Whew! All I can say is that 2024 is starting off with some excellent reading! Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands was everything I had hoped for and more. Following some of the beloved characters from the first book in the series, there are even more characters to love, more chaos to follow, and of course more mischief that needs to be unwound.
The formal writing style that was slightly difficult to get used to in the first book was easy to jump right into by the time this book came around. It was a wonderful feeling to fall headfirst into a world that is both familiar, yet still fantastic and magical. The formality of Emily’s writing really captures the nature of her scholarship and her need to find understanding in a chaotic world. Though the world that she writes about is fictional, her added footnotes and little tidbits of information always leave me ready for the next one.
Emily’s adventures were such a wonderful opportunity to see her growth from the beginning of the first book to the end of this second one. She, Wendell and a whole cast of new characters bring one another to life with well rounded background stories that intertwine and allow for their experiences to affect them in different ways. The strong emphasis on Wendell and learning more about him made this book an even more fun read because he is just so lovable.
When I started nearing the conclusion of the book, I was worried that it was feeling forced and far too fast, but as the reading continued I was able to reflect on the benefits to the ending being the way it was. It really allowed for a set up for another book and gave the growth that occurred throughout the book a moment to settle.
5/5 stars for a thoroughly immersive read that captivated me from the start.
A huge thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for allowing me the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions.
The Novel Llama 