Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett has been popular book for light academia lovers, fairycore fans, and whimsical romance readers over the last two years. I have finally joined the party, and I can attest to the wonderful world building and delightful dialogue within these pages. It is a historical fiction fantasy set in the 1900s and it is sure to be a heart-warming read.

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 let alone get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, and the Fair Folk. 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, get in the middle of 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.

I’m not usually a fan of books set in wintery snowy spaces because I struggle to connect with the landscape. I live in a place where it doesn’t snow, and I have not had the chance to experience snow or such wintery conditions before. So to my surprise, I was really enjoying the book and the extreme elements. Maybe that has to do with the fact I could relate to Emily through a shared inexperience of the weather, as well as academic background. The remote village is quaint, close-knit and dotted with little escapes that house magic and friendly faces (though not always the prettiest of appearances).

I immediately disliked Wendell Bambleby as an academic – if I were in Emily’s position I absolutely would be ignoring the man and demanding he leave. I am glad Emily can see the kind of researcher he is because it would have broken my heart if she was misled or betrayed in some way. As a friend, Wendell is so sweet and I greatly appreciate him. This is a great example of the “he falls first” trope and I will say if other books with that trope are like this then maybe I’ll be picking up a few in 2025. Wendell is an interesting character with layers and secrets and backstory we will learn more of in Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands, and i am quite excited to do so.

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries is the perfect cosy, low-stakes fantasy to snuggle up with on a autumn or winter’s day. It has a beautiful balance of fantasy, romance, and light academia to spark interest and intrigue with a healthy dose of love and drama thrown in for good measure. I can best sum this book up as cute and I highly recommend getting to it if it has been on your tbr pile for a while. With Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands already out and a third, Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales set to be released in February 2025, now would be the best time to start this trilogy. I assure you, it will be a lovely way to spend your afternoon should you decide to pick it up.