The Court of Venus - by Bel Banta (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And who will be next?

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

Review Quotes

"A stunning and irresistible rivals-to-lovers story full of political intrigue and featuring a fascinating magic system, The Court of Venus is rich, lovely, and powerful!"--Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop

"Brimming with yearning and set against a glittering world of celestial inspired magic, high stakes, and Tudor worthy intrigue, The Court of Venus shines. ...The celestial, courtly dopamine hit to the heart I didn't know I yearned for."--Rachelle Raeta, author of These Immortal Truths

"Readers will delight in a lushly imagined court ruled by magic, intrigue, and desire, full of characters to both loathe and long for. Banta has created a world to sink into, where emotions run almost as high as the stakes for those trying to change destiny."--Laura R. Samotin, author of The Sins On Their Bones

About the Author

Bel 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.