Spoiler-Free Review

Every now and then, I need a low-stakes book that still delivers on both the plot and character front. Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries accomplished that – and made the ideal cozy read. 

This is my review for book 1. Click here for book 2.

What’s Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries about?

Emily Wilde is a socially awkward scholar of faeries. In this diary, she records the encounters and events she faces in a small Scandinavian village as she attempts to study their previously undocumented “Hidden Ones.”

This would be a perfect winter read.

This story follows Emily’s plights and daily experiences during her field research in Ljosland, a village in Norway. We’re basically reading her diary, as each chapter is an “entry” in her journal, and she records every detail so that she may refer back later when she drafts the world’s first encyclopedia about the fae. 

I enjoyed every aspect of the characters and setting. Each element made the story feel unique while also adding an endearing layer. Here are some highlights: 

• Banter between academic rivals (my fave)
• A grumpy / sunshine dynamic (where the woman is the grumpy one)
• An initially unwelcoming village that we eventually grow to love
• A socially awkward main character, who might be coded as neurodivergent
• Faeries who are true to lore, including the darker aspects
• A cute romance sprinkled on top, without ever being a main plotline (0% spice)

The diary format lent it a unique intimacy with the main character’s inner thoughts and daily life. I did feel one drawback of this format was that it limited the pacing, and sometimes made the story feel “patchwork.” This makes sense, as we’re only getting each piece of the story when Emily has a chance to write it down. 

So while it may slow down the story a bit, overall it ups the “cozy” factor – since nothing truly bad can happen to her if she’s still writing entries, right? 

Should you read Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries?

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun and cozy read that still has a plot (and isn’t just a slice of life). You might also like it if you like faeries, or if you haven’t read any books with faeries and are looking to start. Given its diary format, there’s lots of footnotes throughout with addendums and explanations, so it could be a great way to wrap your mind around the different types of commonly used faeries. This is definitely for you if you’re into clean adult romance or low-stakes stories. 

This may not be for you if you prefer big reveals and action, though there are a few sequences of faerie violence (which were somewhat brief). The main character prefers to think her way out of situations. Since this story takes place in 1909, it’s written the way a scholar of the time might write, so some readers may consider it too slow and embellished. It’s definitely a slow burn.