Another great installment in this series, I really enjoy the dynamic of Emily and Wendell's relationship, the same spark from the previous books was present but their love for each other grew and it was so lovely to read. This is up there with the cosiest of fantasy reads, and if happily read about their adventures forever. I understand this is the last installment and it rounded things up well but I still felt it was slightly open at the end if Heather Fawcett did decide to revisit them in the future (fingers crossed she does). Would definitely recommend for anyone who likes fantasy, fairies or a little adventure. Great writing as always, and really enjoyable.

I went into this book expecting to love it.

After all, the last two Emily Wilde books are engraved in my heart as 5 solid stars, and this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025. Unfortunately, ‘love’ is a word I cannot bestow on Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales no matter how much I continue to love Emily and Wendall’s story.

Yes, I am wholly satisfied with this ‘finale’ of this trilogy. Was I enthralled by the journey to get there? Yes and no. The second half of this book is infinitely better than the first and once we got midway through the book, I finally felt truly invested in the plot. I also adored the way Heather Fawcett wove together characters and plotlines from the previous two stories to the resolution of the book. It made me feel like I was part of Emily’s personal growth as she seemed to have a better understanding of faeries and humans alike. So, what are the “lost” components of this tale which led to this book falling short of a five-star read?

The boring first half

Emily and Wendall traversing through Fae Kingdom to reclaim Wendall’s throne, what could be more exciting? The first and the second book. I felt like we were meandering through and while I was clear on what Wendall wanted (the reclamation of his kingdom and to live happily ever after with Emily), I was unclear of what future and set of expectations Emily had for herself. It felt like she was a stranger in her own narrative, alien to her own desires.

Emily and Wendall

We know Emily and Wendall love each other, but are they compatible for marriage? This is a question the first half of the book raises at an alarming rate in the first half yet fails to answer in the second half. Apparently, these questions are resolved by marriage and the chance that Wendall could die. While “love conquers all” is an ethos we can see Wendall adopting, it does not make sense for Emily. Indeed, when Wendall asks Emily in the end if she is happy in fae, and she answers that she is, I was just as surprised as Wendall with her answer. While we know that Emily is never been the most expressive of beings regarding feelings for Wendall, even for her this book lacked passion. She spent more time expressing that she missed Poe than her actual fiancé, who she spent a ungodly time apart from in this book.#

Not only does this book lack scenes between Emily and Wendall solving fae mysteries together, but it also strips away the playful banter between Emily and Wendall. Emily’s dry and sardonic tone needs Wendall’s cheerful and carefree nature to make the story more dynamic. We love to see them clash heads and hearts with one another. Instead, Wendall is relegated to the role of perpetual piner and book husband. After a while, it felt a tiny bit stagnant. I felt very distant from him throughout the entire story because, the most interesting parts of the story, he was nor actually around.

Emily never integrates into Wendall’s world in a meaningful way.

Again, this goes back to the compatibility question. The reason the second half of the book is so good is because we return to the classic formula employed in the first two books; Emily having specific questions about the fae and her exploring the human realm to speak to fae and solve her questions. We see Emily form connections with these fae folk, who at the onset are quite antagonist or dismissive of her. Yet, this does not happen in Wendall’s world. I did not expect her to be fully accepted in his kingdom by the end of the book, but I did expect her to gain a friend or two. She doesn’t seem to appreciate anything within fae only in how it can translate into an academic paper. Therefore, she continuously feels like a visitor in Wendall’s world who happens to be married to him, then someone who is trying to figure out if she can live among the fae. Her status in fae land seems wholly dependent on Wendall. There are rumours this is not the last book, so it could be Heather is leaving the door open for other books on this front.

The boggart

This is a personal gripe, but there was no payoff with the boggart. I expected him to come back into the story given the fact he asked for a feast and, like the first tale, the boggart tries to conspire against the king. But we never saw him again. Boo.

Conclusion

I want to end this review on a good note because I did overall like the book. Wendall’s caring and understanding nature was a highlight for me, as it was clear Wendall and Emily understand each other and accept one another for who they are. Their relationship overall is wholesome and for that alone I can give this book a million stars. The secondary characters introduced, such as Taran and Delilah, were fun characters to play around with, and I really enjoyed the world-building of Wendall’s kingdom. In fact, if it is revealed this book is a transitional book, it would make more sense to me, and I would continue to invest in Emily and Wendall’s journey!

Many thanks to Netgallery and Hachette UK for the advanced copy of this book. I look forward to the audible version coming out in 2025, perhaps that can change my opinion on this book too.
1 like

3.25 rounded down for goodreads and netgalley.
It is my favorite of the series. I’ve gotten used to the cosiness and the absence of a action-packed plot and I can appreciate it for what it is now. The characters are still not to my liking, but they were better than in the previous books — especially Wendell, who’s a bit calmer in a way. What I preferred is the atmosphere, it is perfect for winter. It feels magical and whimsical.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Last book of the year of course it had to be the third book in the Emily Wilde series.

This series holds such a special place in my heart. I was incredibly lucky to receive an ARC, and I’m so glad this book was everything I was expecting and more. As always, reading this series made me feel as though I was truly in Faerie. Heather has an incredible talent for world building that amazes me every time.

In this book, With Emily’s help Wendell finally found the door to his realm, from which he was banished by his stepmother. but things are not as easy as they seem. His stepmother, though gravely injured after her encounter with Emily, isn’t going down without a fight. In fact, she places a curse on the entire realm, a curse that can only be broken by Wendell’s death.

So Emily uses her vast knowledge of old tales to search for a way to break the curse. At the same time, she navigates the weirdness of Wendell’s realm and her new role as its queen.

It’s always bittersweet to reach the end of an Emily Wilde novel, but this time the feeling is even stronger since it might be the last one. If it is, Heather has delivered a phenomenal conclusion. The bond between Emily and Wendell grows even deeper in this book, and we’re introduced to several new characters while revisiting a few familiar ones.

I’m really going to miss this world and its characters, but I’m holding out hope that there will be more stories in the future.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review

This third instalment in the Emily Wilde series was everything I hoped it would be, and more. I loved the first two books and was thrilled that this story, which find Emily and Wendall attempting to reclaim his kingdom, was as delightful as ever.

The pacing of this book was steady, and is ideal for cosying up with of an evening. It was wonderful to return to this world, with friends new and familiar, and see where this adventure takes them.

I would highly recommend this book and series, and look forward to rereading in the future. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

Emily and Wendell embark on their journey into Wendell's realm. Having previously defeated his step-mother, taking the throne should be a formality, yet it is not so easy. A dark curse is threatening the kingdom and Emily soon realises they are living in a "fairy tale" whose many versions don't seem to have a happy ending. Emily is determined to use all her scholarly powers to find the one iteration of the story that has a happy ending.

The third Emily Wilde novel is just as good as its predecessors. It's cosy and dark and sweet and funny, and the perfect read for an otherwise grey day.

4.75

My fav book of the series

I think the premise and plot were good and the romance really took an turn in this book (quite similarly to EWMOTO) but I think my one critique is the writing still needs a little bit of simplifying. I'm all for flowering writing however it just felt more dense than the other books but it still was my fav of the series.

This was not the book I expected it to be. The general tone is that of a travelogue that happens to be set in a fantasy land, rather than the sort of escalating and compounding problems that I'd expect to find in the final book of a fantasy series. I also thought it was less funny than the earlier books.

However, once I took it as the book it was rather than the book I expected, I did enjoy reading it. I'd hesitate to call it cosy fantasy, as there is far too much murder and destruction going on for it to count as 'low stakes', but it feels like a nearby genre. Slow fantasy, perhaps. I liked the descriptions of folklore and scenery, and the sequential nature of the problems encountered meant I could read it at a sedate pace rather than feeling that I needed to rush through it to the end.

Recommended, but be prepared for it to be a little different from the earlier books in the series.

First of all i’d like to thank netgalley and the publisher for granting me a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

I CAN’T BELIEVE ITS OVER

Emily wilde’s was one of the series where from one of the very first chapters, the story managed to drag me right into it, and not let me go until I finally finished it. I mean how could it not? It seemed it have taken everything I love to see in stories and just sprinkled it right onto every single page of the entire series. So yeah, i’m a bit sad that it’s over now. But satisfied nonetheless. Managed to give me that bittersweet feeling where you have to fight your tears while closing the book at the end, not due to the ending being tragic, but simply cause it ended.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the romance between Emily and Wendell dialed up a bit in this book! Emily is definitely not a very emotionally driven character, so the romance has always been a bit more lowkey in the previous installments. That’s what made these moments of tenderness between them even more special to me (since I myself am a very romance driven person).

Emily herself will always be one of those characters I’ll hold close to my heart. Something about passionate scholars just hits the spot for me. She always stayed true to herself and yet managed to get out of her comfort zone quite a few times during the series, and it almost feels as if I’ve watched a long term friend blossom into their true self.

And last but not least, Wendell <33
Safe to say, he made the top spot on my (very short, yet very important) list of blonde men I admire.

While the story wrapped up quite nicely, i’ll still be praying the the fae gods for a new book (travel novella collection me thinks)

2.5⭐️

Emily continues her adventures with Wendell, this time through Faerie itself.

I found it difficult to vibe with this book. It felt slow and didn’t pull me into the story. The story continues in much the same manner as the first two books, so readers who loved those are likely also to love this! I had hoped the third installment would suck me in moreso than the others, but while the final 20% did find my interest, the first 80% did not.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The third and final book of an absolutely awesome trilogy !

When I learned that I had managed to get my hands on an ARC, I was OVER THE MOON ! This series is so unique and fantastic, I couldn't wait to see how Wendell was going to get his kingdom back ... And I absolutely loved it =D

What I particularly liked :

- the universe which is AWESOME ! The details about the different Fae, their customs, their stories ... I loved all these little details so much !

- the plot with the consequences of Emily's actions in the previous book and therefore the revenge of the former queen (which was so twisted !!) AND THIS END !! I LOVED IT !!

- the characters who are terribly endearing >< Emily remains my favorite because she is so normal and yet she shows such courage !
Special mention for Lord Taran who I loved ! I'd love to have his story !

- the romance so cute and adorable but also terribly romantic ! I love how Wendell knows her so much (the gift of the cottage <3) and of course, the letters !

- the style with the footnotes that I DEVOURED !

In short, a last book of a historical fantasy series with an adorable romance and an absolutely magical universe that I recommend to everyone !

For fans of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell or simply fantasy with awesome universes, a must-read !

📚 Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett 📚

Release date: 11.02.2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Let me just start by saying that this was absolutely an fantastic conclusion to the series and I'm so not ready to say goodbye to this world and these characters!

Compendium of Lost Tales picks up right where the previous book left off, with Emily and Wendell off to seize his throne back. Most of the novel takes place in Faerie, where the protagonists face expected and unexpected dangers, including a deadly curse laid on the realm by Wendell's villainous stepmother. We get to see a lot more of Wendell's realm this time, as the two travel at length for a variety of reasons, giving us the chance to meet many whimsical creatures and landscapes.

The MCs have grown so much throughout this trilogy and their relationship was such a delight to read. A mix of banter and loving exchanges, the two seem so well matched by now! Wendell proves to be the most attentive and thoughtful fiancé, always giving Emily whatever is in his power to make her happy - sometimes he goes overboard, but always out of good intentions towards her. On the other hand, his ruthless Faerie nature also pops up many times, baffling Emily with her too-human-for-Faerie feelings and way of handling situations 😂 Emily herself has grown hugely, too - she's ready to accept help from others around her, be it Folk or human friends.

The story is well-paced and beautifully written. Heather Fawcett continues to delight with the academic tone she gives Emily in these "scientific journals", while also giving her space to ramble to herself and express her thoughts. The footnotes remain some of my favourite things about the series, making it so unique and reminding me so much of university times.

I assume that, if you're reading this review, you've probably read the first books in the trilogy... but either way, I'd highly recommend you pick it up because it's a brilliant light academia romantasy with fun characters and lots of unique elements!

A satisfying conclusion to Emily's journey in Faerie, with unexpected twists and turn on along the way. Emily and Wendell's relationship is focused on more in this installment, which I enjoyed. Their grumpy/sunshine vibe is still very much present. We get to see a little more of some old faces too.

Fawcett has created a world so enriching and vast that I really didn't want this series to end. Grab a blanket and a hot chocolate, this series is the perfect autumn/winter comfort read.

While funny and full of witty banter, I did not enjoy this Emily Wilde book quite as much, as I enjoyed the previous ones. Still this was a delightful quick read.

Thanks to @netgalley, I was able read Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales e-copy (pub date 11 Feb)

This being one of my most favourite series of the last couple of years, had me jumping of joy when I wad approved!

@heather_fawcett didn’t disappoint!! The third book in Emily Wilde’ series is just as full of whimsy, imagery, adventures and witty banter as the last two!

Wendel in his full faery monarch form, Emily being the genius that she is, Shadow an absolute sweetheart and my favourite, Orga, just the purrfect sassy companion.

I finished it in two sitting because it’s one of the series that always have me spellbound. Loved the conclusion to this whimsical, cosy fantasy journey. Will not be giving any spoilers

Cannot wait to get hands on the hardcover to paint the edges and add it to the collection ❤️

Title: Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales
Author: Heather Fawcett
Pages: 368
Rating: 4/5


"Emily Wilde has spent her life studying faeries. A renowned dryadologist, she has documented hundreds of species of Folk in her Encyclopaedia of Faeries. Now she is about to embark on her most dangerous academic project studying the inner workings of a faerie realm-as its queen."

Another book that started slow but picked up.

It always amazes me how invested I become in this series and how well written it is. Especially from a journal perspective.

I also see the slow warming to Emily as a reflection of her character. She confesses that she isn't very good with socialisation and friendship.

Wendell and Emily have taken back Wendell's kingdom, but his evil step mother has cursed the land. Emily and her handy notebook, and research skills are to the rescue to find out how to save their kingdom. And of course the wonderful shadow (and Olga) are along for the ride. I was so invested in shadow too.

It was a lovely, warming read. Predictable. Cosy and left open ended for a book 4. (I hope)

You'll love this book if you like
- slow burn romance
- revenge
- love conquers all
- fairy tales
- fade to black intimacy
- journal perspective
- found family
- unexpected friendships
- animal companions

I am very grateful to Little, Brown Book Group, Heather Fawcett and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this ARC and it came as a total surprise.

I have only recently read the first two Emily Wilde books, so I couldn’t wait to see how the story was going to end and I had therefore high hopes for this one, and I’m thrilled to say it didn’t disappoint. I can easily say that Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales is easily one of my favorite reads this year.

Once again written from Emily’s perspective through her journal entries, the book takes us on a new and exciting journey as Emily and Wendell set out to reclaim Wendell’s rightful kingdom. Emily must navigate her insecurities about becoming a mortal queen in Faerie and adjust to the challenges of living there full-time. Meanwhile, she uses her intellect and determination to confront the curse placed on the kingdom by Wendell’s vengeful stepmother.

The author once again surprises and amazes with her beautiful writing style. Her descriptions of the magical world are lush and captivating, transporting readers effortlessly into its enchanting yet perilous depths.

Wendell is as charming and flamboyant as ever, and his playful dynamic with Emily adds humor and heart to the story. Also, it was so sweet that every time she was leaving his kingdom, he bombarded her with letters.

Following Emily and Wendell’s journey through this trilogy has been an absolute joy.
Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales is a magical, heartwarming book filled with twists, surprises, and characters that leave a lasting impression.

The Emily Wilde series continues to be a triumph! Although I think this was my least favourite of the three books so far, it still had the usual distinct and quirky style of storytelling, and the characters I've come to adore. An easy recommendation for anybody looking for a good fantasy!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

’Yet I suppose that one cannot spend one’s life half in love with Faerie without wishing to be part of it, to wonder if it might feel like home in a way no mortal place ever had.’

Whimsical and wondrous, bewitching and beguiling, brimming with allure but laced through with a macabre edge Heather Fawcett’s depiction of the fae and their realm is utterly enchanting and fits the vibes that I’ve come to associate with tales of such beings perfectly. These books are the perfect mix of their beguiling wonder and their razor sharp teeth; there’s undeniably something utterly alluring about the faery realms and their residents here but with a macabre edge that can send shivers down your spine. Plus it’s all wrapped up in this gloriously cosy feeling journal format that never fails to delight me. There’s something truly mesmerising about this series that makes me feel that it holds universal appeal and this latest instalment was an absolute delight.

If you’ve read the previous books in the ‘Emily Wilde’ series then I’m sure you’ll already be well aware of the charm and wonder of these books (and if you haven’t I highly recommend picking up the first within the series as soon as possible). This instalment once again manages to capture the tone of the fae perfectly, creating a tale that has a wondrously enchanting feel to it with a macabre undercurrent running throughout. Unlike the previous two books within this series this one takes place mainly within their realm – rather than trekking through an area of the mortal world in search of them – but this worked for the overall narrative given where the series has been heading and I loved every moment of it.

Truthfully I don’t feel like I can say overmuch plot wise as I don’t want to give anything away. As the previous books have done this one highlights the importance of stories for the fae though; heading in a direction that left me with an impending sense of doom. Whether the overall result was devastating or delightful I naturally can’t say for obvious reasons but the journey to get to that ultimate ending was glorious, leaving me smiling – and shivering – throughout. The depictions of the trees can’t help but make you recoil slightly whilst the gifts featured at times left me beaming ridiculously.

Fans of the series will be happy to hear that there are lots of Emily and Wendall interactions throughout. He doesn’t get hold of her journal this time around, unfortunately, but there are letters from him included to give a sense of his voice (his efforts of swaying Emily in one of them utterly delighted me) and plenty of banter between the two. This book made me feel as if I was falling for this pairing, and Wendall’s charm in general, time and time again.

Other old favourites, like Poe, get a chance to a grace the pages with their presence whilst an another intriguing dryadologist is introduced in the form of Niamh. In the previous book I wasn’t overly fond, frustratingly, of some of these famous figures that were introduced but this time round I adored the addition and the scholarly friendship vibe that she managed to strike up with Emily. Seeing her bond with someone who she shares such passion for scholarship with was delightful.

During ’Emily Wilde’s Map Of The Otherlands’ there were times when Emily’s attitude towards her niece grated on me slightly but I’m thrilled to report that, that wasn’t the case here. Instead I found this a faultless addition to the series which I utterly adored. There is a personality change for one individual at one point admittedly but given the circumstances involved this managed to ring true to me happily.

Honestly I’d love to say more about ’Emily Wilde’s Compendium Of Lost Tales’ but think it’s best not to as I don’t want to give anything away. Let’s just say it’s a gloriously taut journey that managed to delight me throughout, even as a sense of dread continued to mount. If you’ve enjoyed the previous instalments of the series then you’re sure to find yourself enchanted once again. And if you haven’t picked the previous books up yet what are you waiting for? This series is an utterly charming, cosy delight with the perfect depiction of the fae, stories within stories (always a favourite feature of mine), a macabre undertone, a charming enemies to lovers romance and so much more. Needless to say I can’t wait to see what the author will write next (and already have my eye on her similarly charming sounding 2026 release).

I absolutely loved Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales, which I'm not surprised that I do because I have loved every previous installment in the series. This book was whimsical, funny, and so full of heart that I was constantly smiling while reading it - I think even more than when I read Map of the Otherlands! I also really liked how we finally get to read more about Wendell in the series, and I think the development of Emily's and Wendell's romance was just soo good. Do I want more of it? Yes probably but the short scenes that we got of them were enough for me. I also loved seeing familiar names and friends in this one!!!

As far as I know this is the last book in the installment? If not and I'm wrong (which I'm hoping I am), then I hope Heather Fawcett continues to write Emily's adventures. If yes, then I thought this was a great ending to the installment.