Emily Wild's Encyclopedia of Fairies

Be careful what you wish for. It might come true! Do you believe in the supernatural? And are you brave enough to face it? To the remote northern island of Ljosland, where the sea wind whispers ancient stories and the boundary between the worlds of humans and fae is thinner than elsewhere, comes the young professor Emily Wilde. A respected expert on magical beings, she wants to study the community of the fae folk and finally finish her groundbreaking encyclopaedia of magical creatures. However, she is considerably worse with real people, and so she resents the arrival of her academic rival, Wendell Bambleby, who, unlike her, can win anyone over thanks to his undeniable personal charm. The charming colleague constantly gets in the way of the frustrated Emily's research, but their squabbles must be put aside when strange things start happening on the island. Two girls disappear from the village, and the fae most likely have a hand in it, forcing Emily and Wendell to join forces to try and save them. But the deeper they delve into the secrets of Ljosland, the clearer it becomes to them both that they are not just up against whimsical creatures from fairy tales, but that they are facing an ancient and powerful race that collects its debts without mercy. How much will Emily have to sacrifice to finish her book? And can she maintain the desired scientific detachment when everyone around her is in danger? The first volume of the bestselling fantasy series will draw listeners into a world where ancient legends come to life, magic is both beautiful and deadly, and every word could be your last. Ideal for lovers of darker fantasy stories, sparkling with tension and intelligent humour. “An enchanting and dry-humoured tale. Emily Wilde is exactly the kind of heroine you’ll love for her awkwardness and incredible intelligence. Fawcett has managed to create a world where the fae are as fascinating as they are terrifying.” – The New York Times “A cosy fantasy with a beautifully crafted world and sardonic humour.” – from reader reviews on Databazeknih.cz “The author masterfully balances on the edge between a cosy fireside read and a chilling Nordic horror. The relationship between Emily and Wendell is sparkling and full of intelligent banter that will make you turn the pages late into the night.” – Kirkus Reviews “Fawcett captures readers' attention by drawing them into the folklore and the surrounding world. A great read for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Erin Morgenstern.” – Library Journal “The author restores the fae to their original, dangerous form. These are no Disney characters, but beings who follow rules that humans do not understand. This book is a love letter to folklore and academic enthusiasm.” – NPR (National Public Radio) It is still possible that I am mistaken. A scholar must always be prepared to acknowledge this fact. None of my colleagues seem to share my suspicions, which I find startling. Not even the esteemed Treharne, who has been in the field so long that he likes to joke that the common fae no longer hide when he arrives, because they consider him little different from an old, misshapen piece of furniture. And despite all the stories of exiles from the realm of the Folk, it cannot be said that we have ever discovered one in our ranks. Which leads to two conclusions: either the Folk have an extraordinary talent when it comes to concealing their identities, or the stories are wrong. I pulled out the letter, still untouched by the fire, and tore it to pieces, which I mixed into the ashes. Then I put Bambleby out of my mind, pulled my hair into a knot on the crown of my head (from which it almost immediately began to escape), and threw on my coat. The surrounding landscape was so charming that I stood there, enchanted. The mountain before me sloped like a green carpet, its colour further enhanced by the bright dawn that painted the clouds in shades of pink and gold. The mountains themselves were lightly dusted with snow, but the azure-blue sky suggested that no more snow would be falling any time soon. Against the backdrop of this scenery, the sea swelled like a giant beast with a mottled coat of ice floes. Encouraged by this sight, I set off briskly. I had always loved fieldwork, and as I contemplated the terrain in question, I felt a familiar rush of excitement: before me lay a yet uncharted area of science, and I was the only researcher for miles around. At moments like these, I fall in love with my profession all over again. – excerpt from the book