Thank you Mary Pearson and Pan Macmillan for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Bristol Keats, a human on the run for all of her life left orphaned with her two sisters finds herself making a bargain with a Faerie King and entering the world of faeries - Elphame.

What I loved:
I felt that Pearson managed to keep the familiarity of Elphame but also explored her own version - I enjoyed the description of characters and the different types of creatures that she introduced.
The concept - though the story of a ‘human’ making a bargain with a faerie king isn’t a new one I enjoyed following Bristol into the world and learning new things about herself and the world she thought she lived in.

Things I struggled with:
Though Bristol is supposed to be in her early 20s I felt that she behaved and read much younger than this. In fact the whole story felt more YA than adult - there was sprinkling of foul language and a slightly steamier romance which I guess is what defines this as adult.

I was enjoying the slow burn but it turned very quickly into all out in love with each other and despite it being a lengthy book I didn’t feel time was taken to really develop the feelings between Bristol and Tyghan. I would have dropped some of the bedroom scenes to have more longing and build up.

I found myself wanting there to be a massive cliffhanger at the end - I kept thinking there must be something about to happen that was going to make me desperate for the next book but it never came. I also wanted Bristol and Tyghan to end as enemies having built up the betrayal and subsequent fallout I was disappointed with how quickly this resolved itself especially considering this is the start of a series.

With lots of loose ends and build up of storylines I am still intrigued and interested to read what comes next. There were some great points to this I just wish it had been hashed out a bit better.

I guess overall this was an enjoyable 3.5 star read, I am invested in the characters and the story and I hope that the next in the series answers the questions I have and delves deeper into world and left open storylines.

Thanks to Netgalley and PanMacmillan for a review copy of this book. I had heard many good things about Perason’s first series and had it on my massive tbr list so I was delighted to be able to read something by her. She did not disappoint. With clever weaving of ancient Irish myth, fairy folklore, Pearson crafts a story about a young woman on the West Coast of America reluctantly pulled into dangerous intrigue in a world she never imagined existed.

Bristol Keats is the middle sister in a family that have frayed apart since the death of their mother a few years previously and now the death of their father. She, like her siblings, struggle day to day to make ends meet. The bohemian transient lifestyle their parents had raised them in left the sisters with little but themselves to rely on or ask for help. So when a letter from an aunt that no one ever has heard of appears requesting Bristol to meet her to offer her a rare art piece, Bristol resists at first, knowing her father never had an aunt. But dire need drives her there in the end and when she meets with this supposed aunt of her father’s she finds herself trapped into a deal with members of the Fae realm. It’s when it’s hinted that her father has been kidnapped by other Fae dwellers and taken there that Bristol’s hesitation to help becomes resolve and she goes there with a small group that includes Tyghan, the king of the Tuatha de Dannan, one of the realms of Fae. There she is trained as a recruit, following a process she doesn’t understand that often involves encounters with the combative Tyghan whose volatile manner both confuses and aggravates her. Slowly, the complexities and political issues of the Fae land begin to reveal themselves as Bristol comes to question her own past and her family’s.

I always enjoy stories that take the ancient myths and give them a twist, especially if they cleverly weave in folklore as well and this tale certainly contained all of that. The characters were enjoyable and the interactions between Bristol and Tyghan had a nice natural feel to it. All in all the author created a story that nicely interweaved contemporary fantasy with some classic Fae elements of the epic fantasy that has a good romance thread throughout

3.75 (I think? Or maybe an actual 4 star?Idk)
This is a bit tough for me to rate, because while I enjoyed this book, there was something missing for me and after giving it some thought, I think I was missing *the* or *a* (big) plot twist.

‘The Courting of Bristol Keats’ was my first Mary E. Pearson book and to be extra honest, I didn’t plan on reading it. Then I did some research and got super interested and here we are.
I don’t know how and why, but I somehow falsely convinced myself that this would be more on the historical side, which, now I can say, it really isn’t.

As this was my first book by Pearson, I do have to say that I really, really, really enjoyed the writing. Way easier to read than expected.

I liked all the characters and think they worked all very well together.
Loved the tension between Bristol and Tyghan, though I will say, their love-story took a turn and went a tad too quick for me.
Generally, the book has a bigger cast of characters than I’d say one is used to with current books and I can see how one might get confused, but I will also say that I really enjoyed everything about it. The cast, the friendships and non-romantic relationships brought something to the story.

I also very much enjoyed the setting. While there was no big exploration of the world, this is also not something that would have made sense for the plot.
I do believe the finished book will have a map though.

While the book is mostly written from Bristol’s and Tyghan’s pov, I did really like how there were chapters throughout the book that were from other characters pov.

‘The Courting of Bristol Keats’ is almost 550 pages long and I don’t think *everything* in those 550 pages was necessary for the story. I did catch myself thinking “this? is? kinda? long?!”.
However, I will also say, I think because it was fairly easy written and combined with the short chapters (I do love me some short chapters), this is something that can be forgiven.
I’d say the first half of the book was mostly chill and the story and pace did pick up nicely during the second half.

There was a scene between Tyghan and Kierus towards the end of the book that I was a bit “meh” about. Specifically, because I didn’t really like the way Bristol was brought up in that conversation.

Regarding the missing plot twist I mentioned in the beginning: the plot and all of the secrets certain characters have were very much clear from the beginning and were filled with some more details through the course of the book. It was just a matter of time when other characters might put two and two together. Besides the obvious emotional distress for when those secrets were finally revealed, there wasn’t really some sort of climax the story was heading.
I will also add, after giving it a second thought, I would have loved some more action or tension or some high stakes, dramatic scene to give me that little something.

The ending was very abrupt. It’s not a cliffhanger. It’s also not an actual ending. It just..ended. It feels like we are missing some sort of short epilogue to lead the way onto book two.
I want to believe there was a rhyme and reason to that ending because otherwise, I don’t really understand it.

Will I read the sequel? Absolutely.

If a debut author or an unknown author had written The Courting of Bristol Keats, I wouldn't have put it on my TBR. The book description just wasn't that interesting. But it was written by Mary E. Pearson, who wrote one of my favorite books. The Remnant Chronicles and Dance of Thieves. I was sure I would love this book.
But I was wrong. The beginning was interesting, but I quickly lost interest. The conflict was uninteresting, the fairy world dull, and the romance was not my cup of tea. Also, I didn't like the way the fairyland people talked. It was too modern.
The ending felt like it was cut off mid-chapter. It lacked any cliffhangers.
Sadly, this book was not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan, Tor Bramble for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the chance to read this book but I’m afraid I wasn’t able to finish it. This was my first time reading the author and I felt the plot lacked a certain something. I also found the way the book was set up with dual POV to be extremely confusing at the beginning of the book and it didn’t get any better throughout the rest of what I read.

What a breath of fresh air! I haven’t read any of Mary E. Pearson’s previous books, but after devouring The Courting of Bristol Keats, they’ve rocketed straight to the top of my TBR!

I’ve fully embraced my romantasy era this year, and this book has quickly became one of my favourites. A world filled with magic, fae, and monsters? SIGN ME UP! I especially loved how the magic felt fresh and unique compared to similar reads.

The only thing that felt a bit off was the romance—it moved a little too quickly for my taste, though I still really enjoyed it! The ending was also a bit abrupt and unfinished, but despite that, I need book two immediately!

A huge thank you to the team at Pan Macmillan for the ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Cruel Prince for grown ups!

I haven’t enjoyed a fantasy like this in so long. I loved the choice of having different types of fae, it reminded me of the style in the Cruel Prince by Holly Black.. It gave the story a unique feel that you don’t usually find in many other fae-fantasies.

I also loved the plotline - Bristol going into the fae world to find her believed-to-be-dead father, and in turn, finding so much more (cough, cough, Tyghan <3). And obviously, Pearson never lacks when it comes to her writing; she created a beautiful love story that I can’t wait to read more of in the next book.

However, I thought the introduction of sooo many characters at the start of the book was a bit overwhelming, and I found myself sometimes confused. With that being said, this was a brilliant read and I am so grateful to receive the ARC. I can’t wait for book two!

3.5⭐️
This book is perfect for those who are looking to get into fantasy. There is a bit of romance, betrayal, tension and slow burn.

Bristol Keats, and her sisters are left to survive the modern world after their parents’ tragic death. When she discovers that her father might still be alive she embarks on a journey to a hidden world of faeries, where she makes a bargain with the fae King, Tyghan.

Whilst reading, I felt like something was missing, perhaps it required more tension, world building, character development & action? I also found the ending to be very abrupt!
Nonetheless, I did enjoy the book overall and will patiently await the sequel. Can’t wait to check out the other books by this author 😊

Thanks to NetGalley and Pan McMillan for the ARC.

I had not read any Mary E Pearson books before, so did not know what to expect, but I enjoyed this in a wish-there-were-more-minutes-in-the-day kind of way. For me, the pacing was excellent and I loved the little interludes where we shifted to a different perspective. I also liked the wide cast of different characters. I especially appreciated how while various characters were doing bad things, there was a logic to it - their different motivations clearly led to the conflict; they were not just being evil for the sake of being evil.
So why not five stars? Well, the ending is very, very abrupt. Many of the threads are left to be resolved in the following book(s), which is fine, but it means this book does not stand alone; it is dependent on rest.

Thank-you very much to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read this eArc.

Mary E Pearson wrote my favourite series and this was just as incredible!!! She is the queen of fantasy.

I recommend this book to those who want to read a fantasy book, with very interesting interesting story and a bit of romance, but doesn't want anything new, just more of this vibe.
I'm not sure if I actually liked this book. It started out great and i was invested in the story, but with the romance subplot coming in it felt like the main plot slowed down and it just lost my interest.
The strong points of the book were the worldbuilding and plot, and sadly the characters and the romance fell to the weaker side.
But this book even if not a masterpiece, an enjoyable book. I just recommend not going into it like it will revolutionize adult fantasy romance books.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Mind blowing. Probably one of my favourite reads this year. Beautifully written, intricate characters,amazing world building and magic system. I could not put this down. Loved every single thing.wwll thought and Beautifully written ! The ending though I did not see coming. Can't wait for the second book!

The Courting of Bristol Keats is the first book in an adult fantasy duology. Mary E Pearson has beautifully woven an immersive tale full of romance and fae. I was instantly sucked into the world and was completely hooked on the plot for the majority of the time. I thought that there was the perfect blend of both romantic and fantasy elements, making it the perfect read for fans of both genres. The ending was completely unexpected and I still don't know how I feel about it, however, I overall really enjoyed this book and I shall be eagerly awaiting the sequel.

This was my first Mary E Pearson book and it certainly won't be my last! I highly look forward to checking out her previous fantasy books.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!🥰

I would describe the vibe with the following words:

whimsical, magical, mysterious, humorous, romantic and adventurous.

I loved the world the book was set in and that there always was a surprise around the corner waiting for you.
It did have a bit of a build up but that was just fine for me and really helped with enjoying the story later on.

You could catch me laughing, wondering and being thrilled while reading this!

Thank you to Net Galley and MacMillan for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Bristol Keats has always known that her parents have something to hide. When they both die in tragic circumstances a short time apart, Bristol and her sisters struggle to get by.

Bristol then finds herself being ‘courted’ by Fae who suspect she has magic abilities that could save their kingdom, and she discovers the whole new world of Elphame. In exchange for her abilities, Bristol needs their help in searching for her father, who she now believes may not be dead after all.

From the very start, the book reminded me of The Cruel Prince. There is a strong romantasy and adult element, with a hint of political intrigue.

Unfortunately, I didn’t gel very well either the characters or the world. I found Bristol to be a frustrating character and I struggled to connect with the relationships she had. I didn’t agree with a lot of her decisions, and the romance plot felt strangely forced.

I also struggled with the world building. The book switched between Bristol and Tyghan’s (the king) perspectives, and while Bristol was in the dark about the truths of Elphame and her family, we, as the reader, were not. It made the narration a bit disjointed, and ruined what could have been some fun twists if we were limited to only Bristol’s perspective.

The political element of the book didn’t feel very fleshed out, and it was similar to other books I’ve read. It didn’t bring anything new to the table to make it stand out.

The move from YA to adult is quite stark, and there is some spice which added to the romance. I read a few other reviews about the ending of the book and I agree that it was… extremely odd.

One thing I did enjoy was the actions of some of the characters being morally grey. I thought that the writing encapsulated these dilemmas very well.

It was mostly well-written, and I do feel that a lot of people will enjoy reading it. It’s just not for me!

"The Courting of Bristol Keats" by Mary E. Pearson is a dark romantic fantasy novel about a young woman, Bristol, who goes into the world of the Fae searching for her father. Through a fast-paced plot, Bristol uncovers secrets about herself and her parents that shatter her entire understanding of her family.

I enjoyed this book, and it was really fun to be lost in this magical world, which included loads of different fairy kind creatures. The main two that appeared are from Scottish and Irish mythology, the Tuatha and the Fomorians. Despite these mythological and folkloric references, I would not say the book is in any way focused on a specific known story, apart from the general emnity between these two groups. Pearson simply uses the various kinds of words that could refer to Fae for her worldbuilding. The lushness of the fairy court, the mystery, and the diverse art descriptions of the paintings, buildings, and clothes were incredible. I really fell for this world of glamour and wonders. My only small complaint of the book is that there were a lot of characters, and I would have benefited from a character list.

The novel's focus is split 50/50 between the romance between Bristol and Tyghan and the conflict between the Kingdom of the Danu and the Fomorians, with the two often colliding. The two characters' individual responsibilities and ambitions are often sabotaging the integrity of their love despite their genuine emotions. It was very interesting to watch how the relationship between Bristol and Tyghan is paralleled with Maire and Keatus's backstory. The questions and answers that Tyghan didn't accept for his once best friend are also his truth when it comes to his relationship with Bristol. The narrative often made me ask the question as to whether they would choose differently and sacrifice love for all their other relationships, their sense of right and wrong, and duty.The questions that dominate both aspects of the book are "Is love a good enough excuse for hurting others? Does it justify everything?" The relationship of Bristol's parents has opened a can of consequences in both the war and the new relationship between Bristol and Tyghan.

I can't remember the last time I read a Fae fantasy book, even though I generally love fairies. I know I must have read one in the past, but it must have been years ago, so I am not able to compare it to other books of that subgenre. As a general fantasy reader who also enjoys fantasy romance books, "The Courting of Bristol Keats" was very enjoyable, offering both exciting battle and magic scenes and swoony, spicy ones.

I read the title and thought it would be a Gothic bridgerton style book - it definitely wasn't! It's modern world and the land of the fae.

I like Bristol's character, her emotions realistic and relatable. I enjoyed the world building, which wasn't overcomplicated.

Lots has been left unresolved at the end and I can't wait to read the following book/s!

Only marked down as the ending felt like it was missing another chapter.

I struggled to grasp the plot, the appearance of places, and the characters in this book. It lacked an introduction explaining the existence of a fantasy world alongside the human one. The character of Bristol was particularly irritating and unlikable. Additionally, the book's conclusion was quite bizarre. Not for me sadly, but I think others may love it

The Courting of Bristol Keats is my favourite fantasy romance of the year so far! The characters are morally grey and complex in a believable and interesting way. I was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen when Bristol found out what the court was hiding from her. The dialogue is great and I wasn’t bored for a moment in this novel! (I was actively reading this on my lunch break at work.) I felt genuinely immersed in the fairy realm in a way I haven’t done since reading ACOTAR or the Toby Day series so I will definitely be continuing it when more comes out!

The only reason this isn’t a five star from me is the pacing. At times the jumps between chapters are quite difficult to follow and I was confused by how much time had passed. The ending of the book didn’t feel like an ending at all. I was genuinely confused when the novel closed off where it did. It felt more like a part one rather than a book with a complete story arc.

However, despite these issues, Mary E. Pearson had me by the throat with this one. I will definitely be buying this when it comes in store and throwing it at all my fantasy romance loving customers.

The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson was such an incredible ride! From the very first page, I was hooked. The mix of forbidden romance, faerie curses, and nonstop action had me flipping through the chapters like my life depended on it. The world-building is absolutely stunning. Pearson's realm of fae, gods, and monsters feels so rich and alive that I was completely immersed.

Bristol’s journey was full of twists I didn’t see coming, and the tension between her and the morally grey fae king, Tyghan, kept me on the edge of my seat. The romance had that perfect blend of tension and mystery, while still leaving me wanting more. And the emotional depth of the story? Wow. There were moments that had my heart racing, breaking, and soaring all at once.

I also loved how the story explored themes of second chances and forgiveness in such a raw and real way. The characters, even the side ones, were developed beautifully, and their banter added a nice balance to the darker, more intense moments. The ending left me speechless – a cliffhanger that guarantees I'll be counting down the days for the next book.

If you love fantasy with a good dose of romance and high-stakes action, The Courting of Bristol Keats is a must-read! Mary E. Pearson has truly earned her crown as the new queen of faerie.