Really enjoyed this book overal, the world building was fantastic and I fell into the world and couldn't get out of it again.

Loved this book. It was not what i was expecting at all but i fell in love with it.

Bristol is one of 3 sisters, they have lived their life moving constantly from place to place, their parents would mysteriously move them in the middle of the night and none of the girls ever felt safe or settled. Their parents have now both died and Bristol and her sisters are coping the best they can, until one day Bristol is told her father is still alive but is in another realm and Bristol may be blood marked and if she can close some magical portals the king will help her find her father.

I thoroughly enjoyed the world this was set in, i liked Bristol as a character and i may have falled a little bit in love with the king too, i was completely rooting for him.

Great story, would read more if this was a series, it could be, not sure.

Thank you so much for providing me with a review copy of The Courting of Bristol Keats. Unfortunately I've had to set this one aside for now, I've read over 50% so I would like to return to it in the New Year if possible. It had a really strong start but I feel like my interest has decreased which could be a mood thing.

Having read and enjoyed some of the author’s YA novels, I was really excited about her debut adult fantasy and the premise was really intriguing, but, sadly, this wasn’t exactly what I expected. I felt the action dragged out too much and sometimes there were too many points of views that left me confused. Also, I think that some of the writing and timeline was a bit off and I expected more of a cliffhanger at the end. I enjoyed the plot and the characters enough that left me curious to see what happens next, but it took me a while to finish it.

Overall, I really appreciated the main conundrum in this. Everyone was partly responsible for the way things turned out, and I love me a proper conflict. But while I understood why everyone was mad, I didn't exactly *feel* it, and that is one of my main problems with the entire book.

Another was the premise. Right off the bat, we know these 3 sisters love each other, have gone through a lot and can only rely on one another. So it makes perfect sense for them to just let the middle one go off to a world they *just* learned about with nothing but a few supplies, pages from a book and a pat on the shoulder. Sure. I would totally let my sister do that, no problem. (I get narratively *why* we're doing this, but I'm not going to excuse it.) There was no urgency as a result from this, so nothing was really propelling the story for me. This probably wasn't helped by the fact that the author opted for omniscient narration, since it undid all sort of possible suspense. Oh, and there was no character development to keep me interested either.

The third problem was the meandering. You can't convince me someone desperate to save their father is fine twiddling their thumbs for months because of a promise. Bristol is barely doing anything to search for him. She spends most of her time in class or dancing with the LI. And not that I dislike their relationship overall, but people need to stop labelling it slow burn when the characters are getting together after a month of knowing each other. Please.

In fourth place, we have the fact that nothing in this was new or refreshing. I've not read Sarah J. Maas, but even then I've seen all these tropes and ideas done this way before.

Lastly, I'm all for friendships, especially women friendships, but you could have switched them out for each other and nothing would be different except their magical abilities and one distinct trait, which mostly shone through thanks to the narrator.

Speaking of, big props to the narrator. She was absolutely the right choice, delivered on all levels, including the male voices. And I'll throw in a compliment to the author's writing. She created really evocative passages, especially in the beginning.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Mary E. Pearson, and Pan Macmillan for the chance to read and review this book.

I flip-flop between loving this book and just liking it.
This is the first Mary E Pearson book I've ever read and I'm glad I waited for her adult/Romantasy debut. You can definitely tell that she catered to a YA market but I'm hoping in book #2 she will come into her own.
The Courting of Bristol Keats revolves around Bristol, an absolutely ordinary girl from Bowskeep. We're meant to believe this despite the fact that her parents kept their whole family on the run for majority of her life, until they settled down in Bowskeep, and then her parents died... The book follows Bristol, intensely independent and stubborn, as she tries to provide for her family until an aunt she has never heard of wants to give her a gift. As with all fairy-bargains, the deal goes wrong and Bristol abandons her sisters to live in Elphame whilst they try to figure out if the niche branch of magic Bristol has will save their world. I enjoyed the plot of the book and the characters. They were complex and likeable and infuriating. But the world-building was lazy. There were characters who were supposed to be half-human-half-creature people but we were never given a proper descriptions. I don't know how any of its works.
The other things that bugged me was the intertextual references that Ms Pearson threw in - Elphame will always remind me of Elfame in Holly Black's books. The references to the "cauldron of plenty" will always remind me of ACOTAR. "Anastacia Wiggin's Encyclopedia of Faerieland - you mean Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries. I started keeping notes of the references as I felt like I was losing my mind.
My review sounds negative but I actually enjoyed reading the book and hate that I can't read the second one yet. Its incomplete.
Miscommunication is never my favourite trope but INTENTIONAL miscommunication where the FMC just gets over herself? love it.
It was a good, not fantastical, but solid. Gimme book #2, please

After the supposed death of her mother and father Bristol Keats is thrown into a world of fae and magic in order to protect her sisters and find her father.

Is the plot pretty predictable yes did that hinder my enjoyment not all. I found it fun and fast paced love the world and detail of all the different fae. Bristols growth and development and uncovering the secrets had me invested.

Knocked off one star for the ending I felt forgiveness was given too quickly and easily. Looking forward to book 2.

I really loved this romantic story! I thought it was a great take on fae and a nice addition to Mary's books. It's a little slower than some other romantasies but once you are invested it's excellent. Highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait for the next one. The story was easy to follow from the very beginning and I really enjoyed the characters,the plot was also really interesting and had me eager to know more. It felt a bit slow at times, but other that I absolutely loved it.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC!

This was my first book by this author, but it certainly won’t be the last. I really enjoyed the characters, the captivating setting, and the plot. While I found the pacing a bit slow at the beginning, it gradually picked up and kept me hooked.

I did feel a bit lost initially with the world-building and the introduction of the creatures, but as the story unfolded, everything became much clearer. The tension and romance between Bristol and Tyghan were absolutely brilliant and kept me turning the pages.

I can’t wait to dive into the second book in the series!

**I reviewed this is all the usual places and totally forgot to pop it on here (which is kinda the point!!) but here it is :)

I genuinely don't know what I was expecting from this story, because honestly, give me a promising blurb and I'll happily dive in quite blind to whatever world is placed before me.

The Courting of Bristol Keats is a delightful slow burn of a book.

Bristol and Tyghan are both fragile and vulnerable in their own ways, thrust together through needs and desires to secure a future for a family and a people.

The world building is beautiful, with the history and mythology of Tuatha Dé Danann (Irish, pre Christian, origin folklore) is beautiful woven into the world of Elphame, the pace is spot on and I can't think of a single character that wasn't fleshed out exactly as you'd want them to be.

There are lies and treachery, bonds forged of fierce loyalty and duty, and for some, an almost desperate, consuming passion, tenderness, and finally a place that feels like home, like somewhere to belong ❤️

There are plot twists and turns - revelations I did not see coming despite the fact that it was right there if I had just looked!

The ending is not ok, but it's also kind of ok because it would have been way worse a few pages earlier, nonetheless I need the next one in my hands like I need my next breath!

The Courting of Bristol Keats is my favourite book of the year so far after Lilith, but they're quite different genres and this is 100% my favourite fantasy of 2024!

5 huge stars, can't recommend enough, it's the Fae story I didn't know I needed or wanted but now it's here I can't get enough and I absolutely need more.

Thank-you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eArc.

A fantasy romance featuring fae and monsters? Right up my street! Is what I'd thought.

The Courting of Bristol Keats is the first of a duology following Bristol Keats, an orphan in charge of looking after herself and her sisters in an unforgiving world. Life is tough and money is hard to come by. Until a mysterious distant Aunt makes a proposal on the behalf of a Fae King to enlist Bristol's help in an adventure.

Much like other reviewers, I have to question whether this has been edited. The story is dense and oddly detailed. The pacing is incredibly slow, I was 100 pages in before anything really got started. The side characters are quickly introduced and have little to help identify themselves - they talk the same, act the same and often sound the same to the reader. The chapters change their narrating character frequently and with little warning. And dear lord that ending!

Interesting premise, poor execution.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

At 560 pages, this definitely felt like a slog at times and I feel some editing could have been made while still retaining the key plot elements. Also, what the hell with that abrupt ending? I did enjoy elements of the novel, while others felt recycled from every fae romantasy published in the last ten years. And weirdly, I actually liked the supporting cast more than the main protagonists, particularly the recruits. Pearson has left a lot of loose ends to be wrapped up in the next installment, so it will be interesting to see how she does it.

The Courting of Bristol Keats is an enjoyable romantasy steeped in Irish mythology.

I really like Mary E. Pearson’s writing style, however, I did feel this read very YA. The characterisations often lacked the depth I would expect in a new adult novel. The resolution of the conflict was very underwhelming and I was left confused with the poor ending. There were various other points in the book that would have made more sense, rather than with a sex scene which didn’t really add anything to the plot. Those scenes were well written, but just seemed like an odd choice.

Overall, this was a fairly quick and easy read with interesting magic and other elements. There is enough intrigue for me to want to continue with the series, but I was a little disappointed. I would still recommend this to lovers of romantasy and particularly to those new to the genre.

This book was beautifully written, as are all Mary E Pearson books. It was full of magic and strong relationships, whether that be friendship, sisterhood or romantic. This was Pearson’s first adult book and it was nice to see characters of a similar age to myself trying to find themselves. There was some spice in this book and it was very tasteful, to reassure those who are adverse to those kinda scenes.
The main male lead Tyghan was lying to Bristol through most of the book, which was hard because their relationship felt natural and sweet (only a little bit of enemies, mostly lovers).
I was desperate for more closure at the end of the book, but it is a duology so I am hoping we get everything we need in book 2. I am so excited to meet Bristol’s mother
This was not a quick read, it took me a few weeks to get through, but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing because I enjoyed every bit I read.
Overall rating is 4.5 stars

𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝑬𝒎𝒐𝒋𝒊𝒔: 💕🐍🚪🕰️🧌🏰

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒕: Book 1 in an adult Romantasy Duology for fans of The Folk of the Air series🤭

𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕:
🩷Secrets & Mystery
💚Hidden Identities
🩷Fae Realm & Faerie Courts
💚Time between the human and Fae Realm is wibbly wobbly
🩷Slow Burn Reluctant Allies/Enemies to Lovers


𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘:
This was a really enjoyable fantasy in the same vein as The Cruel Prince. The Fae world was dangerous and dark, the characters morally grey and the love interest a brooding, secretive king who just can’t stay away from the human FMC who bargained with him.

I thought the world building was good, with Elphame being a richly crafted place both seductive and deadly with an often gothic edge and I was invested in unraveling the secrets and mysteries of the story.

There were two things that stopped me from rating this higher: the length and ending of the book. This book was chonky (over 500 pages) and I actually felt towards the end that a climax, confrontation and resolution weren’t far off. If some bits had been cut/sped up in the middle then it probably could have been a standalone. Honestly though, I probably wouldn’t have felt like that if it wasn’t for the strange and abrupt ending- I have never read anything end so abruptly and in such an … odd?… place. I will be interested to see if Book 2 is another 500+ page book and where the plot will go next

I think most fantasy lovers, especially fans of Holly Black, will enjoy this one and feel compelled to keep reading like I was. For me, this was set to be a 4.25/4.5⭐️ up until the ending which brought it down a little BUT I do still definitely recommend giving it a go!

𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

The Courting of Bristol Keats follows Bristol as she becomes entangled in the world of Elfhame. After being forced into a deal with a fae king she must learn to navigate magic, mystery, deceit and romance.

Whilst my overall opinion of this book is a positive one, I did find the pacing was weird. I felt the plot (and therefore my investment in the story and characters) didn’t arrive until the second half.

I really loved the political intrigue that we encountered as the second half of the book progressed and I can’t wait for the second book in this duology.

The romance felt a little ‘insta-love’ and I would have appreciated some more yearning and tension on the lead up to them getting together. I did enjoy the scenes between Bristol and Tygan later on in the book and I loved how messy their situation became.

I really enjoyed the writing and the whimsy of the world. I’m very much looking forward to book 2 and in the meantime I’ll finally be reaching for Mary E Pearson’s Dance of Thieves duology.

I would just like to add that the ending was the most abrupt and bizzare way to end a book I’ve ever encountered. Had we been left with a cliff hanger it may have tipped the scales towards a 4⭐️ review from me.

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