Rated: 5 star rating
I just finished reading The Court of Venus by Bel Banta, and it was a really enjoyable fantasy book. The worldbuilding is clever because everything revolves around star magic. Basically, whatever planet or star was aligned when you were born determines what kind of magic you can do. For example, Jupiterborn people get great luck, Venusborn can literally read and control what you desire, and Moonborn can read memories and shape-shift.
The main character, Bianca, is Moonborn, and her powers actually change depending on what the moon looks like that night. She has a ton of power during a full moon but is practically defenseless when it’s a new moon, which kept me hooked. She gets dragged back into a dangerous royal court ruled by a mad king, and she has to deal with a lot of political drama, a magical tournament, and a big murder mystery.
The author did a great job blending the mystery elements with all the backstabbing politics, and all the side characters feel like real people with their own hidden motives.
I actually listened to the audiobook narrated by Samantha Hydeson, and she did an excellent job. The book is written in the first person, so it feels like Bianca is talking right to you, and the narrator really nails all the emotion and magic.
The ending wraps up the main mystery really well in the last chapter, so you aren’t left hanging, but then the very end gives a little teaser for what’s coming next. It’s a fun read and a great start to a new series. Highly recommend!
Thank you, NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Bel Banta, author, and Samantha Hydeson, narrator, for this ebook review consideration. All review opinions are my own.
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This is a review of the audiobook
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