I’m going to tell you a secret…I hate reading the last book in a series. A secret part of me wants to leave an ending ambiguous, fearing disappointment of what could happen to my beloved characters. However, I made myself get over my worries about endings to get through the second part of The Courting of Bristol Keats duology. I devoured the first book with its interesting characters, enemies to lovers trope, and the storyline all were definitely the type of fantasy I was looking for. In the second book, I experienced grief. As in, this book had an excellent portrayal of grief for a fantasy romance book. After reviewing books for many yeras, I’m not sure that I ever truly talk about grief experienced within them. This story was rife with raw emotions that I will not soon forget, and if you haven’t picked up a copy for your TBR, you might want to.
If you haven’t read the first in this duology, you might want to look away now! After nearly losing Tyghan thanks to the monsters her mother unleashed, Bristol is working on reconnecting with the man she loves. However, as they reconcile their differences, the loss of a beloved knight makes them both face what they’re avoiding. Bristol’s mother is more powerful than they anticipated, and Bristol’s loyalties are going to be tested far beyond what she expected. Her choices will either save the people she loves, or forever tear them apart.
This book was a gut-punch from the moment I opened it. It picks up right where the previous book left off, so there’s not a lot of catching up to do in that sense. However, the characters are certainly going through some emotional turmoil to be sure. Bristol in particular is the most volatile representation of this, with everything going on around her, it makes the most sense that she’s on the verge of shattering. Everything about her was vulnerable, and while I did not agree with some of the choices she made in the book, it made me think of how someone acts when they grieve. Desperation is one of the primary emotions that comes up in this book a lot, for many of the characters. We get to follow through on threads that were opened in the first book, and see the consequences of characters actions. Lots of lessons are being learned all around.
What I still loved was Bristol’s relationship with her sisters, although I now have beef with one Mary E. Pearson over certain things that happened in the book. You should read it too, and share this chip I must now shoulder. Above all, Bristol’s relationship with her family, through it all, is one of the strongest bonds that she has. Complexity aside, it is quite heartwarming.
At one point in the book, I found myself wanting to pull both Tyghan and Bristol into a therapy session. They are SO terrible at communicating with each other, which made the book feel redundant at times. Yet, it made sense logically, because there are relationships out there that mirror this exactly. It wasn’t my favourite relationship in books I’ve read, but things were resolved in a good way in the end. Rebuilding trust, communication, and some steamy scenes certainly moved things along as well.
There was much to love about this book, and as I mentioned, the raw emotions of it all were certainly one of my favourites. However, there were also things that I didn’t quite love. For me in particular, I had trouble with the flow of the story. At times it felt disjointed, when in others it flowed really well. There were aspects of the book that lacked detail where it was sorely needed, and the opposite was true as well. A minor complaint, but something to be aware of if you decide to pick this book up for yourself.
If you’re wondering if I regret picking up and reading the ending to this story, the answer is no. I read this book in an afternoon, just as many of the other books I love. The story resolved in a way that was authentic, and I am looking forward to the next book Mary E. Pearson puts out next.
The Last Wish of Bristol Keats is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis
From NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Mary E. Pearson comes the thrilling conclusion of the Courting of Bristol Keats romantic fantasy duology–limited edition printing with stenciled edges!
Be wary of the legends you hear. Who knows, one day you may be a legend yourself.
After Bristol Keats nearly loses her beloved King Tyghan to the monsters her mother had unleashed, their love deepens to a whole new level. Together, Bristol and Tyghan work to understand and reconcile their differences, moving forward with their common goal of saving Elphame. But when a daring rescue attempt turns into a disaster, and a beloved knight dies, Bristol is forced to confront the fact that her mother is more powerful than she could have ever imagined—and more dangerous. Meanwhile, Tyghan’s heart is laid bare when he encounters his former best friend and betrayer again, Bristol’s own father, and must wrestle with a new secret that throws everything he thought he knew about his past into question.
Bristol is Elphame’s last chance for survival, but where do her loyalties truly lie? If she fully embraces the magic that has always been her birthright, she could become a different kind of monster from her mother. Is she willing to risk losing the people she loves most, if it means keeping them safe?
Brimming with dark secrets, lush world-building, and addictive romance, The Last Wish of Bristol Keats is the unforgettable conclusion to New York Times bestselling author Mary E. Pearson’s first adult series.
