The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant is a book I had on my to read shelf the moment I read the summary. It is described as Les Miserable meets Six of Crows and I have to say, I think it is pretty accurate…and this is from someone who LOVES Six of Crows.

Nina is our main character and having grown up somewhat protected by her older sister from the underworld criminal guilds (known as the Court of Miracles) she is suddenly thrust into a world she has to quickly learn the rules to if she wants to survive when her father sells her older sister to the flesh guild. Nina ultimately ends up with the Thieves Guild and becomes known for her daring and ability to steal anything which helps her out greatly in the long run. As Nina gets older, she becomes protective of Ettie, an adopted sister who has caught the eye of the Tiger, the Lord of the Flesh Guild (the same one her sister ended up at) and Nina realizes she will do anything to stop him and protect Ettie.

I thought the world building was done well by Grant. Of course, having Paris as a backdrop helped as Nina finds herself mingling with royals and criminals over time but having the development of such varying scenes from ballrooms, to alleys, to jail cells helped to add to Nina’s story and growth. The rules crafted around the guilds helped create structure and provided more context around what Nina could do to save those around her.

The one thing I thought was less clear was the jump in time from one section to the next. It did not come across as smooth and it tended to take me a minute to gather my thoughts on the timing so I could correlate it to the story going forward.

There are a number of secondary characters that help drive the story forward…some good and some not so good (in character). I’ve mentioned the Tiger and he is definitely a villain, but I would also throw Nina’s father right up there. He is only interested in money and position and deserves everything he gets. There’s St. Juste, the Guild Lords and Ladies, Montparnasse, and the Dauphin…all great additions to the story and in most cases, interesting too!

Nina’s objective, other than protecting Ettie, did not become fully clear to me until the end of the story when everything suddenly came together. All of a sudden, the dots were connecting, and I could see the bigger picture whereas in the moments I did not necessarily put it all together. Kudos to Grant for being able to break the story out and get me to focus on the moments until it was completely critical to understand Nina’s endgame. Overall, I enjoyed this book and I will definitely pick up the next book in the series. I will be curious to see where Grant takes the story in the next book. Make sure you grab this one when you can as it has interesting characters and an engaging story…my favorite things in a book!

The premise of this book was very interesting. I really enjoyed it, but I felt like a lot got lost. By the time I finished I still wasn't sure about all the courts, and just having a list in the front of the book is not enough. I wanted some more world-building.
The other item that confused me was the use of characters from Les Misérables. Now, I will admit I have not read the book. I have only seen the musical, but I can't imagine it is that different. Every time a character was introduced with a name I recognized, I was a little confused when they didn't quite fit in the story I knew.
I did enjoy the characters in this book, and the story was good, but especially knowing this is not a standalone book, I would have preferred less story and more world-building.
I will read the next book in this series because I did enjoy the story so much, but I hope there is a little more.

I started reading this and I got 33% into the book. I will be reviewing this as a DNF, Did Not Finish. This book didn't work out for me, for a few reasons. I felt like there was a lot going on and the storyline was not fully clear to me. I found myself getting really confused, I might of had a different story or idea in my head on what I thought this book would be about. Sadly, this book was not grabbing my attention like I thought it would. I found myself not being able to comprehend the story that well and often skipping to see if it would get any better, but it did not.

I will not be posting a review or even stating that I didn't finish this on my social media accounts, in respect for the author, the publishing team and netgalley.

Personally, I'm not overly familiar with Les Misérables (or even with the French Revolution), but I still really enjoyed this book. The story itself holds up even if you have absolutely no background on the topics. To be fair, I did look up, and subsequently read the entire synopsis and character backgrounds for Les Misérables. I wanted to make sure that I was able to appreciate the book with its full background recognized. This story was fast paced, and there was something happening at every corner. Don't go into this expecting a simple retelling of Les Misérables, because Grant masterfully turned the original story on its' head in an exciting way. If you like books that are full of action, manipulation, history (both real and imagined), public outcry, and a strong-female protagonist, then this one is perfect.

The way that Grant sets scenes and personifies the city is enchanting. It was very easy to appreciate the way that life was breathed into the city. The setting was described with very simple, yet raw words. It wasn't depicted as this ideal place, Grant stripped it bare and laid it out for the reader to judge. There are many characters that are shared with the original Les Misérables tale, and many new ones. The way that some of the old characters were woven into the story, but as members of the Wretched was fascinating. Particularly Montparnasse, I liked him. I liked the way that his character fit perfectly into the fabric of the Assassins Guild. On that note, it is also refreshing that the characters who were originally side characters, got the spotlight in this book. Jean Valjean, Javert, Cosette, etc.. take a backseat to characters who crowded the background previously. Yet, when the old main characters do appear, they do still possess personalities much like that in the original Les Misérables. Which was a very nice touch. The focus on the less-known characters really allowed for room to play with their personalities. Some of the main characters didn't even make it in, though I'm hoping this is a series, and they may make an appearance. Though, this is not their story. This is the story of those previously brushed off as minor.

The fact that the focus of this book was on familial love, rather than romantic love, was refreshing. More often than not, young adult books seem to heavily focus on romantic love between the characters. That is not the case here. Romantic intentions are really only mentioned in passing or even in jest. The focus here, is on the strong bond between family. A bond that can be formed with biological family, but especially the bond between chosen family. Ettie was not related to Nina by bond, yet Nina was willing to move the heavens if it meant she could protect her. The family that came with joining a guild, and the ability of humans to adapt and overcome circumstances and create their own families.

Nina was a great protagonist. She was smart, strong, and very cunning. You were able to watch her grow and adapt. Gone was the frightened child who just wanted the comfort of her older sister. In her place, was the Black Cat of the thieves guild. The Black Cat would do as she wished to protect those she loved. She learned to play the games of the guilds. She learned how to laugh and how to joke a bit as well. I loved how everytime Nina and St. Juste were together, it ended with him being in trouble. Half the time he was arrested! However, I have a specific qualm with Nina. Sometimes, she seemed to make very split second decisions that would undermine something she had been working for. The part I have in mind, was her quick decision regarding Ettie and the Tiger.

This goes into my first real complaint regarding the book. Many of the side characters seemed emotionally shallow. I'm of course referring to main side characters. For example, the same split-second change happened near the end with St. Juste. I won't go into it here, because I don't want to spoil it. But just know, that his reaction felt like it was lacking. It felt like he was missing some emotion that he should've had. It felt like his reaction should have gone on for longer.

It also felt like the book wasn't following its' own rules at some point. There were set rules in the beginning that governed guild behavior. But it felt like many people were disobeying the rules and only some were being punished. None of the guild lords seemed as though they wanted to apply the laws unless it was to their benefit. Yet, if it was to work, would they not have to apply the laws evenly. Of course, this is taking the Tiger out of it. They were all being weenies when it came to him. I believe he could've been handled with no problem if they had all just acted together from the beginning.

On the positive side, as I mentioned, there were set rules for the guilds at the very beginning of the book. There was also a couple of pages that had all of the guilds and their respective leadership laid out. I really thought that was a nice touch. If I had had a physical copy of the book, I would have heavily utilized it. I love when things like that are included in a book. There were also little folk tales from the people at the beginning of each of the parts. The stories would set the tone for the following chapters, plus it was downright fun. I loved that you were getting a history of the place through the mouths of those who live there.

Overall, my final thoughts are that this book was certainly worth the read. This was a solid work with a great story woven throughout. The fact mixed with fiction, mixed with the presence of an older work, was just captivating. Whenever I would pick this book up I would lose myself reading it. I always felt as though I needed to know what was going to happen next. The characters' emotions/reactions may have felt a bit off, or perhaps dull at times, but it's not the end of the world. It doesn't really detract from the story. The story is the important part here, and this was a very good one. Goodreads has this book listed as the first in a series; if that is truly the case, then I can't wait to read the next one! The writing is only going to improve over time, if this one was great, then the next one will likely be even better. I may just have to buy the physical copy just so I can add it to my collection.

Thank you to the publisher through Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Les Misérables meets Six of Crows…that is what intrigued me the most. I am a huge fan of Les Mis, from the Victor Hugo book to the theatrical plays, I just love everything about it. Six of Crows, on the other hand, have not read that book yet (but I plan to!). So, going into this AU timeline – I hoped it would have enough familiarity to keep me hooked. The Miracle Court and the nine different guilds make this telling captivating and is what kept me invested.

The characters are familiar; Eponine, Cosette, Montparnasse, Javert, Valjean, etc…but there is a whole new twist to them. This story is told from the viewpoint of Eponine or Nina as she is nicknamed, and she is not your lovestruck or heartbroken female lead either. She is a Cat Thief and is trying to save her adopted younger sister Ette (Cosette) from the Tiger, after her older sister is sold to him years before, and couldn’t save her. Nina is sometimes ruthless and determined to get what she wants, and I don’t fault her for it. Ette is so pure and naïve when it comes to this world, a ray of sunshine in the otherwise bleak backdrop that is France during the Revolutionary War.

The writing style was so good, the only thing I did not like was that the time points in each part of the book were not clearly defined. It would have made the flow of the story better to have what year or how much time had passed; to see how long it took Nina to get her plans in motion. Because of this, I don’t think there was much tension or on-the-edge-of-your-seat intrigue that grabs ahold of you and doesn’t let go.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and all the nods to the original story were well-placed and thought out. I cannot wait to see where the story takes Nina in the next book. Here’s hoping for a little romance (looking at you, Montparnasse!) also. I would highly encourage you to read this telling, it hits all the right notes, but also makes it a marvelous new story all-together.

THE COURT OF MIRACLES presents a fascinating and exciting revisionist/magical history of post-Revolution France. I often feel that YA fantasy is oversaturated with stories set in "fantasy France" or in a made-up world with Francophile/Francophone cultures and languages. Kester Grant's book has a fascinating premise: what if the Revolution failed and the monarchy continued? What happens when the monarchy and noble class continue to oppress the marginalized?
Protagonist Nina is a reimagining of Eponine from LES MIS and several other characters draw directly from the novel/musical's cast (complete with same name). At a young age, Nina escaped her father's wrath and terror by becoming "the Black Cat," the best thief in the Court of Thieves. Paris's underworld - the Miracle Court - consists of different guilds, all with their own histories and affinities (death, letters, gambling, etc.) and members of the court are supposed to strictly keep to its law. However, Lord Kaplan of the Guild of the Flesh consistently flaunts the rules to accumulate power and money through his network of brothels. After their father sells her old sister to Kaplan, Nina vows revenge.
Unlike in the musical, Nina has much more agency than Eponine and Marius who? She pulls off the most incredible heists and finds herself navigating the palace, the world of the daytime, and the nocturnal court. There are several romantic subplots with three different boys having feelings for Nina: the Dauphin (the heir to the throne), Enjolras St. Juste (a young student revolutionary), and Montparnasse (member of the Guild of Assassins). Some reviewers have called Nina a "Mary Sue" but I read her as a complex character who constantly battled to survive, owned up to her mistakes, and always strove for justice. Good for her that she has 3 love interests!
Grant did an amazing job with world-building; her Paris is intentionally yet organically diverse. There are characters of all races, ethnicities, religions, and sexualities. During this period of history, France was both expanding its colonial holdings and as a major geopolitical power, it was a site for trade, study, and culture. There are several time jumps in the novel which I think will be more obvious in the physical copy as opposed to the formatting in the eARC. I found THE COURT OF MIRACLES a fantastic, fun escapist fantasy but one unafraid to tackle difficult historical topics.
THE COURT OF MIRACLES has been comped as LES MIS + SIX OF CROWS + THE JUNGLE BOOK. While I do agree with these titles, I would also add that fans of Marie Lu's latest book THE KINGDOM OF BACK will enjoy this historically-grounded fantasy. I already look forward to the sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book, and highschool!Me would have absolutely eaten it up with a spoon. This is an alternate-universe retelling of Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables focusing on Eponine—but instead of pining over Marius, she’s a badass thief who is a member of a “court” of Paris’s underground elements, and her mission in life is to free women from human trafficking.
Let’s break that down:
1) Alternate universe: in this world, the French Revolution failed. The monarchy is still in force, and Marie Antoinette’s son is the King.
2) Les Miserables: primary characters include Eponine (Nina), Cosette (Ettie), Enjolras (St. Just), Gavroche, Javert (who’s a woman now), and Thernadier.
3) “court”: The Court of Miracles seems to be a pretty clear homage to the world building from Locke Lamore, and it’s cool. The structure (e.g., cat burglers are called cats, smugglers are called rats, the beggars’ guild is run by two people whose nicknames are the Bear and the Wolf) is very obviously meant to draw from Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book.
I have conflicted feelings about points two and three. I think you can read this book and enjoy it without having read Les Mis, and I wonder if I would have enjoyed it more if it had used that book as inspiration but more clearly spun off into its own thing from there. Same with the Jungle Book aspect—it ends up feeling a bit overdone just to get to a place of “hey, this character is really that character from the Jungle Book and this one is that one! Neat!” These references stick out more than the Les Mis ones.

Overall, very enjoyable and definitely worth checking out! I kind of just wish Grant had taken one step further into making the world her own, rather than retellings.

This book was so good! I don't stay up till 5 AM to read a book that often, but when I do, I know it's good. This is easily going on my favorites for the year. After reading the mixed reviews for this book, I was so worried that I was not going to like this book but I love it!

A retelling of Les Misérables is exactly what I needed it and I didn't even realize. I had read another retelling of Les Misérables last year and unfortunately, it was another story with a love triangle where the Éponine character fell for the Marius character and he fell for the Cosette character even though Éponine was the stronger character. I wanted a book that showed Éponine as the strong woman she is and showed her overcoming her battles without getting destroyed by love for a man who didn't deserve her (even though that is a huge point in the original Éponine's character arc). This book is it! Nina protects Ettie, herself, and the people around her not because she is trying to protect a man but because she is a strong woman who unconditionally loves her sister who at one point she was going to wrong. I learned early on that this book is only loosely based on Les Mis and the author beautifully took the best parts, turned them on their heads, and made them better in a whole new way. Regardless, I have not read Les Mis in a while and don't remember much but I was still able to understand what was going on in the book. So people who are not familiar with Les Mis can easily still follow along and enjoy this book.

The main character, Nina, was such an amazing character to read. She was badass and she used her flaws to her advantage. She went through so much but she used her experience and her scars and made herself smarter and stronger. Even though she threw herself into a lot of situations, she clearly knew what she was doing, even if she wasn't sure how the situation was going to turn out. My heart reached out for this character as things didn't work out for her and the people she loved were taken from her. I loved seeing Nina's brilliant brain and plan span out as the last couple of chapters happened and I realized how all the information she was hiding from the reader came into play. I just hope in the future books her unbecoming is not brought on by her love for a man who doesn't love her back, this book series and this character have too much potential.

The worldbuilding was so so fascinating. While I didn't understand the initial comparison of this book to the Jungle Book or the various references to the book, I didn't mind it. The story oddly gave be jungle vibes at times even though I knew this was all happening in a city if that makes sense? The whole concept of the different Guilds in the Court of Miracles, the laws that bound them, the way they interacted with each other, the way they interacted with the story, the way they were formed after the failed French Revolution, etc. was done so well. While it was definitely confusing at times what some Guilds did, what differentiated them from another (in terms of their responsibilities), or what importance/positions of power different people within the Guild held, I still knew what was going on.

The acts of the Guild of Flesh were horrifying to read, especially after getting to see some of the indentured/prostituted women and Nina's sister through her eyes. I sat in anticipation for when Nina would figure out a way to free her sister or take down the Tiger.

The atmosphere the author built was so dark and so creepy, I was constantly on edge. The author did not shy away from going into the dark, gruesome, gory, etc. elements of the times of the French Revolution. I would have been very disappointed if the author had done anything else, it is the French Revolution after all. I felt like I was in the story and found myself always on guard thinking something was going to pop out and kill Nina or take Ettie.

I found myself shocked by how on board I was with the romance. While I thought it was a little annoying that the only three men introduced that are her age automatically become her love interest, I am pretty picky with romances in YA fantasy that I like, and I hate when several men fall in love with the main character for no reason, I oddly found myself routing for all of the boys at some point. The guys falling for her was not annoying in any way. None of them were throwing themselves at her and professing their undying love for her (but one character does do something like that, but only out of loneliness and because of how overwhelmed he was with what he just had to do). The relationships she was developing with them were very natural and began with friendship before they began to like her. Additionally, she was not interested in romance at all; so while she was not ignorant towards their feelings for her in an annoyingly naive, "why pick me? I am so plain." kind of way, she didn't give the boys' feelings the time of day. That is what made the three love interests easier to swallow.

Finally, I adored the relationship between Nina and Ettie. At first, I was horrified upon realizes Nina had intended to give Ettie to the Tiger in exchange for her sister but was quickly calmed down when Nina realized what she was doing was wrong. Their relationship is unconditional and so natural. They both learned from each other and would lay their life for the other. They work so well together. Around the end of the book, they knew each other so well, before Nina could even think it, Ettie was already doing what Nina would want her to do. I loved seeing Ettie develop and grow as a woman as she learned from Nina and begin to break away from the 'beautiful, naive damsel in distress' type character that Cosette originally is.

The only things I would have to say against the book is the choppy time jumps and how convenient Nina's heists were. I am not against time jumps as long as they are explained well. So many times it would happen in the book that a year or two would span and I wouldn't be able to figure it out until a good way into the chapter and I wouldn't really understand what has changed in that time span. Also, all of the dangerous situations that Nina through herself into mostly ended very easily and conveniently for her which was a little hard to believe.

Overall, I loved this book thoroughly and I cannot wait for the next book.

Thank you, NetGalley for a free copy of the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

4.5 stars (Rounding up in the scale because of how much I enjoyed this book)

4⭐️

Take Court of Miracles is what happens when the characters of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables get plopped into seedy criminal world of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows.

Nina is the Black Cat of the Guild of Thieves. As a thief, there is nothing that she can’t steal or break into. Except for one thing: her sister. At a young age she lost her beloved sister to the Guild of Flesh, and she won’t rest until she can save her sister. However, Paris might have other plans for her as there are whispers of another revolution on the horizon. Nina becomes entwined with the nobility, the revolutionaries, and the Guilds from The Court of Miracles, but can she protect the people she loves most?

I’ll start with the thing that is most well done in this book, and that is the world building. The elements from 1800s Paris with the gritty and intricate crime world work so well together. It felt fresh and interesting, it successfully carves out its own niche. I loved the uniqueness of the Guilds system. Grant takes the time to explain the workings of these groups and their political systems, and it really elevated the story.

It is an easy book to get swept up into. There is a lot of action and intrigue. However, this also seems to be one of its pitfalls. It’s a series of Impossible Tasks™️, one right after the other. It lacked the rising action that makes the big moments feel big and important. At a point the stakes no longer felt real because the plot was rushed for the sake of another Impossible Task™️. There are also a couple spots where the author decides to fast forward and do a time jump, which unfortunately made the plot fall a bit flat because it skipped over important character growth and development.

While I was enjoying the journey, while reading I could help but feel like there was something missing, and that was compelling and complex characters. Don’t get me wrong, I liked Nina. She’s ruthless, cunning, and willing to do whatever it takes to take care of the people she loves, and that’s about it. I never really connected with her, and that’s because we never get to see her struggle. She breezes through every Impossible Task™️ and easily gets out of every conflict. Her motives and reasonings for doing things are either glossed over or nonexistent. Because of this resolution at the end of the book just didn’t feel earned based on how easy everything was for Nina. It lacked the continuity and struggle needed to make it thrilling.

It’s the same thing with the secondary characters and her relationships with them, nothing is flushed out or developed. No one is ever really brought to life on the page. I’m really hoping this is something that will be improved upon in the sequel.

Now, I’m not against a romance, however this author was like “screw a love triangle, how about a love square?!”. Nina has got 3 men chasing after her and it is a bit much. I’d rather have a romance add to the plot rather than convolute it.

Despite some flaws, I really enjoyed this book. It was an exciting and fast-paced book that kept me hooked from beginning to end. I’m looking forward to seeing where this series could go because there is so much potential for it to be great!

This is such a unique and interesting book! There are spins of old tales, with much more interesting characters. There is a little danger, a little revenge, and a ton or bravery. I admire the authors ability to write with such imagination and fluidity weave this tale. If you are a fan of twisted tales, dystopian society stories, or stories with strong female characters you definitely have to add this to your summer to be read list.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kester Grant for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

An atmospheric and darkly fascinating tale reminiscent of Les Miserables. I found this book to be highly entertaining to read, the writing was detailed and the world set in 1828 France was enchanting. In this novel there are nine guilds that operate beneath the royals and good citizens composed of those who are more on the dark side of society. I found the entire system fascinating between the rules they abide by to how they operate with each other, it really captivated my interest and was what initially pulled me into the story. Nina, the main character and member of the Thieves Guild is what sold me on this story, it really made her shine. Her character was equally clever and sneaky as she was strong and kind. All the characters are brilliantly written and I enjoyed so many of the familiar characters from Les Miserables within the pages including little Ettie. There were times I felt it leaned too heavily upon the original storyline of Les Miserables and wanted more originality and then there were others I felt it strayed too far, it was a confusing balance as to whether it was supposed to be a retelling or something new. In the end I found myself really enjoying the story but not loving it’s familiarity with Les Miserables. I did love the point of view, watching Nina’s determination to save her beloved sister instead of a man was refreshing and I loved how well thought out her actions and thoughts were, they never came off as one dimensional or simple minded she was smart and her character was written in a way to reflect that. The pages are full of excitement and intrigue as well as cruelty and backstabbing setting up readers for an amazing adventure.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I was excited at the prospect of The Court of Miracles on multiple levels: for one, a reimagining of Les Miserables in itself just sounds so much fun. And given the increasingly turbulent times we’re living in, it’s fascinating to look back and examine a period like the French Revolution and imagine what if it failed, and the underground fight that would have endured in an alternate universe where that occurred.

The timeline does feel a bit jerky and uneven at first, and it takes a while for a consistent pace to build, given there are several skips forward in time. However, once it hits the second half, the momentum picks up and doesn’t let you go.

I really liked Nina, especially her voice as a character and narrator, which kept me reading even in the difficult bits and engrossed me in the intense world around her. I loved her devotion to caring for Ettie, and that she’s strong without feeling like a caricature. And while she does have some glimmers of romance with multiple people, I like that it doesn’t become the dominating factor in her story by any means.

I enjoyed this book, and am curious to see how future books develop this concept from here. I recommend this to anyone who likes the alternative history.

* I was provided an arc by NetGalley in exchange for a review*

I absolutely love anything to do with the French Revolution and this book did not disappoint. Thievery, lies, and murder surround this well plotted intricate tale about a child forced into the dark underground of Paris. Nina is such a smart character, strong and inspiring. I love her fierceness and how her heart still, despite the terrible past she endured, allowed for a beautiful bond with her chosen sister Etta.
I also loved the Guilds and the glimpses we got of each as they ran within the story. The characters from each Guild were interesting and it just added so much depth to the story. This author has herself a new fan, and I cannot wait till book 2.

For anyone who has ever seen or read Les Misérables and thought "Éponine deserves better," I have the perfect book for you.

I was drawn into the elaborate world of the Court of Miracles from the very first page. It took me a while to truly understand the structure of the Court and figure out what was going on, but it was so well put together that I never felt truly lost.

Nina was an absolute delight of a main character. I loved following her adventures, and I loved seeing her grow. The supporting characters were excellent as well, and I'm excited to see them develop more in the next books!

I don't want to discuss the plot too much, because I think it would be all too easy to spoil something, but I'll say that I audibly gasped at various revelations more times than I could count. This book always kept me guessing, in the absolute best way.

I can't wait to continue this series! Is it too early to get an ARC of book two?

CW: slavery, violence, abuse, torture, opioid use

I read that this book was pitched as Les Misérables meets Six of Crows, but there was much more Les Misérables than Six of Crows. So if you’re a bigger fan of Les Mis, you’ll probably love this book. For me, however, I thought it was just okay. While I loved the fierce female representation, I felt like the writing was clunky and did not flow very well. The author was also quite repetitive, which I know sometimes adds purpose to scenes, but in this case it just felt unnecessary. This book was also very dark, bloody, and gritty, which isn’t a pro or a con to me, just a statement. I loved the idea behind the book, of the different guilds, and the time it was set, but it just didn’t hit the mark for me.

An interesting setting involving a world where the rich rule and the poor form into guilds to survive. One young person works to save their sister from a fate worse than death and in the process becomes a bit of a folk hero as she finds herself going head to head with the criminal underground in the time of the French Revolution.

Thank you Netgalley and to the publisher for the e-ARC!

Wow. Just wow. This was... so good. I’m not well versed with Les Miserables, but that really didn’t matter too much. I loved every moment of this book! The characters! The setting! THE PLOT AND ALL ITS TWISTS! Absolutely highly recommended!

How perfect for me to read book about oppression and rebellion right now... May 30th 1:30 as the country is on fire, as people march, protest and riot for the lives lost.

Court of Miracles spoke to me on multiple levels. What are you going to do when you see unjust behavior against your people, your loved ones? Do you keep your head down and keep to the status quo? Or do you fight? Do you fight tooth and nail to rip out the monster stalking your sisters? Do you fight when they kill your children? Or do you hide and tremble in fear because you aren’t sure this is a fight that you can win? Nina fought, hard and true for what was right even as she had to make tough decisions to protect the ones she loved. And really... she’s the main character we need right now. Someone make this book into a movie. I cannot wait for the next installment.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and Knopf Books in exchange for an honest review.

The Court of Miracles was fantastic! I really didn't expect to like it as much as I did, especially at the start. Even though I didn't go into reading this as a Les Mis fan, I felt I had to at least watch the movie to compare. The Court of Miracles is a re-telling that captured the spirit of the revolution with the perspective of a lesser-known character at the forefront... plus magic :)

The beginning of the book started off slow, but was totally worth the wait. Time sort of skips along as the book goes on and Nina develops her many gifts along the way. Her fierce protection of Cosette is a true suspense-builder and so sincere. Kester's system of characters is so descriptive and magical, yet not overly complex.

I felt so invested in Nina's journey that I'm still thinking about the story even though I finished the book a few weeks ago. I could tell that the author did a lot of research in order to create such an imaginative world.

I can't wait for the sequel and really couldn't recommend this book more. Let me know what you guys think of it as well! I'm curious to hear your opinions once it's released.

For a while when I was younger, I was totally obsessed with anything and everything to do with Les Miserables - the soundtrack, seeing it on stage, movie adaptations, everything - so that part of me was thrilled to see this YA fiction adaptation.

And in the beginning, I was totally entranced - Grant sets this apart with a focus on the criminal underworld of Paris. Eponine, or Nina, as she is known here is the heroine and views Cosette as a sister and protects her as best she is able to in her role as the Black Cat - a renowned thief. Valjean plays a more minor role here and Javert is also present - though as a female inspector. The royal family plays a role here, too, and while parts of the story are certainly original with the various criminal guilds that make up the titular Court of Miracles, the characters' development relies a bit too heavily on the original material... and after a while this becomes more of a hindrance than a help to the story. It really detracts from this feeling fresher. I wish that the author had more firmly set this in a land of her own creation, with unique characters inspired by their Les Mis counterparts instead of being so closely named... I really wanted to love this, and while I never found myself hating it, I just didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped...