Jester

“. . . Porter’s immersive rendering of Oasis’s grimy grandeur, unique worldbuilding and mythology, and snappy banter between the story’s cast of courtiers and criminals, make for a starry-eyed tale.” —Publishers Weekly

“A deftly crafted, impressively original, and truly memorable read from cover to cover . . .” —Midwest Book Review

What happens in Oasis, stays in Oasis.

Lisette’s father killed the King. His execution leaves Lisette alone, disgraced, and without the magic he intended to pass on to her. In Oasis, that’s a problem. Glutted with enchanted performers, Oasis is a sin city where courtiers pay in gold to drink, gamble, and above all, be entertained. To survive on its competitive streets, Lisette peddles paltry illusions in place of magic.

Desperate to prove herself, Lisette enters into a deadly competition to be chosen as the highest-ranked magician in the world, the Queen’s Jester. But her rival, the irritatingly handsome Luc, possesses the one thing Lisette does not— real magic. Lisette will do anything to win, but when evidence implicating the Queen in her husband’s murder surfaces, Lisette must choose between redeeming her family name, or seizing the fame she’s hungered for her entire life.

For readers who enjoy Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, Caraval by Stephanie Garber, and Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles.