The Court of Miracles is part Les Miserables retelling and part Six of Crows heist story. It’s set in an alternate version of 1828 Paris where the French Revolution failed and the main factions are now the crown, a few revolutionaries, and the nine criminal guilds that make up the Court of Miracles. This book follows a character called Nina, who is supposed to be a re imagining of Eponine (but I felt she was more like Fantine because of her protectiveness of Ettie). In Court of Miracles, Nina is a thief whose skills help her survive and protect her friend Ettie, a re imagining of Cossette, from the Tiger, who runs the Guild of Flesh aka a network of houses of ill repute.

The biggest thing this book gets right is the atmosphere. Kester Grant did an amazing job on setting the tone for the book and I hope it carries on to the rest of the series. The main characters are mostly involved with the criminal guilds and the whole book feels very dark and mystical. It kind of romanticizes the characters’ lots in life. Membership in one guild might be better than membership in another, but their lives are still hard and short. It’s almost like the pageantry and mystical vibe of each guild is meant to make the reader see the beauty in it, while also accepting the absolute mess that it actually is.

As someone who is casually familiar with Les Mis, I thought that The Court of Miracles did a good job capturing the essence of the original while also being a retelling that stands up on its own. There is enough heist story to make it something different and the characters fit their re imagined roles well.

Now onto the bad stuff.

There are times when it’s a bit tropey. I didn’t love this aspect of the book, but tropes sell books and make happy readers, so I’m ok with that. Nina was trained as a thief from a young age and lives a hard life, but her skills and accomplishments are still a little too overblown for someone so young. She’s a chosen one character who’s trying not to be a chosen one character. We’ve also got a solid dose of ‘adults are either evil or useless’ and it’s got historical dystopian vibes out the wazoo. After all, in this story the French Revolution didn’t succeed and now the nobility are even more interested in cracking down on dissent or anyone who wasn’t satisfied with eating cake. Though, to be fair modern historians don’t think Marie Antoinette actually said this. But I digress. Nina also had a handful of guys pining after her that she had exactly 0 interest in. If a ya female protagonist doesn’t have a bunch of guys pining for her for no reason, does she even exist?

I think this is a solid pick for anyone who is looking for a YA historical fantasy or Les Miserables retelling.

“I make this oath in iron; I make it in bone. I will destroy him, and then they will all be free.”

After Nina Thénardier’s sister is sold to the Guild of Flesh by their father, she joins the Guild of Thieves and becomes renowned as the Black Cat, stealing and sneaking into the most dangerous of places. But the memory of her sister, stolen and broken, haunts her. Nina refuses to let her sister go and will stop at nothing to get her back, even if it means going against one of the most powerful lords of the Court of Miracles.

This was a fun read and an interesting take on Les Mis. I’ve only seen the film version of Les Mis once and it was a while ago, but I definitely saw the references back to the original work. However, the Court of Miracles didn’t feel very “Six of Crows” to me. It lacked that big cast of characters and heist type scenario that makes Six of Crows what it is. Nina threw herself into trouble quite often and took on big villains, but she escaped easily every time. There were no moments where I wondered how she’d escape or gasp in worry. By the time I would have started to worry, Nina had already found a way out.

Which is another thing I didn’t particularly like. This book had a lot happening. It felt as if the author wanted to tackle all these big dramatic escapes and plans, but by doing that, none of them were written well. Even the ending felt flat for me because the high stakes didn’t feel “high stakes”. The timeline was disjointed, as well, which made it confusing to follow. Two years apparently passed between parts, and I wasn’t aware until Nina mentioned it. And in that time, Nina has gotten close to revolutionists, befriending them and living in their house. It’s the kind of information I wanted more of. It’s as if the author skipped over the relationship building, arguably the best parts to read, and dropped us right into the middle of the action.

Overall, I did enjoy the Court of Miracles. The world and characters were crafted well, I just wanted more character and less plot. More details on the side characters and development of their relationships with Nina would have made this a more enjoyable read for me. If this book hadn’t tried to tackle so many plot twists and hijinks, instead sticking to one or two major plot points, it would’ve been a better read.

The Court of Miracles is set to release on June 2nd, 2020.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest and thoughtful review.

Content Warnings: prostitution, self-harm, murder, violence

The Court of Miracles tells a story of Les Misérables in a new light. Following Nina of the Guild of Thieves as she embarks on a treacherous journey to save her sisters from the Tiger, the ruthless lord of the Guild of Flesh.

Marketed as a retelling of Les Misérables, this novel has limited references to it. Instead, it uses the classic tale by Victor Hugo. It uses some characters to broach the similarity and plot devices, but The Court of Miracles is entirely its own tale. The approach at storytelling is part of what made this novel unique and compelling. As much as I love retellings, it gets tiresome to see the same story retold in almost precisely the same way.

Grant steps away from the formula and instead brings to life her own story. Grant has put thought into the story and the reader can see it from the very beginning with both the introduction of the Guilds and their Law.

The structure of the underworld society is exceptionally done. It is easy to imagine this world of 1828 Paris, to see how the Guilds help each other and help the destitute.

Grant also makes sure that the fluidity of the story remains. There are time jumps in the story, but instead of being distracting, they add fuel and tension to the story. From the beginning, Nina has had a purpose and to see time pass and her focus sharpen as her thieving skills make for a compelling read. Furthermore, it highlights just how formidable and thoughtful Nina is as a character.

As far as characterization goes, Nina is remarkable. Nina has gone through such a journey, growing up in a world of crime with honor. She may be a thief, but she has a code, she recognizes what is wrong in the Court, and seeks to rectify it. That is what makes her formidable, the lengths at which she goes to save the people she loves, but also to bring down the Tiger and his ring of sex slavery. A compelling narrative of 19th century Paris, The Court of Miracles entices the reader with high stakes tension and incredible storytelling.

Five very enthusiastic stars here. I'd give it more if I could. It helps, I'm sure, that I love Les Miserables, and there's so much that's familiar here, and so much that's utterly new and delightful.

All the familiar Les Mis characters are there but in such unexpected places and ways that it makes you look more closely to see the resemblance. The setting is unique and intriguing. It's like... if you took Les Miserables and the Jungle Book and blended them, then filtered them through Six of Crows for sleight-of-hand and the Merciful Crow for tone. I had no idea what to expect even as it hit familiar notes, and the combination is wonderful.

Jean Valjean is a side character here, with the story resting firmly on Eponine -- Nina, the Black Cat of the Thieve's Guild -- 's shoulders. And she carries it beautifully. My only complaint, and it's a small one, is that it's just a bit unrealistic to have three guys falling for her. And not just any three guys: the Dauphin of France, St. Juste the revolutionary activist, and Montparnasse - the Master of Knives of the Assassin's Guild. There's just a tad too much of her being attracted to all of them at inopportune times, though it's really not that much. Also she and Montparnasse give one another daggers. It's more romantic than it sounds, trust me. XD

Valjean is also 'le Maire' - a Merveille of the Court of Miracles, the criminal underworld of Paris. Javert is, quite brilliantly, a woman here, with her drive to recapture Valjean fueled by strong emotion from a love affair gone wrong. Cosette is Ettie, Nina's adopted little sister, and there's more to her than beauty. And, of course, there's Nina's long game plan to get revenge on the Tiger and save her older sister Azelma. The misdirection involved caught me off guard and is so well done.

Review posted to goodreads and my blog (whimsical dragonette)
I'll review on amazon and b&n on the publishing date.

The Court of Miracles is a glittering world full of corruption, broken promises, and hidden violence. Described in stunning detail, the combination of gorgeous writing and a detailed world makes The Court of Miracles come alive. There are myths and stories, fragments of bedtime stories that keep hope alive. My love for The Court of Miracles comes down to this atmospheric world simmering with tension and barely contained order and the characters who never let themselves break. At the heart of this glimmering shadowy setting is a story about sacrifice and love. What will we do for the people we love, who will we sacrifice and what acts will we commit?

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.