Book Review: Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Book 2 of Emily Wilde

Publisher: Del Rey (January 16, 2024)

Length: 342 pages

Author Information: Website

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries was one of my favorite books the year it came out, and my expectations were extremely high for Heather Fawcett to kill it again with the sequel. Happily, she succeeded with flying colors! While I still think the first book was just slightly better—after all, matching the enchanting novelty of a series opener is no easy feat—but Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands proved to be equally whimsical and adventurous.

The story picks up once more with our resident expert on faerie lore, the eponymous protagonist who has just completed the world’s first comprehensive encyclopaedia of faeries. This accomplishment has earned Emily Wilde much fame but also more than a few detractors at Cambridge where she works with her colleague and former academic rival, Wendell Bambleby. The truth is though, Wendell is more than just a brilliant scholar and the sometimes object of our main character’s affections. He’s also faerie royalty, albeit one who is on the run from his evil stepmother who had stolen his realm from him.

But while Emily may not have accepted Wendell’s proposal of marriage because she knows better than to involve herself in faerie matters, she has been dedicating herself to helping him regain his rightful place in his kingdom by finding another way in. Their quest takes them to an isolated village where she can start on a new project to map the faerie realms, as well as to avoid the assassins that Wendell’s stepmother has sent on their tail. Accompanying them is Emily’s niece Ariadne as well as the curmudgeonly head of the Dryadology Department who has insisted on tagging along. However, danger has a way of following the group wherever they go, and soon they will all face the consequences of meddling with the mysterious forces of the Fae.

This sequel jumps right in, assuming the reader is already familiar with the setting and its characters, thus allowing those that loved the first book to immediately and seamlessly reacquaint themselves with Emily’s world. Our wonderful protagonist has also effortlessly recaptured my heart with her quirky ways, reminding all of us that she is first and foremost a scholar, though of course it’s also nice to see that prolonged time spending with Wendell has thawed her attitude towards him considerably. The chemistry between them continues to be one of my favorite aspects of this series, seeing how their unique dynamic is evolving over time.

Which brings me to their romance! Admittedly, I was nervous to see how this element would be dealt with initially, as many a sequel have been ruined by overeager authors mishandling the delicate balance by pushing things too eagerly, too quickly. Fortunately, Fawcett handled it perfectly. The growing attachment forming between Emily and Wendell felt natural and authentic, avoiding the common pitfalls used solely to create drama. Quite honestly, while this gradual deepening of their emotional connection may be a more subtle approach, over time I feel its results would be more effective, rewarding, and impactful.

It is also interesting to note the shift in style from the first novel, as Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands moves away from the character’s more serious tone that she uses for her encyclopedia entries and instead adopts a more traditional, user-friendly narrative even though it still follows a journal format. The change allowed for more insight into Emily’s personality as well as an avenue to introduce a whole new side of the Faerie realms, meaning even more creatures, places, and magic for readers to discover. I simply can’t get enough of this gorgeous world-building.

In short, Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands retains all the wonder, charm, and heart of its predecessor, offering another cozy fantasy with loveable and memorable characters. Those who enjoyed the first book will find this continuation of the series a great read as well, and I can’t wait for more Emily and Wendell!

More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries (Book 1)