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The Court of Venus
Not yet published
Expected 29 Sep 26'Our kind has many names. Planetborn. Sorcerer. Witch or wizard. Magician.'
In Alvion, magicians have influenced and ruled beside kings for thousands of years. Blessed at birth by one of the seven planets, their abilities are miraculous and extremely rare. Magicians born under Saturn can speak to the dead. Venusborn charm the living. Moonborn manipulate emotions and memory, and alter their own appearance. Mercuryborn create new languages and decode ciphers.
It’s been years since Moonborn magician Bianca was forced to leave court. Even longer since she has seen her old childhood pink-haired, Venus-ruled Roland who has risen to become the most dangerous living magician and courtier in her absence. When Bianca is invited back into the fold for the new queen’s coronation, she agrees; she’s eager to use this as an opportunity to investigate the mysterious death of Prince Hal and mourn the more recent loss of her and Roland’s former mentor Prospero. But court is not as she remembered it’s now on the brink of chaos.
Roland - sensual, beautiful, and infuriating - has taken over Prospero’s role as the King’s advisor. And he’s been tasked with the same impossible assignment that saw Prospero and multiple queens’ heads helping the King secure an heir. For the sake of their mutually beloved Hal, and to save themselves from the surrounding scheming courtiers, Bianca and Roland reluctantly become allies. But their investigation will uncover more than they’d bargained for. It will upend everything they thought they knew about each other— and magic itself.
Set 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.
In Alvion, magicians have influenced and ruled beside kings for thousands of years. Blessed at birth by one of the seven planets, their abilities are miraculous and extremely rare. Magicians born under Saturn can speak to the dead. Venusborn charm the living. Moonborn manipulate emotions and memory, and alter their own appearance. Mercuryborn create new languages and decode ciphers.
It’s been years since Moonborn magician Bianca was forced to leave court. Even longer since she has seen her old childhood pink-haired, Venus-ruled Roland who has risen to become the most dangerous living magician and courtier in her absence. When Bianca is invited back into the fold for the new queen’s coronation, she agrees; she’s eager to use this as an opportunity to investigate the mysterious death of Prince Hal and mourn the more recent loss of her and Roland’s former mentor Prospero. But court is not as she remembered it’s now on the brink of chaos.
Roland - sensual, beautiful, and infuriating - has taken over Prospero’s role as the King’s advisor. And he’s been tasked with the same impossible assignment that saw Prospero and multiple queens’ heads helping the King secure an heir. For the sake of their mutually beloved Hal, and to save themselves from the surrounding scheming courtiers, Bianca and Roland reluctantly become allies. But their investigation will uncover more than they’d bargained for. It will upend everything they thought they knew about each other— and magic itself.
Set 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.
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 29, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
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!
Want to Read
April 29, 2026 pink hair representation oh i knoww that's right
May 15, 2026
THIS BOOK IS GOOD YALL!!!!!
As someone who has had their own Tudor hyper fixation since single digit age, this was wonderful. Banta did her research. This was fully fleshed out and WELL WRITTEN. Banta was SHOWING, not telling, through out. I could not put this book down. Everything is this book felt natural and believable, which is a feat seeing as this is a fantasy novel. The inspiration behind the characters and story shine through, if you're a fan of the inspiration behind this book, that is just an added little gift.
The magic makes sense, it's full fleshed out and intriguing.
This book is GOOD. It breaks your heart, it surprises you. There's yearning, intrigue, betrayal, love, lust, hope. Read it. You won't be disappointed.
As someone who has had their own Tudor hyper fixation since single digit age, this was wonderful. Banta did her research. This was fully fleshed out and WELL WRITTEN. Banta was SHOWING, not telling, through out. I could not put this book down. Everything is this book felt natural and believable, which is a feat seeing as this is a fantasy novel. The inspiration behind the characters and story shine through, if you're a fan of the inspiration behind this book, that is just an added little gift.
The magic makes sense, it's full fleshed out and intriguing.
This book is GOOD. It breaks your heart, it surprises you. There's yearning, intrigue, betrayal, love, lust, hope. Read it. You won't be disappointed.
Want to Read
January 12, 2026Dying to read this book
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 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
5/5 Phenomenal. The type of creativity in world-building that reminds me why I adore fantasy. I haven’t read a magic system that I have been this obsessed with in SO long and this had me from the jump. Immersive, lush, and decadent: the court setting, the clothes, the tournament, the courtly politics, the dark mystery, the totally unique magic, THE ROMANTIC TENSION???? Unreal.
Bianca echoes many of the fantasy heroines I hold close to my heart while also being totally her own. She is an absolute force!! Relentless and scheming while also being so soft and filled to the brim with desire and love and loyalty. I’m obsessed with her. Roland with his pink hair and pearl earring?? Very much literally born to be the perfect flirt??? The dynamic between these two…delicious. The perfect amount of romance. The perfect amount of magic. The perfect amount of lore.
On top of the intricate plot line and fully-realized characters, the author writes stunning prose that makes this book feel like an absolute treat to read. My kindle’s highlight feature was getting a solid workout.
Already planning my re-read when I get my hands on my physical copy. Banta has absolutely crafted what I think will be THE next big title in fantasy. Can’t wait for the second part of the duology and honored I got to read this one early.
I could write a whole essay, but I am going to stop here. PICK THIS ONE UP IN SEPTEMBER!!!
Bianca echoes many of the fantasy heroines I hold close to my heart while also being totally her own. She is an absolute force!! Relentless and scheming while also being so soft and filled to the brim with desire and love and loyalty. I’m obsessed with her. Roland with his pink hair and pearl earring?? Very much literally born to be the perfect flirt??? The dynamic between these two…delicious. The perfect amount of romance. The perfect amount of magic. The perfect amount of lore.
On top of the intricate plot line and fully-realized characters, the author writes stunning prose that makes this book feel like an absolute treat to read. My kindle’s highlight feature was getting a solid workout.
Already planning my re-read when I get my hands on my physical copy. Banta has absolutely crafted what I think will be THE next big title in fantasy. Can’t wait for the second part of the duology and honored I got to read this one early.
I could write a whole essay, but I am going to stop here. PICK THIS ONE UP IN SEPTEMBER!!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Court of Venus is romantasy done differently—a sophisticated, Tudor-inspired procedural where the mystery is just as sharp as the romance. Investigating Prince Hal’s death against the backdrop of a rotting court provides a propulsive, "one-more-chapter" pace that makes this debut feel destined for a prestige TV adaptation.
The history between Bianca and Roland is a masterclass in tension. While the world sees a calculating "Venus King" who dominates every room, Bianca remembers the "soft" boy who used to stack the deck just to feel like he could win. Her journey from the overlooked "Mouse" to a powerful Moonborn owning her rare magic—and her survivor's guilt—is a grounded, beautiful arc.
If you’re looking for a cerebral, cinematic story where the emotional stakes are as high as the political ones, read this immediately. A 5-star hit for 2026. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
The history between Bianca and Roland is a masterclass in tension. While the world sees a calculating "Venus King" who dominates every room, Bianca remembers the "soft" boy who used to stack the deck just to feel like he could win. Her journey from the overlooked "Mouse" to a powerful Moonborn owning her rare magic—and her survivor's guilt—is a grounded, beautiful arc.
If you’re looking for a cerebral, cinematic story where the emotional stakes are as high as the political ones, read this immediately. A 5-star hit for 2026. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and Netgalley for this e-arc.
4 stars
Ohhh I loved this! The planets plus magicians in court setting like sign me up! I loved this so much we have a science fiction element of the stars and planet and then a fantasy element with an enemies to friends to lovers situation going on which was more than intrigued for. Loved the rivals to lovers vibe that Bianca and Roland were giving. It felt like they were Rivals and friends at the same time and there was definitely chemistry there. I loved the court style with all the different planet born aristocrats. I have always been a huge fan of Tudor history and this tudor- inspired court was awesome. The twists and turns were fabulous and that ending had me begging for more. Really enjoyed this book and looking forward to a sequel!
4 stars
Ohhh I loved this! The planets plus magicians in court setting like sign me up! I loved this so much we have a science fiction element of the stars and planet and then a fantasy element with an enemies to friends to lovers situation going on which was more than intrigued for. Loved the rivals to lovers vibe that Bianca and Roland were giving. It felt like they were Rivals and friends at the same time and there was definitely chemistry there. I loved the court style with all the different planet born aristocrats. I have always been a huge fan of Tudor history and this tudor- inspired court was awesome. The twists and turns were fabulous and that ending had me begging for more. Really enjoyed this book and looking forward to a sequel!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I genuinely did not know what to expect coming into The Court of Venus and I found myself completely delighted by the complexity of Bianca and Roland and the world that they inhabit of Alvion. Bianca's characterization - by mercurial turns shy, withdrawn, dysphoric - was entirely unique and I felt that her perspective propelled the narrative. The system of magic was fascinating and I hope . I loved the queer (if not normative, then close) worldbuilding and I thought that the side characters were intriguing and appear poised for further character development.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’ll be honest and say that I didn’t read the entire synopsis before requesting this on Netgalley and went into this half blind, only knowing that it was a romantasy with planet based magic. Tor hasn’t ever let me down before…and they absolutely didn’t this time around either! A few chapters in I figured out the Tudor court inspiration and I was even more hooked from there on out.
Exquisite world building, a unique magic system, and a high stakes political game that is based loosely on a real-life dynasty. Every time I thought I knew where it was going, based on my knowledge of Tudor England, I was gleefully proven wrong.
I can’t wait to read this again!
e-arc provided by Netgalley ❤️
Exquisite world building, a unique magic system, and a high stakes political game that is based loosely on a real-life dynasty. Every time I thought I knew where it was going, based on my knowledge of Tudor England, I was gleefully proven wrong.
I can’t wait to read this again!
e-arc provided by Netgalley ❤️
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The level of detail really made it feel like historic fiction. I loved the planet based magic system. There were several well connected mysteries going on that kept me reading well past bed time. And the slow burn, yearning was so well done and spicy! I found the stories of the FMC and MMC deeply sad. They had to overcome so much and still continue to strive and struggle. I really look forward to what happens next.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I loved this! I downloaded it on edelweiss on a whim and did not expect to like it so much. the book is surprisingly beautiful and very deep. I loved the relationship between the mc and li. the world building is also just enough. not too much that it confuses me, but enough the world feels lived in. five stars!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Banta's fantasy debut sparkles with celestial-inspired magic, dangerously seductive court intrigue, and a burning romance at its core that grips you from the first page to the last. Utterly immersive and gorgeously written, The Court of Venus is one of the best political fantasies I've read in years.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I read this as an ARC. The characters are written very young (if this was considered YA, it would have been a 3 star). I like a good slow burn rivals to lovers, but these two had no chemistry. There is no world building or explanation of a reason for the tournament.
Want to Read
April 18, 2026I have an ARC-
TO READ
TO READ
Review of advance copy received from Shelf Awareness Pro
Initial Thoughts: One of my first five-star reads of the year. Finally, a book that has both an interesting romance AND a layered political plot that kept me guessing
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Court of Venus draws you into a decadent court of desire where attraction is power, secrets are currency, and one deadly mystery ignites everything.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews