This book was an incredible surprise! It was mysterious, and magical, and just spectacular overall! I craved this book, and couldn’t put it down! Amazing!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor for this incredible ARC!

WOW THIS WAS FANTASTIC!
The Court of Venus gets courtly intrigue right, unique worldbuilding, and has such an energy to it that hooks you in. Bel Banta does a great job of building tension and fear and Bianca and Roland were so fiery, I wish I could wipe my memory and read this book for the first time again.

I really am surprised that this is a debut. The writing was so seamless - the dialogue seemed period appropriate, the exposition was smoothly executed ... I really enjoyed it! The level of detail really made it feel like historic fiction. I loved the planet based magic system. There were several well connected mysteries going on that kept me reading well past bed time. And the slow burn, yearning was so well done and spicy! I found the stories of the FMC and MMC deeply sad. They had to overcome so much and still continue to strive and struggle. I really look forward to what happens next.

Bel Banta....you absolute genius. First off, I'm usually so in between with world building in romantasy books, but from the start, it felt like I was sucked into this whirlwind ride filled with dark, mysterious settings and Banta did not let me go until the book was done! And Bianca???? Bianca, my hot mess in moon born colors, you have my heart and soul. Also, can we talk about the romantic tension between Roland and Bianca. For note, my favorite trope is 'charismatic jerk meets his worst nightmare' and that's EXACTLY what this was and more! I am going to be literally on the edge of my feet awaiting the sequel because this author is holding that cliffhanger over me!

5/5 Phenomenal. The type of creativity in world-building that reminds me why I adore fantasy. I haven’t read a magic system that I have been this obsessed with in SO long and this had me from the jump. Immersive, lush, and decadent: the court setting, the clothes, the tournament, the courtly politics, the dark mystery, the totally unique magic, THE ROMANTIC TENSION???? Unreal.

Bianca echoes many of the fantasy heroines I hold close to my heart while also being totally her own. She is an absolute force!! Relentless and scheming while also being so soft and filled to the brim with desire and love and loyalty. I’m obsessed with her. Roland with his pink hair and pearl earring?? Very much literally born to be the perfect flirt??? The dynamic between these two…delicious. The perfect amount of romance. The perfect amount of magic. The perfect amount of lore.

On top of the intricate plot line and fully-realized characters, the author writes stunning prose that makes this book feel like an absolute treat to read. My kindle’s highlight feature was getting a solid workout.

Already planning my re-read when I get my hands on my physical copy. Banta has absolutely crafted what I think will be THE next big title in fantasy. Can’t wait for the second next part of the duology and honored I got to read this one early.

I could write a whole essay, but I am going to stop here. PICK THIS ONE UP!!!

Wow, okay, yeah!!I didn’t expect to get this invested this quickly, but here we are.

What kept me there was the characters more than anything else. The dynamic between Bianca and Roland just works. There’s history there, there’s tension, and it never feels simple between them.
I really liked how the story unfolds too. It doesn’t rush to explain everything, and you’re kind of putting pieces together as you go. It kept me interested without feeling confusing.
The world itself is also really easy to sink into. The whole court setting, the politics, the way magic ties into everything… it all feels layered without being overwhelming.
And the banter was actually good. Not forced, not trying too hard, just natural in a way that made the characters feel real.
I also liked that it’s not just relying on one thing. There’s the mystery, the relationships, the tension at court, and it all kind of builds together instead of competing with each other.
Overall, I can see this book getting a lot of hype . It’s one of those books that’s just really easy to get into and stay in!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review an early copy.

Absolutely gorgeous debut!!

The world building is stunning. This book grips you immediately from the first chapter. There are so many twists and turns in the mystery plot. The narration is almost unreliable even?? So much fun!! I adored our FMC and her persistence as well as her softer side. She carried a great balance. I at first had a love hate relationship with our MMC but his tru colors began to show, and he also has pink hair, which, I am obsessed with. The magic system is truly unique. The writing style of the book goes back and forth from past to present and it gives you all the pieces and understanding it’s supposed to. And THE ENDING?! I’m gasping for book two.

I genuinely did not know what to expect coming into The Court of Venus and I found myself completely delighted by the complexity of Bianca and Roland and the world that they inhabit of Alvion. Bianca's characterization - by mercurial turns shy, withdrawn, dysphoric - was entirely unique and I felt that her perspective propelled the narrative. The system of magic was fascinating and I hope there is a sequel that serves up more depth. I loved the queer (if not normative, then close) worldbuilding and I thought that the side characters were intriguing and appear poised for further character development.

The Court of Venus is romantasy done differently—a sophisticated, Tudor-inspired procedural where the mystery is just as sharp as the romance. Investigating Prince Hal’s death against the backdrop of a rotting court provides a propulsive, "one-more-chapter" pace that makes this debut feel destined for a prestige TV adaptation.
The history between Bianca and Roland is a masterclass in tension. While the world sees a calculating "Venus King" who dominates every room, Bianca remembers the "soft" boy who used to stack the deck just to feel like he could win. Her journey from the overlooked "Mouse" to a powerful Moonborn owning her rare magic—and her survivor's guilt—is a grounded, beautiful arc.
If you’re looking for a cerebral, cinematic story where the emotional stakes are as high as the political ones, read this immediately. A 5-star hit for 2026.

This book pulled me in from the very first page and wouldn't let go until the very end! (AND THAT ENDING MADE ME SCREAM). Stylish writing, a tightly woven plot, and well-written character development.

This was absolutely fantastic! It was so magical and I had such an immersive experience. What a unique book that does such a great slow burn.
This really got me out of a book slump and raised the fantasy bar for me. I hope everyone picks this up , I’ll definitely be telling everyone to read this!

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for a copy of this eARC.

I think this may be one of my top reads of this year and it’s only March but that’s just how good this novel really is. In fact, I think this book alone has made Bel Banta an auto-buy author for me.

The story is set in a fantasy landscape loosely based on Tudor England. In this world there are individuals born blessed by the planets and given unique abilities as a result, some are more rare than others but all are feared for their powers and therefore they are bound to a master they serve. The story begins with the female protagonist Bianca, who is blessed by the moon, being invited to the coronation magician’s tournament by her formal court rival and fellow magician Roland, who is blessed by Venus. Roland has risen to power in the years since they were tutored under the same roof and is now counselor to the king but for all intents and purposes it appears that he is the one who is really ruling the court. Both were raised alongside Prince Hal, who died under mysterious circumstances years before and the questions around his death continue to haunt Bianca. When she arrives for the tournament she is forced to confront her past in the palace as well as find out what really happened between Hal, the King, and Prospero - Roland and Bianca’s former tutor.

If the synopsis was not enough to lure you in, I would say that Bel Banta’s writing and storytelling will cause you to fall in love with not only the characters but the story as well. The banter between the characters is really just a masterwork in how to write dialogue and although there are times it feels that things are a bit ambiguous, it’s clearly with intentionality and not because the author is unable to explain what is happening in that moment.

Bel Banta is masterful in her ability to write a story of political intrigue that doesn’t give everything away at the very beginning. Instead, we peel back layers of the story as information is revealed to us regarding not only the mysteries of Hal’s death but also the connection that exists between Prospero, Bianca, and Roland. If you’re anything like me then you’re probably tired of books that hinge on tournaments and while that is the initial reasoning for getting Bianca to the palace, the tournament has very little actual weight in the overall story. In fact, it seems to just be a mechanism for introducing us to the various magicians and what they can do based on their planets - which is honestly pretty genius and prevents us from being info-dumped on. Regardless, this is a story and a world I want to return to and I’m thrilled to see that there is a second book. I typically read multiple books at a time but found myself wanting to return to this one. The plus side is that yes, it does end with a mystery but it’s not a cliffhanger that will leave readers feeling unsatisfied and anxious - more so we’re excited to see what comes next.

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!

After falling so deeply in love with “Honey,” and being a huge Romantasy fan, my hopes couldn’t have been higher for this book. "The Court of Venus" exceeded my expectations and captivated me from the first line. The blend of gothic Romantasy with Tudor Era court intrigue made for such a uniquely gripping read. I couldn’t predict a single way the story unfolded and continually ripped out my heart. It’s a beautiful, complex read that might hurt your soul in a way you’ll never forget. It’s a rare book that can tear at your heartstrings, make you fall so deeply for the characters, and hit this hard. I recommend this to any Romantasy reader, Fans of Rachel Gillig and Kalie Cassidy especially will devour this book. Also would be a great recommendation for fans of historical romance who are looking to give Romantasy a try.