blacksphinx's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I really need authors who have never maintained a journal or diary to stop trying to write epistolary books. It's okay to just write a first-person narrative! You can even make each new chapter a day! Absolutely no one writes in their journal the way Emily Wild does and it bothered me the entire time - if I hadn't waited four months for my library hold to come though I would have DNFed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Confinement, Blood, Animal death, and Kidnapping
trips's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was everything I'm looking for in a book in 2023.
It had faeries that ranged from charming to terrifying, a stubborn MC with a sunshiney counterpart, and honestly just made me feel like I was being told a fun tale wrapped up in a blanket by the fireside. Also it was a bit epistolary, and I'm a sucker for any story like that!
More than anything, it just had faeries that follow common faerie folklore convention with its own spin, and I really just want more of that in the faerie stories I'm reading!
I loved Emily and Wendell, and I am really looking forward to reading the 2nd book in 2024.
It was just perfect for me! I don't know if it would be perfect for everyone, but it suited me great.
It had faeries that ranged from charming to terrifying, a stubborn MC with a sunshiney counterpart, and honestly just made me feel like I was being told a fun tale wrapped up in a blanket by the fireside. Also it was a bit epistolary, and I'm a sucker for any story like that!
More than anything, it just had faeries that follow common faerie folklore convention with its own spin, and I really just want more of that in the faerie stories I'm reading!
I loved Emily and Wendell, and I am really looking forward to reading the 2nd book in 2024.
It was just perfect for me! I don't know if it would be perfect for everyone, but it suited me great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Child abuse, Animal death, and Death
kendal_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
slow-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Violence, Confinement, and Animal death
Minor: Torture
axel_p's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Classism, Confinement, Self harm, Blood, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
lackyducks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
This book combines serious stakes with a lighter focus on relationships in a way that leaves me yearning for more books like it.
The book is told in first person, through journal entries of the titular character. Emily makes a fun narrator, and Fawcett uses character voice to shape the experience of the world and story well. The entries themselves demonstrate the growth of the character and her shifting priorities, as entries grow from having footnotes to more personal thoughts and feelings. I really liked this medium for telling a story, and Fawcett used it so well!
Emily herself is an enjoyable, well-rounded character. Her flaws and analytical mind stayed consistent throughout. Her cleverness comes at the consequence of some social skills, but this provides a lot of room for growth.
Wendell also perfectly embodies himself. There's no other way to put it. Ridiculous at times, but still cunning and smart when inclined to be. The relationship between the two felt like it developed naturally throughout the book, and was enjoyable to follow.
The side characters we meet are also well-developed. You're able to grow attached to them, worrying for them and celebrating their victories. I particularly loved Aud and her straightforward attitude towards getting things done.
I just had a really good time with this book. The worldbuilding was a lot of fun, presenting Folk as their own, complicated culture that we only get a glimpse into. I am also pleased the book had a proper conclusion to the story, despite its continuation. I hope I'll be able to get hold of the second book in time!
The book is told in first person, through journal entries of the titular character. Emily makes a fun narrator, and Fawcett uses character voice to shape the experience of the world and story well. The entries themselves demonstrate the growth of the character and her shifting priorities, as entries grow from having footnotes to more personal thoughts and feelings. I really liked this medium for telling a story, and Fawcett used it so well!
Emily herself is an enjoyable, well-rounded character. Her flaws and analytical mind stayed consistent throughout. Her cleverness comes at the consequence of some social skills, but this provides a lot of room for growth.
Wendell also perfectly embodies himself. There's no other way to put it. Ridiculous at times, but still cunning and smart when inclined to be. The relationship between the two felt like it developed naturally throughout the book, and was enjoyable to follow.
The side characters we meet are also well-developed. You're able to grow attached to them, worrying for them and celebrating their victories. I particularly loved Aud and her straightforward attitude towards getting things done.
I just had a really good time with this book. The worldbuilding was a lot of fun, presenting Folk as their own, complicated culture that we only get a glimpse into. I am also pleased the book had a proper conclusion to the story, despite its continuation. I hope I'll be able to get hold of the second book in time!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, and Injury/Injury detail
The story deals with the darker side of Fae, so be aware of topics around kidnapping, mistreatment, enchantments and violence.craftysnailtail's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Violence, Murder, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Gore, Emotional abuse, Death, Child abuse, Blood, and Body horror
dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
During an expedition to Hrafnsvik, Ljosland, Cambridge professor Emily Wilde uncovers unknown secrets of the fae world she has spent her whole life studying as she tries to save Hrafnsvik from the Hidden Ones alongside her colleague and frenemy Wendell Bambleby.
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries is an interesting take on the fantasy genre: a low-stakes novel that's not quite so cozy and is a perfect blend of magical realism and Victorian elements. Written entirely from journal entries during Emily's time in Ljosland, the epistolary format works really well for this book as readers are transported in the intricate world-building behind Fawcett's fae world.
Additionally, Emily is such an interesting narrator for this book, and provides a unique POV throughout the book. While Fawcett doesn't say that she's autistic in the book, as an #ActuallyAutistic reviewer, one can notice that there are some of her attributes are similar to other autistic individuals. Regardless of whether Emily is autistic or not, Fawcett does a stellar job with detailing Emily's growth throughout the book as she learns to open herself up to others.
That being said, if you're looking for a low-stakes fantasy novel with fae, cozy aesthetic with dark undertones and a hint of romance, and/or a strong female protagonist (who may be autistic), you would probably enjoy reading Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries.
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries is an interesting take on the fantasy genre: a low-stakes novel that's not quite so cozy and is a perfect blend of magical realism and Victorian elements. Written entirely from journal entries during Emily's time in Ljosland, the epistolary format works really well for this book as readers are transported in the intricate world-building behind Fawcett's fae world.
Additionally, Emily is such an interesting narrator for this book, and provides a unique POV throughout the book. While Fawcett doesn't say that she's autistic in the book, as an #ActuallyAutistic reviewer, one can notice that there are some of her attributes are similar to other autistic individuals. Regardless of whether Emily is autistic or not, Fawcett does a stellar job with detailing Emily's growth throughout the book as she learns to open herself up to others.
That being said, if you're looking for a low-stakes fantasy novel with fae, cozy aesthetic with dark undertones and a hint of romance, and/or a strong female protagonist (who may be autistic), you would probably enjoy reading Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Blood
Moderate: Murder, Violence, Vomit, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, Child death, and Ableism
aileron's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Kidnapping
Moderate: Confinement, Murder, Death, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Blood, and Child death
tacochelle's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Very delightful, the relationship between Emily and Wendell reminds me of Howl and Sophie, from Howl's Moving Castle. Not exactly the same, but enough that it made me happy. It was a bit slow to start, but once they start solving the faerie-related problems of the villagers together, I was hooked. The faeries here are both the household helper/prankster as well as the beautiful and violent high fey types, very traditional folklore. Not the horny Sarah J. Maas ones. Adult, but not that kind of adult. This was just a very nice, folklore-based fantasy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Confinement, Blood, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
flohbeutel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Lasst es mich so ausdrücken. Das Hörbuch geht 11 Stunden, und das war etwa 6 Stunden zu lang für den Inhalt.
Ich denke, ich hätte das Buch mehr gemocht, wenn es, wie in etwa die Wayward Children-Reihe von Seannan McGuire, in kleineren Episoden erzählt worden wäre. So war es eher wie eine Aneinanderreihung verschiedener Ereignisse, die nacheinander passiert sind, alleine stehend allerdings viel spannender gewesen wären. So hätte sich auch Bamblebys und Wildes besser als wie aus dem Nichts entwickeln können.
Was ich mochte:
• Der Hund überlebt (falls noch jemand realisiert, dass das Buch viel dunkler ist als erwartet, und mittendrin panisch googelt, ohne eine Antwort zu finden)
• Der Name Bambleby
• Das Buch ist schön Goth und Horror
• Das Kleine Volk ist böse (nach menschlichem Standard. Nach ihrem sind sie nur gelangweilt)
Was ich nicht mochte:
• Soll das eine Liebesgeschichte sein? Weil "Hast du nicht gemerkt, dass ich etwas für dich fühle?" "Ich hatte gehofft, du sprichst es nicht aus", das Ganze ziemlich gut zusammenfasst
• Als KollegInnen und FreundInnen wären sie viel besser gewesen
• Es ist einfach lang
• Und unzusammenhängen
Ich denke, ich hätte das Buch mehr gemocht, wenn es, wie in etwa die Wayward Children-Reihe von Seannan McGuire, in kleineren Episoden erzählt worden wäre. So war es eher wie eine Aneinanderreihung verschiedener Ereignisse, die nacheinander passiert sind, alleine stehend allerdings viel spannender gewesen wären. So hätte sich auch Bamblebys und Wildes besser als wie aus dem Nichts entwickeln können.
Was ich mochte:
• Der Hund überlebt (falls noch jemand realisiert, dass das Buch viel dunkler ist als erwartet, und mittendrin panisch googelt, ohne eine Antwort zu finden)
• Der Name Bambleby
• Das Buch ist schön Goth und Horror
• Das Kleine Volk ist böse (nach menschlichem Standard. Nach ihrem sind sie nur gelangweilt)
Was ich nicht mochte:
• Soll das eine Liebesgeschichte sein? Weil "Hast du nicht gemerkt, dass ich etwas für dich fühle?" "Ich hatte gehofft, du sprichst es nicht aus", das Ganze ziemlich gut zusammenfasst
• Als KollegInnen und FreundInnen wären sie viel besser gewesen
• Es ist einfach lang
• Und unzusammenhängen
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Animal death, Kidnapping, and Violence