Highlights
~beware the foxes!
~(don’t???) follow the ribbons
~a lily pond in a teacup
~a singular foot
~to wed, or not to wed??? That is the question

I massively enjoyed the first book in this series, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, and I am here to tell you that Map of the Otherlands is a very worthy sequel!

I don’t have anything smart to say about it; if you enjoyed the first book, you’re going to enjoy this one. Emily is still her wonderfully curmudgeonly self – she might be in love with a prince of Faerie, but she hasn’t let that change her; she still doesn’t care about her appearance, and she’s still more likely to snap and snarl than simper. And she’s still more than capable of, if not dealing with attacks from dangerous Folk, then certainly assisting in dealing with them, in gamechanging ways.

And we have new characters to add to the cast! This time around, Emily and Wendell are accompanied not just by Shadow (of course), but Emily’s niece, Ariadne (and really, if her father didn’t want her studying dryadology, why did he give her a name straight out of mythology???) and also the head of the dryadology department at their university, Rose. Ariadne is the sweetest of sweethearts, earnest and passionate and quite a good foil to Emily herself, while Rose seems like a teeth-gratingly Old White Man until, surprisingly, he isn’t. (By which I mean – he’s still old and white and a cis man. But he can learn!!! Give him a chance, even if he annoys you at first.) They both bring a lot to this second instalment; sometimes enlarging the cast can dilute the story, but that’s definitely not the case here. Ariadne is a delight, and among other things, Rose serves as a really good reminder to Emily and the reader that what she’s up to with Wendell is…incredibly not-normal.

You know, because the Folk are dangerous. And things usually don’t end well for the humans who fall in love with them.

In that way I think Rose is actually quite important to the book, because it’s so easy for us to…not forget that; the Folk give us plenty of reminders that they are not nice, safe, tame beings. But it’s natural to get swept up in the story, to assume a happy ending is guaranteed, to take Wendell as the exception to the rule of Don’t Mess With The Folk. These books are cosy! And fun! And Wendell is hilarious, fussing about tidying things and bemoaning the world that demands he rise from bed before noon; he’s not scary in the least, he’s endearing. So we do need Rose, to give us that bit of a wake-up call; to keep us from missing or dismissing all the bits of evidence that Wendell – and certainly the kingdom he wants to reclaim – are Dangerous As Hell, Actually.

We kind of have to stop and wonder, especially as that evidence builds up – is Emily doing the right thing, here? It’s definitely not the smart thing, but since when is love smart???

Speaking of the romance, I think Fawcett’s done something very clever with it here; for readers like myself who don’t really care for or about romance, it’s entirely possible to forget that there is a romance here, to sort of glaze over mentally and skim over the occasional mention of kisses and feelings. Whereas readers who do like romance can have their fill, since when you get right down to it Map of the Otherlands is driven by Emily’s love for Wendell and her desire to help him reclaim his kingdom. Oh, she’s definitely in it for the scholarly acclaim she’d earn by doing so, too…but that’s so obviously a secondary consideration for her, even if it takes her a little while to admit it to herself.

I think Encyclopaedia of Faeries was more straightforward than Map of the Otherlands; the latter revolves a bit more around the nature of the Faerie realms, as opposed to the Folk themselves, and honestly, of the two, the Folk are much easier to understand. Not that Fawcett bogs us down in dull minutiae or anything – the story here is never slow, or boring! – but it’s much harder to really get a grip on the way the various Fae realms co-exist, share borders, overlap, and/or have extremely casual relationships with time. I’m pretty sure Emily’s book of maps is doomed to failure, let’s put it that way.

There’s a magic cloak, and a magic scarf, and Emily is once again a one-woman armoury (even if she’s not forging a sword out of tears for Wendell this time, I was tickled pink when we discover how she’s carrying around weapons for him), and Map of the Otherlands is every bit as fun and perfect-to-snuggle-with as Encyclopaedia of Faeries ever was. Is it a bit more complex; does it go to some darker places? I think so. But it’s not deeply complex, and it’s not very dark, when all’s said and done. Just the right amount of both to make the story rich and interesting, as well as warm, funny, and delightful.

As I said; if you loved the first book, you’ll love this one!

One of my favourite book series of all time!! I read this book in about a day, I couldn't put it down. If you liked the first one, this is a perfect follow up! We get deeper into Emily and Wendell's relationship, and into both their characters. It's just so good, read it!!

I loved this so much! 😍🥰❤️🧚

In this sequel, we follow Emily and Wendell as they go find a door to his realm, prompted by a series of assassination attempts on Wendell's life. Emily is following the trail of a dryadologist, de Grey, who went missing while investigating portals, and she will take advantage of this adventure to draft a mapbook of the Otherlands, her newest project.

The world Heather Fawcett has created is extraordinary, bright, and alive. I loved stepping into it in the first book, and I loved it even more this time. It's just so immersive! Every time I picked this book up I felt I was transported. I'm so grateful I got to read this so soon, it was a wonderful time and I loved every second. I can't wait for book 3, I'm so happy the story will continue!

I think the plot in this one was better than the first one because I was more invested in it and the stakes felt higher this time. There was more action, new (and lovable) characters, and so much more information on the Folk, which is one of my favorite things about this; learning about all these different faeries and realms.

We also see a lot more of Wendell, which instantly makes everything better, and the way Emily's way of thinking/talking about him has changed was so heartwarming to see. He has such a great personality and it contrasts so well with Emily's. I just love these characters so much! I deeply enjoy the way they love each other because it's not corny, it feels very grounded and unconditional. So heartwarming and nice.

I love how this is written. Diary entries just make everything feel closer and cosy. If you’ve read the first one, this is a must read. Some familiar and popular tropes are:
- Slow burn
- Grumpy x sunshine (but he’s the sunshine!)
- Fairies

I really recommend reading this!

I love this series so much, it brings me nothing but joy and wonder!
This second installment delighted me just as much as the first did, and had me kicking my feet squealing and messaging friends left and right to tell them about it.

Emily and Wendell remain some of my favourite characters I've ever read, I love their dynamic together and how they see and interact with the world around them.
In this book we get to see more of other scholars of their field of expertise, the study of faeries, as well, and it was a lot of fun to see the various ways they approach the subject and how they all work together to navigate the magical and intricate rules of the folk.

I cannot recommend this series enough to anyone who likes (or might be intrigued by) whimsical light academia books about neurodivergent-coded scholars running around in nature info dumping about their special interests.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown for a copy in return for an honest review!

One of my all time favourite books, the Emily Wilde series is my happy place and ALWAYS makes me feel better and brings me happiness. I can't wait for the next ones in the series and I hope they never stop. Genuinely the BEST thing I have ever read, more than five stars !

Like the first book, it’s fun and entertaining, so much so that I read it in just a few days. Honestly, I might even say I liked this one more than the first.

As a fantasy enthusiast, I loved all the lore about the different fairies. The story is whimsical and funny, featuring a heroine with dry humour and a sense of self-righteousness that usually turns me off, but somehow it works perfectly here. In this book, we see a softer side of Emily, which was a nice change.

Wendell Bambleby continues to be a highlight. He balances out Emily's dryness beautifully. We also meet new characters who add their own flair to the story, although they did take some of the spotlight away from Wendell. Emily's niece, in particular, was a standout, and I think it would be fun if she became the next generation of dryadology experts.

If you're new to the series, I recommend starting with the first book. While the stories aren’t directly correlated, you’ll miss a lot of the character introductions and background if you jump straight into this one.

The book’s ending wraps up the story nicely, but I’ve heard there's a third book on the way. It feels a bit unnecessary, but we'll see how it goes.

If you enjoy cosy fantasy, this book is definitely worth picking up. It took me a while to get to it, it sat on my TBR list forever, but it was absolutely worth the wait.

To me an impressive feat is to have a sequel be just as good as the first book. This one was perfection and I adored it- I loved the first book so much I was nervous when I started this one because second books in trilogies can often fall flat but this one did not disappoint. It was just as exciting and lovely as the first.
Emily is so brilliant as a protagonist and I absolutely cannot wait to see what book three brings.

This was a perfect sequel to Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries. I thought Emily and Wendell's relationship developed so beautifully this time around. the new characters, Rose and Ariadne, brought new dynamics to the research expedition and I found that I started to enjoy their company the more I read.
I loved the concept of De Grey missing in Faerie, I though it added an extra complexity to the story line and an extra level of problem solving for Emily to delve into.
Emily's wonderfully expressive narration continues to make to me love her character and Heather Fawcett does an excellent job at finding her voice. Once again, I am glad that we get to hear some of Wendell's thoughts this time around. Their relationship is beautifully written.
Looking forward to the third book in the series!

I really enjoyed that there was more of an emphasis in this book on the romance between Emily and Wendell in comparison to the first book - I thought Emily's internal struggle with her feelings for Wendell was really well executed and engaging. There are a couple of chapters in the middle of the book that really stood out to me in terms of delivering some swoon-worthy romance!

The third act was so exciting and I loved that we got to see way more of the fae realm. I specifically enjoyed that Emily had more autonomy in this book.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first one mainly because of the lack of the found family aspect which I loved in the first one. We are introduced to a couple of great, new characters but I feel like less time is spent getting to know them - I suppose this is in sacrifice of more of a focus on Emily and Wendell's relationship. It is still a fantastic, cosy read with an incredible, funny cast of characters that you'll fall in love with even more!

another adventure with em and wendell, and with new characters too! i loved going back into the emily wilde universe, with its journal style and particular way of narration. emily and wendell are even more adorable and fleshed out in this book, with the new information about new fairies, new worlds and new enemies? if we can call them that. i loved the new additions to our little group, the dynamic between them was hilarious. i'm patiently waiting for book 3? OF COURSE

Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for giving me the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Loved it, loved it, loved it!

This second book in the series is everything I could ever dream for in a sequel: even more beautiful yet threatening faeries, charming landscapes and witty banters. What I loved the most, though, is Emily’s development as a character and in her relationship with the others: found family is perhaps one of my favourite tropes and I loved how it plays a crucial role in this series.

Can’t wait to read Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales, coming out next year✨

Many thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK, Orbit, and NetGalley for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this book for an honest review.

THIS is how you do a sequel. Somehow even better than the first, with all the elements I loved from EW’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries. All sharp wit and endearing characters — if you enjoy cozy fantasy or light academia, you’ll have a fantastic time with this series!

EW’s Map of the Otherlands introduces some new key characters, that have all the charm and warmth I’ve come to expect from this series. A captivating follow-up which brings us to a different rural European setting. Alongside the banter and quips, we still get plenty of plot and drama with a lovely wrap up that promises more to come.

I’m very much looking forward to the final book of this trilogy!

I loved the second book about Emily and Bambleby even more than the first book! (No strange names - I'm looking at you Mord.) This time the backdrop is the Austrian Alps, and we follow the gang on an adventure that will unraveling both secrets and feelings. It is super cozy, and full of charm, I loved seing their relationship evolve. Can't wait for the next book!

Thank you to Netgalley, publisher and author for providing me with an digital ARC.

Wow. Just, wow. This was a phenomenal follow up from Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries. Just, absolutely brilliant.

Now, I loved the previous book. A lot. So, I didn’t think it was possible for the series to get any better, but boy was I wrong. I completely mean this, but this book was even better than the first. It just, completely blew it out of the water. It was tremendous and I enjoyed it so, so much.

The book completely starts off with a bang. Emily and Wendell’s research is questioned while at the same time, Emily is embarking on a new, and even bigger project - a map of the realms of the faerie. Along with their disgruntled head of department, and Emily’s niece and assistant, Emily and Wendell travel to the Austrian Alps to also finally uncover the door which will lead them to Wendell’s own faerie kingdom.

Similar to the first, this is such a wild ride. It’s not just a cutesy book about faeries; there is a lot of action and adventure which completely draws you in and almost hypnotises you until you reach the end of the book. It is such a whimsical and charming book that takes you on such a brilliant adventure.

I love Emily and Wendell so much. They have such great chemistry and back-and-forth and it’s only elevated in this book. They’re even closer and just lovely together. They have become one of my favourite book couples of all time.

The writing has maintained its beautiful and rich detail. The descriptions of Wendell’s kingdom are so vivid and stunning; you felt completely transported to this magical realm of faeries. It was marvellous. I also think this book has more warmth and personality than the first. This sounds negative; what I mean is that the writing in the first book is very academic and we’re just learning just who Emily is. She’s an academic, and that is unapologetically who she is. Whereas in this book, she’s growing as a person to be more than just her brain; she’s has relationships with people, and I don’t mean just with Wendell.

I just really loved this book from start to finish. It was wonderfully written and absolutely magical and whimsical.

3,25*

Thank you, Little Brown Book Group, and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is the second instalment in a trilogy. In this story we follow Emily and Wendell on their expedition to the Austrian Alps. They’re trying to find a mysterious door that will lead them back to Wendell’s home realm. Emily’s also working on her new project which involves creating a map of the realms of faerie. Along the story, we’re introduced to new faerie creatures, new townsfolk and we’re given new insight into the faerie realm.

The book is quite similar to the first book. I still liked the writing style, and I loved seeing the relationship between Wendell and Emily develop further. I also enjoyed the introduction of Ariadne, Emily’s niece. However, the book is too similar to the first book for me, and it didn’t really feel new or refreshing.

Overall, this was a fun read, but for me it’s missing the excitement of the first book. I still see a lot of people enjoying it though, and I think I’ll be reading the third book when it comes out.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for access.

In the second instalment in the Emily Wilde series, Heather Fawcett continues to weave her enchanting spell on page. This book is a delightful mix of folklore, academic intrigue, and personal discovery. Emily Wilde, our dedicated and socially awkward protagonist, is as charming as ever. Her passion for faerie research and her endearing quirks make her a relatable and engaging character. Fawcett writes beautifully crafted descriptions of faerie lore, drawing readers into a world that feels both magical and meticulously researched.

One of the book's strengths is its world-building, a stunning continuation from the first novel. Fawcett excels in creating an immersive environment where the lines between the human world and the faerie realm blur intriguingly. The faeries themselves are depicted with a delightful mix of whimsy and danger, staying true to their mythical roots while adding fresh twists.

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands is a captivating continuation of the series. It offers a unique blend of academic exploration and faerie magic, wrapped in an enchanting narrative that leaves readers eager for more. While it may not be perfect, it certainly is hard to resist.

I've been really grateful to have been granted access to the sequel of Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries arc!

Now I'm thinking about it, the first book in the series played a great role in making me fall in love in cozy books.

In this book, we still follow Emily and Wendell, but there are also new characters we get to know. I've really liked their relationships and how they figured out how to cooperate.
We also get to know a new location, which fits the season as it's wintery and cold! Despite this, there is the usual cozy and warm feeling while reading the book.

Two mild spoilers, there is a cat and a dog! And a chapter written by Bambleby as a fun addition to Emily's tone.

I really appreciate following a character that is a bit different to our usual heroines, and I've felt represented in how the MC thought about things.

I don't want to write more as it's a sequel, but if you've liked the first book, I can't imagine you disliking this one. It's been a fun ride.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

✨ Comp titles:
📖 Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn
📖 Whimbrel House series by Charlie N. Holmberg

Huge thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for the arc, and I can't wait to dive deeper into the Faerie world in the next additions to the series!

A whimsical and academic take on a faerie tale! Emily is just my kind of MC, and despite it taking me a little time to adapt to her way of speaking, once I had I was hooked on her story. Wendell was a delightful addition to the story, and I loved how all the villagers came together to help Emily. I especially loved the diary format - I haven't read a book written in this format for a very long time so it was a refreshing way to tell the story. My favourite character had to be Shadow - I am a sucker for an adorable and loyal animal companion!

Thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this a little more than the first one. The book revolves around Wendell's exile into human realm with his evil step-mother trying to get rid of him and Emily getting pulled into Fae problems yet again. New characters were neatly introduced while Emily and Wendell remain their self as introduced in the first book. This is a cosy slow burn meant to be read on a slow day sipping a favourite drink like there's all the time in the world. For those who've read the first book, here's a bonus: adorable Poe makes appearances! The story wrapped up neatly and can't wait to read the next installment!