The second book in the Emily Wilde series is a thoroughly good read. This one continues the story of Emily and Wendell. After Wendell being pursued by assassins sent by his stepmother, Wendell and Emily seek the way back to his kingdom to try to defeat her. Along the way, they must contend with rival scholars, Emily's young and naive niece, who insists upon tagging along, an assortment of both good and evil Folk, and the ongoing question of whether Emily will accept Wendell's marriage proposal. The book is full of wit, humor and high adventure.

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is a charming book two in the series, and matches the worldbuilding and magic of book one. From the description of the creatures and the lands to the quest to find a door to the kingdom, it is entirely enchanting.

Picking up where book one left off, the book follows human scholar Emily and her faerie colleague Wendell as they search for a door to the kingdom his stepmother stole from him. The book has both the charm of our world’s academia and the delight of second world fantasy that all well written faerie stories have as the characters travel between our world and what is beyond. This time, Emily considers Wendell’s proposal, mulling the wisdom of marrying a faerie, all the while searching for a cure to a mysterious ailment that plagues him and eventually sends her toward the most dangerous place she can go: his kingdom.

This book was an absolute delight to read, and matched the tone and whimsy of the first one precisely. I can’t wait until it comes out so I can buy the print copy and set it next to its gorgeously designed first book. These covers are so pretty.

Thank you Random House Publishing and Bantam Dell Ray for the eARC!

tl;dr
More faerie intrigue, mystery, and romance in what is quickly shaping up to be my favorite series. Read it!

Thoughts
Got my hands on this book the same day I had an assignment due, so naturally I read the book first. I have no regrets. The first book in the series is one of my top ten, and this one is equally matched, with all the faerie lore, twists, and Emily/Wendell interaction I loved from the first. The amount of fae politics and court intrigue is bumped up from the first, and it is SO juicy! Ugh, the drama of it all is just so good. A handful of teasers dropped in the first book get some satisfying reveals here, and Emily and Wendell's relationship beats are so sweet.

The book does a great job of bringing back all the things I loved about the first installment, while adding new developments to keep the story moving. Two new major characters are added who initially had the potential to be very annoying, but I wound up really caring about both of them, and it was nice to see Emily's relationship with them grow as well.

I loved the first book so much, and now I love the second book. The ending implies we might get even more(???), and I am SO ready.

I am also, once again, requesting a special edition with handwritten notes and illustrations.

A big thank you to Heather Fawcett and Daly Rey Publishing for this arc.

I have been waiting for months to read this book and wow, it did not disappoint. I absolutely loved it! I read the whole thing in five hours. Having read the first book in the series (Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries), I was excited to see more of Emily and Wendell's adventures. I loved how Heather Fawcett called back to the first book several times because those moments are definitely important to Emily's story. There was so much action and love and friendship in this book, and the very real weirdness that can be family dynamics. Emily is such a well-rounded character and is so relatable. Wendell is the perfect foil for her in every way. The edition of Orga is also amazing. Of course Wendell would be a cat person.

It was also funny that Wendell wrote in Emily's journal again. I cackled in the first book when he wrote in it and it was just as funny in the second book.

I'm hopefully for a book three because I need to know what happens now that things are the way they are. I will definitely be preordering a copy of this book as soon as possible.

I love Emily and Wendell and was so excited to go on this adventure with them!

Emily and Wendell are following in the footsteps of a scholar who is presumably trapped in faerie...or dead as they continue their quest to find Wendell's door home.
This book was a little faster paced than the last. We got to meet up with some old friends, like Poe, as well as meet some new ones, like Emily's niece. I really enjoyed seeing Emily's relationships with the other characters evolve.

If you enjoyed book 1, this is a must read!

Thanks to Netgalley and Randomhouse for an early copy for review.

Emily Wilde is now easily a go to suggestion for me whenever someone asks for a cozy read with a rich world, and a romance that one can’t help but love. There’s so much to these stories that all very much boil down to loving one another, offering kindness, and being curious. No matter where this series goes next, I know it will not fail in the endeavor to put a smile on my face. This is the kind of story that makes any day that much better, and proves that we all live in the in between worlds when we pick up a book.

Thank you to the publishers for letting me read this early! My first ARC!

The dynamic duo are back and they're getting into even more mischief. Emily and Wendell's characters are the main draw to this story. Emily is just such a delight for a female character - obsessed with her studies to an unhealthy degree, socially clueless, determined, brilliant, and a little emotionally repressed. And Wendell's (yes, they're on first name terms now!) drama, flamboyance, and fastidiousness - undercut with actually being very kind and respectful - is the perfect contrast. This book is ripe with fun character moments for them, and of course the unanswered question from the last book...! The new side characters, Dr. Rose and Ariadne, are another fun addition, plus some new fairy friends.

The worldbuilding is rich and interesting but it's a little hard to get into, like we're always learning new things and finding out about new species of fairy, so it's not easy to know what to expect or where the adventure will lead. However, a few basic components of fairy theory come into play throughout the story and are satisfyingly used in the climax in a way that's both surprising but not out of the blue. This book isn't very long so it's not the most complex plot-heavy story out there, more character-driven than anything, which works great for me. I'm worn out on heavy epic fantasies for the time being, so more accessible light historical fantasy/mystery works great for me.

I will definitely recommend this to all fans of the first book. It had everything great about that one and more! I'm so glad I got to read it and I will continue to read any more books in this series that come out.

This book is an absolute delight. I believe I had a similar, if not an almost identical, sentiment after finishing the first book! If you’re a fan of cozy fantasy and faerie folklore, add this to your TBR.

Map of the Otherlands picks up where we left off with Emily and Wendell on the hunt to find the door to the realm which he’s been exiled from. With the help of a few new characters, and a new project for Em, the troupe sets out to the Austrian Alps.

A few of my favorite things, in no particular order:

- Emily and Wendell’s banter: It delivered in book one and came back even more beautifully in book two. I found myself smiling every time these two would chat. From their cozy scenes where we learn more about Wendell’s background to them bickering in front of the group, I kept wanting more!
- Shadow: Who wouldn’t want a grim as a loyal companion?
- Poe and Snowbell: Their lack of filter towards “idiot” humans made me giggle.
- Enchanted Pencils: IYKYK

One note I’d like to make is that I listened to the first book, and I highly recommend it as the readers added to the charm that exists in print. Additionally, hearing Fawcett’s words spoken made the book even more lovely. Her word choice is perfect. If an audiobook for book 2 is released, I’ll definitely give it a listen!

The only reason it gets 4 stars instead of 5 is I missed the interactions with the townsfolk and I felt this story wandered a bit more than the first and wasn't as fast pace.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Del Rey for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Heather is an amazing author, and I will read every adult book she ever publishes. I had already read the first Emily book, and loved it. I was obviously going to read this one, too, and I'm grateful to have been provided an ARC.

This sequel neatly continues the story from the first book, and picks up the dangling threads, notably Wendell's (Emily's faculty superior and suitor, who is an incognito fay) attempt to recover his faery throne, while continuing to develop the characters and the world they inhabit, which is one where faery still intersects our mortal world. It intersects it so much, in fact, that Cambridge has a Faery faculty where our protagonist, Emily, has tenured professorship. It's still a publish or perish Cambridge, though it's clear Emily is passionate about her subject (as is the author, Heather Fawcett) and would publish anyway.

This book is chock full of faery lore, as was the first volume, and that's as entertaining as the plot itself. Secondary characters are revisited, which was nice, as well as, briefly, the locale of the first book.

This is not a book, or series, you want to miss. It's a great read, and unlike anything done before. It's one of those books that makes you sad when you finish it, and just as eager for the next installment.

Go, Emily! And, go, Heather!

Charming, charming, charming!

Have I mentioned this book is charming?

Ahhh, it's so gratifying to enjoy a follow-up as much, if not more, than it's predecessor. I love Emily—I really cannot get enough of her. She's simply a woman after my own heart. I also, of course, love Wendell, her colleague-turned-beau. What I really enjoy about their dynamic is that I completely believe his love and loyalty to Emily, (because I feel the exact same way about her) and that's a key aspect for me when it comes to book couples. Of course, I also love his sunshine to her grump and all their warmly clever bantering.

I also really loved the more in-depth dive into faerie lore. A strong variety of Folk are introduced here along with commentary on their culture and behaviors that play into the story at large. It's so creative and entertaining, like an Indiana Jones adventure in the fae realm. This book takes every element (including the action) of the first book and turns it up to 10. Loved it!

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands has every bit of magic and charm as the first one!

I absolutely adored the writing style - Emily’s journal entries continue to be a wonderful source of storytelling, world-building, and door into her mind.

Emily and Wendell’s banter is everything. I lived for their cozy, intimate scenes. I loved learning more about Wendell’s history and abilities and Shadow is the best companion anyone could have. I loved the addition of Rose and Ariadne: It was wonderful to see Emily portrayed as both mentor and student. Despite her social awkwardness, she is remarkably self aware about her skills and limitations. She has such amazing character growth throughout this story/series!

I was rereading my review of the first book and am thrilled this story picked up with all the loose threads I wanted to see resolved. I was engaged in this venture (to map all the doors to Faerie and find a way home for Wendell) from start to finish. I enjoyed gaining even more knowledge about the world of Faerie, and truly hope there are more stories to be told. I cannot get enough of these characters or their adventures!

In summary, if you loved Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, then you will absolutely adore this second installment. If you haven’t read it yet, then I highly recommend picking it up! This series has the perfect blend of historical fiction, academia, folklore, romance, and magic.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Del Rey for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I am a sucker for Emily and Wendell and will absolutely be here for every book Heather Fawcett decides to write in this series.

me, finishing Encyclopedia of Faeries: I want to meet his cat. But I can wait. I can be impatiently patient.
Fawcett: [presents cat]
me: 😍 😍 😍

So if you didn't love book one, I don't think book two will change your mind. But if you loved book one then you'll get more of a good time!

I wasn't expecting to spend so much time in academia in this novel, but I'm glad that's something we got. The lecture hall/museum scene was probably my favourite in the whole book and gave me The Librarian vibes (that fantastically cheesy, early 2000s film).
"Did you enchant my pencil?" I demanded.
"I enchanted all of your pencils," he said without opening his eyes. "You always have at least one upon your person. I knew they would come in handy."
Things I got less of than in Book One:
- Small town vibes (they have an assorted amount of found family joining on this venture, so less time to devote to the townsfolk)
- Interwoven fairytales: only one immediately comes to mind, the previous book had a good half dozen or so
- Bambleby: I just want more Bambleby all the time, okay? But he only got one chapter in this one.

Emily and Wendell:
I honestly love the way that their relationship progresses. It's slow and full of affectionate bickering, glaring, button-pushing, scowling, and general exasperation. But you can tell that everything has an undercurrent of love and respect and overall appreciation for who the other person is, warts and all.

Overall:
My biggest disappointment is that I have to wait, presumably until 2025, to get the next installment.

I was given an eARC through Netgalley and Orbit, all thoughts and opinions are my own. The version I had contained a handful of spelling errors that were unobtrusive and I expect to be corrected before the full copy goes to print.

How lovely to be back with Wendell and Emily again as they have another adventure. Emily is a wonderful narrator - I love the way this book is structured with her journal entries. Wendell is as dashing as ever and I love how creepy and uncanny the fairies are - much more to my tastes than some other books about faeries etc. I really enjoyed this and can't wait to read the next book in the series - I'm not sure if this is the end or not! Heather, please keep writing these!

Such an excellent follow up to book one! The dynamic between Emily and Wendell is even better. I loved getting even more of the terrifying faerie world. This book does such a good job of continuing the story from book one. We still get to see our two favorite academic rivals to lovers banter and explore the faerie world but with two additional people in their gang of awkward academic explorers. My favorite thing about these books is the balance between the heart warming cozy vibes and the terrifying ruthless faerie creatures. This series has truly become some of my favorite comfort books.

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands
By Heather Fawcett

Such a fun sequel. The second book keeps the same tone of academic, fantastical, and a little bit horrifying (as all fae books should be). This one skewed a bit more towards the romance, which makes sense with how the last one left off. I continued to enjoy learning about the different fae and their world vs. ours. The overall structure of the book is almost exactly like the first, but everything inside that structure is new and exciting.

If you enjoyed the first book, I think you’ll be happy with this one, too!

Thanks to @netgalley and @delreybooks @penguinrandomhouse for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I was struggling to pick out my next book when I saw an email letting me know that my wish had been granted on NetGalley for Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands! It doesn’t come out until January 2024, but naturally I ignored all of my other ARCs and started to read it immediately.

I was easily transported right back into Emily’s world and was happy to see the story pick up not long after the first book ended. Very similar in structure and tone as the Encyclopedia of Faeries, but I thought the pacing was a bit more even in this one which I was happy to see. I loved the new fair folk we met and was excited to see Poe along with some of the other friends from the first book play into this adventure as well.

I didn’t completely love the addition of her niece Ariadne because it became somewhat repetitive to hear about her excitement and eagerness as well as the strained relationship between her and Emily. I did come around more on her by the end though and feel like the story wrapped up well between them. I felt like the confrontation with the main antagonist was resolved a bit too easily and would have liked to see that expanded a bit more, but all in all I really enjoyed this one.

I’d categorize this as a cozy fantasy type and would highly recommend you pick up the first book if you haven’t already. I love the academic style journal format (complete with footnote citations to Wendell Bambleby’s great amusement) and think its such a sweet series. This book isn’t even out for another 6 months and I’m already anxious to get my hands on book three!

Thanks @randomhouse and @netgalley for the DRC!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC copy of this book to read and review. All of these thoughts and comments are my own.

If you loved the first book then you’ll love this one too. I absolutely adore Emily and Wendell. I love Shadow and I love Orga but honestly who wouldn’t.

The characters were fantastic, the story was amazing and so visual. Honestly the writing is one of my favorite things about this series. The way you can literally visualize what’s going on and what stuff looks like just blows my mind. One thing I love about fantasy books is being able to feel like I’m right there experiencing what the characters are experiencing.

I will say it wasn’t as fast pace for me like the first one was but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. I’m excited to see where this story leads.

4 stars!

Heather Fawcett has done it again, weaving the fantastic and the horrifying into some weird semblance of coziness and familiarity that makes you want to keep reading. This time, Emily has a new project in store (well, 2 technically) to locate Wendell's door and also to start actually mapping out the Fairie lands. She's accompanied by Wendell (naturally) and Shadow (of course), but also two other delightful editions to the cast: Rose (the Head of her department and a sort of academic rival) and her eager-to-please niece, Ariadne (who is also now a student at the university and hero-worships Emily--much to Emily's consternation).

The book takes place in the Alps and is just so vividly described. I almost wish I'd read this book in the fall because the autumnal vibes are immaculate. It's all swirling leaves, the hint of a chill in the air, a nice pot of soup above a roaring flame, and eyes watching from the depths of the forest. Y'know, equal parts cozy and creepy. There's also no shortage of wildly horrifying Fairie folk to spice up Emily's life.

Honestly, the first book was one of my favorite books of this year and Map of the Otherlands just built on what I loved from the first and expanded the world and the stakes. Emily and Wendell are a delight and their relationship felt like coming home after a long day. That, and Shadow remains the absolute goodest of boys.

If you loved the first book, definitely pick up the second. I highly doubt you'll be disappointed.

Officially finished my first 2024 release! I feel really honoured for the chance to read this so early, especially as the first book in this series is one of my favourite books of the year so far.

And this sequel absolutely did not disappoint. If I could live in the writing, I would. The writing style is beautiful and fits the book so incredibly well. And I was just so happy to be back with Emily and Wendell, who I both absolutely adore. Their next adventure is again a really engaging one, and I could hardly put this down.

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands is exactly what a reader wants from a sequel - a great continuation of the story and your favorite characters that also leaves you hungry for the next installment. A new cast of characters joins our adventuring, faerie researching dynamic duo in their quest to find Wendell's enigmatic door. Fans of the first book will enjoy this continuation!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for my copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!