Now THAT is how you write a romantasy!

This is the perfect mix of fantasy and romance - not too much of either one.

It took a little while for the story to get going and to get invested in the characters, especially Bristol’s sisters - but once it got me; I was hooked.

I love the fact it was a bargain and a little bit of manipulation - these characters are thrown together in the best way. I may have also swooned a little bit…

Thank you to Mary E. Pearson and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read :The courting of Bristol Keats as an ARC.

Key words : fae, rescue mission, fantasy

This book wasn’t for me. I stumbled to understand the plot, what the places and characters looked like. There was no preface as to how there could be a fantasy world parallel to the human one. I found Bristol to be really annoying and not that likeable. The end of the book was so strange as well, I thought I was a standalone turns out it might be a duology ? I think some people might like it but it tasted bland to me.
Thank you again for letting me read it.

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

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!

The Courting of Bristol Keats follows Bristol who is struggling to stay afloat with her sisters after the death of their parents. Bristol starts receiving letters from an aunt who she has never heard of so she decides to meet her. It turns out that her father might still be alive so she has to journey to a land full of fae. Bristol ends up making a bargain with the fae king, Tyghan but he knows things about her parents and wants to find her father as much as Bristol.

This was a perfectly average fantasy romance. Personally I found the romance to be quite weak, it just wasn’t developed enough for me. The fae elements were interesting but nothing spectacular when compared to other fae books. It was fine but I won’t read the second book.

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.