Delving into the Enchanted World of Emily Wilde
There’s something utterly captivating about stories that blend the mundane with the magical. Tales where crusty academics stumble into fairy rings, or small-town folks find themselves tangled up with creatures that shouldn’t exist outside of bedtime stories. Heather Fawcett’s “Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries” taps into that rich vein of fantasy, serving up a tale as cozy as a cup of tea on a frosty morning, yet with enough bite to keep you on your toes.
Now, I’ll admit, when I first picked up this book, I was a bit skeptical. Another story about faeries? Haven’t we exhausted that particular well? But let me tell you, dear reader, I was in for a delightful surprise. Fawcett breathes new life into the genre, crafting a world that feels both familiar and refreshingly original.
Meet Emily Wilde: Scholar, Curmudgeon, Reluctant Heroine
At the heart of this enchanting tale is Emily Wilde, a Cambridge professor who’s about as prickly as a hedgehog and twice as likely to curl up into a defensive ball when faced with social interaction. Emily is the foremost expert on faerie lore, a brilliant scholar working on the world’s first comprehensive encyclopaedia of the Fair Folk. She’s also spectacularly bad at dealing with people, preferring the company of her books, her loyal dog Shadow, and the elusive creatures she studies.
When Emily arrives in the remote village of Hrafnsvik in Ljosland (a fictional Nordic country), she has no intention of making friends. She’s there to study the local faeries, particularly the enigmatic Hidden Ones, and that’s it. But as anyone who’s read a lick of fantasy knows, things rarely go according to plan when the Fair Folk are involved.
A Cast of Characters to Fall in Love With
While Emily is undoubtedly the star of the show, Fawcett populates her world with a cast of characters that are impossible not to adore. There’s Wendell Bambleby, Emily’s academic rival who shows up uninvited and proceeds to charm the pants off everyone in town (much to Emily’s annoyance). The gruff but kindhearted villagers of Hrafnsvik, each with their own quirks and secrets. And of course, the faeries themselves, from the mischievous brownies to the terrifying courtly fae.
But it’s Emily herself who truly steals the show. Her prickliness, her dedication to her work, her awkward attempts at human interaction – all of it combines to create a protagonist who feels refreshingly real. As someone who’s spent more than their fair share of time buried in books, I found myself relating to Emily in ways I didn’t expect.
A Romance as Slow-Burning as a Winter’s Night
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Academic rivals? Isolated setting? This has all the makings of a romance, doesn’t it? And you’d be right, but Fawcett handles it with a deft touch that never feels forced or cliché. The relationship between Emily and Wendell unfolds slowly, naturally, with plenty of misunderstandings and frustrations along the way. It’s a romance for people who think they don’t like romance, built on mutual respect and shared intellectual curiosity as much as physical attraction.
A World of Wonder and Danger
Fawcett’s world-building in “Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries” is nothing short of spectacular. Ljosland comes alive on the page, a place of harsh winters and harsher beauty, where the line between the mortal world and Faerie is thin enough to slip through if you’re not careful. The faerie lore is rich and complex, drawing on traditional folklore while adding unique twists that keep things fresh and exciting.
The Hidden Ones: A Mystery Worth Unraveling
The central mystery of the Hidden Ones provides the driving force of the plot, and it’s a doozy. These elusive faeries are unlike anything Emily has encountered before, and the more she uncovers about them, the more dangerous her quest becomes. Fawcett does an excellent job of building tension, creating a sense of creeping dread that had me turning pages well into the night.
The Dark Side of Faerie
One thing I particularly appreciated about this book is that it doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of faerie lore. These aren’t your sanitized Disney fairies – they’re capricious, often cruel beings who view humans as little more than playthings. The dangers Emily faces are real and sometimes horrifying, adding a welcome edge to what could have been a too-cozy tale.
A Writing Style That Enchants and Delights
Fawcett’s prose is a joy to read, striking a perfect balance between academic precision (fitting for a story about a scholar) and lyrical description. The book is presented as Emily’s journal, allowing for a intimate first-person perspective that really lets us get inside her head.
Humor That Hits the Mark
One of the unexpected delights of “Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries” is its humor. Emily’s dry wit and social awkwardness lead to plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, while Wendell’s over-the-top charm provides a perfect foil. The villagers, too, have their moments of deadpan humor that had me chuckling throughout.
A Pace That Keeps You Hooked
While the book starts off a bit slow (much like Emily herself), it quickly picks up steam, building to a climax that had me on the edge of my seat. Fawcett knows how to end a chapter on just the right note to keep you reading “just one more” until suddenly it’s 2 AM and you’ve finished the whole thing.
Final Thoughts: A Magical Start to a Promising Series
“Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries” is the first in a planned series, and I, for one, can’t wait to see where Fawcett takes these characters next. The book wraps up its main plot satisfyingly while leaving plenty of threads dangling for future installment, Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands.
If you’re a fan of fantasy, folklore, or just damn good storytelling, this book deserves a place on your shelf. It’s a perfect blend of cozy and thrilling, funny and thought-provoking, romantic and adventurous. Emily Wilde may not be good at making friends in her world, but she’ll certainly find plenty of them among readers.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Fantasy lovers looking for a fresh take on faerie lore
- Fans of slow-burn romances and enemies-to-lovers tropes
- Anyone who’s ever felt more comfortable with books than people
- Readers who enjoy a mix of humor and darkness in their stories
- Those who appreciate strong, complex female protagonists
Who Might Want to Skip It?
- Readers looking for fast-paced action from start to finish
- Those who prefer their fantasy without romantic elements
- People who don’t enjoy first-person narratives or journal-style stories
In Conclusion: A Magical Journey Worth Taking
“Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries” is one of those rare books that manages to feel both comfortingly familiar and excitingly new. It’s a love letter to folklore, to academia, to the power of friendship, and to finding one’s place in the world—even if that place happens to be on the border between our world and Faerie.
Heather Fawcett has crafted a tale that lingers in the mind long after the last page is turned, like the memory of a half-glimpsed faerie in the woods. It’s a promising start to what I hope will be a long and enchanting series. So grab a cup of tea, curl up by the fire, and let Emily Wilde take you on a journey into the heart of Faerie. Just be careful not to get lost along the way.
P.S. If you find yourself suddenly wanting to leave out saucers of milk for the brownies after reading this book, well… you’re not alone. Just don’t blame me if you wake up to find your kitchen redecorated by mischievous faeries!