✨ Exploring Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries: A Magical Journey into British Faerie Folklore

If you love enchanting worlds full of magical creatures and adventure, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett is a must-read.

This charming fantasy novel offers a delightful mix of magic, mystery, and an intriguing main character who embarks on an academic journey to discover the hidden world of faeries. The book’s engaging plot and whimsical world-building will leave you enchanted from the very first page.

A Brief Summary of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries

In Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, we meet Emily Wilde, a brilliant and independent academic who is dedicated to studying faeries and other magical creatures.

As a highly respected scholar, Emily sets out on an expedition to document the creatures of the faerie realm, starting with a remote location known for its strange and dangerous faerie activity. Throughout her journey, Emily uncovers unexpected secrets about the faerie world—its politics, its hidden dangers, and even the dark forces that seem to lurk just out of sight.

Cover of H. Fawcett's Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries.

Emily is a fascinating protagonist, driven by both her curiosity and her desire to make a significant contribution to her field of study. Along the way, she forms relationships with humans and faeries alike, discovering both the beauty and the peril that exists within their magical world.

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries mixes adventure, academic rigor, and charm in a way that feels fresh and captivating. The author weaves together elements of British folklore with the excitement of an academic exploration into the faerie realm, creating a narrative that is both thoughtful and thrilling.

My Personal Review

I thoroughly enjoyed Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries. From the moment I started reading, I was transported into a magical world where faeries and other mythical creatures came to life in vivid detail. The combination of Emily’s academic perspective and her encounters with faerie creatures gave the story a unique feel, making it stand out from typical fantasy novels.

What I particularly loved was how the book balanced humor, magic, and suspense.

Emily is an intelligent and relatable character who brings wit and warmth to the story. The world-building is rich and immersive, and Heather Fawcett’s writing is simply enchanting. There were moments when I found myself so absorbed in the faerie world that I could almost hear the rustling of wings and feel the magic in the air.

If you enjoy fantasy novels with strong characters, magic, and a deep dive into folklore, this book is for you.

It’s a perfect blend of adventure and intellectual curiosity, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves to lose themselves in a well-crafted fantasy world.

What Are Faeries in British Folklore?

In British folklore, faeries (also spelled “fairies”) are magical, supernatural beings that inhabit the natural world. They are deeply connected to the cycles of nature and often represent forces of both beauty and danger.

Faeries can be kind and helpful, mischievous, or even malicious, depending on the legend.

Historically, faeries were believed to reside in hidden realms, such as beneath the earth, within forests, or near bodies of water.

They were often depicted as small, ethereal creatures with wings, though their appearance and behaviour can vary widely across different myths and regions. Some faeries, like the trolls or hobgoblins, were considered more mischievous or even dangerous, while others, like the seelie court or good faeries, were seen as benevolent and protective.

One of the most fascinating aspects of faerie folklore is the idea that faeries exist in parallel with the human world but remain largely unseen.

In many traditions, they are said to interact with humans, sometimes helping them and other times causing trouble. In some stories, faeries would enchant humans, leading them into the faerie realm, where time moved differently, or they would steal away children and replace them with changelings.

Faeries are often associated with nature’s cycles, and their actions are closely tied to the changing seasons. This is where the Wheel of the Year comes into play.

The Wheel of the Year: A Connection to Faerie Lore

The Wheel of the Year is a concept from modern Pagan traditions that marks the changing seasons and the cycles of the Earth. It consists of eight key festivals that are spaced throughout the year, celebrating moments like the solstices, equinoxes, and harvest times.

These festivals reflect the ebb and flow of the seasons, connecting human life to nature’s rhythms.

The eight festivals of the Wheel of the Year are:

1. Samhain (October 31 – November 1) – The festival of the dead, marking the beginning of winter.

2. Yule (Winter Solstice) – The rebirth of the sun, the shortest day of the year.

3. Imbolc (February 1–2) – A celebration of light, marking the halfway point between winter and spring.

4. Ostara (Spring Equinox) – A celebration of spring, new beginnings, and balance.

5. Beltane (April 30 – May 1) – A fire festival celebrating fertility, passion, and the arrival of summer.

6. Litha (Summer Solstice) – The height of summer, the longest day of the year.

7. Lammas (August 1) – A harvest festival celebrating abundance and prosperity.

8. Mabon (Autumn Equinox) – A celebration of the second harvest and balance before the onset of winter.

   
   

Many faerie tales and folklore are tied to these moments in the Wheel of the Year, with faeries often playing an active role in nature’s cycles, from the blossoming of flowers in spring to the harvest celebrations in autumn.

Understanding the Wheel of the Year helps explain the deep connection between faerie lore and the natural world.

3 Faerie-Themed Activities for English Learners

If you’re an adult English learner or someone looking for fun family activities, why not combine faerie folklore with some creative English practice?

Here are three activities that will help you learn while embracing the magic of faeries:

1. Faerie Folklore Storytelling (Speaking & Listening) Create your own faerie tale! Describe the faerie’s appearance, magical abilities, and the adventures they embark on. This activity promotes creative writing and helps learners practice descriptive language and narrative structure.

2. Faerie Scavenger Hunt (Vocabulary & Reading Practice) Design a faerie-themed scavenger hunt that requires learners to read clues about different faeries and magical creatures. Each clue can describe a faerie from British folklore, and learners must find the right creature based on the description. This will not only teach vocabulary related to faeries and mythology but also encourage learners to engage with written English in a fun, interactive way.

3. Create Faerie Crafts for the Wheel of the Year (Writing & Crafting) Choose a season from the Wheel of the Year and create a faerie craft tied to that season. For example, you could make a “spring faerie” with flowers or a “harvest faerie” with autumn leaves. Afterward, write a short paragraph describing your faerie, its connection to the season, and any magical qualities it might possess. This activity integrates crafting with writing skills and introduces learners to British cultural traditions.

   
   

Final Thoughts

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries is a perfect blend of adventure, magic, and folklore, with a fascinating look into the world of faeries and the academic pursuit of understanding them.

This book, paired with an exploration of British faerie traditions and the Wheel of the Year, offers a fantastic way to delve into the magic of language and culture.

Whether you're an English learner or just a fan of faerie lore, there’s no better way to bring a bit of enchantment to your learning experience, but remember to share your experience with me on Instagram - I love to read your stories.