(4.5/5) I am a sucker for a beautifully crafted, faerie world and Mary E. Pearson creates one within The Courting of Bristol Keats. This is the author's adult romantic fantasy debut and book one in an incomplete duology.

What to expect:
🗝️ Adult romantic fantasy
🗝️ 3rd person, multi POV
🗝️ Fae, demigods & magical creatures
🗝️ Mystery, secrets & betrayal
🗝️ Reluctant allies
🗝️ Secret identities
🗝️ Forbidden romance
🗝️ Slow burn with lighter spice (not super detailed/explicit)

I have to admit—two things ultimately convinced me to request this eARC: the gorgeous cover/limited edition stenciled edges and Adalyn Grace's (author of the Belladonna trilogy) glowing review. I'm so glad I was approved for an eARC because I found this book unique, fantastical, and romantic.

Not only does Mary E. Pearson create a beautiful world, but I appreciate the complexity of her characters. Although I found the switching of POVs a bit confusing—the POVs are not clearly stated at the top of each chapter and she sometimes switches perspectives within a chapter—I was able to adjust about 30% in. I hope she takes the time to develop side characters that have had POVs (such as Eris and Melizan) in book 2.

I love that the author chose to pair the forbidden romance with a slow burn so it felt believable. While the anticipated spice scenes weren't overly explicit, I found them tasteful and not distracting from the overall plot. This is a romantic fantasy, so the fantasy is ultimately in the forefront.

This is a long book and I can see it deterring some readers, but I'm the type of reader who regularly reads 500+ page books. I would say three things really lengthen this story, Mary E. Pearson:
👉 Provides a lot of background for context
👉 Loves to give thoughtful details
👉 Builds character personalities and relationships through "micro moments" (e.g., dancing in the forest, training lessons, day-to-day life)

While I found the ending to be a bit abrupt—I wouldn't necessarily call it a cliffhanger—I am looking forward to the next book and plan on completing this duology. I can't wait for more readers to get their hands on this book November 12, 2024.

A sincere thank you to Flatiron Books for an eARC through NetGalley.

Mary E. Pearson crafted such a beautiful and magical world while staying original! I loved how it took elements from popular fantasy books such as the Cruel Prince and Spiderwick chronicles but ultimately was still her story. The romance in this book was tasteful and not overbearing making it feel more like it’s JUST a fantasy book with romance aspects. I absolutely love her previous works and this book did not disappoint me one bit. The characters were complex and well thought out. Bristol was the perfect fantasy FMC and wasn’t your traditional badas* FMC or your girl in distressed waiting for someone to save her. I am so so so excited to buy the physical book when it comes out and to read her next book!!

"The Courting of Bristol Keats" is a long book that took a bit to hook me, but once it did I couldn't stop reading. It is full of high drama, spicy romance, and impossible moral conundrums (everyone is to blame AND everyone is to be pitied). That last aspect was probably my favorite part.

Mary Pearson is an auto-buy author for me after The Remnant Chronicles and Dance of Thieves duology (one of my favorites ever). This adult standalone is right up my alley and I will absolutely be buying a hard copy when it releases in November - especially with its sprayed edges!!

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

lInstantly became my favorite romantasy of the year. Mary E. Pearson knows how to write a Romantic Fantasy. It's gripping and adventurous with the angst and tension you want out of a romantic couple. The development of the backstory is very well done and with multiple POVs and you get insight of the history of the world of elfhame and it's easy to follow. There is plotting and political intrigue. So many mysteries and things yet to be done that makes you want to continue reading. This book's world concept of magic is explained as well. There is a wide range of characters some who are obnoxious to some super loveable. The book's ending was very unexpected but it does leave you content until book 2 comes out.


Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the opportunity to listen to this e-ARC. This is very much my honest opinion

I devoured this in one sitting! This is a fantastic romantasy that satisfied every part of me! The writing was phenomenon, I could clearly see the story in my head as I was reading. I literally could not stop turning pages until I got to the very end.

I tried so hard to love this book. I was (still am) obsessed with Dance of Thieves and Vow of Thieves so i was so excited for this book. Unfortunately, this book almost put me in a reading slump and it’s so disappointing because I already pre-ordered my copy.

This book could have had so much edited out and the detail dump was almost too much (even tho the details were unnecessary) and sometimes I didn’t know whose pov I was reading. The side characters were kind of forgettable which was not good when it was their pov and I didn’t know who they were.

To finish my ranting I don’t think this will stop me from reading the rest of the series cause it had some moments where I was actually intrigued (even though I lost interest after).

I am just one person I am sure someone else will love it .

Probably a bit more than 4 stars?

This is giving adult Cruel Prince and I really enjoyed it! We've got the mix of human and fae and monsters, fish out of water style FMC, magic and weaponry training, mysteries and secrets, and twists and betrayals. It's a bit slow-paced, but ramps up a bit at the end. We also get spicy scenes!

While I really did love the development of the relationship between Bristol and Tyghan, and I loved them both as MCs, we're also cursed with something hanging over the entire relationship. And that is one of my least favorite tropes of lying by omission. Because it ALWAYS blows up. This is literally in the synopsis, so I did realize what I was in for, but ahhhh the ANGST!

I think the world-building and side character development could have used some more page time. And the book just ENDS. Almost mid-scene. There's no wrap up or setting up for the next book. Thankfully I knew there would be a next book! And I need it right now!

I absolutely enjoyed the book and would recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview. The audiobook narrator did a great job, and I'd also recommend that format. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed the storyline and world. There was so much potential in this book! I really wanted to like it, but the nonstop, over the top sexual tension drove me crazy. I picked up the book thinking it would be fairly clean based on the author’s previous works. I was wrong and ended up quitting 2/3 in when there was an explicit sex scene. I love a good romance, but I felt like all there was between the character was lust. I also wasn’t crazy about all the language (again, I wasn’t expecting based on author’s previous work). I would read this author again if she cut the explicit sex and language.