The Courting of Bristol Keats

Mary E. Pearson has crafted an utterly spellbinding fantasy in The Courting of Bristol Keats! Bristol’s journey from her quiet life to a realm of gods, fae, and monsters is a riveting adventure filled with heart-stopping action and breathtaking romance. The intricate plot weaves forbidden love and dangerous bargains into a tapestry of emotional depth and high stakes. Tyghan, the enigmatic fae king, adds layers of intrigue and tension that kept me glued to the pages. This book is a masterful blend of fantasy and passion, exploring the complexities of love and the sacrifices we make for those we hold dear. It’s a captivating start to what promises to be an unforgettable series.

4.5 STARS

This book may have reignited my love for fae romantasy!

There are so many books coming out now that use the lore and mythology of the fae in similar ways, it's hard to find a book that stands out. While this means that most fae stories have similarities, and this was no exception, The Courting of Bristol Keats stood out for it's exceptional world building and gripping storytelling.

Mary E Pearson masterfully balanced plot and romance. The romance had good tension, a little yearning and just enough open-door scenes that ensured the book read as adult, without sacrificing the plot. My only gripe was that the MMC seemed to come to the conclusion he was in love extremely swiftly, and I would have liked a little more of his POV so that this realisation would have felt more developed for us as readers.

I was expecting this book to end on a gripping cliffhanger, as so many fantasy stories do. But, while there are SO many questions that I have, the book ended in the most unexpected place, and really had me checking to make sure I didn't miss a final chapter!

A thrilling romantic fantasy full of dangerous fae, even darker family secrets and an addictive romance that will leave you breathless. Pulled into a dangerous world of magic and intrigue, she makes a deadly bargain with the fae king. But what she doesn’t know is that he’s the one who drove her parents to live a life forever looking over their shoulders.

A bargain struck between them will find these characters thrown together, but the distrust between them may be their undoing, even if they can’t stop thinking about each other in the process of their scepticism about the other. There was always something new and fascinating to learn about the world that the author has created, filled with magical creatures, dangerous magic and a beautiful world you will never want to leave. A great adult fantasy debit from one of my all time favourite authors!

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐥 𝐊𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐄 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and honestly review an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

This is the first time in a long time that I’ve had such fun with a Fae Romantasy. The Courting of Bristol Keats is a breath of fresh air in this very popular genre!

The Fae were a varied species, no brooding shadow daddies to be found, and the world takes you back to those classic early Fae books from the 2010’s.

The main thing in this story is the romance, which I actually enjoyed quite a lot. It didn’t feel rushed, they fit well together, and the romance wasn’t more important than the plot, which was just as good.

The ending was a bit sudden? It wasn’t quite a cliff hanger, it felt like a strange point to stop, but I think I liked how unique that was.

If you love the Fae but you’re tired of seeing the same thing over and over again, this is for you!

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.

The Courting of Bristol Keats was an absolute page-turner, with a gripping storyline that kept me hooked from start to finish. The character development was exceptional, bringing each character to life in a way that made their journeys both relatable and compelling. I particularly enjoyed the pacing of the story—it was perfectly balanced, keeping the tension high while allowing room for the world-building to shine.

The intricate world of fae and mythical creatures was vividly portrayed, adding layers of depth to the narrative. The blend of romantasy and fantasy elements was seamless, drawing me deeper into this enchanting universe. The plot twists were masterfully executed, keeping me on the edge of my seat and making the story truly addictive.

The writing itself was beautiful, with each word carefully chosen to evoke strong emotions. Whether it was joy, sadness, fear, or excitement, I felt every moment, which is a testament to the powerful storytelling at play. The emotional impact was undeniable, as the story deftly navigated the highs and lows of the characters’ experiences, leaving a lasting impression.

The ending left me reeling, questioning, and double-checking for more chapters—I wasn’t ready for it to be over. It’s rare to find a book that leaves you simultaneously satisfied and craving more, but The Courting of Bristol Keats did just that. Now, I’m eagerly anticipating the second book in the series and can’t wait to see where the story goes next!

A big thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.