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The Court of Venus
Not yet published
Expected 20 Oct 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
Audible Audio
Expected publication September 29, 2026
About the author
Bel Banta
1 book51 followersBel Banta is a bookseller and writer. She graduated from the University of Virginia and lives with her partner and two cats in Brooklyn. Some of her very favorite things include video games, coffee, and walking around the city listening to movie scores.
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
firstly, thank you to the publisher for a physical arc and an alc!
i have seen the court of venus everywhere on socials, and so i was excited to dive into my alc!
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... this definitely had arthurian vibes to me, which is always a plus imo!!
as for the audio, the narrator did a great job!
it was also really nice to meet bel recently and chat with her!
i have seen the court of venus everywhere on socials, and so i was excited to dive into my alc!
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... this definitely had arthurian vibes to me, which is always a plus imo!!
as for the audio, the narrator did a great job!
it was also really nice to meet bel recently and chat with her!
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
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.
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.
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!
August 13, 2026
I loved this one! The audiobook completely pulled me into the world, and the celestial magic system was easily one of my favorite parts. Give me people wielding different kinds of magic tied to the stars and planets, and I am IN.
There’s court intrigue, danger, secrets, romance, and a fascinating magical world that kept me invested from beginning to end. I also really enjoyed the characters and the tension woven throughout the story.
This was exactly the kind of fantasy I love, and the audiobook made the experience even better. Definitely recommend this one!
There’s court intrigue, danger, secrets, romance, and a fascinating magical world that kept me invested from beginning to end. I also really enjoyed the characters and the tension woven throughout the story.
This was exactly the kind of fantasy I love, and the audiobook made the experience even better. Definitely recommend this one!
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.
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
July 30, 2026
Court of Venus had the plot and lore that intrigued me. Magicians with a powerful magic that aligns with the planets and solar system. Sign me up. Astrology being the key factor of their magic, I was excited that it was going to be a decent part of the plot. However, that wasn’t the case. From the start there is no world building and no build up to what their powers actually do. I found it hard to dissect how their magic actually worked. The plot became more and more boring. The steaks felt very low. The further I went on, and I found myself not caring about what the characters were actually doing. This is a typical slow burn romantasy book. I found the main love interest bland and uninteresting. The only parts that I really enjoyed was Bianca‘s (FMC) ability to shape shift and small amount of astrology magic that was introduced.
I had really high expectations for this and they weren’t met, which is unfortunate. I do think the writing is good and I would be interested to see what else this author writes in the future but in the case of The Court of Venus it was disappointing.
2.5/5 stars
Dates Read: July 17-July 30
Thank you to Netgalley.com and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
I had really high expectations for this and they weren’t met, which is unfortunate. I do think the writing is good and I would be interested to see what else this author writes in the future but in the case of The Court of Venus it was disappointing.
2.5/5 stars
Dates Read: July 17-July 30
Thank you to Netgalley.com and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
July 15, 2026
The perfect book….. i love my job!
Want to Read
April 29, 2026 pink hair representation oh i knoww that's right
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.
July 17, 2026
~ 4.5 Stars ~
Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Tor for an eARC!
I just have so many thoughts on this book, but one of my main thoughts that I keep coming back to is that I very much appreciate how much research this author put into this book, to the point that—even me as a Tudor history buff—knew I was missing some of the cleverly woven references and framework. Let me also say, you DON’T have to know this history to thoroughly enjoy this book. For me, personally, it just heightened my reading experience because of that knowledge. It also showed me how incredibly adept this author is at taking inspiration and information, and weaving it so seamlessly that unless you were truly looking, you would never know it was there.
I LOVED this world and the magic system! The way people are defined heavily by when they’re born. It leans into astrology as a defining science, to the point where you could know basics and interpret detail about a person based on their birth chart. The fun twist that is the birthing of magicians into the world! It was so incredibly well thought out and effortlessly explained. The unique characteristics and limitations for each type of magician and their magic, as well as the hidden depths of their magic, even the different interpretations of their magic. I constantly found myself pausing to take in the depth being shown. So many ideas were so complex and thought provoking and yet so simply put and easy for readers to understand— again, the word seamless comes to mind.
Then you have this fabulous political system built with the inspiration of a Tudor Boleyn court, the intrigue and the social climbing, but adding magic and fantasy within it. Again, well written and extremely enjoyable. One of the thoughts that comes to mind is how the world view is constantly shifting through this book, how, as each new fact is uncovered, more of the curtain is pulled back, on the world, on the characters, on the plot. As a reader, the introduction felt very straight forward, but my view and thoughts would shift as more information was revealed. I felt like by the end, finally with all the pieces of the puzzle in place, I could finally KNOW this world and the characters and see where it was going…. UNTIL THE EPILOGUE! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! (Both extremely excited and extremely worried about that twist). Again, the world view is expanding!
I could honestly go on and on about this book. I feel like it’s going to be one I keep coming back to and thinking about. How well flushed out and developed the characters were, their tiny quirks and personalities showing themselves in small moments. The way we get seamless snippets of background stories from different memories, often provided by magic. But at the end of the day, what you need to know is this: MORE PLEASE! IMMEDIATELY! Thank you!
A little note to the author Bel— you have found your calling. Please never stop writing! I so appreciate the time you took with this. That it was a small niggling idea for years until you finally brought it to life. The fact that you didn’t give up on it, and persevered. You brought something so beautiful and special into this world and I can’t wait for the continuation of this story, but also, to read any of the other stories that have been lingering in your brain. You truly have a gift.
Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Tor for an eARC!
I just have so many thoughts on this book, but one of my main thoughts that I keep coming back to is that I very much appreciate how much research this author put into this book, to the point that—even me as a Tudor history buff—knew I was missing some of the cleverly woven references and framework. Let me also say, you DON’T have to know this history to thoroughly enjoy this book. For me, personally, it just heightened my reading experience because of that knowledge. It also showed me how incredibly adept this author is at taking inspiration and information, and weaving it so seamlessly that unless you were truly looking, you would never know it was there.
I LOVED this world and the magic system! The way people are defined heavily by when they’re born. It leans into astrology as a defining science, to the point where you could know basics and interpret detail about a person based on their birth chart. The fun twist that is the birthing of magicians into the world! It was so incredibly well thought out and effortlessly explained. The unique characteristics and limitations for each type of magician and their magic, as well as the hidden depths of their magic, even the different interpretations of their magic. I constantly found myself pausing to take in the depth being shown. So many ideas were so complex and thought provoking and yet so simply put and easy for readers to understand— again, the word seamless comes to mind.
Then you have this fabulous political system built with the inspiration of a Tudor Boleyn court, the intrigue and the social climbing, but adding magic and fantasy within it. Again, well written and extremely enjoyable. One of the thoughts that comes to mind is how the world view is constantly shifting through this book, how, as each new fact is uncovered, more of the curtain is pulled back, on the world, on the characters, on the plot. As a reader, the introduction felt very straight forward, but my view and thoughts would shift as more information was revealed. I felt like by the end, finally with all the pieces of the puzzle in place, I could finally KNOW this world and the characters and see where it was going…. UNTIL THE EPILOGUE! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! (Both extremely excited and extremely worried about that twist). Again, the world view is expanding!
I could honestly go on and on about this book. I feel like it’s going to be one I keep coming back to and thinking about. How well flushed out and developed the characters were, their tiny quirks and personalities showing themselves in small moments. The way we get seamless snippets of background stories from different memories, often provided by magic. But at the end of the day, what you need to know is this: MORE PLEASE! IMMEDIATELY! Thank you!
A little note to the author Bel— you have found your calling. Please never stop writing! I so appreciate the time you took with this. That it was a small niggling idea for years until you finally brought it to life. The fact that you didn’t give up on it, and persevered. You brought something so beautiful and special into this world and I can’t wait for the continuation of this story, but also, to read any of the other stories that have been lingering in your brain. You truly have a gift.
August 10, 2026
Thank you so much to Tor for the ARC! 💜
I. FREAKING. LOVED. THIS. BOOK. 😭✨
The Court of Venus completely pulled me in and I honestly did not want to put it down. The star magic was SO unique, and I loved getting to discover how it all worked alongside Bianca. A Moonborn magician who hasn’t existed in over a thousand years?! I was immediately sold. 🌙✨
And the twists and turns?? I swear, every time I thought I had something figured out, this book would throw something else at me. I loved never really knowing who to trust or where the story was going, and the court intrigue and murder mystery kept me completely hooked.
But the EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER this book dragged me through?! 😭 I was stressed. I was suspicious. I was yelling at the book. I was emotionally invested in ways I absolutely did not expect. There were so many moments where I just needed to know WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT.
And Bianca and Roland?! GIVE ME ALL THE RIVALS-TO-LOVERS TENSION. The slow burn, the history between them, the banter, the way they were forced to rely on each other… I ate it all up. And “she falls first, he falls harder” is ALWAYS going to get me. 👀
There was just something about this whole story that worked so well for me. The magic felt fresh, the atmosphere was gorgeous and dangerous, the twists kept me guessing, and the characters had me feeling EVERYTHING.
If you love romantic fantasy with unique magic, deadly courts, murder mysteries, slow burns, rivals-to-lovers, and enough twists to keep you questioning everything, PLEASE put this on your TBR. I genuinely think you’re going to want this one. 🌙✨
I. FREAKING. LOVED. THIS. BOOK. 😭✨
The Court of Venus completely pulled me in and I honestly did not want to put it down. The star magic was SO unique, and I loved getting to discover how it all worked alongside Bianca. A Moonborn magician who hasn’t existed in over a thousand years?! I was immediately sold. 🌙✨
And the twists and turns?? I swear, every time I thought I had something figured out, this book would throw something else at me. I loved never really knowing who to trust or where the story was going, and the court intrigue and murder mystery kept me completely hooked.
But the EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER this book dragged me through?! 😭 I was stressed. I was suspicious. I was yelling at the book. I was emotionally invested in ways I absolutely did not expect. There were so many moments where I just needed to know WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT.
And Bianca and Roland?! GIVE ME ALL THE RIVALS-TO-LOVERS TENSION. The slow burn, the history between them, the banter, the way they were forced to rely on each other… I ate it all up. And “she falls first, he falls harder” is ALWAYS going to get me. 👀
There was just something about this whole story that worked so well for me. The magic felt fresh, the atmosphere was gorgeous and dangerous, the twists kept me guessing, and the characters had me feeling EVERYTHING.
If you love romantic fantasy with unique magic, deadly courts, murder mysteries, slow burns, rivals-to-lovers, and enough twists to keep you questioning everything, PLEASE put this on your TBR. I genuinely think you’re going to want this one. 🌙✨
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!
August 18, 2026
This book completely pulled me into its world. What stood out most to me was how much the characters drive the story. Hal is especially fascinating to watch as the layers of his character slowly unfold. Prospero, the king, and the queens each bring their own agendas and secrets, making it increasingly difficult to know who can actually be trusted.
The magic system was another huge highlight for me. I loved how different it was and I loved that the magic feels woven into the politics, power struggles, and relationships rather than simply existing in the background. I also loved that the magical abilities expand with the main character as she explores and unravels her powers.
And then that ending. I genuinely did not see the final twist coming. Just when I thought I understood where everything was heading, the story completely shifted my perspective on what I had been reading. Looking back, there are little details that hit differently once you know the truth, which made the ending even more satisfying.
Overall, a beautifully twisted fantasy full of complicated characters, dangerous magic, secrets, and a surprise ending that absolutely got me. And was perfectly set up for a sequel!
The magic system was another huge highlight for me. I loved how different it was and I loved that the magic feels woven into the politics, power struggles, and relationships rather than simply existing in the background. I also loved that the magical abilities expand with the main character as she explores and unravels her powers.
And then that ending. I genuinely did not see the final twist coming. Just when I thought I understood where everything was heading, the story completely shifted my perspective on what I had been reading. Looking back, there are little details that hit differently once you know the truth, which made the ending even more satisfying.
Overall, a beautifully twisted fantasy full of complicated characters, dangerous magic, secrets, and a surprise ending that absolutely got me. And was perfectly set up for a sequel!
July 23, 2026
Thank you SO MUCH to Tor, NetGalley, and Miss Bel Banta for an advanced copy of this book!!
Talk about a debut! This book was so well done from its intricate and unique magic system to the complex character relationships, both familial and romantic.
This book follows Bianca, a Moonborn magician, finally returning to court after years away, finding some familiar faces and some new. Each character in this book is so intentional and so perfectly placed.
There were so many absolutely heartbreaking moments in this book (yes, I’m talking about one in particular, no, I will not spoil) but balanced with such love and hope.
I simply cannot wait for the next book (really, I’m begging)!
Thank you SO MUCH again to Tor and NetGalley for this ARC!
Talk about a debut! This book was so well done from its intricate and unique magic system to the complex character relationships, both familial and romantic.
This book follows Bianca, a Moonborn magician, finally returning to court after years away, finding some familiar faces and some new. Each character in this book is so intentional and so perfectly placed.
There were so many absolutely heartbreaking moments in this book (yes, I’m talking about one in particular, no, I will not spoil) but balanced with such love and hope.
I simply cannot wait for the next book (really, I’m begging)!
Thank you SO MUCH again to Tor and NetGalley for this ARC!
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.
July 13, 2026
The perfect balance of an intricate magic system with well crafted mystery and incredible pacing. Zero moments to rest when you’re plotting vengeance, amirite?
Don’t even get me started on the slow burn romance.
This should be everyone’s newest fantasy obsession!!
Don’t even get me started on the slow burn romance.
This should be everyone’s newest fantasy obsession!!
July 11, 2026
I have a concern to express ... namely, how did Bel Banta get inside my head and discover the elements of my ideal romantic fantasy story and then use them to write this treasure of a novel!?
The Court of Venus is set in a Tudor-inspired fantasy world with an astrology based magic system (aka my weird nerd girl dream scenario). Intricate court politics to rival Game of Thrones, intrigue, murder mystery, betrayal, and SO MUCH YEARNING!
What's more, Banta's exquisite prose weaves a complexly delicate spell, making the world she creates feel incredibly real in the way that a dream feels immediately upon waking, when your emotions and senses are still entirely rooted in that "other place" even as it fades into a gossamer haze... All the more impressive as this is Banta's DEBUT! It came as no surprise (nevertheless a delight) to learn that Banta is ALSO a bookseller because her masterful writing and ability to plot an intense and layered story suffused with romance and magic, absolutely SCREAMS "I LOVE BOOKS I LOVE THIS GENRE AND I WILL DO IT JUSTICE" - and indeed, she has! I am so eager for book two and will be following this author closely for sure!
The Court of Venus is set in a Tudor-inspired fantasy world with an astrology based magic system (aka my weird nerd girl dream scenario). Intricate court politics to rival Game of Thrones, intrigue, murder mystery, betrayal, and SO MUCH YEARNING!
What's more, Banta's exquisite prose weaves a complexly delicate spell, making the world she creates feel incredibly real in the way that a dream feels immediately upon waking, when your emotions and senses are still entirely rooted in that "other place" even as it fades into a gossamer haze... All the more impressive as this is Banta's DEBUT! It came as no surprise (nevertheless a delight) to learn that Banta is ALSO a bookseller because her masterful writing and ability to plot an intense and layered story suffused with romance and magic, absolutely SCREAMS "I LOVE BOOKS I LOVE THIS GENRE AND I WILL DO IT JUSTICE" - and indeed, she has! I am so eager for book two and will be following this author closely for sure!
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 )
Did Not Finish
July 12, 2026I tried i really did, but I couldn't finish this book. From the start the flow was just not there and it didn't get any better as I continued. It takes A LOT for me to DNF a book. I personally didn't feel the "rivals" troupe between Roland and Bianca. It was just boring to me and I needed more.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐ 5 | ❤️ 3/5
I devoured this debut book by Bel Banta and will be reading anything that this author releases moving forward. I’ve read 80+ books this year, and this is my favorite fantasy romance thus far closely followed by This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me and Alchemised. I actually loved Court of Venus even more than the comps (The Knight and the Moth, The Familiar, A Darker Shade of Magic), which I didn’t feel were comparable beyond the controlled prose.
This political intrigue fantasy story is half mystery, half romance and feels well researched— drawing its inspiration from the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII. I picked it up after reading a sample in Buzz Books 2026: Fall/Winter, where I was captivated by the beautiful prose. If you’ve read an exhaustive amount within a specific genre, sometimes some stories start to feel familiar with the common archetypes and tropes, but that was not the case here. The story, astrology-based magic system, and Tudor-based aesthetic felt fresh. The characters were lovable and felt embodied, lived in, and well developed. The leads are iconic and memorable on the level of Jude and Cardan from The Cruel Prince, and anyone who loves that pair presumably would love Bianca and Roland. As not to leave out Hal, Bianca and Hal give Iris and Roman from Divine Rivals. I can’t wait to read the sequel and spend more time with these characters. The romance had it all (without disclosing with whom to avoid spoilers): quick-witted banter, playfulness, teasing, yearning, vulnerability, tenderness, and devotion.
For me, the best part of the story was the writing itself; the polished, controlled, mature prose was so beautiful with varied rhythm that flowed. The writing focuses on the somatic, where emotion is shown through physical details such as the space between people, breath, touch, etc (“As my hand extended for a spin, he watched me, his eyes heavy. They moved the way his fingertips trailed over furniture: a slow, torturous drag. Missing nothing. I felt their weight across my turned cheek, across the curve of my bodice.” Note: text is from an uncorrected copy and may change at final release).
I loved the way the author described the magic. It was easy to understand and recall and had a poetic quality to it. Bianca reads emotion, and Roland reads desire. It’s written with such texture that you can vividly imagine their magic in action. The book felt really cinematic, but I can’t even imagine how you would translate this on screen.
I appreciated the diverse representation: queer characters (including a bi mmc) and POC secondary characters. I enjoyed the love triangle between Bianca, Hal, and Roland and had wishful thinking that this would end up being a Why Choose. Bianca is a very competent, cunning, determined magician, who can read emotions and shapeshift, but prefers existing as animals so that she can be hidden. Roland is an ambitious bi rakish charismatic magician with baby girl energy, who can read desire and navigates political courts with ease. Hal was the heir to the Redhall throne, whose connection with Bianca is characterized by its yearning and devotion.
My critiques are minor and did not significantly affect my enjoyment of the story. As a very visual reader, it was frustrating to have the hair color of two secondary characters withheld until the end of the book for the sake of obfuscating an aspect of the story to prolong the mystery. As a result, I just imagined a blur whenever these characters came up, since the story was so specific about the appearance (especially the hair color), of everyone else. There was also a choice by the characters that felt illogical and out of character that seemed to just serve as a load-bearing plot convenience, which telegraphed the outcome. There was also an inconsistency with the magic system (the longevity of exhaulted magic), but that was the most minor of all. Again, I still loved the story, but these moments did pull me out of the story even if briefly.
If you enjoy political intrigue in a magical setting (The Cruel Prince, A Dance of Lies, The Serpent and the Wolf) or a bit of mystery (This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me), this is a must read.
Audiobook listeners: This is a solo narration. The voice actor’s voice was pleasant especially as the story got going. My only critique would be that in the first chapter, the intake breaths were noticeably loud and thus distracting, but I either stopped noticing them after the first few chapters or they weren’t as loud afterward (but I’m pretty sure it was probably the latter). There were only a few instances that took me out of the story such as when a very feminine affectation was used for a side character, but then it turned out to be a male page (who was not described to be effeminate), and sometimes it wasn’t clear if something was said as dialogue or internal monologue, and also in a conversation between Bianca and Roland, where it wasn’t clear who was saying what. But overall, I found it to be easy to follow along, which is especially notable given that its fantasy setting, which can be challenging to follow along with all the world building but not in this case.
I read it via ebook and also listened to it via audiobook and would recommend both formats. My recommendation for the optimal experience would be to start with the print format so that you can savor the prose and to help learn the world, and once you get settled in, listen to the audiobook in tandem. That’s what I did, and I loved the story so much that I did most of the book in both versions (listening while doing errands, and reading/rereading the ebook when I could just focus on the book)
CW: Animal abuse, grief, death, off-page dub-con (not FMC)
This review is based off an ARC provided by Tor and ALC provided by Macmillan Audio via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I devoured this debut book by Bel Banta and will be reading anything that this author releases moving forward. I’ve read 80+ books this year, and this is my favorite fantasy romance thus far closely followed by This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me and Alchemised. I actually loved Court of Venus even more than the comps (The Knight and the Moth, The Familiar, A Darker Shade of Magic), which I didn’t feel were comparable beyond the controlled prose.
This political intrigue fantasy story is half mystery, half romance and feels well researched— drawing its inspiration from the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII. I picked it up after reading a sample in Buzz Books 2026: Fall/Winter, where I was captivated by the beautiful prose. If you’ve read an exhaustive amount within a specific genre, sometimes some stories start to feel familiar with the common archetypes and tropes, but that was not the case here. The story, astrology-based magic system, and Tudor-based aesthetic felt fresh. The characters were lovable and felt embodied, lived in, and well developed. The leads are iconic and memorable on the level of Jude and Cardan from The Cruel Prince, and anyone who loves that pair presumably would love Bianca and Roland. As not to leave out Hal, Bianca and Hal give Iris and Roman from Divine Rivals. I can’t wait to read the sequel and spend more time with these characters. The romance had it all (without disclosing with whom to avoid spoilers): quick-witted banter, playfulness, teasing, yearning, vulnerability, tenderness, and devotion.
For me, the best part of the story was the writing itself; the polished, controlled, mature prose was so beautiful with varied rhythm that flowed. The writing focuses on the somatic, where emotion is shown through physical details such as the space between people, breath, touch, etc (“As my hand extended for a spin, he watched me, his eyes heavy. They moved the way his fingertips trailed over furniture: a slow, torturous drag. Missing nothing. I felt their weight across my turned cheek, across the curve of my bodice.” Note: text is from an uncorrected copy and may change at final release).
I loved the way the author described the magic. It was easy to understand and recall and had a poetic quality to it. Bianca reads emotion, and Roland reads desire. It’s written with such texture that you can vividly imagine their magic in action. The book felt really cinematic, but I can’t even imagine how you would translate this on screen.
I appreciated the diverse representation: queer characters (including a bi mmc) and POC secondary characters. I enjoyed the love triangle between Bianca, Hal, and Roland and had wishful thinking that this would end up being a Why Choose. Bianca is a very competent, cunning, determined magician, who can read emotions and shapeshift, but prefers existing as animals so that she can be hidden. Roland is an ambitious bi rakish charismatic magician with baby girl energy, who can read desire and navigates political courts with ease. Hal was the heir to the Redhall throne, whose connection with Bianca is characterized by its yearning and devotion.
My critiques are minor and did not significantly affect my enjoyment of the story. As a very visual reader, it was frustrating to have the hair color of two secondary characters withheld until the end of the book for the sake of obfuscating an aspect of the story to prolong the mystery. As a result, I just imagined a blur whenever these characters came up, since the story was so specific about the appearance (especially the hair color), of everyone else. There was also a choice by the characters that felt illogical and out of character that seemed to just serve as a load-bearing plot convenience, which telegraphed the outcome. There was also an inconsistency with the magic system (the longevity of exhaulted magic), but that was the most minor of all. Again, I still loved the story, but these moments did pull me out of the story even if briefly.
If you enjoy political intrigue in a magical setting (The Cruel Prince, A Dance of Lies, The Serpent and the Wolf) or a bit of mystery (This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me), this is a must read.
Audiobook listeners: This is a solo narration. The voice actor’s voice was pleasant especially as the story got going. My only critique would be that in the first chapter, the intake breaths were noticeably loud and thus distracting, but I either stopped noticing them after the first few chapters or they weren’t as loud afterward (but I’m pretty sure it was probably the latter). There were only a few instances that took me out of the story such as when a very feminine affectation was used for a side character, but then it turned out to be a male page (who was not described to be effeminate), and sometimes it wasn’t clear if something was said as dialogue or internal monologue, and also in a conversation between Bianca and Roland, where it wasn’t clear who was saying what. But overall, I found it to be easy to follow along, which is especially notable given that its fantasy setting, which can be challenging to follow along with all the world building but not in this case.
I read it via ebook and also listened to it via audiobook and would recommend both formats. My recommendation for the optimal experience would be to start with the print format so that you can savor the prose and to help learn the world, and once you get settled in, listen to the audiobook in tandem. That’s what I did, and I loved the story so much that I did most of the book in both versions (listening while doing errands, and reading/rereading the ebook when I could just focus on the book)
CW: Animal abuse, grief, death, off-page dub-con (not FMC)
This review is based off an ARC provided by Tor and ALC provided by Macmillan Audio via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars
In the world of Alvion, one’s destiny is determined by the precise alignment of the stars and planets at the time of birth. For many, this alignment simply dictates their personality, but for a select few, this results in magical blessings from the heavens themselves: for example, magicians born under the Sun can tell when people are telling the truth, and those born under Mercury can understand all spoken (and unspoken) language. Though these magicians are feared for the power they can wield over others, they are also sought out by noble families to help provide them advantages and maintain their position in society.
Bianca Mortlake, a Moonborn magician with powers of transformation and memory, is the first of her kind in over a thousand years; discovered at a young age, she was raised and tutored in the king’s household alongside Roland Daymour, a Venusborn with the power to manipulate desires, and the crown prince, Hal. Now, recently released from a pledge to a noble family, Bianca finds herself back at court at a perilous time - both Hal and her beloved tutor are dead, and Roland himself is sitting on the throne in the increasingly-unstable king’s stead. The court is balanced on a knife’s edge, as those closest to the now-heirless king attempt to position themselves to inherit the throne. Bianca and Roland find themselves in a desperate race to avert disaster, balancing their loyalties to the crown and the court to avoid the executioner’s block while figuring out what dangerous secrets the king is trying to hide. As they delve deeper and deeper into the rot that is festering the throne from the inside out, Bianca and Roland find that they might be up against the one enemy they cannot defeat - Fate itself.
The Court of Venus is the first in a new romantasy duology by author Bel Banta. My thoughts on various aspects of the book are given below.
*World-building/Plot: The world of Alvion is probably best described as “Tudor-esque England”; the author did a great job of capturing the essence of life in that time period (from the politics to the clothing to the dialogue), while still weaving in fantastical elements. The magic system devised here was truly the standout - I loved the idea of magicians receiving different powers based on the star chart when they were born, and it was refreshing to read a fantasy book with such an original concept. The central plot was equally intriguing, as Bianca and Roland try to navigate life at court and solve Hal’s murder while fighting to (literally) keep their heads; for all of their power, magicians are still incredibly vulnerable in Alvion, which added a lot of edge-of-your-seat tension to the story.
*Character Development: The book is told exclusively from Bianca’s POV, though we do get a glimpse into the lives of others when she accesses their memories. She was an incredibly compelling character; Bel Banta takes a different approach to “young woman with incredible powers” here and makes a much richer, empathetic heroine because of it. In this world, being “blessed” with magical gifts leads to a life of loneliness. Taken from her father as a young girl, hidden away for training by the Lord Chancellor, and then pledged in servitude to a noble family, Bianca has never had a chance to lead a normal life. In this world, magicians are only tools, unable to have families of their own and entirely at the whims of their masters. Their lives are distinctly tied to their usefulness - when they please their noble families, they are allowed to live, but if they fail (or show that they are too powerful), they die. Certainly they are never looked at as saviors of the realm.
Because of this, it is easy to imagine why Bianca holds so tightly to the precious few friendships she has made in her life, and why Hal’s death has impacted her so deeply. As she reunites with Roland (an equally empathetic character), the tension between them is almost as thick as with their enemies at court. It is not a question of whether there are feelings between each other, but rather if they can overcome their complicated past to bring each other some much-needed happiness to their lives. The will-they-won’t-they yearning was fantastic and I really enjoyed the slow burn between them. I find that I am suddenly a sucker for guys with pink hair!
*Pacing/Writing Style: The writing was absolutely fantastic, and I was impressed that this was Bel Banta’s fantasy debut.Though the book unfolded slowly, it was because this is a book that should be savored and not devoured. The Court of Venus is free of a lot of “typical” romantasy tropes, so the unhurried pace was perfect for allowing the reader to easily pick up on the intricacies of the world and the complex political machinations of the Albion court. My only (minor) quibble is the ending of the book. I have noticed in quite a few recent fantasy duologies that the ending becomes incredibly rushed, so that things can quickly progress to a sudden point where a “twist” can be revealed and set up the story line for the next and final installment - and that was certainly the case here. But again, this was only a minor complaint I had, and overall the book was masterfully executed.
I was blown away by The Court of Venus; because of the unique world-building, the historical setting, and the slow-burn romance, I would recommend it to both romantasy readers and readers of historical fiction. This is a book that I will be thinking about for a while and I cannot wait to see what happens next!
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
In the world of Alvion, one’s destiny is determined by the precise alignment of the stars and planets at the time of birth. For many, this alignment simply dictates their personality, but for a select few, this results in magical blessings from the heavens themselves: for example, magicians born under the Sun can tell when people are telling the truth, and those born under Mercury can understand all spoken (and unspoken) language. Though these magicians are feared for the power they can wield over others, they are also sought out by noble families to help provide them advantages and maintain their position in society.
Bianca Mortlake, a Moonborn magician with powers of transformation and memory, is the first of her kind in over a thousand years; discovered at a young age, she was raised and tutored in the king’s household alongside Roland Daymour, a Venusborn with the power to manipulate desires, and the crown prince, Hal. Now, recently released from a pledge to a noble family, Bianca finds herself back at court at a perilous time - both Hal and her beloved tutor are dead, and Roland himself is sitting on the throne in the increasingly-unstable king’s stead. The court is balanced on a knife’s edge, as those closest to the now-heirless king attempt to position themselves to inherit the throne. Bianca and Roland find themselves in a desperate race to avert disaster, balancing their loyalties to the crown and the court to avoid the executioner’s block while figuring out what dangerous secrets the king is trying to hide. As they delve deeper and deeper into the rot that is festering the throne from the inside out, Bianca and Roland find that they might be up against the one enemy they cannot defeat - Fate itself.
The Court of Venus is the first in a new romantasy duology by author Bel Banta. My thoughts on various aspects of the book are given below.
*World-building/Plot: The world of Alvion is probably best described as “Tudor-esque England”; the author did a great job of capturing the essence of life in that time period (from the politics to the clothing to the dialogue), while still weaving in fantastical elements. The magic system devised here was truly the standout - I loved the idea of magicians receiving different powers based on the star chart when they were born, and it was refreshing to read a fantasy book with such an original concept. The central plot was equally intriguing, as Bianca and Roland try to navigate life at court and solve Hal’s murder while fighting to (literally) keep their heads; for all of their power, magicians are still incredibly vulnerable in Alvion, which added a lot of edge-of-your-seat tension to the story.
*Character Development: The book is told exclusively from Bianca’s POV, though we do get a glimpse into the lives of others when she accesses their memories. She was an incredibly compelling character; Bel Banta takes a different approach to “young woman with incredible powers” here and makes a much richer, empathetic heroine because of it. In this world, being “blessed” with magical gifts leads to a life of loneliness. Taken from her father as a young girl, hidden away for training by the Lord Chancellor, and then pledged in servitude to a noble family, Bianca has never had a chance to lead a normal life. In this world, magicians are only tools, unable to have families of their own and entirely at the whims of their masters. Their lives are distinctly tied to their usefulness - when they please their noble families, they are allowed to live, but if they fail (or show that they are too powerful), they die. Certainly they are never looked at as saviors of the realm.
Because of this, it is easy to imagine why Bianca holds so tightly to the precious few friendships she has made in her life, and why Hal’s death has impacted her so deeply. As she reunites with Roland (an equally empathetic character), the tension between them is almost as thick as with their enemies at court. It is not a question of whether there are feelings between each other, but rather if they can overcome their complicated past to bring each other some much-needed happiness to their lives. The will-they-won’t-they yearning was fantastic and I really enjoyed the slow burn between them. I find that I am suddenly a sucker for guys with pink hair!
*Pacing/Writing Style: The writing was absolutely fantastic, and I was impressed that this was Bel Banta’s fantasy debut.Though the book unfolded slowly, it was because this is a book that should be savored and not devoured. The Court of Venus is free of a lot of “typical” romantasy tropes, so the unhurried pace was perfect for allowing the reader to easily pick up on the intricacies of the world and the complex political machinations of the Albion court. My only (minor) quibble is the ending of the book. I have noticed in quite a few recent fantasy duologies that the ending becomes incredibly rushed, so that things can quickly progress to a sudden point where a “twist” can be revealed and set up the story line for the next and final installment - and that was certainly the case here. But again, this was only a minor complaint I had, and overall the book was masterfully executed.
I was blown away by The Court of Venus; because of the unique world-building, the historical setting, and the slow-burn romance, I would recommend it to both romantasy readers and readers of historical fiction. This is a book that I will be thinking about for a while and I cannot wait to see what happens next!
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*2.75
I received this as an e-arc from NetGalley. Thank you to Macmillian Audio for the copy!
For the beginning portions of this book, I could earnestly say I was enjoying it and found it to be competent and well plotted. After the 30% mark however, I don't know that I could continue to say either of those things.
On a prose level, I think Bel Banta is very talented and clearly is gifted in crafting a novel on a sentence to sentence level. However, outside of this, things begin to seriously fall apart.
To begin with, for a novel involving a murder mystery, the stakes were awfully low and the plot meandering and lifeless. The murder victim died years beforehand, no one is ever truly in peril despite the setting being a ruthless tudor inspired courtly setting, full of backstabs and deceit. There's nothing especially twisty or innovative about the mystery plotline, it's only really half relevant throughout the novel and 90% of the way in is abruptly resolved. Despite the resolution having large implications for the world the protagonists are inhabiting, it was very causal and hardly remarked upon. Truly, there's no stakes here, aside from the interpersonal ones between Roland and Bianca.
The romance was a mixed bag for me. I enjoyed some of their banter and later silliness in their interactions, but I found an equal amount of things about their dynamic frustrating and baffling. The jump from Roland dislikes Bianca, to Roland yearns for her endlessly and is the only one he's ever truly loved or wanted was jarring and abrupt. Bianca fell for Roland first, long before he ever liked her or considered her worth his time, and I must admit that the endless flashbacks of him being an ass towards her, and page after page of listening to her yearn over him did not endear me to their relationship at all. This is marketed as she falls first he falls harder which. I don't know, I was still suffering through Bianca's whining about how she cannot believe Roland could ever pick her, and that every woman just falls helplessly at his feet. They had their fun moments, but I found the overall arc of their relationship to be frustrating. I also hated their sex scenes, ill placed in the narrative and filled with rotten cliches (he's so big she doesn't think he'll fit guys!)
I also detected a strange undercurrent of misogyny in the narrative that I find difficult to explain. For a novel so inspired by Henry the Eighth and his wives, we are seriously missing these women's perspectives. They are largely irrelevant to the narrative and remain so the entire novel. There was one scene towards the end that gave them a singular moment of narrative presence but I could only stand around and think wow, this would be great if these women mattered at all, but they don't so here we are. Nearly every other woman in this novel aside from the fmc is petty, vindictive, evil, stupid, and endlessly in love with Roland's dick. (You can add the fmc into the group for the last one, though she has even less of a reason to like this guy than the courtly ladies do.) They are also not that relevant either aside from kind of one towards the end, but she still falls into petty, evil, and vindictive. There was also the reveal of Bianca and Hal's relationship and Roland's subsequent reaction. For some reason, Bianca having a secret relationship with Hal was treated like the original sin she must atone for, one that has wronged Roland personally. Roland gets to whore around this entire novel as he mentions or recounts dalliance after dalliance but Bianca falls in love with their now deceased friend and it's a betrayal of him personally? She is the one who must grovel at his feet in apology and beg for his forgiveness?? She has done nothing wrong! There is zero overlap when these relationships occur, Bianca and Roland did not like each other at the time, not really, it would endanger them if it got out, and it's literally not his business. Bianca and Roland were also not in a relationship at this point. Bianca has to apologize for one relationship while Roland gets to sleep around and have it be an endearing trait? It was such a strange plotline, and the implications felt very unfortunate.
The ending itself felt equally middling to me, as it simply fizzled out after the 75ish% percent mark, and there was still another 3 hours of the audiobook to go. Ultimately this was a novel that didn't feel like it knew what it wanted to be, an epic fantasy or a romantasy. If it was the former, so much needed to be cleaned up, tightened, and clarified. If the latter, Roland and Bianca needed better development and a more coherent dynamic. You can see the tension between the books wants illustrated perfectly in the latter half, where we get the dramatic declaration that the king is going to die. This is then immediately followed up by several sex scenes, which causes the narrative to lose all sense of urgency, then we end that with yet another abrupt declaration that the king is going to die. Are we plot focused epic fantasy with a romance subplot or a swoony lustful romantasy where the romance is doing the narrative lifting. I don't think it was clear.
Overall this was a very mixed bag for me. There was certainly a lot to like here, and I will be reading what Bel Banta puts out next, there was an equal amount that wasn't likeable at all. The ending slowing to a turtle crawl that finished off with a sequel bait cliffhanger did not help matters.
I received this as an e-arc from NetGalley. Thank you to Macmillian Audio for the copy!
For the beginning portions of this book, I could earnestly say I was enjoying it and found it to be competent and well plotted. After the 30% mark however, I don't know that I could continue to say either of those things.
On a prose level, I think Bel Banta is very talented and clearly is gifted in crafting a novel on a sentence to sentence level. However, outside of this, things begin to seriously fall apart.
To begin with, for a novel involving a murder mystery, the stakes were awfully low and the plot meandering and lifeless. The murder victim died years beforehand, no one is ever truly in peril despite the setting being a ruthless tudor inspired courtly setting, full of backstabs and deceit. There's nothing especially twisty or innovative about the mystery plotline, it's only really half relevant throughout the novel and 90% of the way in is abruptly resolved. Despite the resolution having large implications for the world the protagonists are inhabiting, it was very causal and hardly remarked upon. Truly, there's no stakes here, aside from the interpersonal ones between Roland and Bianca.
The romance was a mixed bag for me. I enjoyed some of their banter and later silliness in their interactions, but I found an equal amount of things about their dynamic frustrating and baffling. The jump from Roland dislikes Bianca, to Roland yearns for her endlessly and is the only one he's ever truly loved or wanted was jarring and abrupt. Bianca fell for Roland first, long before he ever liked her or considered her worth his time, and I must admit that the endless flashbacks of him being an ass towards her, and page after page of listening to her yearn over him did not endear me to their relationship at all. This is marketed as she falls first he falls harder which. I don't know, I was still suffering through Bianca's whining about how she cannot believe Roland could ever pick her, and that every woman just falls helplessly at his feet. They had their fun moments, but I found the overall arc of their relationship to be frustrating. I also hated their sex scenes, ill placed in the narrative and filled with rotten cliches (he's so big she doesn't think he'll fit guys!)
I also detected a strange undercurrent of misogyny in the narrative that I find difficult to explain. For a novel so inspired by Henry the Eighth and his wives, we are seriously missing these women's perspectives. They are largely irrelevant to the narrative and remain so the entire novel. There was one scene towards the end that gave them a singular moment of narrative presence but I could only stand around and think wow, this would be great if these women mattered at all, but they don't so here we are. Nearly every other woman in this novel aside from the fmc is petty, vindictive, evil, stupid, and endlessly in love with Roland's dick. (You can add the fmc into the group for the last one, though she has even less of a reason to like this guy than the courtly ladies do.) They are also not that relevant either aside from kind of one towards the end, but she still falls into petty, evil, and vindictive. There was also the reveal of Bianca and Hal's relationship and Roland's subsequent reaction. For some reason, Bianca having a secret relationship with Hal was treated like the original sin she must atone for, one that has wronged Roland personally. Roland gets to whore around this entire novel as he mentions or recounts dalliance after dalliance but Bianca falls in love with their now deceased friend and it's a betrayal of him personally? She is the one who must grovel at his feet in apology and beg for his forgiveness?? She has done nothing wrong! There is zero overlap when these relationships occur, Bianca and Roland did not like each other at the time, not really, it would endanger them if it got out, and it's literally not his business. Bianca and Roland were also not in a relationship at this point. Bianca has to apologize for one relationship while Roland gets to sleep around and have it be an endearing trait? It was such a strange plotline, and the implications felt very unfortunate.
The ending itself felt equally middling to me, as it simply fizzled out after the 75ish% percent mark, and there was still another 3 hours of the audiobook to go. Ultimately this was a novel that didn't feel like it knew what it wanted to be, an epic fantasy or a romantasy. If it was the former, so much needed to be cleaned up, tightened, and clarified. If the latter, Roland and Bianca needed better development and a more coherent dynamic. You can see the tension between the books wants illustrated perfectly in the latter half, where we get the dramatic declaration that the king is going to die. This is then immediately followed up by several sex scenes, which causes the narrative to lose all sense of urgency, then we end that with yet another abrupt declaration that the king is going to die. Are we plot focused epic fantasy with a romance subplot or a swoony lustful romantasy where the romance is doing the narrative lifting. I don't think it was clear.
Overall this was a very mixed bag for me. There was certainly a lot to like here, and I will be reading what Bel Banta puts out next, there was an equal amount that wasn't likeable at all. The ending slowing to a turtle crawl that finished off with a sequel bait cliffhanger did not help matters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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.
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