A review by babsreads18
The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

Bristol and her sisters live in the small town of Bowskeep. They lost both of their parents, and are struggling, but trying their best in life. Bristol starts receiving mysterious letters from an aunt that she’s never heard of before.  Against her better judgment, Bristol goes to meet with the aunt and soon discovers that significant parts of her life have been a lie, and her father may not even be dead. Bristol travels to a magical land, full of danger, fae, and monsters, and things get even more mysterious. 

I loved the way this book combined fantasy with mystery. I think the world building was well done and loved the concept of the secret magical world. The characters were complex and easy to relate to. I found Bristol to be especially likable. She’s a strong FMC who will do almost anything to help her family which is so relatable.  The romance between Bristol and Tyghan was great and I appreciated that it didn’t feel super rushed. The ending was a cliffhanger and I’m looking forward to what happens next in this duology!

I listened to the audiobook and Brittany Pressley did an amazing job. Each character had a clear and distinct voice and the narration really helped me become immersed in the magical world. 

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC.