3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Flatiron Books for this advanced copy. You can pick up The Courting of Bristol Keats on November 12, 2024.

I've been a Mary E. Pearson fan for a decade and have loved every single book she's put out. But this one, sadly, was a miss for me.

It has so many elements that sound up my alley -- fae worlds, hidden magical powers, a sexy enemy king, found family. But I fear the book failed to execute these elements well, and instead spent too much time getting bogged down in world-building and lackluster banter.

To my knowledge, this is the first Pearson book to be set in the modern world with a fantastical side to it. And I think it shows -- I struggled to connect to these characters and their problems, and the intense info-dumping throughout the first third of the book made it difficult to keep track of everything. There are too many characters to follow and too much downtime between major plot points (the whole book, really, could've been at least 100 pages shorter).

The romance was honestly kind of bland to me, and the third act breakup to forgiveness plotline was INSANE. The entire ending was a mess, especially the last scene. It leaves the reader unsatisfied (pun intended) and does nothing to wrap up the story.

The whole book felt more like a sad imitation of every other romantasy book than its own original, unique story. Which is a shame, because Pearson is a master storyteller. I just think her works flourish more when there's more focus on character relationships and growth than over-the=top world-building and spice.

Will other romantasy readers enjoy this story? Probably! But I found too many issues with it to be an enjoyable experience.

I wanted to love this book. I needed to love this book. I read Pearson’s Remnant Chronicles when they first published, and I liked them fine. Pearson’s gotten a lot of love lately from FairyLoot and there are a ton of different editions of TCoBK with spiffy edges at Waterstones, Barnes & Noble, and one or two book boxes will feature it as well. Not counting the possible edition I think will come from FairyLoot, I preordered about five copies of this from different places. I may cancel most of them. I did not feel the romance in this book; there was no spark, no burn, and certainly no falling. One day, the two hated each other, and the next, they loved each other. The plot was a very long drag of a fae magic school akin to Hogwarts but with some combat-type training thrown in. I’m not sure what was going on with this book, but it was a hot mess for me.

We start Bristol’s journey with some intrigue, which drew me into the book fine enough. Bristol and her two sisters are trying to get by on their own after their father suddenly and unexpectedly dies not long after they lose their mother to another tragedy. The buildup and introduction are pretty good here. I grow attached to Bristol and her sisters well enough, and the mysterious letters from the “aunt” pique my curiosity. However, when Tyghan and his entourage come into the picture, my interest wanes considerably. Tyshawn’s interactions with Bristol don’t have that attraction that enemies-to-lovers need, and once the two meet, Bristol loses her muchness to me. The personality built up over the first few chapters completely goes out the window.

The magic system and world building leave much to be desired as well. While on the one hand, we don’t get a ton of info-dumping, but on the other, we don’t get immersion. Several aspects of the world get mentions in the beginning but only once or twice, and there’s a drop off after that. Several characters get their own little chapters in order to build intrigue, but there’s no reinforcement or context. It just feels like it’s dumped there for effect. We also have a focus on training for new recruits of humans with possible magic tendencies, but no preamble. Once Bristol gets to fairyland, she’s told the next day she starts training—and that’s it. For 560 pages, a lot of things feel like they have been written separately and just put together with no incorporation.

Pressley’s narration deftly portrayed Bristol. I was surprised at the choice in narrator; Pressely hasn’t done much fantasy, but I quite like the job done here, though one voice for so many different points of view was a bit hard to follow, even for me, and I read and listen to a lot of fantasy with multiple characters and intense world building.

Overall, 3/5 for the book and 4/5 for the narration. I’m not sure what exactly I was expecting. The Pearson books I’ve read before demonstrated a skill for writing romance I just don’t see or feel in Bristol Keats. I may go back and reread The Remnant Chronicles to see if I just had rose-colored glasses on. Man, I was really disappointed in this book.

Content warning: Language and explicit sexual content in Chapter 68, Last 5 minutes/few pages of Chapter 87, Chapter 106, End of Chapter 110 (if it doesn’t change after final publication).

My thanks to Macmillan Audio, Tor, Bramble, and Flatiron for the ALC, for which I willingly give my own, honest opinion.

#maryepearson #thecourtingofbristolkeats #macmillan #tor #bramble #flatiron #lgbt #fae #fantasy #romance

I requested an early version of this book because I loved “Vow of Thieves”, and I was not disappointed in this one at all. This one pulls you in from the first chapter and was not what I was expecting. I wish book 2 was already available.

OMG! I am screaming! This book had me by the throat. There are so many twists and turns. I ate it up. Highly recommend if you are a fan of ACOTAR. This take on a fantasy romance was divine. I can't wait for book 2!

Holy smokes, this was fantastic. I haven't read the author's teen books and so this novel was the first that I've experienced of Pearson's writing. I loved everything about this book. The characters, the storytelling, the enemies to lovers romance, and everything in between. Now I desparately wait for book 2.

I really appreciated the opportunity to listen to this ALC for my intro to Mary E. Pearson, and I’m sure this won’t be my last book from her. The Courting of Bristol Keats was so, so close to a 5 star listen to me. The narration is excellent, and the general plot is a really interesting blend of romance and fantasy with complex, interesting characters who are flawed in very human ways. Readers who appreciated ACOTAR but wished for more plot/intrigue will appreciate this book. I do feel that this book tries to contain too much, despite being almost 600 pages. It was difficult to keep track of all of the side characters listening to the audiobook, and likely would have been easier in hard copy. However, I think it would have benefited from slimming down the cast as I think there are several who didn’t contribute much to the story or enjoyment of the book. This was the difference between 4 and 5 stars for me, as well as the ending which seemed to be a chapter too short.

Despite those small complaints, I found this book to be very enjoyable and it felt like accessible fantasy with just enough romance to keep me hooked, but not distracted. I’ll be excited to see when the sequel is coming out!

Life takes a harrowing turn for Bristol Keats and her sisters after the tragic loss of their parents. Struggling to make ends meet and care for her sisters by working in a pizza shop, Bristol's world takes a turn when she begins receiving mysterious letters from an "aunt" she has never heard of. Despite her skepticism, she agrees to meet this unknown relative, only to uncover shocking truths about her family's past. Bristol learns that her father might still be alive. He might be a victim of a kidnapped by terrifying creatures and taken to another realm. Bristol decides to save her father and uncover her family's mysterious history, even though the realm is dangerous and filled with gods, fae, and monsters. She finds herself entangled in a web of magic and political intrigue. She makes a risky deal with Tyghan, the interim king of the fae, to aid her in finding her father; however, Tyghan is responsible for her parents' lives on the run.

Bristol's journey explores the lengths one will go to protect loved ones. Each revelation about her and her parent's past raises questions and propels her further into a treacherous world. Bristol's character development is central to the story, as she evolves from a participant in her life to a determined heroine willing to confront unimaginable dangers for the sake of her family. She felt real and driven by the love of family. Tyghan introduces a morally ambiguous character to the narrative, challenging Bristol's perceptions of good and evil and forcing her to navigate a world where alliances are fragile. You never know what he is thinking or what lengths he will go to for Bristol.

The book explores the idea that the past can't be buried and that secrets can change the course of our lives. The story is a compelling blend of fantasy and adventure with a solid emotional core. The writing is dripping with poetic prose that has a whimsical and romantic feel. The storyline and pacing keep the reader engaged by balancing the magical elements of the story with the authentic and relatable struggles of its characters.

It is a tale of resilience, courage, and the enduring power of family bonds. Great for readers who enjoy stories of self-discovery in mystical worlds and political intrigue. The audio edition was enjoyable and gave a distinct voice to each character, which added to the atmospheric feel.

I received an ARC audiobook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and MacMillan.

I absolutely love this author, but this book isn’t it. I was about 40% through, and when the FMC who grew up in the human world, started waxing poetic about laundromats, I couldn’t take it anymore. Apparently, they are the places for new beginnings. So admittedly, I loved the idea behind this story. Her parents are dead/missing, and she gets yanked into this magical world where she is mayyyybe the only person who can find this magical door. Not a lot is explained, and it is rather boring. The romance doesn’t sizzle, either. I spent most of the 40% I read confused. Also, the audiobook is only one narrator - a female - whose voice is rather pleasant, but she also reads for the male chapters. I’m so disappointed… 😔

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5

The Courting of Bristol Keats is a riveting, fae-filled, romance-infused fantasy that hooked me.

This one was amazing! The pacing was excellent, and the characters and character development were well-written. I loved the romance, fantasy creatures, and twists. The story was atmospheric and utterly addictive, with so many fun elements and moments. The writing was beautiful, and I enjoyed how the prose fit Bristol’s character and the story. The ending was spectacular, and I cannot wait for the second book!

Brittany Pressley nailed the audiobook narration. Her voice fit the world, character, and story so well. I loved the accents she used and the way she presented the story. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook!

Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC!

I didn’t want this book to end and I actually listened at a slower pace than I normally go, just so I could enjoy it longer. I had never heard of this author but she did a great job of world building (without boring the reader with so much information you get confused), character building and story telling.

Thank you to the publisher Macmillan Audio, via Netgalley, for the opportunity to listen to this advanced release audio!

Thank you NetGalley for the audio ARC! I want to preface that if I misspell anything, it’s bc everything I have heard is through audio and did not read a single line of this book****

Want to start off with, narrator is great! French accent is flawless. Loved everything about the narrator and did a great job with multiple POVs.

However, bc it is 1 narrator in 3rd person, I had a hard time distinguishing certain POVs bc the chapter did not discern who’s POV it was, sometimes took a hit to say who’s chapter it was especially when I have no idea who/what/when that character is talking. And that confused me quite a bit. (Won’t explain too much bc I don’t want to spoil anything but expect multiple POVs). Haven’t read anything by this author so not sure if that’s a common occurrence.

Plot line wise, I enjoyed it. Was a bit slow for me in the beginning, but I feel that’s how world building sometimes is especially when we’re talking between mortal and fae lands in one book.

I like Bristol, like her as a FMC. I like how she did everything for her sisters, she cares very deeply to her friends and family. I love how all her conflicts were met with reasonable actions and reactions, nothing felt too crazy. I also liked the MMC Tygan (not sure if that’s right). All my gripes with him are plot based and nothing against the book at all lol.

The love development for them wasn’t an all encompassing passion from my end. I liked it enough but they didn’t wow me. I’m hoping for a better relationship between them.

Some side characters/POVs didn’t really make sense to me. I felt some were a bit random and unnecessary. There were beings who had 1 POV chapter and that’s pretty much it. Kind of felt like a tease that didn’t really lead to anything.

Last but not least. THE ENDING. By far my least favorite ending. Not really a cliffhanger, it pretty much ended like an end of a chapter or an incomplete one that was kind of pointless??. Like I feel I would have enjoyed (and angst over) a cliffhanger compared to how this ended… I feel mid chapter would have been a better ending than the ending.

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.
I listened to the audiobook of this and the narrator has a very large range of voices that helped build the story I couldn't turn it off. She's very easy to understand (I listened at 2x speed). If you loved The Cruel Prince and want a little less political intrigue and more romance this is the book for you.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook ARC. This is very much my honest opinion.

Sincere thanks to Macmillan Audio for providing me the ALC courtesy of NetGalley, as well as the author Mary E. Pearson and the audiobook narrator Brittany Pressley for their talents.
Publication Date: Nov. 12, 2024

4.5 STARS

The Courting of Bristol Keats will be one of many people's fave 2024 romantasy reads --or at least it should be! There are so many forgettable, mediocre fae fantasy romances out there... This one rises above the rest.

FMC Bristol acts as the glue in her family since her mom left and her dad went missing. Weird circumstances get her transported to the fae land of Elfhame. She strikes a bargain to help the fae prince in exchange for help finding her father and providing for her sisters.

At 560 pages (for the US hardcover) or 16+ hours of audio, I was a little concerned about the book. I like long books but so many fall into bad pacing or a slumpy middle. Mary E. Pearson and her authorial expertise win out here. I wouldn't say this is the most action-packed book, but the book never failed to keep me interested.

The fact that I was never bored and loved the book is quite an accomplishment, especially since I found the female protagonist insufferable. Bristol embodies many of those typical YA fmc traits I loathe. Basically, she's "strong" but oh so stupid. She's not particularly careful in striking her bargain with the fae. She's dropped into a world she knows nothing about and makes no effort to ask intelligent questions or do her own research. She approaches the situation like a bull in a china shop and is unnecessarily aggressive. Put aside the fact that she might have reason to be frustrated or dislike the fae prince; does she have any ability to read the room or act strategically in a situation?! I guess it is better to be a vivid character than a disposable one.

Bravo for the writing! Besides the brilliant pacing, this plot introduces you to a number of characters. The author never belabors character descriptions and doesn't dawdle with side plots. I never got confused about who was who. I feel like it's so easy for fantasy romances to either zoom in too closely to the two MCs (so that the romance dominates the fantasy elements) or else you get so many characters you have to constantly reference a character list. This author tells her story efficiently but not skimping on the character moments.

The world-building was middling to me. On one hand, it's perfectly serviceable for a romantasy and supporting the advancement of the plot. On the other hand, the book did not stop for many moments of imagery. Not much lore. The magic falls on the "soft" side--as opposed to a hard magic system. I was intrigued by the magic and world details we get as we go along. Readers learn about the fae alongside newbie Bristol, and that works nicely for the plot reveals and twists.

The romance has a very delayed start and even then is definitely slow burn.
Spice level is probably a 1? More than YA but only a bit. I think there were 2 scenes and both are brief and not descriptive. (If you've read Fourth Wing, TCoBK's scenes are way shorter and toned down.)
Speaking of, can we talk about the weird ending? I've never seen such an abrupt end to a book. All the drama of the plot has exploded a couple chapters before, the couple comes back together, things heat up, THE END?! Maybe it's just the ALC, but you cannot just end a book with a romantic scene when the broader fantasy plot is completely unresolved. This wasn't even a proper cliffhanger but a drop-off.

Overall, I would recommend the book to just about anyone who loves fantasy romance or YA/NA fantasy. TCoBK is super readable and well-crafted. The audiobook is cleanly produced, great quality audio, and well-narrated. The narrator Brittany Pressley falls on the more subtle side, with an un-distracting delivery. She does some voices but is not particularly performative.

I am having a hard time rating this book. I did like the story, and it was engaging but it felt a bit predictable and ends on a cliffhanger of sorts. There were definitely some interesting ideas here and some that are not so new but to me it didn't feel like a complete story and I suspect this is done on purpose because this is the first book in what I assume to be either a duology or series. I like Tyghan's character but I tolerated Bristol just enough to finish the story. I am interested in finding out what happens so I will likely read the second book when released but this one was average to me and didn't blow me away. I want to rate this one 3.5 stars but I have settled on 4 for the promise of more to come from future novels in this series.

The audio narration done by Brittany Pressley was done well and she voices all of the characters with a distinct voice so you always know who is speaking/narrating.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for access to the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to read this author's new work especially since it's branching into adult fantasy! I have loved her past work the Dance of Thieves duo.

I have some conflicting feelings a bit about some of the book. While it started out really good and had me invested I felt myself start to fade out. I don't know If this is one of those instances where it's a book I maybe would have enjoyed better if I had read it physically instead of listening to the audio. Although, the audio was well done and I enjoyed the narrator I feel like there was a lot of characters and different type of names that made it a little bit hard to track. I found myself confused as to who's POV I was in at times. Or why I was getting their POV.

I was enjoying the building of the slowburn romance but for some reason once things started to happen I found I wasn't super emotionally invested in them. It wasn't overly sexy but yet I felt like some of the stuff we did get wasn't necessary and for me took away from the overall connection. I was hoping to be more attached and invested in them like I was with DoT. But towards the end, I had conflicting feelings. It almost felt too instant once they got together.

The ending felt a touch long and the way it ended felt just a little weird and confusing. It finished and I was like what? Really? That's how it ends? I think this will be a duology and it left it sort of open but not a crazy cliffhanger which is always nice but yet I don't love how it ended. But maybe it was just me and I was a bit over the story at this point. It's one of those I was confused and was because I missed things listening to it vs physically reading it.

I would definitely like to try rereading this but doing the Kindle version to see what I pick up the second time. I just wish the slowburn romance had stayed slower. This was great don't get me wrong, but I didn't love it quite as much as I hoped or like I did with Dance of Thieves. It didn't feel like the same author to me to be honest and DoT is definitely more mature YA bordering New Adult.

This fae romantasy story follows Bristol Keats, a small-town girl who lives with and takes care of her sisters after the death of their parents. They’re struggling, barely getting by. Meanwhile they keep getting mysterious letters from someone claiming to be their long lost aunt. Needing money, Bristol reluctantly agrees to meet. Her world is turned upside when she discovers the world of fae and monsters and the mysteries of her own family and parent’s connections to this other world.

Loves: The narrator captures the banter between Bristol and Tyghan (grumpy fae lord) really well. Loved the different tones and personalities for different characters. Done REALLY well and engaging. I also enjoyed the fun cast of likable secondary characters. We gotta love a grumpy fae boss. I was feeling a little overwhelmed with fae in my tbr but actually loved the fae in this book!

Dislikes: Bristol was a little frustrating and her dialogue got repetitive at times. I really wanted to shake her occasionally. The romance between her and Tyghan happened really fast. Hoping book 2 will focus on them a bit more. I do think the story could have easily been a hour shorter.

Thank you Netgalley for the audiobook. I really enjoyed it overall. This has the feel of a book one type of book. There’s still so many questions. And the ending was crazy.

Ok , the audio is ok, I would said you definitely need the actual book to follow better. Im still not sure what this was about. The plot seems promising but to be honest i was just plain confuse . Definitely not my favorite and a bit of a let down.

I liked this one but didnt LOVE it like I did her other stories. I love Mary E Pearson and she is an auto-buy author for me but I feel like this one fell a little flat.
The story was really good and very interesting but it all felt very familiar and had a lot of the same tropes that other fae stories also have.

An incredibly delightful audio book with wonderful narrators that kept my attention (great work on changing tone when needed) and the intro music was a great addition to get your mind prepared for an adventure. I found the audio book evenly paced and easy to follow along. There were a few moments where I got confused on the MMC and the mayor, more than likely a reader issue. Can’t wait to hold my preorder and reread. Who doesn’t love a good family tragedy, lies, adventure, and Fae.

I have loved Mary’s previous book series! I read/listened to them via audiobooks. I was disappointed that this was a single narration, the story is always more entertaining with multiple narrations. But that being said I felt Brittany Pressley did an excellent job covering the different characters’ voices. There were many to do and she pulled it off effortlessly.

As for the story itself, it gave me Harry Potter/Fourth Wing vibes minus the wands and dragons. I also went in blind assuming this was YA and “clean” boy was I wrong. Don’t normally give content warnings but some others may be a little shocked when they get than they bargained for with this one. Strong language and multiple open door scenes. So sensitive readers beware.