The third instalment of the Emily Wilde series is just as enchanting as the previous two books! I just adore this series due to how whimsical and charming the characters and atmosphere are— Heather Fawcett has just created one of the cosiest and most endearing fantasy series that I have ever had the privilege of reading!

I will say I didn’t love this one as much as the previous two because I found the beginning of this one a lot slower but also because I ADORE the audiobook narrated by Elle Potter and since this was an ebook, I definitely missed the way she elevates the story. However, I will be first in line to purchase the audiobook on release day to do a reread🙏🏻 her voice is exactly how I picture Emily in my head and I love the way she does Wendell’s voice too. They were my favourite part of this book and I wish we got a bit more of them, I felt like we got more of them apart than together which was a bummer since they’re finally a couple now. But I’m hoping for a fourth instalment 👀 I expected this to be a trilogy but the way the book ended gives me hope for me. I can totally see this saga going on for several more books because I can never truly tire of Emily and Wendell🫶🏻

I feel like this series is best experienced by reading all three books back to back. I read books one and two in quick succession and I feel like book three follows on so seamlessly from ‘Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands’ that the experience would be even more perfect if the series was read all at once. Certainly, I devoured each book voraciously and was utterly devastated to reach the end of this newest title and realise that there would be no more books in this trilogy…

This can be best described as light academia or cosy fantasy, with the caveat that there are some dark fae creatures throughout the series that add some light horror vibes. Indeed, ‘Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales’ is set mostly in the fae realm and there is a fair mix of creepy faerie side characters and antagonists to really emphasise the delightfully creepy aura of the world. Add in some swashbuckling swordfighting and magical battles and you have page-turning action to add to the list of the book’s many virtues. All of the central characters are adorably loveable and I simply cherished following them on their three-book journey together.

My favourite volume in the trilogy is still ‘Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries’ but, as insinuated above, I mostly consider the three books as one entity. Thus, if you liked the first two books, I very much struggle to see why you would be disappointed with this one.

These books would be perfect for any fans of Marie Brennan's ‘A Natural History of Dragons’, of Naomi Novik’s ‘Spinning Silver’ and ‘Uprooted’, or for fans of Susanna Clarke’s epic ‘Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell’ who are seeking a lighter, more whimsical and heartwarming take on the story.

I simply loved this series and will treasure it always! I already miss it…

Thank-you sincerely to both the publishers and Netgalley for gifting me a digital proof of the novel!

A perfectly whimsical conclusion to the light academia series about a scholar of folklore and the fae prince she loves. Emily Wilde has spent her entire life studying fairies but now she must embark on her most dangerous academic project yet: studying the inner workings of the faerie realm as its queen. Along with her former academic rival now finance she is immediately thrust into the deadly intrigue of the courts.

Here she finds a beautiful nightmare filled with scholarly treasures with which to document and avoid for survival. Emily has been obsessed with faerie stories her entire life but she feels just as out of place here as she did in the mortal world. With a deadly curse placed upon the land it will take all her fiancé’s magic and her knowledge of stories to unravel the mystery before they lose everything they hold dear.

It would seem our awkward professor feels just as out of touch in the faerie lands as she does the mortal world which is equally endearing as it is understanding. If one were to find themselves whisked away to become a fair queen it would be a dream come true and a waking nightmare attempting to navigate court politics and faerie tricks.

A book so endlessly enchanting and vividly descriptive that you’ll walk away half ensorcelled as if you truly had walked unknowingly through a faerie door. If only there was a way to stay there without the story ending but even so it was a perfectly enchanting ending.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞, 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 (𝐎𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐭) 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞'𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐰𝐜𝐞𝐭𝐭

A nice addition to this series. Always well written and fun with interesting characters, plot and setting. I always enjoy the notes in the books and love the whimsy
I found this better than book two and would read other things from this author

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

I’m so sad this series is over😩 I love these characters and this world so much, I’m gonna need a few days to recover.

A fantastic ending to this trilogy, we got the return of some old favourite characters and a delightful plot of Wendell reclaiming his kingdom.

I’m so glad Shadow didn’t die because I did think this would happen, phew! 😮‍💨

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales
4.5

This was my favourite book of the trilogy! It got into the plot straight away and it moved quickly. There was banter and affection between Emily and Wendell, more than I felt in the previous two books, even when they were apart because of the letters that Wendell sends.

I liked the plot and how it explored stories in the Fae world, and it played perfectly into Emily's skillset. It was good to see her continue her work as a scholar and embrace who she is. Everything wrapped up nicely and it was a fitting conclusion to the series.

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.