This was a fun portal romantasy - it was giving The Cruel Prince vibes with spice and a much quicker slow burn (maybe slow burn turned insta love?). There were fae hijinks, found family, enemies to lovers, and hidden magic, to name a few. I am definitely a sucker for fae hijinks.

In short: Bristol agrees to enter Elphame to help find a portal for fae king Tyghan in exchange for help with finding her father, who she previously believed to be dead, but now suspects may be alive in the fae realm. Bristol and Tyghan grow close while working together, but Bristol soon discovers that pretty much everyone she loves is keeping secrets from her.

The ending felt pretty abrupt, but I will definitely be picking up the next book to find out what happens, and enjoyed myself listening to this audiobook. I really enjoyed the narrator.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review!

3 stars

I loved The Remnant Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson so I was so excited to dive into another world. And I loved how she was branching out and diving into a brand new world! With fae and magic and characters who weren’t associated with any of her characters from her other series. I adore when authors branch out and try something new.

The premise sounded so promising and there’s no doubt about it - the world-building and the writing are wonderfully done. It was the story itself that fell a bit short for me. I found myself confused by what was happening. The random different POVs we would get were jarring and added more to my befuddlement. I think there was a lot of potential for adding even more mystery and suspense if Mary had taken away some of those other POVs. Sometimes less is more. And sometimes more is not better.

I did enjoy the banter of both Tyghan and Bristol. I loved his wry, hard personality and her spit-fire wittiness. I did find the way their connection developed a little unconvincing. I found myself going “wait what, when did this happen? When did these feelings emerge?” It felt too fast in some ways and at a point in the book where I still felt like I didn’t even know them that well, border-lining on insta love for me. Which I’m definitely not a fan of, but I know some really do jive with that.

But romance and confusing plot aside, all things considered, I think it’s a very promising start to a series and knowing how much I adored Mary’s writing in the Remnant Chronicles, I have high hopes about how the remainder of this new series will carry out.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for this arc! All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

-Bristol travels to Fairyland (👀) on her journey.

-The author jumps around with POV, especially near the end.

-Bristol takes part in a Hogwarts-esque magic school, but it’s a in brief doses.

-The family dynamic setup is great. The world building in the beginning is great. It is a little slow, but the introduction to the world and people keep you reading.

-The book drags a lot about halfway in. I was ready for something to start happening.

-The action starts to pick up at around 3/4 mark.

-The ending is not a cliffhanger, but it just ends at a very odd moment while NOTHING has been resolved. It’s almost like the author just forgot to finish the end instead of lead into the second book.

-The audio narrator is good.

-Mild on the romance scale with sporadic chemistry. Very low on the spice scale. Until I was nearing the end of the book, I would have classified it as YA romance instead of general adult.

-It’s fine. That’s all. It left no urgency to need the second book. I completely forgot about one of the quests mid-book until it picked back up at the end.

Beautiful, rich story with a breathtaking romance. Not that I'd expect anything less from Mary Pearson. Stunning narration. Recommended for fans of her previous work.

Prepare for one wild adventure where the human and fae worlds collide in a spellbinding and dangerously delightful read. I am someone who reads it all and occasionally dabbles in fantasy. Mary E. Pearson has written a beautiful novel that blends a world beyond our imagination with raw and relatable human struggles and emotions that creates a gripping and captivating story that draws the reader in and absolutely dazzles.

For some reason, I thought this was a historical fantasy/romantasy - so I was a little startled in the beginning when I realized it is definitively set in present-day.

After I got past that, I really enjoyed this one. I liked the narrator. The characters were interesting, and the portal magic in the world building really made me want to learn more. I wish there had been more learning about the world building through experiences, not just listing things off, but the world and the lore were still good! The romance is enemies-to-lovers, and Pearson really set it up to be actual enemies - these two MCs have every reason to hate each other, even if only one of them was aware of it!

By the end, though, I had a few issues that really bothered me. First, the dialogue and characters: by the end, they both just felt very annoying and immature. Especially a particular argument scene near the end…I would’ve been annoyed, too, but the whole scene just felt really juvenile.

I also really struggled with following the different POVs. We spent most of the time with the two MC’s, but occasionally jumped to random minor characters, which really confused the story for me.

And finally - and most importantly - that ending. If anyone else has read this, I’d love to hear your thoughts. I was just annoyed at the ending. Nothing felt resolved, and there was no payoff. I understand that it’s a series and the events that have been built up will come later, but if you spend this many pages with this little happening, maybe the pacing should be reconsidered, or it should be condensed into a standalone.

I really did enjoy most of this one, the ending just left a bad impression.

This was a very fun one to read; I highly recommend the audiobook version because Brittany Pressley does an amazing job, as always! I really appreciated the magic system used here because it was a fun blend of fantasy and urban fantasy without being too much of one or the other. There were fun surprises along the way and it was overall enjoyable, but didn’t particularly stand out to me as being an especially memorable read. It felt a bit long at times and, once again, the main female lead felt a bit whiny and too dependent on the male lead (a trope that is, in my opinion, very oversaturated in fantasy books).

The Courting of Bristol Keats follows Bristol’s journey from the modern world to a land of fae and demons, where she quickly discovers everything she thought she knew about her family and life has been a lie. She thought her parents were both tragically dead and that it was up to her to provide for her two sisters, but she begins to question whether her parents are alive and well in this fantasy realm after all. When she makes a deadly bargain with the King of this realm, she has no idea just what’s in store for her.

Thank you to Mary E. Pearson, Macmillan Audio, & NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

This is my first by this author, and I was sadly disappointed. This was a 500 page book where it felt like nothing happened. I was confused for about 75% of it and didn't find myself interested in any of the characters. There was no build up to the romance, it was just a switch flip, and don't get me started on that ending.

I am very thankful to have received an advanced audio copy, but this was definitely not the book for me.

Thank you Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for my ALC of this book in exchanged for an honest review.

As for the the audio production, I loved this narrator and she was phenomenal which is why it's a 2 and not lower or DNF. I do wish that the male pov has been read by a male narrator or in a male voice as I didn't realize it was a different POV at first. Otherwise, the audio production was wonderful.

As for the story itself, it was a dud. I kept listening waiting for it to get better. It did not. There was maybe a little bit during the last 15% that was decent and if I had more buy into the story and characters I would have had a mouth open gasp moment. There were times I loved Bristol's spunkiness. Other times, she was whiney and annoying. The story had so much potential but just fell flat. I didn't buy any of the romance. They went from enemies to lovers in a snap of your fingers. I actually enjoyed the Nick character and thought he made a better love interest. Could have been a second chance back to lovers troupe. The love the sisters had for each other and parents was apparent early in the book but fizzled a bit. The world building was a little lackluster.

The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson was a wild Romantasy from an amazing author. I've read some of Mary E. Pearson's other work and loved it! Fae are not typically my thing in the fantasy world, but this was refreshing and tension filled.

Bristol is a strong FMC who finds herself in the world of Fae. She discovers secrets that have been hidden from her all her life and faces those she loves to find her own path. I admit, I was worried for a good portion of this book (my whole body tingled with anticipation of what was to be discovered). However, I was very impressed with how everything was handled!

There are plenty of things that need to be discovered in the next book and I can't wait! If you love Romantasy, in a Fae realm, with characters you'll love, check this one out! 5/5 stars loved!

**I RECEIVED A FREE ARC OF THE AUDIOBOOK FROM NETGALLEY. THANK YOU A TON. THIS HAS NOT IMPACTED MY REVIEW IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM. **

*NO MAJOR SPOILERS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS REVIEW**

Okay, let me tell you, this book and I went on a journey man. It was wild, it was a whirlwind. I do not know how I kept pace with this novel. While I enjoyed the overall storyline and experience, getting there was a whole different matter entirely. In short, this novel mad me want to tear my hair out. Usually, I am fine with audiobooks, they are my jam. But this book is not conducive to audio format, and let me tell you why. There. are. so. many. perspective. changes. So help me I was confused most of this book. It took me so long to read it because I kept having to relisten to sections to understand who the speaker was :/ and the context. Maybe this was just my own brain but. . the multi perspectives hurt this book in my opinion. Like, do we really need the horse's pov???? I think it would of been smoother if we just had Ty's and Bri's povs, but what do I know. Maybe it is better in the physical book. I am still debating getting the physical book. I may wait until the second book is coming because what the heck was that ending??? Like um, excuse me. We went on a JOURNEY together and this is how you repay my efforts? The shame. I ask again, where is book two. #sorrynotsorry

Alright, the books writing was fine, if not a bit mysterious and aloof. It kept some mysteries alive for quite a while. And instead of going mad with questions, I managed to just bite my tongue and ride through the experience. All shall be revealed in time. . . mostly. There are still alot of unresolved issues by the end. I liked the world, and the magic, but I was also confused about the fairy lore and whether this is actually universal fairylore or whether she and holly black conspired with each other. I would love a collab between them, though. So the world building and magic was great.

The characters were great too. But there were just so many of them, I literally could not keep track, so I gave up trying. Alot of them just felt like hollow bodies there to be poked and prodded at will. The only vibrant characters seemed to be Bristol, Ty, and Cormick. Which, seemed very acotar-esque, at first, with cruel prince. But yeah...BUT, my dark loving soul self still is holding out hope for him. Because it truly is not over until it is.

Bristol is just a character you want to root for. She is the main caretaker of the house, she has all her family's burdens on her. She just wants to do good, be good and just live. And then all this crap is thrown at her and homegirl is just struggling to survive. Which, turns out, is also not her fault. But I love how strong, stubborn and resilient she is. She does not give up. She powers through and takes names. I love her, and I lowkey loved her take no crap attitude towards the end. Like yas queen. (And we all know that that is where things might be headed).

I do not know how I feel about Ty...I dont know why but he just feels like a temporary dalliance. He hot, hes moody, and he's great in bed, but he is true mate material? Eh....but Cormick isnt do that great for himself either, BUT, i have a feeling that when we get a book 2, it might be an ACOMAF situation. So, we are just crossing our fingers. and I have not firmly decided what horse to back yet. But he is easy on the eyes. The romance was good, I liked the he fall firsts angle. And it was believeable, not insta love. And it was slight enemies to lovers, so that is also good as well. But we shall see.

Overall, I thought this was a whirlwind read, with a variety of ups and downs and a winding plot to navigate through. It was full of secrets, lies, and betrayal. While the romance was fiery, who knows when those embers might flare out. Remember, this is all my opinion. if you want your own, read the book when it releases!

This was good, but it took a while to get into the plot and really understand the world and magic. I enjoyed the romance and I want to read the next book! I thought the narrator was excellent. The ending was a bit abrupt and I was confused for most of the first half of the book, so that’s why it’s not a higher rating. Overall, I’d recommend!

I had a really hard time following this story. I went in not knowing much about this story and after doing a little more research after starting reading it The hype for this on TIkTok made it sound to be the next best Romantasy with all these monsters and such... sadly ... incorrect. Overall this may not have been for me but I can see how certain audiences may enjoy the story.

Over 100 chapters, and for what reason? There's an interesting story in here somewhere I guess, but this is clearly one for the romantasy girlies who enjoy barely legal girl having sex with inappropriately-aged assholes. The man was literally her dad's best friend. Uh, no. To quote SNL, "47 isn't magical, its just weird".
It's too dark for me, too long-winded, and too blah.

Absolutely loved this! Will say the audiobook made the world-building, court politics, and characters a bit hard to follow (or maybe it was my own fault by not paying attention lol) but I absolutely loved the world of fae that Pearson created. A super fun read and the romance!! Loved this book and would recommend to romantasy readers.

I loved the audiobook and story and though the narrator did an excellent job. I thought the world building was unique which is hard to do with an overfull genre. Fun, romantic, and magical!

Bristol and Tygen's story unfolds with an enticing blend of mystery and fantasy, drawing readers into a world where Fae bargains and hidden truths intertwine. The novel's pacing, while deliberate, scatters intrigue throughout, compelling one to press on.

The premise hooks from the start: Bristol, driven by the possibility of her father's survival, strikes a bargain with the Fae. This exchange of services for their aid sets the stage for an adventure ripe with potential.

The author crafts a Fae world that complements the narrative without overwhelming it. Their portrayal eschews one-dimensional beauty, instead emphasizing the Fae's true nature—cruel, mischievous, and cunning. This nuanced depiction aligns perfectly with the story's undercurrent of secrets.

Bristol emerges as a multifaceted character, straddling the line between likable and challenging. Her struggle to support her sisters and her desperate grasp at any chance to improve their lives resonates. Yet, her default to snark can alienate. This complexity, however, makes her journey all the more compelling.

The dynamic between Bristol and the Fae King, Tyghan, crackles from their first encounter. Their interactions add a layer of appeal to the unfolding narrative, punctuated by scenes of intense passion that will satisfy readers seeking spice in their fantasy.

The story's development takes its time, which may test some readers' patience. While it addresses many of the mysteries it presents, the ending leaves room for more—perhaps intentionally so.

At 17.56 hours, the audiobook is a substantial listen. Brittany Presley's narration brings depth to both Bristol and Tyghan's perspectives, elevating the emotional resonance of the story.

For readers of Romance Fantasy seeking a new world to explore, Bristol and Tygen's tale offers a rich, if slow-burning, adventure. The blend of Fae lore, personal quests, and simmering romance creates an immersive experience for those willing to invest in its gradual unfolding.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for my free book for review.

This is the first ARC I've DNF'd. I love fantasy and romance, so it seemed like this book would be right up my alley. It was not. This book had so much potential! My main issues were:

1) The author has yet to encounter a metaphor she didn't like, which leads to the book feeling bloated, with chapters that don't progress.
2) It was hard to determine when the story was taking place. Characters bounce from speaking in the 1800s to the 2010s.
3) For being the "mature" sister, our FMC spends so much time ruminating on her need to run away and tell us how different she is instead of showcasing her maturity through action.

The narration was excellent; I just couldn't get into the story. DNF 15%

Mary Pearson weaves an intricate story filled with magic, family ties, and romance. The relationship between Bristol and her sister mixed with the grief she felt from losing her dad (and then the hope/shock that he may still be alive) created such a strong start to the story. I enjoyed Bristol as a character; her feistiness paired with her need to speak her mind made her fun to root for. The twists where Bristol finds out who her parents really are also worked really well for the story.

Yet, the story started off very slow and didn't feel as if it started to pick up pace until halfway through the book. It was also hard for me to feel a connection to the characters, which made it hard to feel the emotional stakes of the story.
While I did enjoy the relationship between Bristol and Tyghan at the end, the start of that relationship felt forced and was lacking chemistry. I felt that it should have been more developed. I was also taken aback when Tyghan realized he loved Bristol--only halfway through the book when he spent the first half not liking her at all.

Overall, I did enjoy listening to the audiobook and thought the narrator did an excellent job. Despite the slow start, the story was fun to listen to, and I am very interested to read Mary Pearson's other works.

I was curious to see Mary Pearson's take on the fae romantasy subgenre that's so popular these days. There's something nostalgic about this book - vibes of what Holly Black popularized 10ish years ago, at least in the beginning. It starts off VERY strong. Bristol was spunky, she had loving sisters who I thought would play a bigger role, and she made a promising deal with fae to enter their land and find her missing father. I did enjoy the mystery around her parents. That family angst was the most interesting subplot, and I'm intrigued to see how that's resolved next book.

But Bristol loses a lot of her personality when she's in Elfheim, and what's left is mostly kind-of cringey sass. I really struggle with romantasy enemies-to-lovers banter. It hasn't been clever or engaging in the books I've read. "The last thing I want is to see you naked." Killer line by our MMC Tyghan. Or later from Bristol to him: "Don't you ever relax? Chill?" *everyone gasps*

When I think about the plot, not a lot happens. Bristol enters fairyland, goes to magic school, falls in love with the king Tyghan... then there's an evil necromancer rival king who wants to take over fairyland, and he sucks so that would be bad, but he only shows up a couple of times to be vaguely threatening. When we reach the last page, Bristol's father is still missing, the king's brother is still in captivity, she still has that thing inside her, the fae coup hasn't begun, the portal's still open. There are a LOT of threads to wrap up next book if this is to be a duology.

There's some constant horniness from everyone, which is typical for this genre. Tyghan had a really weird conversation about sex with his sister early in the book, and there were some gross remarks between him and Bristol's dad later ("yes I AM fucking your daughter." yuck). Because yup, the MMC is the Bristol's dad's ex-bff. Time moves differently in Elfheim, though, so there's not much of an age difference between them. Just icky interpersonal drama.

I did like how Bristol and Tyghan were in love instead of just hooking up (I like ~romance~), but I'm not sure how we got there. Ghost dancing and tense sparring? "He loved her, and he had for a long time" at 60%ish in. What? When? How? I wish the slow burn had been developed more and maybe stretched into the sequel. And I GET IT, Tyghan's muscular. I got tired of hearing about his bod.

My favorite part of romantasy is always the betrayal at the end of Book 1. Maybe because I never really buy into the romance, so I'm happy when it blows up. We sort of get that? but it didn't last long enough. Blink and Bristol and Tyghan are back to confessing their love and having sex. And then the book just... ends? There's no cliffhanger, no hook really for the sequel, other than literally nothing has been resolved. There's a quick sex scene and the credits immediately roll.

The audiobook with Brittany Presley narrating was very well done. She was engaging and the one? action scene we got was very exciting. I will say that her cadence for Bristol's sass made me hate that banter even more, and the German and French accents for two of the side characters were very stereotypical.