Cat, Dog, and Doorways

Emily Wilde, a brilliant but socially awkward dryadologist, and her fae companion Wendell, attempt to return a faerie cat, Orga, to Faerie, accompanied by Emily's loyal dog, Shadow. Their journey begins at a magical door on the Greek coast, a portal to Wendell's lost kingdom. The door, one of many scattered across Europe, is both a literal and symbolic threshold—Emily's expertise in faerie lore and her growing relationship with Wendell are about to be tested as they step into a world where logic and time are fluid, and every companion, even a cat or dog, has a role to play in the unfolding story.

Through Faerie's Threshold

Emily and Wendell enter Faerie, specifically Wendell's ancestral kingdom, Where the Trees Have Eyes. The landscape is alive with magic and menace: attentive oaks with thousands of staring eyes, vengeful faerie snails, and shifting geography. Their arrival is not unnoticed—common fae, trolls, fauns, and fox-spirits gather, forming a motley army. Wendell, exiled prince, is both awed and anxious, while Emily's scholarly curiosity is piqued by the realm's strangeness. The pair's bond deepens as they navigate the unpredictable terrain, foreshadowing the trials and transformations to come.

The Kingdom of Eyes

The kingdom is a place of beauty and horror, where every tree watches, and the land itself resists mapping. Emily's observations—her scientific detachment—are challenged by the living, breathing magic of Faerie. The attentive oaks, faerie snails, and other denizens are not just obstacles but symbols of the kingdom's fractured state. Wendell's magic grows stronger as he leads Emily through sunlit meadows and shadowed groves, but the threat of his stepmother, the usurping queen, looms. The kingdom's instability mirrors the uncertainty in Emily and Wendell's relationship and the larger question of who is fit to rule.

Perilous Paths and Allies

Emily and Wendell strategize about reclaiming the throne. They debate the possible contenders—Wendell's stepmother, her half-brother Lord Taran, and other faerie nobles. Wendell's lack of political experience is exposed, and Emily's role as both scholar and reluctant queen-in-waiting becomes clear. The pair's army of fae creatures, each with their own agendas, reflects the complexity of faerie alliances. The narrative explores the tension between mortal logic and faerie caprice, and the necessity of trust and adaptability in a world where stories shape reality.

The Battleground's Aftermath

Emily and Wendell investigate a recent battleground, finding evidence of magical conflict—will-o'-the-wisps, enchanted staircases, and the absence of bodies. The nature of faerie death is mysterious; courtly fae seem to vanish rather than leave remains. Lord Taran appears, a figure of ancient power and ambiguous loyalty. His presence is both a threat and a source of crucial information. The encounter underscores the dangers of Faerie, the unpredictability of its denizens, and the necessity for Emily and Wendell to prove themselves—both to their allies and to the land itself.

Swords, Oaths, and Cloaks

Lord Taran challenges Wendell to a duel, bound by an ancient oath to only allow a ruler stronger than the previous king. The swordfight is fierce, but Wendell is outmatched until Emily's enchanted cloak—stitched with a fragment of the Veil, a realm of death—turns the tide. Wendell exploits the loophole in Taran's oath, proving his worth not by martial strength but by cleverness and craft. The episode highlights the power of stories, the importance of interpretation, and the way mortals can subvert faerie rules through wit and scholarship.

The Return of the King

Wendell and Emily, now joined by their faerie army, approach the castle. They don enchanted garments—Wendell's cloak is alive and hungry, Emily's is stitched with starlight. Their arrival is theatrical, designed to inspire awe and fear. The courtly fae, common fae, and mortals gather to witness the return of the exiled king. The ritual of smashing mirrors marks the end of the old queen's reign and the beginning of Wendell's. Yet, beneath the celebration, Emily feels the weight of expectation and the strangeness of her new role.

A Scholar's Dilemma

Emily, now queen, is overwhelmed by the demands of court life and the expectations of the Folk. She meets Niamh Proudfit, a mortal scholar who has survived decades in Faerie, and Callum, a mortal consort. Their presence offers comfort and perspective, but also a warning: Faerie is perilous for mortals, and power can corrupt. Emily's scholarly instincts drive her to investigate the politics and stories of the realm, but she is haunted by doubts about her ability to rule and the cost of her choices.

The Curse Spreads

Wendell's stepmother, Queen Arna, has poisoned the land with a curse that spreads like a sickness, twisting trees and killing fae. The only way to heal the realm, according to faerie stories, is through the death of the reigning monarch. Emily's research in Dublin uncovers the tale of King Macan's Bees, a story that eerily parallels their predicament. The curse's inexorable advance forces Emily and Wendell to confront the possibility of sacrifice and the limits of mortal and faerie power.

The Macan Pattern

Emily, aided by fellow scholars, pieces together the fragmented story of King Macan's Bees: a usurped king, a vengeful curse, and the necessity of finding the old king's secret refuge. The tale becomes both a guide and a warning—stories in Faerie are not just entertainment but blueprints for reality. Emily and Wendell follow the clues, interrogating servants and seeking the help of a boggart, whose knowledge and conditions for aid reflect the ambiguous morality of Faerie. The line between scholarship and survival blurs.

The Boggart's Clue

The boggart, a shapeshifting fae with ancient ties to Wendell's family, provides the final clue: Queen Arna's hideout is an island on Silverlily Lake, hidden by enchantment. The journey to the island is fraught with magical obstacles—snails, thorns, and shifting paths. Emily and Wendell's partnership is tested as they navigate the literal and metaphorical waters of Faerie, relying on both logic and intuition to reach the heart of the curse.

The Lake's Hidden Isle

On the hidden island, Emily and Wendell find Queen Arna, who takes her own life rather than be killed by her stepson. The curse, however, is not lifted—Arna's suicide subverts the story's pattern, forcing Wendell to sacrifice himself to save the realm. In a moment of horror and inevitability, Wendell drives a dagger into his chest, and Emily is flung away by the magic of the attentive oaks. The kingdom is healed, but Wendell is lost to the Veil, the realm of death.

Sacrifice and the Veil

Emily is consumed by grief and guilt, convinced she has led Wendell to his doom. The kingdom mourns, and the lines between life and death blur. Emily's scholarly instincts drive her to seek a way to rescue Wendell, inspired by stories of mortals who journey into the underworld. With the help of the oíche sidhe housekeeper and her loyal dog, Shadow, she finds the door in Wendell's shadow and sends the faerie servant into the Veil to retrieve him. Against all odds, Wendell is restored to life, but the cost and meaning of this miracle remain uncertain.

Grief, Ghosts, and Hope

Wendell's return is met with celebration and disbelief. Emily, however, is haunted by the unresolved story—Queen Arna's fate in the Veil, the pattern of vengeance and madness that threatens to repeat. The kingdom is restored, but the danger of falling into the same cycle as King Macan the Second looms. Emily's research and intuition tell her that the story is not yet over, and that true healing requires more than the defeat of an enemy.

A Mortal's Rescue

Determined to change the story, Emily embarks on a perilous journey to rescue Queen Arna from the Veil, enlisting the help of Poe, the Ljosland brownie, and the terrifying Hidden king. She braves the wasteland of the Veil, facing monstrous creatures and the limits of her own courage, and brings Arna back to the mortal world. The act of mercy and defiance breaks the pattern of vengeance, offering the possibility of a new story for the kingdom and its rulers.

The Queen's Return

Emily returns to Faerie with Arna, who renounces her claim to the throne and accepts a humble life in exile. Wendell, moved by Emily's courage and the wisdom of mercy, forgives his stepmother and allows her to live. The court and the common fae witness the transformation, and the kingdom begins to heal—not just from the curse, but from the deeper wounds of pride, vengeance, and isolation. Emily's scholarship and humanity reshape the narrative of Faerie.

Forgiveness and Restoration

With the cycle of vengeance broken, Emily and Wendell turn their attention to building a new order in the kingdom. They invite mortals and common fae onto the Council, challenge old hierarchies, and seek to understand the true nature of Faerie through stories and scholarship. Emily's role as queen is redefined—not as a figurehead or a conqueror, but as a bridge between worlds, a teller and changer of tales. The kingdom's future is uncertain, but hope and possibility have returned.

New Beginnings, Old Stories

Emily and Wendell, now truly partners in life and rule, prepare to travel the kingdom, gathering stories and seeking understanding. Emily's scholarship is not just a tool for survival, but a means of transformation—her compendium of lost tales becomes a living map of Faerie's past, present, and future. The narrative ends with the promise of new adventures, the enduring power of love and curiosity, and the lesson that stories—like kingdoms and hearts—can be remade.

Characters

Emily Wilde

Emily is a dryadologist whose expertise in faerie lore is matched only by her social awkwardness and relentless curiosity. She is fiercely independent, skeptical, and driven by a desire to understand the unknown. Her relationship with Wendell is both a source of strength and vulnerability—she is drawn to his magic and charm, but fears the loss of her own identity. Emily's journey is one of transformation: from observer to participant, from scholar to queen, from skeptic to believer in the power of stories to shape reality. Her compassion, intellect, and willingness to challenge tradition make her a catalyst for change in both Faerie and the mortal world.

Wendell (Prince Liath)

Wendell is the last surviving heir to the Silva Lupi, a faerie kingdom of beauty and terror. Exiled by his murderous stepmother, he has lived among mortals, adopting the persona of a charming, indolent academic. Beneath his wit and glamour lies a deep longing for home, a capacity for both kindness and violence, and a profound ignorance of politics and power. Wendell's development is marked by his growing acceptance of responsibility, his willingness to trust Emily, and his struggle to reconcile faerie nature with mortal love. His resurrection and forgiveness of his stepmother signal a break from the cycles of vengeance that have defined his family.

Queen Arna

Wendell's stepmother and the story's primary antagonist, Arna is a half-mortal, half-fae queen whose ambition and cunning have left the kingdom in chaos. Her curse, born of spite and a desire for control, threatens to destroy everything. Yet, beneath her villainy lies a deep sense of alienation and pain—her actions are shaped by her outsider status and the traumas of faerie politics. Arna's journey from power to exile, from vengeance to humility, is both a warning and a hope: that even the most broken can change, and that mercy is sometimes the greatest magic.

Lord Taran

Taran is Wendell's uncle, a faerie lord of immense age and power, bound by oaths and a complex web of loyalties. He is both ally and adversary, testing Wendell's worth through violence and cunning. Taran's psychoanalysis reveals a being who has seen too much, grown bored with the cycles of faerie life, and finds meaning only in love and the rare spark of novelty. His relationship with Callum, a mortal consort, humanizes him, but his capacity for cruelty remains ever-present. Taran embodies the dangers and possibilities of faerie immortality.

Shadow

Emily's dog, Shadow, is more than a pet—he is a grim, a faerie hound with the power to traverse worlds and sense the presence of death. Shadow's unwavering loyalty and courage provide emotional ballast for Emily, especially in moments of grief and peril. His role in rescuing Wendell from the Veil underscores the importance of love, instinct, and the bonds that transcend magic.

Orga

Orga is a cat-sidhe, a faerie cat whose loyalty is as unpredictable as her magic. She is both a source of comic relief and a symbol of the wild, untamable aspects of Faerie. Orga's relationship with Shadow and Wendell reflects the complexities of faerie companionship—affection, rivalry, and the refusal to be owned.

Niamh Proudfit

Niamh is a mortal dryadologist who has survived decades in Faerie, serving as scribe and advisor to multiple monarchs. Her experience, pragmatism, and warmth make her a mentor to Emily and a bridge between mortal and faerie worlds. Niamh's presence is a reminder that survival in Faerie requires both adaptability and a strong sense of self.

Callum Thomas

Callum is a mortal who has endured the horrors of the Silva Lupi, finding love with Lord Taran and a place in the court. His trauma, compassion, and quiet strength offer a counterpoint to the more flamboyant fae. Callum's story is one of endurance, the search for justice, and the possibility of healing even in the darkest places.

The Oíche Sidhe Housekeeper

The head of the oíche sidhe, the night housekeepers, is a figure of humility and hidden power. His loyalty to Wendell, willingness to risk everything, and ability to move unseen make him an unsung hero of the story. He represents the strength of the common fae and the importance of those who work in the shadows.

Poe

Poe is a Ljosland brownie whose friendship with Emily and Wendell is marked by generosity, oddity, and a deep connection to the magic of place. His role as a guide, baker, and key-holder to the winterlands is both practical and symbolic—Poe embodies the unexpected gifts and wisdom that come from the margins of Faerie.

Plot Devices

Stories as Prophecy and Blueprint

The narrative is structured around the idea that stories in Faerie are not just entertainment but living blueprints—prophecies, traps, and tools for survival. Emily's scholarship becomes a means of navigating and subverting these stories, but also a source of danger when the patterns become self-fulfilling. The tale of King Macan's Bees is both a guide and a warning, its details echoing and shaping the events of the present. This device blurs the line between narrative and reality, forcing characters to question agency, fate, and the possibility of change.

Dual Worlds and Doorways

Physical and metaphorical doorways abound—between mortal and faerie realms, life and death, past and present. The instability of these portals reflects the instability of identity, power, and love. The act of crossing a threshold is always transformative, and the ability to find or create a door is a mark of agency and hope.

Sacrifice and Resurrection

The motif of sacrifice—Wendell's willingness to die for his kingdom, Emily's journey into the Veil—underscores the story's exploration of love, loss, and the possibility of renewal. Resurrection is not a simple reversal but a passage through grief, change, and the breaking of old patterns. The cost of magic is real, and the return from death is always marked by difference.

Mortal Logic vs. Faerie Caprice

Emily's scientific, rational approach is constantly challenged by the illogic and unpredictability of Faerie. The interplay between mortal logic and faerie caprice drives much of the plot, forcing characters to adapt, compromise, and find new ways of understanding. The resolution comes not from the triumph of one worldview over the other, but from their integration—scholarship and story, reason and wonder.

Council and Community

The formation of a new Council, including mortals and common fae, represents a break from the old hierarchies of Faerie. The device of shared governance, however flawed, is both a practical and symbolic gesture towards healing and inclusivity. The story suggests that true power lies not in domination but in connection, humility, and the willingness to listen.

Analysis

Heather Fawcett's Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales is a masterful exploration of the interplay between story and reality, scholarship and magic, love and power. Through Emily's eyes, we see that Faerie is not just a place of wonder and danger, but a living narrative—one that can trap or liberate, depending on how it is read and retold. The novel interrogates the costs of vengeance, the possibility of forgiveness, and the necessity of breaking old cycles to create new futures. Emily's journey from observer to participant, from scholar to queen, is both a

Last updated: June 12, 2025