The Court of Venus

Set in a fantasy world inspired by Tudor England and the real astrologers who advised kings, The Court of Venus is Bel Banta's fantasy debut and a beautifully written historical novel about rival magicians. '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