This week we are discussing Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett, Pgs. 1-110.
Content Warning!!! This book contains situations and subjects related to: blood/gore, violence, kidnapping, self-harm, animal death, and confinement.
Spoiler Warning!!! This post is full of spoilers for Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett.
Discussion:
Michaela: Hello friends and welcome to our first discussion for Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett. I have seen this book everywhere, and I mean everywhere on socials. When I went to buy this book every paperback copy within 100 miles of me was sold out! Obviously it's a popular title at the moment. That being said though I have no idea what to expect from this book really. While I’ve seen tons and tons of people say they loved it and recommend it, I have yet to come across anyone actually saying their reasoning for loving it so much. Definitely intriguing.
But I have to say I felt like it was a slow start. Nothing in particular was unlikeable about the beginning of this book, it simply didn’t pull me in. Eventually it did pick up a little, right before where we ended for this discussion. I feel like that can be normal for fantasy books though, where the first 100 pages are all set up and world introduction. I will say that I do like Emily, I think she is written in a way that represents someone who is neurodivergent and I can find a lot to relate to her as a character because of that.
Jac: This is one of those titles that has had a super long hold list at our library since it came out. The cover is very cottagecore, so right off the bat it fits into current trends aesthetically. I’ve heard great things from friends and socials but I agree with Michaela in that I thought the beginning was rather slow. I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting from this book, but it wasn’t exactly this. I do really enjoy Emily’s character. I really relate to her discomfort in social situations, and agree that she’s very likely neurodivergent in some way.
I’m not sure how I expect this story to unfold. There’s quite a bit of mystery behind the Hidden Ones and Brambleby, but I’m not sure what direction the inevitable conflict will end up taking. On that note, Brambleby is really interesting to me. I’m hoping that he doesn’t end up in an adversarial role, because I think him and Emily have a cute friendship. It’s interesting that no one else has seemed to notice any oddities about Brambleby… or if they have, they haven’t said anything. It seems like there’s some sort of ulterior motive in place for him, though, with his questions directed at Poe about the faerie doors.
Michaela: I also am unsure where this story is going. Honestly I have no idea what is going to happen. I really don’t want Brambleby to be the bad guy here, he seems like one of the only people in Emily’s life that understands her and what she needs in a friend. I’m wondering why did Brambleby leave the life of being a courtly fae, just to go around pretending to be a human who researches fairies? That’s quite a scheme just for jollies, there has to be something else behind it. I’m wondering if he was exiled and that’s why he was looking for doors near Emily’s new forest friend’s tree. All these fairies and their cultures are actually fascinating, and I love that in this universe it's referred to as science. It’s such a cool concept.
I’m also loving the small remote town vibes. The almost Hallmark movie level town drama of Aud being offended by Emily wanting to pay for things, I love it. Then when Emily runs to get help Aud is immediately there for the guests in her village. She even says she’s going to talk to Krystjan about the lodging he’s providing. Finn is the sweetest as well. And we have Thora on top of that, who is my favorite character so far. That woman is just a badass village lady and she does not give a fuck about anything she doesn’t want to. I think the village stuff and the faerie stuff are battling for my favorite part of this book so far.
Jac: Oh Thora is absolutely lovely. I’m excited to learn what she has to say about the Hidden Ones. I’m glad that Aud and Emily have turned a new leaf. I want to know more about Aud and the Auslag and Mord and their changeling child. I have a feeling that the town and the Hidden Ones are going to end up much more intertwined than we can tell at the moment.
I’m also curious about Shadow. Emily says something about choosing one story and sticking to it when it comes to how she met him, so I suspect that there is something special about him, too. Is it that he came from the faerie world himself? I truly don’t know, but he’s a unique dog!
Well friends, that’s it for this discussion of Emily Wilde’s. We’ll see you next time!
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