I was really excited about this book and started the eARC from NetGalley but slowly put it to the side. Bambleby is entertaining too, with a charismatic swagger about him, and his fondness for Emily’s quirk.

This the gorgeous send-up of faeries (and a love letter to fae lore as well) that I didn't know I was yearning for.especially when compared to Emily) The only thing I can't comprehend is why he would love Emily at all.

So vividly, endlessly enchanting, so crisply assured, so rich and complete and wise and far-reaching in its worldbuilding that you’ll walk away half ensorcelled. The villagers- they were interesting and gave some comic relief to the story and a reprieve from Emily's constant vitriol. Both easy-going and self-deprecating, his genial disposition means that he never stays moody or mad for very long. It's also narrated as a diary, which I like, but it always makes me wonder how a person could possibly remember their day-to-day in such detail. Perhaps it is always restful to be around someone who does not expect anything from you beyond what is in your nature.Nothing annoys me more than faeries that are so beautifully mysterious and so cruel that they feel detached from emotions. I gave it at a low 3 rating right now because I'm not sure it's low enough to warrant something in the 2 range, but I did not have a very good time with this and I'm glad it's over. Emily Wilde is a genius scholar of faerie folklore who just wrote the world’s first comprehensive encyclopaedia of faeries. The author succeeds in creating an atmospheric world of eccentricity, and clearly puts a lot of thought into magical systems and fairy lore, using a range of ideas and inspirations.