The Court of Venus

by Bel Banta

Genres: Romantic Fantasy

Synopsis

DELUXE EDITION—a gorgeous hardcover featuring gilded edges, illustrated endpapers, and 8 full-page interior illustrations

The Court of Venus is an ensnaring romantic fantasy in which a moon-blessed magician is summoned back to the deadly magical court she thought she had escaped; where power is determined by the stars—and the closer you are to the king, the more likely you are to die. Perfect for fans of The Knight and The Moth, The Familiar, and A Darker Shade of Magic.

In Alvion, magicians have always ruled beside kings. Blessed at birth by one of the seven planets, their abilities are miraculous and extremely rare. Magicians born under Saturn can speak to the dead. Venusborn read the desires of the living. Mercuryborn craft intricate ciphers.

At the moment of Bianca Mortlake’s birth, the stars and planets aligned just so, making her the first Moonborn magician in over a thousand years. She trained under Prospero, the king’s advisor and greatest magician of his age. Except, Prospero already had an apprentice when Bianca was chosen: an insufferable Venusborn named Roland.

Years later, Bianca thought that life was behind her, until an urgent missive arrives in the night, summoning her back to court. In her absence, two queens and her beloved mentor Prospero have been beheaded; the prince, the king’s only heir, died under mysterious circumstances; and her old rival, Roland, has risen to become the most dangerous living magician.

In order to survive this world of power-hungry courtiers and ruthless royals, Bianca must rely on the last person she would ever want to—the alluring, seductive, infuriating Roland.

Together, they must find the answers to questions that no one else at court dares to ask: why was Prospero, the man Bianca loved like a father, sent to the executioner's block? Was the kind, beloved prince's death truly an accident—or was it murder?

And who will be next?

The Court of Venus
*rivals to lovers
*courtly intrigue
*magic tournament
*slow burn
*murder mystery
*she falls first, he falls harder

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Release date: September 29, 2026

Publisher: Tor Publishing Group

Print pages: 416