I absolutely ADORED this story. Such a magical follow up to book one, and it kept the wonderful whimsy of the series going. I character development was spot on, and I can't wait to read it again.

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands : This is the second instalment of this series and it is a little more intense and darker than the first. It is a mash up of romance, academia, and fantasy. The characters are complex but likeable, and the storyline is pure escapism. Definitely a world to cosy up and get lost in.

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is a wonderful follow-up to the first book, filled with magic, adventure, and heart. Fawcett’s writing is as engaging as ever, and I especially loved seeing Emily and Wendall’s relationship grow. Can’t wait for book 3!

Heather Fawcett does it again. With this book we continue following along Emily and Wendell and the wonderful adventure that they found themselves in.

I have to admit that Emily is not my favourite character as it can be a bit difficult to relate to her ways, however it is quite charming to see her dedication to her study and all the Fae that she encounters.

This book went a bit more dark than the 1st book, but still we continue to see the devotion that Wendell has towards Emily and see that dedication starting to be reciprocated. It was also amazing to see what Emily is capable and how she makes her moves within the fae royalty.

I enjoyed this book quite a lot and can’t wait to see what adventure are waiting on the next instalment. Definitely a recommended read.

Thank you Little Brown Book Group UK for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I just love these books, I love the slow pace, the research that must go into them, the cosy academic feel with a dash of otherworldly peril, and the focus on Emily and how she navigates relationships with others.

I did miss Wendell and Emily's banter and wish they'd had more time together on page, but I get why it wasn't there, because this is Emily's story, and Wendell isn't her sole focus, and given that she feels she knows him well enough, her concentration, and therefore ours as readers, is on the people she is less comfortable with and with the problems she faces with her work and her research.

The book definitely starts slow, and I think readers used to romance and more YA fantasy romance might expect the marriage proposal and the romantic plotline to take centre stage and progress pretty quickly, but Emily's relationship with Wendell is something she still has to navigate and think about and fit into her life and goals, so I think the slow development of their story as a couple works for me.

Also, love the cat!

These books just have everything I love, and a main character I understand, relate to and cheer for, love it!

This was a just a great read. I was just all in the story.
Loved the MCs. Lovely written book. i enjoyed more than I expected I would

Never have I ever been this obsessed with a series! 📚💫

My review may be late, but it’s only because I didn’t want to finish this book—it was just too good, and I had to savor every page!

Emily is hands-down one of my favorite FMCs ever, and Wendel... well, he’s simply too precious! 🥹💖 I adore how the author blends hilarious scenes with that scientific journaling style, all while showing more of Emily’s emotions in this second book.

Every character, both new and familiar, brought something wonderful to the story. I genuinely can’t wait for the next book! 📖✨

This is a series I recommend to EVERYONE, young and old—it’s too good to miss!

Thank you, NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK | Orbit for providing access to the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For a cosy fantasy, a genre I should, on paper, love but often struggle with as time goes on - Emily Wilde's seems to contain enough elements to keep me entertained. It's got a fascinating world, Heather Fawcett's mind creating imagery that follows no rules and compares to nothing I've ever read. But apart from that, the key jewel of the series is still its main characters.

While the new characters brought some further developments, the best parts of the book were still the scenes in which Emily and Wendell interacted with each other, pushing each other and growing together. It was so beautiful to see her open up and become more affectionate towards him. Every single time they had an honest conversation my love for the series made itself known better and better.

However... once they were apart, my enthusiasm for the book faded bit by bit, to a point where I was simply reading to get it done with, rather than enjoying the journey.

Still, I'm very much looking forward to the next one.

Utterly captivating.

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands picks up a few months after the events of the Encyclopaedia of Faeries. Now, EWEoF holds a special place in my heart - when my little boy was born, he had to spend a week in NICU. It was horrendous, and I felt helpless- the only thing I could do was read to him and this was the book I chose. It was an excellent choice, delivering pure escapism, comfort and warmth. So, I had high hopes for the sequel and it did not disappoint.

Heather Fawcett has created a truely magical and enchanting world that you can't help but lose yourself in. The main characters are completely loveable though my favourites will always be Shadow and Poe. The romance between Emily and Wendell is sweet, but not overly in your face as they set off on a quest to find a door to his realm. We meet new fae and visit new places and the book proved almost impossible to put down. I was so glad to see that there is going to be a third book!

I can't recommend this enough. Perfect cosy fantasy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

When mysterious faeries from other realms appear at her university, curmudgeonly professor Emily Wilde must uncover their secrets before it’s too late, in this heartwarming, enchanting second installment of the Emily Wilde series.

This book works excellently as a sequel. It continues from the end of the first book and offers hints, wherever needed, of what happened earlier. There’s no wastage of time with extensive character build-up or plot recaps. It also doesn’t rush things to an end but brings the current arc to a proper close, while setting up the foundation for what’s next in store. I love it when sequels don’t just rehash events from the earlier book, but take the plot as well as the characters ahead.

Just like the first book, Emily tells the tale through journal entries, and towards the end of book we get an entry from Wendell himself. The entries are written so incredibly well, their personalities really shine through with the way each of them describe everything that happens and also with their own thoughts and reflections on everything. It’s so beautifully written that it’s hard not to fall in love with the characters and the world. It’s one of those books where you can tell every word has been thoroughly thought out and has purpose.

-----------WHAT I ENJOYED: ------------
- I have to say, I absolutely adored being back in this world again, following Emily, Wendell and Shadow on their adventures through Faerie. I continued to love the dynamic between Emily and Wendell. They are honestly like a charming old married couple, who bicker and taunt each other, but whose deep-rooted love can be seen in every interaction. Wendell is basically just a golden retriever character, who cares for and protects not only Emily, but those she cares for as well. They are just so cute together, and their relationship really had me swooning at points!

- However, there were a lot of changes in the character dynamics as well, as this book is set nearly a year after the events of the first book. I think the most obvious change to me was in Emily's character. Heather Fawcett continues to be ridiculously clever in her writing style, in that the changes in Emily could mainly be seen through how she approached her journal, rather than through her physical actions.

- Emily's journal has become a lot more personal in nature compared to the first book, and so shows her being more open and slightly more relaxed. It was really lovely to see these changes in her character, as she seemed a lot more settled in herself, especially within a social context. We got to see little cameos from the characters from the first book who Emily made lasting friendships with; this was not only just a nice little throwback, but it also shows how much Emily has grown as a person as she was very...opposed...to making friends before!

- As well as seeing some of our old favourites, we got introduced to a bunch of new characters in this book, which was so fun as they really balanced the dynamic of the group. The two main new characters were Ariadne, Emily's niece, and Professor Rose, one of Emily and Wendell's co-workers. I especially loved the addition of Professor Rose as he disapproves of basically everything Emily and Wendell do and so we finally got to see someone who wasn't slightly in awe of them! However, he does have (begrudging) respect for Emily and her work, and so it was fun to see how their work ethics were different, but also how they learnt from each other.

- I really loved the addition of these side characters for a couple of reasons. First, their deeper exploration, added with the personal tone of the writing style, made me feel really connected to them and the wider story in a way that was missing from the first book. So, it was nice that I didn't have the same complaints in this instalment!

- But, more importantly, I feel like they made Emily feel a lot more real as they brought out different sides of her character. We saw her trying to balance being a strict professor with being a responsible aunt with Ariadne. We could see how snobby she can be in her work with her interactions with Professor Rose, and how her professional jealousy can lead to her being very single-minded. We get to see these pretty negative qualities in her, but they just made her feel more rounded and realistic as no one is perfect. Rather than making her unlikable, I just found her to be even more charming honestly!!

- Moving on from the characters in this book, let's talk about the actual plot because it was a lot more action heavy than the first instalment. We see our characters going on another adventure to further their knowledge of the Faerie realms, but there is a lot more at stake as Wendell is also trying to find a way back home. But, the home he is trying to return to is not the safest place, and so we got to see a really dark and menacing side of Faerie too. Some of the events are not for the faint of heart, but I loved how it added a new layer to this world, and really captured the essence of the classic fairy stories!

- This book felt a lot more structured in terms of plot and world development, and always left me wondering what was going to happen next. We have a deeper knowledge of how the Faerie realms work, giving us a fuller understanding of this world in general. It was exciting and full of mysteries, whilst also managing to maintain the really cosy and whimsical atmosphere that made me fall in love with the first book. I think Heather Fawcett did an amazing job with this second instalment, and I'm now totally invested in this series!

---------OVERALL THOUGHTS---------
If you couldn't already tell, I absolutely loved this book. I honestly could not have asked for a better sequel; it expanded our knowledge of the world, it kept the super cosy atmosphere while also making the story exciting, and it really added a lot of development to our characters. This series is quickly becoming a new favourite, so I am definitely going to be picking up the next book when it comes out! I 100% recommend this series if you are into cosy fantasy.

Thank you again to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for the Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands
the charming light academia Sunday Times bestseller
by Heather Fawcett

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Romance, Sci Fi & Fantasy

I loved the first book, fabulous, and this second lives up to that promise. Emily is her same slightly awkward self, a little out if step with the rest of the world. Even This world ;-) Wendell is the same, that on the surface slightly flaky persona, but underneath a really sharp, intelligent person. It took a while in the first book for me to really get to understand Wendell, Emily was no problem, she feels like me, a bit outside the normal range...what's that phrase? Singing from a different hymn sheet..

Emily's new project is fun, and she thinks she may make progress on finding the door to Wendell's realm. That's becoming quite urgent, as his stepmother, the current Queen, has been sending assassins for him. I love how Emily just takes all this danger in her stride, deals with assassins and attackers as if its is just part of everyday life. She just ploughs on, intent on her goal. Nothing fazes her :-)
There's a great mix of gentle humour, subtle clues and weird oddities, along with vicious fae, and a few helpful fae. Often because they have their own agenda so help has to be accepted very cautiously of course.
Its a fabulous read again, with all sorts of different characters, and some fun moments mixed in with some real dramas, and a daring rescue. Roll on book three.


Stars: Five, another great installment, looking forward to the next!

ARC supplied by netgalley and publishers

Beatiful sequel in Emily's world.
Perfect for a cozy afternoon read.

Can't wait to continue with book 3!!!

Book review 📚
Emily Wilde's map of the otherlands by Heather Fawcett - 4.5/5 ⭐

Another absolutely flawless read from Fawcett. I was so incredibly late to Book 1 of Emily Wilde but once I did read it, I swooned. It was cute and cosy, utterly amazing. Book 2 is absolutel no different. Actually that's a lie, there was maybe a bit more "drama" in otherlands, but it was still cute and cosy!

I'm unsure if I rate it more then book 1, it's very difficult because I thoroughly enjoyed both of them and would read them all over again. I even preorder the hardback way back in November I was that eager for it! The covers are absolutely breathtaking, easy to pick up simply for the look alone.

However, the writing. My goodness. I have never seen anything like it. I'm not a cute and cosy girl, I'm and dark and tragic reader. But Fawcett makes me swoon over the Emily Wilde books. They're easy, seamless and phenomenal. I find myself in absolute awe when finishing a good book and this was easily one of the best books I've read. Both 1 & 2 are equally as good as each other with absolutely no flaws at all.

I would sell my soul to to be able to read then both again, they will remain 2 of the best books I've read for a very long while. I will now go and hunt to the end of the worlds to make sure I read every single book by Fawcett for the rest of my life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

I really enjoyed the first book, so when this came up as available to request, I just had to. It didn't feel like it suffered from second book syndrome, but rather just continued on with those cosy vibes!

This second instalment of Emily Wilde’s escapades with her faerie fiancé did not disappoint. I was straight back in her world as I read this diarised adventure story. As the main voice of the book, Emily’s character is clear and complex as she continues to learn how to connect with people (and faeries), rather than hide in academia. And her relationship with Bambleby is central to that process. Often touching and always exciting, this book is one of my favourite finds of the year. Bring on the 3rd instalment. Can’t wait!

I don't really think I have the words to truly express the love and adoration I hold for this series. I started the series last year, going in not quite knowing what to expect, and fell in love with the world and characters created by Heather Fawcett. Going into book two had me scared I wouldn't feel the way I did after book one, that genuine joy and warm feeling a good book brings to you. However, I was not disappointed while reading this second instalment in the series.

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands had everything I craved, from the humour, to the characters, to the setting and the plot. I simply couldn't get enough, and I doubt I ever will. It is by far my favourite read of the year so far, and I simply couldn't praise it enough for how much enjoyment I got out of reading it. Every character brings in something different, a vision of their world and the adventures they go through. The journalistic style of the book and the flow of the narration, no matter how hard it tries to stay unbiased, at least from Emily's perspective, is explored in such an entertaining way that I couldn't stop myself from reading.

The two complaints I probably have are that I wish the book could go on for longer. I wished it didn't end, yet I had to accept the fact it would. And I will always hope for more Emily and Wendell scenes of them just together.

I am more than excited for book three to come out and can't wait to pick it up next year!

Similar to the first book of this series, although I love the cover of these books I find the cover and title a marketing nightmare-for years I saw these and assumed they was actual little kids encyclopedias and did not understand why the book girlies were hyped about it. After reading it i’m still eh. However I liked this one better than the first and presume i’ll like the third better yet.

The story is written as academic Emily Wilde’s field journal as she goes on a new expedition to discover fairies in the Austrian mountains. In this world fairies are known about and avidly studied in universities but still largely regarded as mischievous tricksters that the general populace leave alone. Emily is an academic from Cambridge and is attempting to discover a faerie door while working on her latest book. She and her colleague Wendell Brambley end up entangled in a small wintery mountain town’s fae community drama and an adventure ensues with vague romance. Mostly same as the first.

My opinions on the series remain the same after reading this one. I think the characters are interesting and the world building fascinating however the dedication to writing the whole story from the perspective of a scholar’s field journal left it extremelyyyyy boring and bland and very young sounding. This limited perspective made the romance mostly left to the readers imagination. I found the plot twists particularly boring as our main character is very clever and would often just state things as they are. Although I do appreciate this dedication to writing an erudite character who actually is smart and useful and not just supposed to be smart. I often found Emily’s character sorta boring since she solely focuses on her research and rarely mentions emotions, romance, or social interactions. There was an allusion to her perhaps being aromantic which would be nice rep and make more sense. It could also be argued this lack of romance is because it’s supposed to be academic notes but that is ridiculous since she often mentions things that are not academic related.

I also disliked the one chapter we get from Wendell’s perspective. I found it quite lazy. It’s exciting to get the love interests perspective but I think that should either be a consistent choice to have every other chapter from a different POV or do it as a seperate novella or just tumblr release.

Although the story was fun I found the climax events escalated entirely too fast and resolved too quickly and easily. However I do think it was better than the first book’s. There is also virtually no character development. But I did enjoy when the human characters experienced fae lands. It had a very visceral feeling to the descriptions and woozy character actions. I also absolutely love the fae world building it’s fascinating.

I really enjoyed this continuation of Emily Wilde and it really kept the cozy fantasy vibes from the first book. I like the development of the characters and the introduction of new characters. I liked to get to know more of Emily's background and the reason she is so passionate about her research.

I am so here for the continuation of the slow burn romance and I absolutely loved the development of their relationship in this book.

This series never loses its charm and it really is a cozy book you can snuggle up with when you want an easy going but still exciting folklore inspired fantasy.

I can’t wait to read the third book in this series when it becomes available!

A Whimsical Journey Through Faerie Realms, with a Dash of Romance!

Heather Fawcett delivers another charming adventure with Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands, the delightful second instalment in the Emily Wilde series and omg did I love it!

If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if an intrepid academic got tangled up in faerie politics and romance, this book is the answer and it’s a joy from start to finish!

Emily Wilde, the brilliant yet socially awkward scholar of faerie folklore, is back on the case, this time mapping the faerie realms. Her quest takes her (and us!) to the enchanting Austrian Alps, where stunning scenery meets perilous Folk magic. At her side is none other than Wendell Bambleby, her infuriatingly handsome colleague who just so happens to be a faerie king on the run from his vengeful mother. Their banter? Top-notch. Their chemistry? Absolutely swoon-worthy.

Emily’s academic curiosity leads her deep into the mysteries of faerie doors and hidden realms, but the story doesn’t stop at magical maps. Along the way, she navigates new friendships and the budding realisation that her feelings for Bambleby might be more complicated than she thought. Cue all the heartwarming (and occasionally hilarious) moments as Emily, who’s better with ancient faerie manuscripts than human interactions, figures out not only the workings of faerie doors but also her own heart.

Fawcett strikes a perfect balance between academic intrigue, enchanting folklore, and laugh-out-loud moments. Emily’s prickly, no-nonsense demeanour is the perfect foil to Wendell’s effortless charm, and watching their relationship develop is just as exciting as the magical mysteries they unravel.

While the plot moves at a brisk pace, the heart of the book is its characters, especially Emily, who remains wonderfully relatable as she fumbles through social situations while excelling at all things faerie. And Wendell? Well, let’s just say if he ever needs a door back to his faerie kingdom, we’re all holding it wide open for him.

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is an utterly enchanting sequel that weaves adventure, romance, and folklore into a captivating tale. Perfect for fans of whimsical fantasy and slow burn romances, with just enough faerie mischief to keep you guessing! If you love faeries, folklore, and a quirky academic heroine, you’re in for a treat.

Now, where do we get our own faerie map? ;)


Thank you to the publisher Little, Brown Book Group UK | Orbit , the author Heather Fawcett, and Netgalley for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review