3.75 stars:

This book had me in turmoil for most of it. Some parts had me hooked and wanting to know more, others had me wishing we could get through it faster, and some parts completely lost me. However, The Courting of Bristol Keats is a richly woven portal fantasy that combines fae with political intrigue and enemies to lovers.

Our main girl, Bristol, is recruited by the fae King Tyghan to journey to Elphame. She’s tasked with locating a mysterious door, training with Tyghan's court, and grappling with her father’s potential survival—all while supporting her sisters back home. Bristol and Tyghan are both haunted by past betrayals and loss, making their gradual connection heartfelt.

This book has so many aspects that I loved, like secrets, betrayal, secret identities, gods and shifters. It's marketed as a romantasy but I feel that readers also need to know this is also an epic fantasy full of magic and worldbuilding, and a shadow daddy. And even though it seemed predictable at times and slightly hindered by abrupt perspective shifts, the story shines in its lush world-building and complex sibling bonds. The cliffhanger ending leaves much unresolved but hints at promising developments to come.

I do recommend this for readers who are wanting more epic fantasy over their romantacy but still want the romance without any over the top spice.

3.5 stars

I thought the world building and the idea of the plot were fantastic. I really felt I was in that world. I really liked Bristol's fellow trainees and love there was no back stabbing. In some books there is always a mean girl etc. This was a nice healthy friendship group

The length was a issue. It felt like nothing was happening for chapters at a time. Even by the end, not much had happened. Half the book could have been cut out and we would have got to the same point. It took me a week to read and I nearly DNF a few times. It's a book with loads of things happening but nothing moves forward.

The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson was one of my most anticipated reads of this year, as I loved the Remnant Chronicles and then loved the Dance of Thieves duology even more! Therefore I was excited to receive an e-arc (all opinions are my own), and dove into the book right away. And it started so good!

I love Bristol, she’s intelligent and shrewd, she knows life’s not fair and there is not a naive bone in her body. It was such a treat to read about an adult character that actually makes smart choices and is adulting.

But then… it got kinda boring? There were some fun parts inbetween the boring parts but basically the boring parts were overwhelmingly too much. I considered DNFing starting from 40% until I reached 85% but I persevered as this is an e-arc and I don’t really want to DNF those.

I’m not really sure where it went wrong. As I mentioned, I love Bristol, I also love Tyghan and Eris and all the other characters, especially the other recruits, and there was enough depth to all the relationships. The love story is great, this is definitely a romantasy. There was a mystery to keep you going and the antagonist… he’s just plain epic. I’ve been pondering what went wrong and I think it’s a combination of a lot repetitive training sequences, and that you already know a lot that the MC doesn’t know yet, due to multiple POVs which lessens the mystery quite a lot. The romance also gave me the ick due to spoilery reasons. And I have to admit: I absolutely hate fairies. The entire world felt familiar, though it’s very elaborate and complex, it is typically faerie. I bet most people will like this though.

What makes this read a 2.5 star read instead of a 3 star is the ending. As in: that was definitely NOT an ending. It just stopped at some random place, in the middle of a spicy scene? And that’s it? So weird!

All in all, I loved the characters and complexity, and do think this is better written romantasy than most in that genre, but I was bored too much to really like this. Such a shame as I believe it does have the seeds of epicness hidden within, it just didn’t bloom. Yet. I’ll definitely be reading the second book to see if it gets better.

It started a little bit slow, but then it picked up with the mystery, thrill and romance. It was a fun new fantasy world and I can't wait for the second book to come out to finish exploring it.

I’ll start by saying, I REALLY wanted to like this. It should've been a win for me— But I just couldn’t get into it.

It was super drawn out, and I needed multiple breaks with other books to actually finish it, it’s a crazy high page count for the pay off. Honestly, I should’ve known better since the authors other work never really clicked with me either, but the premise kept me hopeful enough to try and slog through, to the point where the book just eventually abruptly stops.

The book does a lot of teasing, but it never really delivers on anything, and it felt more like uninspired YA than adult sequel-worthy fantasy. The world-building was fine but never fully came to life, and the insta-love romance and constant introduction of the more of the same characters didn’t really help. (And a very minor point, but as someone who grew up near Bristol, I winced a tiny bit every time the name came up - but that’s probably just me. 😬)

I’m probably being a bit meaner here because I had high hopes, but in a world where there’s so much original and great fantasy, this one just didn’t hit the mark for me. I wanted to love it, but ultimately, it left me underwhelmed. Not sure I’d have finished it if it weren’t an ARC.

A big thank you to the author, Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

3.5 ⭐️

Mixed feelings about this one. The premise and plot line of the book was what initially drew me in. I think maybe the thing that stopped me from being 100% invested was the writing style, which is a definitely a personal preference depending on the reader.

Title: The Courting of Bristol Keats
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Pages: 560
Rating: 4/5

Wow! What a well written, beautifully built world. This wasn't just romance but a great gripping plot twisted with betrayal and hope. Questioning of loyalty and knowing there's two sides to a story.

The characters were great. I couldn't predict where things were going to go and what happened next. There were layers and layers of storyline that had me gripped I was sad it came to an end but the ending really made me chuckle.

The slowburn romance was frustratingly perfect. You know the tension was there and there was so much teasing until it actually happened. *Chefs kiss"

I cannot wait for book two to see how this duology ends. I haven't got a clue where the author will lead us next!


You'll love this book if you like
- slow burn
- enemies to lovers
- grumpy / sunshine
- Fae world
- mildly spicy
- forbidden romance


Will you be putting this on your tbr? Have you read it already, what were your thoughts??

The Courting of Bristol Keats was a great romantasy read, filled with amazing worldbuilding and twists. As my first Pearson book, I had no clue what to expect. The book gripped me from the beginning and had me perpetually ready for the next shoe to drop. The ending was filled with promise for the sequel without being a difficult cliffhanger. I will absolutely pick the next book up!

so! i have a lotttttt of thoughts about this one

i LOVED the world and the atmosphere of elphame. I really enjoyed the setting and the start of this book. It was vibey and atmospheric which i really enjoyed. The beginning of the book definitely hooked me and I was so intrigued by Bristol and this whole other world that was about to be introduced.

I did find that the story slowed quite a bit after that first 20% and it did drag for me a little. However the plot and Bristol’s character did keep me going - i really liked her motivation in this book and I was really interested in how it would all unfold.

Unfortunately, the romance was a huge disappointment for me. I just didn’t believe in their love at all and i don’t feel like it was fleshed out as well as it could have been- i mean they were catching feelings around the 30% mark and for me that is wayyyyy too soon. I also didn’t like Tyghan much as the male main character/love interest so that definitely has something to do with why the romance didn’t do it for me.

The last 20% definitely picked up for me - I really enjoyed the scenes with the main villain. He was really interesting and I wish we actually got to see more of him. I also liked the scene where all the revelations were made; it felt like a long time coming and it was pretty satisfying!

Overall, this was an entertaining read with a solid plot and world, and a really likeable main character. I just wish the romance didn’t fall so flat for me!

This was a surprisingly fast read. I found myself captivated by the world and characters. Wanting to see where the story went.
However I disliked the ending. Mainly because it feels like it just abruptly ends. While I'm fine with cliffhangers this felt a bit more like an unfinished book.
I will definitely be carrying on the series though.

This book is a testament to my biggest belief about books: it's not the story, it's how you tell it.

And can Mary E. Pearson tell it. The first half of this book was a lot of world building, the introduction of characters, history, backstory- but you still go into the plot. Actually, plotS. Several well-woven, intertwining plot lines. And once you get yourself fully situated and familiar with the characters and the world, the book takes off. There were familiar elements- the fae, Elfhame, the mortal who finds herself intertwined in the magical world, and add in some family history, mystery, and a quest to save a loved one. And it was mixed with new twists, romance, found family, *current* family and the bond between sisters- all wrapped up and told in a way that completely sucked me in.

I also need to start checking if books are part 1 of a series because I was not ready for the story to stop when it did. Wowza! But it's a great set up for the next book (when's that coming out again???) and -most importantly- wasn't rushed or jarring.

There were a few characters that I didn't fully resonate with, and the romance -though steamy and delicious!- had too big of a jump for me personally. Did that detract from the reading experience? Not one bit. Can't wait for this series, I'm so invested in the story!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

First book I've read by this author and I have to say that... I don't know, I wasn't completely fascinated by this story!

The premises are interesting but unfortunately while reading I often found myself bored and everything had a "already seen" feel. An enjoyable read and there are some twists that intrigued me and so I will read the second volume but it has an excessively fluctuating pace and I often felt like I was reading a book that was longer than it was.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc

My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the chance to read an advance copy of The Courting Of Bristol Keats, by Mary E. Pearson in return for my honest review.

This book has already gained a lot of attention and excitement, promising to be a shining new series in the fantasy genre - with several special editions being produced.

We meet our titular character, Bristol Keats, as she’s navigating the loss of her parents while supporting her sisters. Very quickly it becomes clear that her upbringing has been odd, and within the first few chapters the certainty around her father’s death, the mystery of his past and the hidden world of Elphame are brought into front of frame.

I liked the way that faerieland is accessible but out of sync with the mortal world, and that the various fae inhabitants are regularly walking between the two, unbeknownst to those who cannot see beyond glamour. The obvious comparison here is to Holly Black’s folk of the air, given the shared points of reference and folklore used, although the fae here seemed less fleshed out in terms of how they varied from mortals, in terms of morals and motivation.

The political game playing, secrets and magic and many twists and dark turns being made in the shadows were what moved the plot forward, rather than relying on the romance - which was positive.

I think the pacing, and the somewhat confusing and jolting switch of character/point of view/place may have been something that pulled me out of the story. More than once I felt confused as to when or why we’d suddenly moved somewhere else, or were now watching a different character. This may change once the book reaches final printed copy though!

For a first in series (and also having been placed up against such a beloved, established series/other Elfhame) I did certainly enjoy this read and I will be patiently waiting to see where the next instalment takes Bristol and the rest of our fair friends!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because I am certain once the formatting of a published copy is available, some of my gripes about pacing and confusing changes in place and point of view will be non-existant.

Overall Rating : 3.5 Stars

The Courting of Bristol Keats marks the beginning of a captivating new duology by the talented Mary E. Pearson. It follows Bristol Keats as she uncovers the hidden realm of Magic, known as Elphame. During her journey, she makes a pact with the Fae King, Tyghan, promising to return to the human world and ensure the safety of her two sisters. This agreement compels Bristol to help protect Elphame from evil forces and to assist the king in locating his kidnapped brother, which leads to an absolutely dreamy Reluctant Allies to Lovers narrative between Bristol and Tyghan. Written from a Dual POV, the story beautifully reveals the emotions and motivations of both characters which absolutely enriched the overall tale for me. I truly adored both of these characters and the hauntingly beautiful narratives, this is the first book in a long time that I have ever wanted to start annotating due such magical and beautiful writing!

As I read this arc on my Kindle, the formatting sadly made it incredibly hard to read as there was a constant switching in the Dual POV with little to no warning, which made the overall experience quite confusing to grasp. Regardless, when I did finally catch-on with the narrators, I did feel as if the characters and world lacked development and needed more fleshing out. I would have adored to have more of a back-story on some of the side characters, as there were MANY, which I feel as if could’ve been achieved considering the length of the book.

I absolutely adored the first 35% of this book and couldn’t force myself to put it down, whereas the middle couldn’t hold my attention for more than a chapter or two at a time. Leading toward the 70-80% mark, I finally had that feeling of excitement once more and couldn’t put it down until I’d finished it. I both loved and felt something was missing completely from the ending, almost as if it was meant to be a cliff-hanger but didn’t leave you with that feeling. On one hand I loved that we saw a resolution of sorts between Bristol and Tyghan, but it’s left little to my imagination when thinking of the sequel.

Overall, this adult fantasy was beautifully written; I adored the two main characters and the rich backstory of Bristol and her family. Her nomadic life, characterised by the inability to stay in one place for more than a month or two, added such a depth to the narrative that I wasn’t at all expecting. Despite the few things I didn’t enjoy, I absolutely look forward to continuing this series.

This book was amazing. The perfect mix of romance, fantasy and an incredible plot that kept me invested the entire way through.

Bristol is an amazing protagonist. She explores her feelings so openly and it was beautiful to read. I loved the cast of characters in this book and of course loved Tyghan. The world-building was incredibly rich, and I was immediately immersed in this world and the unique magic systems to be found within it. I found this to be incredibly unique among all the fantasy's I have read, and it was definitely refreshing to read something that felt new.

I have so many questions about this universe and where this story is going to go next, and I’m so invested in this world!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As a fan of Mary's previous books, I was very excited to read the start of this newest series.

After losing both parents, Bristol and her sisters are struggling to make ends meet. A letter arrives from an unknown relative offering a gift that could change their fortune. It all leads to Bristol ending up in the Faerie lands helping the King of Danu. Bristol begins to uncover truths about herself and her family whilst getting closer to the king, but their pasts are more linked than she knows.

I loved enjoyed this story, and I'm glad there wasn't too much of a cliffhanger at the end of book one as I will have a while to wait to see what happens next 🙈

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the arc of this book for my honest review!

Bristol and her sisters are orphaned and alone, but doing the best that they can to survive. But when Bristol gets drawn in to a magic land littered with Fae, everything changes.

This was a good book, well written with a strong start. It was a bit long though, and some parts were starting to drag and made it difficult to stay with it. I enjoyed it overall, but some bits were harder than others!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

"The Courting of Bristol Keats" is a gripping romantic fantasy that follows Bristol, a strong heroine, as she uncovers dark family secrets and enters a dangerous fae world. After discovering her father may still be alive, Bristol strikes a risky deal with the fae king, Tyghan, to find him. The story is packed with tension, magic, and intrigue, perfect for fans of "The Cruel Prince". With vivid world-building and a fierce main character, Mary E. Pearson delivers an addictive, fast-paced read that’s hard to put down.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. I thought this was a decent read, the flow was good and the relationship did not feel too much like insta-love. I think there were a couple of plot holes here and there and I was not a massive fan of the way it ended, but I'd recommend this for anyone who enjoys the romantasy genre.

DNF @ 36%

i feel so bad, as i feel it’s wrong to DNF ARC’s, but i genuinely could not continue. i was so incredibly confused the whole time.

i feel like the world and the characters were not developed properly or even described because i got to around 30% and i still had no idea what the characters looked like or how the world worked.

on top of that, the pacing was extremely slow and i didn’t feel connected to any of the characters.

i’m genuinely so sad because i was so excited for this and thought i was gonna love it :(

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this digital ARC.