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bookkaiju 's review for:
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries
by Heather Fawcett
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Dr. Emily Wilde of Cambridge University is in the final stages of finishing her encyclopedia on fairies. Soon it will revolutionize the field of dryadology, and more importantly, get her tenure. She needs just one more chapter. Now she is on the island of Ljosland to study their Hidden Folk and in doing so break new academic ground. However, for the professor things do not go as planned, especially when her colleague shows up “to help.”
Over the last few years, we have seen the rise of a seemingly new genre of fantasy that can best be described as “cozy.” “Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries” by Heather Fawcett falls directly into this category. What makes it cozy, though? Well, the stakes are interesting, but also rather low. No world will be saved, instead, some villagers will be helped and a place at an academic conference is on the line. Instead, the focus is mainly on discovery and exploration, whether this is of the customs of the locals, the nature of the Hidden Folk, or the relationships between the characters.
Two things truly shine in this book. The first is world-building. You really get the sense that fairies are truly a part of this world, hidden just out of sight. More importantly, for me at least, is that it is treated as a science. Reading how Wilde goes about her research reads like an anthropologist studying a new culture. It leaves me wanting more chances to explore this world and learn more about the fair folk.
The second is the characters. The characters are snarky and waspish in the way only those stuck in academia can be. Yet, they are real. Wilde is never some fair maiden in a fairy tale. She is a professor first and foremost. She’s not romantic but instead is practical. She’s a bit socially awkward and knows it. Best of all though, is that her story arc is not about changing any of that. She’s allowed to remain who she is and she does not apologize for it.
My one complaint, though, is the pacing. This book falls into the trap that so many “cozy” fantasies do in that it is slow. There are a lot of vignettes, which are nice, but when what seems like the main plot kicks in, it seems a little too late. The back third of the book seems to go at a lightning pace compared to the rest without a chance to breathe. This pace change is a little jarring, but for me is not a deal breaker. I still found myself enjoying the ride.
I also enjoyed that this was written as a journal. By writing in the first person like this, Fawcett allows us to really get to know Wilde. We see her thoughts and feel her emotions. We see her observations. Plus the fact she is only writing what she finds relevant or noteworthy means there is a sense that more is going on behind the scenes than we are aware of. This helps the world in the book feel more expansive.
Overall I truly enjoyed this book. I loved the writing style and the world, and while it wasn’t perfect, it was rather perfect for me. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves fairies or folklore. It is the perfect book to read on a cozy winter night.
Dr. Emily Wilde of Cambridge University is in the final stages of finishing her encyclopedia on fairies. Soon it will revolutionize the field of dryadology, and more importantly, get her tenure. She needs just one more chapter. Now she is on the island of Ljosland to study their Hidden Folk and in doing so break new academic ground. However, for the professor things do not go as planned, especially when her colleague shows up “to help.”
Over the last few years, we have seen the rise of a seemingly new genre of fantasy that can best be described as “cozy.” “Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries” by Heather Fawcett falls directly into this category. What makes it cozy, though? Well, the stakes are interesting, but also rather low. No world will be saved, instead, some villagers will be helped and a place at an academic conference is on the line. Instead, the focus is mainly on discovery and exploration, whether this is of the customs of the locals, the nature of the Hidden Folk, or the relationships between the characters.
Two things truly shine in this book. The first is world-building. You really get the sense that fairies are truly a part of this world, hidden just out of sight. More importantly, for me at least, is that it is treated as a science. Reading how Wilde goes about her research reads like an anthropologist studying a new culture. It leaves me wanting more chances to explore this world and learn more about the fair folk.
The second is the characters. The characters are snarky and waspish in the way only those stuck in academia can be. Yet, they are real. Wilde is never some fair maiden in a fairy tale. She is a professor first and foremost. She’s not romantic but instead is practical. She’s a bit socially awkward and knows it. Best of all though, is that her story arc is not about changing any of that. She’s allowed to remain who she is and she does not apologize for it.
My one complaint, though, is the pacing. This book falls into the trap that so many “cozy” fantasies do in that it is slow. There are a lot of vignettes, which are nice, but when what seems like the main plot kicks in, it seems a little too late. The back third of the book seems to go at a lightning pace compared to the rest without a chance to breathe. This pace change is a little jarring, but for me is not a deal breaker. I still found myself enjoying the ride.
I also enjoyed that this was written as a journal. By writing in the first person like this, Fawcett allows us to really get to know Wilde. We see her thoughts and feel her emotions. We see her observations. Plus the fact she is only writing what she finds relevant or noteworthy means there is a sense that more is going on behind the scenes than we are aware of. This helps the world in the book feel more expansive.
Overall I truly enjoyed this book. I loved the writing style and the world, and while it wasn’t perfect, it was rather perfect for me. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves fairies or folklore. It is the perfect book to read on a cozy winter night.