Welcome to Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, a podcast dedicated to exploring the world of faerie lore with Miss Emily Wilde, a Cambridge Professor and expert on all things fae. I’m your host, Soham Singh, and today we’ll be discussing Heather Fawcett’s novel, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries.
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries follows the story of Miss Emily Wilde, a Cambridge Professor, who is on a mission to write the first-ever encyclopaedia of fairy lore. She’s traveled all over the world, studying various cultures’ magical beings and the legends and lore surrounding them, and her last destination is a remote village in the Scandinavian country of Ljosland.
Emily is used to field work, so she’s not put off by the stark, isolated village life. However, she wasn’t aware that it would be so rustic that she would need to chop her own wood to keep warm. Needless to say, Emily, along with her trusty companion, her dog, Shadow, have a bit of a learning curve to overcome in Ljosland.
As Emily’s research deepens, she begins to suspect that one of her colleagues, Wendell Bambleby, knows more about the fae than he’s letting on, and there may be an unconventional reason for that. The story follows Emily’s journey as she delves deeper into the mysteries of the fae and the man residing within.
Emily is a unique character, a true academic who struggles with small talk and interacting with other humans. She’s fearless and faces danger more than once over the course of this story, yet she seems to navigate it all so well. I loved how Fawcett chose to format the novel, it reads like you’re reading Emily’s journal entries, adding to the vibe of the story.
The setting of the novel, a cold, barren landscape with the backdrop of the magical faerie realms, was done really well. The whimsical scenes were charming and added to the enchanting atmosphere of the story. Additionally, the love-hate relationship between Emily and Wendell added an extra layer of intrigue and tension to the plot.
Overall, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries is a fantastic start to a series. The characters are lovable, the setting is enchanting, and the storyline is engaging. I highly recommend this book to fans of Cozy Fantasy and Stories involving the Fae.
That’s it for today’s episode of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries. Thank you for listening, and be sure to tune in next time as we continue our journey with Miss Emily Wilde.
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