Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett
Hooray! Professor of Dryadology Emily Wilde is back, now tenured after publishing her Encyclopedia. Her work centers on the titular book of maps. Meanwhile, things are on hold with Wendell, his proposal waiting for Emily’s reply. (Who are we kidding—the romance is progressing quite nicely!)
Unfortunately, Wendell is still in exile but no longer hidden. It appears that, contrary to Wendell’s expectations, his usurping step mother has decided to assassinate him. Emily’s plans to discover a door back to his kingdom is now urgent.
Emily and company, including her niece Ariadne—a first year dryadology student—are off to the Alps, looking for a door found by the 80-year-missing scholar, Diane du Grey.
Nothing is ever simple and easy when Emily Wilde is involved, and things get sticky. Soon, the expedition must walk directly into the Faerie Kingdom and face the Queen to save Wendell.
This sequel is, if anything, better than the first book—and I liked the first one quite a lot. It’s fast paced and well told, with plenty of the banter we would hope for. And, as usual, the magic and especially the many species of magical beings are imaginative and beautifully rendered.
We learn a lot more about Wendell’s strange, frightening, and gorgeous home. Will Wendell ever be able to show her his beautiful land? With they even live out the year?
The story is not over, there is at least one more sequel.
- Heather Fawcett, Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands, New York, Del Rey, 2024.
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