Who Would Like This Book:
If you love cozy, whimsical fantasy with a touch of academia, "Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries" is pure comfort. The book stands out for its richly imagined folklore, witty banter, and an academic protagonist who is refreshingly introverted and neurodivergent-coded. The journal-style narrative brings you right into Emily's world, complete with footnotes and folkloric tales, all set in a chilly, atmospheric Scandinavian village. If you enjoy grumpy-sunshine dynamics, gentle slow-burn romance, and magical creatures that feel genuinely fae (not just sparkly humans), you’ll adore this. Perfect for fans of Howl’s Moving Castle, T. Kingfisher, or anyone seeking a charming, low-stakes fantasy escape.
Who May Not Like This Book:
If you’re after high-octane action, lots of steam, or fast-paced plotting, this may not hit the mark. Some readers found Emily a bit too buttoned-up or emotionally flat, and felt the romance was understated - almost a subplot rather than a central force. The journal entry format and slow build might also not appeal to those who prefer more traditional storytelling structures or urgently unfolding drama. If you want sweeping epics or spicy romance, you might find this more subdued than expected.
About:
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries follows the protagonist Emily Wilde, a scientist studying faeries, on a research trip to Scandinavia to finish her book. The book is written in the form of Emily's journal, with the addition of a chapter by her colleague Wendell Bambleby. As Emily delves deeper into her research, she uncovers the mysteries of the Hidden Ones, the most elusive of all faeries, and finds herself on a quest to discover the truth about her own heart.
The story blends elements of ghost stories, fairy tales, romance, and mystery, set in the snowy landscape of Hrafnsvik. As Emily and Wendell embark on adventures together, the book explores themes of community, friendship, courage, and the power of storytelling, creating a whimsical and enchanting narrative.
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From The Publisher:
NATIONAL BESTSELLER
A curmudgeonly professor journeys to a small town in the far north to study faerie folklore and discovers dark fae magic, friendship, and love in the start of a heartwarming and enchanting new fantasy series.
"A darkly gorgeous fantasy that sparkles with snow and magic."-Sangu Mandanna, author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world's first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people . She could never make small talk at a party-or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, Shadow, and the Fair Folk to other people.
So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, muddle Emily's research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.
But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones-the most elusive of all faeries-lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she'll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all-her own heart.
Ratings (318)
Incredible (89) | |
Loved It (107) | |
Liked It (72) | |
It Was OK (27) | |
Did Not Like (18) | |
Hated It (5) |
Reader Stats (865):
Read It (329) | |
Currently Reading (12) | |
Want To Read (419) | |
Did Not Finish (23) | |
Not Interested (82) |
13 comment(s)
Maybe I'll pick it back up again, but I just couldn't finish it. I got about 30% in and gave up.
It was a very intriguing plot and I liked almost everything about it, but the writing was very difficult to follow and got boring after awhile. I could see myself really enjoying it if it weren’t for the writing style.
liked it, fun journal narration emily likely on the spectrum
twas fun, the guy was already in love with her and she aghast when he told her. icon.
they straight up in iceland. i just returned from iceland two days ago. how crazy is that
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DNF
Characters and boring and plot is predictable.
Absolutely delightful. Splendid. No notes.
This is my new favorite book. I recommend it to everybody I know. It's cozy but still adventurous, and I love every single character in it.
It's not often that you get to read about a female lead character who's so incredibly smart and still interesting and deep.
The little bit of romance in this was just perfect.
Love the fantasy world and kind of scary way that it was portrayed, instead of a romantic sex fantasy
I absolutely LOVED this novel. This is fairies written right! I think Dr. Emily Wilde was such a delightful character to follow where she is clearly an unhinged scholar who ventures into remote towns to get more evidence of interesting fairies to add to her encyclopedia. It just so happens that she is absolutely terrible at the job when it comes to talking with people. I like that it wasn't presented as an endearing character trait that is glossed over, but is particularly great when she faces negative repercussions in her scholarly endeavors. Absolutely terrible at talking with people lmao ahahah
Wendell Bambleby is such a funny whirlwind. He is the charismatic scholar who casually lies in his publications?? He doesn't care about academia, he is just here to chit chat. I like that he is part Brownie and just likes tailoring things compulsively.
I read this one quickly and then just quickly picked up the second one! This is my brand of whimsy where it reminds me of the Spiderwick Chronicles Field Journal Style and what someone would write if they were researching a Fairyology book. Same vibes as Drakes Compedium of Dragonology!! I love that book so much as this is just reminiscent of that.
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Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries?
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