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!!

A fun book that just might be a Cruel Prince AU where the main character’s name is Bristol Keats and she’s trying to find her father.

The narrator of the Macmillan audiobook (Brittany Pressley) does a fantastic job and acts her heart out. She is half of the reason why I liked the book so much, so thank you Pressley. :)

Bristol herself is “fully and stupidly on her own” (a direct quote from her), but although she is not the smartest human that has ever gone to faeland (which says a lot) the aloofness works for her main character energy and for the plot. Oh boy does she misunderstand. I love that.

I’m looking forward to seeing any changes (cough, the ending) when it’s released to the public! And thank you netgalley for the arc <3

An interesting contemporary fantasy novel!

Bristol Keats is recently orphaned and is just trying to help her sisters make ends meet. She gets pulled into the world of the Fae finding out her father may not only be alive, but was raised in the land of the Fae. She makes a deal with the Fae king, Tyghan to help him save his kingdom in exchange for help finding her father, not knowing that the two are enemies.

I love the world building, not overly descriptive(the book was already long!) but just enough that I could use my imagination to fill in the gaps. The Fae world being an alternate dimension/timeline was a fairly uncommon twist. The ending was rather abrupt, but was a cliffhanger that makes me want to read the next installment.

My only complaint is how the characters react to the frequent lies/deceptions. Nearly every character in the book lies to or purposefully omits important facts to Bristol. Even Tyghan, the love interest, seems to think throughout the course of the book that she will be fine with his plan to kill her father, once she finds out their history. However, he doesn't bother to tell her his side until she finds out and confronts him. The story definitely could have moved forward faster if there were some earlier confessions.

I enjoyed the plot and world. This book had so much potential. I was really disappointed by the over the top sexual content and language. I was not expecting this based on the author’s previous work. I felt like the connection was purely lust and no romance. For me, it took away from the rest of the book. I quit two thirds in at the sex scene. Again, I loved the idea of the world, but I would not read this author again if she continues to write with so much sex and language.

3.5⭐️-4⭐️

This story follows Bristol Keats on an adventure into the fae world to look for her father after making a deal with a fae.

The idea of an alternate reality being the fae realm is fun! I appreciated that the characters weren’t flat and I do enjoy the romance and adventure. However I do feel like it was a little confusing. There wasn’t a lot of back ground. It just all happens quickly. Bristol doesn’t ever really seem to grasp that she isn’t in her world anymore and makes a lot of selfish and careless choices. The relationships made with other characters were rushed. While I do love Bristol and Tyghan I feel like the relationship went from reluctant allies to love too quickly and without actual growth. They were willing to jump at a moments notice to guard against one another.


The narrator for the audiobook did a great job! She used different voices for each character that were all different from eachother so they didn’t get mixed up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this Audio ARC.

This book was like if Zodiac Academy, How Does it Feel, and The Cruel Prince had a baby…I didn’t vibe with any of those books, but I’m sure someone out there will.

It was too long for what it was, and I never felt attached to the story or any of the characters. The ending was also very underwhelming…like nothing happened except a third act breakup with a quick reverse.

The positive to this was it was narrated by the same person as The Unmaking of June Farrow, but even then…the voices of the male characters just seemed meh.

This book was so fun. It kind of lost me at the end but I loved the world we were in and the main male character.

Thank you @netgalley for this early audiobook of the highly anticipated release of The Courting of Bristol Keats! After reading the brief description of the book and getting an early audiobook release, I was so excited to jump right into this new fantasy romance. For fans of slow burn romances, training and trials, enemies to lovers, and a diverse magical world, this will be a huge hit. I’m really starting to love audiobooks, and the narrator does a fantastic job bringing all the characters to life. I felt like the story progresses really quickly in the beginning so you’re engulfed immediately. The overall flow of the audiobook keeps up with that same pace, and keeps you interested and locked in on the story. Overall, I really liked this, and I’ll preorder the book to reread it. Some things get a little confusing without having the book to refer back to, but this is a solid 4 star read! And we love a little spice too 🌶️🌶️

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 want to start by thanking NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio ARC of The Courting of Bristol Keats in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to give it a 3.5 but since there aren't any half stars we can give, I rounded up to 4 stars because this book and future series does have potential.

After losing both parents, Bristol Keats and her sisters struggle to stay afloat in their small town of Bowskeep. Bristol begins to receive letters from an "aunt" she's never met that promises to help Bristol and her sisters in exchange for a meeting with Bristol and only Bristol. When she finally relents and decides to meet this mysterious aunt, everything Bristol thought she knew about her family came crashing down. Bristol finds out that her father may not actually be dead, but instead be in a fantasy fae realm. Bristol is desperate to save her father and find the truth. While on this journey, she makes a bargain with the fae king, Tyghan who is also looking for her father, but not for the same reason as Bristol.

In regards to the audio, the narrator did a great job with the story and voicing all the characters. While there are many characters in this story, the narrator does well in keeping them all separate and making it easy for the listener to tell the characters apart.

In regards to the plot and the storyline itself - this book had a lot of potential. I appreciate the author giving us a different approach to the fantasy system of the fae world and the monsters that live within it. The premise of finding lost family while searching for the truth was enough to keep me engaged, but there were times I was getting bored because the story itself was so long. 17 hours for an audiobook is pretty long especially for the first book of what seems like will be a series. There is a chunk of the plot that could've been removed and still kept the integrity of the storyline intact.

My other qualm was the ending. There is such thing as cliffhanger endings and then there was this ending. It felt like it just ended in the middle of a chapter. I was confused when it ended because I thought it was an incomplete story or audio file. After reading other reviews, I realized that it was indeed the end of the story and I assume will pick back up in the next book. The ending could have been executed a lot better instead of leaving the reader/listener wondering if it was meant to end that way or if it was a mistake and it was cut off mid chapter.

I hope that the next book in the series is improved because the story has a lot of potential. It just needs to be executed a little better.

The premise of this book sounding interesting, but the telling of it fell flat for me, and it was way too long (and I normally LOVE a long book). The narrator of the audio version did a decent job--the fact that I was listening to this one is the only reason I was able to finish the book. The pace was inconsistent, and proceeded so slowly at times that I found myself tuning out. When an action scene came along I was jerked back to attention, but still wasn't quite sure what was happening. I didn't feel connected to any of the characters, and the romance between Bristol and Tyghan seemed overly contrived. The world-building was also underwhelming. However, I had an extremely visceral reaction to the description of the tick that was embedded under Bristol's skin, blocking her magic. I almost had to put the book down the first time it was mentioned, but I pushed on, barely repressing a shudder every time it was mentioned.

I really liked this title, but honestly, if I had known it would have been left open-ended and/or part of a series, I'd have never read it. 17+ hours is a long time to commit to a title not knowing it wasn't going to have a conclusion. Other than that, it was a great story and I enjoyed the characters very much.

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… 😔