A Stolen Name, a Forbidden Bond, and a Tournament Built on Lies

Court of Talons by Jennifer Chance is one of those books that begins like a slow-burning fuse, quiet, deliberate, almost deceptively calm, before it ignites into something sharp-edged and consuming. The opening takes its time, easing the reader into a world ruled by rigid hierarchies, weaponized tradition, and an exhausting fear of female power. While I did feel the early pacing lag just a bit, the steadiness ultimately pays off, because once the story finds its footing, it does not let go.

Through NetGalley I received an advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

For twenty-one years, Talia of the Tenth House has been her house’s deepest shame. Now, she’s their last hope.

Each year at the Tournament of Gold, first-blooded and firstborn male warriors battle alongside their massive, otherworldly monsters for fame and power. But when Talia’s beloved younger brother is murdered on his way to the tournament—and his beast unexpectedly bonds with Talia—all hope for the Tenth is lost.

The powerful, arrogant, and dangerously seductive Fortiss of the First House would never let a woman vie for a seat on the Court of Talons. He might also be her brother’s killer. Desperate for answers and to protect her house, Talia assumes her brother’s identity and enters the tournament.

But beneath the pomp and glory of this year’s battles, Talia discovers a dark conspiracy carefully crafted to destroy the entire realm. In an ever-more-deadly dance across gilded ballrooms and brutal fighting pits, she must sacrifice her heart, her freedom, and even the precious, mystical bond she’s formed with her glorious monster to win at all costs.

Because only Talia understands the truth:
If she’s discovered … she dies.
If she loses … she dies.
And if she doesn’t stop the evil screaming toward them through the shadows ... everyone dies.

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Opinion

At the heart of the novel is Talia of the Tenth House, a woman who has spent her entire life labeled as her house’s greatest disgrace. That bitter irony lands hard when her younger brother Merritt, the house’s true hope, is murdered directly in front of her while they are traveling to the Tournament of Gold. This moment is brutal and personal, and it sets the emotional tone for everything that follows. Talia does not merely lose a brother; she loses the version of her future she was never allowed to dream of.

When Merritt’s Divh, a magical, otherworldly fighting creature capable of taking many forms, unexpectedly bonds with Talia instead, the story takes a fascinating turn. The Divhs are not just flashy monsters for spectacle; they are deeply tied to identity, power, and control. Talia inheriting her brother’s bond feels both miraculous and dangerous, especially in a society where women are categorically barred from such power. Disguising herself as Merritt becomes not only a survival tactic but a daily psychological trial. Pretending to be someone else is exhausting under the best circumstances; doing so in a misogynistic world full of suspicious, arrogant men who fear what women might become adds a constant edge of tension.

Originally, Talia’s plan is simple: reach the capital of the Protectorate and recruit soldiers for the Tenth House under her brother’s name. But plans have a way of unraveling in this book. After crossing paths with Fortiss of the First House, an unbonded warrior from the most powerful seat in the realm, and after witnessing the politics and cruelty simmering beneath the Tournament of Gold, Talia makes a bolder, far riskier decision. She enters the tournament herself.

From there, the story becomes a careful layering of intrigue. Suspicion creeps in slowly as Talia begins to believe that Merritt’s murder was not a random ambush by marauders, but a calculated execution ordered from within the ruling powers. Her investigations lead her through the gilded halls of the First House palace, where secrets echo louder than footsteps. One night of sneaking for evidence tumbles from one situation into another, until she comes face-to-face with the so-called marauders themselves and uncovers a truth about the Divh bonds that genuinely surprised me. This revelation reframes much of what the reader thought they understood about monsters, warriors, and obedience.

Talia is not alone in her deception. Nazar, a priest who knows her true identity from the start, provides quiet, steady support, while Caleb later joins their circle, adding another layer of loyalty and risk. These relationships ground Talia emotionally and remind the reader that trust, in this world, is both rare and dangerous.

The romance between Talia and Fortiss unfolds as a slow burn that I initially doubted. Their dynamic is layered with mistrust, power imbalance, and unspoken accusations, especially given Fortiss’s connection to the First House and the possibility that he may be involved in Merritt’s death. Yet by the end, the progression feels earned. The emotional restraint, the moments of reluctant respect, and the gradual peeling away of assumptions make their connection believable rather than convenient.

What truly elevates Court of Talons is how all the narrative puzzle pieces eventually lock together. Threads introduced early, sometimes quietly, resurface with purpose. By the final chapters, the slow beginning feels intentional, like the careful placement of dominos before the fall.

Conclusion

While the pacing and dense world-building may not work for every reader, those willing to invest will find a richly constructed story about identity, power, grief, and defiance.
Court of Talons earns its four stars through patience, payoff, and a heroine who refuses to stay small in a world determined to break her.

About Jennifer Chance

Jennifer Chance is the award-winning author of contemporary magical romance and romantic fantasy. Her series include the Boston Magic Academies (written as DD Chance), the Gatekeepers of the Gods series (an update of her Gowns & Crowns series) and the contemporary (non-magical) RuleBreakers Series. A lover of books, romance, and happily-ever-afters, she lives and writes in Ohio.

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