2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands, the second book in the Emily Wilde series by Heather Fawcett.

Pages: 369 pages

Length: 1 month (December)

Participants: SarahKat, TerryJane, Michelle

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

I'm currently reading another book, but this one is going to be read after! I expect to start reading it halfway through the month.

I'm looking forward to this one! I'm finishing up another book as well. I'll probably start this next week

I will also read this one in the latter part of the month. 🧚‍♀️

I'm starting this today

I'm starting it today!

Through September 20th: (view spoiler)[This started much faster with conflict than the first one did! Wendell has already been poisoned and assassins have come to the school to attempt to kill him.

Also, Farris Rose knows he's a courtly fae and wants him and Emily fired.

The thing I find the most interesting is the stranger with his pockets full of ribbons. We just found out that's how people go into the woods near Fairy doors and stuff so they can tie them around trees and find their way back. Is this guy a human? Very intrigued.

They just got to Austria to follow a lead on Wendell's door. I'm concerned for Ariadne, just because why put a likeable family member side character in the book other than to put her in some sort of peril? (hide spoiler)]

I hope to start tomorrow. I need to finish my current audiobook another before it automatically returns to the library.

Through 4th October: (view spoiler)[This chapter was full of things!

I wish the fight and drama with the horsemen had lasted a little longer. I had to re-read the part where Wendell dispatched them all because I was expecting it to be a much bigger deal. I can tell that all of these battles with various assassins are really taking a toll on him though.

The story Emily found about the birds in his chest are concerning! I wonder if he knows he's dying and that's why he wants her to marry him and is being impatient about it. I don't think his "teasing" is really teasing. I think he somehow really really needs her to. Perhaps marriage will break the curse. (hide spoiler)]

I've just begun the 5th October chapter, so I was able to catch up on your spoilers, SarahKat.

(view spoiler)[I hope you're wrong about Ariadne, but you make a good point. You make me think of those random red shirt characters in the original StarTrek series. Yikes!

I suspect Emily and Wendell's jobs are safe now as far as Farris Rose is concerned, what with Emily's impressive research methods and Wendell's healing work... except for the ear being backward. Oops!

I am enjoying this sequel so far, and look forward to seeing what the second half of the story holds in store. (hide spoiler)]

I am currently on the start of 21st September (p.92).

(view spoiler)[ I do like this book more than the previous one. The previous one took me some getting into because of the language and the names, but this one dove right in and caught my attention.

I'm really intrigued by the guy with the ribbons, though I just learned that the ribbons are used to find the way. So interesting.. What is he doing with Emily? Also intrigued by the other kinds of magic; the suddenly extra bedroom in the house, all the ivy's in Wendell's room.. What's happening here? Is it Wendell losing his magic due to the poison or using his magic? Or something/ someone else at all?

I didn't really feel concerned for Ariadne but now you put it that way, that does seem a bit weird. I'm also curious if we'll see in a change in Rose due to the adventure or not.. we'll see! (hide spoiler)]

I started this book a few days ago, after I finished the 1st book :)

I stayed up to finish this last night. Another 4-star book for me. Yea!

(view spoiler)[I'm so glad that we worried unnecessarily about Ariadne, and about Emily and Wendell's job security. Favor, please. Could one of you reading a print edition please spell out the name of Wendell's wonderful cat? I can't figure it out on audio. (hide spoiler)]

I look forward to the third installment which Is due to be published, I believe, some time in February.

I am currently at 6th of October - late (p.196)

(view spoiler)[ Emily can be a bit irresponsible, thinking Wendell will come and save her if she gets lost in fairy land again. He did, but still. just be a bit more responsible Emily!

I really did like the scene where Emily did go and find the foxy little creatures to go visit Poe and Poe made something that made Wendell feel better. yay for Poe! I hope he keeps coming back in the books.

The huntsman were worrying, hopefully they'll find a way to be safer and not keep being attacked all the time... I'm also curious if they'll actually find the nexus and a door to Wendell's realm. Maybe it's one and the same? (hide spoiler)]

Through 13th October: (view spoiler)[Michelle, I agree! Especially since she knows he's weak from the poison!

I love Poe. I'm so glad he's made an appearance or two so far in this. I'd love to see some fan-art (or real art) of him. But I am always afraid to look up art before I finish a book in case it gives something away.

I like that Emily said she'd marry Wendell. I sure hope she gets the chance! I'm also glad Snowbell is helping them through Wendell's land. (hide spoiler)]

Yes the third book comes out February 11! Do we want to buddy-read it in March maybe?

I finished the book this morning! :)

(view spoiler)[ Everyone is safe indeed. I'm curious if we'll see much of Ariadne in the next book.. The name is Orga in my print book. What does it say on audio?

I am curious how this new gathered army will do in Wendell's realm. I assume the third book will be about overtaking the throne and settling in the realm.

Ohh, fan art of Poe would be brilliant! And Snowbell. I love those two :).

I am also still curious about this poison and the birds that lived inside of Wendell. Just how? And I am curious about Orga. What other magic does she have? I just hope in the next book we learn more about the Faerie world and all its miracles. (hide spoiler)]

I do want to read the third book in March if I can get my hands on it before. I am buying it at the book store in English, but I'm not living in an English speaking country, so sometimes it takes a bit before it's in. I also want the paperback edition preferably because that fits with my other editions. So I'll need to see when I can get my hands on it. If I do before or at the beginning of March, I'll want to buddy ready in March!

It might be ages before one of my libraries offers it in audio format. If they happen to get it when you're reading it, I'll hop in, but don't wait on me.

Finished this morning too! And I found this fan art of Poe! It does not disappoint. https://in.pinterest.com/pin/poe-emil...

(view spoiler)[TerryJane, I'm also curious how Orga is pronounced in the audio.

I'm glad I was wrong about Ariadne as well. I really liked the ending. Everyone is mostly safe but now they have to go take the throne back for Wendell.

I thought the bird poison thing was the most interesting and disturbing thing to imagine. (hide spoiler)]

I won't add the third book then. I doubt the paperback will be out by March and TerryJane you're right library holds will be crazy. I rarely read things when they come out but pre-ordered that one.

SarahKat wrote: "Finished this morning too! And I found this fan art of Poe! It does not disappoint. https://in.pinterest.com/pin/poe-emil..."

I love that Poe art. Fantastic!

I first thought the narrator was saying Auger, then thought maybe Orca. Orga blends the sounds I was hearing through their accents. Thank you!

Please feel free to add book #3 sooner rather than later. You are both buying it and should go ahead and read it once you have it in hand.

Ohh!! Poe made my day. So cute! :)

I'll post it in the buddy read section once I've got it and then we can see if we can read together! :) If you get it earlier or later; that's fine too!

Michelle wrote: "Ohh!! Poe made my day. So cute! :)

I'll post it in the buddy read section once I've got it and then we can see if we can read together! :) If you get it earlier or later; that's fine too!"

Good plan Michelle!

Very nice reading! So enjoyable in this time of year :)
I find it more interesting than the first, as we get to know the main characters better as well. I also liked the (view spoiler)[ descriptions of the different worlds. There are a lot of good ideas in this second book: the poisoning, Emily's feelings, Poe, the dog...to name only a few. That really helps to keep the readers intrigued and hooked, as the story is rather classic in a way. (hide spoiler)] .
Surely will keep an eye on the 3rd when published in 2025!