We chat with author Bel Banta about The Court of Venus, which is an ensnaring romantic fantasy in which a moon-blessed magician is summoned back to the deadly, Tudor-inspired 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.
Hi, Bel! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I’m a fantasy writer and indie bookseller based in Brooklyn!
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I am one of those authors that has always, always wanted to write books. I have old notebooks full of my early writing. Many of these first “attempts” are unfinished and featured animal companions, since one of the first series I ever fell in love with was His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. I wanted a daemon so badly.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: These are certainly not the first books I ever read, but the Warriors series by Erin Hunter comes to mind. I was obsessed with them. Obsessed. All throughout elementary school, all I ever wanted to do was read Warriors. I read them under my desk and got in trouble constantly.
- The one that made you want to become an author: Graceling by Kristin Cashore
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
Your latest novel, The Court of Venus, is out September 29th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Decadent, romantic, tense, atmospheric, mysterious.
What can readers expect?
A murder mystery, a slowburn rivals-to-lovers romance, Tudor inspired court intrigue, and a unique magic system based on astrology.
Where did the inspiration for The Court of Venus come from?
I have always loved Tudor history, and so writing a fantasy novel with Tudor court inspiration was always in the back of my mind. But once I learned about astrology’s influence over Elizabeth I (she had her court astronomer/spymaster John Dee plan her coronation due to planetary alignment), the magic system was born. Roland, the pink-haired Venusborn MMC, came to me first. I was interested in a character who could read desire – how would they navigate the court? How would they be utilized by their king? And how would they be constrained by their own power?
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
One of my favorite characters is Miranda, a Marsborn magician who competes against Roland and Bianca. This was a surprise to me. I really enjoyed writing her dialogue, and Marsborn magicians, who have the power to sever loyalty and bonds between people, really interest me in general. Readers will learn more about them in Book 2.
The Court of Venus marks your debut fantasy novel! Can you share some insight into your worldbuilding process?
The magic system in The Court of Venus is based on the seven traditional planets of astrology: The Moon, The Sun, Venus, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn. When researching, I listened to a lot of astrology podcasts, and the characteristics of the planets themselves inspired a lot of the worldbuilding. Mercury, for example, is the planet of communication, and so I thought it would be cool if the magicians blessed by Mercury in my fantasy world could create new languages and craft ciphers.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
Whenever I’m stuck, I listen to movie scores and walk around the park near my apartment. I find that music helps action scenes flow better in my mind. Brainstorming walks in general are when I come up with most of my ideas.
What’s next for you?
The Court of Venus Book 2!
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
I have a massive stack I’m very excited for. I’m planning to read Swordheart and then Daggerbound by T. Kingfisher and Winterveil by Ava Reid. Earlier this year, I adored The Poet Empress by Shen Tao.
