Topherlytle
2.5 Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries was... fine, I guess. Once again, I find myself realizing I probably wasn't the intended audience. It had a cozy feel and a few fun elements, but I was hoping for a more adventurous fantasy romp grounded in rich fairy folklore. Instead, I got a book that seemed to be reaching for Pride and Prejudice with faeries, aiming for that same wit and charm, but falling far short of that standard, weighed down by overly flowery language and a lack of narrative momentum.
It's not that the author lacks talent, she clearly has skill, but the book seems aimed at readers who aren't looking for much plot or substance, just an atmospheric tale to linger in. For some, that's exactly what they want. For me, it just didn't quite land.
I also think the primary protagonist is the worst.
2.5 Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries was... fine, I guess. Once again, I find myself realizing I probably wasn't the intended audience. It had a cozy feel and a few fun elements, but I was hoping for a more adventurous fantasy romp grounded in rich fairy folklore. Instead, I got a book that seemed to be reaching for Pride and Prejudice with faeries, aiming for that same wit and charm, but falling far short of that standard, weighed down by overly flowery language and a lack of narrative momentum.
It's not that the author lacks talent, she clearly has skill, but the book seems aimed at readers who aren't looking for much plot or substance, just an atmospheric tale to linger in. For some, that's exactly what they want. For me, it just didn't quite land.
I also think the primary protagonist is the worst.