A review by anenome
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

adventurous dark informative fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings