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kynajayne's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
4.5
I really loved this book. Emily’s character is just so great, so knowledgeable and quick on her feet. I love her relationships to others as well - so oblivious to them at times but also surprise sweetness when they are able to connect with her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
a_ab's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I really liked the storytelling in this book, and the great titular character. She was complex and her social issues felt relatable and realistic to me.
The folklore was fascinating, the academic realities — true and amusing, the village social dynamics — interesting and fun to observe.
However, the romantic storyline soured some of the book for me. <spoiler >The character of Wendell did not feel real to me — he was too different from others of his kind (for no apparent good reason), so it seemed like the author tried to make him more likable. But that didn't work either, because even with those adjustments, he is appalling, especially as a potential romantic interest for anybody, and even worse as a potential romantic partner for the heroine. And her consideration of him as such seemed as either enchantment or desperation, because she is aware and critical of most of his shortcomings. If the potential romance was not part of their dynamic, I would've appreciated the whole book a lot more. <spoiler/>
The folklore was fascinating, the academic realities — true and amusing, the village social dynamics — interesting and fun to observe.
However, the romantic storyline soured some of the book for me. <spoiler >The character of Wendell did not feel real to me — he was too different from others of his kind (for no apparent good reason), so it seemed like the author tried to make him more likable. But that didn't work either, because even with those adjustments, he is appalling, especially as a potential romantic interest for anybody, and even worse as a potential romantic partner for the heroine. And her consideration of him as such seemed as either enchantment or desperation, because she is aware and critical of most of his shortcomings. If the potential romance was not part of their dynamic, I would've appreciated the whole book a lot more. <spoiler/>
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Animal death, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Body horror, Blood, and Kidnapping
katharina90's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Cosy fantasy with cute characters and some funny exchanges. The pace was way too slow for me though.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement and Kidnapping
Minor: Classism
ychsn's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Confinement
Moderate: Animal death
shadowspinner's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement
chrisljm's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
A lovely soft fantasy that felt so comforting and the perfect read for a snow-filled winter.
It's stemmed in a world we're used to, but with the addition of fae and magic, so while there is world building and new myths to be learned, it still feels familiar. I loved the setting, the adventure, the characters, as well as the hint of romance we got to see.I wasn't convinced about that romance at first, because Bambelby didn't arrive on the scene until well into the start of the story, and I wasn't certain that the romance was between him and Emily until well after that. But the more I learned about them and saw how they interacted with each other, the more I came to adore their relationship and how they contrast each other. This book was enchanting and I eagerly await the next book in the series.
It's stemmed in a world we're used to, but with the addition of fae and magic, so while there is world building and new myths to be learned, it still feels familiar. I loved the setting, the adventure, the characters, as well as the hint of romance we got to see.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Blood, Animal cruelty, Murder, Death, Child abuse, Self harm, and Torture
Minor: Vomit, Alcohol, and Suicidal thoughts
maublew'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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Murder, Violence, and Confinement
Minor: Death
bookforthought's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries is a delightfully cosy light academia fantasy, perfect for these grey January days. I tend to really enjoy books featuring fae, and this was no exception!
Emily is a really interesting character. She is devoted to her research and highly introverted, struggling to read social cues and feel comfortable around strangers, which makes it very hard for her to befriend the locals of the remote village of Hrafnsvik when she arrives there to conduct the final part of her research. Which would be fine if she didn't desperately need their help to uncover the secrets of the Hidden Ones, the most elusive faeries of them all. As if she wasn't having enough problems, her academic rival Wendell Bambleby decides to invite himself along to help with her research.
I really liked seeing how Emily's relationships with other characters developed: she is guarded and slow to trust, but fiercely loyal to those who make it past her protective shell. Bambleby was so much fun and I loved all the bickering between the two of them, as well as all the ways he tried to make Emily feel more comfortable. The side characters were also fantastic! The village really came alive and I loved getting to know them as they learned to understand Emily. The bonds that developed between characters were really well constructed, in a way that felt natural and realistic.
The worldbuilding was another element I enjoyed. The book is written in journal form as Emily's field notes, so it does lean quite heavily towards exposition by its very nature. This is one of the few things I wasn't too keen on, but it did end up working well to provide context and clearly explain the rules of the world. It was dangerous and magical, as it often is when fae are involved, with every clearing hiding a secret and each tree oozing magic. The lore was rich and deep and so, so interesting to discover. Emily's ability to relate to the faeries was extremely interesting to witness and I loved every scene in which she interacted with them. I struggled a bit with the journal form at the beginning as it felt very slow (both in structure and language), but as soon as Bambleby arrived the story picked up its pace and soon I was fully hooked!
Overall, this is a light and cosy read featuring unforgettable characters, faerie court intrigues, academic research and a slow-burn romance, topped with a generous sprinkling of humour and danger: basically most of my favourite things! I'll definitely be looking forward to the second book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Blood
Moderate: Kidnapping and Confinement
bookishflower's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
4.0
If any of the following appeal, pick up this book:
- light academia
- Cottagecore
- Fae
- Cosy fantasy
- Atmospheric writing
- Fantasy Romance
- Grumpy x sunshine where she’s the grumpy one
Synopsis:
Taking a field trip to Hrafsvik to continue her study of faeries, Emily is determined to complete her encyclopaedia which could be groundbreaking in the academic study of dryadology.
But Emily’s strong suit is books and research, not people.
And as if her rocky start with the town’s people wasn’t bad enough, her persistently charming and aggravating handsome rival, Wendell Bambleby, decides to arrive.
Working together Emily and Wendell attempt to piece together the secrets of the Hidden Ones, while exploring their partnership and hearts.
This was beautifully written and a perfect winter read to curl up with. It was atmospheric, lyrical and full of whimsy.
I can see how this might not be for everyone as it has very flowery language and a Howl Pendragon type love interest, but I loved that as it felt accurate to Emily’s distinct voice and they complimented each other well.
(This will come as a surprise to no one who knows me, but I love Anne of Green Gables with my whole heart so know I don’t say this lightly, this has a strong Anne and Gilbert dynamic)!
The world building was intricate and reminded me a lot of Margaret Rogerson’s books and the A Natural History of Dragons series.
Emily is also autistic-coded which was really nice to see!
- light academia
- Cottagecore
- Fae
- Cosy fantasy
- Atmospheric writing
- Fantasy Romance
- Grumpy x sunshine where she’s the grumpy one
Synopsis:
Taking a field trip to Hrafsvik to continue her study of faeries, Emily is determined to complete her encyclopaedia which could be groundbreaking in the academic study of dryadology.
But Emily’s strong suit is books and research, not people.
And as if her rocky start with the town’s people wasn’t bad enough, her persistently charming and aggravating handsome rival, Wendell Bambleby, decides to arrive.
Working together Emily and Wendell attempt to piece together the secrets of the Hidden Ones, while exploring their partnership and hearts.
This was beautifully written and a perfect winter read to curl up with. It was atmospheric, lyrical and full of whimsy.
I can see how this might not be for everyone as it has very flowery language and a Howl Pendragon type love interest, but I loved that as it felt accurate to Emily’s distinct voice and they complimented each other well.
(This will come as a surprise to no one who knows me, but I love Anne of Green Gables with my whole heart so know I don’t say this lightly, this has a strong Anne and Gilbert dynamic)!
The world building was intricate and reminded me a lot of Margaret Rogerson’s books and the A Natural History of Dragons series.
Emily is also autistic-coded which was really nice to see!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Violence, Abandonment, Confinement, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Self harm, Murder, Death, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
wondereads13's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.5
What a fun book! It's rare that the word "fun" be used to describe a book about proper folklore faeries, but I feel this fits the bill. It was a great balance between the malicious and benevolent sides of faeries, and everything that happened in the main plot just felt like what would happen in a story with them. Emily and Wendell are in the running for one of my favorite couples; they might not have the intense chemistry associated with romance today, but their dry, begrudging care for each other is just what I love. I definitely recommend this book; it's perfect for anyone who likes faerie lore, pseudo-academic fantasy, or Howl's Moving Castle. (Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Confinement
Moderate: Vomit