Title: A Whimsical Journey into the Faery Realm

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherland is a delightful continuation of Heather Fawcett’s enchanting series. While it may not have captured my heart as fiercely as the first installment, it still weaves a magical tapestry that beckons readers into a world of wonder.

Character Development:
Emily and Wendell: Returning to these beloved characters feels like reuniting with old friends. Their growth and evolving relationship add depth to the story.
New Companions: The introduction of new companions injects fresh energy into the narrative. Each character brings their own quirks and secrets, enriching the faery realm.
Writing Style:
Fawcett’s prose remains as whimsical as ever. Her descriptions evoke the scent of wildflowers, the rustle of leaves, and the glimmer of hidden paths.
The pacing is well-balanced, allowing readers to savor both quiet moments and heart-pounding adventures.
Setting:
The faery realm comes alive through vivid imagery. From ancient forests to moonlit meadows, every location feels tangible.
The map itself becomes a character—a guide to uncharted territories and forgotten legends.
Themes:
Friendship: The bonds between Emily, Wendell, and their companions underscore the importance of loyalty and trust.
Discovery: The quest for hidden doors and lost knowledge mirrors our own yearning for understanding and connection.
Magical Elements:
Glimmering Spells: The magic in this book sparkles like dew on spiderwebs. It’s both mysterious and comforting.
Creatures: Faeries, sprites, and mythical beasts flit across the pages, leaving traces of wonder in their wake.
Minor Quibbles:
While the pacing is generally steady, there were moments when I longed for a quicker unraveling of certain mysteries.
Some plot threads felt slightly underexplored, leaving room for future installments.
In summary, Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherland invites readers to step beyond the veil and explore a world where magic dances with reality. If you’re enchanted by folklore, curious about hidden realms, and ready to embark on an adventure, this book awaits you.

This is sort of another wtf moment for me. The first book was never approved for me, but for the sequel it was? Not sure why. I think I requested this hoping to start it and love it or at least like it more than the first book. I think I was too daunted by the way the first book had made me feel to actually pick it up and even start it.

This was such a perfect sequel to Encyclopedia of Faeries. The cozy fantasy vibes were so perfect Emily is such a relatable character even through a world I could never relate to and I am so obsessed with the banter between her and Wendell. I am so looking forward to where this series will continue to go!

4.5 stars

I am so in love with this series -- I can not wait for the next installment!

I was a little afraid that this would suffer from "Second Book Syndrome," but it was just as good (if not better) than the first. There were several mysteries to solve, but it never felt too convoluted or confusing. There were moments in the middle of the book that would have dragged in the hands of a less talented author, but just as the pace starts to slow, the story ratchets back up: old friends arrive, new fae make mischief, clues are revealed.

The dynamic between the main characters is so well done in this series. The romance is tender and real (and very slow burn) with very few instances of cheese and sticky sweetness, which I don't always love. Their banter is clever and hilarious

I loved how we got a deep dive into Faerie. I've been really curious about the other lands. To put it short: I want to stumble into a hidden doorway and explore it forever (without losing my mind, obvi). It's so easy to get lost in Heather's writing and really get immersed into the world Faerie. I won't give any spoilers, but I loved every minute of it.

The only thing missing was more interactions with the village and village life. That was one of my favorite parts of the first book, and I wish it was present here too.

I was glad to be back on this fantastical world. Emily and Wendell are as cute as ever. The story, however, was a bit of a slog and there were a lot of characters that really didn’t contribute anything useful to the book, but the setting was excellent. I would happily revisit this series with adjusted expectations. Epistolary novels are my jam.

I have struggled to write my review since finishing Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands, and I don't know exactly why. Now that time has passed, and despite enjoying the overall reading experience while in it, I find this largely forgettable.

Overall, Otherlands contains much of what I adored about the first book. Emily and Wendell remain the cutest of couples. Their banter is fantastic, making me smile constantly. I love that they grow so much as a couple in this installment while remaining true to themselves and learning to see things from each other's perspective. I adore Emily and her curmudgeonly nature. I loved learning so much more about Wendell's fae side.

Ariadne was a fantastic addition to the story. She might be my new favorite character.

The villagers were one of my favorite parts of the first book, and while I understand that we don't want a rinse, wash, and repeat of book one, there is almost no interaction with villagers here. The found family feel of the first book is non-existent, and found I missed this considerably.

I find that I barely remember what happened, and I don't recall actually enjoying the story much while reading it. My other issue was the pacing. This book, while not particularly long, seemed long. The middle part dragged so much.

If you loved the first installment, you will enjoy this a lot, but it might depend on what you loved about book one.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House.

I loved the first book and I love this one. From the cover to the end, this book had me enraptured in the journey of our main character. Written like a journal, Emily is on a quest to map the other worlds, running into obstacles along the way.

We are back in the world of Faerie! It is the following September, and Emily's encyclopedia of Faeries has been published. After working alongside Wendell going in and out of Faerie doors, she has started work on a map of the faerie worlds as well. However, things go bad when Wendall is poisoned at his birthday celebration by a guard for his step-mother, and he not only becomes ill, but becomes that target of many assassins' looking to fulfil the current queens quest to kill him. To spare the university further damage, Wendall, Emily, her niece Ariadne, and another professor from the university (Rose, specifically going to claim partial credit for Emily's work), set off to Austria in the search of Wendell's door. The best lead they have is the long since disappeared Danielle de Grey, who has been criticized for her research methods and findings. After being visited times over by another professor who was also stuck in faerie looking for de Grey himself, the quartet set out to rescue both from faerie. However, Wendell becomes increasingly sick as the time goes on, and Emily and Ariadne are left to go to faerie, in search of a cure for Wendell and to find de Grey, on their own.

This was a fantastical follow up to the first book, and perfectly continues the story. I have to admire Emily for sticking to her guns and continuing to turn down Wendell's proposal, it certainly makes for a cheeky anecdote to this beautiful story, and also serves as a largely driving force to why these things keep happening to them on their adventures. I love too that Poe came back for this story, I was going to be so sad if he didn't make another appearance. And the cat! Gosh I am so glad there is a cat! Really there are not enough good things that I can say about this book! It's just fun and so cozy and mystical. I can't wait to see where their adventure takes them next (hopefully down the aisle!)

TL;DR - This was an excellent sequel in the Emily Wilde series. Definitely not the end of the series and it can't be read as a standalone but the cozy historical fantasy + mystery vibes were maintained and I enjoyed it almost as much as the first.

One thing I didn't like about book 1 that I loved about this one is that we get way more insight into Emily and Wendell's romance. Those two live rent-free in my mind. I am a sucker for opposites attract and Emily's logical, awkward genius personality in contrast to Wendell's lazy, dramatic, but charming self are *chef's kiss*. I also liked that the mystery this time was more personal, there was much more at stake than just professional pride and reputation.

The supporting characters in this book were also fantastic! We get appearances from some characters in the first book, which I loved. In particular, Poe, one of the Little Folk, absolutely stole my heart. Such a sweet, adorable little guy and one of my favorite of the faeries. We also meet some new characters and Fawcett does a wonderful job of allowing us to get to know them without taking away from the main characters and their relationships

Pacing was a bit of an issue because there were certain points when I wanted to skip forward but overall really enjoyed this. Great addition to the series and I am so glad there are more adventures (and perhaps a wedding???) in the next book to look forward to!

I received an ARC from the publisher after my book group continually spoke of book one. I am glad that I was given the opportunity to know this series. I had been on the hunt for a cozy fantasy, and this one scratched that itch.

Emily and Wendell are protagonists after my own heart. They snip and nit and bicker. They contest and outdo. But when the rubber meets the road they defend each other. While sitting in the middle of trouble, they know the other will be there and do not need to panic. That is a love story. Also, the reason this novel gets an extra star over book one.

The addition of Farris and Ariadne seem a non-necessity, as they don't seem to add an extensive amount of dynamics, but I'll hold final judgement until the next novel. Their characters don't detract at the very least. What was a little distracting was the addition of footnotes to give the novel a feeling of scholarly realism. However, I don't know many people who footnote a personal journal -- scholars or otherwise.

Again, the pacing was not smooth throughout, but I always got the urge to pick the book back up. I highly recommend this for the cozy reader looking for a fantasy during a heavy rainstorm. I'll keep it on the shelf for a future reread.

Is it possible it's better than the first? I think it was. I love this story and the world of Emily Wilde. The cozy academia and study of dryadology is addicting. The cast of characters are some of my favorites and I want my very own Poe (who joins us again in the second book). Delightful. Emily and Wendall's romance is perfectly written for who Emily is. I love that we learn more about his world in this book. I think we will get to dive into it even more in the third. I can't wait. Can I have it now?

I absolutely adore how cozy and just overall wholesome this series is. Reading these books just makes me so happy.

While the first book in this series was a little harder for me to get into right away I was instantly drawn to this one. I was already connected to the characters and interested in the story.

The pacing was perfect in my opinion. There was a lot happening but you also got calmer moments with the characters. I loved seeing Emily and Wendell together and watching their relationship progress more.

Excited to see where this story will go!

What a fantastic continuation from the first book! The unique writing style of this is really what draws the reader in. Plus the contrast of our two main characters just creates for such a fun dynamic. Excited for book 3!

'Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands'
by Heather Fawcett is a perfect sequel. It's fun, it's engaging, it's everybody you want in an academic fairie romp.

another literary female academic whom i love. i live through their confidence in their own minds and opinions. and their journeys of self-discovery when they feel unsure about the complexities of social interactions. and their journeys and quests in which their logical minds help them to be the hero of their own story.

so needless to say i went into reading this book predisposed to enjoy it to some degree, which i did. it was a solid sequel to the first in the series and i am really looking forward to the next book.

however, i do have one criticism (she types knowing that it will probably turn into multiple): this story felt less intentional than i was expecting after the precedence set by the first book. Encyclopaedia of Faeries read as a hero's journey; the quest and Emily's journey to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds were not just a story but also an exploration of her character. unfortunately Map Of The Otherlands felt a lot like a story that just happened to have Emily in it. it was fun, it was an adventure, there was romantic relational development. but where did it leave her as a character? idk, in a romantic relationship? that's just not enough for me, unfortunately.

and i think i say all that as less a criticism and more of a disappointment. i love Emily a lot, if you didn't already notice.

I wasn't sure about this at first but I feel like I felt the same with book 1 in this series. As I got into the storyline, I greatly enjoyed myself and couldn't wait to find out the resolution! I'm excited that the adventures of Emily & friends are not over just yet, and look forward to reading more! Thank you for the eARC!

I absolutely adored Emily wildes encyclopedia of faeries and was so excited to receive this arc so thank you for the opportunity!

This was all my cozy dreams come true. Picking up where the first book left off this jumps right in. I missed Wendel so much and love his interactions with Emily even more in this book! We continue with the overall theme of the story and I NEED MORE. More Emily, more faeries, more cozy fires all of it. 4.5/5

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands was a lovely follow up from the first book in this series. Fawcett’s illustrative and rich writing sweeps readers away to a fantastical world full of mystery, intrigue, and so much more. I really enjoyed this book, and look forward to recommending it along with the overarching series to other readers. 4/5 stars!

"I wanted Faerie, its every secret and its every door."⠀
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Heather Fawcett, Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands⠀
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Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett is a wonderful sequel with all of the whimsy and wit that I loved in the first book of the series. Wendell is such a funny character with his fae personality and strange behavior. Emily is perfect as a scholarly explorer set on researching more of Fairie and finding Wendells door. They are the best couple as far as long burn complicated romance goes and I loved seeing them get closer together in this book. Emily's niece and academic nemesis are fun additions to the tale and I really enjoyed reading about all of their adventures and mishaps. I also loved seeing Poe again! He's such a cute and clever fae and it warmed my heart when he "adopted" them as family. The author is so creative and her world building sucks you into the book instantly. The descriptions of the different areas and creatures of the Faelands are so rich and vivid, I could almost feel the weather changes. I can't get enough of this world and I'm so excited to see what happens in the next book!

Book: Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands
By: Heather Fawcett
Available now wherever you get your books!
Rating: 🦄🦄🦄🦄
This was the second book in the Emily Wilde series and I enjoyed it just as much as I did the first! It's cozy and meandering and yet somehow also full of action and romance. I like that Emily isn't your standard fantasy girlie. It's refreshing. And Wendell is hilarious and charming (and an exiled faerie king, too). If you haven't started this series yet, I highly recommend! Also really excited for the next book in the series.
Thank you NetGalley for my digital ARC.

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