Reviews with content warning for Injury/Injury detail - Emily Wildes Enzyklopädie der Feen

I loved and hated this book.

The amazing parts were about the faeries and their realms. Inventive transporting stories that gripped me.
I adore the pet-like Poe and would devour a whole series told from his point of view.
The enveloping wintery atmosphere was beautiful.

The parts I hated concerned the humans -like some male authors can't write women, I think Heather Fawcett can't write humans, the people in this tale were drawn so broadly.

One event in this book confused me-

when Emily tortured a child faerie (who was abandoned by their parents in a strange world) for giving people bad visions. She STABBED him and then writes in her journal about how much he's screaming in pain like it's great? Portrayed as deserved, but it really wasn't, it was a horrible scene. Emily is an evil character now but we're supposed to root for her? follow her romance?😮‍💨 From here I was reading on hoping a faerie ate Emily's head

I do not understand at all how this book is considered 'cosy'; it's full of violent acts, vitriolic hatred, beheadings 🤔 -that's fine but it's not cosy🤷🏻‍♀️

I wish this book had been just an actual encyclopedia, it would have been pure magic.

Content Warnings

flyinglark's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes

3.25

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries is a solid read, combining faerie lore and academia. Emily is a relatable character, and she eventually warms up to the people of Hrafnsvik. She often risked her life for her research, which put me on edge. I appreciate the banter between Emily and Wendell and their grumpy/sunshine friendship.

I loved the whimsy of the book, and I wish I listened to this book in the winter with a hot chocolate instead of a hot summer day.

(Spoiler for the ending)

The last arc was kind of weak. I understand it is a culmination of the effect Emily and Wendell had on helping the folks in Hrafnsvik, but the vibes were different? The speed running of romance between them was kind of out of the blue too? I’m not that eager to pick up the second book in the series.

POV: 1st Person (Journal, with an addendum from the second character)

Content Warnings