Tor UK pre-empts Bel Banta’s Tudor inspired literary fantasy debut, The Court Of Venus
Tor UK, one of the leading international publishers of SFF, is thrilled to announce the acquisition of two titles from Bel Banta, author of HONEY, including THE COURT OF VENUS, the first book in a new romantic fantasy duology.
Tor Publisher, Gillian Green, acquired UK and British Commonwealth (Ex-Canada) from Jenny Meyer on behalf of Jamie Carr at The Book Group and the UK will publish simultaneously alongside Tor US in Autumn 2026. The book was also the subject of a seven-way auction in the US with rights already sold in Germany and Brazil.
Tor Publisher, Gillian Green, acquired UK and British Commonwealth (Ex-Canada) from Jenny Meyer on behalf of Jamie Carr at The Book Group and the UK will publish simultaneously alongside Tor US in Autumn 2026. The book was also the subject of a seven-way auction in the US with rights already sold in Germany and Brazil.
THE COURT OF VENUS is set in a fantasy world inspired by Tudor England and the astrologers who advised Henry VIII. It follows two rival magicians as they reunite at court and become unlikely allies in the hopes of solving the mystery of their beloved Prince’s death and decoding their late mentor’s last work as the fate of the Kingdom hangs in the balance. Tor describes the debut as ‘breathtakingly beautiful’ and ‘Leigh Bardugo meets V.E. Schwab’.
Gillian Green says: ‘We’re thrilled to be publishing Bel’s deliciously dark and astonishingly beautiful fantasy debut. From its exquisite world building and a Tudor-inspired setting with a rotten - and rotting - king, to courtly machinations made all the more deadly by magic and its slowburn romance, this is a highly original and spellbinding debut which will delight readers of historical fiction as well as fantasy fans.’
Bel Banta says: ‘The fantasy world of The Court of Venus is steeped in all of my favorite things: the Tudor's courtly politics, astrology, a succession crisis, a charming and chivalric love interest, and a heroine with quiet strength. I am so thrilled and honored that my fantasy debut has found a home with Tor UK and Gillian. My apartment is full of Tor spines, and to be on this iconic list in both the US and the UK is beyond my wildest dreams.’
About the author
Bel Banta is a bookseller and writer. She graduated from the University of Virginia and lives with her partner and two cats in Brooklyn. Some of her very favorite things include video games, coffee, and walking around the city listening to movie scores.
About Tor UK
Tor UK specializes in speculative fiction and is a destination for the best in imaginative storytelling. A sister company to Tor Books in the US, Tor UK publishes an impressive array of award-winners, bestsellers, household names and talented debut authors. Tor’s mission is to publish out-of-this-world genre fiction and bring readers books that spark joy. It strives every year to increase the diversity of its list, publishing authors from minority backgrounds and increasing positive representation of gender issues through fiction.