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A Court of Thorns and Roses
Sarah J. Maas
4.6
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries: Book One of the Emily Wilde Series
by Heather Fawcett
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About this book
Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is a genius of faerie folklore, yet she finds the complexities of human interaction far more baffling than the most dangerous enchantments. When she arrives in the isolated, snow-swept village of Hrafnsvik to conduct research for her groundbreaking encyclopaedia, she intends to focus solely on the elusive Hidden Ones. However, her mission is sabotaged by the arrival of Wendell Bambleby, a dashing academic rival whose charm is as infuriating as his talent for disrupting her meticulous work.
While Emily prefers the company of her dog and her dusty manuscripts, Wendell effortlessly ingratiates himself with the wary locals, forcing Emily into an uneasy partnership. As the duo ventures deeper into the perilous forest to document the fae, the lines between professional competition and personal entanglement blur. Emily soon discovers that the most dangerous mystery in Hrafnsvik may not be the folklore she studies, but the true identity of her rival.
Amidst the frost and shadows of the faerie realm, Emily must confront the secrets of the Hidden Ones while navigating a growing attraction she is ill-equipped to handle. Their scholarly rivalry transforms into a high-stakes dance of wits, trust, and undeniable chemistry.
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What readers are saying
Lily Florotherworldly
"This book was not just a story, it was an experience. I began Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Fairies slowly, almost cautiously, and finished it with that familiar ache that comes when you don’t quite want to leave a world behind. This is the kind of book that asks to be read gently, with time, tea, and attention. It rewards patience and curiosity in the most beautiful way. Emily Wilde is a refreshing and deeply human protagonist. She is logical, observant, socially awkward, and entirely devoted to her work, yet beneath all of that lies a quiet tenderness. I loved how her voice felt honest and grounded, never exaggerated or romanticized. Through her journal-like narration, the world of fae folklore feels scholarly, dangerous, whimsical, and strangely real. Wendell, of course, is a delight. Charming, mysterious, infuriating, and sincere in ways that take time to reveal. What I loved most about their relationship is that it isn’t rushed or idealized. Their connection grows through shared experiences, banter, trust, and small moments of understanding. Emily never loses herself in him, and he never tries to change who she is. They meet as equals. and that makes their dynamic feel genuine and earned. The folklore in this book is rich and unsettling in the best way. The fae are not softened or romanticized; they are clever, dangerous, ancient, and bound by strange rules. Every story within the story feels intentional, as if it has existed long before the reader arrived. The ending, especially the final tale of The Golden Ravens, stayed with me. It felt like a quiet echo — sad, beautiful, and timeless. A reminder that fairy stories are not always meant to comfort, but to linger. I closed the book feeling full, reflective, and slightly wistful. This is a book for readers who love folklore, quiet magic, thoughtful characters, and slow-burning stories. One that feels like winter light through a window, or the hush of snow falling at night. I can’t wait to continue the journey. ["
January 30, 2026 Verified Purchase
Tricia Copeland BrzostowiczGreat story line, characters, human and non, as well as sweet moments
"4* – Great story line, characters, human and non, as well as sweet moments First, I love the cover of this book. The black background sets the tone and the intricate corner images almost resemble hands but also have qualities of antlers which creates a very magical feel. The center circle with the almost hand-like white bone-ish fingers also look like roots which once you read the story give more meaning. I love the flowers. Heather Fawcett arranges this book so that we get the story through journal entries written by the main character, the “curmudgeonly” Emily Wilde. Curmudgeonly is a great word to describe Emily who lives in her head with her scholarly thoughts much of the time paying little attention to social norms. She prefers the company of her dog and her books, and perhaps the faeries she meets, to that of humans. Emily has a friend and colleague, Wendell Bambleby, that joins her very early in her visit to Unsland (sp?) where the village of Hrafnsvik, which to me seemed very much like Iceland, much to Emily’s chagrin. The reason I only give this book 4* instead of 5* is that it had a slow start. Emily’s initial interaction with all the town’s people, and their hard to pronounce names, seemed long and I almost stopped reading . I feel like this could have been more condensed. In the end, I loved the relationships these characters formed. I loved the narration for this book. The British accent was appropriate but not so heavy as to take away from the story and added to the book’s feel and authenticity. Once the action began, I was quickly drawn in. Heather Fawcett had great descriptions that lent the scenes amazing visualization. The plot moved at a good pace after the initial section and was surprising. I was listening to the book so don’t often pay attention to how much of a book is left. The last big “adventure” for Emily was a surprise for me. I didn’t see that plot line coming and I always enjoy an unexpected twist to a story. ["
August 14, 2025 Verified Purchase
DK Creates CrochetA sweet tale for your winter tbr list.
"I loved this cozy story so much that I bought my daughter a copy of her own. Emily is out to collect stories about the hidden folk to write a book. The sweet friendship between her and her colleague who happens to be a Faire king himself gives Howl and Sophie vibes. She encounters near misses and was kidnapped by the tree king who thinks she should marry him. It was a slow build but all in all a good read. I am waiting for the second book in the series to arrive as I cant wait to see where the story goes. This book will be put on my winter to be read list for next year. I am so glad a friend recommended it. ["
February 9, 2026 Verified Purchase
Kindle CustomerIntriguing concept, poor execution
"I really wanted to love it as I find fairy folklore absolutely fascinating. The amount of 5 star reviews it has really highlights how anti-intellectual social media platforms which promoted this book are (mostly booktok and bookstagram). The pros: The concept is very interesting and the plot is very unique. The world feels magical and includes all the fairy lore you could wish for. The protagonist is complex and flawed and isn't your typical protagonist who does everything perfectly. She makes mistakes and isn't self aware and this causes her to falter even more. I always enjoy complex characters rather than one dimensional characters who do everything right. Wendell is charming, sarcastic and self-absorbed in an endearing and hilarious way. The cons: My main issue is with the structure of the book. It doesn't know what it wants to be. It is intended to be a collection of journal entries but it doesn't read as journal entries and sounds more like first person prose with the inclusion of lengthy descriptions and dialogue which don't fit into the journal entry form. It therefore doesn't work as a journal but at the same time, in its effort to be a journal, it excludes the necessary world building that would have made it a truly epic, dark academia story. At times the events seem disjointed without a cohesive flow. The romance and marriage proposal seems to have come out of nowhere. There is no adequate build up to the romance and the reader is forced to do a lot of inference to fill in the gaps. The romance therefore feels inorganic and forced. I really really wanted to love it but I don't think I will be buying the second book in this series. ["
September 18, 2024 Verified Purchase
