I was really excited for this book. I love the traditional mischievous faeries and thought this was a fun concept. I didn’t mind the journal format because it really just read as Emily telling you the story herself. It’s a bit stiff and academic (as you might anticipate), especially at first, but it has a lot of time where the narration is candid and casual.

Emily bothered me quite a lot in the first half - what do you mean she’s essentially an anthropologist (just of fae), but she essentially is scared to TALK to people. It pushed the “introverted academic” thing a bit too hard for me. Her job is field work, she should be used to talking to locals about their area’s lore. Once Wendall shows up, she loosens up and that fixes the issue though.

Speaking of Wendall, he is my FAVORITE. He’s such a good character.

The description of the faerie world and various creatures she finds and talks to are so fun and they really make the story. 

I like this more in retrospect, but it is definitely worth the read.