The premise of a human in our modern world being pulled into a faerie world just doesn't do anything for me. The human MC is never sufficiently shocked or unbelieving. They seem to accept it way too easily. After that initial aversion to the story's set-up, I slowly started to enjoy it.

The plot was both super simple AND overly complicated. Some parts felt appropriately adult, while other felt YA. Lots of characters and complex political conflicts. Elphame has a lot of history and world building. Enjoyed most parts, but others made my eyes glaze over.

The romance. Ugh. I'm torn on this one. Enjoyed the initial loathe to more build-up, and then BAM! They are in love! Open-door scenes felt like they were trying too hard. Same with the strong language. Explicit scenes and swear words should not be what makes an adult book "adult." Wanted something more/different out of the romance.

AND THE ENDING. I kid you not, it just stops. Mid-scene. So abrupt. Not really a cliffhanger, but absolutely not resolution to any of the conflicts. I know it's the first in a series, but that was the oddest way to end a story. I felt duped. I was actually enjoying the reveals and twists, and the ending ruined it.

*strong language, 3 open door scenes

While not the most original romantasy, I enjoyed my time with this one. The characters were fun, and I really liked Bristol, as she was smart, brave, and had agency, something that is unfortunately lacking in a lot of romantasy FMCs. The side characters were fun, and even though they felt a bit trope-y at times they didn’t seem just there to propel the main character forward.

I wish the romance had been drawn out a bit more, as I’m not a huge fan of insta-love, and I prefer more yearning and tension. But overall the characters do have good chemistry and go well together, so I won’t complain too much.

While there was a lot happening throughout this story, it seemed like a lot of the action happened off page, which was a little annoying as I would rather be shown than told things like that. The conclusion was very exciting though, and it definitely made me look forward to the next book in the series.

Bristol is a dumb bitch who didn’t question a single fucking thing and then got mad because she didn’t question anything.

This is just so dragged out and then the ending didn’t resolve anything because the middle was way to long and unnecessary, not to mention that it raised some questions that I’m not sure I want answered?

It took me 13 days to read this and I was so determined to finish it before my dinner came out of the oven that I skimmed the last 20 pages 🤷🏼‍♀️

This is easily one of my new favorite books. Even while reading it, I was recommending it to people. I got to the last page and turned it expecting another chapter, and my heart broke realizing it was the end. I can’t WAIT for the next book!!

I loved the characters and the growth in them all. I don’t feel like I can say much without giving anything away, but I loved it all, every story line. ♥️

Whimsy, danger, and fae-filled intrigue await in "The Courting of Bristol Keats"! After losing her parents, Bristol Keats is barely holding things together - until mysterious letters from a long-lost "aunt" reveal her father might not be dead, but kidnapped by creatures from a magical realm. Desperate for answers, Bristol embarks on a breathtaking journey to a world of gods, monsters, and enchantment, where she strikes a perilous bargain with Tyghan, the darkly magnetic fae king. But Tyghan has secrets of his own, and their quest for the truth is as dangerous as it is captivating.

This romantasy is perfect for fans of "The Cruel Prince" and "Throne of Glass" series. The richly detailed faerie realm dazzled with its vibrant creatures and tangled politics, while the romance brimmed with tension and complexity. Bristol was a smart, likeable heroine, and the twists and turns kept me hooked through the 500+ pages. Highly recommend - where's Book #2 already?!

Thank you to NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and Mary E. Pearson for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I'd give this book a 3.75/5 stars. Would recommend this book to any readers looking for a thrilling romantasy filled with family secrets, fae intrigue, dangerous bargains, and a vivid magical realm!

i went into this thinking i’d love it from the beginning. oops! i was wrong!

i thoroughly enjoyed pearson’s dance of thieves duology but this was a big head scratcher. the story felt disjointed and wtf was that cliffhanger (lol), the chapters got confusing with the many POVs (hopefully this has been edited in the final copy - i need to know which POV i’m reading) but!!! i did enjoy the characters. this also felt way too long for no reason and i lost focus more times than i can count. i still would like to read the second book whenever that comes out but i’m honestly sad this didn’t hit it for me.

ty to netgalley and the publisher for the arc ♡

When I heard Mary E. Pearson was going to be writing an Adult Fae novel I immediately added it to my TBR. Her YA Fantasy books are some of my favorite series books of all time so of course I was going to be picking this one up as soon as I could.

The Courting of Bristol Keats focuses on our fmc, Bristol. Having grown up with her sisters moving from town to town, she's never really had a homebase. After losing both of her parents, Bristol has come back to the quiet town of Bowskeep (where her sisters are) and she's trying to help establish some stability but things aren't looking very promising. When Bristol begins to receive letters from an "aunt" she's never heard of who promises she can help, she agrees to meet and that's when she discovers that everything she thought she knew about her family is a lie. And the biggest lie of all...her father might be alive. Not killed but kidnapped by creatures from a completely different realm...where he just happens to be from.

In an attempt to save her father and finally find out the truth about her family, Bristol agrees to a bargain with the fae king, Tyghan. But she doesn't know the whole story and she doesn't really know who she can, or should, trust. With all the lies and secrets her parents have kept Bristol is coming to terms with who she truly is and at the same time, she is finding out who they are and how they are linked to Tyghan and this strange world she never even knew existed.

As always, Pearson did a fantastic job of developing these characters and establishing who they are and what their motivations are. I loved seeing Bristol dive right into this world and do the best she could to learn and survive. She isn't a quitter and she's not afraid to stand up for herself either. I thought the way the relationship was developed between Bristol and Tyghan was done well too.

Overall, this was a great introduction to these characters and this world. Based on how this one wrapped up, I'll be curious to see how the next book picks up and continues and I will definitely be picking it up. If you're looking for a new Adult Fantasy series to grab, consider grabbing this one.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. While parts of the story left me a bit confused, prompting me to reread sections to ensure I didn’t miss any key details, the overall experience was enjoyable. It took some persistence, but the rest of the story was worth it. My rating: 3.5 stars.

This was a good story with excellent world-building, good characters, and a couple of great twists. Easy to sell to people who love Sarah J. Maas, or books of that nature.

I picked this up purely because it was labeled as a romantic fantasy with fae and while those are as plentiful as sand on the beach these days, I still love them. I also love this because it’s partially set in our world and Bristol has lived her entire life being unaware the fae exist despite the fact that one of her parents is fae. This gave me such nostalgia for the fantasy I loved during my teenage years and that is definitely why I enjoyed it so much!
Bristol has been living in the small town of Bowskeep with her two sisters longer than anywhere else they’ve stayed. Unfortunately, they’ve stayed this long because both of their parents are now dead - their mother swept away in flood waters and their father recently killed in a hit and run. The three are struggling to stay afloat with Bristol delivering pizzas and Cat working a similar job, so when Bristol gets a letter from a long lost aunt she goes to investigate and see if this offer of rare artwork is legitimate. What Bristol doesn’t know is that fae gifts aren’t freely given and she’s swept away into another world full of strange people with wings, horns, and even the ability to shapeshift.
This book has a lot going on, though the main plot is fairly straightforward. Bristol has agreed to train her magic alongside other potential candidates to find and close a doorway that would allow an enemy king to bring the dead into the fae lands. In exchange, her sisters have received valuable, undiscovered da Vincis that will see them set for life and no longer troubled by finances AND Tyghun, the acting ruler, has agreed to help search for her father who may still be alive. What Bristol doesn’t know is that both of her parents are from these lands - her father an orphaned human raised by the fae and her mother is infamously known as the Darklands monster. The pair fled their former lives a mere six months ago in fae time, but decades ago in human time so their betrayals are still fresh.
Bristol is a very likable character and though she is strong and a little stubborn, she doesn’t have the same vibe as so many ‘strong’ female characters appearing in fantasy lately. She isn’t brazen and rude (most of the time) and forms friendships, cares for her sisters and parents in a very real way, and even acts reasonably when presented with new and surprising information. Practically a breath of fresh air! Tyghun is also a likable love interest, despite the strange name, and I like that we get to see a side of him that regrets keeping secrets from Bristol all the while acknowledging that the kingdom comes first and the kingdom needs her cooperation.
I remain pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this and how fast I barreled through the story, especially considering my slow reading pace of late. There was never a dull moment and I enjoyed learning about the world, the various players in courtly politics, and how Bristol’s parents fit into the larger narrative. Thank goodness it’s only a duology, because I definitely wouldn’t want this story to drag out. That being said, I really need the sequel right now because I have to find out what happened after a series of shocking events at the end!

I love Mary E. Pearson. She is an auto-read author for me.

I'll be honest, I went into this book totally blind. I requested this book as soon as I saw that she was publishing an adult book. I was surprised that it was a fae romance fantasy. I'm not mad about it. There is a lot of mystery within this book, but told in a way in which we the readers knows and pretty much reads as the characters come to learn things. It's a page-turner and will have readers wanting more of the story.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I wish I liked this more. This had promise, but it was written in a very weird way, and I feel like the characters popped in with no real rhyme or reason. We don’t get a lot of information on them, and despite this being an adult novel, this is really giving a YA feel.

I don’t dislike this book, but I really don’t have any interest in reading the second book. 3 stars.

My first book with Mary E. Pearson and truly one to remember, I enjoyed the characters, plot and writing style and it kept me engaged with the story for days! Thank you so much for the arc, I enjoyed it!

The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson is a tender and emotionally rich romance that left a lasting impression on me. The story follows Bristol Keats, a young woman navigating love, family expectations, and self-discovery. I was drawn to Bristol's complexity—she’s not your typical heroine, but someone who grows through her struggles and uncertainties.

The romance is slow-burn and full of chemistry, but what really resonated with me was how the book explores love in all its forms: romantic, familial, and self-love. The writing is immersive, and Pearson really captures the inner turmoil of her characters as they try to find their way in a world full of expectations.

Though the pacing can feel slow at times, especially during the introspective moments, I appreciated how deeply the characters’ emotional journeys are explored. This book is perfect for anyone who loves stories about personal growth and the different kinds of love that shape us.

The Courting of Bristol Keats is a wonderful start to Mary E. Pearson's new duology! This was such a comforting fantasy story. A portal fantasy with a girl getting tossed into a magical land she didn't know existed is one of my favorite nostalgic fantasy tropes. The world building was great. It was rich and immersive. I really felt like I could see what was happening. I really enjoyed how complex and dynamic some of the characters were. There were so many secrets and lies that I never saw coming. And of course it left off on a cliffhanger but it was much different than what I'm used to. I didn't actually mind it. I recommend giving this a try if you're a fan of fae, unique magic, monsters, swoon worthy romance, and drama.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review (sorry it's late! This book took longer to finish than I expected).

Overall, a nice book. But, considering I've read both her YA fantasy series and absolutely LOVED them, especially the 2nd one, and was waiting Desperately for her Adult debut (I even posted at one point--all that Dance of Thieves is missing is an Adult rating and on-page sex, it's that good of a Romance)...this was a disappointment. I expected to like this book MUCH more than I did. I liked it, but I didn't love it.

Negatives:

1) too long. This needed to be edited down or split into two books. I don't mind long books, but I shouldn't be looking at how many pages I have left, constantly...

2) lack of details about the side characters, especially Bristol's "friends". There's probably TOO many side characters, because I hardly learned anything about any of them, other than surface level details. Bristol's knight in training "friends" are Told but not shown [in how they are friends and who they individually are].

3) narrative choppiness--chapters often jumped in time or POV in a way that made it confusing to follow.

4) magic world-building was not foreshadowed and often told last minute. The tick plot point, anybody??? Was that foreshadowed BEFORE it became important--and if so, did I sleep through it??

5) FMC acts like a bratty teenager in parts. PLEASE, adult authors, AGE UP YOUR CHARACTERS IN AN ADULT BOOK. 20 does not make it an Adult book that is enjoyable to read! Just because there's on-page sex does not mean reading about someone acting (negatively) like a teenager is enjoyable!!


Positives:
1) the slow burn between the MCs was amazing! longest slowburn in one book so far for me! (it took them hundreds of pages to even kiss!)

2) king's sister and her sapphic romance was very delightful. she as a person was a great foil to her brother and the FMC, also.

3) Eris! I thought he was going to be the MMC for a hot second, he was that fun a POV to read at first.

4) the fresh take on faerie! faeries that are ACTUALLY faeries and not elves in disguise! (SJM cough).

5) the magic system was fun and unique! I actually really loved the concept of evil magic ticks once its nature was explored more! tell me more!


Overall, I enjoyed this book and will read the sequel. I do recommend tempering your expectations, however, if you've read the author's other fantasy books (they're written/executed better). I thought the Concept to this book was great, but the Execution was done less well.

gorgeous, romantic, dramatic, awesome story that i'm looking forward to the sequel on. our MC was amazing, our side chars were cool.... 5 stars.t sym for the arc.

I went into this book completely blind and was left very satisfied! Definitely for fans of Cruel Prince and the mmc gave me Dorian vibes from TOG which I LOVED! I was here for alllll the vibes, lots of twist and turns with fun creatures and fae— need book two now! Thank you so much NetGalley for the arc! :)

**Features:**

- Uncovering family secrets in a Fae world
- Slow burn, enemies to lovers romance
- Political intrigue and morally grey characters

**Summary:**

When Logan Keats died, he took his secrets with him. With both parents now gone, Bristol and her sisters are left without answers and struggling to stay afloat. However, Bristol has been receiving strange letters from a great aunt she has never met that promise to change their fortunes. Bristol knows something is off about the letters, but her desire for answers eventually wins over her caution. What she finds waiting is more than what she could have ever bargained for, including the possibility that her father is still alive. Her only hope of saving her father and uncovering the whole truth lies in the realm her father once called home and the perilous court of the fae king, Tyghan.

**Thoughts:**

From the very beginning of this book, it is clear that there is far more happening than any one character is aware of and I was immediately invested in seeing the different pieces of this story come together. After the death of her parents in quick succession, Bristol grieves not only their loss, but the loss of answers to her lingering questions about their life on the move. Despite feeling lost and being in survival mode, she still proves to be a savvy, tough, and intelligent character that I immediately want to root for. The romance moves at a snail’s pace for the first half of the book, but that allows more room for the characters and plot to establish themselves a little more. That being said, this is a ‘slow burn’ more in the sense that it takes a while for the romance to happen rather than truly having prolonged tension and longing. However, the “enemies” aspect of this relationship has some interesting twists that I really enjoyed.

If you are someone who can’t stand a cliffhanger ending, wait until both books are out to enjoy this one. Without giving away any details, this ends in a mid-scene cliffhanger (the most diabolical!) that left me both wanting more and a little confused. The book also slows down quite a bit in the middle and these pacing issues are really what keep it from earning top marks from me. However, I am still really looking forward to the sequel and would definitely recommend this read!

Although this book made me realize far isn’t really my thing. I did throughly enough this book. I felt like the world building was detailed without being tedious, the character development was well thought out and executed. Will definitely read the sequel.