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Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is the second book in the Emily Wilde series (the first is Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries). It follows the adventures of dryadologist Emily Wilde and her colleague and romantic interest Wendell Bambleby. It is an adventurous story with a light academia and faerie ambiance. Heather Fawcett crafts a unique and intricate tale focusing on the world of faerie and the scholars who study it.
It is reminiscent of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, with footnotes on magical scholarship of faeries. Although some might find the footnotes unrelated and hindering the progress of the narrative, I found they brought a touch of whimsy and life to the story by expanding on the studies and adventures of dryadologists.
In this installment, Emily and Wendell venture to the Austrian Alps in the footsteps of long-lost dryadologist Danielle de Grey to find the hidden door to Wendell’s kingdom. We are swept away to the harsh wilderness of the Alps as we follow Emily and Wendell on their quest, along with colleagues Ariadne, also Emily’s niece and a budding dryadologist, and Ferris Rose, a rival academic at Cambridge.
We see Emily struggling with her love of Wendell and questioning if it is wise to engage in a relationship with a faerie. She is a very relatable character, especially for those for whom more academic personalities resonate, being shrewd and capable in their interests but not necessarily when it comes to romance. I love Emily’s dedication to her work and her love of faerie, though it often blinds her to the safety and feelings of others.
Emily and Wendell are charming characters with lively banter, and the lands they explore are vivid, drawing in the reader. I could really see and hear everything as the story progressed, in particular the characters. The portrayal of Faerie is unique and has a touch of madness to it, so the characters aren’t quite in their right minds when they stay there for too long. Part of me wanted explanations and more rigor in this, but another part just accepted it and fell into the story to see where it went. It might not be satisfying to all readers when characters stumble through solving their problems in Faerie, but it does bring a sense of realism to the notion that being in such a world changes you and alters your perceptions of reality.
Overall, Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is a fun, whimsical, and exciting adventure into Faerie with a touch of romance that keeps the readers on their seats. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment!
Rated: Mild. Includes some sexual insinuation (all closed door) and a few instances of profanity. There is some violence, blood, and dismemberment of a character’s ear. There is some kissing but it is brief.
