Heather Fawcett‘s Emily Wilde series throws readers into a captivating world of faeries, but not in the way you might expect. These faeries are otherworldly and dangerous, intertwining classic archetypes like Boggarts and Brownies with a sense of danger that is threaded throughout this mystical realm.

At the heart of the story is Emily Wilde, a dryadologist and Cambridge faerie scholar. She specialises in the study of faeries and their folklore, often considering herself rather mundane and preferring her own company alongside her loyal dog, Shadow.

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries (2023) follows Emily as she embarks on a journey to a remote northern village to research the Hidden Folk. Her scholarly pursuits are disrupted by her charming academic rival, Wendell Bambleby, who is later revealed to be an exiled faerie king. As villagers begin to mysteriously vanish into Faerie, Emily and Wendell must join forces to rescue them, leading to an unexpected closeness between them.

Initially, I found it challenging to connect with Emily as a character; I didn’t find her particularly likable, which may have been intentional on Fawcett’s part. A recurring theme in Emily’s personality is her discomfort in social situations, often creating unnecessary awkward tensions. However, as I delved deeper into the plot and was captivated by Wendell’s charm, especially when he gate crashed Emily’s research trip to Hrafnsvik, I began to warm up to her. Their contrasting personalities generated a delightful rapport that added humour to the narrative.

In the second book, Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands (2024), we see Emily helping Wendell search for a hidden doorway back to his lost kingdom after he becomes a target of his murderous stepmother. As Emily races through the land of the fae to save him, she embraces love and partnership with Emily accepting Wendell’s proposal and prepare to attempt to reclaim his throne together, which leads us into the third instalment.

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales (2025) follows Emily and Wendell as they try to lift his stepmother’s curse on the land. They travel to the Fae realm of Silva Lupi to reclaim his throne but discover the land suffering from a deadly curse. To save the kingdom and Wendell, Emily must use her knowledge to change an old prophecy all the while, the couple must balance their royal responsibilities in Faerie with Emily’s academic life in the mortal world.

My favourite book in the series is The Map of the Otherlands, with its escalating romantic tension and heightened stakes. The third instalment continues almost immediately after the events of The Map of the Otherlands, but I found it to be the weakest of the series. Nonetheless, all significant plot points were resolved by the conclusion, and we were treated to the return of familiar and beloved side characters (Poe being one of my favourites, especially when we meet his mother!)

While many elements have been tied up neatly, some lore remains open, which could mean the possibility of future instalments, however, it seems that Emily Wilde’s story has reached a satisfying conclusion.

Perhaps this is the end, but who knows? We might once again venture into Heather Fawcett’s the realm of faerie in the future.