The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant
Rating: ★★★★☆

I was completely hooked on The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant, especially with its gripping setting during the 1820s French Revolution. Grant paints Paris vividly, from the bustling streets to the dangerous alleys of the Court of Miracles. The historical backdrop isn't just there for show; it deeply influences how the characters, like Nina and Ettie, navigate through the turmoil of the times. The tension between the different guilds and their alliances adds a layer of intrigue that kept me on edge throughout.

The characters are so well-crafted, each with their own ambitions and struggles. Nina's determination to save her sister drives the narrative forward, while Ettie's journey from innocence to survival in the Court of Miracles is both heartbreaking and inspiring. The twists and betrayals among the guilds kept me guessing, and Grant's skillful storytelling made every revelation feel like a punch to the gut. If you're into historical drama with strong characters and a plot that keeps you guessing, this book is a must-read.

"The Court of Miracles" by Kester Grant is a dazzling and immersive historical fantasy that reimagines the city of Paris in a vivid tapestry of magic, intrigue, and revolution. Set in an alternate version of 1828 Paris, Grant's debut novel introduces readers to a world where the city is divided into nine criminal guilds, each vying for power and influence in the shadowy underworld known as the Court of Miracles.

At the heart of the story is Nina Thénardier, a young thief with a fierce determination to protect her sister and carve out a place for herself in a world ruled by ruthless criminals and corrupt nobles. When her sister is kidnapped by the ruthless Tiger, leader of the Guild of Flesh, Nina must navigate a treacherous web of alliances and betrayals to save her, risking everything in the process.

Grant's world-building is rich and evocative, with lush descriptions of the bustling streets of Paris and the colorful characters that inhabit them. From the opulent palaces of the aristocracy to the squalid slums of the Court of Miracles, each setting is brought to life with meticulous detail and a palpable sense of atmosphere.

The characters in "The Court of Miracles" are vibrant and multi-dimensional, each with their own motivations, secrets, and hidden agendas. Nina is a compelling protagonist, her courage and tenacity shining through even in the darkest of times. The supporting cast of characters, including the enigmatic Ettie and the charming Montparnasse, add depth and richness to the story, highlighting the complexities of loyalty, honor, and sacrifice.

At its core, "The Court of Miracles" is a story about the power of hope and resilience in the face of adversity. Grant explores themes of justice, redemption, and the fight for freedom, weaving a thrilling tale of love, betrayal, and revolution that will keep readers eagerly turning the pages until the very end.

Overall, "The Court of Miracles" is a dazzling and unforgettable debut that heralds the arrival of a bold new voice in fantasy fiction. Kester Grant has crafted a mesmerizing tale of intrigue and adventure that will captivate readers from beginning to end, leaving them eagerly awaiting the next installment in this thrilling series.

This is a fantastic read! The intricate details surrounding the criminal underground is fantastically done, and is very atmospheric. I also thoroughly enjoyed the characters. They each felt like they had different voices which can be hard to do with a big cast of characters. Where it fell for me were the time jumps. They left me feeling confused. However, this is a great beginning for a series.

I love a great retelling and Court of Miracles is a mix of Les Mis and our favorite Crows! I was so excited for this! I enjoyed it until it got a little confusing. I’m not sure if it was the plot, it just wasn’t heading where I wanted it to go. I really lost interest and did not finish it. I still recommend it for what it is because I’ve had students who enjoy it. Just because it’s not for me, doesn’t mean it’s not for others! Thank you for the opportunity to read it!

The alternate history and criminal guilds completely sucked me in. Eponine's character development kept me enthralled and I am very much looking forward to book two's release.

Enjoyed reading this Les Misarable retelling. Did find it a bit slow in the beginning but it picked up after a while.

This had so much potential and I was really excited to read this. Les Mis is one of my favorite musicals but there was so much going on it was hard to connect with the characters. It gets confusing in areas so be warned!

Thank you Netgalley for the E-Arc in exchange of a review.

I started reading this one but didn't hold my interest. I thought the concept was good but I wish I could have connected with the characters and plot more.

I really enjoyed the storyline in world building in the novel. I also really liked the characters. I thought this was a solid read, and I will definitely be reading more by this author.

I'm obsessed with Les Miserables and absolutely adored this book. So excited to read the second book because that cliffhanger is absolutely killing me.

I honestly love retellings, because it’s basically just successful fanfiction. In The Court of Miracles, we see the familiar characters of Les Misérables traverse through a reimagined world.

I absolutely loved the political aspect of the Courts, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was not a retelling. I thought the court system was so fascinating and wished we could have explored the intricacies of each court and how they work together instead of simply following Eponine and Cosette’s story.

While I love Les Mis, I think this story actually suffered trying to follow the storyline. Les Mis is a very long story that is hard to replicate due to the large amount that happens in the story.

In The Court of Miracles, the jumping of years between each part actually made it difficult for me to care about the characters cause. I knew the story would follow Nina and Ettie, but as I already knew the main plot line of Les Mis, I grew bored about halfway through the book and struggled to finish reading it. There was so much potential for me to love this book, but it fell short and the creativity of the world itself was not enough to keep me engaged.

I was really excited for this les mis retelling and the premise had a lot of promise. Unfortunately I was unable to enjoy it as much as I wanted. The world building was okay and I unfortunately got confused at times. I also was not too keen on the multiple love interests and love triangle quad going on. Just not for me~!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This cover is so beautiful! 😍

I can definitely see why so many people have been raving about this book! This story was an amazing Les-Miserables retelling. I enjoyed the pace, the characters and the astounding world building.

I will admit however, that the time jumps were a bit confusing at times. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy and is ready to dive into a world full of magic and complexity.

2.5 Stars

This is billed as Les Miserables meets Six of Crows and I think that is an apt description, although I don’t think it was quite as riveting as the latter. Taking place in an alternate historical Paris where the French Revolution failed, Nina takes spends her time thieving and doing what she can to protect her “sister” Ettie. While there were definitely moments of excitement, overall I did struggle with it holding my attention.

An intriguing premise. I was expecting a retelling of Les Mis and I kind of got that but also not really. There were a lot of characters and fast pacing, which made it hard to connect or settle in with them. Not for me.

It was a DNF for me. I wanted to go back. But even after spending time away from this book. It just didn't grab me the way I wanted to. Loved the premise. The execution wasn't for me. It just let me down a little. I still think the book was well written. Just not for me personally.

The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant was an interesting YA fantasy read. However, as other readers noted, it read a little slower than other similar books. I guess I understand why this book did not take off as much as so many have, since many YA readers need to be quickly engaged. I wonder if it might be better suited for New Adult audiences who tend to accept a slower pace.

A fantastic adventure novel of Les Mis meets a heist novel - taking the best of both sides of these things and making something new and fantastic.

DNF
At this time, I'm no longer interested in this title. Thank you for the opportunity to read the book and I apologize for the inconvenience.

This book was interesting. I really enjoyed the story overall but it could have been better. I would definitely read something from this author in the future though.