Synopsis
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 encyclopedia of faerie lore. But Emily is not good at people. She prefers the company of her books, her dog, and the fae.
So when she arrives in the 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.
But as Emily gets 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 Bamblebv? To find the answer, she’ll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all—her own heart.
Rating
★★★★★
Introduction
I love faeries. And that, indeed, is my favorite spelling of the whimsical word. I first became interested in the fae as a child due to various children’s tales. I started purchasing faerie items here and there during college. Then, I began collecting faerie books. I especially love books featuring illustrations by Brian Froud, Cicely Mary Barker, and Arthur Rackham. My very first website—created in 1998—was called The Faerie Dell, and served as a virtual home to various digital fae folk that I collected and created. I also chose a lyrical sounding name for my daughter so she could carry a touch of the fae. So, being a bit in love with the fair folk and their lore, I didn’t think twice about purchasing Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries.
Thoughts
I dearly loved this book. If I were not me, I might think it were a four-star book, as I imagine it might feel a bit slow for a person who is not so charmed by the fae. But being who I am, I was enchanted by bookish Emily and the rest of the cast, which includes everyone from faerie royalty to savage fair folk. I also really enjoyed Wendell’s part in Emily’s story. It is evident that the author put a lot of love and research into this book.
I’ve already pre-ordered the next book in the series, Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands, which is set for mid-January 2024 publication.
Question
If you were a professor, what would you like to teach?