Fawcett weaves an incredibly whimsical conclusion to this series in this third installment. Coming back to the characters felt like coming back home where Wendell and Emily invite you right back into their world. The story immediately picks up after the events of book two and springs right into some action. However after about halfway through the book it felt like there was some struggle with the pacing of the story. This picks up after a few chapters again and becomes a perfect conclusion to the Emily Wilde series

This was just an amazing adventure. I love Emily so much. And Wendell is just the best husband 🥰. This was definitely an amazing conclusion to thier journey but I truly hope it's not the last. I can read about Emily and Wendell cozy adventures forever and still want more. I love this series and cannot wait for what you write next

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales is the long-awaited conclusion to Heather Fawcett’s fantasy trilogy. I was so excited and grateful to receive a copy of this book because this series holds such a special place in my heart. My only complaint is that the book ends and we have to say goodbye to Emily and Wendell.

If you don’t know, the Emily Wilde series follows a Cambridge professor of Dryadology in an alternative 20th century world where fae exist. In other words, we get to follow Emily as she travels around the world finding fairy portals, talking to wicked kings and taking notes in her journal. Somehow, she always manages to find herself in the middle of some grand fairytale or curse and she must use her extensive knowledge of folklore to save the day. In this novel, she has to help Wendell (another professor who is secretly an exiled faerie monarch) take back his kingdom.

The action begins almost immediately with Emily and Wendell walking through the door to his realm. They have a motley crew of creatures with them, but taking a kingdom is not an easy feat. Emily soon discovers that politics and duels are not the only danger. Something has infected the land. She and Wendell must go on another adventure to save his world.

What was really interesting about this book was the setting. Whilst Emily has spent time in other realms before, she has never been so immersed in a faerie court. Understandably, even she becomes overwhelmed by the insanity and strangeness around her. It was quite worrying to see her anxiety rise, but I also think that this makes her much more human and interesting. She is in a place where the trees have eyes and curses turn people into crows, it is fascinating but dangerous. I loved learning about the land and its nonsensical rules with her. I would definitely recommend taking this book on a picnic and sitting in a forest with it, you may get a better taste of the atmosphere.

The romance was also as wonderful as ever. Wendell is chaotic but absolutely dedicated to Emily. They are such well-developed characters on their own but I think that they truly shine whilst together.

Whilst I still preferred the plot of the previous books, I think that this was certainly an epic book with plenty of action and intrigue. I wont give too much away, but I love the conclusion to this series.

I would recommend you read this book if you like truly stories about the brutality and strangeness of fae. It would be enjoyed by fans of The Cruel Prince, Half a Soul and A Study in Drowning. But even if you don’t like any of these books, you should definitely give Emily Wilde a try!

Thank you so much to Little Brown Book Group UK, Orbit, and Netgalley for the eARC of this book in exchange of an honest review. I was very excited to receive this ARC and come back to the cosy and heart-warming but sometimes unsettling world of Emily Wilde! I really enjoyed reading this final instalment, although it did take me a while to get into it. This book had the usual elements of cosy fantasy to escape into, quirkiness, lovable characters, and ever-so-romantic Emily/Wendell bickering, with lots of epic adventures too. Once I got into it, the plot of this book felt mysterious, entertaining and thrilling and had more elements of a classical fairy tale than the other books in the series. I would definitely recommend picking it up if you have liked the others, and reading this series if you think you'd be into a cosy fairy academia book!

This was delicious and probably my favourite book out of the entire trilogy.
It wraps Emily’s story really well and after I finished reading it I was in a „well, what now” state.
I wish I could read it for the first time again.

I'm fairly sure that if Heather Fawcett were to live in the faerie world she would be oíche sidhe. There’s something utterly magical about the way she weaves the story and understands her characters. It leaves one feeling like they belong to the world of mysterious creatures, faerie kings who would bring the world down for their love and ever knowledge-hungry Emily Wildes.

Though I struggled halfway through the hook, when the pace slowed down a little, Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales left my heart so full of love for these characters. I couldn't wish for a better ending to this beautiful trilogy, which will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Reading Emily Wilde makes me feel so nostalgic. I'm not sure what it is about the series that makes me feel this way. It could be Emily's wonderful narration or the way she manages to make me feel like I am right there with her and Wendall in Faerie.
The series as a whole has been perfect. I loved how Compendium on Lost Tales ended things, wrapping up each string in a bow that made me wish there was more. I find Heather's writing to be beautifully magnetic, and I look forward to reading her future work.
I loved how all the characters from the previous two books made an appearance, helping Emily and Wendall sort out their dilemmas. I was worried at the beginning that there was a little foreshadowing to Wendall turning on Emily and going full fae on her, but thankfully, there were only hints and not something truly heart-breaking. That would have been a twist. Their relationship is lovely and his adoration for her is my favourite part of the series.
I felt like this book deviated from the structure I was expecting, with a series of different smaller goals that added up to a larger end goal. I enjoyed this continuous journey and the final resolution.

Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown Group UK for giving me the opportunity to read this book in advance in exchange for an honest opinion!

4.5 stars

The expectations were the highest possible: I loved loved loved book one and two earlier this year and couldn't possibly wait to read this last adventure featuring our beloved socially awkward scholar and her flamboyant other half. At first, this book threatened to be a disappointment; Emily felt nothing like the Emily I grew fond of and I didn't know what was happening. However, if you are reading this book right now or you are willing to do so in the future, fear not!
Yes, it took its time to measure up to the rest of the series but by 40% I was in love again with Faerie, Wendell, Emily and the eerie coziness of it all (for as strange as it may sound). I may have also shed a tear or two...

The prose never cease to amaze me in its lushness and descriptiveness; Emily's growth (yes, her feeling out of character in the beginning of this book is a part of that) has been slow and subtle throughout the trilogy, and that is what made it realistic and believable; I loved the found family and the cozy moments in this book, I only wish there were more tales in it (given the title). All in all, a great ending for a great trilogy I will truly keep with me for the years to come.

I’m here for anything about Emily and Wendell that Heather Fawcett wants to write. It was a joy to be back with our grumpy scholar and her fey erstwhile colleague, not to mention old friends like Shadow and Poe.

That having been said, I didn’t love this as much as previous instalments and I’m not sure why. I found it harder to jump into than the last book - it kept referencing plot points and characters from Encyclopaedia of Faeries and Map of the Otherlands that I didn’t remember, and there wasn’t much in the way of reminders for forgetful readers like me. The new side characters weren’t developed enough to make much of an impact on me and although the stakes were objectively much higher in this book than in the rest of the series, I wasn’t feeling the tension and page-turning impetus the same way. I’m wondering if this is partly because the formatting in the e-arc was so poor - I found it really distracting and I struggled to get into a reading rhythm.

Nonetheless, I did enjoy the book and am keen to read future work by this author. Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reader copy.

Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales is a whimsical blend of cozy fantasy and academic adventure. The novel follows the charmingly eccentric scholar Emily Wilde as she embarks on her journey to retake Wendell's kingdom. Along the way, she encounters mischievous fae, enchanting mysteries, and the occasional perilous encounter, all narrated in her endearingly unique voice.

Fawcett’s prose sparkles with warmth and wit, perfectly capturing the allure of folklore and the quiet magic of exploration. The balance between Emily’s sharp intellect and her socially awkward demeanor creates a character that feels both relatable and deeply unique. With its enchanting world, lighthearted humor, and heartfelt moments, this book is a joy for fans of cozy, character-driven fantasy.

A must-read for anyone who loves stories about the magic of storytelling itself.

A cosy and whimsical novel. Fantastic world building and great characterisation were stand out characteristics for me, although I do feel I would have been more engaged had the plot been paced a little faster. A great end to a lovely series.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review

A fitting end to a lovely series. It had a different feel to the other books, mainly I think because it was set much more in fairy than the others, with a more whimsical feel. Definitely worth a read.

Of course this one had to be my first fantasy book of the year. I haven't been this obsessed with a fantasy series in a long time, I've loved every installment so much. This was again really good, and it had the same, now familiar voice that I've come to expect from Emily. I don't want to give too much away, but I loved the setting of this installment. While this is still all-time favourite material for me, though, I would have loved to see a little more of Emily and Wendell together. What I enjoyed most about them was their banter, and I'm a little sad to have seen so little of that here.

“𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩, 𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩”

i can’t even explain how excited i was to get accepted for this arc read!! after finishing the first two books, i couldn’t wait to dive into this one, and it was absolutely amazing 💞

this book has been such a cosy read, and i honestly couldn’t get enough of it

we reconnect with characters from the previous books, including poe, who plays a massive role in this story. and of course, we’re introduced to some wonderful new characters like orga 🐈‍⬛ and snoball, both of whom added so much charm

the storyline and the adventures were fantastic, but my favourite highlight was how beautifully the faerie kingdom and its different faeries were described 🍄 the worldbuilding is so vivid that you can picture every detail perfectly

the only thing i wish for is more moments between emily and wendell - i absolutely adore them together, and while i’m thrilled they got the happy ending they deserved, i would’ve loved to see more of their relationship in this final installment

overall, such a magical and satisfying conclusion to the series

“𝙞 𝙖𝙢 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 - 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪”

I absolutely adored being back in this whimsical and enchanting fantasy series. The blend of faeries, light academia and romance make for such a cosy read and I completely devoured all the books in this delightful trilogy.

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales sets a slower pace than its predecessors, which is by no means a bad thing. I love how the author intricately introduces new elements of the world and allows the reader time to fully immerse themselves.

I absolutely adore Emily and Wendell and each of their personalities really shone during this book. Just like in the previous books, I found their relationship to be equally adorable and amusing.

I am completely in denial that this is the final book and I shall continue to hope for more installments or a perhaps even a spin off.

3 stars

I have to say that although I love this series as a whole, this was the weakest of the three.
I liked the conclusion (fingers crossed for another book... maybe?) And I like that the romance was cranked up a bit, although Emily's still very adverse to pda, but it was cute.
I feel like the plot dragged a little, and that's why I didn't enjoy it as much as the other books. Still, I love the fae Lore and the "power of words and memories" had in the story.
The story, albeit slow at times, was engaging, and overall, I had fun .
It's definitely a series I will reread in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A lovely ending to this series, which I have thoroughly enjoyed bingeing throughout December. Let this serve as motivation to try to pick up more completed series so that I don't have to keep waiting for next installments!

I was less engaged with the plot of this one compared to the first two, the stakes oddly felt lower even though they are arguably the highest they've been. In a way this entire book felt like more of an epilogue after the full story has already been told in books 1 and 2.

However it was still very enjoyable for me, I loved seeing more of the Fairie realm and delving deeper into folklore and stories. Emily is a great (and quite relatable) main character, and the side characters complement her so well. The ending really worked for me (SPOILER: though weirdly I kind of wish Shadow had passed away) and I think the world has lots of potential for spin off stories.

Book One has definitely been my favourite, it was a 5 star read, with Book Two a bit lower and then this one down further to 4 stars. As a whole though I will look back on the entire series very fondly.

Thank you, Netgalley and Litlle, Brown Book Group UK, Orbit, for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The third in the trilogy, the last chapter. I have loved this series intensely. It brought cosy feelings and action at the same time. It kept me turning and turning the pages. Still, the idea of dryadology and faeries is a well-received story on my part.

The story follows Emily Wilde as she and Wendell Bambleby, her faerie fiancé, are thrust into the deadly intrigues of Faerie as the two of them seize the throne of Wendell's long-lost kingdom. Emily finds a beautiful nightmare filled with scholarly treasures. There is little time to settle in as Wendell's murderous stepmother has placed a deadly curse upon the land before vanishing. It is up to Emily's knowledge of Faerie politics and stories to unravel the mystery before they lose everything.

This academic story is a refreshing take on fantasy. Heather's writing is easy to follow and captures the brilliance (and downfalls) of academics very well. The conclusion to the trilogy is a perfect ending to Emily's story. I cannot wait for the next tale Heather dreams up.

I loved the first two books in the Emily Wilde series, so I was thrilled when NetGalley approved my request to read the third book in advance.

Admittedly, I was a bit skeptical at first about the existence of this third installment, as the series was originally planned as a duology.
While the plot of this book could have been condensed into a shorter companion novella, I’m so glad I got to spend more time with Emily, Wendell, and the rest of the characters.

In this final volume, we follow Emily as she navigates her role as a fae queen while working on yet another book filled with tales from fairyland.
The settings and atmosphere, which I’ve always loved about this series, remain enchanting, though I have to admit I preferred them in the first two books. That said, it’s still a delight to return to this magical world.

While this is probably my least favorite of the three, the Emily Wilde series will always be a comforting read for me—one I know I’ll revisit in the future.

A perfect end to the series - I'm so sad. I loved every aspect of it. The stakes were higher, but it only felt natural given the progression of the series. As always, I loved the dynamic between Emily and Wendel - they balance each other out in terms of their very different personalities. I love their relationship and the way Fawcett has built it where Emily was so much more open in her affection - it didn't feel out of place at all. The fae lore in relation to Wendel's kingdom was fascinating - Fawcett is wonderful in the way she details each tidbit.