I received this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book is amazing!!! I absolutely devoured this in one day because I just couldn't put it down! Definitely a must read!

I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this novel, and the growth of the characters throughout. They all have their own individual hardships, but being the Court of Miracles reflects that they still have a family. I loved this book, and I know as soon as it is released, everyone will too.

My review will also be posted on my Goodreads account.

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

I’m disappointed that I didn’t find this book GREAT but it was still very good and interesting. The world building and characters were unique and kept me interested.

If you’re not a romance fan, then this book is for you since there wasn’t much in it. Im a sucker for romance haha but I still enjoyed the story all the same.

The book starts off with action, although I was a little bored until about chapter 7. The heroine wasn’t annoying or self absorbed which is always refreshing! I’d definitely recommend this book.

4/5 🌟’s

Huge thank you to Random House Children’s a division of Penguin Random House Publishing for this advanced readers copy of THE COURT OF MIRACLES by Kester Grant. I was provided this book in exchange for my honest review. This story will release July 2nd, 2020.

THE COURT OF MIRACLES is an epic tale that wrecked me to the core. First, as an avid Les Miserables fan, and second as a conscious human being well aware of the human trafficking problem. Kester Grant breaks onto the scene with this spellbinding narrative that draws you in and doesn’t let go until the very end.

Nina is born into a life wrought with misfortune and hardship. Raised by her thief of a father, she is no stranger to beatings or starvation. It is only on the eve of her sister’s sale to the most feared man within their circle, that her life takes an unexpected turn. Shoved into the crime syndicate deep in the underbelly of her country, she proves her worth as a thief and seeks to free her sister from slavery. In her older sister’s absence, her father decides to take on a ward named Ettie. Nina is pushed to the limit when her father offers the young girl up to the same devil that bought her older sister Azelma. Unable to stand by, Nina makes the decision for them to flee. Together they travel to the guild of ghosts seeking protection. Through her uncanny ability to read people, situations, and desires she moves throughout the guilds like no one before. She is singularly focused on one thing, protecting Ettie. It is here we join Nina as she weaves in and out of the war between royals and revolutionaries, the lifelong battle of Jean Valjean and Prisoner 24601, and the selling and stealing of girls for profit. Rage with her against the injustice. Be brave with her in your fight for what is right. Always mindful that you balance your soul against the anger so you don’t become what you hate.

I was captivated by the prose of this book. Often I would get swept up into the words and lose myself. It was almost as if I could hear one of the famous songs from Les Miserables. I have a favorite page in this manuscript yes, the entire page. I could lose myself reading and re-reading it.

Here is an excerpt from it:

“The broken boy beneath the lash.
It ends where it begins.
It ends with him.
He is the nightmare, the monster. The thing that stalks in the dark. He is the fear ensnaring each one of us, gripping us in his claws.
And despite my weakness, as he tears the strength from my bones, I see my path. I hear the City whisper to me with silken words. I know what I will do.
With the last blow, my thoughts uncoil into endless shapes before me. I see Azelma sleeping. I see Ettie reaching out for me. My heart hammers, drowning my ears with its beat.
My sisters.
I couldn’t save the one who protected me. I couldn’t save the one I was supposed to protect. I can’t save the hundreds who sleep in the grasp of his claws. No one escapes him. And so there is only one thing left.
I make this oath in iron; I make it in bone.
I will destroy him, and then they will all be free.”

This was a five star read for me. I highly recommend. Put this book on your radar, you will not be sorry!

The beginning of this was very good, however once I hit the middle of the book it really started to fall flat. I love that this is Les Miserable meets Six of Crows with some heists. Yet, it seemed like Nina, our main character, had it easy. There was never any real struggle during her heists. Then, I feel like the world building and character development could have been done a lot better. I want to know more about the world and see more aspects to the characters. The pacing was well done as well as the writing. I loved the friendship between Ettie and Nina.

I feel like this was written for anyone who truly love Les Misérables but for those of us with limited knowledge of the source material it doesn’t quite hit the notes I think it is supposed to making this a bit of a struggle.

“The Court of Miracles” follows Nina, known as the black Cat, a thief hiding in the shadows of Paris as she fights to protect a young girl from the clutches of a man hellbent in making her his newest victim of sex slavery just as he did her sister years ago and with the brewing tensions between the nobles and common folk Nina works to unite the Guilds and free Paris from its monster once and for all.

The plotting of this book is a little clunky as it races through years of development at the turn of a single page making some of the early moments not really work for me as we have this big set up for the main arc of the book and the characters entire backstory shuffled through a few paragraphs to the point that on one page she’s a young girl ripped from her sister and the only home she knows clumsily trying to secure herself a sense of safety and the next she’s a fully formed force to be reckoned with with nothing in between. Did I want a training montage? No but would it have been nice to see how she came to grips with this new world order and worked to find her place? Absolutely.

Now again I have never seen or read Les Mis (however I can sing you some of the songs) so some of the big scenes between characters whose names I recognize went a little over my head as it seemed a bit out of place at times to have these underground societies dealing with their own mess while switching back to that of the French nobility and while there were bridges to fill some of those gaps I didn’t find all to be that successful and some of the structuring was too heavy handed to be believable but we had to connect the two somehow.

I feel like if you’re a big fan of the source material this is going to be a slam dunk for you and I’m not able to rule out watching the film and then trying this book again at a later date.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

OH. MY. GOSH. I have a new favorite thing, and I’m squealing with delight.

First things first:
1) If you can look at that cover and not want to read this book, well, you’re wrong.
2) I adore Les Miserables. Not the Victor Hugo novel. I’m sure it’s great, but who has the time to read that tome of all tomes? No, I love the movies and the musical. I’ve always been drawn to the character of Eponine. If you can watch her sing “On My Own” in the 2012 film without bawling, you have no soul. Imagine my excitement when I read that she’s the star of Court of Miracles!!!

With this novel, Grant gives us a unique spin on the Les Miserables story, plus a bit of an alternative history tale, and it is EVERYTHING!! Basically, there are nine guilds that were formed to give protection and a sense of identity to the outcasts, those deemed unworthy by the brutally powerful. Eponine is a member of The Guild of Thieves, and she must summon up the will and the wit to save those she loves from The Tiger, the leader of The Guild of Flesh. And yes, Cosette is one of those in need of saving. Insert squeal here!!

From the opening pages, Grant sets the atmosphere of her world: “It is before dawn, dark and silent. The corpses of the starving have been laid out on the cobblestones overnight, waiting for the carts to bear them away. The dead are wide-eyed, unhearing, uncaring, unafraid.” WOW, right? Well, you ain’t seen nothing yet!

This book is a beautifully-woven patchwork of misery and determination, exploitation and defiance, desperation and perseverance. It takes the grittiness of a city’s criminal underbelly and blends it with the flamboyance of the romanticized 19th century French court of yore and lore.

I didn’t read this book—I ate it! I didn’t even chew—I just swallowed entire pages whole. Now as with most extravagant feasts, this satiated feeling will pass, and I will again hunger—hunger for the sequel. I want it! I WANT IT NOW!!

I absolutely loved this book!! While some of the names and titles are a smidge difficult to follow the story sucks you in and grabs hold until it’s 3am and you’ve read the whole book in one sitting and you are wondering what the heck have I done???? Ok I know that was a lot, but seriously I could not put this story down. Here’s for hoping there will be a sequel?!?!

The comp titles are spot on, particularly the comparison to Six of Crows. Though I am only familiar with Les Mis and The Jungle Book through movies, I did not feel like I was missing any important piece of the story and could still see the traces of each. Nina was a great protagonist and I am curious to see where her relationship goes with the dauphin. But I was disappointed by the abrupt ending. Is it possible to find a standalone book in YA Fantasy anymore?

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

I really, really enjoyed this one. Nina is sort of a bad ass and the story line was very gripping. I can't name a part where I was bored. The whole thing had my attention the entire time!

The Guilds were very interesting to learn about. The events that happened keep you interested and the twists and turns are very unexpected. Nina is very likable and at times she had me laughing out loud. I can't wait to find out what happens if there is a second!

I cannot believe what I just read. That was such a roller coaster. From the moment I started this I have been carrying it everywhere trying to finish it as fast as possible. I could not put it down for the life of me.
I am always worried when new books are compared to some of my favorites. In this case, Six of Crows . It's usually never as good and has me lusting for a reread. I cannot believe I can say that I actually love this more than Six of Crows .
I am sitting here, having just sat the book down and I am still crying and angry. The ending thoroughly destroyed me and I will never forgive the emptiness I feel in this moment.
The Court of Miracles was beautiful, violent, unique, and insane. I cannot wait for its release so I can count down the days until the next novel. That is literally all I am going to be able think about for the rest of my night.

I thought this book was a good retelling of Les Mis. It's set in an alternate reality, in which the French Revolution failed and there is still a king on the throne. The main character, Nina, works for a thieves' guild, which has essentially become her family, since her father is abusive and her older sister is addicted to opium.
The book mainly centers around Nina trying to keep her adopted sister Ettie safe from a rival guild. Nina is extremely clever and sarcastic, and I really liked reading from her point of view. She's a great character with a lot of admirable and relatable qualities.
I also think the world was very interesting, especially all of the different guilds and how they work together and maintain an unsteady peace. I think that it would've been even better if the world was a bit more developed.
Other than that, the book was slow at times, and very plot-driven, rather than character-driven. Because of this, while I did like Nina as a character, I didn't feel as if I knew her very well. I also thought that the way the author handled the (very little) romance in the book was strange and didn't really let me know how Nina was feeling.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

Les miserables meets Six of crows..It was impossible not to read this book!

Set in a world where the French Revolution has failed, in Paris cruel nobility and nine Underworld criminal guilds reign, the Court of miracles. Nina is a cat bulglar and she takes care of Ettie, her adoptive sister. When She attracts the eye of the lord of the Guild of flesh, Nina is ready to do anything to protect her.

Robberies, love, family, lotalty, this book has everything and it's brilliant and moving. Nina is an unforgettable main character, smart and stubborn.

The second I realized I had been approved to read this, I snatched it up and didn’t stop till the ends Wow! The storyline was well thought out and executed, and WOW was I super impressss by the world building!!!! It isn’t easy to create a new world without gaps or holes, yet it was fascinating to read about! My only complaint is that the characters weren’t really that fleshed out or relatable. But I did enjoy it :)

I really liked this story! The writing was lovely and so was the story line. I just couldn't connect to the characters as much as I wanted to.

**Disclaimer: I was given a free e-book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.**

Title The Court of Miracles

Author Kester Grant

Release Date April 7, 2020

Description from Amazon

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) Thénardier 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.

Initial Thoughts

Tagged as Les Mis meets Six of Crows, I absolutely knew I had to read this book. I love French history and this book sounded AWESOME.

Some Things I Liked

Ocean’s Eleven vibes. I loved the various heists, jobs, and secrets that Nina balanced throughout the story. She was always several steps ahead of everyone and I loved trying to keep up with her.
Les Mis was more than just a reference. All of the main characters from the classic work have their roles here. I really enjoyed seeing them repurposed to fit into this setting.
FRANCE. Ugh, the setting was so amazing. I love French history and the writing here was so well researched and decadent.
Nina and all the boys. Nina was so nonchalant about the fact that all the boys liked her. I loved her attitude about everything. She might be one of my favorite main characters of all time.

Series Value

I can’t wait for the next book. I really enjoyed the way this book wrapped up, but I will be very disappointed if Kester Grant does not write a sequel. These characters have so much more to do and say and I’ll be there when they do.

Final Thoughts

I absolutely loved this book. I highly recommend it. Also, please note, I am writing this in February. I totally put off my March ARCs in favor of reading this June release because it sounded so good!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

An Affair of Poisons by Addie Thorley – if you liked the themes of revolution in France but were looking for something with a dash of magic, try this standalone by Addie Thorley.
Madame Tussaud’s Apprentice by Kathleen Benner Duble – once again, if you liked the themes of French revolution and the war between classes, try this standalone.
Rook by Sharon Cameron – if you liked the setting, French themes, and characters, but, you wanted a more sci-fi / futuristic setting, try this standalone by Sharon Cameron.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.

Rating 4.5

I loved this book. It was such an easy read. I adore books with this theme of criminals and gangs or what-have-you. Books like Six of Crows, Ace of Shades, etc. They’re so good and intriguing. I especially loved the various guilds of this one. They seemed more unique than others, but perhaps I say that every time. At first, the little stories at the beginning of each part were average to me. Stuff that’s not super relevant to the current book throws me off. Then I learned they were true stories of the past.!! It made them so much cool. I almost want to go back and read them again. Not to overuse the word, but I loved Nina’s character. She was perfect for me. Sassy, skilled, determined. She definitely enhanced the story. I could do without the Les Mís. I’m honestly not sure that it served a purpose. Bits were just thrown in at points. I don’t know. I didn’t love it. There was also very little romance, which is unusual nowadays. It was refreshing though, and I didn’t find myself craving it. So, overall, this book was great and is worth buying.!

This novel was a great read! Some many plot twists and devious plans kept me enthralled from start to finish. The story is told from first person point of view by Nina Thénardier, aka the Black Cat. The novel takes place over a few years. Nina has lost much and is protective of those she loves, which allows her to have weaknesses. Nina is a thief in a time when the French Revolution has failed and the nobility want revenge on the peasants. Everyone has a plan and betrayals are common. Nina lost one sister and was not about to lose another, even if it means her own life. Nina gathers allies, for there are no friends in the Court of Miracles. But Nina has her own agenda and develops a plan to destroy the one who has ruined her family, the Tiger. Few of the guilds stand up against the Tiger, for most are afraid of him and would rather stay on his "good" side. Nina will stop at nothing to end the Tiger's reign, even if it involves starting a war. Nina is resourceful and uses it to her advantage, so it is time that someone stood up to those who have oppressed them, both the guilds and the nobility. Looking forward to the next novel in the series!

The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant is a retelling unlike any other I’ve ever read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Alfred A. Knopf Books for the ARC of The Court of Miracles that I received. The Court of Miracles is set to publish June 2nd, 2020.

I should start off this review by saying that I’d never read, watched, or even remotely knew what Les Miserables was about before reading The Court of Miracles.

In fact, I had no interest at all in watching it.

My wife had begged me for years to watch Les Miserables, and for years I put it off.

Why?

Because I’m not a huge musical person, and despite all the big name actors and actresses, there was nothing about Les Miserables that I found intriguing.

Enter The Court of Miracles.

The premise of the book is what gripped me. I am a sucker for a good thief story, and The Court of Miracles promised that.

The forward of the novel was written by VP and Publishing Director of Alfred A. Knopf Books, Melanie Nolan. She said it was a gripping tale that captured her from the very beginning and she hoped I would have as magical a journey as she did.

Oh, how right she was.

There’s not a page of The Court of Miracles that isn’t filled with excitement, adventure, intrigue, or backstabbing.

While I hadn’t watched Les Miserables before beginning this book, I certainly had by the time I was done.

I read the first 70% of The Court of Miracles in under 24 hours.

And probably would have completed the whole book in the same time frame is not for the brief pause I took to actually watch Les Miserables.

I was curious to see just how much of the original story was in this book.

Usually when a book touts that it’s a retelling, I think of something like Throne of Glass. That book claimed to be a Cinderella retelling if only Cinderella were an assassin.

Throne of Glass resembles nothing of Cinderella except the vaguest of possible overlaps.

How is Court of Miracles similar?

The Court of Miracles is not so much a retelling as it is a rewriting of the original story by Victor Hugo, but from a different perspective (and a different outcome).

You’ll recognize many familiar names such as Jean Valjean (who takes a major backseat in The Court of Miracles), Inspector Jalvert (who is a woman now), Cosette, Thenardier, and of course Eponine–or Nina for our story.

The French Revolution is still the backdrop, Jean Valjean is still an escaped prisoner, Jalvert is still hunting him, Eponine is still the daughter of Thenardier.

But that’s probably about where the similarities end.

How is it different?

At the beginning of The Court of Miracles, Melanie Nolan said she felt that Eponine got the short end of the stick in the original novel by Victor Hugo.

After watching Les Miserables, I would agree.

But this is Eponine’s tale, rewritten to make her the hero, her the center of attention, her the amazingly strong woman she could have been.

The Court of Miracles is written in first person and we never leave Nina’s POV. She is driven by love, but not her love for Marius. Marius isn’t even in this book.

No, Nina is driven by first her love for her sister, and secondly her love for Ettie (Cosette).

The Court of Miracles is not about Jean Valjean’s life or really about the city itself, but more about Cour des miracles. Otherwise known as the slum districts of Paris.

What is the Court of Miracles?

The Court of Miracles is a secret society of nine guilds. I don’t really remember them all, but the main ones of note are the Thieves Guild, the Assassin’s Guild, the Beggar’s Guild, and the Flesh Guild.

Nina quickly becomes a part of the Thieves guild, like her father Thenardier.

Thenardier is not the silly buffoon he is in Les Miserables. No, he’s a conniving, heartless despot that’s willing to sell one of his daughters for some extra coin. He would willfully bring harm to either one of them if it were beneficial for him to do so.

Nina leaves him behind to make the Thieves Guild her home, and what a good thief she is.

There’s nowhere Nina can’t go, and no locked door she can’t get out of.

After her sister is sold to the ruthless Lord of the Flesh Guild, The Tiger, she spends the rest of the book trying to save her sister. And put an end to his iron grip that he has on the whole Court of Miracles.

Along the way, we bump into Jean Valjean, who happens to be a member of one of the guilds in this story. He helps at different points in the story, and some major events from Les Miserables still occur in The Court of Miracles.

Fans of the original tale will squeal with glee at these Easter eggs tucked into the story.

My Thoughts

Make no mistake, The Court of Miracles is it’s own tale that really has nothing to do with Les Miserables.

It shares some characters, it shares some overarching events, but the tale is new, and just because you know what happens in Les Miserables does not mean it will happen in The Court of Miracles the same way.

I found the story to be enchanting with only a few minor bumps along the way.

At times, Nina finds herself in the palace of the King and Queen of France. And while she’s there, just about every policeman, servant, and even the Royals themselves gullibly believe everything Nina has to say.

Nina should have been arrested many times over and met with suspicion far more often than she is. And that everyone else around Nina could be so stupid rubbed me the wrong way at times, but did little to diminish the unfolding story.

Whether you’re a fan of Les Miserables or not, The Court of Miracles is sure to be a gem you won’t want to miss.

4.5/5 stars

I was hoping I'd like this book … I wasn't expecting to be completely spellbound by it. Rich, mesmerizing, unique and yet similar to so many stories we love, this was amazing.

… But seriously, how many men does the protagonist need swooning over her to greater or lesser degrees … and why do they all have to be likable in their own bizarre ways …