No one finds Faerie unless they are lost.Living on the edge of the enchanted woods, Niamh often loses herself among the trees in search of food. Though her body bears reminders of a night long ago when monstrous hounds broke from those lands, she has not since glimpsed the fair folk, nor heard a whisper of their lovely, treacherous songs.
Until she finds a litter of helpless fae kittens where the mortal trees end, and signs of the hounds begin appearing in her little village.
Seeking answers, Niamh discovers a long-abandoned library hiding just beyond the eternal trees—and comes face to face with one of the noble folk. This strange fae lord appears more interested in friendship than trapping Niamh within Faerie, but it soon becomes clear he is not only gravely injured, but desperate to remain undiscovered.
She cannot help but wonder if he, hiding among his dusty books, is the very reason the hounds have returned.
The Wind and the Wild is part of the The Keepers of Faerie, a series of stand alone fae fantasy romances featuring an interconnected world but focusing on individual couples, often rather cozy in nature, high on tension and low on spice, and sometimes sprinkled with retellings of faery tales.
Though these books are categorized as Adult fantasy, they have low to no swearing, and all “spicy” scenes are fade to black or written with a focus on emotions rather than details, and are therefore generally appropriate for a Young Adult audience as well.
Emily McCosh is a graphic designer, writer of strange things, and daydreamer extraordinaire. She currently lives in California with her two parents, two dogs, one fish, one tree swing, and innumerable characters who need to learn some manners. Her fiction has appeared in Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Shimmer Magazine, Galaxy’s Edge, Flash Fiction Online, Nature: Futures, and elsewhere.
Find her online on her writing and bookish YouTube channel, website where she sometimes blogs, and Instagram full of sappy poetry.
DNF around 10% As soon as she ran past her father on her way into the stables but then ran up to him inside a stall further into the stables, I knew I couldn’t handle this one. Lots of inconsistencies in terms of amounts of hands to do things and where people are at any time. The writing is just not great and I, personally, struggle to push past it. I’ve heard great things about the story so if you think you can close your eyes and pretend you do not see, then go for it.
This was my first book by Emily McCosh. I backed it on Kickstarter, intrigued by the promise of a healthy romance, no smut, and Howl’s Moving Castle vibes (what hopeless romantic wouldn’t be?). Overall, I think the book delivered on its promises. The romance had tension, it was cozy and enjoyable, but I unfortunately found myself a bit bored toward the end.
Here are my main points of critique, things that could’ve elevated the book into a little masterpiece for me if handled differently:
Unrealistic behavior around Faerie dangers
For a village so close to the dangerous world of Faerie, it didn’t make sense how carelessly the characters acted about shouting names. Niamh also came dangerously close to saying her friend’s name in front of a fae multiple times. One would think they’d be much more cautious.
Aidyn’s family dynamic felt too easy
Aidyn’s gentle nature, contrasted with the harshness of the Faerie world, was set up well and made sense within the story. His curiosity toward Niamh as the first human he’s met was believable. However, the ending undermined this setup for me.
Repetitive plot structure
While the concept was engaging, the execution felt a bit repetitive. The cycle of talking in the library, then in the village, and back again lacked variety. Either shortening the plot or adding more scenes to deepen the world building could have added more depth and momentum.
Overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere of the book. The danger of Faerie was there, and the sense of foreboding kept me on my toes with all the foreshadowing. But despite the frequent threats Niamh faced, she became comfortable far too quickly in my opinion. Her friends, who were described as even more fearful, also let their guard down too fast by the end. While I understand this is meant to be cozy fantasy, I felt the story needed a bit more relative realism in the details to fully immerse me in the world.
The Wind and The Wild is an enchanting read. The lyrical prose is delightful and the atmosphere is magical, very fitting for a sweet, faerie love story. I love Niamh’s friendship with Niall and Una. The three of them have the sweetest bond. Aidyn and Niamh’s relationship progresses naturally throughout the story and it is so sweet to watch their trust and feelings grow along the way. Faerie is suitably alluring and frightening. The Library at the Edge of Faerie sounds like my absolute dream! As a side note, I am very curious about Emma’s backstory but also enjoy the mystery. 😉
Content: -mention of couples making love -two characters undress and sex is implied but not described -non-descriptive kissing -some description of injuries/wounds -danger/fear/attacks from faerie monsters
3.75 it was cute and cozy. I found the writing kind of awkward and felt like some words were not properly used. some of the writing was confusing as well where I had to reread and still not understand what was happening.
I am so pleased I was able to get the kickstarter for this wonderful, cozy story.
With a Howl's Moving Castle essence, wonderful displays of friendship and familial love, and a sweet friendship turned into a sweeter love, this was the exact escape I was looking for.
Emily's writing is evocative, easily pulling you into to the world of Nevyan and Faerie until you think you feel the trill of its magic yourself and I greatly enjoyed the quieter, softer side of the fae.
Niamh is delightfully contradictory in her worry over upsetting the fae and wilfully ignoring her own warnings, and I love her for it.
I am most pleased to learn there will be more books of the type and look forward to discovering more about the fair folk of Faerie.
If you could catch summer in a jar like fireflies, that is The Wind and the Wild. Niamh is adorable. Aidyn is everything. This book is so cozy. Basically, I just want to live here. LET ME LIVE HERE. Let me live on the outskirts of Faerie with my bsf, a family of close knit villagers, and my reclusive fae boyfriend!
I loved this so much. I devoured it over a Sunday afternoon and the following Monday evening after work.
It definitely could have used a bit more editing. There are a couple of scenes with the "too many hands" problem, or where something was inconsistent. For example, early in the book, the FMC runs past her dad into the barn, but then he's already there in the barn brushing the horse in the stall. There's another where she's tending to the MMC's wound on his back, sitting on the counter while he sits on a stool in front of her, but then he "slides off the counter." There were some other instances, but it didn't detract much from the work. It would usually bother me more, but I was just kind of enthralled.
The book is cozy. There's no spice or spicy language, if that's a draw for people. Having much of the story take place in a crumbling fae library is an immediate "yes, thank you" from me. The stakes are overall pretty low.
I really loved so many of the characters, though. Often we're told about a main character's dear childhood friend, but we don't really SEE that in their relationship. You absolutely feel how much Niamh and her friends Una and Niall love each other. Una and Niall are in love but are fiercely protective of Niamh, often brushing aside their own fears to support her. They're affectionate in every sense of the word, grasping hands as a show of silent support, holding each other casually, kissing each other on the cheek to show appreciation. I was absolutely smitten with the portrayal of their lifelong friendship, with how Una and Niall were as close to her, and cherished her, as a sister and brother.
I enjoyed the slow development of Niamh and Aidyn's relationship. The book is overall somewhat slow for its 500ish pages. As a mood reader, this does not always appeal to me, but when I picked this book up, it was honestly just what I needed at the time. I think there's a certain magic in that. c:
I do wish we had a bit more information about Aidyn's life before the library, or about his home. We did get to meet some of his family to resolve that specific plot point, but I wish there had been more time spent on that than some other things.
Still, this is a sweet little comfort read, and I'm always appreciative of finding a good standalone.
Bonus: Two recipes at the end of the book, which look easy and which I fully intend to make at some point.
I have never read a book by Emily that was bad. This was my absolute favorite. If there ever was an award for cosy fantasy, this deserves it.
I loved the writing and how well it fit the story. Flowery when it counted and then not when it mattered. I love when the authors write like this and allows the readers to figure things out. I wasnt spoon fed the information and in no way did I ever guess what was going to happen. Except for who Dauna was. And I was very proud of myself.
Niamh was a very believable character. She has fears that were not just immediately solved in the presence of a man. She was strong and grew and faced the challenges. I really enjoyed walking with her. I thought being in her head was the perfect viewpoint and made so much sense.
Aidyn was just as much a delight. He also had his fears and doubts and did what he could to open up and to face them. I loved how supportive and just joyful he was.
And I friggin LOVE how Emily writes men and relationships. I have marked this review with spoilers, so consider yourself warned. But the way Aidyn and his father just melted into each other and now his father was so gentle to his adult son. Perfection. This is the masculinity we need. The same with the tenderness in Under the Earth. Just so sweet and so enduring.
Anyways, I love this author and would read her books even if was a cookbook.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I am nothing if not a sucker for Howl's Moving Castle, so how this book was presented to me was right up my alley. I backed this book on kickstarter without thinking twice.
Overall I enjoyed the story, but there were just a couple of things bothering me about the book. I think some things slipped through the editing of this book. Some situations didn't make a lot of sense in terms of continuity. Some spelling mistakes and sentences that just didn't make sense in the book just threw me off.
Also the story was quite slow, which really gave the feeling it just dragged on and on, in the end I was eager to finish it. I think a little bit of condensing would have helped in my enjoyment and helped it feel less repetitive in some parts.
Lastly, Niamh was so stupid sometimes, as well as the rest of het village. When not saying names is so important around fae, they kept doing it. Even when it was clear that fae could be around and invisible and during midsummer when there certainly were fae creatures around, people would not stop calling each other by name. This just didn't make sense to me. It felt like this village and especially Niamh had absolutely zero sense of self preservation.
Overall, if you like cozy fantasy this still is worth giving it a try, and the kickstarter hardback is absolutely beautiful.
emily mccosh is growing into a top five author for me, so the bar was high and while this wasn’t nearly as strong as her other work, i still had a lovely time reading this. the story is cozy and full of warmth. friends who adore each other, a brooding but sweet love interest (aidyn 💖), endless scenes of food, libraries, and faery woods. but it’s also incredibly repetitive (“snort” appears over sixty times kill me) and strangely hand holdy for mccosh. i found myself craving the lyrical prose i’ve come to expect from her. not her strongest, but still comforting and totally worth revisiting when i want something soft and familiar.
'into the night' was one of the best chapters she’s ever written and i was gagged
🌶️: fade to black 💖: caretaking/nursing back to health, found family, friends to lovers, gods and mortals, mutual pining, one bed, secret relationship, slow burn
I don't generally pick up romance novels anymore as I feel too old and yeah, jaded. But my daughter recommended it and we generally have taste. Although in this instance we truly differed. She loved it because of the richness of words weaving a magic of the spell Emily Mccosh wove. The magical world building around Niamh whose life it seems revolved around living at the edge of Fae lands forest. But it became such monotonous tripe as Niamh struggled with her inner most self... will she or won't she go back to see the dangerous Fae man again... when you know that she's gonna do it. It takes two to tango! I tried really hard to finish the book, but I was so bored, it just couldn't hold my attention. And after reading 275 pages I admitted my defeat. Not even gettin to the jucy parts... if there were any.
I found the author on TikTok and thought this sounded interesting. It started off slow, a touch repetitive, but I got engrossed by chapter three!!
“Are you apologizing to a book?”
I love that it’s a jump-scare sort of introduction to our mmc. Our mfc is adorable and cautious, while being daring and adventurous.
Picturing it is difficult—I can barely imagine Aidyn perfectly when I am not before him, as if such a strange creature is not meant to be remembered by the mind of a simple human girl.
What an excellent way to capture the inhuman-ness of the fae. I love this - that they can’t be fully remembered when one isn’t within Faerie.
The ending was adorable. The family reunion. The dance at the very end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was a cute story. I really liked the setting, and I enjoyed all of the characters. Her close friends are kind and understanding, but also very worried for MC. Despite that, they're totally on her side, no matter what. The romance is slow burn, and also closed door. There's some kissing but it's totally appropriate for a YA audience.
Other reviews have mentioned some editorial inconsistencies, so it could've used a bit more polish. The plot doesn't have a clear goal or a clear beginning/middle/end, and it's very slice-of-life for probably half the book. I still liked it, but those may be reasons that put people off.
The kickstarter physical copy is beautiful and I'm very glad to have it as a shelf trophy ❤️
The story is captivating, the characters are fascinating and believable, and the creatures are both horrific and amazing. I loved this book so much I bought it as soon as I finished reading it in KU, so that I could reread it. After reading McCosh's sci fi series, In Dying Starlight, which I also love, I had high hopes for this book, and I was not disappointed. Niamh is a great narrator: caring, adventurous, a little crazy, and totally lovable. This version of Faerie is unique and interesting, as well as a little terrifying. All in all, The Wind and the Wild is a wonderful adventure.
"He merely cocks his head. "What is it like?" "What?" "Being able to lie. What is it like?"
Emily McCosh has become a staple for a comforting, fantasy read. Having enjoyed 'Under the Earth, Over the Sky', I was excited to venture back into Irish mythology, in a warm, slow-burn romance on the edge of Faerie woodland. 'The Wind and the Wild fulfilled this promise, with wholesome, charming protagonists; cosy world-building; warm lexis and imagery; cherry-picked, well-executed tropes; and satisfying character arcs.
I actually really enjoyed this read. I had bought this book as part of a Kickstarter then got nervous other reviews and how much they didn't like it or the world building and things but I enjoyed it for what it was. I was a bit confused about the plot, of like where thongs were going but it turned out quite nicely. then again, I'm surprised with the plot along with the main characters in any book I read so...maybe it's a good thing? I wish there was more to building of relationships, or even have a few more books to watch them all grow, but it was still very enjoyable
I participated in the Kickstarter for this novel and let me tell you, this is a truly lovely book! I loved the build up of Niamh and Aidyn’s relationship from tentatively polite to actual friends and then to being in love. The imagery of the village, the woods and the library was just so vivid and I was so engrossed in the story. I read this in one sitting! If you love well developed slow burn romances, cozy fantasy settings, and well written characters, give this book a try!
My second fae book from McCosh and I loved how different it is from her previous one in terms of writing style and characters!
This story had a really nice slow burn romance against the slow paced plot, which made the building climax very worthwhile. I loved learning little snippets of the Fae world through Niamh's perspective and the relationships she had fostered.
Can't wait to read more standalones in the series!
I devoured this book. I’m so upset that we won’t see more of Niamh and Aidyn’s story for I love these two so very much 😭 These are the types of characters I’ve been begging to see in books like these. Gentle and kind souls who aren’t walking red flags or annoying girl bosses! A simple but beautiful story is sometimes all that we need. The art was gorgeous as well and I loved stumbling upon them each time I finished a part in the story. The little faerie side characters were lovely (I love it when authors stick to real life folklore about faeries).
The only reason I’m giving this book four stars (though very close to five) is because I would’ve loved to see more of Niamh and Aidyn’s interactions. Other than that, I have no complaints!
This took me a long time to read, maybe due to pacing, maybe due to ADHD. The writing style made it hard to get through and took me several chapters to get used to.
I liked the slow progression of possible-enemies to lovers. I liked her friendships with Una and Niall. I liked the kittens and fae creatures
Don't we all wish to be able to have some experience in Faerie. That's why we all read books about them, to experience the magic.
I did get lost at times trying to figure out who was talking and imagining the scenes and what the different fae looked like, but I did enjoy the book. I didn't tear through the book like some reviewers but it is a book to just enjoy.
Def new favorite, it’s so nice to see healthy relationships and pining and everything else wrapped up pretty in a good plot and amazing characters. I love Una and Niall so much, and I didn’t want the book to end… def recommend!
I set out with high expectations and ended up being mostly bored? The start is very strong but the middle of the book dragged on a lot… I will give this author another chance, but this should have been shorter. I feel like if it had the pacing would have been better.
This book is spellbinding. I quickly got lost in the subtle sweet love story. The FMC is fierce in all the best ways without being abrasive. The MMC is curious and kind without being a pushover.
Very similar in writing style to Emily Lloyd-Jones’ books, though Jones is influenced by Welsh mythology and the Wind and the Wild is very distinctly Irish-influenced. Overall, a lovely read, charming characters.
A cozy, atmospheric fantasy romance taking place on the border between a small village and the mysterious woods of Faerie. I enjoyed both the romance and familial aspects of this book very much, as well as the magical nature of the setting and all the faerie creatures. Though it was a bit slow and the writing could be overly repetitive at times, I will definitely continue reading this author's work.
Creative, sweet, and delightful well-written fairytale. Characters are well developed. The plot is imaginative. I’m checking out more of the author’s books.