Join us at the bookstore for a book signing and Q&A event with Bel Banta!

We can’t wait to celebrate her romantic fantasy debut, The Court of Venus.

The Court of Venus

by Bel Banta

The Court of Venus ⟡ by Bel Banta ⟡

About The Book

DELUXE EDITION—a gorgeous hardcover featuring gilded gold 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 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.

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


About The Author

Bel Banta is a writer and bookseller. Her romantic debut, The Court of Venus, will be published by Tor and Tor UK, with a sequel to follow.

As Isabel Banta, she wrote the contemporary novel Honey (Celadon, 2024). She lives in Brooklyn with her partner and two cats and works at an indie bookstore.

Check her out at https://www.belbanta.com/


Thursday, October 1, at 6 PM to 8 PM

Join us for an in-store book signing and Q&A event with Bel Banta for her romantic fantasy debut, The Court of Venus.

This is a ticketed convo and Q&A from 6 PM to 8 PM at Burning Pages Bookstore and a public signing to follow.

The event ticket includes the conversation, Q&A, and signing line, and a copy of The Court of Venus, releasing on 9/29/2026.