Ever since I read the word “Les Miserables” in the synopsis of this book, I knew I had to read it. As a major fan of musical theatre, I’ll read anything that has to do with them, so I went into it with pretty high expectations, and I have to say I ended up pretty disappointed with The Court of Miracles.

The thing is, the premise of this book was so interesting and unique in a way. I honestly thought I was going to absolutely adore this book, because it had a lot of elements that I really love in YA fantasy, but it ended up being such a lackluster story.

It started out great, and I feel the first chapter really set the tone for how the story was going to be, but as I kept reading I became less and less engaged with the book. I think it had a lot to do with how confusing the story ended up being, but I’ll explain myself.

My main issue with this book was that The Miracle Court was barely explained throughout the story. It was one of the most important part of the plot, and I think one of the most interesting parts the story had, but we hardly got to know it. There was no information whatsoever about what the court did and how it worked and was integrated in the society, and I honestly felt I was reading two different books: one that took place at the court and the other which was more a thriller.

The main character was so underdeveloped. She didn’t have an evolution throughout the story, and most of her arc was connected to another character’s arc, so she didn’t have a lot of time to evolved or grow as a protagonist.

Another problem that I had with this book was that I didn’t relate or connect with any of the characters. We were supposed to believe that the main protagonist would risk everything for this little girl that she was trying to save, but we didn’t see a lot of their relationship for us to understand the reasons why she did that. I think if that relationship had been more explored, I would have understood those dynamics a bit better.

Also, there was this weird romance going on that just didn’t make sense. Sometimes it felt like it was going to be a love triangle, and other times it appeared there was going to be a romance, but at no point the author explored neither of those things. Those characters had very few interactions with each other, and I just didn’t believe that a romance could happen between them.

Overall, I was pretty disappointed with The Court of Miracles. It had such an interesting premise, but everything was so underdeveloped and bland that it didn’t make a cohesive story.

Thanks for another ARC Netgalley!

This was a fun read, fast paced and the storyline really never seemed to stop moving, with all the twists and turns you really couldn’t see a lot of it coming. Nina was an interesting character, and I loved her title of the Black Cat since she was able to get away with anything. But part of that is why I found her unbelievable, even as a child she was able to steal from the prince that easily? Aspects of the book definitely seemed unrealistic, such as the fact she seems have three guys pining over her. The Prince, The Assassin and the Rebel, it’s all very fun but unrealistic.

I did enjoy Ettie and her development from being sheltered and scared to no longer being afraid. But other than constantly being sought after she didn’t have much of a personality, I’m hoping that will change down the line.

The main thing that kept confusing me during this whole book was the timeline, I had difficulty imagining what Nina looked like a lot because they were time jumps that lost me and I was scrambling to figure out how much time had passed.

My favorite character though, wasn’t Nina or Ettie. It was Montparnasse, the assassin who seems to have thing for Nina, who just shows up to kill people. And I sincerely hope we see more of him.

I’m excited for the final copy as I have preordered!

Kester Grant's version of France in the 1820's may look similar to 1820's France that we know, but her France shows the criminal underbelly fighting against the grueling reality of a distant monarchy who do not care for their people's lives. As young Eponine watches her own father sell her sister to the fiercest Guild in The Court of Miracles, she adopts one of the last things her sister says to her as her life motto: "Sometimes we must pay a terrible price to protect the things we love." For those she loves, Nina becomes one of the most renowned thief to enter The Court to bring vengeance upon the men who took her sister from her. Grant creates an intriguing world of deception, love, and revenge that will keep readers on their toes the whole time.

Grant expertly takes the world of Les Miserables and increases the character development of the beloved characters within the novel in this beautiful retelling. While fans of the original novel/musical agree that the lovely Eponine deserved better, Grant allows her to shine as the narrative follows her surviving on the dark streets of France. While adding original characters and changing the fates of the characters already known to readers, she explores what could have happened if at least one character infiltrated the French officials to find out their plans to rid the country of the revolutionaries.

Grant's writing style will immerse readers into the underground as the intrigue of the various courts overtakes them completely. This novel kept me wanting more and more as I read, and I was devastated when it ended. I greatly look forward to any additional pieces of the story that Grant may give to readers and will eagerly recommend it to anyone!

I received this arc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated above are mine. Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me this Advanced Reader's Copy, I enjoyed every minute of it.

This review is based on receiving an Arc provided by Random House Children's and NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity. All opinions are mine.

So I absolutely fell for the idea of the Miracle Court and the nine guilds. The idea that the Paris underground is rife with thrives and mercenaries, murderers and the like is and will also be a draw in concept for me. That being said the story was just not pulling me in as much as I would have liked. I gave a solid three stars because while I didn't hate it at all I also didn't fall in love with it either.

The plot revolves around Nina and her quest to retrieve her lost sister from the vicious Tiger Lord. A cruel man at the head of the Court who is performing some shady unlawful business. All the while Paris is on the brink of war.

I will say that this genre is out of my main reading material, and while I have read Six of Crows and the main selling point is that it is a mixture of this and Les Mis I couldn't see it. I understood Nina's plight in getting her sister back at all cost and infiltrating the Tiger's guild to retrieve her along with the other captives but it just seemed to fall a little short for me.

I do recommend picking this up if historical espionage is the thing for you. I have no major complaints about the writing or how the story was executed.

*thank you netgalley for my ARC!*

OOOOOOOKAY....what did I just fall into??
I am honestly surprised at how much I liked this book. It takes places in post revolution France described as a mix between Les Mis and Six of Crows. Obviously the Six of Crows comparison got me...I'm a sucker for SOC.

Anyways, this book was great at building a world (and underground world) that I honestly wasn't that excited about to begin with. The main character Nina has a lot of depth, heart, and passion for justice which I just loved. I also loved the adventures and drama that ensued in this book. It kept me holding my breath the whole time.

I did knock off a star for a few things that did annoy me during the story. First, the half fleshed out love triangle (or square??). It seemed rushed, I needed more time building the romance to seem truly believable. Second, the time jumps that happened a couple times in here. It just wasn't well described and it took me a bit to catch on that it was now two years later. And finally, just a couple plot things that I didn't feel were well explained and that I frankly still feel confused on (specifically Javert? I'm confused and who she is?).

But I loved the adventure and atmosphere. It really did bring me SOC vibes but also something entirely unique too!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars!

I read this book within a days time because I couldnt put it down. I loved Nina and loved all of the character building that allowed me to get to know her more and more as the story went on. That being said I would love more backstory on some of the other characters so I could be able to connect with them on that same level! The story is original and brilliant and very unpredictable. It kept me turning the pages and when it ended I was disappointed because I wanted more. The only thing that confused me a little were the time jumps but all in all this has become one of my favorite new books!! Thankyou for allowing me to read and review it!!

Book: The Court of Miracles
Author: Kester Grant
Rating: 1 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Knopf Children’s, for providing me with an ARC.

I don’t understand why publishers try to compare books to other books when they are nothing alike. Yes, it’s a great marketing tool for books that are actually alike, but when they aren’t, it’s just not going to work. This book was compared to Six of Crows and Les Misérables; I for one did not get these vibes. Other than the book taking place during the same time as Les Misérables and featuring some of the characters, it just didn’t happen. I think it has also been compared to The Jungle Book, which I can see more so that the other options. If you are going to sell to me as a heist book, then the heist had best pay off.

I really couldn’t connect to the characters, which is a big problem for me. I really did want to like them, but I just couldn’t. Nina was kind of a Mary Sue, who just went along with everything. If I was in her situation, then I would had been questioning some things. I mean a heist is a very dangerous situation and she just kind of went along with everything that was happening. I get that she didn’t know a lot, but we could have had Nina’s inner thoughts on what she actually thought about it. Instead, she just goes along with it and seems okay with it. I have never read a heist book where the main character was a calm as her. It just didn’t feel right.

Alright, let’s get into the Mary Sue aspect of Nina’s character. She is able to do things that should not be as easy as what they are made out to be. At nine, she is able to scale walls and get around the guard without any trouble. It just wasn’t believable at all. We are just supposed to be okay with this and not question it. If we had gotten to see some of the struggle that Nina went through to achieve this goal, then, maybe, it would have been more believable. I, for one, just am not convinced it.

While I did like the time jump and getting to see the characters as they aged, I just wish that it had been clearer. I wasn’t even aware of the time jump for a little while. If that had been clearer, I think it would have worked a little bit better. The descriptions and the way the world was is pretty strong. However, I just wish that things had been a bit clearer and maybe a little bit more thought out.

The writing has a lot of potential. It fit the realm of fantasy very nicely, but, again, the lack of clarification just kind of made everything get lost. I think that if we take some time to expend on what was done here, then, we will have a pretty strong series. A lot of my issues with the book are just clean up work and if that is done, then, I think we have the potential to have a pretty strong series.

Anyway, this book comes out on June 2, 2020.

Not my favorite writing style but a good plot. Perfect for fans of Six of Crows...definitely had that element about it. I had a difficult time because it felt like something bad was happening constantly.

Good character development

I loved the pitch of this book and the cover is gorgeous. I was hoping to really love it, and I did! After being saved by her sister and taken in by a gang, Nina must decide how far she will go for a second chance at protecting what she loves. Nina grows so much throughout this book, her development was fantastic. She had to be smart, brave, and ruthless to keep herself alive and help her friends. The writing was wonderful and kept me up late a few nights because I just couldn't stop reading. I felt like I could hear footsteps on cobblestones and the whistles of the Wretched as I was submerged in this story. If you like smart, badass main characters, gangs and violence, and found family feels, you should definitely pick this one up.

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley.
I really loved Kester Grant's take on such a classic as Les Mis. She kept the core of the story while also making it her own and I really loved and appreciated it. The timelines for me were a bit confusing, you sort of just had to figure it out as you go along, but other than that, I think this was such an amazing historical fantasy.
I totally see why fans of Six of Crows would love this, I adored the entire concept of the Court of Miracles, an underground network of the dregs of society. Nina was such a dynamic character, I love how much she cared for and protected Ettie and their whole relationship warmed my heart! I really can't wait to see what Grant has in store for the next installment because I can tell this story is far from over!

This was an extraordinarily complex story-line that brought in many of my favourite fantasy tropes. It also was was reminiscent of so many favorite works of fiction, and yet still maintained it's own sense of unique brilliance. Aspects occurred early on in the novel that had me unable to conceive how the remainder would play out, and scenes of actions were littered throughout ensuring there was never a pause in the pacing or the tension that dominated any events.

This was an amazing and tantalizing work of fiction that kept me wanting more as I turned every page and I was love the entire time.

Thank you to Net Galley for letting me review this book all opinions are my own.

In the violent urban jungle of an alternate 1828 Paris, the French Revolution has failed and the city is divided between merciless royalty and nine underworld criminal guilds, known as the Court of Miracles. Eponine (Nina) T years ohénardier is a talented cat burglar and member of the Thieves Guild. Nina's life is midnight robberies, avoiding her father's fists, and watching over her naïve adopted sister, Cosette (Ettie).

When Ettie attracts the eye of the Tiger--the ruthless lord of the Guild of Flesh--Nina is caught in a desperate race to keep the younger girl safe. Her vow takes her from the city's dark underbelly to the glittering court of Louis XVII. And it also forces Nina to make a terrible choice--protect Ettie and set off a brutal war between the guilds, or forever lose her sister to the Tiger.- Goodreads

I dnf this book at 53%. I tried. I really did but this book is all over the place and I am surprised (I shouldn't be) that an editor allowed the book to go to the presses in its current state.

Nina (Black Cat) joins the Thieves Guild after her father sells her sister.  But before she joins she is set to steal an item that no one. . . I mean no one has been able to steal. From that moment one she is considered the best thief there is. Here is the first red flag. How? All the author mentions is that her father took her out of assignments. She is nine. She is accepted into the guild with no information no story-line of any form of training. This is crazy because the author makes mention to Nina's nine year old self on more than one occasion.  The author completely skips any form of build up with Nina's career as a thief. 

The second red flag is that she is able to pull off another big heist to save her adopted sister. At this point in the book, she has pretty much forgotten how to save her biological sister. She did attempt once to save her and almost got her behind handed to her but shockingly enough in the hard streets of Paris a random stranger takes pity on her and saves her from getting beat down. 

The third red flag is the pace of the novel and the transitions. One moment Nina is 9 years old next she is 16 (I think. The author doesn't exactly specify). I almost thought I was reading a different pov. The transition into older Nina aren't good. The book moved too fast and due to that there was a lot of key details missing in the first half of the book.

I wanted to like this book, which is why I read to 53% because I was going to stop at 20%. There is good foundation but there are too many questions the author chooses not to answer. And also that whole troupe of a character just being amazing without any work is a lot of crap. 

1 Pickle

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this arc! The Court of Miracles is dark, twisty, and keeps you guessing, even when you think you’ve got it figured out! The writing is blunt at times but to me, it really accomplished a tone and enhances the story. I really enjoyed the characters, and was not expecting the way the story unfolded or characters developed. I really hope there’s a sequel in the works because the author definitely leaves you wanting more!

I liked it. But taking inspiration from Les Misérables sets a high bar.

The French Revolution failed. King Louis XVII sits on the throne of France while the nine guild lords of the criminal Court of Miracles create a Law all their own. Born into the underworld, young Nina Thénardier vows to use her skills learned in the Court of Thieves to rescue her older sister Azelma from the clutches of the vicious Tiger. However, some plans require heartless intention and Nina is just one girl. Even among killers and thieves, few are those who would defy the Tiger.

**This review may contain spoilers for assorted adaptations of Les Misérables and events before Ch. 7 in A Court of Miracles.**

Daring heists, rival guilds - there’s a lot to love. Nina wriggles her way out of some pretty crazy situations without batting an eye, but she still has very clear strengths and weaknesses. Each of the guild leaders adheres to a strict code, but their subjective interpretations of trust, protection, and worth make them some of my favorite examples of what it means to have convictions yet be morally grey.

For me, the ending was robbed of much satisfaction due to shallow character development. Nina’s goals and perceptions were stagnant, and I kept waiting for a paradigm shift or revelation that never happened. The plot took twists and turns, but these felt more like surprises than a culmination of events. Additionally, while Nina worked alongside various allies, I never got the sense that she developed feelings for any of them beyond a working relationship (except for her sisters).

For what it tries to accomplish, I’d say this book succeeds as a pseudo-retelling. Names and places from the original are plucked from weary cobble streets and placed in this alternate world. One of the most interesting examples is in the character of Montparnasse. A minor character in Les Misérables, the young criminal is recast as a mysterious assassin. The adaptation is similar to that of Tibalt in the anime Romeo X Juliet, where what we don’t know about a character is transformed into something dark and mysterious rather than something to be overlooked.

That being said, I almost wish this book hadn’t taken such direct inspiration, simply because it didn’t need to. A house on Rue Plumet or quoting “A Little Fall of Rain” makes a satisfying reference, but those weren’t what drew me to Nina’s story. Those were the original elements of the criminal guilds and Nina’s bold plans. Having the small references without delivering on Big Iconic Moments (rally on the barricades, Valjean’s redemption) is just setting up for needless disappointment.

Several of the adaptations were cleverly done, but the story could’ve shone brighter for not standing in such a large shadow.

**Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the ARC**

I loved this story so much! Nina's a survivor thanks to her older sister. But when her dad sells her older sister into prostitution, Nina knows she has to save her sister. This sends her into a new, dangerous guild where she makes alliances and plans...Intrigue, adventure, and a unique, unpredictable plot make this an imaginative new YA favorite...

Well, that was pretty awesome. To be fair, I have not read Les Mis so I have no attachment to the original story, or any expectations. Just vague recollections of the Broadway show from like two decades ago.

The liberties taken with the story make for an interesting and intense tale. I love heist premises, especially those that hinge on the reluctant cooperation of reluctant allies.

I loved the shifting alliances, the conniving, and the complete absence of easy choices.

Very much looking forward the the next installment.

This book was SOOOO much fun. I love Les Miserables so seeing all the references and inclusion of the characters from the original and some of the song lyrics from the musical was highly entertaining. I got lost in this world of France and its many Guilds and didn't want this book to end. There was action, a bit of budding romance, surprise, and angst. I highly recommend this book if you are any bit a fan of Les Miserables. All the stars for this one!

I had already seen some early reviews for this one so I went in with lower expectations. I was really rooting for this book to work out for me as I became quite invested in the first 20% of the book but after that is where my attention just drifted off.

The beginning is intriguing because it introduces us to the main character, Nina, and understanding why she is going to do everything that follows. Her backstory is one that is pretty sad and it's easy to feel sorry for her. There is also introductions to a couple of the guild at this point.

I thought the idea of guilds was pretty cool. There are many different ones like the thieves and assassins. There are definitely some guilds that get more page time than others. There are also some guilds that get more of a background too. I wish that there would have been more from them.

There is also a big timeline jump of two years. I'm not really sure why they had such a huge gap and it didn't really make too much of a different with the story besides them talking about it but even then it just was meh for me. I also felt like it left the characters a bit flat. more than they already were, because the characters come and go and some without much background or page time.

The plot was gripping at the beginning like I said above but the story just wasn't fleshed out enough and when plot twists happened I just wasn't feeling anything when I felt I should have.

Overall, I can see the appeal for this one but the appeal just wasn't really there for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free e-ARC.

So again without giving too much away I can and can't see the hype for this book. I feel like it really took to the last third/fourth of the book to pick up. The premise is good and intriguing. I don't know if it was the pacing or the writing but something to me just didn't click right away. In the end I did enjoy it and will like to see how it develops from here.

First of all, thank you so much to Knopf and NetGalley for an eARC of The Court of Miracles!

Now, as I always do when any thing includes Les Mis as a comp, I need to be honest: I don't like Les Mis. I know I'm in the minorirty, but I do love the time period and the setting, and the craziness that the French Revolution entails. The Court of Miracles is based in a world where the French Revolution has failed, and a criminal underground thrives in Paris (the Court of Miracles).

Our main character, Nina, is sent to the Court after her older sister is sold to the Flesh Guild by their own father, and Nina is welcomed into the Thieves Guild. Small in stature and quick, Nina becomes the Black Cat, and flashing forward a few years, begins to care for a young girl, Ettie, who is wanted by the Tiger, the Lord of the Guild of Flesh. In an attempt to hide Ettie from the Tiger, Nina takes her to the darkest Guild in all of PAris. But her actions might just start a war.

I've seen so many mixed reviews, so I want to address something. Is the Jungle Book an older children's story thatn ot everyone will love? Yes. I read it when I was 12, and it is forever one of my favorite children' stories. I think it's a pretty minimal comp, because of the comparison between Mowgli and Nina, the Tiger is Shere Khan, and Nina is raised by the Guild of Thieves and Tomasis, aka the wolves. So, it's mostly putting the characters into the place of the animals, so it's there, but deffinitey kind of light, and it's okay if you don't see it. I see where theres a Les Mis comp, but there's enough of a diversion and it's not too crazy, and if I'm being honest, I hardly see Six of Crows. It's there, just al ittle bit, but not a whole lot.

Now that that's off my chest, let's talk about the book as a whole. I felt like most of the characters were pretty fleshed out, and though we didn't get the same time with everyone, they felt ocmplex and intriguing. We get 2 more books, so though some characters don't get a ton of attentions, since this is 3rd person, I expect to see more details in later books. One thing I did find a bit frustrating were the love interests. Two love interests? Okay. But three? It was a bit much. We see early on that the young dauphin and Nina have a moment (I won't spoiler it) so you can expect him to reappear later. We also see a brooding man much later, and a young revolutionary.

But this book, despite some stereotypes and the love intersts, I loved this alternate world, the characters, and her writing is absolutely beautiful. As a debut, truly awesome! So yes, I really enjoyed this, and I read it in one sitting, which is unusual for me! Overall rating is maybe a 4.25? So pretty good!