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A review by booksonawednesday
The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Thank you to Net Galley and MacMillan for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Bristol Keats has always known that her parents have something to hide. When they both die in tragic circumstances a short time apart, Bristol and her sisters struggle to get by.
Bristol then finds herself being ‘courted’ by Fae who suspect she has magic abilities that could save their kingdom, and she discovers the whole new world of Elphame. In exchange for her abilities, Bristol needs their help in searching for her father, who she now believes may not be dead after all.
From the very start, the book reminded me of The Cruel Prince. There is a strong romantasy and adult element, with a hint of political intrigue.
Unfortunately, I didn’t gel very well either the characters or the world. I found Bristol to be a frustrating character and I struggled to connect with the relationships she had. I didn’t agree with a lot of her decisions, and the romance plot felt strangely forced.
I also struggled with the world building. The book switched between Bristol and Tyghan’s (the king) perspectives, and while Bristol was in the dark about the truths of Elphame and her family, we, as the reader, were not. It made the narration a bit disjointed, and ruined what could have been some fun twists if we were limited to only Bristol’s perspective.
The political element of the book didn’t feel very fleshed out, and it was similar to other books I’ve read. It didn’t bring anything new to the table to make it stand out.
The move from YA to adult is quite stark, and there is some spice which added to the romance. I read a few other reviews about the ending of the book and I agree that it was… extremely odd.
One thing I did enjoy was the actions of some of the characters being morally grey. I thought that the writing encapsulated these dilemmas very well.
It was mostly well-written, and I do feel that a lot of people will enjoy reading it. It’s just not for me!
Bristol Keats has always known that her parents have something to hide. When they both die in tragic circumstances a short time apart, Bristol and her sisters struggle to get by.
Bristol then finds herself being ‘courted’ by Fae who suspect she has magic abilities that could save their kingdom, and she discovers the whole new world of Elphame. In exchange for her abilities, Bristol needs their help in searching for her father, who she now believes may not be dead after all.
From the very start, the book reminded me of The Cruel Prince. There is a strong romantasy and adult element, with a hint of political intrigue.
Unfortunately, I didn’t gel very well either the characters or the world. I found Bristol to be a frustrating character and I struggled to connect with the relationships she had. I didn’t agree with a lot of her decisions, and the romance plot felt strangely forced.
I also struggled with the world building. The book switched between Bristol and Tyghan’s (the king) perspectives, and while Bristol was in the dark about the truths of Elphame and her family, we, as the reader, were not. It made the narration a bit disjointed, and ruined what could have been some fun twists if we were limited to only Bristol’s perspective.
The political element of the book didn’t feel very fleshed out, and it was similar to other books I’ve read. It didn’t bring anything new to the table to make it stand out.
The move from YA to adult is quite stark, and there is some spice which added to the romance. I read a few other reviews about the ending of the book and I agree that it was… extremely odd.
One thing I did enjoy was the actions of some of the characters being morally grey. I thought that the writing encapsulated these dilemmas very well.
It was mostly well-written, and I do feel that a lot of people will enjoy reading it. It’s just not for me!