Published: November 12, 2024
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Series: The Courting of Bristol Keats #1
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 550 (Kindle)
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis:
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.
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!
Powder & Page 
I loved this one and can’t wait for the conclusion!
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