Here is a summary with spoilers of Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales
Months after the events of the previous book, Emily and Wendell finally find the long-sought door back to the Faerie realm— and to Wendell’s home and their future kingdom. With them are their loyal pets: Olga, Wendell’s cat, which Emily saved, and Shadow, Emily’s dog. They step through the door, beginning the long journey to Wendell’s homeland. Along the way, they uncover strange truths—most notably that Wendell’s stepmother is still alive, though something feels off about it.
Their travels eventually lead them to a battleground where they encounter Lord Taran, Wendell’s uncle. He challenges Wendell, stating that he cannot enter his kingdom unless he proves he is stronger than his father. The two engage in a deadly duel, but Wendell discovers a loophole when he shows Taran Emily’s cloak, which he’s magically repaired. The cloak’s impressive magic convinces Taran that Wendell’s power surpasses his father’s, and Taran decides to return to the castle to prepare for their arrival. Emily also shares her thoughts with Wendell, telling him that since they entered his realm, his magic seems stronger. She believes this signifies that he is destined to be a true ruler.
Upon their arrival at Wendell’s home, they are met with a grand celebration. The folk are overjoyed to have Wendell back, and Emily meets several fae, including Taran (who Olga the cat is not fond of) and Niamh, a scholar Emily admires. Wendell is thrilled that Niamh is alive and offers her a job as scribe and councilor. They also meet Callum Thomas, a mortal scholar who has ties to both realms, as his sister was taken to the Faerie realm when she was young. Callum reveals that the queen is alive and has used a dark enchantment to transfer poison into the land, killing the trees and the folk who touch them. The affected groves are being burned to prevent further harm. Wendell decides it’s time to form a council, removing some members who are plotting against him and others who support his half-sister, still residing in the castle.
Emily and Wendell decide to visit Wendell’s stepmother and examine the plague on the land. They bring Wendell’s half-sister along, but their journey is interrupted by an attack. Wendell, furious, fights back with incredible magic, using his blood to heal the grove. Emily is injured, and Wendell orders Taran to take her away to safety.
A week later, Emily travels to Dublin to visit their libraries, despite Wendell’s objections. Her task is to find a cure for the curse that haunts Wendell, for the only known solution is his death. She believes that stopping his stepmother, who is hiding in Silva Lupi, may break the curse. Emily enlists the help of Farris and Ariadne, two scholars who assisted her before. Together, they discover the story of King Macan’s Bees, which they believe is key to finding the queen. Or at least, the similiarties between King Macan’s Bees and Emily and Wendell’s story is very similar. Before Emily returns to Faerie, Farris confronts her with an old journal and a briefcase. He reveals that he knew her grandfather, who died at the hands of the far folk. He gives Emily the journal, hoping she can find something useful in it.
Back in Faerie, Wendell meets Emily at the entrance and escorts her home. As they reach the castle, they find the curse has spread dangerously close. Wendell uses his blood to make it retreat. Emily shares the Macan’s Bees story with him and the council, and suggests they follow its path. The first step is to speak with one of the queen’s handmaidens, as in the story, they have clues.
They find two of the queen’s old servants. One, a folk, is unhelpful, but Wendell’s kindness shines through. The second, a hairdresser, doesn’t know where the queen is but offers a clue: the queen often returned home with thorns in her hair. Despite their efforts, they still lack enough information to locate her, and Wendell suggests they speak to the boggart.
While the council is studying the similarities between their situation and King Macan’s Bees, Emily continues reading her grandfather’s journal. She starts to notice eerie parallels between her life and his, including a golden-haired love interest. This unsettles her and deepens her distrust of the Macan’s Bees story.
Accoriding to the story, they need to visit the boaggard for their next step. The boggart provides another clue: the queen is hiding on an isle, and it has something to do with sailcloth. In exchange for this information, the boggart demands a feast in his honor once the old queen is dead and gone, and to be allowed to visit the castle.
With their new clue, Emily and Wendell set off to the Isle of Silverlilly. Mid-journey, Wendell unexpectedly stops the boat and proposes to Emily. She accuses him of wanting to marry because of the Macan’s Bees story, but Wendell admits that’s one reason—but not the only one. He wants to marry her because if he dies, she will be the legitimate queen of his kingdom. Emily agrees, and their marriage is sealed. Immediately after, they discover a hidden island that only a mortal queen can access (which Emily now is thanks to the quick marriage). Inside an ancient castle, they find the old queen dead—having taken her own life just moments before their arrival. Wendell, angered by her act of vengeance, takes the knife and stabs himself.
Emily is whisked away by the council, who learns that because the queen died by her own hand, the curse remains in effect. However, since Wendell’s death follows shortly after, the curse vanishes.
A day after Wendell’s death, Emily continues to read her grandfather’s journal and uncovers more information. She requests to see the Lady in the Crimson Cloak, the housekeeper, who turns out to be the love interest from her grandfather’s journal. According to the journal, she can commune with ghosts and has seen the door of death. The housekeeper agrees to share what she knows, but only if she is allowed to leave the realm unharmed. Emily summons the door of death, sending a fae to collect Wendell’s soul. Wendell wakes up, and Emily is overjoyed. But when she looks at the old queen, she notices her eyes are open—and she is alive.
Emily suggests imprisoning the queen, but Wendell pushes her into a dark veil instead. Wendell throws a celebration for his return and their marriage, but Emily feels uneasy about the situation. She confronts Wendell, telling him that the queen’s fate was too harsh and that he should find a more fitting punishment for her. Wendell promises to consider it, but Emily knows he won’t. So, she sneaks away to Corbann to find answers, hoping to understand the ending of King Macan’s Bees and learn how to avoid Wendell’s downfall. After days of research, Emily believes the solution lies in saving the old queen from the void.
To do this, she seeks the help of a faerie king, but she can’t ask Wendell—she knows he won’t risk her life. She heads to find the Hidden King, the one she was once set to marry in the first book. When she finds him, he initially wants to kill her. But Emily acts quickly, claiming that Wendell kidnapped her and forced her into marriage, and that her true love is the Hidden King. The Hidden King agrees to help her and summons the veil. Emily enters and finds the subdued queen. They escape together, and the queen reveals that she no longer desires power or the throne—only to live.
Back in Faerie, Emily finds Wendell, who is more concerned about her well-being than her absence. He’s relieved she’s returned and slightly surprised to see his stepmother alive. Emily convinces him that the queen only wants a quiet life in a cottage, and she agrees not to interfere with his reign. Wendell grants her wish.
Meanwhile, Emily makes Wendell fulfill his promise to travel through the faerie realms. She’s eager to see what other places hold.
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