Overall, what an excellent book. The plot moved along nicely, the writing was beautiful and conveyed a sense of wonder, and the world was intricate. I absolutely see the comparisons to Six of Crows.

What worked for me:
-THE COURT ITSELF. I could have explored the structure of the Court forever, and the setting was so lush.

What didn't:
-The book was sometimes TOO fast paced. While I was on the edge of my seat, I think the characters and the world needed a little more time to breathe and a little more explanation. Also, this book had so much in it that I almost think it could have been split into two books that left us with more downtime for the characters.
-Some of the references to Les Miserables were too heavy-handed for my liking. A lot of the references made me smile, but sometimes entire plot beats hinged on things that directly happened in Les Miserables.

This book was ok and by the end I wasn’t fully invested really. The first half was not that entertaining to me. The middle of the story was ok. The ending wasn’t that bad. It just felt very all over the place and I kept feeling like I was missing something in the story. The characters were alright. I didn’t really connect to any of them.

Kester Grant’s writing style was good and I liked it. The plot had potential, but personally fell short for me. I really liked the idea of the Court, but it did feel confusing at times figuring out who everyone was.

Overall it was a decent read.

Full review and formatting on novellives.com. Posted to EW, NG and all social platforms 5/18. Thank you for ARC in exchange for an honest review.

How To Not Info Dump- A Master Class
Huh. This is a debut, right?
Side note: Yes. I just did a Saturday Top 5 about debut novels to keep on your radar. However, I wanted to keep that to ones I hadn't yet read, and I was just finishing Court of Miracles.
Back to the above. Debut, yes? Yes. Well. Kester Grant turned this debut into a master class on how to not make the first book in a series feel like an info dump.

How did she do this. Oh wow. Court of Miracles has a lot going on.
1. Guilds - Gamblers, Assassins, Beggars, Mergenaries, Smugglers, Thieves, Flesh and Dreamers
2. Laws (Constitution) of the Miracle Court
3. Founding of the Miracle Court, Back stories of the characters, the head of each guild etc.
Court of Miracles could've needed a study guide to go with it. Instead, Grant not only avoided the need for cliff notes she pretty much avoided info dump feel. Through very savvy structuring, Grant provides all the information you need and holds off on what you don't throughout the first book in the series.
1. In the front part of the book each guild has its own, card so to say (this is, I imagine, going to look wicked in the final copy, and provides some amazing art opportunity for any books subscription boxes- just a thought) including their motto, Lord and master.
2. The constitution is also laid out for easy referencing right after the above.
3. In between each part (there are four) there is an interlude. It isn't long. I'm not sure what it'll be in the final copy, but it wasn't more than three of kindle pages. So, I would imagine 1.5 book pages. Maybe, two pages. Those interludes provide stories that are pertinent background information. I won't say more because of spoilers.
4. You don't meet every guild in the first book and those you do; don't all have the same part to play. This is a series. There is plenty to come. It takes a lot to know how to maneuver that push and pull.
________________________________________
Pacing
Kester is able to slam headfirst right into the action and take-off from there, mainly because of the above. Having all that information as a reference point and providing the interludes as and when needed, sets the story up for a faster pace. She definitely takes advantage of that opportunity. The height of danger, emotional stakes and desperation is apparent right away.
And it only gets worse from there. I believe the only concern Becky and I had heard going into Court of Miracles was about the pacing. We had both heard it was slow. Neither one of us found that to be true at all. The entire book moved like a flash.
The action, tension and build in climax were all evenly placed throughout the book. There weren’t chunks that felt like “downtime” that dragged on too long at any point.
________________________________________
Day Walkers And Wretched
Now these are the of
the Miracle Court,...
the Wretched that keep
them may prosper,
but the Wretched that
break them must die.
Most of the main characters are made up of those from the guild, the wretched, the underbelly of society. They do not mix from those that walk by day. They are the proper citizens of the world. Not even the noble. Then you have the noble, of course.
Nina is the main character and she is impossible not to root for through the choices she makes and those choices that are made for her. Often capable of more than she realizes until she is forced into situations where she must just walk into situations where she is expected to die. Then she finds out what she is made of, truly. Nina's life is full of so much pain and heartbreak. She fights and fights because that is who she is.

Ettie is another delightful character whose arc is a delight. Her change from the beginning of the book to the end is absolutely incredible. She is one character that I absolutely cannot wait to hear more of from in the next book.
There are many backstories yet to be told. Kester has created a strong set of secondary characters that have very important roles yet to play. Their backstories will be essential to the next book in the series. The same is definitely true for the guilds that we have not yet met or saw less of than the Assassins, Thieves, Ghosts and Flesh. Noblemen and day walkers that Nina has now intertwined her fate with, are also now a big part of what's to come. Kester has written them with the same depth, complexities and realism that will leave readers as entrenched in their story, as Nina's and the guilds.
Kester's strength in character writing, action and dialogue. Court of Miracles could easily have been written from multiple points of view. I wonder if that might be considered for book two?
________________________________________
Themes
Kester hits so many huge themes in Court of Miracles. There is one I can talk about safely in some depth. The rest, I'm going to touch on vaguely because of spoilers. I will say that many of them of very heavy, dark and Kester never once shies away from the brutality of these themes.
The affect and implications of keeping promises and/or when you literally do everything you can but still fail to keep promises is an overarching theme of Court of Miracles. This is speaking to those rare people that are left in the world who take a promise to their core. Those that truly live by a promise speaking to their character. Their word is their bond. They will do everything to keep promises they make, and they don't make them lightly.
There will be consequences to people around you, when you live by this oath. Inevitably it will cause conflict, and not everyone is built for conflict. Many would much rather take the easy way out. It is often easier to say, "sorry I thought I could," than to keep your word.
There are times when you can do everything in your power to keep a promise and still fail. For those that do live by their word as their oath. That sense of moral code can drive you to actions and emotions that are far reaching. Kester explores all of this with great depth and far reaching emotional dynamics. It plays to the relationships in the book and to the growth of the characters.
1. Classism
o One point of this that could be a great reflection of what is happening in the United States right now.
2. Sexual Slavery (Slavery in general)
3. Human Trafficking
4. Opium Addiction
5. Trauma
6. PTSD

World Building- I think this is going to come down to to Les Misérables. For those that know it well, you'll be fine. For me? This was one of the weak links.

This is plot and Six of Crows mashed up a bit. The summary of the plot is in the Spring/Summer Fling 2020 post if you need it for reference. Too many books have been compared to Six of Crows. And it isn't fair to any book or author involved. A lot of incredible books. Some of my favorite books of the past year, even. None of them are anything like Six of Crows. It is just bad marketing. So, of course, when I went into Court of Miracles, I did not expect anything Six of Crows related. I just. No.

I'm not sure at what point the connections started firing off in my brain. Once they did, they started going off full throttle. Disclaimer time: This isn't a comparison as far as better or worst. Nothing will ever take its place with me as far as Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom. That just won't happen. All I'm saying is that outside of Gilded Wolves? This is the first book to come around with distinct content elements that give me the ability to honestly say- why yes, yes this can be compared to Six of Crows with a backdrop of alt-history in the French Revolution.

What I ended up doing and I think is better for everyone involved, is making a chart. If I do this in paragraph form, the review will need chapters. And dear lord, let me not.

<Table wouldn't cut and paste>


Nina (Court of Miracles Nina)- I'm going to do this in one sentence, leave it here and move one. First, because of spoilers. Two, because I want to see if anyone else agrees without my details influencing them. Three, because again, I'll end-up needing chapters. If you take Kaz and Inej and throw them in a blender... ew. Gross. Seriously. You get Nina. Anyone want to ask me why, how or what the fuck? Feel free.

PS. I would say Nina's recruitment of the other guilds is as dysfunctional as our dear Crows.

I never thought I could see a mashup of Les Mis, The Jungle Book, Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Six of Crows, but here it is. And it is not for the faint of heart. Eponine (Nina) has learned, at great personal cost, how to navigate the gritty Parisian underworld, the Court of Miracles, to survive. When her adopted sister, Cosette (Ettie), comes under threat, she will do everything in her power to keep her safe.

This is a story rich in atmosphere. It’s gritty, grisly, smoke filled, and honestly kind of weird at times. I loved all the nods to Les Miserables and the Jungle Book, but Nina and the others are fully formed, fierce characters separate from those stories. The world here is rich and complex and I’m excited to see what’s next for our cast of characters. If you’re looking for something dark and different that will take you on a wild journey, read this book.

4 1/2 stars

I had a lot of high expectations going into this book because of how much I love anything and everything having to do with Les Miserables. I am so happy to report that it did not disappoint!

Using the alternative history angle, Grant creates an addictive tale out of a beloved classic. There are certainly a lot of fun Les Mis Easter eggs from character appearances to song lyrics, but Grant has added so much to this retelling that it definitely stands on its own. The worldbuilding that she has done is absolutely wonderful and the huge cast of characters provide a colorful and complex background for this epic story. The choice to center the story around fan favorite Hugo character Eponine (called Nina in this version) pays off wonderfully as we get to see a familiar character blossom into the badass we always knew she could be.

The time jumps were the only thing that really brought me out of the story. I felt that Grant then had to backtrack and explain a lot of things that had happened in the interim (i.e. Thernadier getting Ettie, Nina falling in with the students). I understand that it would have made the story quite a bit longer, but the connections between characters are so intense that I feel like I missed out a little bit. All in all, this is a wonderful adaptation of one of my favorite books and I cannot wait for the sequels to come out!

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!

3.75/5 stars

I received an eARC of this book on NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Court of Miracles has been hyped so much that It had a lot to live up to. For the most part it did.

This is a debut by the author so I do give it a little leeway for that and round my rating up to a 4.

The story very closely resembles Les Miserables as it is a retelling, however now there is a criminal underworld which is very interesting. I also can’t recall if there is still the French nobility in that story but they are in this one, so an alternative history which is always fun.

The writing was good for the most part, the eARC definitely needs some editing which I assume will be done in the finished copies. However the style was a little choppy sometimes, especially around the time jumps that occur. We start when the main character is only nine or so, jump a few years for a chapter or two, jump again for the meat of the story, and jump two years again for the conclusion. It just wasn’t as smooth as I’d hope for and I’m not going to lie, I got a little confused and had to go back to the page where it says what year it was and make the connection that way.

The characters themselves were really interesting though a little flat. This follows Eponine aka Nina aka Black Cat of the Thieves Guild instead of Jean Val Jean though we do mean him.

One of my main disappointments in this book was the lack of seeing the inner workings of the Court of Miracles. We really don’t see much of this criminal underworld at all. I’m hoping we do in the sequel because it sounds like it would be really cool, please show it to me!

We do follow more of the revolutionary storyline that is in Les Mis and how Nina works with them to follow through on her main goal: to take down the guild leader of a rival guild in the Court of Miracles.

One of the twists at the end was so blunt and I didn’t see it coming, I do think there should have been some clues but perhaps I missed them? It just didn’t feel quite right and then a character ended up where I didn’t think they were with no explanation so I was slightly confused about that too. It all worked together in the end and the big “battle” was quite satisfying. I still have a really good image from it burned into my brain as it would make a creepily beautiful scene in a movie.

I will be keeping my preorder of the Waterstones edition of this book (what a beautiful cover and naked cover!) as the US version is not nearly as gorgeous. I hope the sequel follows through and gives me more of that criminal underworld I’m hoping for, it sure seems like it is being set up for it.

Okay, so. I really enjoyed this book. As in, I devoured it in one day. I did not really read the synopsis of this book before reading it. The only thing I really knew about it going into it was it was Les Misérables meets Six of Crows. If that doesn't draw you in, I don't know what does. I absolutely LOVE the story of Les Misérables, and I'm a huge fan of Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom . What I didn't know was TCOM basically IS Les Mis, except from a slightly different perspective. The story is basically what happened behind-the-scenes, where the main focus gets from diverted from Javert and Valjean to Eponine, Cosette, and Enjolras. It focuses on the criminal organization in underground Paris that ultimately plays a huge role in the rebel movements.
Our protagonist is Nina (Eponine), and TCOM is her time to shine. I love her. She is a fantastic lead. She starts out as a scared, young girl and develops into a strong, brave, reckless young woman, who is not driven by unrequited love, but by familial loyalty and vengeance. This is the storyline Eponine deserved. She is a fierce main character. One thing I really love about Nina is that, while love is not a main plot point at all of this story, she has so many options for potential lovers. She is not said to be a beautiful girl, but her boldness and ferocity makes her stand out to so many of the male characters in the story.
Normally when I am reading a book, there are point throughout the story where I go, "I wish this was like that," or "I wish that was like this." I didn't have that thought at all while reading this book. The only thing I questioned slightly was Javert's story. I loved that Grant made the infamous Inspector to be a female, but her drive and ambition behind finding the story's version of Jean Valjean was a little questionable to me. It looks like there might be a second book, so I would like for Grant to discuss that a bit further with more clarification.
Also, among the potential 'lovers' for Nina, I love Montparnasse. Yes, I am a fan of his. Thought I wouldn't mind Grant exploring the relationship with the dauphin a bit more. Though I really enjoy a good romance being a prominent part of a book, I'm glad it took more of a back burner in TCOM. It really wasn't what Nina's story was about, and I respect that. She'll get her time, this just wasn't it.
I really appreciate being send an early copy of this book, and the fact that I basically read it in one sitting should be sign enough how much I enjoyed this book. Taking a story as monumental as Les Misérables and putting a unique spin on it is just something I haven't seen in other books, and I really loved getting to revisit that world in a new way. Overall, I would have to give The Court of Miracles a 4.5/5 ⭐.

I'm so glad I was granted an advance copy of this story! The writing is so well done that it keeps anyone invested in what happens next. The inspiration of Les Miserables works really well here by following Eponine's story. Especially effective were the changes and additions to the original version because it provides fun "I see what you did there" moments but also keeps the plot unpredictable. Yhere weren't any cringey romance subplots, yet thematically love is the main theme of the story. Overall, a fantastic read for me.

Sometimes we must pay a terrible price to protect the things we love.”


This is not quite the story we know (Les Misérables). In this story Nina (Eponine) is the hero, though perhaps more of an antihero. She is trying the right a wrong, but what price is she willing to pay? She does do some things that are morally questionable aside from being a thief. There are a lot of references that those who love Les Mis, as I do, will enjoy. It’s still different enough to be its own story, and I was pleased that this was the case.

“You must make your enemies your allies. And if you can’t do that, then destroy them and all who follow them, so that fear doesn’t come for you when you sleep.”

In this retelling, Nina becomes one of the Wretched after her sister is sold away to the lord of a guild that deals in prostitution, the Tiger. Among The Wretched she is protected, but she has never forgotten the sister that was lost to her. Then when Ettie (Cosette) draws the attention of The Tiger, Nina is put on a path that leads her to the palace, into a revolution, and up against The Tiger.

I liked that she made Javert a woman. The dynamic between Javert and Valjean is quite different even though there is still a lot of animosity. Javert is still very intent on catching Valjean. I’m curious to see how that storyline plays out in the next book.

If you enjoy Les Mis, YA books, and stories that are a bit strange, you will probably enjoy this book. It’s not quite fantasy, though it does have elements that seem a little fantastical. It also contains a lot of the same themes as Les Mis, such as poverty, law, and injustice that I think make it such a classic tale.

I only have a few criticisms, there were places in the book that I felt needed a little more description and other parts that might have been a little drawn out. I would have really like to have had more of a grasp on the ages of the characters especially as the book did jump ahead in places. Not a huge thing, but I would have liked to know and have more of a grasp of how much time had passed in some areas.

Overall, really enjoyed the story. There’s not a cliffhanger, but I’m interested to see what happens next. I’ve already added the next book to my TBR list.

This book is a retelling of Les Misérables and The Jungle Book. I have read neither, but I am very familiar with the Les Mis musical, and not very familiar at all with the Disney movie adaptation, which I imagine is not very faithful to the source material. I would never have imagined these two being mashed together, but it is more of an alternate universe retelling and takes liberties with some of the characters and plot points. Taking place during the French Revolution, a shadow court arises that gives power to the poor and starving masses that suffer under the French Aristocracy – the Court of Miracles. Each guild within the court has a specialty – thieves, beggars, assassins, etc. At the beginning of the story, our heroine Nina is thrown head first into the Thieves Guild and ends up in the cross-hairs of the Tiger, the master of the Guild of Flesh.

On its own, I loved the structure of the story and the intricacies of how the Court of Miracles and guilds work within the Paris culture. I like that the story focuses on Eponine and her mission to save her sisters. On its own, this story is a fast-paced ride through this alternative Paris. I loved the world-building around the guilds and the diversity within the story. The political intrigue and alliances between the guilds is fascinating and fun. I am definitely looking forward to the next installment of the series.

Though part of me enjoyed the familiarity of the characters from Les Misérables, I didn’t necessarily love it as a retelling of that story. The characters in this telling have power and hope that the characters in that story do not. It’s got different bones and a different spirit. There were several tips of the hat to the musical that I disliked and took me out of this story, as well. I am not sure if these will be in the final version, but I think it would work better without them. 3.5/5

3.5 stars
This story was so fast paced and intense, I flew through it in 2 days. It takes the classic story of Les Mis and adds so many new and fascinating changes. Eponine is no longer the girl who sacrifices her life in vain but she gets a dark and gritty story. Her desperation and love for her sister fuels her moves and she's as calculating and fierce as her reputation the "Black Cat" of the Thieves Guild. The story highlighted the real dirty underground of Paris as everyone fights for sheer survival. I'm definitely intrigued to see how the story continues since Goodreads has it written as a duology - it seems like a conclusion of one story arc but Paris is still a lawless place so I'm assuming that's where the story will go.

Oh this book... where to begin? An alluring tale of politics, rebellion, and what one will do for those they love. I held my breath for so much of this story, the plot twists are unparalleled and the violent delight that I felt during certain chapters is incredible. The only reason this isn't a 5 star review is the time-skips, which I personally dislike, however besides that this story was astounding.

The one thing about reviewing a book early is having so few people to talk to about it!

So I first requested this book on Netgalley purely for the cover. I had not seen this book anywhere, never heard of the author, knew nothing about its contents.

Man, was this the best cover pick ever.

I LOVED this book. I honestly thought this was an adult historical fiction due to the writing style, gritty and, at times, gruesome details, and the unbelievably, truly morally grey main character (I say this because grey characters are hard to do and I don't see them done well in YA all that often). There is no magic in this book except for the author's writing and storytelling (another thing I didn't expect). And yet the characters held this story together and kept me enraptured the entire time. This book does involve thievery, and I love that the author doesn't try to overdo the plans or try to mislead you (because, again, this can go awry). And I love that the main character is driven by her passion - something that shines throughout. (It also helps that there weren't any needless side plots thrown in that would dissuade the MC's passion, which I was nervous would happen a few times - if you're an avid reader of YA then hopefully you'll catch my drift).

I don't think this will be a book for everyone - it is slow and simmering, building upon itself with each chapter, but I can see how this can deter some readers. But if you like books about thievery, underground organizations, several murder attempts, and 1800s France, then I highly recommend it!

A dark YA Fantasy debut with unique worldbuilding and compelling characters, that breathed new life into a classic story (that has been the source of more than one retelling).

My thanks to Net Galley and Random House for a review copy of this book. Overall, I was impressed with this novel. It managed to span a significant time period while maintaining conflict and a brisk plot. While this is the beginning of a series, I appreciated that this story had a clear individual arc that was accomplished. There are obviously questions left to explore, but I still felt satisfied after finishing.

I enjoyed Nina as a main character - she was smart and loyal despite facing impossible odds. It was clear the author invested time in developing her deeply, rather than relying on the source text alone to inform the character creation. Additionally, there was diversity within the cast, as well as a variety of side characters that were multidimensional.

The worldbuilding was one of the highlights, offering a much more developed criminal underworld that I've seen before. Do not be misled by the title and cover that suggest a fanciful interpretation, this is a gritty and honest exploration of the lives of those deemed "wretched" by those in power. This focus, on those suffering and how they survive, rather than the glittering life of royalty, made this retelling much more authentic to the spirit of Les Miserables.

However, this authenticity requires me to add a content warning. There is prevalent abuse, violence, slavery, and more portrayed in this book. While it was clearly condemned, and not overwhelmingly graphic, it could still be a trigger for young readers or survivors of trauma.

All in all it was a compelling fantasy story from an author I look forward to reading more from in the future.

Review to be published to Goodreads 5/19/2020

This was a lot darker than I normally see in YA fantasy. There is a lot of triggering content for all kinds of abuse. This novel is full of twists and turns, and it reads very fast. I think it will appeal to a lot of readers who primarily read young adult and I highly recommended it to those people.

Unfortunately, some of those twists and turns were not executed well, resulting in contradictions or plot holes. There is a weird love square going on and even though the romantic plot is not expended upon, this love square was used as a plot device to resolve many problems for the main character, and I found that to be underwhelming.
We see kids acting as adults and there are time skips that intervened with Nina’s character development. I found Ettie’s character to be inconsistent but I liked the friendship developed between the girls.

It was still an enjoyable read and I see why this could become a favorite for many people. Although I like this book well enough, I will not be picking up the sequel.

I will be posting my review to Goodreads on May 20, 2020 and to Amazon, and B&N on the day of publication.

The Court of Miracles is a loose Les Miserables retelling centered around Eponine "Nina" Thénardier,  a young thief in the criminal underground of an alternative Paris following the French Revolution. It's described as being for fans of "anyone who knows Eponine deserved so much more" so basically this book was marketed directly at me.

The Court of Miracles is a reimagining of Les Mis meets The Jungle Book. If you're like me, this probably sounds both strange and hard to manage, but Kester Grant knocked it out of the park. It was easy to see the influences of both classics while reading, and yet the story maintained its own uniqueness and identity to stand apart from being simply a retelling.

Eponine is my absolute favorite character in Les Mis so I was thrilled to read a story centered around her. Her progression as a character throughout the story was thoroughly fascinating. She goes from a naive, girl to a clever, passionate young woman who will stop at nothing to save those she loves. 

Although I loved the characters and the plot, there were a couple things that I think detracted from the overall story. The book has quite a few time jumps, which were very confusing. A few times they occurred directly in the middle of action which I think did the book a disservice. The plot and action would build to a climax, only to end abruptly and skip ahead. Another issue I had was the romance. Nina has three potential love interests. Yes, three. The prince, Enjolras (!!), and Montpartnesse. Of all the romances, Nina as the most interaction (at least on page) with Enjolras. As self-proclaimed Enjolras trash, I was super excited to see his appearance in this book. I thought all my fan fiction dreams were coming true and we were going to get a well-deserved Eponine/Enjolras romance.

The problem with the romances, is that there is a lot of telling instead of showing. The build-up of attraction either occurs off page, or is told to us by other characters, yet we never get to actually see anything. For instance, Montpartnesse's feelings for Nina are made clear to the reader by a comment made by Ettie. Up until this point, I had forgotten this character had even existed due to his lack of page-time and honestly was under the impression that he was an older man. This trend continues throughout the rest of the book. It feels like the readers are supposed to make assumptions about Nina's relationships but we never actually get to hear her feelings/attraction develop (with the exception of Enjolras). This is a huge example of where showing the readers instead of simply stating it would make a big difference in the storytelling. 

The Court of Miracles deftly combines the elements of two classics, Les Miserables and The Jungle Book to create a smart, riveting story. I was definitely impressed by Kester Grant's ability and look forward to seeing where Nina's journey takes her next.

The story was engaging.enough to read all the way to the end but.I found it very, very depressing. Don't plan to check out the rest of the series.

*ARC via netgalley in exchange for agreement to post review*

I definitely enjoyed this one! I liked how fierce the protagonist was and so freaking determined! I liked the story and though I could do without all the love interests at every corner (though I am routing for you Master of Swords). I liked the storyline and I can’t wait to see what the second book brings! It was fast, thrilling, and you were able to empathize with the protagonists. She was someone who would do anything for the ones she loved, and I love that in a character. The story has thrilling plots and twists and turns. Definitely a fun read!

To start with, I loved the setting. The author did a really good job of establishing the tone and overall aesthetic of the story. The story, like Les Mis, takes place in 1830s Paris. However, in this book the French Revolution was a failure so the monarchy is still in power. In the book, there are 9 total criminal courts that have arisen due to this, but only 5 of them are ever truly explored: the Guild of Thieves, Guild of Letters, Guild of Flesh, Guild of Beggars, and Guild of Assassins. Hopefully we'll get to see the other 4 fleshed out in the sequel. Each Guild is lead by a Lord or Lady and have to abide by a set of Laws, which includes things like no slavery, all Wretched (members of a guild) are equal, do not commit crime for pleasure (only survival), the Guild must provide for all its children, etc. The Tiger, who is the leader of the Guild of Flesh, is consistently breaking these laws but no one wants to do anything about it because they're all afraid of him (shocker). That's where our main character, Nina, comes in.
Nina is a member of the Guild of Thieves, which she joined at a very young age to prevent being sold to Tiger like her older sister was. To become a member, she steals the Pendant of Charlemagne from the dauphin while he's asleep. Years later, Ettie is spotted, and thus desired by, Tiger. Thernadier, Nina's father, tries to sell her to him but Nina whisks Ettie away from him and has her join the Guild of Beggars to protect her. However, this is not enough because apparently Tiger doesn't like it when he's denied something he wants. So starts a spiral of events involving Nina doing everything she can to protect Ettie while also trying to free her older sister from Tiger. In the process, she somehow meets and charms 3 different men even though she's constantly being described as plain, especially when compared to Ettie. She also seemed very one-dimensional, which is weird considering the other characters experience so much growth throughout the book.
All in all, the world-building and the secondary characters are what saved this book for me. While I do typically prefer books that are more plot-driven than character, Nina just didn't have any discernible personality or development. Hopefully, we'll see that in the sequel, which I am still very excited for.

4 Stars

Fast-paced and fun read about those who are unseen in one city that has many worlds.

My review is broken into two main areas, Story and Technical.

STORY

Setting | 5 Stars
When the beating of your heart, echoes the beating of the drum...

I loved the setting of revolutionary France, with the accurate nods to important dates and French tales. The author alternates between a heavy-handed retelling of Les Mis and making it into her own, which I enjoyed. We get a female Javert and a surprise Valjean, along with a cleverly re-imagined Eponine and Cosette. It is dark and gritty, showing all the harshness that comes with the underbelly of an uneasy city. The cutthroat brutality and bonds made only by the sharing of similar struggles is well done. This has been touted as a cross between The Jungle Book and Les Mis, but I had serious Hunchback of Notre Dame vibes with the Court Of Miracles and the Law of the Wretched.

Plot | 3 Stars
The plot was a touch rocky, jumping quickly from one goal to the next. I said above some of the Les Mis retelling was heavy-handed; this comes in the form of exact plot points with revolutionary students and Javert's hunting of Valjean. It is fast-paced, so there was never a dull moment, but one instant our MC cares for nothing more than saving a sister, the next stealing an item that will help overthrow a tyrant, the next to helping a revolution. I was fine with all of it as it was exciting, but some scenes glazed over the full scope of what they could have been and therefore felt a bit lackluster looking back.

Characters | 5 Stars
"Nous sommes d'un sang."

I enjoyed all of the characters immensely, those with Les Mis inspiration and those without. The Black Cat, The Messenger, The Fathers, Masters, Lords...There are a lot of different positions and characters to remember, each with their own mystery.

TECHNICAL

Writing | 4 Stars
"Il etait une fois..."

Written well, and for the most part the ideas are clear and concise. I found no fault with the pacing or style, and enjoyed the inclusion of the French language. I also appreciated the inclusion of tales and lines from texts such as The Jungle Book at the beginning of each Part. My only complaint is the ending, which quite literally just stops after the climactic confrontation. The conclusion is nonexistent. I know authors go for cliffhangers but there still should have been more to close out this chapter. This is my main issue with most of the book, as many scenes should have been given slightly more attention to be fully fleshed.

Editing | 4 Stars
Understand this is not a final copy, so there were some errors that popped up that will no doubt be polished away. Going along with my above comment, a bit more development could have gone into many of the transition scenes and especially the conclusion.

Execution | 2 Stars
This got the poorest rating which will drive down my whole scoring system, mostly because of what I have already stated - the story could have used more development. There are solid bones and meat to the tale, but in areas where it fell back to rely heavily on existing Les Mis plot points I was disappointed. I wanted more of the Guilds, more of the planning behind Nina's "missions," more insight to the characters we only saw at surface level.

Overall rating is just under 4 Stars, and I am tentatively excited to see where this trilogy (series?) can go. I'd love to know more about the Guilds, and perhaps even see a story from a member of each of their order. Wouldn't that be fascinating! There is a lot of potential to really expand the universe of the Guilds and go beyond the groundwork already laid by Les Mis' existing framework.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy!