Book Review: “Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia Of Faeries” By Heather Fawcett

This was my book clubs book pick for August and it turned out to be one of the best books we have read so far! All the ratings we have received so far from those who have finished the book have all been five stars, which is phenomenal! I can’t wait to share my thoughts with you so lets dive in!

“I knew you wouldn’t believe it. Just because you have a heart filled with the dust of a thousand library stacks does not mean everybody does.”

 Heather Fawcett, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries

About The Book

Author: Heather Fawcett

Publisher: Del Rey

Published Date: January 10th, 2023

Page Count: 325 Pages

Main Genres: Fantasy, Romance

GoodReads Rating: 4.10

Format: Physical Book

“The Folk were of another world, with its own rules and customs—and to a child who always felt ill-suited to her own world, the lure was irresistible.”

Heather Fawcett, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries

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 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, 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.

Synopsis From Goodreads


Rating

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Review

This book was the perfect cozy fantasy read! I really needed this book in my life in this exact moment so I am so happy we were able to read this for my Book Club this month.

I am not a huge fantasy reader so I was honestly super worried to pick it up but I was hooked within the first few chapters. I truly did not want this book to end. I really ended up falling in love with all the characters in this book especially Bambleby. He seems like an unlikeable character at the beginning but he really grows on you throughout the story.

I really loved the connection all the characters ended up building with each other over the course of the book. Many friendships blossomed between the towns folk, the fae and our main character even had a sweet romance plot that didn’t feel forced and was honestly so subtle. It was the perfect mix to make a perfect book.

Learning about the different kinds of Fae that live in this small town was just so much fun! I really loved the world building and how easy it was to follow which I find hard in most fantasy books as it is easy for new worlds and rules to get complicated quickly. I think it might have started a small fantasy obsession? I really need to find me some easy cozy fantasies to pick up ASAP! I really can’t wait for the second book to come out in January 2024, gosh this is going to be such a long wait!

“One doesn’t need magic if one knows enough stories.”

Heather Fawcett, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries

QOTD: Send me some Cozy Fantasy Recs.

“Perhaps it is always restful to be around someone who does not expect anything from you beyond what is in your nature.”

Heather Fawcett, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries

Book Review: “Legends and Lattes” By Travis Baldree

As someone who is not a fantasy reader I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I had seen only good reviews for this book and also heard that it was a cozy low stakes read which sounded right up my alley and they were not wrong! If you are looking for a cute, cozy read that will make you hungry then please pick this book up!

“After twenty-two years of adventuring, Viv had reached her limit of blood and mud and bullshit. An orc’s life was strength and violence and a sudden, sharp end—but she’d be damned if she’d let hers finish that way. It was time for something new.”

Travis Baldree, Legends & Lattes

About The Book

Author: Travis Baldree

Publisher: TOR Books

Published Date: February 22, 2022

Page Count: 296 Pages

Main Genres: Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ+

GoodReads Rating: 4.36

Format: Physical Book

“… The price of what I meant to do Was higher when the day was through, And when I took a different road, I almost couldn’t feel the load …”

Travis Baldree, Legends & Lattes

Synopsis

After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the last time.

The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success — not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is.

If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won’t be able to go it alone.

But the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become partners, family, and something deeper than she ever could have dreamed.

Synopsis From GoodReads

“Things don’t have to stay as what they started out as.”

Travis Baldree, Legends & Lattes

Rating

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Review

I believe that this book has started an obsession with finding cozy low stake fantasy books. I need more books that the world is easy to understand, you fall in love with each and every character, and you just want everyone to succeed.

My favorite part about this book was all the small details that were written into the story such as, the making of the menu board, the recipes that thimble puts together and last but not least the romantic tension between the two main characters.

I was constantly hungry while reading this book and I am so glad I ended up at a coffee shop for my own iced latte.

This book was a fairly short read and I think that was the worst part! I was not ready for their story to end, so much so that I would only read a chapter a day so that I could savor every moment. Don’t get me wrong, I could have sped through and read this in one day but that might have broke my heart.

If you haven’t yet, please do yourself a favor and pick this fantastical read up, especially while it is still cold and possibly snowy out. I promise you will not regret it!

“The combined aromas of hot cinnamon, ground coffee, and sweet cardamom intoxicated her, and as she brewed and smiled and served and chatted, a deep contentment welled up. It was a glowing warmth she’d never experienced before, and she liked it. She liked it a great deal.”

Travis Baldree, Legends & Lattes

QOTD: What are some other cozy low stake fantasy reads?