Firstly, I just want to say how much I love this universe. The cosy, fairytale, light academia setting is so welcoming and warm, the characters are likeable and the way it is written is totally immersive.

It is not as intense as some fantasy reads, it is low stakes and feels like it would be a non-threatening introduction to anyone curious about dipping their toes into the world of the Fae.

After reading the first book, I had wished that there was more depth and development of both the world and the characters, however I felt that this second instalment in the series was successful in developing those aspects further. I loved that it didn’t waste time rehashing the events of the previous book, and flowed nicely at a good pace.

The charm, wit and overall style of the writing is refreshing and interesting, and I very much look forward to reading the third book.

I enjoyed Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands even more than the first book. The banter between Emily and Wendell is at its best as their relationship evolves, and their personalities develop. It was also a pleasure to meet new characters helping Emily and Wendell on their quest. I especially liked Emily’s niece, Ariadne.

As the title suggests, this sequel delves deeper into the lore and folklore of this world and introduces us to new creatures and new lands. On the other hand, as was already the case with book 1, I found the pacing a bit inconsistent, especially towards the middle. I can’t wait to see where Emily and Wendell’s next quest takes them in the next book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I really liked this book it was an easy read. It had funny bits and read like a fairytale.
I loved Shadow I also liked Emily and her thoughts and the fact she wasn't scared to speak her mind.
I hadn't read the first book but as the author refers to previous things when needed I didn't feel confused.
I do intend to go back and read the books in sequence.
The author describes both creatures and scenery very well.
The book kept me reading and I particularly liked the exchanges between Emily and Wendell which are fun.
I also liked Ariadne who brought enthusiasm and brightness.
I am really looking forward to the next book.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley

I have one sentence for this book: I loved it, and I wish I could reread it from the beginning. I adored the first book, but given my experience with other series, I started the sequel reluctantly, afraid it might not deliver. I'm happy to say I was wrong. The second book is a brilliant continuation of the first, and I genuinely couldn't put it down (I think I finished it within two days—an accomplishment, considering I had to interrupt my reading for work).
Where do I begin? The new setting in the Austrian Alps? The latest Folk introduced, woven beautifully into the vibrant world Fawcett has been building with this series? The storyline and the adventures (and troubles) that Emily, Wendell, and two new characters find themselves in? The development of these characters? Emily herself is a relatable protagonist—some might disagree, but I particularly connected with her, especially during her awkward moments. In this book, we gain a deeper understanding of her, and through her adventures and moments of tension, we see her reflections on friendship, belonging, and love.
Another aspect worth mentioning is the world-building, both in this book and the previous one. The Otherlands are described in great detail, making it easy for readers to visualise the lush landscapes, eerie forests, and mysterious faerie courts, along with the various types of fairies and magical creatures. The blending of folklore with the author’s original ideas gives the book a unique and captivating feel that made me wish I could be part of this world.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book, and I cannot wait for the third one.

Title: Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands (Emily Wilde Book 2)
Author: Heather Fawcett
Pages: 369
Rating: 4/5*

Arc Copy - review left voluntarily
Paperback publish date - 5th September 2024


I've gone from a dark academia to a light academia with Emily Wilde's sequel. We join Bambleby and Wilde on the adventure to the Austrian Alps in search of Wendell's door. Not only that - it seems he's been poisoned - and on his birthday too! Emily is rushing against time to save him.

With a high intense plotline the story is quite slow paced and relaxing. Like the first, I did struggle to warm up. However,, I see this as a reflection of Emily as a character as she is quite top the point and very blunt without need of social niceties.

I loved there were visits from past characters and we got to see what they'd been up to and the world building always makes me feel like I'm wrapped up in a cosy blanket as it's so beautifully written.

I laughed in some situations, and felt myself get annoyed at some of the characters in others which is always a good sign of well written work. Wendell's laid back isms offer light relief and he is almost the irritating lovable rogue.

I enjoy that it's based on journal story telling.

I'm very much looking forward to the third installment of the series!!


Have you read it? What did you think?

Just as delightful as the first book! With a new location we get to meet some new types of faeries, and we learn some more about Wendell and his family. The ending left me very excited for the next book.

I enjoyed every page, and if you liked the first book you will like this too.

Ahhh this book is genuinely adorable and fairie-core at its finest. I absolutely adored this novel from beginning to end - all the enchanted Fairie and folklore references - I do love a fantasy novel that has some of its setting in Ireland and harks back to all the legends of the fairies and folk. Emily and Wendell are the sweetest pairing - finding that they have to save his realm from his evil Queen stepmother and how they go through everything to stop her. World building was exquisite and the simple fact the book has an appendix at the back is everything. I cannot wait for the next book in the series! Would happily reread and recommend!

This novel was kindly gifted as an e-arc by NetGalley for an honest review.

Adventurous, whimsical, dark, yet cheery - this book was captivating from page one, and I can't wait for the third installment!

When I read Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, I wasn't totally engaged. I found the first book oddly paced, slow and meandering, and a bit aimless overall. However, all the problems I had with that first volume were sorted in Map of the Otherlands. The plot was much more focused, the characters' aims and emotions were balanced from the start, and the pacing was much better overall.

I loved that certain characters made a return in this book, as it helps keep everything cohesive, but the new ones were a bit forgettable. The village played little to no role in the story which was disappointing, and we got little in the way of their experiences with the Folk. That being said, I felt I was able to connect more with Emily this time around since she was more self aware. Plus, the relationship between her and Wendall progresses nicely here which was rewarding to see.

The atmosphere was fantastic, with a much more dynamic and dark vibe from the start. They are attacked by assassins, nearly killed by multiple magical creatures, and are haunted by missing scholars. It's so packed full of action, but it still remains true to the academic interests of Emily as she attempts to think logically and record every detail.

I'm curious to see what the repercussions are for Emily's actions in book three, and how the story will continue. Also, will her map include the nexus points or will she decide these are too dangerous to include? Her next steps are going to test her rigid 'research first' ideologies, and I'm excited to observe how she continues to change...

I loved Emily's and Wendell's new adventure! Their dynamic is so fun to read about!
Emily's slowly warming up to people while Wendell keeps being his charming self.

Such a great cozy fantasty and I CANNOT wait for the next one!

I really enjoy the Emily Wilde series and I cannot wait to dig into the third book. Emily is so matter of fact and to the outside can seem cold and uncaring but the little moments she has with the eccentric Wendel just become more special.
The scene towards the queen near the end was so easy to picture and I look forward to the fallout from it.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book!

More cosy cottagecore fantasy

As we return to Emily Wilde's world of academia and fairies, we get more of the same, and that's nothing to sniff at. Returning to Cambridge after her adventures in Faerie, when her erstwhile Fae lord suitor Wendell Bambleby (that's more of a hobbit name, but never mind) starts to receive unwelcome visitors, Emily siezes on the chance to find a way for Wendell to regain his kingdom—in Austria. BUT, it's the most delightful cottageporn you'll ever read (that is, cottage, none of the other), and, of course, she has to dare the worlds of the Fae again on quest to save her lover.

Fawcett has worked out how to make the sophomore novel in a series work, that is, giving us more of the same, but deepening it. Both Emily and Wendell gain even more roundedness in this book, and their new companions, although less outré than in the first, are just as interesting, and will probably crop up in the next book. I thoroughly enjoyed the relative opaqueness of the pseudo-Victorian journalling and I'm looking forward to the next book already.

One to consume: four stars.

I enjoyed this so much, I love how academia meets fantasy in this book. We get more new creatures and new land to discover, plus a threat in the form of Wendell’s family.

This book picks up with our favourite duo facing rumours and scrutiny plus the fairy threat from family members. I really enjoy the new dynamics as we gain new characters along for the journey, Emily’s neice adds wonder, excitement and slight naivety and Dr Rose adds conflict and growth to the story.

I look forward to book 3!

A new book, a new story but with the same beloved characters. I liked how it followed a new adventure while still maintaining an overarching plot, tying in nicely with the encyclopedia of faeries and creating a good set-up for the next book.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for giving me access to this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown for gifting me this early ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Emily & Wendell - what's not to love about them? I liked book two way more than book one, the amount of swooning and cuteness this book made me feel, illegal, and deep down simply sublime.

The cottage core in this book is real, even if they had some moments where I was actually scared of the folk in this book, but apart from that nothing gruesome. The only reason this isn't a 5 star is that the title mentions Emily's map of the Otherlands, but in the book the actual map wasn't actually taken into consideration for 95% of the time. Unlike book one where the encyclopedia was a main focus of the book (and like here was in the title) here the map wasn't much mentioned, which would have been nice seeing Emily with a few more scenes of her drafting the map.

Taking that out. I NEED BOOK 3. I NEED MORE WENDELL. How can I wait till January? It's so unfair that I could cry.

4.25⭐️ 0🌶️

I love receiving ARCs from later books in series because it makes me read more of my tbr list that may have sat on my shelf for a while! This book was absolutely dreamy like a hug or a cup of hot chocolate, absolutely delightful cute fairytale vibes and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone!

1000 STARS! I cannot recommend this book and series enough. I really love how focused and not whimsical Emily is, even though she is dealing with faeries. She's just so reasonable. I really think anyone who enjoy romantasy would like this book because even though it's a slow burn we are talking down bad for Emily throughout. With this being the sequel I liked the world expansion and some trickier plot lines that got flushed out. I am impatiently waiting for the next one!

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

This series continues to be an absolute triumph!

I was given an arc of this book, ahead of its UK paperback release.

Everything about this book felt like a natural continuation from the first, and I really enjoyed seeing Emily and Wendell's relationship develop. The introduction of new characters, particularly Rose and Ariadne, was a nice addition to the cast, and I loved seeing their interactions with Emily in particular. Emily feels like the perfect heroine, with just the right amount of flaws to make her feel both relatable, and likeable. Her dedication to her work fuels the plot, and I wish there were more characters like her!

As a sequel, this did lack some of the novelty the first Emily Wilde book held, but was still a hugely entertaining read. The cosy elements are all still there, and the worldbuilding only seems to strengthen as the series progresses. I will definitely be carrying this on with book 3!

If you enjoy a cosy fantasy, but with a few more sinister touches, this series is a great one to go for.

Books with similar vibes - Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett, A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness, Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne, and A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the enchanting second novel in this whimsical series. I loved this book just as much as the first novel. The magical world building and storytelling is so charming and enjoyable to read.

Any book that starts with ‘The foot would not fit in my briefcase, so I wrapped it in cloth and wrestled it into an old knapsack I sometimes carry with me on expeditions’ is almost guaranteed to be up my street, and so it proved with Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands.

I enjoyed it as much as the first book in this series, if not more as we get to know Emily and Wendell more and learn additional information about faerie lore and their worlds. It hardly took any time at all for me to remember what had happened in Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, and it was great to see a couple of characters reappear in this instalment. Emily’s narrative voice is a comfort to read, and I had a great time following the adventures of the motley crew in Austria. I hope it’s not the last we see of Snowbell, I have a soft spot for him!

The denouement is satisfying but left me wanting more - bring on the third book!

Thanks to Orbit and to NetGalley for providing me a copy to review.

One of the joys of reading a series back-to-back is the comfort of returning to characters you’ve already grown fond of. "Emily Wilde's Map to Otherlands" felt like a warm hug or a hot cup of tea, bringing me back to the delightful world I enjoyed so much in the first book.

Emily is thriving after her previous adventures. With her encyclopedia published, she’s now working on a map of the faery lands—a true overachiever, and I love her for it! Wendell is right there with her, continuing their adventures together. Their dynamic is as charming as ever, filled with cutesy flirting and banter (though, let’s be honest, only one of them is really flirty).

I thoroughly enjoyed the new quests and adventures, along with the introduction of new characters to the expedition. It was also great to see familiar faces return from the first book (Poe, you still have my heart 💚). Watching the characters grow and evolve was a real treat.

The new village setting wasn’t quite as captivating for me as Hrafnsvik from the first book, but it still had its own charm.

Overall, I had a wonderful time with this sequel. It was cozy, exciting, and just the right read for an upcoming Autumn day.

4/5 ⭐

Disclaimer: I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.