looking forward to read more of the series.

I only have a few more notes for what I enjoyed. Which are the amazing performance of the narrators, the framing device of the story being told in Emily’s journal, and the casual approach to queerness. Overall a great read, I definitely recommend it.

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smolone13's review

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Ratings:

Goodreads: 4/5

Storygraph: 4/5

My Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

Emily Wilde is a professor who is on her own expedition in Hrafnsvik to find a rare kind of faerie, the Hidden Ones. While on her own expedition her rival/friend joins her, Wendell Bambleby.

My Review:

This was the first bookclub book that I had chosen for my little group and I honestly fell in love with the book quite quickly. It might have just been her charming dog right from the get-go! Besides her dog, however, Emily Wilde is an interesting character. She perceives herself as a lone-wolf. The adventures she goes on is mostly down by herself for the fact her students don’t even want to join her. She doesn’t do well with talking to other people, but she easily gets along with the Fae that she is always getting herself involved with. Her encyclopedia is filled to the brim with information on the Folk and how different they all are including their cultures. When she arrives at Hrafnsvik, the first few questions she asks is what kind of Faeries are around in the area. Although she is the main character, we can’t forget the best side character which is Wendell Bambleby. Wendell is an interesting character in the fact he is overwhelmingly good-looking and charming, even though he is kind of a dick. Besides him being a dick, he is honestly a great side character to Emily Wilde’s timid-ness.

The setting is kind of bland, but it makes a lot of sense considering where they are at. They are basically looking for frost Faeries. So, they are exactly where that is. A land of just snow. There really isn’t much else. They are either in a beat up shack by themselves, because Bambleby’s own students dipped on him when they couldn’t stand the cold conditions anymore, or they are outside in the forests or in the frosty plains. There are a few times where they end up in Faeries circles/lands and end up crossing over into the Fae world from portals.

At least there was a clear plot, in fact, it is right in the synopsis (spoiler, sorry). They literally find the Hidden Ones. Not only find them, but help them with their own problems so that the Hidden Ones stop kidnapping the villagers' children and stop a never-ending winter. Besides that, there are a few twists (if you can call them that) where Emily Wilde has a theory that Wendell Bambleby is a lost Fae king, which turns out to be true. Besides that minute detail, the plot is quite clear from the very beginning, it is just whether you want to stick to it on the journey. Which the actual reading is quite fun considering most of the time it is just Bambleby flirting with Emily but she sees it as bickering.

I would say that I enjoyed this particular book, but it wasn’t my favorite. I have read a lot of fantasy novels and stories from free books on Wattpad, to children’s books, to the books I have read in my own collection. I will say it is more of a cozy fantasy read because you already know what is happening and what to expect. I think the only difference is at the end Emily Wilde agrees to help Wendell Bambleby find his lost portal back to his kingdom so that he can rule again. (Which I believe continues on in the second book which I will have to read!) Overall, if you are looking for a cozy fantasy and something that isn’t too serious, I highly recommend this book!

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umrah's review

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adventurous 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? It's complicated

4.5

this is the first time i've used the c.a.w.p.i.l.e rating system to rate a book, and i think it's pretty accurate. this book was a lovely read, and my expectations were very much fulfilled.
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cawpile -> 9.2

sub-ratings -> characters (9), atmosphere (10), writing style (9), plot (9), intrigue (10), logic/relationships (8.5), enjoyment (9)

my first 5 star of the year! i'm also going to read the next book, so excited for that!

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full review below, may contain spoilers

when i read a book, i don't look for romance, but if it is done well and in my tastes, boy i devour it. and this is exactly that! the chemistry that emily and wendell has is refreshing, and quite hilarious sometimes. can't wait to see how it turns out in the next book, to be honest! but that isn't the only thing that made me fall in love with this book. the writing is exceptional! love the descriptions so much, it made me feel like i'm really in ljosland with them, stomping in knee-high snow with furry boots and looking for faes. wendell is a great character, and i don't know if it's just me or i see shane madej from watcher (or ex-buzzfeed unsolved) in him. like the descriptions? him being a king of a fantastical species? opposed to the demon king shane? i see a lot of similarities. i love wendell's playful nature and his goofiness. also, one of my friends (hi kana if you're reading this), remarked that wendell bambleby was seriously trying to pretend being a human with a name like wendell bambleby? that's so true. anyways, i think the characters in here were extremely well-written too. i loved reading the sub-plots, like the thing with ari, the changeling and poe. the villagers were lovely too. the plot was also very interesting, really drew me in! never got boring all the way through. all in all, fantastic read!

happy reading! :)

Content Warnings

folkofthebook's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective tense slow-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

4.75

The Folk were of another world, with its own rules and customs—and to a child who always felt ill-suited to her own world, the lure was irresistible.

this was delighful!

a slow-paced but enchanting tale written as journal entries by ambitious academic emily wilde, who's greatest dream is to be the number one world-renowned leading expert on faeries - specifically, the most elusive known as the "Hidden Ones". she is joined by her colleague (and begrudgingly for her, friend) wendell bambleby, who may not be all who he seems.

if you're looking for something to really settle into with various interwoven tales of faerie folklore, this will be up your alley. i enjoyed the charm of the cold, wintery village of Hrafnsvik and its inhabitants - human and mythical alike. while a more cozy tone, it does not sacrifice the sometimes malevolent, violent nature of fae.

emily and bambleby are a charming grumpy x sunshine pairing; emily being more introverted (and i suspect on the spectrum), while bambleby is a total ham, very gilderoy lockhart. the two balance each other out well, and i do enjoy how clear it is bambleby adores em from the start (before we even met him on page, his drawing of her in his letter "Bambleby had even had the gall to make me pretty" i knew they were endgame). he is superfluous, charismatic, enigmatic, a bit lazy and indulgent - but charmingly so.

some of my honest thoughts (spoilers here):

while i thoroughly enjoyed the budding romance between bambleby and emily, i was a bit put off that he was cavorting w other women under the same roof as her and then suddenly proposing to her about 3/4 through. i had made my peace w his dalliances thinking maybe the series would be a bit of a slow burn between them, but then he suddenly proclaimed his love for her and proposed marriage? i just didn't really understand where that came from, and emily's own reaction felt very tepid. on the other hand, i very much enjoyed getting to see a complete flipside to bambleby as dangerous fae folk when em is attacked.

audiobook narrator did an excellent job, esp w bambleby's irish accent!

overall, i recommend grabbing yourself a warm drink and settling with some treats for this enchanting book.

Content Warnings

pandemonicbaby's review against another edition

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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

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theintrovertsbooks's review

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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

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cadence_e's review

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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.

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