3.5 ⭐

This was just as whimsical as the previous instalments, although a little darker overall.

I simply adore Emily, her zealous thirst for knowledge and no nonsense attitude. I loved reading her journal entries again, I cannot get enough of her voice.

I have to say though, that I was a little disappointed with Wendell. I absolutely love him, and the dynamic between him and Emily was sublime in the previous books. Unfortunately I found it lacking here. There was nowhere near enough teasing banter or romantic moments between them, and he seemed like an afterthought in the story.

The overall plot was okay, but I did find myself losing interest quite a few times. The tales were clever, but this was not at all what I expected from this book.

My love for Emily Wilde will always remain strong, but this didn't quite feel like a satisfying conclusion to her story.

I loved being back with Emily! It was also so nice to be back with all the best side characters such as Shadow, Wendall, Poe and co.
We got to explore a bit more of Wendall's realm, 'Where The Trees Have Eyes' and meet a whole host of fae. It is just such a magical, whimsical series and I still love the footnotes, it feels like we really are reading a scholar's diary. Watching Emily come out of her shell is such a privilege and I wish we could have 29718 more Emily Wilde books.

Fans of the Emily Wilde series will be thrilled by this continuation, which places Emily and her now-fiancé, Wendell Bambleby, at the center of Faerie politics in a vivid and perilous realm.
Emily is as delightful and relatable as ever, balancing her brilliant scholarly mind with her uncertainty about fitting into a role as grand as “queen.” All while keeping her dry humor and pragmatic approach to the magical chaos. Her relationship with Wendell evolves beautifully in this installment, blending romance with mutual respect and partnership as they face challenges together.
The Faerie kingdom itself is a richly imagined setting—a stunning yet sinister world brimming with treasures, mysteries, and dangers. The stakes are higher than ever as Wendell’s cursed homeland comes alive with deadly intrigue. The curse placed by Wendell’s stepmother is a masterstroke of tension, and watching Emily and Wendell unravel its secrets using her encyclopedic knowledge of faerie lore and his magic is captivating. The plot combines political machinations, clever puzzles, and vivid faerie folklore, so readers who loved the scholarly aspects of Emily’s character will especially enjoy how her knowledge plays a crucial role in their survival.

It’s been a while since I had so much fun”
“He nearly decapitated you!” I exclaimed.
“Yes, but besides that, Em,” he said patiently.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown UK for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!

I love these books so much aahh. This one was one of my most anticipated upcoming book releases and it did not disappoint. I genuinely loved every page of it and I appreciated the fast paced plot this time around. There’s a little cameo near the end of the book I got so excited about I think I woke up nearly half my flat- sorry!! I think this might be the final book in the Emily Wilde saga but this is my genuine appeal for it to pleaseeeee be picked back up for another 30 books pleaseeeee

This releases in February and I couldn’t recommend it more!!! Do yourself a favor and go read it

What an amazing 3th volume of this series.
The Compendium of lost Tales starts off exactly where Map of the Otherlands ended... Entering "Where the trees have eyes". Emily and Wendell attempt to reclaim Wendell's throne from his stepmother, as they realize a curse is killing the land. They go on a quest to banish the curse and Emily stumbles upon old tales that might provide answers to end the curse.

I don't want to spoil too much, but this book had me in my feels and I was on the end of my seat because I had no idea where this would go. I loved the companions along their journey, I love Shadow and fell a bit into love with Orga too, and the way the relationship between Emily and Wendell was portrayed. And the growth Emily went through was amazing.
For me it's a perfect ending to the series.

Thanks to Netgalley, Little, Brown book group UK and Heather Fawcett for trusting me to write an honest review in exchange for this ARC.

“I can never stop yearning for new discoveries. Even the smallest are as precious jewels to me.”

I really enjoyed being back with Emily and Wendell on their next adventure, I think this may even be my favourite book of the series so far. Although I have to say I’m sorry, Emily, but Wendell really does make these books for me! He’s such a lovable, roguish character. That being said, it’s the ying and yang of the two that often provides the moments of hilarity.

“Now, answer me one way or the other - are we lost?”
“Oh, Em,” he said fondly…No, we are not lost, not in the sense you mean. I know where the castle is - does it matter where we are?”

Shadow and Poe remain some of my favourite characters/animals, I loved Orga, and I enjoyed the return of some of the characters from Ljosland. And being in Wendell’s homeland provided a great backdrop for their latest exploits.

“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.”

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the e-arc of this book.

AAAHHH I can't believe it's over!
When I picked up the first Emily Wilde book, I thought it would be a short and entertaining read, but what I found instead was this beautiful story about scholarship and love and excitement and footnotes. It's light academia in every sense of the world, and even though the athmosphere of the first book is still unrivaled by both sequels, I've loved every single sentence and every single word.

I don't even have the words to explain how much I will miss Emily and Wendell and Shadow. Please, if you're on the fence about reading this series: do it. I cannot put in words the warmth I feel between those pages. Truly one of the best fantasy trilogies out there.

I adore these books. Emily and Wendell are a wonderful couple, a genius pairing of a Cambridge academic and an exiled prince of a Faerie realm. It’s a joy to see how each have grown since the first book, and their love bringing out the best in each other as they face another threat to Wendell from the capricious and often bloodthirsty Fae. If you enjoy a historical romance and Faerie, then this is a must.

With a 4.5 star rating and a huge amount of love for books 1 and 2, I couldn't wait for this final instalment. As soon as I started, I could tell that compared to the first two books, this one lacked the witty dialogue, the enchanting and whimsical writing, and the atmosphere, which here felt very dry, detached, and somewhat flat. The footnotes added nothing of interest. I didn't like the first part of the book, which contained overly long sections about researching books, and the time spent in Faerie felt like boring filler. Several characters from the prequels appeared here, which was very nice, but I didn't feel any chemistry between them and Emily due to dry dialogue that lacked the wit and emotion I saw in the previous books. As a result, it felt like nothing happened here until we reached 60%, whereas in the first two books the story felt more like a quest. I enjoyed the last part much more, as it brought the whole arc to a satisfying conclusion.

Overall, this final volume made me wonder if a third book was necessary, or if this could have been condensed and released as a duology (or a very nice 700 page book, but marketing wants to make money, hey).

A very high 4 stars, and a wonderful way to wrap up the series. (Though I will take more, please write more of this, Heather Fawcett.)

If you're reading book three, you already know that you like this series, and there's little more I need to say to convince you to read this final instalment, so I will keep this rather short. There are the characters you love, the delightful banter between Emily and Wendell, perfect animal companions, plenty of callbacks to the first two books, vivid writing about the world, and Emily's lovely and captivating narrative voice to take you through it all. This book didn't go where I expected it would, which I learned very, very quickly, but it was a very satisfying conclusion to the series, and I loved the theme of stories repeating themselves (I just love stories and lore and that).

First person POVs are . . . challenging for me, but I find it so easy to be in Emily's head. These books wouldn't work if you didn't feel an emotional connection with Emily, and for Wendell, to some extent, but that was never a question for me. I was in it.

I always see this series called "cozy" and "light academia," and while the latter is absolutely true and the former is certainly true in that it's a series for curling up under a blanket with a big mug of hot chocolate beside you, one thing I don't see mentioned enough is how horrifying some of the faerie parts can be. It's something I love in the series, how the story does not shy away from how brutal the faerie world is and that same vivid writing I mentioned earlier? Yeah, it'll tell you in detail about these horrors.

MVPs: Shadow and Orga, the best animal companions and the true rulers of Faerie.

Thank you to the publisher, Orbit, and to NetGalley for the ARC.

I adore everything about this book and everything about this series. I wasn't sure I could love it more than I did when I finished Book 2, but I truly do!!

Oh how I love Em and her Faerie King, Wendell. I have loved them from the first page to the final one of the trilogy.

While in book one and two, we venture to the Iceland and Austria, briefly spending time in the faerie realms, in book three most of the plot is based in Wendell’s realm. It is one filled dangerous magic, eccentric Folk and mythical woodlands- all set to try and test the pair as the embark on the task of regaining Wendell’s throne.

It was a joy to watch Emily and Wendell’s romance unfold further as they move towards their wedding. At times, it is filled with humorous moments- provided by their differences- and others that are more heartwarming- provided by Wendell as he attempts to help Emily settle in the new world.

There is a lovely sense of loose ends being tied. They are successfully combined with new elements, like the queen’s curse, which continue to engage and interest and it was delightful to revisit characters from the previous books.

As I’m trying to keep spoilers to a minimum, I won’t say anymore apart from book three gave me the satisfied feeling of a wonderful trilogy concluding in a manner that will please many fans. I loved it just as much as the other two books and know it will be a series I will revisit again and again.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this e-arc!

Heather Fawcett does it again! I have never read a cosy fantasy quite like it. I loved that there was more tension in this book in terms up ramping up the stakes but it also didn’t leave me feeling like something awful was going to happen.

I could not have expected a better ending to the trilogy! The whole series has been so fun to follow Emily along on her series of academic adventures.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales is an enchanting blend of academic curiosity, whimsical folklore, and heartfelt relationships. From the moment I opened the book, I was drawn into Emily’s world—a meticulous professor with a sharp mind and a knack for uncovering the secrets of the fae.

The narrative beautifully balances Emily’s personal growth with the rich, atmospheric tales of magical beings and hidden realms. I loved how the author wove folklore into the story, giving it an authentic, almost historical feel, while still keeping the tone adventurous and engaging.

Emily’s interactions with Wendell were a highlight for me—their dynamic is witty, charming, and filled with delightful banter. The evolving friendship added a lovely warmth to the story, contrasting with the mysterious and sometimes chilling elements of the fae world.

The descriptions were so vivid that I felt as if I were wandering through the enchanted forests and remote villages alongside Emily, notebook in hand. This book is a treasure for anyone who loves folklore, a touch of magic, and characters that feel real and relatable.

I wholeheartedly recommend this series. 5 stars

3.5⭐️

Overall this was an enjoyable and satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. The plot was apt for the final instalment, and I liked being back in Emily and Wendell’s world again, however I did find it to not be as enchanting to the first and second book. The pacing felt a little off too at times as the challenges felt too easy to overcome.

I would recommend this series for anyone looking for is a cozy, fun, low-stakes fantasy.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an e-ARC of this book to review.

I really enjoyed this book, but I just wasn't feeling it quite as much as the first two. However, this series as a whole will forever hold a special place in my heart.

I think the problem is that I wasn't sure what to expect from the story, bur was still a bit disappointed. Which probably isn't very fair. I just didn't feel like it was as exciting or adventurous as the first two books; the adventure was one of my favourite aspects of the series, and I just feel like it took the back seat in this book.

The pacing felt a little off too; it felt to easy? The challenges felt to easy to overcome in this one, compared to the other too.

This all sounds quite harsh, so now let me talk about the things I loved in this book. EMILY'S EMOTIONAL GROWTH. I love her but let's be honest, she hasn't been the most emotional character in this series, and that's okay. It's who she is and is part of her charm; she keeps her feelings close to her chest. But she has experienced so much growth in this book; she was really letting her emotional hair down, and it was really lovely to read. It's really nice for us to show her love and affection for Wendell. It kinda makes her a bit more human and understandable. It was also nice to see Wendell's love for Emily.

I also appreciated that Emily didn't simply slot into the Kingdom nor felt comfortable or secure right away; she had to work to understand this completely new environment that she's been thrown into. It would have felt really disjointed if she didn't experience some kind of turmoil. The descriptions of Wendell's kingdom were extremely lovely; Heather is such a talented atmospheric writer. She just knows how to set the scene in one's mind. She writes very beautifully.

I think I liked all of the new characters; something that I found a little tough to take were all of the new characters that all seemed important to the story. It was a little difficult to digest as there all just suddenly appeared and were instrumental to the story. I also missed meeting a new faerie guardian (although I love Poe's brief appearance!).

I still really enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend the series!

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing an eARC of this book.

There is nothing I love more than Emily and Wendell🩷
What a beautiful conclusion to this lovely series! It is no easy feat to meet (and exceed!) the calibre of two very well loved books in a series, but Fawcett delivers a perfectly tied ending to the Emily Wilde world of faeries.

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales is romantic, immersive, and probably the most emotional book in the trilogy. It presents us with new characters and new challenges, but there is also a nod to all of the adventures lived in the first two books.

Fawcett creates lovable and relatable characters, which combined with the fantastical world she creates, prove to be the key to her success!

5/5 for this one!!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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

Plot:
Emily and Wendell are back to his faireland to reclaim his throne. Emily's last act in the 2nd book does not immediately mean Wendell can take over the throne and live happily ever after. His kingdom is in danger and as always Emily has to find a solution in books. But the outcome may not be a happy ending for all.

Thoughts:
I liked the idea behind the book which was an apt fit for the 3rd installment however, the writing and approach was not as enchanting as the first book or even slightly close to the second book. This felt more like perusing through academic material chapter after chapter rather than undergoing anything eventful. There was more telling than action which made it difficult for me to enjoy the story. There were moments of Emily and Wendell's old selves but those were fleeting and not enough. If this book had been more crisper for the quest this follows, it would've easily been at least a 4 star read for me.

5 stars.
A perfect finale in the trilogy, Emily and Wendell return to Wendell’s kingdom to claim his throne but when they return they find his stepmother has been poisoning the lands and to stop her it may require more than they want to sacrifice.
As light academia fantasy, it reads very lighthearted and the pacing is perfect which makes an easy unstressed read. The footnotes add a touch of whimsy and comical sarcasm as a bonus which, personally, I think propels you to read on.
It was a fun lighthearted read, I like it for what it is, the relationship between Emily and Wendell isn’t perfect and they have to come to accept that each other has differing wants and needs but it doesn’t mean that they don’t love each other. We see old characters returning and new characters introduced. Family history is touched upon and of course, academics is as much a part of this book as well.
The ending is a sweet one, companionship and acceptance being the main themes. Perfect!
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK the opportunity to read this!

Another fantastic book in this series, a very cozy read.

I especially liked how we get to share Emily's joy as she learns about Wendell's kingdom, the pleasant side and the mysterious.

The timeline is a bit more chaotic than book 1 and 2 but still easy to follow. The action is definitley ramped up as Emily and Wendall are faced with more challenges from all sides. However, they don't have to face them alone. I really enjoyed Emily's character growth which shows the importance of community and self acceptance.

The ending is nicely wrapped up and heartwarming.