Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries

Title: Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries
Author: Heather Fawcett
Published: January 10, 2023 by Del Rey
Format: Kindle, Hardcover 317 Pages
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Emily Wilde #1

First Sentence: Shadow is not at all happy with me.

Blurb: Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world's first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party--or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, and the Fair Folk.

So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, get in the middle of Emily's research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.

But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones--the most elusive of all faeries--lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she'll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all--her own heart.

My Opinion: “Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries” by Heather Fawcett offers a curious blend of quirkiness and academia. For some readers, the use of footnotes, while attempting to evoke Emily Wilde’s field notes, may feel unusual and disrupt the narrative flow.

The book is reminiscent of Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series in that the main characters combine their exploration and banter with a side of mystery. Wendell’s laugh-out-loud humor adds an entertaining touch, although his quips arrive too late to capture your initial interest.

Early in the book, I switched from print to the audiobook instead of wall-banging it. After sitting with this book for a while, I realized that Emily and the Faerie folk didn’t capture my interest or imagination.

The Mystery Guest

Title: The Mystery Guest
Author: Nita Prose
Published: November 28, 2023 by Ballantine Books
Format: 293 pages, Hardcover
Genre: Amatuer Sleuth
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Molly the Maid #2

First Sentence: Prologue: My gran once told me a story about a maid, a rat, and a spoon.

Blurb: Molly Gray is not like anyone else. With her flair for cleaning and proper etiquette, she has risen through the ranks of the glorious five-star Regency Grand Hotel to become the esteemed Head Maid. But just as her life reaches a pinnacle state of perfection, her world is turned upside down when J.D. Grimthorpe, the world-renowned mystery author, drops dead—very dead—on the hotel’s tea room floor.

When Detective Stark, Molly's old foe, investigates the author’s unexpected demise, it becomes clear that this death was murder most foul. Suspects abound, and everyone wants to know who killed J.D. Grimthorpe? Was it Lily, the new Maid-in-Training? Or was it Serena, the author’s secretary? Could Mr. Preston, the hotel’s beloved doorman, be hiding something? And is Molly really as innocent as she seems?

As the case threatens the hotel’s pristine reputation, Molly knows she alone holds the key to unlocking the killer's identity. But that key is buried deep in her past—because long ago, she knew J.D. Grimthorpe. Molly begins to comb her memory for clues, revisiting her childhood and the mysterious Grimthorpe mansion where she and her dearly departed Gran once worked side by side. With the entire hotel under investigation, Molly must solve the mystery post-haste. If there's one thing Molly knows for sure, it's that dirty secrets don't stay buried forever. (GoodReads)

My Opinion: A delightful read that earns a solid rating for its charming blend of innocence and intrigue. Set in the grandeur of the Regency Grand Hotel, the city and year remain a mystery, much like the plot itself, which cleverly unfolds through a mix of past and present narratives. Prose’s protagonist, Molly, is refreshingly naive, her quirks endearing as they are portrayed through her unique interpretation, spelling, and rich vocabulary.

The story references old television shows reminiscent of reruns Molly once shared with her grandmother, adding a touch of nostalgia.

As a sequel, “The Mystery Guest” stands strong, providing enough backstory to welcome new readers without confusion. The significant time gap between this and the previous book suggests a new chapter in Molly’s life, inviting readers to unravel the ongoings at this 5-star hotel anew.

Prose’s narrative is a testament to her skillful storytelling, making “The Mystery Guest” a compelling continuation of a beloved series.

Love, Theoretically

Title: Love, Theoretically
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Published: June 13, 2023 by Little Brown Books
Format: Kindle, paperbac, and 389 Pages
Genre: Romance

First Sentence: Prologue: In my life I have experienced regret, embarrassment, maybe even a touch of agony.

Blurb: The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, she’s an adjunct professor, toiling away at grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in the hopes of landing tenure. By other day, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people pleasing skills to embody whichever version of herself the client needs.

Honestly, it’s a pretty sweet gig—until her carefully constructed Elsie-verse comes crashing down. Because Jack Smith, the annoyingly attractive and broody older brother of her favorite client, turns out to be the cold-hearted experimental physicist who ruined her mentor’s career and undermined the reputation of theorists everywhere. And that same Jack who now sits on the hiring committee at MIT, right between Elsie and her dream job.

Elsie is prepared for an all-out war of scholarly sabotage but…those long, penetrating looks? Not having to be anything other than her true self when she’s with him? Will falling into an experimentalist’s orbit finally tempt her to put her most guarded theories on love into practice?

My Opinion: As someone who doesn’t typically delve into this genre, I found that the book began and ended where I assumed it would; I just didn’t realize I would be in for a humorous and spicy ride. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised. The novel weaves together self-actualization and humor, creating a captivating narrative. Elsie’s journey of self-discovery will resonate with readers, and the witty banter between her and Jack adds a lovable layer to the story. Hazelwood’s portrayal of women in STEM and academics is enlightening. Despite my initial reservations, I found myself rooting for the characters and their romance.

Not sure if the Love Hypothesis is a series or just interconnected books.

Village in the Dark

Title: Village in the Dark
Author: Iris Yamashita
Published: Kindle, Hardcover 288 pages
Format: February 13, 2024 by Berkley
Genre: Police Procedural
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Cara Kennedy #2

First Sentence: The frigid wind whipped up eager snow eddies off the knolls of the cemetery ground in South Anchorage.

Blurb: On a frigid February day, Anchorage Detective Cara Kennedy stands by the graves of her husband and son, watching as their caskets are raised from the earth. It feels sacrilegious, but she has no choice. Aaron and Dylan disappeared on a hike a year ago, their bones eventually found and buried. But shocking clues have emerged that foul play was involved, potentially connecting them to a string of other deaths and disappearances.

Somehow tied to the mystery is Mia Upash, who grew up in an isolated village called Unity, a community of women and children in hiding from abusive men. Mia never imagined the trouble she would find herself in when she left home to live in Man’s World. Although she remains haunted by the tragedy of what happened to the man and the boy in the woods, she has her own reasons for keeping quiet.

Aided by police officer Joe Barkowski and other residents of Point Mettier, Cara’s investigation will lead them on a dangerous path that puts their lives and the lives of everyone around them in mortal jeopardy.

My Opinion: Village in the Dark captures the reader’s attention from the very start. The brisk pacing makes it a perfect quick read, and the narrative is skillfully crafted to keep the pages turning. Yamashita’s storytelling shines through with an intriguing twist that adds depth to the plot. The decision to limit scenes at the Davidson Condos in Point Mettier is a clever move, allowing the characters to explore new horizons and maintain a fresh perspective. The character of Cara is particularly well-developed, with a backstory that unfolds across the series. This book is a commendable addition to the series, offering a satisfying blend of mystery and character development.