Title: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries
Author: Heather Fawcett
Source: Pasco County Library System
Publication Date: January 10, 2023
Synopsis: Goodreads
Purchase Link: Amazon

Other books in this series: Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands (Emily Wilde Book #2) (review forthcoming!)

Why did I choose to read this book?

I am a huge fan of Holly Black’s The Folk of the Air series (The Cruel Prince, The Wicked King, The Queen of Nothing) and when I saw this book on many “most anticipated” lists last year, I put it on my library holds list. I like the idea of faeries being weird, rule-based, cruel, kind, and just kind of other-worldy instead of the “cute dress with wings and a wand” that we get from popular culture. I checked it out a few times last year but never got around to reading it before I had to bring it back because someone else had it on hold. I finally got around to it now because I have an advance copy of its sequel (Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands) and I needed to read this one first before diving into the most recent installment.

What is this book about?

This book is a direct attack on all us studious, mousy girls that would rather eat their own fingers for breakfast than ask for help or get close to people. Our focus is our job, our research, our passion and we don’t need other humans for anything other than the most basic of transactions (food, shelter, transportation, etc). It’s about how Emily learns that her research involves people that she might have to care about to get the information she needs. While this seems transactional, and it is at first, eventually she comes to care for a few of them in a way that is true to her character.

What is notable about this story?

I didn’t realize until about halfway in that I was reading a love story. I mean, it’s also an adventure tale and a thriller BUT the love story will jump up and be like “Surprise! I’m here too!” and you’ll be like “Wait, what? Well, okay I guess that makes sense.” I LOVE being tricked by an author, it means they are writing well enough that I am wrapped up in the story and too busy to pick it apart for tricks while I read.

I liked the journal format of the narrative. With so many characters and faerie creatures it was much easier to read Emily’s recount of what happened than to be in the action along with her. It was like reading a story about a story and it made me feel comfy.

There are so many different kinds of faeries! I loved learning about all of them!

Was anything not so great?

Unless you are Ed Burmila (author of Chaotic Neutral) I am absolutely not reading any of your footnotes. I hate the inclusion of footnotes in fiction books. My mind recoils at them and reading them takes me out of the story for too long. I skipped all of them.

For me everything was pretty well done, but to someone who doesn’t have a background in teaching, research, or field work some of it might come across as a bit stuffy (especially the footnotes!)? Heather Fawcett helps counter this by making the structure of the narrative Emily’s literal journal/diary so it’s like we’re reading her thoughts but even then…I mean, most people will see past that anyway since the story is that good.

What’s the verdict?

4 stars on Goodreads. A lush, interesting tale that makes the world seem so much bigger than we imagine, and shows that even an angry angel (or dragon, as Wendell Bambleby calls Emily) deep in her research can grow to love. Definitely check this one out!

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