The Courting of Bristol Keats: A Novel

by Mary E. Pearson

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Journey into the world of the fae — and try to make it out unscathed. This is a whirlwind story of magic, revenge and romance perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas.

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

From New York Times bestselling author Mary E. Pearson comes a thrilling romantic fantasy full of dangerous fae, dark secrets, and addictive romance

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 leader, 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250367570
Publisher:	Flatiron Books
Publication date:	11/12/2024
Series:	The Courting of Bristol Keats , #1
Pages:	560
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 8.80(h) x 1.80(d)

About the Author

Mary E. Pearson is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the Dance of Thieves duology, the Remnant Chronicles trilogy, the Jenna Fox Chronicles, and more books for young readers. The Courting of Bristol Keats is her debut novel for adults. She writes from her home in California.

Editorial Reviews

With a descriptive narrative and fantastic characters, Pearson expertly draws readers into the world of Elfhame. Great for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Heather Fawcett.” —Library Journal (starred review)

“The Courting of Bristol Keats is a sweep-you-off-your-feet kind of story, one that yanked me into the lush and dangerous world of fae and monsters from the first page. Make room on your shelves for this magical and compelling fantasy filled with long-kept secrets, devastating betrayals, and a swoony enemies-to-lovers romance.” —Isabel Ibañez, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“It was with great delight that I looked forward to a new series by Mary E. Pearson—and she did not disappoint. The fae world she creates that intersects ours is rich, lush, and full of the thorny moral conundrums you love about her writing.” —Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wish You Were Here

”Forbidden romance, deception, and a rich faerie world that's filled with equal parts magic and danger makes for the start of a highly addictive and fantastical new series. Pearson is at the top of her game in this richly satisfying debut that will leave readers hungry for more.” —Adalyn Grace, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Belladonna

”Mary E. Pearson is the new queen of Faerie.” —Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Once Upon a Broken Heart

"The Courting of Bristol Keats is at once whimsical and romantic, full of court intrigue and sharp twists that leave us wanting to return to Pearson’s faerie realm." —Zoraida Córdova, USA Today bestselling author of The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina

From the Publisher

Brittany Pressley's low-voiced narration of Bristol Keats's visit to the fae realms shows her versatility as a narrator. She progresses from Bristol's tentative observations of King Tyghan's kingdom to her impatience over court protocol and magical deceptions. Bristol's perilous deal with Tyghan and search for her missing father have her emotions simmering, and Pressley replicates that jittery quality in her delivery. Bristol's fellow recruits, as well as the fae soldiers, are given varying accents and vocal stylings, ranging from malevolent creature whispers to the languid scorn of female fae courtiers. While the story unfolds in minute increments, Pressley's vocal choices create tense pacing that will keep listeners interested through the cliff-hanger ending. An author/narrator interview concludes the audiobook. C.A. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine

JANUARY 2025 - AudioFile

2024-09-14
A fae king falls for a sassy pizza delivery driver in this slow-burn romantic fantasy.

Months after the death of their father, Logan Keats, leaves them orphaned (they think), a trio of down-on-their-luck sisters receive an intriguing proposition: meet with their great aunt and leave with a priceless work of art. There's just one problem. Logan grew up in foster care and had no relatives. Bold youngest child Bristol seizes her chance to make the family some much-needed cash, only to find herself surrounded by monsters. As it turns out, Logan grew up in the fairy realm of Elphame and his daughter may hold the power to save the fae world from utter destruction. The news that her father might still be alive in Elphame, coupled with fae king Tyghan's promise to help her search for him, makes for an offer Bristol simply can't refuse. Little does she know, Tyghan knew both her parents back before she was born. Her mortal-born father fell for her mother, leading him to betray Tyghan , and the lovers went on the lam in the mortal realm. Also unbeknownst to Bristol, the king is certainly not planning to give either of her parents a warm welcome once he finds them. Though not as tightly plotted as one might hope, Pearson's latest offering dishes up plenty of fun for romantasy fans, with a slowly simmering passion that builds for more than half the novel.Readers looking for a well-researched fae novel with plenty of traditional fairy lore will delight in the little moments Bristol and Tyghan's story has in store for them. The worldbuilding is top-notch, although some readers may find the occasional lore drop a smidgen too info-dumpy for their tastes. Some sections become sluggish, as Pearson tells rather than shows the story, but these are few and far between, and reader interest should hold on throughout.

A fun and sometimes steamy romp through fairyland.

Kirkus Reviews