Quick Thoughts: The Courting of Bristol Keats (The Courting of Bristol Keats #1) by Mary E. Pearson

The Courting of Bristol Keats

(The Courting of Bristol Keats #1)

by Mary E. Pearson

November 12, 2024

Goodreads Summary:

From NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Mary E. Pearson comes a thrilling romantic fantasy full of dangerous fae, dark secrets, and addictive romance-- the first book in a duology.

After losing both their parents, Bristol Keats and her sisters struggle to stay afloat in their small, quiet town of Bowskeep. When Bristol begins to receive letters from an “aunt” she’s never heard of who promises she can help, she reluctantly agrees to meet—and discovers that everything she thought she knew about her family is a lie. Even her father might still be alive, not killed but kidnapped by terrifying creatures to a whole other realm—the one he is from.

Desperate to save her father and find the truth, Bristol journeys to a land of gods and fae and monsters. Pulled into a dangerous world of magic and intrigue, she makes a deadly bargain with the fae king, Tyghan. But what she doesn't know is that he's the one who drove her parents to live a life on the run. And he is just as determined as she is to find her father—dead or alive.

Review

As much as I wanted to love the romance in The Courting of Bristol Keats, its development fell flat for me. However, the strong fae backstory was a pleasant surprise that kept me in the story.

What I Liked:

- short chapters made the plot easy to digest

- interesting fae history

- knights!

- so much deception

- all the characters being invested in the ongoing political conflict

- powerful magic

- friends to die for

- strong sister bonds

- some unexpected twists (the tick on Bristol's back, Mick's real identity)

The Not So Much:

- many unnecessary POVs

- more often than not, we were told of the romantic feelings instead of shown

- Bristol and Tyghan’s connection didn't feel that strong

- anticlimactic (especially when Bristol learned of Tyghan’s deception)

“Life wasn’t always about change but sometimes about sameness. And sometimes sameness made you look beneath the surface, look at the bones that held it all together- and the flaws that could be its undoing.” (p. 19)

“Distance gave her a new perspective on petty nuisances- a new perspective on a lot of things. Including lying.” (p. 92)

“…but the dark side of truth is usually riddled with regret.” (p. 525)

“Forgiveness is a thing of the heart, and every heart is wounded and mended in its own way.” (p. 525)