The Courting of Bristol Keats

A Novel

By: Mary E. Pearson

Narrated by: Brittany Pressley

This program includes a bonus conversation between the author and narrator.

"Brittany Pressley's low-voiced narration of Bristol Keats's visit to the fae realms shows her versatility as a narrator."—AudioFile

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.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books

©2024 Mary E. Pearson (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic 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)

“Pearson's latest offering dishes up plenty of fun for romantasy fans…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…A fun and sometimes steamy romp through fairyland.”—Kirkus

“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

Loved this!!!

As a huge romantasy fan I loved this book!! Great characters, interesting plot, believable romance! So glad I found it!!

Romance and secrets!

The narration was good. Without chapter titles, and a single narrator- you have to pay close attention as it does jump multiple POV’s . I did listen and eyeball read! That’s helpful.

I really enjoyed this story! That ending though… 👀 now I can’t wait to read the next book! The unraveling of secrets and twists took a bit longer given how many characters were involved. I did enjoy the different pov’s. I do wish the writer went into more detail with some of the character building and relationships. It felt like we brushed past it a bit.

The romance between Bristol and Tyghan was lovely.

“If she was enchanted, she wanted to stay enchanted forever.”

“With each step, it grew harder not to want more of everything”.

“The only thing in this world or any other than can stop me now … is you”.

When Fae Courts Crash Your Life

3.6 ⭐️ 1 🌶️

When Bristol Keats suddenly finds herself saddled with caring for her grieving sisters—because nothing says “adulting” like unsolicited family drama—she receives a cryptic letter from a “long‑lost” aunt. 🤨 Before she knows it, she’s hurled headfirst into Elphame—a fae realm of shifting loyalties, trickster courts, and the shocking possibility that her “dead” father might still be alive. Between awkward tutorials on sealing the demon‑haunted portal known as The Abyss and peeling back her family’s Pandora’s box of secrets, Pearson drips her magic‑soaked world onto the page with delicious restraint.

The romance? Imagine Olympic figure skating colliding with a whirlwind Tinder date. One minute Bristol and Tyghan are trading barbs sharper than fae‑forged blades; the next they’re ensnared in magnetic attraction with all the subtlety of a bungee jump. Yet beneath the sizzling banter, rising tension, and Tyghan’s brooding allure, their roller‑coaster connection gradually blooms into something unexpectedly tender.

Yes, the opening chapters luxuriate in lush world‑building and introduce a small army of side characters that would make George R.R. Martin blush. But about three‑quarters in, alliances shatter and the plot hurtles into a breakneck spectacle of betrayals, revelations, and gasp‑worthy twists. Embrace the slow burn—by the time Pearson ignites this story, you’ll be desperate for every last Keats family secret.

Beautiful

This book is different than any other book I’ve read. It’s incredibly well written and is everything I hoped the cruel prince would be. ADORED IT!!! The performance of the narrator was incredible. Go for it. The story won’t be what you expect… it will be so much better.

Loved it!!!

Mary did it again!! A beautifully written book. I couldnt put it down. I love the enemies to lovers trope and I loved Bristol's growth and realness through the whole story. I can't wait for the next one!

This must be the book of world building.

I liked the writing however, it really felt like there was so much being written yet not enough happening. The book is called the Courting of Bristol Keats, and I don’t know where the courting was. One minute they didn’t like each other and the next they were in love and yet it skipped over so much actual meat of the relationship. Also (spoiler ahead) so much of the plot was supposed to be Bristol searching for her father and there was such a small bit of searching and then when she did finally find him it just fell a little flat. I didn’t love the direction the author went with some of the plot. Overall it was written well but too much fluff for me.

Wanted to love it

I have loved the other Mary E Pearson books I have read so I was so excited to read this one, unfortunately I just didn’t love it as much. I enjoyed the story but the ending caught me totally off guard! I went back and re-listened to the last chapter to see if I missed something but I didn’t, (possible spoiler warning) it felt like there was no conclusion. I get setting it up for a second book but I missed some form of resolution to literally any of the problems in the story. Regardless of all of that I do enjoy her writing style and the characters she created, definitely got me invested so I’ll need to hear the rest

Favorite book!

I read and listen to a lot of books to say this is my favorite is an understatement. The story, the love in the story, it’s so completely beautiful.

Not what I expected

Loved this story. Finished it in 2 days and sad I didn’t space it out more. If you’re looking for a book where it’s not sex every other page this book is perfect for you. Good banter and a great story line. Looking forward impatiently for book 2.

Great fantasy

This book will keep your full attention and leaving wanting more! Can’t wait for the conclusion!