Here is a summary with spoilers of EMily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries
Emily Wilde, an antisocial academic with a singular passion for studying faeries, embarks on a journey to the isolated Arctic island of Ljosland in Norway. The island’s tight-knit seaside community endures cold summers and harsh winters, and its wary residents initially distrust outsiders. However, as Emily immerses herself in the village, her nervous, scholarly demeanor gradually earns her acceptance. Over time, she finds herself welcomed into warm conversations by the fire and late-night drinking at the local tavern, where villagers share eerie tales about the faeries that haunt the surrounding woods.
In these frozen woods and under the icy terrain, Emily discovers her research subjects. Determined to create a comprehensive guidebook to faerie folk, Emily vows that her field notes will serve as “an honest account” of her studies. Yet her solitary work is disrupted by the unexpected arrival of her academic rival, Wendell Bambleby. Immaculately dressed and annoyingly charming, Wendell’s presence in Ljosland is the last thing Emily wants.
Wendell, missing Emily’s company and concerned for her well-being back at Cambridge, insists on assisting her with her encyclopedia. Begrudgingly, Emily allows him to join her, suspecting there’s more to Wendell than meets the eye—perhaps even a connection to the very faeries they study.
As more faeries emerge from beneath the snow, a chilling mystery unravels within Ljosland. Villagers begin disappearing, taken into the beguiling and dangerous otherworld of the high faeries. Emily and Wendell find themselves not just researchers but reluctant detectives, unraveling the crimes inflicted by the Folk upon the human community.
To rescue the missing villagers, they must delve into the complex and perilous habits of the high faeries, who operate under unyielding laws. Emily and Wendell learn that kindness given in exchange for faerie favors can maintain the delicate balance between the cruelty of the Fae realm and the humanity of the mortal world. From whimsical cottage-dwelling faeries like kelpies and brownies to the elegant yet menacing high faerie lords, they face creatures who delight in stealing unsuspecting villagers from their warm cottages.
When Emily herself is taken into the faerie realm, Wendell mounts a daring rescue, revealing his long-hidden truth: Wendell is a faerie prince, exiled from his homeland and unable to return until he finds the elusive door that leads back. United by their shared experiences and newfound trust, Emily and Wendell strike a pact to continue their work together, uncovering the mysteries of both the human and faerie worlds—while seeking a way for Wendell to finally return home.
Comments