Beautifully written and a great ending to the trilogy. I love this world so much and I'm.sad it's over

A beautifully atmospheric conclusion to the series, Compendium of Lost Tales delivers faerie intrigue, academic musings, and a slow-burning romance—but at a more measured pace than its predecessors.

✨ A scholar turned queen 💫 Faerie politics & hidden dangers 📚 A richly woven world of magic

Fawcett’s prose remains immersive, and Emily’s journey into Wendell’s faerie kingdom is filled with fascinating lore. However, the slower pacing and heavy focus on faerie politics make certain sections feel drawn out. While the emotional stakes are high, the narrative doesn’t always maintain the momentum of earlier books.

If you love intricate world-building, fae mythology, and scholarly protagonists, this is a solid, if slightly uneven, finale.

“I have learned there is one thing a person never tires of, no matter how long they live. And that is being in love. All else is ash and ember.”

A beautiful conclusion to the Emily Wilde books. The Compendium of Lost Tales is the third and final book in the series and while I am sad to see it go I think the ending was full, well rounded and satisfying to read while leaving it just open enough for another potential book in the future

This book keeps its cosy fantasy vibes while showing a different more darker side to faeries really leaning into actual folklore and myth. I loved seeing even more progression to the main characters Emily and Wendell and how they navigated there relationship being tested as well as a few appearances from characters that had been in previous books.

While I did enjoy the book and was happy with how it concluded I was a little crestfallen in that there didn't seem to be as much adventure as the previous books, the dialogue and academic explanations can be fairly wordy and the journeys and adventures they go on usually gives the books a nice balance but this instalment seemed to be slower paced than the previous and when something interesting sparked it got resolved a little too quickly.

That being said I still think the series as a whole is wonderful, its incredibly unique and I will miss the world and it's characters (especially shadow)

A lovely conclusion to a witty and lovable series. I really enjoyed all of the books in this series and often recommend it to others
Excited to read more from the author

A perfect ending to a great series. One thing that drew me in about the first book was the different approach to fae stories. Even when Emily and Wendel venture in the Fae realm, Emily's observant nature kept things interesting for me. The court intrigue didn't affect her as much and she played into it well, gently guiding and manipulating the players so they would do what she wanted. She's truly fit to be a queen of faerie, especially as a human queen. She knows the loopholes, sees then, exploits them. But she needs the help of others as well. The major mystery of the story she can't solve without help. I truly enjoyed the last third of the book as they work it out. The ending was deserved in so many ways.

Long shall they live, Queen Emily and King Wendell.

Many thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and Heather Fawcett for the advanced copy of Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales via NetGalley, in return for my honest and unbiased review. Quick note: I don’t recap plots in my reviews, as it’s easy enough to read the book’s synopsis and blurbs, I purely focus on my feelings & opinions of how the books makes me feel.
This book is the third in the trilogy. The first book (Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries) was on my list of favourite reads of 2023 and I gave it a solid 5/5. The second book (Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands) held strong at 4/5.
Unfortunately—for me—the trajectory continued down, rather than up. Perhaps too hastily written to follow on from the previous two, the Compendium just feels flat and like it’s going through the motions.
There was none of the truly adventurous spirit that I encountered in the first book, or the daring and spirited character of the second. There was a lot of info-dumping that perhaps the author *really* wanted to cram in there, or perhaps just to fill space, but I found myself glossing over it, rather than getting stuck in and actually reading it. And I LOVE folklore.
The tropes were a bit lacklustre and obvious, and overall it all just felt like it was just an exercise of crossing the Ts and dotting the Is before tying it all up in a neat bow. No pizazz, no surprises, no beauty or sparkle like the previous books.
And it made me sad! I absolutely ADORED the first book, and it’s one I’ll re-read many times. I’ll likely re-read the second as well. But this one – sadly – will not be.
Moods: adventurous, dark
Tropes: fairytale/folktale retelling, grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract, peril
Pace: slow
Character development: weak
Plot or character driven: 50/50
Diversity: high
Rating: 3/5

A wonderful conclusion to a trilogy I have enjoyed.

I requested this book being a fan of the previous two and it did not disappoint. It continued the cosy whimsical academic fantasy from the first two.

It did have the hard task of tying up plot points, some of which were done well and other felt rushed and disjointed.

There was more of a focus on the main romantic interests which I enjoyed and there were more new characters which interested me.

A well executed conclusion

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales is the perfect cosy fantasy series—funny, sweet, and full of faerie mischief, academic snark, and slow-burn romance. It picks up not long after the last book and sees Emily and Wendell gallivanting across Europe on a quest for missing stories and answers (and maybe also for Wendell’s crown, but he’s very chill about it, obviously).

I just love spending time with these characters. Emily is her usual prickly, slightly oblivious self, and Wendell remains a silly but charming fae king. Their dynamic is so entertaining—full of banter and bickering, but also real warmth and affection. I love their relationship and could read about them forever. There’s such a lovely tenderness under the humour, and I really felt the emotional beats land in this one.

The folklore and world-building are also gorgeous. Fawcett has created a magical world that feels layered and lived in, with each new region steeped in its own strange traditions. The pacing dips a little in the middle, but honestly, I didn’t mind too much—I was just happy to be along for the ride.

A cosy read that feels like curling up with a hot drink and your favourite blanket. A wonderful conclusion to this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC!

I love these books. I love the progression of Wendell and Emily!! They are slow paced books throughout but honestly I am ok with that and fit with the vibe of the book. I love the self narration in her diary style for her work! These books are just so cozy and whimsical I cannot wait to read more from Heather Fawcett!!

The footnotes, I will be honest got a little tedious for me. I read some and they were interesting but mostly found myself skipping these altogether as they either didn’t add a total lot or confused me.
Wendell could have also had a bit more banter like the earlier books! Yes their relationship has progressed however, that’s what I loved most about them! Wendell was the cocky, cheeky fae king and Emily was quite highly strung and focused! They complemented each other!

This is the third book in the series, one that I stumbled on without realising what I was starting. It is telling that the most bloodthirsty ( in its own way) of the books has such a light and delicate cover. This seemingly benign start doesn’t give an accurate introduction to what is to come. But then, if one is used to the series after the first two books ( as one should be because this is not the point to jump into the series), the irony is on point.

The footnotes in this series continue to be entertaining in just how seriously the subject of Dryadology and related fields is treated.

As I mentioned earlier this book will make almost no sense ( while continuing to be entertaining) without prior knowledge of the people and the complexities involved, especially since people from both the books make special appearances in significant times. Emily and Wendell are trying to settle as Monarchs but things are not easy. Everything from the approach to the appearance has to be carefully thought out. Once on the throne, keeping it is difficult. Here’s where the lost tales and Emily’s obsession with them comes into play. It is not a straightforward story. It may make more sense of the lot, but it was not necessarily my favourite. It does round off the books well ( if this series is meant to be a trilogy).

I would highly recommend this series to fans of the fantasy genre looking for something slightly different within it.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience of this and the previous two books

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands

Perfect conclusion to this witty, charming trilogy. Emily and Wendell completely won me over, their adventures, however dangerous, never fail to make me laugh. And it's nice to see Emily finally living her best fairy life. ✨💚

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This took me too long to read it, not because it was bad or boring but because I really didnt want to say goodbye to these characters. I guess I dont have much to say about this one that I didnt already said about the previous books. The tone, pacing and vibe is all the same. The characters are still so lovely and interesting. I will miss them so much. Also I love a good old fairy story that I acually like. Fairies are everywhere now, but very few of them are actually interesting to me, so this is something else I will miss from this story.

I will look foward for what the writer writes next!

Another excellent read. Cosy cottage core vibes from Heather Fawcett and such a lovely romance to sink into.
I adore the fact that Emily is actually not like other girls without the fuss and posturing that goes with it. She is unapologetically herself, goes for what she knows is right even if it upsets people and yet is kind hearted and loving.
Wendell is also just the biggest cinnamon roll with a strong streak of chilli throughout. The few insights we got into his daker inclinations was interesting, as well as seeing how his love for Emily essentially gives him a moral code.
Beautifully written-- although tbh I could do without all of the footnotes, illustrations would be nice, but the footnotes are a little irritating.
Some of the characters are pulled straight out of my nightmares and yet it really adds edge to a gentle faerie book. Also loved the appearance of old favourites.
Highly recommend..

"Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales" by Heather Fawcett has been one of my most anticipated releases of 2025 and it did not disappoint. Ever since I read it back in February I find myself thinking about it regularly. I love Emily's journey and growth, how her relationships with Wendell and her friends have changed. The final book in the trilogy is only a disappointment in so far as it is the last one in the series. I would not mind returning to see what new shenanigans Emily and Wendell are up to. Fingers crossed we meet them again someday...
Easily five stars!

Thank you to Orbit for the arc!

I absolutely adore this series and this book did not disappoint. It is a wonderful conclusion to the trilogy, and I enjoyed getting to see all of my favorite characters again while also getting to meet new ones and expand the world. It’s the perfect bow on the trilogy that will make it a classic in years to come.

just one of the best fantasy series I read in the last years.
Emily and Wendell can do no wrong and the writing is marvellous like always.

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales is the final chapter of Emily's whimsical, fantasy adventures across the world in the pursuit of her academic career, with an unforgettable cast of companions tagging along. I love Heather Fawcett's brought-together threads from all the other books in this series to weave a fulfilling and satisfying ending to this gorgeous series, unraveling twist by twist with gentle pacing (slower than the previous books to heighten the drama) and some brilliant cameos from beloved characters from book one and two.

The dynamic plot intricately weaves together the deadly political situation in Faerie, dangerous magic afoot in a perilous family feud, and Emily battling her insecurities about becoming a queen, balancing her academic career and her fears for the aging Shadow. It's a roller coaster of emotions, whimsical charm, and immersive storytelling that creates an exciting, engaging read.

The romance between Emily and Wendell blossoms across the three books, showing how far they have grown together as characters on their journeys learning to co-exist, living together as a couple, and setting healthy boundaries for their relationship to balance the human and Fae sides of their natures and needs. You can see in their heartwarming and tender moments how deeply they love and care for each other - they would both give each other the world and destroy it for one another.

Thank you to Little Brown Book Group UK and Orbit for granting me a copy of Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales. I'm sad this is the final book of this series. Hopefully, Heather will take us back to this wonderful world of whimsical academia in the near future.

I'm really in denial about this book series ending but this was an almost perfect ending to the series to me! The pacing lulled a bit towards the middle and there was less focus on plot and more on Emily's character this go around, but it tied up all the loose ends neatly. While I'm sad to say goodbye to Emily and Wendell, here's to hoping we'll get a novella!

Thank you, Netgalley and the Publisher, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales" is the last adventure undertaken by our beloved scholars, who embark on a perilous journey to claim Wendell's realm and his position as king. Life-threatening menaces stand in their way, and only Emily's analytic mind will be able to protect Wendell and his kingdom from his stepmother's plots.

I won't dwell on the general storyline in this trilogy, for I don't want this review to be spoilery. This last book revolves around Emily's new project: writing a paper about Faerie's tales since they shape the very fabric of their world. Still, she has to focus on this new branch of dryadology due to a dangerous curse tormenting Wendell's realm, and she must find a loophole to free the land and restore peace.
This novel isn't as adventure-packed as the previous two. Instead, the author focused on the changes in Emily's life as the new queen of the Silva Lupi since Wendell took the throne and all the doubts that plagued her regarding Wendell and the risky consequences of his actions. Emily is characterised by her shyness and brilliance, but also by her coolness that may be mistaken for carelessness. Despite that, her utter love for Wendell is unmistakable, and the author described her inner concerns perfectly well, making them reasonable, especially from the point of view of a judicious scholar who tends to face life from an academic perspective.
The plot, however, isn't as predictable as I thought it to be. The ending followed a series of uncanny choices that complement the real sense of the story.
As usual, Wendell and Emily's relationship is core to all the events, and I loved how different and even bizarre it is. Their love is so pure and sincere that it is almost impossible not to care for this couple.

The world-building is deeply suggestive and reflects the unromantic aspects of faeries, diverging from the far more common characterisation that is made today in numerous fantasy novels. I find this portrayal more intriguing and realistic, for it doesn't differ from the folkloristic description of these creatures. The author added a lot of scientific details that depict the scholarly world, and I particularly appreciated all the footnotes emphasising and explaining specific topics.

All in all, I highly recommend this series because, even though the first book is quite weak in my humble opinion, the series gets better and better, and you will surely cherish all of the characters featured in these novels. You should give it a chance if you like cosy fantasy settings and light academia books like A Letter from the Luminous Deep and Half a Soul.

Thank you to Heather Fawcett, NetGalley and Little Brown Books for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. I have adored the Emily Wilde series of books and Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales was no exception. I found it a fitting end to the series, albeit there was a slow start and there was a little lack of wonder and magic in the book compared to the previous novels. I really enjoyed the second half and found the love story between Wendall and Emily beautiful and touching.

Overall I really enjoyed the final novel, I love how Emily has grown into herself and accepted herself fully as a Queen of Faerie, romantic bones and all. I hope someday there may be another foray into the faerie realm with another novel about these wholesome characters, and all of Emily's scientific footnotes.