moody_mushroom's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Adventure! Amazing faerie lore and descriptions! The author conveys the creepiness in such a way I kinda ended up scared. Loved that the motive of the main characters are more personal than anything, no "im such a good person" reason. Short but rich intrigal anventure!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Violence
Minor: Abandonment
litematcha's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Self harm and Alcohol
cthulhussy's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Kidnapping
Moderate: Sexism and Abandonment
littleflowerfairy's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'm going to be honest; in my personal opinion, most popular fae fantasy books don't depict fae accurately. They're hardly ever like how they're depicted in folklore. People tend to just use the term 'fae' to as either a catch-all for any type of mythical creature, or the term for only a very specific, beautiful, human-like species. This may not bother most people, and there's nothing inherently wrong with it, but as a fae enthusiast frequently doing research for my own fae book, it really bothers me when 'fae' is used very loosely.
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries does none of that. Heather Fawcett weaves a beautiful story that combines the typical mystery and mischief of fae, with her own twists and addition that make sense and really feel like something you'd read about in an old book about faerie lore! The way she describes the fae and how they interact with our world is incredible and makes for such beautiful imagery! Though I read this in the height of summer, I almost felt like I could step right into the wintery landscape.
Honestly it took me a bit to get really into the book, the first half felt a little slow, but by the second half I was thoroughly hooked!! I loved the characters, the atmosphere, and the feeling like I was reading through an old journal nearly lost to time. It was seriously such a cozy read to curl up with at the end of the day! I can't wait for the 2nd book!!
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries does none of that. Heather Fawcett weaves a beautiful story that combines the typical mystery and mischief of fae, with her own twists and addition that make sense and really feel like something you'd read about in an old book about faerie lore! The way she describes the fae and how they interact with our world is incredible and makes for such beautiful imagery! Though I read this in the height of summer, I almost felt like I could step right into the wintery landscape.
Honestly it took me a bit to get really into the book, the first half felt a little slow, but by the second half I was thoroughly hooked!! I loved the characters, the atmosphere, and the feeling like I was reading through an old journal nearly lost to time. It was seriously such a cozy read to curl up with at the end of the day! I can't wait for the 2nd book!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Confinement, Murder, Violence, Blood, Animal death, and Death
Moderate: Self harm, Child abuse, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit and Cursing
lizziaha's review against another edition
lighthearted
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
the only reason that this got docked is my personal dislike of fairytales, which bogged me down a bit in the middle. The romance had me giggling.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Abandonment, and Blood
Minor: Child abuse and Gore
kaetheluise_nckl's review against another edition
I’m sorry, but this is the most boring book I’ve touched outside of mandatory reading for Uni.
I don’t care for the characters, I don’t care for the setting, the lore or the mystery, and most of all I don’t care for this lousy German translation. I expected a lot better from this book but alas here we are.
I don’t care for the characters, I don’t care for the setting, the lore or the mystery, and most of all I don’t care for this lousy German translation. I expected a lot better from this book but alas here we are.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Grief
krisalexcole's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Violence, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Murder, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, and Self harm
bookishflower's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
If any of the following appeal, pick up this book:
- light academia
- Cottagecore
- Fae
- Cosy fantasy
- Atmospheric writing
- Fantasy Romance
- Grumpy x sunshine where she’s the grumpy one
Synopsis:
Taking a field trip to Hrafsvik to continue her study of faeries, Emily is determined to complete her encyclopaedia which could be groundbreaking in the academic study of dryadology.
But Emily’s strong suit is books and research, not people.
And as if her rocky start with the town’s people wasn’t bad enough, her persistently charming and aggravating handsome rival, Wendell Bambleby, decides to arrive.
Working together Emily and Wendell attempt to piece together the secrets of the Hidden Ones, while exploring their partnership and hearts.
This was beautifully written and a perfect winter read to curl up with. It was atmospheric, lyrical and full of whimsy.
I can see how this might not be for everyone as it has very flowery language and a Howl Pendragon type love interest, but I loved that as it felt accurate to Emily’s distinct voice and they complimented each other well.
(This will come as a surprise to no one who knows me, but I love Anne of Green Gables with my whole heart so know I don’t say this lightly, this has a strong Anne and Gilbert dynamic)!
The world building was intricate and reminded me a lot of Margaret Rogerson’s books and the A Natural History of Dragons series.
Emily is also autistic-coded which was really nice to see!
- light academia
- Cottagecore
- Fae
- Cosy fantasy
- Atmospheric writing
- Fantasy Romance
- Grumpy x sunshine where she’s the grumpy one
Synopsis:
Taking a field trip to Hrafsvik to continue her study of faeries, Emily is determined to complete her encyclopaedia which could be groundbreaking in the academic study of dryadology.
But Emily’s strong suit is books and research, not people.
And as if her rocky start with the town’s people wasn’t bad enough, her persistently charming and aggravating handsome rival, Wendell Bambleby, decides to arrive.
Working together Emily and Wendell attempt to piece together the secrets of the Hidden Ones, while exploring their partnership and hearts.
This was beautifully written and a perfect winter read to curl up with. It was atmospheric, lyrical and full of whimsy.
I can see how this might not be for everyone as it has very flowery language and a Howl Pendragon type love interest, but I loved that as it felt accurate to Emily’s distinct voice and they complimented each other well.
(This will come as a surprise to no one who knows me, but I love Anne of Green Gables with my whole heart so know I don’t say this lightly, this has a strong Anne and Gilbert dynamic)!
The world building was intricate and reminded me a lot of Margaret Rogerson’s books and the A Natural History of Dragons series.
Emily is also autistic-coded which was really nice to see!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Violence, Abandonment, Confinement, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Self harm, Murder, Death, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
katievallin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Gore, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Kidnapping, and Child abuse
Moderate: Grief and Abandonment
Minor: Cursing and Sexual content
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