A review by folkofthebook
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

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.

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