Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries

I didn't have any cosiness expectations going in, so the cutting and kidnapping stuff didn't really bother me and I was able to just enjoy and appreciate the story.

The first few chapters were a bit of a chore, but the footnotes and general information about the Faeries dumped on me made it interesting to read.

The romance plotline was clear to me after the first “Bloody Bambleby” thought, but it was so nicely done with all the mutual trolling, that I actually enjoyed it and found myself rooting for them by the end. I liked the proposal scene and how these events were involved in the second proposal and Em's kidnapping.

Poe is my favourite character in this book. I do hope his appearance in the second book won't be limited to just one or two short episodes. Curious about the trinket he gave to Emily.

The village and villagers was cool. All this Nordic “we either hate or love you” thing. I liked how both were earned - hate by being ignorant and blind to social norms (which also played a lot into Emily's character) and love by actually saving Lilja, Margret and Ari. But the fact that they were absolutely OK with saving her when she messed up didn't convince me much. I'd expect to see something like “I'm so angry with you right now, but I also love you, so I'm going to help”, rather than this unconditional forgiveness.

And yes, the need to save her. This whole part was my least favourite. It felt too much even for that world. And going to free the King after she chopped off her finger and freed herself from enchantment? Seriously? She's a mad scientist, but she's not stupid. At least she's not supposed to be. And “a seer told me I would one day be locked up by my own people, and only a mousy little scholar could get me out again” part was again too much. Bamleby's explanation that marrying her was the only reasonable way to pay her for freeing him had way more sense.

Is it me or do Faerie royalties in this world have a very deep sleep? The King was trapped while he was sleeping, Bambleby slept through not one, but two times when Emily went to do some crazy shit...

Bottom line, I still enjoyed the book very much. It's definitely in my top 10 this year. Looking forward to discussing it at VBC this Sunday.