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The Court of Venus
Not yet published
Expected 29 Sep 26Set in a fantasy world inspired by Tudor England and the real astrologers who advised kings, The Court of Venus is Bel Banta's fantasy debut and a beautifully written historical novel about rival magicians.
'Our kind has many names. Planetborn. Sorcerer. Witch or wizard. Magician.'
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 Jupiter influence luck. Saturnborn can speak to the dead. Venusborn read the desires of the living.
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. A sorcery so rare that even the history books cannot say what she is capable of.
After a childhood training under the realm’s most powerful magician—and alongside a most insufferable Venusborn named Roland—Bianca lives a quiet life far from court. Until a chilling missive arrives in the night, summoning her back.
A mad and deadly court awaits. Two queens have met the executioner’s blade, and one wrong move could see any of them next beneath its steel. As power is pulled between ruthless royals and courtiers like the tides by the moon, Bianca must rely on the last person she would ever want to—the infuriatingly alluring Roland.
Because something is terribly wrong in Alvion. And only this moon-blessed magician and her oldest rival can save the court—and each other—from the dark fate they see written in the stars.
'Wildly imaginative, wickedly addictive, and impossible to put down!' – Jean Kwok, New York Times bestselling author of Dominion
'Decadent, gripping, and romantic' – Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of The Dark and Drowning Tide
Perfect for fans of The Knight and The Moth, The Familiar, and A Darker Shade of Magic.
Tropes Include . . .
*rivals to lovers
*courtly intrigue
*magic tournament
*slow burn
*murder mystery
*she falls first, he falls harder
'Our kind has many names. Planetborn. Sorcerer. Witch or wizard. Magician.'
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 Jupiter influence luck. Saturnborn can speak to the dead. Venusborn read the desires of the living.
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. A sorcery so rare that even the history books cannot say what she is capable of.
After a childhood training under the realm’s most powerful magician—and alongside a most insufferable Venusborn named Roland—Bianca lives a quiet life far from court. Until a chilling missive arrives in the night, summoning her back.
A mad and deadly court awaits. Two queens have met the executioner’s blade, and one wrong move could see any of them next beneath its steel. As power is pulled between ruthless royals and courtiers like the tides by the moon, Bianca must rely on the last person she would ever want to—the infuriatingly alluring Roland.
Because something is terribly wrong in Alvion. And only this moon-blessed magician and her oldest rival can save the court—and each other—from the dark fate they see written in the stars.
'Wildly imaginative, wickedly addictive, and impossible to put down!' – Jean Kwok, New York Times bestselling author of Dominion
'Decadent, gripping, and romantic' – Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of The Dark and Drowning Tide
Perfect for fans of The Knight and The Moth, The Familiar, and A Darker Shade of Magic.
Tropes Include . . .
*rivals to lovers
*courtly intrigue
*magic tournament
*slow burn
*murder mystery
*she falls first, he falls harder
Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 29, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
June 22, 2026
The flirtatious kings advisor, beloved by all (except one person who they want desperately and who greets them with a knife to the throat) I LOVE THIS SONG. Romantic fantasy with yearning is back people!!!
A dazzling tale of courtly intrigue, celestial magic, and star written love, Bel Banta’s, The Court of Venus bridges the historical with the fantastical in an expansive narrative all about power and the lengths we will go to rewrite our fates. When an exiled moon-blessed magician returns to the court of Alvion, a growing power struggle necessitates she join forces with her long-ago rival to uncover a conspiracy and solve the murder of their friend from childhood. Against the turbulent king's court, neither will emerge unscathed, nor will they fully outlast the conflicting desires between them and the kingdom entire. In a Tudor-esque plot of secrets and deadly political machinations, Banta builds a landscape fraught with uncertainty—where one misstep spells death by the executioner's sword. With a murder to solve and the past to untangle, The Court of Venus has a lot cut out for it, but it achieves it all with breathtaking skill and an overwhelming singularity. This novel is a clash of personalities, from members of royalty, to courtiers, to the flirtatious king's advisor beloved by all (except the one person who they want desperately and who greets them with a knife to the throat). Not without its kernel of romance, The Court of Venus parries the plot with a biting, sensual slow burn. For there is no one that gets under one's skin quite like a bitter rival, nor someone who can see you down to the marrow and decide they want you anyway. This debut harnesses a vast and hungering intensity. Banta writes with a ferocity that will make you feel held at knife point (and you will like it). The Court of Venus is fantasy the way it should be: suffused in romantic yearning, an intense political underpinning, and a plot that cuts to the bone. Coupled with an agonizing twist that had me ready to scream at the stars, Bel Banta is a talent fated to have me in her walls until book two.
“Before I saw her again, I would have said I had been in love a handful of times. Now I know she has been the only one.” SCREAM
thank you to edelweiss and the publisher for providing the advance review copy.
Bookstagram | Blog
A dazzling tale of courtly intrigue, celestial magic, and star written love, Bel Banta’s, The Court of Venus bridges the historical with the fantastical in an expansive narrative all about power and the lengths we will go to rewrite our fates. When an exiled moon-blessed magician returns to the court of Alvion, a growing power struggle necessitates she join forces with her long-ago rival to uncover a conspiracy and solve the murder of their friend from childhood. Against the turbulent king's court, neither will emerge unscathed, nor will they fully outlast the conflicting desires between them and the kingdom entire. In a Tudor-esque plot of secrets and deadly political machinations, Banta builds a landscape fraught with uncertainty—where one misstep spells death by the executioner's sword. With a murder to solve and the past to untangle, The Court of Venus has a lot cut out for it, but it achieves it all with breathtaking skill and an overwhelming singularity. This novel is a clash of personalities, from members of royalty, to courtiers, to the flirtatious king's advisor beloved by all (except the one person who they want desperately and who greets them with a knife to the throat). Not without its kernel of romance, The Court of Venus parries the plot with a biting, sensual slow burn. For there is no one that gets under one's skin quite like a bitter rival, nor someone who can see you down to the marrow and decide they want you anyway. This debut harnesses a vast and hungering intensity. Banta writes with a ferocity that will make you feel held at knife point (and you will like it). The Court of Venus is fantasy the way it should be: suffused in romantic yearning, an intense political underpinning, and a plot that cuts to the bone. Coupled with an agonizing twist that had me ready to scream at the stars, Bel Banta is a talent fated to have me in her walls until book two.
“Before I saw her again, I would have said I had been in love a handful of times. Now I know she has been the only one.” SCREAM
thank you to edelweiss and the publisher for providing the advance review copy.
Bookstagram | Blog
Currently Reading
July 1, 2026excited to dive into the court of venus after seeing it everywhere on socials! the court of venus is a new romantasy series following a moon-blessed magician returning to the deadly magical court she believed to have escaped...
December 9, 2025
Brimming with yearning and set against a glittering world of celestial inspired magic, high stakes, and Tudor worthy intrigue, The Court of Venus shines. Banta has expertly crafted the story I didn’t know I longed for and the world my young zodiac and Tudor obsessed heart craved.
March 4, 2026
As a former thirteen-year-old-obsessed-with-Tudor-history-and-also-fantasy-books, I ate this UP. Immersive, addictive historical(ly inspired) fantasy with a slow-burn romance; I think this might have actually done the impossible and shaken me out of my romantasy slump (the focus is on the fantasy, but the romance is fully realized and takes up enough space that I think romantasy readers will enjoy this, in addition to the traditional fantasy crowd).
Thank you Tor for the eARC!
Thank you Tor for the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
The Court of Venus was such an enjoyable surprise for me, that got me out of my fiction reading rut. The combination of Tudor-inspired court politics, murder mystery, world-building, and celestial magic created a fantastic backdrop. The Henry VIII and Tudor England influences were honestly one of my favourite parts of the book, and felt dramatic and immersive in the best way.
The astrology-based magic system was creative and clearly well thought out. I liked how each magician’s powers connected to their celestial body and personality, and how the magic tied naturally into all elements of the book, and didn’t just exist for spectacle.
I also really enjoyed Bianca and Roland together. Their relationship felt layered and believable, particularly because so much of it was tied to shared grief, memories, and their history rather than insta-love. I’m usually not a fan of flashbacks, but in this case, they were genuinely some of the strongest scenes for me and added a lot of depth to all of the characters.
My biggest issue was struggling to follow who was speaking during dialogue-heavy scenes. There were several moments where I had to reread sections because I thought an entirely different character was talking, which pulled me out of the story a bit. I just wish the dialogue and scene transitions had a little more clarity at times.
That said, I still had a great time with this book overall, and I would recommend giving it a read!
Thank you to Macmillan for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The astrology-based magic system was creative and clearly well thought out. I liked how each magician’s powers connected to their celestial body and personality, and how the magic tied naturally into all elements of the book, and didn’t just exist for spectacle.
I also really enjoyed Bianca and Roland together. Their relationship felt layered and believable, particularly because so much of it was tied to shared grief, memories, and their history rather than insta-love. I’m usually not a fan of flashbacks, but in this case, they were genuinely some of the strongest scenes for me and added a lot of depth to all of the characters.
My biggest issue was struggling to follow who was speaking during dialogue-heavy scenes. There were several moments where I had to reread sections because I thought an entirely different character was talking, which pulled me out of the story a bit. I just wish the dialogue and scene transitions had a little more clarity at times.
That said, I still had a great time with this book overall, and I would recommend giving it a read!
Thank you to Macmillan for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 12, 2026
Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for the arc!
Rtc
Rtc
Did Not Finish
June 12, 2026DNF at 30%
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!
I was so looking forward to this book, but unfortunately I have to call it. I am utterly bored out of my mind here. I'm going to start with the good and then get into the not-so-good.
I really like the lore/magic system. It's so fun and unique and I love a shape-shifter as a main characters. The magic system gives me some nostalgia over Sailor Moon and I have to chuckle at the fact that our FMC is a "Moon-born" similar to Usagi. The idea of people gaining powers based on when they were born according to the star signs is fascinating and I really liked that!
That being said, nothing else worked for me. It truly feels like there are zero stakes here. Yes, I get that her childhood friend was killed. Yes, I get that there was another random death. But honestly, these people don't care. After that person died at the ball, they shoved his corpse under a table and kept dancing. It doesn't feel like this is a vengeful court; it just feels like the court does not even CARE. Everything is all so dull, especially the plot. The best parts of the book so far are her changing into different animals and humans to spy, but everything that is said and done otherwise is just boring. I am positive that I will forget this book exists in a few hours time.
The relationship between the two mains is... ehhh. I don't feel like they have anything between them at this point. Their "banter" is an attempt... but a poor one. I feel like our FMC has more chemistry with her dead friend. Our MMC himself is utterly boring. I can't even tell you what he's like because he feels so nothing.
Overall, I definitely think this book will end up being either a 2-3 star read for me and I'm just not interested in reading 70% more book to come to that conclusion.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!
I was so looking forward to this book, but unfortunately I have to call it. I am utterly bored out of my mind here. I'm going to start with the good and then get into the not-so-good.
I really like the lore/magic system. It's so fun and unique and I love a shape-shifter as a main characters. The magic system gives me some nostalgia over Sailor Moon and I have to chuckle at the fact that our FMC is a "Moon-born" similar to Usagi. The idea of people gaining powers based on when they were born according to the star signs is fascinating and I really liked that!
That being said, nothing else worked for me. It truly feels like there are zero stakes here. Yes, I get that her childhood friend was killed. Yes, I get that there was another random death. But honestly, these people don't care. After that person died at the ball, they shoved his corpse under a table and kept dancing. It doesn't feel like this is a vengeful court; it just feels like the court does not even CARE. Everything is all so dull, especially the plot. The best parts of the book so far are her changing into different animals and humans to spy, but everything that is said and done otherwise is just boring. I am positive that I will forget this book exists in a few hours time.
The relationship between the two mains is... ehhh. I don't feel like they have anything between them at this point. Their "banter" is an attempt... but a poor one. I feel like our FMC has more chemistry with her dead friend. Our MMC himself is utterly boring. I can't even tell you what he's like because he feels so nothing.
Overall, I definitely think this book will end up being either a 2-3 star read for me and I'm just not interested in reading 70% more book to come to that conclusion.
Want to Read
April 29, 2026 pink hair representation oh i knoww that's right
June 14, 2026
THIS BOOK IS GOOD, Y’ALL.
As someone who has been obsessed with the Tudor era since I was in the single digits, this book felt tailor-made for me. Banta clearly did her research, and it shows. The world feels fully realized, the characters are richly developed, and the writing never falls into the trap of telling when it could be showing.
What impressed me most was how natural everything felt. Despite being a fantasy novel, the characters, relationships, and conflicts felt believable and grounded. The historical inspirations behind the story shine through, and if you’re familiar with them, it’s like discovering little treasures scattered throughout the book.
The magic system is equally well-crafted—thoughtful, consistent, and genuinely intriguing. It feels like a natural part of the world rather than something added for convenience.
This was one of those rare books that had me completely hooked. It broke my heart, surprised me, and kept me turning pages long past when I should have gone to bed. There is yearning, intrigue, betrayal, love, lust, and hope woven throughout every chapter.
I enjoyed this book so much that I preordered a physical copy before I even finished my ARC.
If you love historical fantasy, do yourself a favor and pick this one up. You won’t be disappointed.
As someone who has been obsessed with the Tudor era since I was in the single digits, this book felt tailor-made for me. Banta clearly did her research, and it shows. The world feels fully realized, the characters are richly developed, and the writing never falls into the trap of telling when it could be showing.
What impressed me most was how natural everything felt. Despite being a fantasy novel, the characters, relationships, and conflicts felt believable and grounded. The historical inspirations behind the story shine through, and if you’re familiar with them, it’s like discovering little treasures scattered throughout the book.
The magic system is equally well-crafted—thoughtful, consistent, and genuinely intriguing. It feels like a natural part of the world rather than something added for convenience.
This was one of those rare books that had me completely hooked. It broke my heart, surprised me, and kept me turning pages long past when I should have gone to bed. There is yearning, intrigue, betrayal, love, lust, and hope woven throughout every chapter.
I enjoyed this book so much that I preordered a physical copy before I even finished my ARC.
If you love historical fantasy, do yourself a favor and pick this one up. You won’t be disappointed.
Did Not Finish
May 19, 2026Unfortunately I was not finding this story gripping enough to continue after 30%. While the magic system and world building seems interesting, it's also confusing. The rarity of magicians doesn't seem to translate to how so many characters in the plot have magic. The book starts SO suddenly that I was very thrown off by the main character reuniting with people from her past. I am aware that I'm supposed to view Bianca and Roland's relationship as deep, tragic, emotional, and semi-romantic/sexually charged, but Roland was deeply boring and didn't read as a love interest.
June 29, 2026
I feel like a lot of romantasy lately is very bad, but this one is absolutely not. Instead of being insta-love, it was a slow burn, and honestly refreshing. It focused heavily on court politics, and wound up being kind of a murder-mystery whodunnit at the same time, which I actually really enjoyed!
Want to Read
July 3, 2026🌙👑 The Court of Venus 👑🌙
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Romantic Fantasy
• Rivals to Lovers
• Court Intrigue
• Murder Mystery
• Magic Tournament
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 29, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Romantic Fantasy
• Rivals to Lovers
• Court Intrigue
• Murder Mystery
• Magic Tournament
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 29, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy.
Want to Read
January 12, 2026Dying to read this book
June 17, 2026
Welcome to the Court of Venus. A place of betrayal, court intrigue, jealousy, envy, and secrets. So many secrets. Everyone is scheming for power, hiding behind magic, whispered conversations, and every stilted smile. A true snake’s den.
I loved how unique this story felt. It dropped me straight into a Tudor era setting infused with celestial/astrological magic and mystery. ( like how fun?! ) Roland and Bianca’s reunion pulls them into a web of secrets, death, ciphers, and hidden truths that kept me turning the pages nonstop.
I absolutely loved the writing style. It was so lyrical and beautifully descriptive, but one of the things I loved most was the aching tension and yearning between Roland and Bianca. Every glance, every lingering touch, every sharp exchange had me side eyeing w/ eyebrows raised lol. Their banter? Obsessed. Another Obsession? While everyone else is swooning over Roland, he’s only swooning over her 😫
There was this scene, with a ribbon, and my eyes were GLUED to the page lol.
There were a few plot twists I didn’t expect, and I was just as shocked as the characters were when they found out.
Can’t wait to find out what comes next!!
( Thank you so much to Tor Books for the early physical galley )
I loved how unique this story felt. It dropped me straight into a Tudor era setting infused with celestial/astrological magic and mystery. ( like how fun?! ) Roland and Bianca’s reunion pulls them into a web of secrets, death, ciphers, and hidden truths that kept me turning the pages nonstop.
I absolutely loved the writing style. It was so lyrical and beautifully descriptive, but one of the things I loved most was the aching tension and yearning between Roland and Bianca. Every glance, every lingering touch, every sharp exchange had me side eyeing w/ eyebrows raised lol. Their banter? Obsessed. Another Obsession? While everyone else is swooning over Roland, he’s only swooning over her 😫
There was this scene, with a ribbon, and my eyes were GLUED to the page lol.
There were a few plot twists I didn’t expect, and I was just as shocked as the characters were when they found out.
Can’t wait to find out what comes next!!
( Thank you so much to Tor Books for the early physical galley )
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars rounded down to 3 for Goodreads.
The Court of Venus by Bel Banta is a romantic fantasy that follows Bianca, a rare Moonborn magician, as she seeks to uncover the truth behind the murder of one of her closest friends in a deadly court full of scheming magicians, a violent king, and her rival Roland, now the Lord Chancellor of the realm and full of his own secrets.
The publisher comps for this title are The Knight and the Moth, The Familiar, and A Darker Shade of Magic. I have not read A Darker Shade of Magic and I DNF’d The Familiar, so I can provide limited feedback on those two. I think the historical medieval fantasy aspect of The Familiar is what is being compared for that title, as they are set in roughly comparable time frames. I do not think The Knight and The Moth is an accurate comp, as the tone and romantic entanglement are very different from what is present here. This is foremost a fantasy with a subtle romantic subplot that doesn’t really come up until the back quarter of the book. The historical origins and political maneuverings are essential to the plot, so if you’re going into this for a “heavy on the romance, light on the plot” read this is not for you.
The publisher also included a trope list, which I hate, of: rivals to lovers; courtly intrigue; magic tournament; slow burn; murder mystery; & she falls first, he falls harder. Rivals to lovers is kind of accurate but I think evokes the wrong idea, especially couched with slow burn, & she falls first, he falls harder. Yes there is a romantic sub plot but emphasis on the sub. The rest are as accurate as a one-dimensional trope shopping list can be.
Written in first person singular POV, the story follows our FMC Bianca as she is summoned to the court of King Richard V for a magical tournament in honor of his new queen Cecily Guildford’s coronation.
There is some LGBT representation, with several characters including the MMC mentioned as having same-sex relations/flirtations. There is some spice in the book, mostly in the back quarter, and it is moderately graphic. The romantic plot is a subplot to the murder mystery and political machinations, and was my least favorite part of the book. There is minimal gore present. The plot is balanced between character-driven action and the mystery resolution. It was an easy read, with open and accessible prose, with only a few rough spots of awkward phrasing or unnecessarily elaborate descriptors.
Bianca, a Moonborn magician, was raised in the court alongside the now-deceased Prince Hal and the MMC Roland, the Lord Chancellor of the court, a Venusborn magician, under the tutelage of Prospero, a Jupiterborn magician. The magic is based in astrology, with each of the signs conveying their own gifts. Moonborn are exceptionally rare and their full abilities are unknown, but are linked to memory, with Bianca being the first in a millennia. Magicians are physically marked by their signs, having hair and eyes that match their sign. Bianca’s hair and eyes are shades of white, Roland’s pink, Prospero’s blue, a Marsborn red, and so on. Venusborn control desire and can heal, Marsborn attack bonds and can kill, Jupiterborn can duplicate items and are linked to prosperity, Sunborn are linked to truth, Mercuryborn to communication and secrets, and Saturnborn to death and the beyond.
The world-building is lovely, heavily influenced by the Elizabethan court and timeframe. The book is loosely based on the time of Henry VII through to Elizabeth I, and anyone familiar with Tudor England will feel that out right away. Because it relies on a historical past, the majority of the world-building is thrown into the magic system and the intimate setting of the court, with the greater lore of the world left more vague. I did love the feeling the author created, of a glittering, vibrant, seething court full of jostling for advantage, and liked the historical clothing references. But something felt missing or slightly incoherent and I can’t quite put my finger on it.
The characters were interesting enough, but I didn’t feel particularly invested in either of the MCs, and found the MMC to be a little distasteful. I think you could easily describe them both as morally grey by the end of the book. The side characters are relatively one-dimensional and I had minimal investment in them.
I did not enjoy the relationship between Bianca and Roland, and felt it cheapened parts of the story by undermining established character aspects. The relationship is central to the plot, and does plot work; I just didn’t enjoy it. It comes to the fore in the back quarter of the book and my enjoyment of the book decreased appropriately. Roland feels exceptionally untrustworthy, and his ability to manipulate desire makes me suspect his endgame. Bianca is less endearing the more time she spends with Roland, and her character felt diminished by him.
I think if it was more of a romance reader it would bother me less, but it felt less star-crossed and more toxic. There was another relationship in the book that was the opposite and I was heartbroken that it wasn’t the central one. I still want the ultimate story resolution to rest there, but will say no more to avoid spoilers.
In all, it is a brilliant concept and an admirable debut. I enjoyed the Tudor vibes, adored the magic system, and liked the courtly setting, but found the characters to be on the bland side. The story is an easy read, enjoyable, and I am interested in continuing, though I probably will only maintain an e-book copy for the personal library.
The Court of Venus by Bel Banta is a romantic fantasy that follows Bianca, a rare Moonborn magician, as she seeks to uncover the truth behind the murder of one of her closest friends in a deadly court full of scheming magicians, a violent king, and her rival Roland, now the Lord Chancellor of the realm and full of his own secrets.
The publisher comps for this title are The Knight and the Moth, The Familiar, and A Darker Shade of Magic. I have not read A Darker Shade of Magic and I DNF’d The Familiar, so I can provide limited feedback on those two. I think the historical medieval fantasy aspect of The Familiar is what is being compared for that title, as they are set in roughly comparable time frames. I do not think The Knight and The Moth is an accurate comp, as the tone and romantic entanglement are very different from what is present here. This is foremost a fantasy with a subtle romantic subplot that doesn’t really come up until the back quarter of the book. The historical origins and political maneuverings are essential to the plot, so if you’re going into this for a “heavy on the romance, light on the plot” read this is not for you.
The publisher also included a trope list, which I hate, of: rivals to lovers; courtly intrigue; magic tournament; slow burn; murder mystery; & she falls first, he falls harder. Rivals to lovers is kind of accurate but I think evokes the wrong idea, especially couched with slow burn, & she falls first, he falls harder. Yes there is a romantic sub plot but emphasis on the sub. The rest are as accurate as a one-dimensional trope shopping list can be.
Written in first person singular POV, the story follows our FMC Bianca as she is summoned to the court of King Richard V for a magical tournament in honor of his new queen Cecily Guildford’s coronation.
There is some LGBT representation, with several characters including the MMC mentioned as having same-sex relations/flirtations. There is some spice in the book, mostly in the back quarter, and it is moderately graphic. The romantic plot is a subplot to the murder mystery and political machinations, and was my least favorite part of the book. There is minimal gore present. The plot is balanced between character-driven action and the mystery resolution. It was an easy read, with open and accessible prose, with only a few rough spots of awkward phrasing or unnecessarily elaborate descriptors.
Bianca, a Moonborn magician, was raised in the court alongside the now-deceased Prince Hal and the MMC Roland, the Lord Chancellor of the court, a Venusborn magician, under the tutelage of Prospero, a Jupiterborn magician. The magic is based in astrology, with each of the signs conveying their own gifts. Moonborn are exceptionally rare and their full abilities are unknown, but are linked to memory, with Bianca being the first in a millennia. Magicians are physically marked by their signs, having hair and eyes that match their sign. Bianca’s hair and eyes are shades of white, Roland’s pink, Prospero’s blue, a Marsborn red, and so on. Venusborn control desire and can heal, Marsborn attack bonds and can kill, Jupiterborn can duplicate items and are linked to prosperity, Sunborn are linked to truth, Mercuryborn to communication and secrets, and Saturnborn to death and the beyond.
The world-building is lovely, heavily influenced by the Elizabethan court and timeframe. The book is loosely based on the time of Henry VII through to Elizabeth I, and anyone familiar with Tudor England will feel that out right away. Because it relies on a historical past, the majority of the world-building is thrown into the magic system and the intimate setting of the court, with the greater lore of the world left more vague. I did love the feeling the author created, of a glittering, vibrant, seething court full of jostling for advantage, and liked the historical clothing references. But something felt missing or slightly incoherent and I can’t quite put my finger on it.
The characters were interesting enough, but I didn’t feel particularly invested in either of the MCs, and found the MMC to be a little distasteful. I think you could easily describe them both as morally grey by the end of the book. The side characters are relatively one-dimensional and I had minimal investment in them.
I did not enjoy the relationship between Bianca and Roland, and felt it cheapened parts of the story by undermining established character aspects. The relationship is central to the plot, and does plot work; I just didn’t enjoy it. It comes to the fore in the back quarter of the book and my enjoyment of the book decreased appropriately. Roland feels exceptionally untrustworthy, and his ability to manipulate desire makes me suspect his endgame. Bianca is less endearing the more time she spends with Roland, and her character felt diminished by him.
I think if it was more of a romance reader it would bother me less, but it felt less star-crossed and more toxic. There was another relationship in the book that was the opposite and I was heartbroken that it wasn’t the central one. I still want the ultimate story resolution to rest there, but will say no more to avoid spoilers.
In all, it is a brilliant concept and an admirable debut. I enjoyed the Tudor vibes, adored the magic system, and liked the courtly setting, but found the characters to be on the bland side. The story is an easy read, enjoyable, and I am interested in continuing, though I probably will only maintain an e-book copy for the personal library.
October 23, 2025
This book is SO GOOD, y’all! Equal parts mystery, achingly yearning romance, Tudor shenanigans, and unique astrological magic system. I can’t stop thinking about this incredible story!!!! This will be the fantasy book of 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Court of Venus by Bel Banta
Publication Date: September 29, 2026
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5 Stars)
Tropes & Themes
🌙 Rivals to Lovers
✨ Courtly Intrigue
👑 Tudor-Inspired Fantasy
🔮 Celestial Magic System
🩸 Murder Mystery
💫 Slow Burn Romance
⭐ She Falls First, He Falls Harder
🌌 Star-Crossed Fate
As a former Tudor-history-obsessed kid and lifelong fantasy lover, The Court of Venus felt like it was written specifically for me.
Bel Banta has created a rich and immersive fantasy world where magic is determined by the planets and stars, court politics are deadly, and one wrong move can cost you your head. The combination of Tudor-inspired intrigue, celestial magic, and murder mystery made this an incredibly enjoyable read and exactly the kind of fantasy I love sinking into.
Bianca Mortlake is the first Moonborn magician in over a thousand years—a rarity so extraordinary that even the history books don't know the limits of her power. After escaping court life years ago, she's unexpectedly summoned back into a dangerous political landscape where queens are falling to the executioner's blade and no one can be trusted.
Enter Roland.
The dynamic between Bianca and Roland was one of my favorite parts of the story. Their relationship felt earned, layered, and deeply rooted in their shared history. Rather than relying on instant attraction, their connection is built through years of memories, grief, misunderstandings, and lingering feelings. The slow burn was absolutely worth it.
I was also pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the flashback scenes. Normally flashbacks can pull me out of a story, but here they added so much depth to both Bianca and Roland's relationship and helped flesh out the emotional stakes of the present-day storyline.
The astrology-inspired magic system was wonderfully creative. I loved how each magician's abilities reflected the celestial body that blessed them at birth. The magic felt integrated into every aspect of the world rather than existing simply as decoration, which made the setting feel even more immersive.
The Tudor influences were another standout. As someone who loves historical court drama, I couldn't get enough of the scheming nobles, shifting alliances, dangerous politics, and constant feeling that no one was truly safe. It captured the drama and tension of Tudor England while still feeling entirely its own.
My only real struggle came with some of the dialogue-heavy scenes in the audiobook format. There were a few moments where I found myself unsure which character was speaking and had to backtrack to reorient myself. This occasionally pulled me out of the story, though it wasn't enough to significantly impact my enjoyment overall.
If you love:
🖤 Tudor-inspired fantasy
🖤 Court politics and intrigue
🖤 Slow-burn romance
🖤 Rivals-to-lovers
🖤 Celestial magic systems
🖤 Murder mysteries
🖤 Character-driven fantasy
Then The Court of Venus deserves a place on your TBR.
Bel Banta has crafted a world full of yearning, ambition, danger, and magic, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute spent within it. This was a fantastic surprise read that pulled me out of a reading slump and reminded me exactly why I love fantasy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a copy for review.
Publication Date: September 29, 2026
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5 Stars)
Tropes & Themes
🌙 Rivals to Lovers
✨ Courtly Intrigue
👑 Tudor-Inspired Fantasy
🔮 Celestial Magic System
🩸 Murder Mystery
💫 Slow Burn Romance
⭐ She Falls First, He Falls Harder
🌌 Star-Crossed Fate
As a former Tudor-history-obsessed kid and lifelong fantasy lover, The Court of Venus felt like it was written specifically for me.
Bel Banta has created a rich and immersive fantasy world where magic is determined by the planets and stars, court politics are deadly, and one wrong move can cost you your head. The combination of Tudor-inspired intrigue, celestial magic, and murder mystery made this an incredibly enjoyable read and exactly the kind of fantasy I love sinking into.
Bianca Mortlake is the first Moonborn magician in over a thousand years—a rarity so extraordinary that even the history books don't know the limits of her power. After escaping court life years ago, she's unexpectedly summoned back into a dangerous political landscape where queens are falling to the executioner's blade and no one can be trusted.
Enter Roland.
The dynamic between Bianca and Roland was one of my favorite parts of the story. Their relationship felt earned, layered, and deeply rooted in their shared history. Rather than relying on instant attraction, their connection is built through years of memories, grief, misunderstandings, and lingering feelings. The slow burn was absolutely worth it.
I was also pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the flashback scenes. Normally flashbacks can pull me out of a story, but here they added so much depth to both Bianca and Roland's relationship and helped flesh out the emotional stakes of the present-day storyline.
The astrology-inspired magic system was wonderfully creative. I loved how each magician's abilities reflected the celestial body that blessed them at birth. The magic felt integrated into every aspect of the world rather than existing simply as decoration, which made the setting feel even more immersive.
The Tudor influences were another standout. As someone who loves historical court drama, I couldn't get enough of the scheming nobles, shifting alliances, dangerous politics, and constant feeling that no one was truly safe. It captured the drama and tension of Tudor England while still feeling entirely its own.
My only real struggle came with some of the dialogue-heavy scenes in the audiobook format. There were a few moments where I found myself unsure which character was speaking and had to backtrack to reorient myself. This occasionally pulled me out of the story, though it wasn't enough to significantly impact my enjoyment overall.
If you love:
🖤 Tudor-inspired fantasy
🖤 Court politics and intrigue
🖤 Slow-burn romance
🖤 Rivals-to-lovers
🖤 Celestial magic systems
🖤 Murder mysteries
🖤 Character-driven fantasy
Then The Court of Venus deserves a place on your TBR.
Bel Banta has crafted a world full of yearning, ambition, danger, and magic, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute spent within it. This was a fantastic surprise read that pulled me out of a reading slump and reminded me exactly why I love fantasy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a copy for review.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
The Court of Venus is a story infused with court politics and magic. At one point, I didn’t know if I could finish the book because there was so much information and intrigue that I was getting lost in the plot.
The book follows childhood friends Roland and Bianca, trained magicians who served their respective court officials. Magicians are only as important as the officials and benefactors to whom they pledged allegiance. But after the death of their mutual friend and the king’s son, Hal, both magicians had a rude awakening about what it means to be part of court life.
What I enjoyed was the world-building and the magic aspects; the fact that each magician’s magic depends on their planetary affiliation at birth piqued my interest and made me decide to jump into this book. The coutier’s life and comings/goings were what I expected from books of a similar genre. No complaints there…BUT I did get confused when Bianca’s true abilities were slowly revealed. Yes, Bianca can shift and all, but the way the author wove this magic into the plot and the way the ending was explained left me confused and questioning whether I misread or even missed something. The story's arc centers on discovering what happened to a good friend, which later affects the friendships of three people.
How the story was further developed through the magic aspect came across as vague and constantly evolving, since Bianca had “rare powers” that no one had documented or even known about. Now, I am all for women's empowerment, but how Bianca was shaped to fit the ending felt a bit too much, or maybe it was too fast for me to process what was going on. I am still not over how Hal’s death was explained.
Warning - this book was so very long. I was a little resentful that it took me close to a month to finish it. The pacing and density of information made it impossible to rush through, so I had to take each chapter with a focused approach since names and affiliations were complex. I think this book also had the peculiar juxtaposition of deep sympathy for Bianca’s predicament between what she would like and what Fate dictates, even though she could have lived a quieter life away from the Court.
In summary, The Court of Venus is well written, and despite its length, the political intrigue, calculated plot, and dialogue propel the story along. It is more plot-driven, as many of the scenes were beyond the characters' control, and only at the end, when the MMCs had to take a more proactive approach to the “situation,” do we find more traction and the story develop further. I thought the story’s progression was what readers may think a courtier’s life as parties and the extravagance of a coronation would turn into: a blood bath, a cut-throat battle, and “secret arrangements that no one saw coming - while all were well executed. particularly clever. There were a lot of scenes that built up a deep sense of foreboding and underpinned how unpredictable Bianca’s world was, as King Richard’s paranoia and favors were fickle. Though I normally do not choose a Tudor-esque theme, this book actually took me by surprise with how the last few chapters turned the story around, regardless of how I feel about it. The ending twist was enlightening, for sure.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Macmillan Publishing for providing the advance review copy.
The book follows childhood friends Roland and Bianca, trained magicians who served their respective court officials. Magicians are only as important as the officials and benefactors to whom they pledged allegiance. But after the death of their mutual friend and the king’s son, Hal, both magicians had a rude awakening about what it means to be part of court life.
What I enjoyed was the world-building and the magic aspects; the fact that each magician’s magic depends on their planetary affiliation at birth piqued my interest and made me decide to jump into this book. The coutier’s life and comings/goings were what I expected from books of a similar genre. No complaints there…BUT I did get confused when Bianca’s true abilities were slowly revealed. Yes, Bianca can shift and all, but the way the author wove this magic into the plot and the way the ending was explained left me confused and questioning whether I misread or even missed something. The story's arc centers on discovering what happened to a good friend, which later affects the friendships of three people.
How the story was further developed through the magic aspect came across as vague and constantly evolving, since Bianca had “rare powers” that no one had documented or even known about. Now, I am all for women's empowerment, but how Bianca was shaped to fit the ending felt a bit too much, or maybe it was too fast for me to process what was going on. I am still not over how Hal’s death was explained.
Warning - this book was so very long. I was a little resentful that it took me close to a month to finish it. The pacing and density of information made it impossible to rush through, so I had to take each chapter with a focused approach since names and affiliations were complex. I think this book also had the peculiar juxtaposition of deep sympathy for Bianca’s predicament between what she would like and what Fate dictates, even though she could have lived a quieter life away from the Court.
In summary, The Court of Venus is well written, and despite its length, the political intrigue, calculated plot, and dialogue propel the story along. It is more plot-driven, as many of the scenes were beyond the characters' control, and only at the end, when the MMCs had to take a more proactive approach to the “situation,” do we find more traction and the story develop further. I thought the story’s progression was what readers may think a courtier’s life as parties and the extravagance of a coronation would turn into: a blood bath, a cut-throat battle, and “secret arrangements that no one saw coming - while all were well executed. particularly clever. There were a lot of scenes that built up a deep sense of foreboding and underpinned how unpredictable Bianca’s world was, as King Richard’s paranoia and favors were fickle. Though I normally do not choose a Tudor-esque theme, this book actually took me by surprise with how the last few chapters turned the story around, regardless of how I feel about it. The ending twist was enlightening, for sure.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Macmillan Publishing for providing the advance review copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you very much to the author, Bel Banta; the publisher, Tor; and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Court of Venus is a romantic fantasy set in a world where planets bestow magical gifts on a select few people—magicians. It follows Moonborn Bianca Mortlake as she returns to the castle where her childhood rival, Venusborn Roland Daymour, serves the king as Lord Chancellor. Both together and apart, they navigate the treacherous waters of court conspiracy, ambition, and deception.
I consider it poetic that I finished reading this novel on the night of a full moon. I equally consider it unquestionable proof of this novel’s strength that it inspired me to revisit my long-neglected novel-in-progress. To put it simply: This is by far one of the most enchanting books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is how vivid everything is. The settings are beautifully illustrated, and I can still hear the characters’ voices in my ears from when I read their dialogue. Each character, no matter how ephemeral, leaves an indelible mark. Even Roland, who I couldn’t stand at first, soon became a friend. I hope that in future books, we may see a spinoff or l two dedicated to characters posthumously mentioned in the book; I can honestly say two of them were my favourites.
The story, woven with boundless intrigue, heartache, love, and care, is a perfectly tuned orchestral rollercoaster. It sent me through the full range of emotions Bianca is undoubtedly capable of harnessing; I laughed, I cried, and in the end, I felt each character’s emotions as vividly as Bianca did. To grant the reader the protagonist’s powers is a work of authorial magic.
The prose is masterfully written. Author Bel Banta is an expert at potent brevity, communicating deeply evocative emotions in just a few profound words. While this book is certainly not very long, it is incredibly dense with meaning, character depth, and storytelling. I have limitless respect for any author who successfully makes every word worth its ink. That this is her debut novel makes this all the more impressive.
Of course, one cannot decontextualise this book’s world-building from its astrological roots. I myself am a Cancer Sun, and I can’t deny the influence of that fact on my immediate connection to Bianca. The magic system, rooted quite deeply in ancient astrology, is beautifully researched. As a reader with a long history of studying both astronomy and astrology, the attention to detail is palpable. I especially appreciated the author’s decision to maintain the Moon’s definition as a “planet”, based on the word’s literal definition as a “wanderer” and its usage to refer to all celestial bodies. From the planets’ various aspects to the implications of their signs, the novel may as well be a lingering tome from a time long past. I have no doubt that the immense potential of this vehicle (varying moonrise and moonset times, hemispheres, houses, aspects, the distant outer planets later discovered, and even asteroids) can turn this world’s magical science into a constantly unfolding tapestry.
I had two relatively minor criticisms: the ending and the pacing. Without spoiling, I felt the last plot twist/reveal veered into the territory of tragedy for tragedy’s sake—informally known as whump. It seemed a deeply unnecessary addition and hinged on something that I cannot comprehend Bianca doing without deviating from her established character (both past and present). Every plot point leading up to this reveal had felt so deliberate and meaningful that this final detail seemed blunt. If anything, I would argue that it cheapened the weight of Bianca’s grief and guilt up to this point. To go any further would be to offer spoilers, so I’ll end this part here.
Regarding pacing, the first few chapters were somewhat slower than the rest of the book, though I find this easily forgivable in a book with such dense world-building and such an eclectic cast of characters, all of whom warrant proper introduction. This is the same criticism I’ve had for many of the stories that have become my most precious favourites, and so I am inclined to assume it’s an inherent side effect of squeezing such rich context into a relatively small space. I can only say to the prospective reader to keep at it; you very well may fall in love with it when you least expect to, much as I did.
This novel has permanently elevated my bar for fantasy romance; it has burrowed into my heart and built a home there. If I could rewind time and read a book for the first time again, I would choose this one.
Overall, The Court of Venus is an unforgettable read. It explores grief, guilt, betrayal, and the many different forms of loss and love a soul can experience. I cannot imagine a world where this book doesn’t become a widely loved and adored story, and I sincerely hope the author considers expanding this universe as far as her incredibly powerful mind can take it.
The Court of Venus is a romantic fantasy set in a world where planets bestow magical gifts on a select few people—magicians. It follows Moonborn Bianca Mortlake as she returns to the castle where her childhood rival, Venusborn Roland Daymour, serves the king as Lord Chancellor. Both together and apart, they navigate the treacherous waters of court conspiracy, ambition, and deception.
I consider it poetic that I finished reading this novel on the night of a full moon. I equally consider it unquestionable proof of this novel’s strength that it inspired me to revisit my long-neglected novel-in-progress. To put it simply: This is by far one of the most enchanting books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is how vivid everything is. The settings are beautifully illustrated, and I can still hear the characters’ voices in my ears from when I read their dialogue. Each character, no matter how ephemeral, leaves an indelible mark. Even Roland, who I couldn’t stand at first, soon became a friend. I hope that in future books, we may see a spinoff or l two dedicated to characters posthumously mentioned in the book; I can honestly say two of them were my favourites.
The story, woven with boundless intrigue, heartache, love, and care, is a perfectly tuned orchestral rollercoaster. It sent me through the full range of emotions Bianca is undoubtedly capable of harnessing; I laughed, I cried, and in the end, I felt each character’s emotions as vividly as Bianca did. To grant the reader the protagonist’s powers is a work of authorial magic.
The prose is masterfully written. Author Bel Banta is an expert at potent brevity, communicating deeply evocative emotions in just a few profound words. While this book is certainly not very long, it is incredibly dense with meaning, character depth, and storytelling. I have limitless respect for any author who successfully makes every word worth its ink. That this is her debut novel makes this all the more impressive.
Of course, one cannot decontextualise this book’s world-building from its astrological roots. I myself am a Cancer Sun, and I can’t deny the influence of that fact on my immediate connection to Bianca. The magic system, rooted quite deeply in ancient astrology, is beautifully researched. As a reader with a long history of studying both astronomy and astrology, the attention to detail is palpable. I especially appreciated the author’s decision to maintain the Moon’s definition as a “planet”, based on the word’s literal definition as a “wanderer” and its usage to refer to all celestial bodies. From the planets’ various aspects to the implications of their signs, the novel may as well be a lingering tome from a time long past. I have no doubt that the immense potential of this vehicle (varying moonrise and moonset times, hemispheres, houses, aspects, the distant outer planets later discovered, and even asteroids) can turn this world’s magical science into a constantly unfolding tapestry.
I had two relatively minor criticisms: the ending and the pacing. Without spoiling, I felt the last plot twist/reveal veered into the territory of tragedy for tragedy’s sake—informally known as whump. It seemed a deeply unnecessary addition and hinged on something that I cannot comprehend Bianca doing without deviating from her established character (both past and present). Every plot point leading up to this reveal had felt so deliberate and meaningful that this final detail seemed blunt. If anything, I would argue that it cheapened the weight of Bianca’s grief and guilt up to this point. To go any further would be to offer spoilers, so I’ll end this part here.
Regarding pacing, the first few chapters were somewhat slower than the rest of the book, though I find this easily forgivable in a book with such dense world-building and such an eclectic cast of characters, all of whom warrant proper introduction. This is the same criticism I’ve had for many of the stories that have become my most precious favourites, and so I am inclined to assume it’s an inherent side effect of squeezing such rich context into a relatively small space. I can only say to the prospective reader to keep at it; you very well may fall in love with it when you least expect to, much as I did.
This novel has permanently elevated my bar for fantasy romance; it has burrowed into my heart and built a home there. If I could rewind time and read a book for the first time again, I would choose this one.
Overall, The Court of Venus is an unforgettable read. It explores grief, guilt, betrayal, and the many different forms of loss and love a soul can experience. I cannot imagine a world where this book doesn’t become a widely loved and adored story, and I sincerely hope the author considers expanding this universe as far as her incredibly powerful mind can take it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I follow the publisher Tor and they teased this book on either a post or a story and the name alone had my curiosity piqued. Upon clicking their promotion I was sad I would have to wait until September for a read, but luckily I was able to sign up for an arc through netgalley! I am so incredibly grateful for them and Tor for helping such amazing author's get their work out.
The Court of Venus was heavily inspired by Tudor England and the astrology that guided the kings and queens of that time. Bel Banta put WORK into the intricate magical system here and it shows in the writing. The magic was fun and unique and throughout the whole book I kept learning about it and that was another form of entertainment as it was.
The characters were deeply flawed and emotional magicians and the story is them having to navigate the nasty life that is a king's court. As children magicians are almost like regular people until they start showing signs of magic abilities. They are then whisked away to apprentice with magicians until they can learn enough to be magicians to powerful families and people at age 21. Bianca and Roland are so trained like this, all while living in the king's court and being tutored by one of the most powerful magicians in history, Prospero. Prospero works in the interest of the king and so it is his oath. He teaches Bianca and Roland magic and sometimes the prince, Hal joins in, if only to be close to his favorite people.
At the start of the story we see Bianca get an invitation from Roland to return to the place of their tutelage, begrudgingly, Bianca goes. Upon her arrival though Bianca is struggling with the fact that the prince is no longer alive and all of her previous childhood memories start to surface. Along with it a sense of impending dread at having to face Roland. These two were pitted against one another it seemed and they never got a chance to settle the score. Old wounds unstitch and as time goes by these two must figure out how to work together or end up crumbling in the faces of the courtesans that mean to ruin them. In a court like this, there is no place for magicians to rise against those they serve,. But, what if after being forced to act on someone else's will for your whole life you finally hit your breaking point? This is a book where you find out what happens.
I had such a damn blast reading this book that I killed the first 80 or so pages in one sitting. I cannot wait for a physical copy so I can cry again and then so I can let all of my friends borrow it and read the magic that I just enjoyed. Bianca and Roland were such stubborn characters and I love that they both acknowledge that times have changed and so have they. I think we can all relate to that.
5/5 stars
The Court of Venus was heavily inspired by Tudor England and the astrology that guided the kings and queens of that time. Bel Banta put WORK into the intricate magical system here and it shows in the writing. The magic was fun and unique and throughout the whole book I kept learning about it and that was another form of entertainment as it was.
The characters were deeply flawed and emotional magicians and the story is them having to navigate the nasty life that is a king's court. As children magicians are almost like regular people until they start showing signs of magic abilities. They are then whisked away to apprentice with magicians until they can learn enough to be magicians to powerful families and people at age 21. Bianca and Roland are so trained like this, all while living in the king's court and being tutored by one of the most powerful magicians in history, Prospero. Prospero works in the interest of the king and so it is his oath. He teaches Bianca and Roland magic and sometimes the prince, Hal joins in, if only to be close to his favorite people.
At the start of the story we see Bianca get an invitation from Roland to return to the place of their tutelage, begrudgingly, Bianca goes. Upon her arrival though Bianca is struggling with the fact that the prince is no longer alive and all of her previous childhood memories start to surface. Along with it a sense of impending dread at having to face Roland. These two were pitted against one another it seemed and they never got a chance to settle the score. Old wounds unstitch and as time goes by these two must figure out how to work together or end up crumbling in the faces of the courtesans that mean to ruin them. In a court like this, there is no place for magicians to rise against those they serve,. But, what if after being forced to act on someone else's will for your whole life you finally hit your breaking point? This is a book where you find out what happens.
I had such a damn blast reading this book that I killed the first 80 or so pages in one sitting. I cannot wait for a physical copy so I can cry again and then so I can let all of my friends borrow it and read the magic that I just enjoyed. Bianca and Roland were such stubborn characters and I love that they both acknowledge that times have changed and so have they. I think we can all relate to that.
5/5 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ALC version of this book. Thank you Tor Publishing for the ARC of this book!
Thank you to Bel Banta for this beautiful story, and I have pre-ordered the book because it's that good!
The Court of Venus is Bel Banta's debut book, and you would NOT think that by this beautiful writing style, unique magic system, and interestingly woven plot.
I am not typically a fan of the tudor period for some reason, probably because of the disturbing amount of beheadings that frustrated me because it's always a man making allegations against a woman leading to their demise, but I found this story SO interesting.
Bianca has been away from court, her best friend/the prince who she loved deeply is dead, and she has come back to find her childhood rival magician/friend/and 3rd member of their childhood friend group advising the old aging king. Bianca must use her wits, and unique magical abilities to figure out who killed her friend, and try to unravel the political scheming happening at court now that the prince is dead since the king is aged without an heir.
It features a unique celestial-based magic system that never felt overcomplicated with the world building/magic system explanations woven throughout the story in a way that felt organic. Typically when a glossary is provided as something I have to keep referencing to understand a book, my eyes glaze over and you lose me, but I didn't feel that way when we got into the meat and potatoes of the book. Though there is a glossary at the beginning detailing the different celestial abilities based on the different magicians (Saturn, Mercury, Mars) born under different moons and such, it is built through exposition that feels organic, functional, and supportive rather than info dumping.
I really enjoyed the fact that Bianca was a strong and proficient FMC while also keeping her femininity and softness. She didn't have to become gritty and vengeful in order to be powerful/badass.
I also enjoyed the MMC being a sensitive man with a pearl earring instead of a 7 foot tall gruff shadow daddy. It was refreshing having the overall normalization of LGBTQ+ themes in this book both in scenes where men would dance with men/women alike or be intimate with any/everyone at court.
As far as the audiobook goes, I think the voice artist did a fantastic job and had a beautiful cadence to her voice. She did a great job at doing the male parts changing slight timber/cadence of her voice rather than doing voices that felt overblown and unnatural. Overall her voice added and enhanced the story, and I don't say that lightly because I am usually a fan of duet narration (aren't we all), but I think this artist did such a good job that it doesn't require it.
Thank you to Bel Banta for this beautiful story, and I have pre-ordered the book because it's that good!
The Court of Venus is Bel Banta's debut book, and you would NOT think that by this beautiful writing style, unique magic system, and interestingly woven plot.
I am not typically a fan of the tudor period for some reason, probably because of the disturbing amount of beheadings that frustrated me because it's always a man making allegations against a woman leading to their demise, but I found this story SO interesting.
Bianca has been away from court, her best friend/the prince who she loved deeply is dead, and she has come back to find her childhood rival magician/friend/and 3rd member of their childhood friend group advising the old aging king. Bianca must use her wits, and unique magical abilities to figure out who killed her friend, and try to unravel the political scheming happening at court now that the prince is dead since the king is aged without an heir.
It features a unique celestial-based magic system that never felt overcomplicated with the world building/magic system explanations woven throughout the story in a way that felt organic. Typically when a glossary is provided as something I have to keep referencing to understand a book, my eyes glaze over and you lose me, but I didn't feel that way when we got into the meat and potatoes of the book. Though there is a glossary at the beginning detailing the different celestial abilities based on the different magicians (Saturn, Mercury, Mars) born under different moons and such, it is built through exposition that feels organic, functional, and supportive rather than info dumping.
I really enjoyed the fact that Bianca was a strong and proficient FMC while also keeping her femininity and softness. She didn't have to become gritty and vengeful in order to be powerful/badass.
I also enjoyed the MMC being a sensitive man with a pearl earring instead of a 7 foot tall gruff shadow daddy. It was refreshing having the overall normalization of LGBTQ+ themes in this book both in scenes where men would dance with men/women alike or be intimate with any/everyone at court.
As far as the audiobook goes, I think the voice artist did a fantastic job and had a beautiful cadence to her voice. She did a great job at doing the male parts changing slight timber/cadence of her voice rather than doing voices that felt overblown and unnatural. Overall her voice added and enhanced the story, and I don't say that lightly because I am usually a fan of duet narration (aren't we all), but I think this artist did such a good job that it doesn't require it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Court of Venus • Bel Banta
One phrase: Tudor court chaos with celestial magic 🌙👑
The Court of Venus was such an enjoyable surprise and honestly got me out of my fiction reading rut.
This book has Tudor inspired court politics, murder mystery, celestial magic, slow burn tension, and rivals who are forced to work together inside a court where getting close to power might also get you killed.
Immediately yes.
Bianca Mortlake is the first Moonborn magician in over a thousand years, which means her magic is rare enough that no one fully knows what she can do. After leaving court behind for a quieter life, she is suddenly summoned back to Alvion, where queens are losing their heads, power is shifting like the tides, and something is very, very wrong.
The court setting was one of my favorite parts. The Henry VIII and Tudor England influence made everything feel dramatic, dangerous, and immersive in the best way. A mad king, executed queens, ruthless courtiers, political games, and magical power tied to proximity? Delicious.
I also loved the astrology based magic system. Magicians are blessed by different planets, and each power felt connected not only to their celestial body, but also to the personality and role of the magician. It made the world feel thoughtful and layered instead of magic existing just to look pretty.
And Bianca and Roland?
So good.
Their relationship had history, grief, tension, rivalry, and that slow burn ache that made their connection feel believable. I’m not always a flashback girlie, but here they actually worked so well. They added depth to Bianca, Roland, and the complicated history between them without dragging down the story.
The murder mystery, magic tournament energy, and court intrigue all kept me turning pages, but it was the emotional layers between the characters that made this one stand out.
✨ Tropes and vibes:
🌙 Moonborn magician
💫 astrology based magic
👑 Tudor inspired court
🔍 murder mystery
🖤 rivals to lovers
🔥 slow burn romance
⚔️ magic tournament
👀 courtly intrigue
🕯 deadly royal politics
💔 shared grief
✨ she falls first, he falls harder
🌑 dark fate in the stars
📚 Read this if you like:
The Knight and The Moth, The Familiar, A Darker Shade of Magic, court intrigue, celestial magic, rivals to lovers, murder mysteries, and fantasy worlds where the stars decide more than anyone wants to admit.
This was atmospheric, clever, romantic, and such a strong start to a magical court fantasy.
#TheCourtOfVenus #BelBanta #RomantasyBooks #FantasyRomance #BookReview @Tor
One phrase: Tudor court chaos with celestial magic 🌙👑
The Court of Venus was such an enjoyable surprise and honestly got me out of my fiction reading rut.
This book has Tudor inspired court politics, murder mystery, celestial magic, slow burn tension, and rivals who are forced to work together inside a court where getting close to power might also get you killed.
Immediately yes.
Bianca Mortlake is the first Moonborn magician in over a thousand years, which means her magic is rare enough that no one fully knows what she can do. After leaving court behind for a quieter life, she is suddenly summoned back to Alvion, where queens are losing their heads, power is shifting like the tides, and something is very, very wrong.
The court setting was one of my favorite parts. The Henry VIII and Tudor England influence made everything feel dramatic, dangerous, and immersive in the best way. A mad king, executed queens, ruthless courtiers, political games, and magical power tied to proximity? Delicious.
I also loved the astrology based magic system. Magicians are blessed by different planets, and each power felt connected not only to their celestial body, but also to the personality and role of the magician. It made the world feel thoughtful and layered instead of magic existing just to look pretty.
And Bianca and Roland?
So good.
Their relationship had history, grief, tension, rivalry, and that slow burn ache that made their connection feel believable. I’m not always a flashback girlie, but here they actually worked so well. They added depth to Bianca, Roland, and the complicated history between them without dragging down the story.
The murder mystery, magic tournament energy, and court intrigue all kept me turning pages, but it was the emotional layers between the characters that made this one stand out.
✨ Tropes and vibes:
🌙 Moonborn magician
💫 astrology based magic
👑 Tudor inspired court
🔍 murder mystery
🖤 rivals to lovers
🔥 slow burn romance
⚔️ magic tournament
👀 courtly intrigue
🕯 deadly royal politics
💔 shared grief
✨ she falls first, he falls harder
🌑 dark fate in the stars
📚 Read this if you like:
The Knight and The Moth, The Familiar, A Darker Shade of Magic, court intrigue, celestial magic, rivals to lovers, murder mysteries, and fantasy worlds where the stars decide more than anyone wants to admit.
This was atmospheric, clever, romantic, and such a strong start to a magical court fantasy.
#TheCourtOfVenus #BelBanta #RomantasyBooks #FantasyRomance #BookReview @Tor
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Tor Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Here is a picture of the gorgeous ARC that they sent me:
The Court of Venus by Bel Banta is an amazing Tudorian English-inspired fantasy dealing with magicians and kings. The story revolves around Bianca, a Moonborn magician who has been called back to court. Her former friend Roland has become a highly-ranked magician in court, and she thinks that they are going to be reunited happily. Unfortunately, when she arrives, she realizes that he is very different from the boy she knew. Court is a dangerous place. Someone has been murdered, and one wrong step can lead to one's execution. Will Bianca and Roland get over their differences and discover the truth behind their friend's death?
Here is an engrossing excerpt from the opening chapter:
"The letter arrived in the night.
Tell no one, the page said. Read it quick. He insisted on seeing the paper go up in flames before accepting his coin. I recognized Roland's hand immediately, could picture the delicate fingers wielding the quill, the proud stacks of signet rings collected from powerful men. The pink hair he brushed away from his eyes as he wrote.
I read the invitation over again, then tossed it into the fire. The paper curled in on itself, writhing and twisting. Flames leapt up, well fed, and I watched them thrash for a long while, turning my thoughts over."
Overall, The Court of Venus is an amazing fantasy novel that will appeal to fans of Harry Potter and Game of Thrones. One highlight of this book is the very cool concept. I loved the concept of Saturnborn and Moonborn people having different magical powers, influenced by ancient astrological concepts. It was what drew me to this book initially. Another highlight of this book is the court intrigue. I love fantasy books set at court and involving politics, and this book definitely has plenty of that. If I had to complain about 1 thing, I would have to say that I'm not really a fan of historical books, especially books inspired by the pre-1800's. I'm sure many readers would be fine with that though. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of fantasy books in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in September!
Here is a picture of the gorgeous ARC that they sent me:
The Court of Venus by Bel Banta is an amazing Tudorian English-inspired fantasy dealing with magicians and kings. The story revolves around Bianca, a Moonborn magician who has been called back to court. Her former friend Roland has become a highly-ranked magician in court, and she thinks that they are going to be reunited happily. Unfortunately, when she arrives, she realizes that he is very different from the boy she knew. Court is a dangerous place. Someone has been murdered, and one wrong step can lead to one's execution. Will Bianca and Roland get over their differences and discover the truth behind their friend's death?
Here is an engrossing excerpt from the opening chapter:
"The letter arrived in the night.
Tell no one, the page said. Read it quick. He insisted on seeing the paper go up in flames before accepting his coin. I recognized Roland's hand immediately, could picture the delicate fingers wielding the quill, the proud stacks of signet rings collected from powerful men. The pink hair he brushed away from his eyes as he wrote.
I read the invitation over again, then tossed it into the fire. The paper curled in on itself, writhing and twisting. Flames leapt up, well fed, and I watched them thrash for a long while, turning my thoughts over."
Overall, The Court of Venus is an amazing fantasy novel that will appeal to fans of Harry Potter and Game of Thrones. One highlight of this book is the very cool concept. I loved the concept of Saturnborn and Moonborn people having different magical powers, influenced by ancient astrological concepts. It was what drew me to this book initially. Another highlight of this book is the court intrigue. I love fantasy books set at court and involving politics, and this book definitely has plenty of that. If I had to complain about 1 thing, I would have to say that I'm not really a fan of historical books, especially books inspired by the pre-1800's. I'm sure many readers would be fine with that though. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of fantasy books in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in September!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Before I saw her again, I would have said I had been in love a handful of times. Now I know she has been the only one.”
It would be a disservice to give this immersive romantasy any less than 4.7⭐ for its brilliant combination of Tudor-inspired court politics, celestial magic system, and swoon-worthy slow-burn romance.
In Alvion, magicians have influenced and ruled alongside kings for thousands of years. Blessed at birth by one of the seven planets, their abilities extend beyond the physical world. Magicians born under Saturn can speak to the dead. Venusborn charm the living. Moonborn manipulate emotions and memory and alter their own appearance. Mercuryborn create new languages and decode ciphers.
Bianca Mortlake, the only living Moonborn, returns to court on the heels of an inquisition. Her teacher and adoptive father is dead. Her childhood friend, Alvion’s crown prince, is dead. Two queens have already met the executioner’s blade, and a new queen is waiting in the wings. Bianca finds herself relying on the last person she could want: her childhood rival, the king’s magician, Venusborn Roland.
In the midst of a fractured court, with a king who has gone mad, Bianca and Roland become centered in a plot that could claim their lives. Will they be able to overcome their rivalry to foil the dark forces at work? Will they be able to deny their growing attraction towards each other?
This book delivered on a plot and tropes I never realized I needed. The Henry VIII and Tudor England influences added a dramatic layer to the unique astrology-based magic system. Moreso, the magic system was clearly well thought out. Each magician’s powers are connected to their celestial body and corresponding personality (of the character itself and the celestial body’s Roman god). Bianca and Roland are a strong couple with their relationship building upon their shared grief, memories, and history rather than a “love-at-first-sight” subplot.
I will say the book does a lot of world-building and sets up the plot in the first half, but once you hit the 50% mark, everything picks up steam. It was a hard fight, but I’m ultimately glad that I pushed through to see the entire world, the political coups, and further magic unfold. The audiobook is narrated by Samantha Hydeson, who does a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life and adding nuance to our FMC and MMC’s underlying grief-fueled motives. Again, I genuinely think that reading this book, rather than listening, would have been better for me, but that’s nothing against the narration.
🪐 Unique Celestial Magic System
✨ Rivals-to-Lovers
🪐 Political intrigue
✨ Henry VIII inspired
🪐 Tournament
The biggest thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. I highly recommend this book to those who wish there were a season 2 of “My Lady Jane,” or to anyone who prefers some history with their romantasy!
It would be a disservice to give this immersive romantasy any less than 4.7⭐ for its brilliant combination of Tudor-inspired court politics, celestial magic system, and swoon-worthy slow-burn romance.
In Alvion, magicians have influenced and ruled alongside kings for thousands of years. Blessed at birth by one of the seven planets, their abilities extend beyond the physical world. Magicians born under Saturn can speak to the dead. Venusborn charm the living. Moonborn manipulate emotions and memory and alter their own appearance. Mercuryborn create new languages and decode ciphers.
Bianca Mortlake, the only living Moonborn, returns to court on the heels of an inquisition. Her teacher and adoptive father is dead. Her childhood friend, Alvion’s crown prince, is dead. Two queens have already met the executioner’s blade, and a new queen is waiting in the wings. Bianca finds herself relying on the last person she could want: her childhood rival, the king’s magician, Venusborn Roland.
In the midst of a fractured court, with a king who has gone mad, Bianca and Roland become centered in a plot that could claim their lives. Will they be able to overcome their rivalry to foil the dark forces at work? Will they be able to deny their growing attraction towards each other?
This book delivered on a plot and tropes I never realized I needed. The Henry VIII and Tudor England influences added a dramatic layer to the unique astrology-based magic system. Moreso, the magic system was clearly well thought out. Each magician’s powers are connected to their celestial body and corresponding personality (of the character itself and the celestial body’s Roman god). Bianca and Roland are a strong couple with their relationship building upon their shared grief, memories, and history rather than a “love-at-first-sight” subplot.
I will say the book does a lot of world-building and sets up the plot in the first half, but once you hit the 50% mark, everything picks up steam. It was a hard fight, but I’m ultimately glad that I pushed through to see the entire world, the political coups, and further magic unfold. The audiobook is narrated by Samantha Hydeson, who does a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life and adding nuance to our FMC and MMC’s underlying grief-fueled motives. Again, I genuinely think that reading this book, rather than listening, would have been better for me, but that’s nothing against the narration.
🪐 Unique Celestial Magic System
✨ Rivals-to-Lovers
🪐 Political intrigue
✨ Henry VIII inspired
🪐 Tournament
The biggest thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. I highly recommend this book to those who wish there were a season 2 of “My Lady Jane,” or to anyone who prefers some history with their romantasy!
July 1, 2026
3.75 stars⭐️
Historical fantasy with celestial magic, and romance! This was very well written, albeit slow at times, but I enjoyed the prose and different character dynamics.
There was also superb world building / magic. I think this was a good example as things don’t always need to be complex to work. I found the celestial based magic system to be interesting, and well thought through.
The main character, Bianca, was mature and easy to root for. Driven by grief and nostalgia of the past and wanting a place to belong. She’s an incredibly adept magician, the only one alive that relates to the Moon/Moonborn magic. I will say, this was a bit slow to finally show us why she cared to come back to Court so much. She never seems to… actually care about anything outside of telling us she cares. I wasn’t convinced of her motives or of anything she truly wanted asides us being told she wants to find Hal’s killer— until we were told around 70%.
Another primary character and slowburn love interest for Bianca; was Roland a Venusborn. He’s an unbelievably interesting character with a lottttt to unpack due to his magic and how it shaped him. I never liked him in a romantic sense, but he grew on me throughout. Bianca and Roland are two complex people with baggage and a past that work together very well all things considering (which while their romance wasn’t up my alley, I definitely appreciated it for the story and think they work well together… maybe a little chaotic and impulsively making decisions together but oh well).
There was some time in the plot/pacing towards the middle to end I grew a little bored. There felt a bit too much fluff or things going on that made me want to rush ahead to the ending.
I believe this is a duology? However, the plot of this book is wrapped up with setup for the next book.
If you enjoyed The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo, I recommend checking The Court of Venus out. Both have a lot of similar plot devices; magicians and small trials at a deadly court, a lot of plotting and politics, and lush prose perfect for their respective time periods. Overall similar atmosphere.
*ARC courtesy of netgalley*
US publishing date: September 29th 2026
Spoilers//
okay not kidding all i could think about were STDs because Roland literally had sex with everyone who even breathed his way 😩😩
Historical fantasy with celestial magic, and romance! This was very well written, albeit slow at times, but I enjoyed the prose and different character dynamics.
There was also superb world building / magic. I think this was a good example as things don’t always need to be complex to work. I found the celestial based magic system to be interesting, and well thought through.
The main character, Bianca, was mature and easy to root for. Driven by grief and nostalgia of the past and wanting a place to belong. She’s an incredibly adept magician, the only one alive that relates to the Moon/Moonborn magic. I will say, this was a bit slow to finally show us why she cared to come back to Court so much. She never seems to… actually care about anything outside of telling us she cares. I wasn’t convinced of her motives or of anything she truly wanted asides us being told she wants to find Hal’s killer— until we were told around 70%.
Another primary character and slowburn love interest for Bianca; was Roland a Venusborn. He’s an unbelievably interesting character with a lottttt to unpack due to his magic and how it shaped him. I never liked him in a romantic sense, but he grew on me throughout. Bianca and Roland are two complex people with baggage and a past that work together very well all things considering (which while their romance wasn’t up my alley, I definitely appreciated it for the story and think they work well together… maybe a little chaotic and impulsively making decisions together but oh well).
There was some time in the plot/pacing towards the middle to end I grew a little bored. There felt a bit too much fluff or things going on that made me want to rush ahead to the ending.
I believe this is a duology? However, the plot of this book is wrapped up with setup for the next book.
If you enjoyed The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo, I recommend checking The Court of Venus out. Both have a lot of similar plot devices; magicians and small trials at a deadly court, a lot of plotting and politics, and lush prose perfect for their respective time periods. Overall similar atmosphere.
*ARC courtesy of netgalley*
US publishing date: September 29th 2026
Spoilers//
okay not kidding all i could think about were STDs because Roland literally had sex with everyone who even breathed his way 😩😩
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley for the arc.
Friends. This right here is a book to watch out for in 2026.
The Court of Venus is an amalgamation of Tudor history and political intrigue with zodiac and celestial themed magic, and somehow Bel Banta ties the two together perfectly.
Our two main characters, Bianca Mortlake and Roland Daymour, are magicians in the court of the king. Bianca is moonborn and the first and only moonborn magician in the past hundred years while Roland is a venusborn magician. Their powers feel intuitive - Bianca's powers relate to emotions and transformations, Roland's relate to desire and beauty. As their celestial bodies rise and fall, wax and wane, so too do the magicians.
Besides the uniquely imaginative nature of the magic in this world, I have to give props to the author for how well the magic matches the emotional beats of the novel. Power was never seen as a "fix all" for their problems, but rather naturally fit into the political schemes and machinations and also with each individual character's story arcs.
Speaking of story arcs... Much of this story deals with memory, grief, loss, and takes place in the form of flash backs. These were some of the best written flashbacks I've ever read. Each scene was emotionally visceral and heart wrenching.
I should quickly digress - the story begins when Bianca returns to court after several years under the guise of participating in a tournament but with the true intention of investigating the murder of one of her childhood friends. The tournament element is loose and quickly dropped after the first 25% but by then you're too invested in the plot and characters to care.
And wow, Banta really delivered on the characters. Roland and Bianca had amazing chemistry. And can I just say we need more Miranda?
The relationship between Roland and Bianca was not "instalove," it was complicated and dynamic and organic all at the same time.
Unfortunately, at points, it did feel like Roland and Bianca were the only two characters. While they certainly were the stars of the show, at points it felt like the entire book took place in conversations between the two.
Anyways. I am looking forward to the release of this and will be on the look out for more books by Bel Banta.
Friends. This right here is a book to watch out for in 2026.
The Court of Venus is an amalgamation of Tudor history and political intrigue with zodiac and celestial themed magic, and somehow Bel Banta ties the two together perfectly.
Our two main characters, Bianca Mortlake and Roland Daymour, are magicians in the court of the king. Bianca is moonborn and the first and only moonborn magician in the past hundred years while Roland is a venusborn magician. Their powers feel intuitive - Bianca's powers relate to emotions and transformations, Roland's relate to desire and beauty. As their celestial bodies rise and fall, wax and wane, so too do the magicians.
Besides the uniquely imaginative nature of the magic in this world, I have to give props to the author for how well the magic matches the emotional beats of the novel. Power was never seen as a "fix all" for their problems, but rather naturally fit into the political schemes and machinations and also with each individual character's story arcs.
Speaking of story arcs... Much of this story deals with memory, grief, loss, and takes place in the form of flash backs. These were some of the best written flashbacks I've ever read. Each scene was emotionally visceral and heart wrenching.
I should quickly digress - the story begins when Bianca returns to court after several years under the guise of participating in a tournament but with the true intention of investigating the murder of one of her childhood friends. The tournament element is loose and quickly dropped after the first 25% but by then you're too invested in the plot and characters to care.
And wow, Banta really delivered on the characters. Roland and Bianca had amazing chemistry. And can I just say we need more Miranda?
The relationship between Roland and Bianca was not "instalove," it was complicated and dynamic and organic all at the same time.
Unfortunately, at points, it did feel like Roland and Bianca were the only two characters. While they certainly were the stars of the show, at points it felt like the entire book took place in conversations between the two.
Anyways. I am looking forward to the release of this and will be on the look out for more books by Bel Banta.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a lush fantasy set in a time heavily inspired by Tudor England. I used to read a lot of historical fiction set in the Tudor era (think The Other Boleyn girl, anything else similar), but’s been a really long time since I’ve read anything in those veins. I definitely can see this is heavily inspired by it, and while I wasn't sure initially if I loved how heavily this drew from that as the inspiration, I think Bel did a great job with making it feel inspired by Henry the 8th without feeling as though this is just a retelling of that story set in a magical world.
This was a bit of a slower build - I wasn't immediately hooked, although I was intrigued right by the first couple chapters. Around the 20% mark I started to become more engrossed with the story, wanting to understand what is happening, as well as learning more about the different types of magic and how they work. It was really cool to see how Roland and Bianca use their desires and emotions to communicate with each other. I do think this is a book which can benefit from a physical read though - at the beginning we do have a glossary of the different types of magics and I kept wanting to more easily reference it as I was reading.
We end up digging more into the development of the relationships between characters via flashbacks as the books progress. I questioned a few things early on, but felt as though we got adequate payoff from the character development through these flashbacks.
Overall, this was such a good slow burn, I loved the slow growth of the relationship between Bianca and Roland, as well as Bianca truly growing in her power and confidence throughout the story. I can't wait until book 2 comes out so we can see how this continues. Such a lush political landscape, and I hope we expand more to see more interplay between the kingdoms.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book!
This was a bit of a slower build - I wasn't immediately hooked, although I was intrigued right by the first couple chapters. Around the 20% mark I started to become more engrossed with the story, wanting to understand what is happening, as well as learning more about the different types of magic and how they work. It was really cool to see how Roland and Bianca use their desires and emotions to communicate with each other. I do think this is a book which can benefit from a physical read though - at the beginning we do have a glossary of the different types of magics and I kept wanting to more easily reference it as I was reading.
We end up digging more into the development of the relationships between characters via flashbacks as the books progress. I questioned a few things early on, but felt as though we got adequate payoff from the character development through these flashbacks.
Overall, this was such a good slow burn, I loved the slow growth of the relationship between Bianca and Roland, as well as Bianca truly growing in her power and confidence throughout the story. I can't wait until book 2 comes out so we can see how this continues. Such a lush political landscape, and I hope we expand more to see more interplay between the kingdoms.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Court of Venus is as enticing as it is refreshing, with the type of political scheming and inscrutable characters that I never tire of in the fantasy genre. The combination of court intrigue and a main character who can transform her appearance to impersonate anyone is so much fun and adds so much excitement to the narrative. The system of planetary magic is complex and compelling, and it’s obvious how much intentionality went into its creation by the author.
Bianca is a formidable character who possesses an admirable level of resilience. Her life has not been easy to say the least given the rarity of her magical gifts and the patriarchal nature of the society she lives in. She never has a victim mentality or makes excuses for her own failings and yet can be vulnerable and soft when dealing with her losses and disappointments.
Roland comes off as flamboyant and unbothered at first but this facade hides a deeper more emotional side that he conceals for self preservation. Bianca is one of the only people who can see through his surface level demeanor and the only person he allows to truly know him. It took me a while to understand and champion him as a character but once his layers started falling away he became incredibly endearing to me.
The romance simmers in the background as mysteries are investigated and uncomfortable truths come to light. When it does start to take off it becomes something so special given the way Bianca and Roland’s pasts are inextricably intertwined.
I listened to the audiobook and I really appreciated the style of narration. The narrator’s accent is perfect for a story set and centered around a royal court and yet never feels too pretentious or inauthentic. The Court of Venus is the first book in a new series and I am so excited for everyone else’s thoughts once it’s released on September 29th.
Thank You to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC
Bianca is a formidable character who possesses an admirable level of resilience. Her life has not been easy to say the least given the rarity of her magical gifts and the patriarchal nature of the society she lives in. She never has a victim mentality or makes excuses for her own failings and yet can be vulnerable and soft when dealing with her losses and disappointments.
Roland comes off as flamboyant and unbothered at first but this facade hides a deeper more emotional side that he conceals for self preservation. Bianca is one of the only people who can see through his surface level demeanor and the only person he allows to truly know him. It took me a while to understand and champion him as a character but once his layers started falling away he became incredibly endearing to me.
The romance simmers in the background as mysteries are investigated and uncomfortable truths come to light. When it does start to take off it becomes something so special given the way Bianca and Roland’s pasts are inextricably intertwined.
I listened to the audiobook and I really appreciated the style of narration. The narrator’s accent is perfect for a story set and centered around a royal court and yet never feels too pretentious or inauthentic. The Court of Venus is the first book in a new series and I am so excited for everyone else’s thoughts once it’s released on September 29th.
Thank You to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Tor Publishing Group | Tor Books, and Bel Banta for the opportunity to read and review an Advance Reader Copy of this book!
Ummm... I'm honestly still a little confused about how I feel after finishing this book.
Around the 30% mark, I remember thinking that I wasn't having a bad time, but I also wasn't completely hooked. That feeling pretty much stayed with me throughout the entire book. For me, this lands as a very solid 3-star read.
There were definitely things I enjoyed. I liked the writing style, I thought the magic system was interesting, and by the end I was genuinely invested in the romance. I especially appreciated how everything came together in the conclusion. It wrapped up the story in a satisfying way, and I liked seeing where all of the characters ended up.
That said, I never found myself fully immersed in the story. I wasn't eagerly thinking about it whenever I put it down or counting down the minutes until I could pick it back up again. I was invested enough to want to know how everything would end, especially because it felt like the story could have gone in several different directions, but I never felt emotionally attached to it.
The ending is probably the best example of how I feel about the book as a whole. I don't dislike it at all, I actually think it fits the story, but I also don't love it. It left me feeling... indifferent? Satisfied, but not wowed.
Overall, this was a perfectly enjoyable read with some strong elements, especially the magic, and the conclusion. It just never quite reached the point where I completely fell in love with the story, and that's okay. Not every book has to be unforgettable to still be a good time.
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Random House Worlds, Tor Publishing Group | Tor Books, and Bel Banta for the opportunity to read and review an Advance Reader Copy of this book!
Ummm... I'm honestly still a little confused about how I feel after finishing this book.
Around the 30% mark, I remember thinking that I wasn't having a bad time, but I also wasn't completely hooked. That feeling pretty much stayed with me throughout the entire book. For me, this lands as a very solid 3-star read.
There were definitely things I enjoyed. I liked the writing style, I thought the magic system was interesting, and by the end I was genuinely invested in the romance. I especially appreciated how everything came together in the conclusion. It wrapped up the story in a satisfying way, and I liked seeing where all of the characters ended up.
That said, I never found myself fully immersed in the story. I wasn't eagerly thinking about it whenever I put it down or counting down the minutes until I could pick it back up again. I was invested enough to want to know how everything would end, especially because it felt like the story could have gone in several different directions, but I never felt emotionally attached to it.
The ending is probably the best example of how I feel about the book as a whole. I don't dislike it at all, I actually think it fits the story, but I also don't love it. It left me feeling... indifferent? Satisfied, but not wowed.
Overall, this was a perfectly enjoyable read with some strong elements, especially the magic, and the conclusion. It just never quite reached the point where I completely fell in love with the story, and that's okay. Not every book has to be unforgettable to still be a good time.
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Random House Worlds, Tor Publishing Group | Tor Books, and Bel Banta for the opportunity to read and review an Advance Reader Copy of this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for an advanced listener copy. This review is my own.
In this Tudor-inspired fantasy romance, the story follows Bianca, a moonborn magician who is returning to court. This is shortly after she received word that her closest companion, Prince Henry has died suddenly. Upon her return, she is plagued by old memories that come back to haunt her — followed by her childhood friend/enemy, Roland, a Venus born magician who has been made High Chancellor in the ailing King’s stead. To find the answers she wants, Bianca must face her own past and embrace the help from Roland if she wants to discover the truth of his death, and who or what caused it. All the while, other factions look to change the course of history as they know it and install their own rules in the kingdom.
I actually enjoyed the Tudor-inspiration and how seamlessly the fantasy and historical aspects worked well together. The magic system was unique, using the planets and the astrological signs as the source of magician power. The system was not all giving, and I like when the magic is limiting or demanding of the individual using it. The plot was interesting, filled with political intrigue, gossip and betrayal on several levels from different angles. I liked the characters, Bianca is a wonderful fmc, albeit sometimes she seems a bit male-centric for my liking, but she acknowledges her faults. Roland is abit different from the brooding tortured past mmc, but rather he is rarely unkind nor is he mean to the fmc. I thought despite their bickering and petty arguments, and quips, they were not necessarily outright mean to one another.
My only gripes are that this was a little slow in places, and the constant reminder that Bianca “cares” is in almost every other chapter. Less on the self-pity route because it took up about 70% of the book, and after a while it started to get annoying.
In this Tudor-inspired fantasy romance, the story follows Bianca, a moonborn magician who is returning to court. This is shortly after she received word that her closest companion, Prince Henry has died suddenly. Upon her return, she is plagued by old memories that come back to haunt her — followed by her childhood friend/enemy, Roland, a Venus born magician who has been made High Chancellor in the ailing King’s stead. To find the answers she wants, Bianca must face her own past and embrace the help from Roland if she wants to discover the truth of his death, and who or what caused it. All the while, other factions look to change the course of history as they know it and install their own rules in the kingdom.
I actually enjoyed the Tudor-inspiration and how seamlessly the fantasy and historical aspects worked well together. The magic system was unique, using the planets and the astrological signs as the source of magician power. The system was not all giving, and I like when the magic is limiting or demanding of the individual using it. The plot was interesting, filled with political intrigue, gossip and betrayal on several levels from different angles. I liked the characters, Bianca is a wonderful fmc, albeit sometimes she seems a bit male-centric for my liking, but she acknowledges her faults. Roland is abit different from the brooding tortured past mmc, but rather he is rarely unkind nor is he mean to the fmc. I thought despite their bickering and petty arguments, and quips, they were not necessarily outright mean to one another.
My only gripes are that this was a little slow in places, and the constant reminder that Bianca “cares” is in almost every other chapter. Less on the self-pity route because it took up about 70% of the book, and after a while it started to get annoying.
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