You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by ashleysills
Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I can't believe this series is over! It's definitely become a comfort series that I hope to return to in the future.
This was a pretty good conclusion to the trilogy, in my opinion. It felt a little slower and more subdued than the first two, but because I enjoy the characters, the world, and the sometimes meandering trains of thought Emily takes us on so much, I didn't mind that the ending felt just a little anticlimactic. I would have loved one more chapter or an epilogue to end the trilogy, but in all honesty, there's a full-circle quality to how the book ended, and I think it fits Emily's character. And mayyyybe an opening for a companion novel set in this world in the future?
Things I love about this series (that you may or may not love):
- it's told through the journal entries of a grumpy, reclusive dryadology professor, and I love her absolute passion for her scientific discoveries, her dry wit, and her ever-so-slightly abrasive personality.
- Emily uses her extensive knowledge of faeries and her cleverness to solve problems - and she's perhaps a little more foolhardy than she should be.
- it's set in an alternate Edwardian version of Europe where faeries (the beautiful-but-deadly kind) and the scientific study of dryadology exist. Combining academia with fantastical creatures? Sounds like my cup of tea.
- I wouldn't classify this series as cozy fantasy, but maybe cozy-adjacent? There are stakes and a plot, but it takes its time, and the problems the characters solve along the way are resolved maybe a little easier than your average action-driven fantasy novel.
- the romantic subplot is pretty small and is very much a slow-burn, but there's yearning and loyalty and devotion (also some rivalry/banter in book one) and I loved it. Not steamy at all, either.
So, If you're looking for a fantasy series with high stakes, a driving plot, big character arcs and super likable characters, and a lot of romance, you might find this one lacking.
I can see myself recommending this series to just about anyone simply because I love it so much haha, but I think readers who love western folklore, introverted/abrasive main characters, slower plots, and who enjoy just existing in fascinating, magical, and sometimes sinister worlds will love this series best.
This was a pretty good conclusion to the trilogy, in my opinion. It felt a little slower and more subdued than the first two, but because I enjoy the characters, the world, and the sometimes meandering trains of thought Emily takes us on so much, I didn't mind that the ending felt just a little anticlimactic. I would have loved one more chapter or an epilogue to end the trilogy, but in all honesty, there's a full-circle quality to how the book ended, and I think it fits Emily's character. And mayyyybe an opening for a companion novel set in this world in the future?
Things I love about this series (that you may or may not love):
- it's told through the journal entries of a grumpy, reclusive dryadology professor, and I love her absolute passion for her scientific discoveries, her dry wit, and her ever-so-slightly abrasive personality.
- Emily uses her extensive knowledge of faeries and her cleverness to solve problems - and she's perhaps a little more foolhardy than she should be.
- it's set in an alternate Edwardian version of Europe where faeries (the beautiful-but-deadly kind) and the scientific study of dryadology exist. Combining academia with fantastical creatures? Sounds like my cup of tea.
- I wouldn't classify this series as cozy fantasy, but maybe cozy-adjacent? There are stakes and a plot, but it takes its time, and the problems the characters solve along the way are resolved maybe a little easier than your average action-driven fantasy novel.
- the romantic subplot is pretty small and is very much a slow-burn, but there's yearning and loyalty and devotion (also some rivalry/banter in book one) and I loved it. Not steamy at all, either.
So, If you're looking for a fantasy series with high stakes, a driving plot, big character arcs and super likable characters, and a lot of romance, you might find this one lacking.
I can see myself recommending this series to just about anyone simply because I love it so much haha, but I think readers who love western folklore, introverted/abrasive main characters, slower plots, and who enjoy just existing in fascinating, magical, and sometimes sinister worlds will love this series best.
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood
🌶: non-steamy romance, characters kiss occasionally and there are a couple brief references that intimacy happened.