ARC Review of 'VERITY GUILD' by Mai Corland

Mai Corland's Verity Guild, releasing May 5, 2026, is a romantasy that blends political intrigue, murder mystery, and romance in an ancient Rome-inspired fantasy setting.

Twenty years ago, the Republic of Pryor was born when senators murdered their king and wiped out his magical bloodline, the Elusians. High Priestess Kerasea Vestal leads the Temple of Truth while hiding a dangerous secret: she's the last surviving Elusian heir. When a senator is murdered and a temple blade points to her, investigator Torren Morvane—who already has it out for Kera—is forced to work with her during a week-long conclave on Mount Ara. As more bodies drop, they need to find the killer while dealing with their complicated history and growing attraction.

The book uses a locked-room murder setup with Corland keeping you guessing about who's behind the killings. Getting both Kera's and Torren's perspectives adds depth to their dynamic, showing why they don't trust each other and how they're forced to cooperate. The ancient Rome inspiration comes through in the political maneuvering between senators and the temple structure.

The pacing takes time to build, with the mystery ramping up as the story goes on. The enemies-to-lovers romance develops slowly throughout. The book ends on a cliffhanger that sets up the next installment. The world-building establishes the Republic of Pryor and its magical history, with the magic system and political structure there to support the mystery plot.

Verity Guild is a solid addition to the romantasy genre. If you're a fan of Corland's previous work or enjoy locked-room mysteries mixed with fantasy romance, this delivers on that premise. It's the first book in a series, so expect to continue the story in future installments.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing, Red Tower Books and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

ISBN: 9781649379849

Pub Date: May 5, 2026