Emily Wilde is a Cambridge professor who specializes in the study of faeries and on her latest research project she finds herself in for more than she could ever imagine, especially since her academic rival has turned up as well to assist her. Emily Wilde loves her work, she is focused on getting her enclyopedia of faerie lore done and with her last stop, it’ll be the last chapter in her book before she goes off to present it. Despite being so academically gifted, she has one problem, she’s horrible at understanding people and has a lack of social cues. She come off as cold, calculated, and rather singularly focused. So when she goes to a village to study their fae folk she has the villagers disliking her within a week and she can’t understand what she’s done to offend them.... cue Wendell Bambleby, her academic rival who is as handsome as he is charming... so handsome and charming that he has Emily suspecting that he is a fae himself because of all the things that occur around him. Wendell is gorgeous, a social butterfly, and the essential opposite of Emily (He honestly gave me Howl vibes, the man loves his looks, is magical, has a ton of paramours/conquests and is charming as can be). Wendell has showed up as a surprise to Emily and states that he wants to help her yet she knows there must be an ulterior motive. Yet the more time they spend together the more Emily gets closer to not only uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones- the most elusive of all faeries that live in the shadowy forest outside of town, but also to uncovering the secret of who Wendell truly is and what he wants. Soon she’ll find herself doing things and feeling things she’s never had before, from rescuing villagers to getting multiple marriage proposals. This was a super fun cozy fantasy with some light romance, I think it would be perfect for fans of Howl’s Moving Castle. I can’t wait to see where the next book goes!

Spoiler

Emily goes to write up her research and Wendall surprises her, he befriends the folks and helps her work on her people skills ( by mostly charming them himself). Emily befriends fae and helps rescue children and people for the village. She befriends Poe ( seriously their friendship was adorable) and she has Shadow her dog ( a Grim she rescued) who was also so precious. Wendall turns out to be an exiled Fae King who is searching for a way to get back to his kingdom, and take back his throne. He also happens to be in love with Emily and proposes to her near the end of the book, she says she will think about it. She is enchanted by the Winter Fae king and frees him, he then takes her for his own bride and Wendall and the villagers go to save her. They fake her death and Emily is able to finish her book. Wendall and Emily show off their research and are now looking to go forth on their next adventure together. Wendall’s identity as a fae is revealed to the village but they all like him and emily so they dont say anything. Emily leaves the village as a friend to them and is expected to visit them with Wendall again. Her next adventure is helping Wendall find his door to his kingdom.

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*