by Katee Robert
First published 2026
Kestrel has spent her entire life preparing for one thing: the Tarot Trials. Her mother won the competition once, earning a seat among the five rulers known as the Cinque, then died for it, executed on charges of treason against the Minor Court. Now Kestrel carries her mother's title, Champion of the Moon, and steps into the arena her mother never escaped. The Trials demand more than skill. Kestrel is still learning to control her powers over shadow and illusion. The other Champions are building alliances she cannot fully trust. And somewhere in the competition is the Champion who struck the killing blow against her mother years ago. Kestrel wants the truth about what really happened. She wants justice. She may not survive long enough to get either. Every alliance inside the Trials comes with a hidden cost. Every friendship is a potential betrayal waiting for the right moment. Kestrel must decide not just what she is willing to do to win, but who she is willing to protect when everything falls apart around her.
Genres: romance, adventure, fantasy, young-adult, dark-fantasy
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, gritty, suspenseful
Tropes: betrayal, chosen-one, enemies-to-lovers, found-family, revenge
Setting: Minor Court, Tarot Trials arena
400 pages · Hardcover · Tor Books
Content warnings: death, murder, violence