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A review by diannaherondale
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
5 stars again? YES SO WHAT
I dont know if this book qualifies, but this is for me, what romantasy should be. It has a fun but strong concept (fairies but in an academic setting), both the protagonist and the love interest have a strong personality and backstory of their own, and they have... you are not gonna believe me, a credible conection and romance!
Thats where a lot of romantasies fail in my opinion, most of the times, the fantasy is just in the background and so its not inherently interesting, and at the same time, because the politics and worldbuilding is not complete, is difficult to give the main couple a strong enough background or even a reason for liking each other in the first place.
Im not saying that it is TRYING to be a romatasy necessarily but if it is, I like that is not making much of an effort in building this enemies to lovers with dark backstories romance that would make Wendell and Emily incompatible and difficult to believe that they could ever fall in love and spends more time building a steady connection between them.
And because of that, in this second book, it dosn't suffer from lack of drama in their relationship. Their foundation as characters is so strong that, no matter their change of setting, they still work as a couple. And they are SO CUTE. I love them.
Emily is someone I relate so much as a neurodivergent person with poor social skills and I liked that in this second book we got to see her grow out of her shell a little bit more. One of my favorite quirks of her is that she is so commite to her research that she becomes reckeless and gets in trouble but is so smart and capable enough that she is able to get herself out of whatever dangerous situations most times. The story its realistic enough that it aknowledges that she sometimes needs help and so there is Wendell.
What can I say about Wendell?? I like that we got to see open himself more and share more about his backstory. He is still his funny self but with more layers.
The book has higher stakes than the first one but it still keeps the cozy, fun feeling. I didnt expect these books to became my comfort triology but now it is. Thank you Heather Fawcett, see you next one.
I dont know if this book qualifies, but this is for me, what romantasy should be. It has a fun but strong concept (fairies but in an academic setting), both the protagonist and the love interest have a strong personality and backstory of their own, and they have... you are not gonna believe me, a credible conection and romance!
Thats where a lot of romantasies fail in my opinion, most of the times, the fantasy is just in the background and so its not inherently interesting, and at the same time, because the politics and worldbuilding is not complete, is difficult to give the main couple a strong enough background or even a reason for liking each other in the first place.
Im not saying that it is TRYING to be a romatasy necessarily but if it is, I like that is not making much of an effort in building this enemies to lovers with dark backstories romance that would make Wendell and Emily incompatible and difficult to believe that they could ever fall in love and spends more time building a steady connection between them.
And because of that, in this second book, it dosn't suffer from lack of drama in their relationship. Their foundation as characters is so strong that, no matter their change of setting, they still work as a couple. And they are SO CUTE. I love them.
Emily is someone I relate so much as a neurodivergent person with poor social skills and I liked that in this second book we got to see her grow out of her shell a little bit more. One of my favorite quirks of her is that she is so commite to her research that she becomes reckeless and gets in trouble but is so smart and capable enough that she is able to get herself out of whatever dangerous situations most times. The story its realistic enough that it aknowledges that she sometimes needs help and so there is Wendell.
What can I say about Wendell?? I like that we got to see open himself more and share more about his backstory. He is still his funny self but with more layers.
The book has higher stakes than the first one but it still keeps the cozy, fun feeling. I didnt expect these books to became my comfort triology but now it is. Thank you Heather Fawcett, see you next one.