What I loved: the slow burn was great, and an enjoyable "enemies to lovers". I appreciated that Bristol wasn't made out to be perfect from the beginning, but had to earn her skills and friendships. I loved the relationship with her sisters, and am looking forward to seeing where that might go in the next book.


What I didn't love: the very abrupt ending. I also feel the plot and characters weren't quite fully delivered, I can't really tell the difference between most of the side characters. Also, for a long book, I don't feel much happened. Hopefully book 2 will flesh out the characters more, and I am keen to see where the story goes.

The Courting Of Bristol Keats
Mary E. Pearson

“It’s like he doesn’t want to lose sight of a poisonous serpent, but wants to keep a safe distance too.”

I was enchanted by this read.

“And we need answers. What if they come for us next? We can’t run forever, Cat. Don’t you want to stop running too?”

This is a thrilling romantic fantasy full of mysterious and dangerous fae, dark secrets and addictive romance.

‘But here there was a certain ruthless need for relationships. Be friendly in return for help. It was more of a cool business deal than a friendship, but maybe it was one way to grow a friendship, the deeper kind where intimacies were shared.’

Bristol Keats and her sisters struggle to stay afloat after losing their parents. Bristol receives letters saying they have an Aunt eager to help and is sceptical, never having heard of additional family. Reluctantly Bristol agrees to meet and discovers a whole new world and that absolutely everything she knew about her family is a lie.

“Because brothers and admissions are boring, and secrets are infinitely more entertaining.”

Bristol makes a fae bargain to journey to a land of gods and fae and monsters. Pulled into the dangerous world of magic and intrigue, she will quickly learn nothing is as it seems.

“This is not a dalliance,” he whispered, and then he was gone.’

I was expecting it to end at a more precarious place but still eagerly anticipating the next book. I have questions!!! And want more.

“Pay no attention to the chinwag of court. Gossip is a favourite pastime of the idle.”

This is the first book in a duology.

‘Or was it just common, everyday hope? Maybe hope was mortal magic. She would take either kind.’

(Review posted 1st December 2024).

Wow. This book was so hard to put down. I finished it in the span of around 4 days, I believe. I am not okay. The Courting of Bristol Keats really is reminiscent of Cruel Prince and A Feather So Black, in the best ways possible. In the realm of gods, fae, and monsters, the story begins when Bristol Keats, the indomitable protector of her sisters, learns that her family history is steeped in secrets and letters from a mysterious ‘aunt’ lead Bristol to a revelation that shatters her reality: her father was not killed but kidnapped, whisked away to the magical faerie realm. Determined to rescue him, Bristol embarks on a journey that pulls her into a dangerous and seductive world of faes, questionable alliances and of course, forbidden-ish romance (unbeknownst to Bristol).

First we have Bristol, I love her. Then, we have Tyghan, a fae king with the biggest trauma and trust issues. Then we have Tyghan’s entire court whom, with the exception of Eris (and another side character I completely forgot the name of but is assigned as Bristol’s ‘bodyguard’) annoyed the hell out of me and I lowkey sorta hated them all because of how they treated Bristol in certain parts of the book. I adored Eris and Tyghan though, and Bristol too. Bristol is sharp-witted, fiercely loyal, and steadfast in her moral convictions, with her fiery personality matched only by Tyghan’s brooding intensity. Haunted by betrayal and trauma, Tyghan’s calculated pragmatism and emotional scars make him a layered, fascinating counterpart. Their chemistry is electric, and their interaction crackles with so much sexual tension and unspoken longing that I was constantly yelling in my head for them to JUST FCK ALREADY. If you’re in the mood for some sizzling romance with a peppering of tender vulnerability, then you’re in for a treat besties.

I also absolutely fricking loved that horse. I never knew how entertaining a horse’s POV could be. I feel like Bristol’s perspective, with the occasional interludes from Tyghan and other characters’ POV, provides fresh angles on the narrative and builds suspense without ever feeling overcomplicated. I usually don’t tend to enjoy books with more than 3 POVS but this book did it SO well. I also think that Pearson balances action, intrigue, and emotional depth with finesse. From deadly bargains to moments of humor and poignancy, the story leaves no emotional stone unturned. Beyond the plot and characters, the world-building was so vividly rendered, with the landscapes and power dynamics pulsing with life and whimsy. My only criticism would be that ‘Elphame’ is literally a copy and paste of ‘Elfhame’ and I feel like it draws too many parallels to The Cruel Prince’s ‘Elfhame’ that it almost felt like I was reading a fanfiction of The Cruel Prince? Idk, maybe that’s just me and my weird brain though. I loved the book nonetheless, and I feel that this book’s greatest achievement lies in its ability to captivate and surprise at every turn. There was so much great balance between action, romance and the pacing just felt great to me! The end did feel slightly rushed because I honestly didn’t even feel like the ending was an ending?? I wouldn’t call it a cliffhanger either... it sorta just... ended?

Despite its flaws, I absolutely devoured this; the romance the world of the fae, TYGHAN and the spice!!!! A truly beautiful start to a promising romantasy, this is a must-read for fans of this genre! I need book two please!

Tropes to Love:

-Hate to Love?
-Grumpy, broody Fae MMC
-Spicy (LOVED IT)
-Whimsical worldbuilding
-Lyrical prose but also extremely addictive and easy to read
-Slow burn romance

DNF @ 30%

I always feel guilty for DNFing arcs, but if I'm not vibing with a book with almost 600 pages, I sure as hell cannot keep pushing myself. I was quite excited to read this, but the pacing just didn't work for me. The magic system couldn't hold my interest for long. I might give this a second chance when I'm in the right mindset, but I don't see that happening anytime soon.

This book was amazing and I adored it so much! I hadn't read any Mary E Pearson books before this but I now get why everyone is obsessed with her 💖

This book is the first in a duology and follows Bristol Keats, whose parents have both recently died, when the fae show up on her doorstep and want to take her to Elphame as they believe that she has the power to control portals. Although she is initially resistant to this, when Bristol discovers the her father might actually be alive and in Elphame, she agrees to go with them and discover if she does have magic, however she is unaware of her family's messy history with the fae.

I really loved the writing and Bristol's characterisation was so good - she was such an enjoyable MC and I loved reading from her respective. The second largest POV is that of her love interest, Tyghan, who is your standard blend of torturted, grumpy, brooding fae love interest, but the way he melted for Bristol and grew as person was really great to read. I do understand some of the critique of the romance - it is beautifully slow burn for the first 40-50% and then dives into smut a bit abruptly - but this is an almost 600 page book so it does take them over 300 pages to get together and given how fast paced the last part of the book is I dont hate how the romance was paced and I loved reading about their pining just as much as them being in a relationship together.

Although the two main POVs of the book are Bristol and Tyghan, this is a multi POV book - which I really enjoyed as the occasional extra POVs really gave a chance to explore and grow the side characters and the world. There are a few POVs from animals or sentient objects which I understand why some people wouldn't like but honestly this made the book richer for me and I really liked this. This is a difference from your standard YA or romantasy but I thought it worked well. I also really enjoyed the world - the whimsical, politically complex, and magical depictions of the fae very much give the Cruel Prince vibes.

I've seen some people complain about the pacing being a bit slow but maybe because I listened to the audiobook the pacing wasn't an issue at all for me. If I was to critique anything it would be that that I wished that there had been a bit more action and plot movement at the very end but everything is set up and ready to kick off at the start of book 2 - The Last Wish of Bristol Keats can't come soon enough!

This advanced copy was provided by Tor Bramble, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

The Courting of Bristol Keats seemed to be a promising story. It follows Bristol Keats as she struggles to make ends meet. Her parents have recently passed away and she took on the responsibility of caring for her sisters. After a few unfortunate events, she meets up with her long lost aunt in order to receive an heirloom, and instead finds herself in the midst of the fae politics and a few revelations.

I think the premise is very interesting and I was thoroughly entertained during the first 30%. However, this book feels unedited and unfinished. I think it needed more editing.

I felt the story was dragging as the chapters went by and there was no clear reasoning behind everything. There is this desperation to have Bristol help the fae but then she has to go through training. Information was also revealed throughout the story but not much came from it. And finally, the ending read as an unfinished chapter or paragraph. And I disliked how it ended.

We have been building up to this action and it ends before it comes to fruition.

I needed this to have more action than it did and the romance was very sudden.

Mary E. Pearson is such a beloved author in the book community, I really hoped I could love this. I didn't enjoy how the story progressed and the choices that were made.

Bristol Keats and her two sisters live in the smalltown of Bowskeep and are struggling to keep afloat following the death of their parents. She may be the middle sister, but Bristol is undeniably the alpha sister, protecting them and taking charge. So when she receives a letter from someone claiming to be her father’s aunt who is offering to help them, she feels it her responsibility to meet her. But the meeting isn’t what she expected and Bristol discovers that everything she’s believed about herself and her family is a lie. Her parents were actually from another realm called the Danu Nation. A magical realm inhabited by otherworldly creatures that terrify Bristol at first. Not only that, but she also learns that her father’s death may have been faked. Suddenly, it seems like all the years that Bristol and her family have been running from a mysterious force is beginning to make sense. Wanting to know more, find out the truth and hoping to save her father, Bristol agrees to a pact. She will travel to Danu Nation and carry out a task in exchange for a financial reward. After arriving in this dangerous and unfamiliar world, Bristol agrees to another, even deadlier bargain. This time with Tyghan, the fae king. The two slowly get closer but unbeknownst to Bristol, Tyghan is the reason her parents fled Danu Nation and have been running all these years. And he is just as determined as she is to find her father, but has more sinister motives…

Layered, complex, fantastical and compelling, The Courting of Bristol Keats is a dazzling romatasy told on an epic scale. With evocative imagery, wonderful storytelling and richly drawn characters, Mary E. Pearson transported me into the magnificent world she created. It’s a world of magic, fae, gods and monsters. A dangerous but intriguing world that you will get lost in. This is a pretty chonky book so it takes a while for the story to get going as Ms. Pearson builds the world and introduces us to the huge cast of characters. But it soon picks up pace and I found myself completely enthralled by the story and characters. I love a good forbidden romance, and Ms. Pearson has written this one brilliantly. There’s a strong sense of tension, longing and desire as the will-they-won’t-they romance between Bristol and Tyghan plays out. I was totally #TeamBrighan (can we make that a thing?). And that ending! It left me full of questions, desperate for more, and I can’t wait for book two.

✔️enemies to lovers
✔️secrets and lies
✔️forced proximity
✔️ human x fae
✔️ found family
✔️ multi-pov

The moment I knew Mary E. Pearson was releasing a new book I was itching to read it. She's one of my favourite fantasy authors and I'm so excited about this new world she's created. The Courting of Bristol Keats is an unputdownable, intriguing story filled with magical things, wonderful characters, tension and romance but it is also about grief, family, heartbreak, lies, healing and forgiveness.

I was so captivated by this beautifully complex world with its magic system, mythology and depth. At times, it felt a bit confusing but that's usual when reading a new fantasy world.

I absolutely loved the characters and they were a joy to read. Bristol, our fmc, is this strong, brave, driven and passionate woman who loves fiercely and will protect and fight for those she loves like no other. Tyghan, our mmc, was swoon-worthy for sure -- as all the men Mary writes-- he's also fierce and passionate for his people and I loved reading them and how they fall in love. They're both so strong and brave but both are also hurting and trying to keep living after so much heartbreak. I'm so eager to read more about these two and where they'll go in book 2.

Of course, the writing was just stunning. Mary E. Pearson has a way with words that just makes it impossible to stop reading. The way her words just capture and enrapture you in such a way you won't be able to stop reading or thinking about this book.

I have to say I did expect more twists or betrayals [after the remnants chronicles and dance of thives] but it wasn't unpleasant. Mary E. Pearson has brought to life a completely different world and story that it's quite refreshing to read something so new from her.

The romance, or rather the love part itself, felt a bit rushed at times but I loved how perfectly they fit each other. And there are such sweet and beautiful moments that I can't even convey how much I love them. The ending was a bit abrupt and sort of odd in my opinion. It didn't end in a huge cliffhanger per se but I almost felt as if it ended mid-chapter.

In spite of these things, I genuinely loved this book and can't wait to read more about this world and these characters. There's so much that needs to unfold yet, so much to come and I'm so here for it!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely adored this book. It was so beautifully written, with fantastic imagery. Bristol was a solid main character, a great female lead who was captivating and realistic. I loved her background story and how that played into the plot specifically, as upsetting as it was!
I also loved Tyghans character. I thought he was complex and interesting with plenty of depth to keep you reading.

The plot was superb. With action, and twists and turns that made me gasp but also whimsical and soft which gave me the ultimate cosy vibes!

This book was an atmospheric dive into a world that felt both new and familiar, brimming with lush descriptions and an intriguing setup. However, at over 500 pages, it was often too long, and certain sections could have been tightened without losing the story’s impact. Despite its flaws, it still managed to draw me in with its compelling writing and The Cruel Prince-esque vibes.

The story follows Bristol, who is recruited by the fae King Tyghan, Lord of Monsters, to journey to Elphame. Her mission: find a mysterious door, train under his watch, and assist his goals in exchange for money to support her sisters and a chance to uncover the truth about her supposedly dead father. The quest is framed by themes of loss and longing, as both Bristol and Tyghan are haunted by their pasts. Bristol is rootless and guarded, a result of her parents’ secrets, while Tyghan, brooding and manipulative, struggles with betrayal and his inability to trust. Their dynamic is steeped in late-night confessions and contrasts—cold and cruel meets gentle and kind.

The world-building is vibrant and colorful, with an engaging premise that kept me intrigued through much of the book. I also loved the touching bond between Bristol and her sisters, conveyed through heartfelt stories and emotions that grounded the otherwise fantastical plot. Yet, while the story captivates, the romance faltered for me. Initially promising as a slow burn, it shifted into insta-love territory around the 40% mark, with feelings seemingly materializing out of nowhere. Tyghan’s frequent lies and omissions also made it difficult to fully root for him, despite his broody allure.

The ending left much to be desired. Rather than a satisfying cliffhanger, it felt abrupt, like the book had stopped mid-conversation. The lack of resolution made me flip back to see if I’d missed a page. Additionally, the story often felt like it struggled between being adult fantasy and YA. The characters, while intriguing, weren’t fleshed out enough, and the abundance of side characters diluted the impact of the narrative.

Despite its shortcomings, the writing style and vivid setting made this an enjoyable read. While the execution didn’t quite meet my expectations, I’m hopeful the sequel will expand on the world-building and delve deeper into the characters introduced in this installment. For now, it’s a solid introduction to a world with a lot of potential.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Where do I start. This book gave me Cruel Prince x Emily Wildes vibes. If you loved those books and don’t mind a slower paced book I think you’ll really enjoy this one…

Overall I did enjoy it, but it was sadly not above a 3.5 star for me which I’m kinda sad about because it was a highly anticipated release…

I really enjoyed the first 20% and the last 60%. I think it fell flat for me in the middle where I felt like not much happened and was very slow paced… I don’t do well with slow paced books and I think that was my main problem…

I did really enjoy the characters though and loved the relationships that bloomed. The storyline was also very good and I am excited for the next book and will definitely read it, I just hope the pacing picks up a bit which I feel like it should as we had a lot of developments towards the end of this book.

This book had a slower start. I did really enjoy the story. At times I was bored, and I can’t really understand why? The story was entertaining and good, It just couldn’t keep me as interested at all times. I do really want to know what happens next, so I’m excited for the next book.

I think if you are looking for a portal fantasy that takes you into the world of the Fae then this certainly fits the bill . Our heroine is a devoted sister who finds herself suddenly contacted by a mysterious relative but that’s just the start as not only is her aunt a Fae but it turns out that Bristol is half Fae herself ! She apparently has latent powers that need unlocking but can she trust everything she’s been told ?
I found this pleasant enough but it wasn’t startling in originality . Perhaps I’m a bit burned out by stories around the Fae and just wasn’t in the right mood for this story . It’s not a bad book but sadly just didn’t engage me as much as I’d hoped but it certainly wouldn’t put me off from reading something else by this new to me author.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

5 stars
TW: trauma and grief from death of parents, betrayals leading to physical and emotional suffering, injury, death, kidnapping

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy to review. All thoughts are my own.

The Courting of Bristol Keats is my first time reading something by this author, and the poetic prose carried magic woven within. I knew straight away this was going to be something special. I thoroughly enjoyed how this stylistic choice of making wind sigh and trees hesitate and other objects have seemingly human characteristics in how it was worded. It painted a beautifully whimsy air to the overall world and storytelling, and I cannot wait to dive back into more works by this author if they hold similar flair. It also contrasted nicely with the sinister and grim happenings in this book, from the loss of Bristol's parents and the war in Faerie. I liked that the world held magic even at its darkest, desperate, depths.

This is a refreshing take on fae fantasy. Of course, it still has typical tropes and trappings of a human girl stepping into a land of Faerie, but I had such a great time consuming this book. Both main characters Bristol and Tyghan are well developed. I appreciated that even with their story twining together romantically they both continue to tell their own tales. Watching Tyghan step up from knight to king in the place of his captured brother whilst struggling to recover from the nasty betrayal of his best friend was well-paced. Equally, Bristol's desperation to find her father and support her family led her to discover more about herself and find new family and friends to sink into. I appreciated that both characters are somewhat tortured by their present and past and find solace in the other. That it isn't immediate lust and heavy chemistry, but a loneliness and understanding that brings Tyghan and Bristol together.

The romance is well written, from the building tension, confessions, and tasteful intimacy. You can tell this is Pearson's first adult fantasy and yet the handling of the adult content is so well executed. This is my favourite type of romantic storytelling, where passion is equal parts emotion and descriptive, and I wish more adult fantasy intimacy was written as this is.

I also greatly appreciated supporting characters. This story, whilst mostly told from the main protagonists' point of view, has multiple voices and I liked the intrigue it gave to the world and the cast. It made the friendships feel fuller and rewarding, and the betrayals harder to bear. I cannot wait to see how these connections change and grow in the sequel, and look forward to more in general from this world.

My final thought is that The Courting of Bristol Keats was marketed perfectly. I'm grateful that what I signed up for is what I received - and exceeded all expectations. I firmly believe fans of Stephanie Garber and Margaret Rogerson's style of storytelling will thoroughly enjoy this adult fantasy a great deal. If you're looking for a step away from young adult into adult fantasy, then this is a great place to start as it has the best of both worlds and is fabulously written. Or if you're looking for a story that has the perfect blend of family-led actions, with spicy and decent self-discovery, in a fae fantasy world, then this story is also for you. I cannot speak highly enough of how much I enjoyed this read.

Thank you to netgalley for the arc. All thoughts are my own.

What can I say about this book?
This is my first Mary E. Pearson book and it will not be the last. I loved everything about this book, from the world-building to the characters and their development to the story itself.
It kept me guessing, and feeling all the feels along with them.

Please do yourself a favor and pick this up asap!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

DNF 50%

This was one of my most antecipated reads and im so disappointed. I keep trying to figure it out what exactly did not work and I think if it was single pov it would have worked so much better. Especially for the romance, it would be more interesting trying to guess what was going inside his head, and I think some information could have been better as a mystery. But still, I think the romance so far was lacking what i enjoy the most, some pinning and yearning. I could have enjoyed as a slowburn since I did not finish it and it could be just beginning but they were already attracted to eachother, and thats something thats ruining things a little for me lately. As for the plot, i feel like there wasnt enough going on to keep me interested either. So it ended up nor working for me.

That being said, im still going to look foward to any other release by the author.

5 🌟
3 🌶️

The world building, the character development were perfect.
Secrets, betrayals & fae, perfect Romantasy
I couldn’t put it down, absolutely loved it.

Countdown to book 2!! One of my top fantasy reads of the year ❤️

Thank you for the eARC Pan Macmillion and Netgalley

The actual rating is a 3/5.

I have kind of conflicting feelings about this one.
I enjoyed Bristol as our female lead. Her personality was great, and she didn't make stupid choices like many other FMCs in romantasy do. She was brave and intelligent and didn't do anything she wasn't willing to do. My favorite side characters were the other recruits - they were well-developed and a great friend group for Bristol. Tyghan and Eris were also good characters, but the fact that they knew everything about Bristol but didn't tell her was frustrating to read because we knew what the outcome would be.

My biggest issues were the world-building and the pacing at the end. In the first half, I was just vibing having no clue what was going on, but I feel like my understanding of the world should be better at the halfway mark than it was. It was info-dumpy but more like we were never told enough to fully grasp what was going on. However, what held me back from giving this book a full 4 stars was the ending. Maybe I'm just used to indie romantasy with horrible cliffhangers, but the ending did nothing? There was no climax (except from Bristols in the last chapter, hehe) and I expected for an over 550-page book that we would have done more.

I will read the sequel when it comes out because I want to know how it ends, but it won't be an "I need this now"-book.

An interesting story with just enough to keep me interested, but I found it was just not for me. I cannot put my finger on what was missing, just that little something extra that keeps you turning the page. The storyline follows a woman who is thrust into a world she knew nothing about, with the hope of finding the father she thought was dead, a door the Fae want closed and maybe finding a special someone on the way. Magical, exciting and little action will hopefully keep everyone entertained!

With great pacing and plenty of intrigue, this story kept me hooked and on the edge of my seat the whole time! I enjoyed the characters and the world was so interesting.
The ending did throw me for a loop slightly and the cliffhanger was unexpected but I'm definitely interested in reading other stories by the author.