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Early Book Review: Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands (Emily Wilde) by Heather Fawcett

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands is the second book of the Emily Wilde Series by Heather Fawcett and it is currently scheduled for release on January 16 2024. I find that this is a series that should be read in order. 

Emily Wilde is a genius scholar of faerie folklore—she just wrote the world’s first comprehensive of encyclopedia of faeries. She’s learned many of the secrets of the Hidden Folk on her adventures, and also from her fellow scholar and former rival, Wendell Bambleby. Because Bambleby is more than infuriatingly charming. He’s an exiled faerie king on the run from his murderous mother, and in search of a door back to his realm. So despite Emily’s feelings for Bambleby, she’s not ready to accept his proposal of marriage: Loving one of the Fair Folk comes with secrets and danger. And she also has a new project to focus on: a map of the realms of faerie. While she is preparing her research, Bambleby lands her in trouble yet again, when assassins sent by Bambleby’s mother invade Cambridge. Now Bambleby and Emily are on another adventure, this time to the picturesque Austrian Alps, where Emily believes they may find the door to Bambley’s realm, and the key to freeing him from his family’s dark plans. But with new relationships for the prickly Emily to navigate and dangerous Folk lurking in every forest and hollow, Emily must unravel the mysterious workings of faerie doors, and of her own heart.

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands is an interesting and engaging read, however I do think that reading the first book is a must to understand the settings and personalities involved. Emily and Wendell are off on another expedition, this time with a couple extra companions and Wendell being poisoned to add to the drama. I thought the story was well written, and the continuity with the first book was spot on. I thought there were well placed clues and hints about the nature of the mysteries they were trying to solve and the people and fae involved woven through the pages nicely. I will say that these books are not quick reads, at least not for me. The pace is slow and steady, much like proper research, and sometimes I get frustrated because of it. I enjoy the premise and the detail in these book, and I can appreciate the talent and skill involved, but it is sometimes hard for me to slow down and enjoy these more gently paced reads. It is very much a book I save when I am in the mood to slow down and fully immerse myself into a different world. 

Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands is a good follow up to the first book in the series, and if you enjoyed the first this will be a must read. 

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