Alternative History Fantasy

This book is an example of Alternative History. That, in essence, is asking what the future could be like. It suggests the US could have become a Dominion of America. Call this standard history with a twist, or even mythology in part. It is certainly historical material, told in fictional fashion.

March 1942: Adolf Hitler is dead at the hands of the Royal Air Force. A vengeful Luftwaffe has exacted the Third Reich’s revenge on Great Britain, and London lies in flames. With the Royal Family fleeing to Canada and Great Britain’s Pacific colonies being ceded to Imperial Japan, the United States faces a stark, dangerous future alone. With a broad cast of characters underpinned by historical research, Acts of War examines the terrifying “What if…” of a German victory in Europe followed by upheaval in the Court of St. James.

She will defy a future written in stone. In 1943, Eleanor sees fragments of the future, but despite her efforts, she can’t alter destiny. Orphaned as a girl, she believes the visions are a curse created by the Devil. As a young woman, she has made peace with watching atrocities unfold twice. But, when she finds a grifter with the ability to hear her thoughts, she realizes she is not alone. Those with gifts are being murdered. Eleanor tempts fate and sets out to stop a mysterious serial killer hunting the streets of New York City.

Set in a fantasy world inspired by Tudor England and the real astrologers who advised kings, The Court of Venus is Bel Banta's romantic fantasy debut and a beautifully written historical novel about rival magicians. 'Our kind has many names. Planetborn. Sorcerer. Witch or wizard. Magician.' In...