I really enjoyed this book!! I think I was put off reading it for so long because it's described as a romantasy, which isn't my favourite genre, but tbh I'd say the fantasy element comes first, and the (very slow-burn) romance second. 

Ultimately it's about Em, a professor who finds it easier to deal with the fae than humans (and is very likely autistic) who comes to a remote Nordic island to research the regional fae for her book. What she doesn't expect is for an unexpected guest to join her who actually (although she'd begrudgingly admit it) helps her along as she connects with the people and fae there. 

I enjoyed all the lore and fae elements of this book, and I thought it was well written. 

One thing that annoyed me a little though is why not just call this place Iceland? That is essentially where it is, and I know this is an alternate world with some differences to ours - but London and Wales still exists, so why not Iceland? As someone with an interest in the Huldufolk (the hidden ones) and Icelandic heritage, I would have liked it to be more firmly rooted there. However I understand why it isn't called Iceland - since the fae (despite the name) are different to the Icelandoc Huldufolk, and are more a culmination of Nordic and European legends and 

I actually did enjoy Em and Wendells romance though. I like that she was the same grumpy and difficult person the whole time and that he didn't try to change her - he loved that about her. They understood each other in a way not many others do and I thought that was quietly beautiful.

Overall though this was a good read, a great way to start off the new year, and I'm interested to give the second one a try too.