{"product_id":"9781035088539","title":"The Court of Venus by Bel Banta","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e PRE-ORDER NOW - Published: 01\/10\/2026 \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSet in a fantasy world inspired by Tudor England and the real astrologers who advised kings, \u003ci\u003eThe Court of Venus\u003c\/i\u003e is Bel Banta's fantasy debut and a beautifully written historical novel about rival magicians.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e'Our kind has many names. Planetborn. Sorcerer. Witch or wizard. Magician.'\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBecause 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Wildly imaginative, wickedly addictive, and impossible to put down!' - Jean Kwok, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eDominion\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Decadent, gripping, and romantic' - Allison Saft, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Dark and Drowning Tide\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePerfect for fans of \u003ci\u003eThe Knight and The Moth\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Familiar\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eA Darker Shade of Magic\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTropes Include . . .\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e*rivals to lovers\u003cbr\u003e*courtly intrigue\u003cbr\u003e*magic tournament\u003cbr\u003e*slow burn\u003cbr\u003e*murder mystery\u003cbr\u003e*she falls first, he falls harder\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003eBinding: Paperback","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56368480026997,"sku":"9781035088539","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781035088539.jpg?v=1763549631","url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/products\/9781035088539","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}