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lackyducks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
slow-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
This book combines serious stakes with a lighter focus on relationships in a way that leaves me yearning for more books like it.
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!
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!
Content Warnings
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
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
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
dark
mysterious
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
4.5
During an expedition to Hrafnsvik, Ljosland, Cambridge professor Emily Wilde uncovers unknown secrets of the fae world she has spent her whole life studying as she tries to save Hrafnsvik from the Hidden Ones alongside her colleague and frenemy Wendell Bambleby.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
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
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-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
3.0
Content Warnings
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
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
Very delightful, the relationship between Emily and Wendell reminds me of Howl and Sophie, from Howl's Moving Castle. Not exactly the same, but enough that it made me happy. It was a bit slow to start, but once they start solving the faerie-related problems of the villagers together, I was hooked. The faeries here are both the household helper/prankster as well as the beautiful and violent high fey types, very traditional folklore. Not the horny Sarah J. Maas ones. Adult, but not that kind of adult. This was just a very nice, folklore-based fantasy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
flohbeutel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Lasst es mich so ausdrücken. Das Hörbuch geht 11 Stunden, und das war etwa 6 Stunden zu lang für den Inhalt.
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
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
takarakei'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
While this isn't my typical cup of tea when it comes to fantasy, I did enjoy this. It's very cozy, a bit funny, and whimsical.
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).
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).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Gore, and Violence
Minor: Animal cruelty
louisallama's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-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
5.0
I absolutely loved this book. Emily's socially awkward and slightly curmudgeonly nature and her love for faeries and academia, contrasted with Wendell's charm, chaos, and love for doing as little work as possible were so incredibly lovely. I loved all the villagers, as well as the use of fae as both malevolent and mysterious, and the subject of academic study. Emily and Wendell's banter was just so fun, and the whole entry around Wendell's declaration of love was so chaotic but romantic, perfect for these two characters!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Animal death
dragonaion's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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
At first I was not taken by the "matter of fact" and neutral approach of the story. I thought the first two chapters were dry and simple, but I can attest that is the author writing the world through the eyes of the main character and is very apropos. By chapter three, I was smitten and devoured every page.
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 partslike an animal cloak that melts in the heat, but reluctantly gives the wearer what they need as being absurd and not belonging, like suddenly seeing a majestic and shining pegasus in a normal field. This magic, however, was laced in so naturally that it naturally belonged and was wonderful.
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
Content Warnings
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
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
I liked this book. I love the vibe of being in a cottage in a very very snowy town and going out to study fae. The faerie lore is incredibly developed, there are so many details throughout the book and it's explained in a way that fits the tone of Emily, who is writing the book as her research journal. The romance wasn't extremely developed, though I believe that's because there will be a sequel. Wendell was a fun character, I enjoyed how his not-caring and Emily's not-caring kind of worked together but came from different sources. I loved Poe's character, he's just a little faerie who bakes bread in exchange for not having to shovel the snow in front of his tree! Also, once the conflict picked up, I couldn't put the book down. There is also a sapphic couple in the village and their relationship is not a major part of the plotline but they are very sweet. I recommend this book if you enjoy fae, faerie lore, and don't mind a light romance. To be clear, even if the romance wasn't super present in the book, the relationship between Wendell and Emily was incredibly entertaining even without the romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Animal death