Verity Guild
A Spicy Romantasy
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- Pre-Order
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- Expected May 5, 2026
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- $21.99
Publisher Description
STARRED Kirkus Review
STARRED Library Journal Review
"A breath of romantasy fresh air! Mai Corland is such a skilled storyteller, weaving together layered world-building, tense political intrigue, an engrossing mystery, and, of course, steamy romance teeming with yearning. Verity Guild is absolutely riveting, and I loved it!" —Carissa Broadbent
"Fans of romantasy will appreciate the slow-burning steaminess and world-building. With her political astuteness, along with her ability to tell a good story, Corland has created a romantasy with the suspense of Lucy Foley's books and the tongue-in-cheek moments of Knives Out." —Library Journal, Starred Review
"Absolutely spellbinding."―#1 New York Times bestselling author Karen M. McManus
Secrets built this republic; one truth could burn it down.
High Priestess Kerasea Vestal has spent her life hiding the truth—that she’s the last surviving heir of the magical bloodline the republic slaughtered. One wrong step could be fatal. But when a senator is brutally killed and a temple blade is found at the scene, all eyes turn to her.
Praetorian Torren Morvane has made a career of dragging liars into the light, and Kerasea is the one person he’s vowed to ruin. But locked on a mountain with a murderer, scheming senators, and a prophecy of death, he’s forced to work at her side. The closer he gets, the more dangerous the truth—and their attraction—becomes.
With traitors closing in and a nation on the verge of shattering, Kerasea and Torren must risk everything to uncover the real killer…even if it means trusting their sworn enemy.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This ambitious romantasy from Corland (the Broken Blades series) gets off to a slow start but develops into a tense locked-room murder mystery rife with political intrigue and secrets. Twenty years ago, the senators of Pryor murdered their tyrannical king and exterminated his magical Elusian bloodline, ending a century-long war and establishing a republic. Every year, these events are commemorated in the Revelry, a night of indulgence coinciding with the annual conclave, a weeklong gathering of the Republic's leaders to debate and pass legislation. When one of the senators is murdered, Praetorian Torren Morvane's investigation leads him to Kerasea Vestal, High Priestess of the Temple of Truth, though it quickly becomes clear that she is being framed. With the conclave under lockdown and more bodies piling up, Torren and Kerasea must overcome years of mutual distrust to determine who among them is a killer. Meanwhile, as the two grow closer and eventually give in to newfound desire, Kerasea hides her secret heritage as the last surviving Elusian. The ancient Rome–flavored worldbuilding gets somewhat muddled, but surly Torren and resourceful Kerasea have satisfying chemistry and, once the claustrophobic mystery picks up, it's fun to watch them navigate this fraught situation. An abrupt cliffhanger ending leaves much to be developed in further installments. Corland fans will be eager for more.
