Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands

Emily Wilde is a planned trilogy in the adult fantasy genre that combines traits of both the cozy fantasy and dark academia subgenres. The first installment, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries (2023), follows Emily Wilde as she journeys to Hrafnsvik, Ljosland, with her dog, Shadow—glamoured and secretly a faerie species called a grim—to research the elusive “Hidden Ones”—a winter species of trooping fae who inhabit the region. Emily Wilde has spent nine years compiling research for the faerie encyclopaedia she wishes to publish and the Hidden Ones are her last entry. Shortly after arriving, her work rival, Wendell Bambleby—a fellow professor at Cambridge whom she suspects to be one of the High Ones, or the courtly fae—arrives to aid in her research.

With the help of Wendell, the antisocial Emily begrudgingly befriends the townsfolk—specifically two women, Lilja and Margret—and one of the little ones, Poe, who lives in a tree and eventually offers to become Emily’s fjolskylda—a human that common faeries dedicate themselves to helping, a bond which sometimes extends to the human’s family or loved ones as well. Emily catches the attention of the Hidden Ones’ king—who’s been cursed to remain trapped in a tree for eternity—and frees him, bringing his unintentional snowy-wrath down upon Hrafnsvik when the full extent of his power is released. Alongside the townspeople, Wendell saves Emily from her betrothal to the Hidden King; the Hidden King is led to believe she died in an avalanche, which allows Emily to escape the region undetected with Wendell and Shadow. The research expedition proves Wendell’s faerie identity to Emily—as he must use his magic to save her on multiple occasions—and develops their romance, which ends in Wendell’s marriage proposal to Emily, who promises to consider it.

The first installment introduces themes that remain relevant as the series continues, as well as recurring characters such as Emily, Wendell, and Shadow, who will grow and evolve across installments. The ruthlessness of academia is touched upon in terms of Emily’s characterization and the lengths she’ll go through to chase discoveries—even to the detriment of others. This theme carries over into the sequel as she evokes this same approach, yet faces heavier consequences. Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries also hints upon the importance of stories in one’s understanding of the Folk, which continues to prove useful in the sequel. Emily experiences her first authentic relationships during the events of the first installment, yet her character requires more growth before accepting Wendell’s proposal; however, the novel does lay the groundwork for Emily to more easily make social connections during her second research expedition in the sequel.

Because Wendell hails from an Irish faerie realm, Fawcett explores more Irish-specific folklore throughout Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands. Fairy trees have a special focus in Irish faerie folklore, as they are considered sacred and often thought to be doorways or portals. Offerings such as ribbons or pieces of cloth are tied to such trees as a sign of respect. An allusion to this importance in Irish folklore is made through Fawcett’s use of ribbon-tracking throughout the sequel and the name of Wendell’s realm, “Where the Trees Have Eyes.”