EMILY WILDE’S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAERIES

Release Date : 2023-01-10

Duration : 12 hours 5 mins

Publisher : Random House Audio

SYNOPSIS

This is the first novel in the Emily Wilde series from Heather Fawcett, a bestselling Canadian author of juvenile, teen, and adult novels.

Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is the foremost expert on the study of faeries and is writing the world’s first faerie encyclopaedia. She prefers the company of her books, her dog Shadow, and the fairies to other people. To study a particular rare breed of faeries called the Hidden Ones, she travels to Hrafnsvik, a remote village in a small island nation north of Norway. She has the intention of befriending the odd townsfolk, but she requires their help on her expedition.

To her surprise and discomfort, her colleague, Wendell Brambleby, arrives in town to assist her on the expedition. Soon enough, Bambleby manages to charm the townspeople, muddle Emily’s research, and completely frustrate her. Despite all the commotion, Emily gets closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones, with the help of a nearby Brownie fairy. At the same time, two local women are captured by the faeries, and the townsfolk persuade Emily and Brambleby to assist in their rescue. What follows is a harrowing journey into forbidden fairy territory and a dangerous series of events that put Emily’s and Brambleby’s friendship to the ultimate test.

REVIEW

The storyline is entirely original and compelling from start to finish. Fawcett does a wonderful job of building a complex early 20th-century world that is full of magic and faeries. Emily and Brambleby are both well-developed characters that evolve through many challenges in the novel. There are a good number of characters in the story, especially ones with interesting and unusual names, and it’s a good idea to keep track of them all as you’re listening. The scenes between Emily and the brownie fairy are especially interesting and heartwarming. The book, although filled with fantasy and adventure, is also full of witty, comical dialogue and the fascinating inner monologues of introverted Emily

Narrators Ell Potter and Michael Dodds are the perfect complimentary duo. Potter delivers a narration that is constantly on edge and full of opinionated emotion and quick wit. Dodds’ portrayal of Brambleby instead has a constant calm undertone of sarcasm and humour. Together, the narrators deliver a captivating and vivid story. If you’ve seen this book around for a while and have been wondering what all the fuss is about, definitely give it a try. You may just love it, and you’ll be happy to know it’s just the first in a series. Book 2 was just released early this year!