The Last Wish of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson
The Last Wish of Bristol Keats is a beautifully written and deeply engaging story that I thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end. Mary E. Pearson has such a gift for crafting characters who feel authentic and layered, and the development of each one was one of the most rewarding parts of this read. Watching them grow, change, and reveal hidden depths kept me so invested throughout.
The pacing strikes a lovely balance between immersive world-building and character driven storytelling. Mary E Pearson weaves together emotion, intrigue, and heart in a way that feels so effortless, and it made me care deeply about the relationships at the core of the story. There’s a strong sense of atmosphere, with vivid descriptions that draw you straight into the world and keep you there.
What stood out most for me was how each character’s journey intertwined with the overarching themes of love, resilience, and hope. The narrative felt both intimate and expansive, and I found myself reflecting on the characters long after I finished reading.
A compelling, heartfelt, and memorable story that will resonate with readers who love richly developed characters and emotional depth. Highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan, and Mary E. Pearson for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my goodness, "The Last Wish of Bristol Keats" is everything I didn’t know I needed in a fantasy romance. This book is packed with action, emotional depth, and some truly swoon-worthy moments between Bristol and Tyghan, but it’s also a rollercoaster of heartache, betrayal, and tough choices. If you’re a fan of faeries, magic, and romance that’ll make your heart race, this one will pull you in from the first chapter.

Bristol has grown so much since the first book. Her relationship with Tyghan is more complicated than ever, especially after that near-death experience with the monsters her mother unleashed. They’re a team now, and their love feels deeper and more raw than it was before but the stakes are higher too. Bristol is really coming to terms with her powers and the weight of her birthright. The emotional tension between wanting to protect those she loves and realizing the dark potential within her is so well done.

And then there’s Tyghan. He’s already a swoon-worthy hero in my book, but wow, his journey in this one just broke my heart in the best way. He has to face some seriously tough truths about his past, including his betrayal by Kierus, and it’s painful to watch him struggle with that secret. It’s the kind of internal conflict that adds so much depth to his character, and I ended up rooting for him even more.

The action scenes are intense, and there’s a real sense of danger and urgency as Bristol faces the reality of what her mother’s power means for Elphame. But what really kept me turning the pages was the emotional stakes. The question of where Bristol’s loyalty lies and whether she’s willing to embrace her own magic knowing it could turn her into something monstrous is so gripping. She has to make impossible choices, and watching her navigate them was both heartbreaking and empowering.

I really loved how the book explores the gray areas of loyalty, love, and power. The writing is beautiful and immersive, and Pearson has this way of making every scene feel like it matters. It’s emotional, intense, and full of twists that will keep you on your toes. The romance between Bristol and Tyghan is pure gold, but it’s also a story about personal growth, sacrifice, and the cost of doing what’s right.

If you enjoyed the first book in the duology, "The Last Wish of Bristol Keats" will absolutely satisfy you and then some. It’s an emotional, high-stakes journey that’ll leave you thinking about it long after you turn the last page. Highly recommend if you like your fantasy with a side of romance and some seriously tough moral dilemmas.

A satisfying, heart-wrenching end for one of the most original romantasy reads of the last few years. After eating up book 1, I was eager to see how Bristol and Tyghan would fare as the battle for the kingdom and the race to save her parents raged on.
The book did not disappoint. It's shorter than the first book, but it packs a lot in. I wish it was longer purely to see more of the characters and Elphame!
It's fast-paced and I flew through it in less than 24 hours, but it still managed to spare time for the heart of the story - the romance was gut-wrenching and devastating at times but not in a way that felt inauthentic. Pearson has listened to romantasy fans and showed how communication should be done well in a relationship - showing not perfection but forgiveness and the desire to be together over being right ( although a tricky one given their stubborn personalities!)
Tyghan is an incredible character and blows all stereotyped MMCs out of the water - he is a tortured hero who apologises and learns from his mistakes, he is stubborn and protective but not overbearing. He is so refreshing!
The last 25% had me crying laughing and crying again from the rollercoaster of emotions, but it was satisfying in the end and I know this duology will be a staple I return to time and time again.

I just finished The Last Wish of Bristol Keats and honestly, it was such a satisfying wrap‑up to the duology. If you read the first book, you’ll probably feel right at home with the world and the characters. The story picks up with Bristol dealing with a lot .family drama, magic that she’s not sure she can trust and a romance that’s sweet but definitely not simple.

What stood out to me is how much heart the book has. Bristol is stuck between all these competing loyalties and you can really feel her struggle. Her relationship with Tyghan has this nice mix of trust and uncertainty, which makes it feel real and not just fairytale perfect. There’s a good amount of tension, both in the romance and in the bigger plot with magic, betrayal, and danger closing in from all sides.

I loved the setting too. The world is full of atmosphere, with all the fae lore and the sense that something wild or magical could happen at any moment. Pearson has a way of making you want to stay in her world a bit longer, even when the stakes are high.

If I’m being honest, I did have to take a minute to remember who everyone was at the start, but once I got back into it, I was hooked. The pacing is a mix of action and quieter moments, which I liked. It gives you space to actually care about the characters, not just rush from one crisis to the next.

By the end, I felt like everything was wrapped up in a way that made sense for Bristol and Tyghan. It’s bittersweet in places, but in a good way — the kind that feels earned, not just sad for the sake of it.

If you like character driven fantasy with a bit of romance, magic, and some emotional twists, you’ll probably have a really good time with this one. It’s a book that cares about its people, and I appreciated that.

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

The perfect conclusion to this enchanting duology.

The Last Wish of Bristol Keats picks up right where the first book left off. This was everything I hoped for and in my opinion, even better than the first book.

Bristol and Tyghan are officially one of my favourite book couples ever to exist, I love that no matter whether they’re all over each other or having a spat, there’s always a really deep desire from both sides to just understand each other and work through things as a team.

It’s got swoonworthy moments, moments that will have you on the edge of your seat, moments that will have you sobbing into your snacks and drink of choice and moments that will make you want to do nothing but sit and stare at the wall. I felt three of those emotions at the ending alone—I’ll leave you to guess which.

Love love LOVED this!!! Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sharing this eARC with me.

The Last Wish of Bristol Keats was such a magical read. Picking up right where the first book left off, it immediately pulled me in with nonstop action, faerie politics, and emotional stakes that hit hard. I loved how Bristol and Tyghan finally get to communicate and work through their issues, which made their romance feel earned and deeply satisfying.

The worldbuilding in this duology is phenomenal, and I especially appreciated how family, both biological and chosen, is woven into the story. The mix of magic, danger, and personal growth kept me glued to the pages, and the side characters added so much heart and depth. Even the sad or intense moments felt beautifully written, never overdone.

Overall, this is a perfect conclusion to the Bristol Keats duology. It is emotional, romantic, and endlessly immersive. I closed the book feeling completely satisfied while also wishing I could spend just a little longer in this world.

I cannot even begin to explain how good this book was. The story keeps on giving and the worldbuilding is so good. It's an amazing ending to the duology, and the harder/sad parts were beautifuly written.

I didn't think the first book could be improved upon... The Last Wish of Bristol Keats proved me wrong
Fantastically written with beautifully deep and well developed characters, I loved every page of this and did not want it to end!

Omg Mary. She has done it again, swept me up in the pages of magic and swoon worthy love and then broke my heart.

That ending was beautiful and devestating and I dont really know how Im going to move on.

Bristol has captured my heart.

These 2 books were written to perfection and I highly recommend!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. - Freya, arc & monthly book box pick reviewer (athenafreyag on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/athenafreyag/ )

Initial thoughts: I am going to miss them so much!!!!!!! I love Tyghan and Bri so much!!! This world, the rest of the characters, everything has been carved on my bones!!

What I liked 🤩: EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Book 2 is as perfect as book 1!!! More emotional baggage!! More spice!! More romantic and angsty moments!! Secrets, betrayals, deaths, and an unforgettable journey to self-discovery, mutual understanding, and love!

Bri grew a lot in this book, too. She became more confident, more secure in herself and her friends, and even when things were rough with Tyghan, she never doubted his love which she did in the first book. We do love character development! What I loved the most about Bri was not just how resourceful she is, but how she paints her own life without giving a damn about society norms and expectations. If she doesn't want to do something, there is no way, no person, no artifact that can make her do it. Her choices were also so refreshing, and it offers one more reason why this series stands out among other fae romantasy books.

Tyghan, my man!!!!!!!!! In this book, you truly embody the perfect boyfriend. Protective but not suffocating, understanding and honest but not closed-off. He was so mature, which was a big turn-on, I might add. I adoooooore him, people!!! Nobody hurt him because I will riot!!!

The side characters are many but I never got lost or confused. I have always had a clear understanding of who is who and their personalities, which also speaks to the author's capabilities.

What I didn’t like 🙃: Hmm, I would have lived better without that "years jump forward" plot device at the end, but the author even managed to use a device I do not like and made it work without affecting my reading experience, and I am very impressed by that! (Yes, I hate flashforwards that much.)

Overall: THIS IS PERFECTION AND I AM CRYING BECAUSE THIS WAS THE FINAL BOOK AND WTH AM I GONNA DO NOW WITHOUT TYGHAN?????

SE info: Owlcrate and Waterstones have already announced the SE info about this, and I am sure that Fairyloot will also do a matching edition.

A wonderful, heartwarming and joyous read that was the best kind of enjoyable read. Highly recommended!