The Court of Miracles

I can't believe I got the eArc from NetGalley! I was so curious about this one especially when they showed us the real cover. Because lets be honest the cover is splendid! It's that kind of cover that makes you wanna buy the book before you read the blurb. And I'm so glad I had the honor to get this eArc.

I loved the plot. I didn't read Six of Crowns (I know shame on me 🙈) but I can understand why The Court of Miracles is for their fans. What I didn't know it's that this book is based on the real Court of Miracles. You learn something new every day!

I'm not a big fan of historical fictions, but this one captivated me so bad that I had to finish. I loved the world building, the characters are well-defined and you can fall in love easily with the main character because she is strong and believes in her powers, in her ideas that she can change the world.

Thank you NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

The Court of Miracles is set in an alternate Paris 1828 after a failed revolution, where the city is divided by the merciless Royalty and nine underworld criminal guilds.
The protagonist Cat is a young girl from the guild of Thieves who will do anything to protect her sister, even if it means breaking guild laws and death.
This was really good and not what I was expecting. It's a dark and captivating story with lots of diverse characters.

Highly enjoyed this very well written book and look forward to reading more from this writer in the future !!

There are 26 letters in the alphabet, and around 170,000 words in the English language. Despite The Court of Miracles often referring to phrases in French, there are still no words I can use to explain how amazing this book was.

For the first time in a very long time, I have met a book burning with -and driven by- plot. This is a story some others may have known, and takes a considerable yet subtle influence from Les Mis, but also one totally soaked and dripping with majesty and culture.

The Court is a very different book than I usually read, one where you don't really hear inside the characters heads, and instead feel like you are watching a beautiful period drama. It's painfully raw and expresses the untold story of those truly at the bottom of the foodchain in France. At first I was a little intimidated from how different this story was, but I found myself devouring it page after page, unable to stop reading.

I am dying for a sequel, if there shall be one at all, and am now finally considering revisiting the world of Les Miserables, to quench my thirst of a need from more painfully echoing struggle in this time.

I would recommended this to all seeking a new- fresh story. Something to liven up your day in this trying time.

Every so often a book comes along that just by looking at the cover you know you are going to be enthralled by the story being told inside.

From the first page The Court of Miracles grabs you and drags you along through a world filled with mystery, intrigue which is so intricately crafted you feel as if you there.

The plot is well paced and the characters extremely engaging. Court of Miracles is a brilliant opener to the series that leaves you wanting more.

The Court of Miracles is fantastic.

A beautifully twisty plot and a fascinating setting, with a beautiful young innocent tossed into a dark world of powerful criminal guilds and opulent, vicious royalty, and a clever, brilliant thief determined to save her at any cost.

Now, I really don't know much about Les Miserables. I know enough of it to be aware of some definite crossovers/influences, but I'm sure there was a lot I missed. As far as I can tell, The Court of Miracles is happening alongside Les Mes in some kind of alternative reality France, with the two separate stories crossing over and occasionally colliding. In that alternative France, the Revolution failed, and it's fascinating to see this alternate history where the monarchy still holds power and the leaders of the revolution were the ones to face the guillotine.

I loved the setting, with the courts, and how these were slowly introduced over the course of the novel. I had to keep track of how many I'd actually seen and what the different ones were, but this felt like a very organic way of revealing them. Also, I absolutely love the fact that among the smugglers, thieves, assassins and whores, there was a court of accountants and auditors, and that they were the truly scary ones! They were reminiscent at times of the Guilds in Ankh-Morpork, though with a much more sinister and scary edge. I loved the uncertainty of it all, who was an ally, who couldn't be trusted, and who was just out to serve themselves.

Nina was a very cool main character, who was always very impressive. I loved exploring the city through her eyes, and some of the dilemmas she faced were really quite emotional. Her relationship with Ettie really drove the narrative and I found myself enthralled.

I'm really looking forward to returning to the Court of Miracles for further daring adventures.

I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. This book truly sunk its claws into me and i could not stop thinking about it. It is so readable that I very much could have read it in one sitting.

Court of Miracles is a retelling of Les Miserables, set in an alternate history where the French Revolution failed. The main character of our book is Nina, Eponine, a well regarded thief in the thief in the theives guild. The Court itself is made up of all the main players you would expect in a seedy underworld, an assassins guild, master of poisons, a guild who run the paris brothels, the theives and so on.

Eponine is determined to save her sister Ettie, Cosette, from their father Thenadier who is scheming to sell Ettie to the master of the flesh guild because of her beauty. In order to protect Ettie, Nina finds herself having to break into the palace, come face to face with the Dauphin, break into the bastille and do the bidding of every guild in the court.

The characters from Les Mis are revealed slowly, so it builds and you realise that this person is a reference. Many of the characters are different from their counterparts if you are familiar with the book, film or stage show, so far as they can be removed from them and thought of seperately. There are lots of hidden references for fans of Les Mis throughout the book though so don't worry.

The book has been compared to Six of Crows, which I can understand, it is very much a heist book, but for me it felt like The Bone Season series by Samantha Shannon, and particually The Mime Order. The machinations of the court are just as important as what is going on with Nina. They are pervasive and effect everything that Nina does. You cant second guess them!

My only point of contention with the book is kind of the key premise. It is set in an alternate history where the French Revolution fails. That's fine, but adding the characters from Les Miserable to this makes it a little problematic. The revolution depicted in Les Miserable was not "The French Revolution" but a much smaller student revolution which did fail. It was quite small and insignificant and arguably would have been completely lost to history had Victor Hugo not been sitting across the street writing his novel. So in some respects, using these characters gives them more siginifance than they need. In fact, it almost doesn't need the addition of these characters and perhaps would have been just as good using original characters.

Still an incredibly fun read and I cannot wait for book 2!

Confession: I haven't read Les Miserables (Court of Miracles is a re-imagining of this classic). Does this matter? I don't think so, although purists may disagree.

I ADORED this book. It swept me up into 19th century Paris and kept me fully immersed until I stumbled out, dazed, a while later. Grant vividly creates the sights, smells and sounds of this period and it provides the perfect backdrop for a truly compelling adventure with a wonderful array of larger-than-life characters and a tenacious, brave and enchanting heroine. Mesmerising and unforgettable....I want to read it again, already!

The Court of Miracles is being sold as a Les Misérables meets Six of Crows book, and as someone who has read neither… I really didn’t know what to expect. But it told me it’s a fantasy set in Paris after the French Revolution and there’s going to be a criminal underbelly masquerading as a well set out “court”. This honestly just made me think of the Pirate court from the Pirates of the Caribbean, and honestly I was living for it.

Our main character Nina has been trained from a young age to be a thief by her father, who is a master in the Thieves Guild. But when her father sells her sister to the Tiger, the Lord of the Guild of Flesh – our little Black Cat pulls out all her claws. What I loved most about Nina is that despite her being hell bent on revenge and getting her sister back, she learns early on that she should not put others at risk for her own benefit. This is the opposite to her father Thenardier’s dealings, and so she learns to be a better person.

Nina is the Black Cat and some of the best scenes were watching her steal into places. Whether its the Dauphin of France’s bed chambers to steal a jewel (and a kiss), or a Prison to steal a prisoner, Nina is always thinking of ways to get the job done. Despite this, Nina does have flaws, and she makes mistakes. There’s times in the book where her plans go awry, but she still stays confident.

The Thieves Guild itself is somewhere that I would love to explore just a little bit more. The place is filled with gold and jewels stolen by the members, and it contains multiple types of thieves. I loved the introduction to the Thieves Guild as it also acts as an introduction to the Court of Miracles as a whole. Nina’s refusal to call anyone but the Lord of the Thieves Guild her father, and the city of Paris her mother was a great addition to show how important this society is.

Despite also joining the Court of Miracles, Ettie is an absolute sweetheart. She has a heart of gold and can be extremely naive, but she would do anything for Nina. They’re sisters by choice and not by blood, but watching their relationship mature throughout the book was so well written. Ettie starts off by being completely dependent, but soon learns how to survive on the rough streets of Paris.

The Tiger is our main antagonist, and is mainly just a very scary man. There’s a backstory of him being abandoned by the Court, which encouraged him to return and take over the Flesh Guild – and I think this really helped us to understand why he refuses to play by the Courts laws. He wants what he wants, and if he doesn’t get it he will lash out. In the end, I loved the dynamic between The Tiger and Nina as he starts to see her as an adversary and not just a child.

The Court of Miracles is made up of multiple guilds which contain different types of criminals. Despite being criminals and often morally corrupt, everyone under the Court is a family and there’s no judgement due to race or religion in this family. I loved that Grant ensured her cast was diverse and it pointed out issues of class throughout Paris.

The world building around Paris and the guilds really helps to build up this story of the Court of Miracles. I enjoyed the snippets of information that is told to you at the beginning, and that comes back up later. The Dead Lord likes to tell stories, and at times you really do think you’ve fallen into one of them.

Whilst Nina and Ettie are the two main characters, others appear to help them out in their schemes, including an Assassin, a Rebel and a Prince. Montparnasse, St. Juste and The Dauphin of France all see something in Nina that they like. I enjoyed the relationship she had with each of them altered throughout the book, without turning anything into a love triangle.

The pacing is slow at the very start and the middle, but picks up in between and at the end as Nina concocts a plan. The time jumps help to move the story forward at a faster pace, whilst still letting us see the main factors that help both girls grow into what they need to be.

In the end, I loved The Court of Miracles. I’ve read very little books that include this criminal underbelly aspect (the last book I can think of is Into the Crooked Place) and I think I should pick up more like it. I’m excited for the sequel and third book in the series.

Positives of The Court of Miracles
World building
Character Development
Negatives of The Court of Miracles
Slow pace

This book absolutely gripped me in its story and characters. The detail put into the building up of Nina's world is incredible and learning about each guild was as interesting as the plot itself. I really can't wait for the rest of this trilogy, I'm certain it'll be bestselling.

As a huge fan of Les Mis, I was not disappointed with this book! The pacing was good throughout, and you really got a sense of Nina and her world. I loved the subtle nudges towards the original story (or musical) but there was enough originality there to make it so much more than just a simple 're-telling'.

The prose managed to capture the grimness of the underbelly of Paris, while also presenting (in a strange way) the beauty in the anarchy of the slums. I enjoyed travelling around Paris with Nina as there are many/enough gestures to big landmarks to help you with your bearings.

Overall, this book is readable and enjoyable. I was told it's like The Jungle Book meets Six of Crows. The book comparison that kept coming to mind, however, was Nevernight - although The Court of Miracles isn't strictly about assassins, it has the same sort of darkness and gravitas as Nevernight.

I enjoyed this a lot. Great plot, fantasy elements and characters. Loved it! I'd read from the author again.

This book is beautiful and brilliantly written. I loved it, atmospheric and lyrical this book really is something different. I’d like to write a lot more, but this is a story best read ‘cold’ wIth no prior knowledge of the storyline...so I’ll just say read it!

Crazy, original, unique and incredible Story, I absolutely loved this book! Set in an alternative Paris, the revolution has failed and now this glorious city is divided into Royalty and the mass of the underclass. These wretches have banded themselves into nine Guilds, under the umbrella of The Court of Miracles. These Guilds comprise of the Thieves, Beggars, Assassins,Gamblers,Mercenaries,Smugglers,Prostitutes,
Opium Eaters and Men of Letters. Each guild has a leader, dedicated followers and a law of behaviour and codes to follow. At times, this reads like a twisted morality tale, but it is the continual fight between good and evil that is the central tenet. Anything that can mix the story about Mice and Les Miserables, is a sure winner!.
Nina is the narrator, a young feisty fighter, concerned with finding her sister who has been sold into the guild of flesh, by their father. Lord Kaplan, who rules this group is terrifying, yet, throughout we read hints of a sad beginning to his young life, and we guess that he wishes revenge upon the Court of Miracles for a wrong done to him. Revenge and justice shine throughout this enjoyable, yet gruesome romp, and I was cheering all the way! Nina certainly has the required killer instincts, and I hope these will be explored further in other books that must surely come in this series!!
I love the descriptions and the usage of names in this book. Charlotte Corday as the leader of the Assassins guild, that’s too delicious for words!! The rescue and escape from The Grand Chatelet, was rich in all senses of the word. The mere mention of Jean Valjean, provoked singing of the lyrics of that fine film, Les Miserables, and the revolutionaries at the barricades, likewise.
A remarkable book, full of likeable people. Nina, brave and loyal. Femi who swore an oath to protect Nina, that he absolutely adhered to. I loved the hapless St. Juste, always getting into drunken troubles, having no sense of self preservation, and a nicely sense of inflated ego.
The hypnotist at the Royal ball and the subsequent boiling of hands was different, and the young Dauphin was rather sweet, if rather naive. The descriptions of the French Patisseries were sublime, I could almost taste them!
In short, mere words have a hard job to describe this wonderful novel. The sort of book where you want to both find out what happens, but don’t want it to finish. When do we want the next one? Why, yesterday, of course! A five star read in every sense. Such ingenuity and delight in every page. I heartily recommend this book, and intend to buy this for my daughter when published. I would run this by my eldest grandson, but when I tried to give him a book I had enjoyed as a child, he just looked up and said, Did you have books when you were a little girl Nana?, and I’m only mid sixties!! Read and enjoy, and spread the love for this novel.

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

Court of Miracles pretty much hits the ground running, part 1 of the book is only around 16% and yet SO much happens! When we first meet Nina she is living in her fathers Tavern with her sister Azelma, a sister who usually loving has all of a sudden distanced herself. We find out the reason for this and what happens sets into motion a chain of events that no one could predict. Nina is whisked away to the underworld of Paris and swears herself to the Lord of Thieves becoming his Black Cat. Her journey takes her to the world of revolutionaries, day-walkers, people who a generally unaware of the criminal underground and who the guilds have little do do with; and the Palace to the side of the Dauphin himself. She makes herself invaluable to those around her racking in debts along the way, so when the time comes her wishes might just be granted, and her one chance to rescue her sister will depend on those debts being called in.

“Escape my Lord? I’m the Cat of the Thieves Guild.’ I smile in the darkness. ‘I’m here to steal you.’

Like I said above the book certainly starts with a bang and what follows can only be described as a big ass fire work display. A lot happens over the course of this book and though it is massively character driven the author still manages to put together a plot that will keep you hooked to the page. She gives you the revolutionary Paris that fans of Les Miserable will know and love, but adds to it an underground filled with guilds for thieves, beggars, assassins, mercenaries, smugglers, prostitutes, opium eaters and men of letters. I really enjoyed the parts of the book where we got a deeper insight into the guild, and I thought the author balanced the plot and the history of her world beautifully. We get little insights into how the court was started and how the current Lords and Lady’s came to be in power, and at the same time the author manages to foreshadow future events and the amount of times I found myself turning back pages, wondering how I hadn’t seen certain plot points coming is innumerable. Les Mis fans will appreciate the little Easter eggs the author plants with well known characters and plot lines but she puts her own twist on it making it less on the nose than some would think.

“I’m no woman, no girl. I’ve no blood father or home or any of the false cards this life dealt me. I chose who I am; I’m the Black Cat. A daughter of this city. A Child of Tomasis, Lord of the thieves guild. No one can take anything else from me because the Tiger already took it. And I’m going to get it back.”

The characters make the book. It might only be told from Nina’s perspective but through her time with the guilds, revolutionaries and Royalty we get introduced to a whole host of side characters that the author completely brings to life. It is rare for a book to contain so many pivotal characters without loosing any of their essence but, though I do love Nina, my favourites were some of the side characters that we get to interact with through her eyes. Nina was brilliantly written. She oozes a kind of honour and strength that unknowingly attracts people to her. She racks in debt after debt by simply doing the right thing, even if the reasoning behind it isn’t always as faultless. Her only aim in life is to bring her sister safely home and she will do literally anything to achieve that. The other what I would class as ‘main character’ was Ettie. She was lovable and slightly naive and my only chagrin is that we don’t really get to fully appreciate her character growth as so much of it happens off page. The author kind of forgoes world building to give her characters the page time they deserve and trust me… you will fall in love with them all.

” You know we can’t survive this Ettie.’ I say softly. ‘Then we die together.’ She replies shaking out her curls defiantly.’ I’d rather live one glorious night hunting by your side, Nina Thenadier, than a hundred lifetimes without you.”

Relationships play a huge part in this book. Whether they are familial love, friendships, unsure alliances or romantic. The main relationship we get an insight to is that of Nina and Ettie. Nina would do anything to protect sweet and innocent Ettie after she catches the Eye of the Tiger and their sibling style relationship was a pleasure to follow throughout the book. Nina also makes some truly bizarre friends and unlikely alliances throughout the book, some of which had me laughing out loud for their absurdity. Romance wise this book contained very little of it, despite Ettie wanting to set Nina up with any boy who looks at her. There are three boys who the author eludes could be future romantic partners, and I know who my favourite is, but Nina has bigger things on her plate and I liked how the author kept her away from being the simpering girl in love with every boy in her life.

“I’ve never been able to fight your battles. I’ve not been able to lift my hand to protect you. I cannot risk dragging my guild into this war.’ His eyes are burning with emotion. ‘But if he kills you, I’ll take his head from his body and i’ll sit it on a pike in the middle of the Lords’ table in the Miracle Court and none will ever take it down. There it will rot, the worms will eat it to bone, and all who see it will remember you.’ His voice breaks.’ Even if Corday asks my life of me in return, I’ll do it I swear.”

The plot twists in the book made me dizzy, honestly so many times I thought I knew where the story was going and then bam! Plot twist. In most cases the author places hints for those savvy enough to notice them, but they completely took me by surprise. I’ve already mentioned that the plot is fast paced, and because of how much happens it is hard to talk about without giving away any major spoilers. I would say that if I hadn’t already known this book was part one in a series I wouldn’t have guessed it from the ending. And what an ending it was, I was glued to the pages and flew through the last 30% or so. There were some plot points left open but it was a little too neatly tied in a bow for me to get a good idea of where book two will be going. I would love for the second book to be multi perspective, simply because of all the amazing characters we get introduced too and will eagerly be awaiting its arrival

I attempted to read the original, unabridged version of Les Miserables at the beginning of this year and gave up at 37%. Bizarrely this book starts at that same point - with a young girl carrying a heavy bucket of water back to the inn which is run by her abusive father. I wasn't sure whether I would enjoy this book as I wasn;t aware of the Les Mis link when I requested the title. But it is an enthralling story, well written and fast paced with some excellent charcters. I loved the reimagining of Javert. I highly recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction, fantasy and sometihng to take your mind off of the every day. And the cover is just gorgeous. With thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review a free e-ARC.

Damn but it feels good to have read a book that was 5 star from beginning to end. THE COURT OF MIRACLES was a page-turner and a half and I am truly sad it is over. I’ve heard all the rumours of Les Miserables and Jungle Book in the same breath as this release and in my opinion, it sits well with these ideas in the background. The execution of this kind of retelling was superb in every way.

Eponine (Nina) but mostly referred to as ‘Black Cat’ was a young novice of the Parisian underworld. She was equipped with the kind of foolish courage you see in someone young but that nerve and intuition moulded her into a thief admired by seasoned Masters of the Court. This was a world that was easy to understand despite the complexities that were apparent, I never once felt lost in the world building. This court of different ‘tribes’ of the city’s underworld had so many great characters to cheer for. I adored the ghosts, the thieves, the assassins and the people of the pen.

"I’m the Black Cat of the Thieves Guild and these are the things I have done."

Life was tough for Nina, but she staunchly fought for her two sisters, she was loyal and sneaky and unrelenting; I adored her. I also enjoyed the humble ignorance she had for those three young men that admired from a distance (this is not a romance, by the way). Her little sister was annoying and fun, her big sister was tragic. What I admired most about Nina was that she brough the different guilds together in a way they never had before; she sparked loyalty in the senior people because of her courage and ingenuity.

The best thing about this book was the not knowing where-the-heck the plot was headed, what would happen around any turn and the pacing alongside the excitement. It was a tale told over years and so also, there was no rushing. Kester Grant is a name to watch and an author to anticipate more from.

THE COURT OF MIRACLES was a stand out read for me this year (so far). I have that itching desire to pick it up again, maybe I’ll wait for my precious hardcover to arrive.

Thank you to Harper Voyager for the early review copy.

Thank you so much to HarperCollins and Netgalley for a free e-copy of this book. I am really sceptical when a book is compared to Throne of Glass or Six of Crows. I learnt my lesson with past reads so I lowered my expectations. But, this book was incredible and it definitely pulled it off: impossible heist and fierce heroine. I totally get the hype about this retelling of Les Miserables, it's flawless and I really can't add anything else, I am stunned. It was so good. It was way darker and more dramatic than I expected and the main character, Nina, is what a real fierce, brave and cunning character should be. With a very complex plot and a wide array of characters, it's super intriguing. This book is definitely a must read for all YA fans.

Absolutely loved The Court of Miracles—one of the most captivating books I’ve read this year. This brilliant reimagining of Les Miserables introduces us to some familiar names, and a similarly repressive setting, but a whole new story—primarily providing a redemption for the character of Éponine Thénardier. (There’s also an entertaining reinterpretation of the relationship between Javert and Valjean, amongst other threads.) I’d always thought that Éponine gets a raw deal in the original story. She is a spoiled and selfish child, but then she is forced to watch the man she loves fall for Cosette’s beautiful face, and then she tragically dies—her character redeemed only by her hopeless love. The Court of Miracles is dark, but fortunately nowhere near as depressing as Les Miserables.

In Kester Grant’s story, Nina (Éponine) becomes a member of the Guild of Thieves to prevent her avaricious father from selling her to Lord of the Guild of Flesh, like her older sister. Nina is unable to rescue her sister, but when her father’s ward similarly catches the evil Lord’s eye, she resolves to do whatever it takes to prevent him from taking Cosette as well. Like Les Miserables, the plot spans several years from Nina’s initiation into the Guild of Thieves as a child in 1823, to the Paris Uprising of 1832 and its aftermath.

Though Nina’s adventures, as a gifted burglar called the ‘Black Cat’, are gripping and entertaining as she slips unnoticed into palaces and prisons alike, the heart of this book is the relationship between Nina and Ettie (Cosette). Nina is a compelling protagonist; intrepid, sharp-witted and passionate about righting the wrongs of society. When the book begins Nina’s motives are extremely dark, and she is willing to sacrifice her foster-sister for her own ends, but as she spends time with Ettie their relationship develops to the point that Nina vows to protect her, even though this means going up against the most feared man in the Court of Miracles: Kaplan ‘The Tiger’, Lord of the Guild of Flesh. Ettie is beautiful but defenceless, but through the book she grows more self-sufficient until she is quite capable of standing up for herself and Nina.

The first thing that drew me to this book was its striking cover design: a representation of the dazzling French court, and below, its dark reflection—the Court of Miracles. (Historically this was a French term that referred to the slum districts of Paris—home to unemployed migrants.) In this book, the ‘wretched’ of Paris are divided into nine guilds controlled by nine Lords, together forming the Court of Miracles. Though it is a criminal underworld, it is also a refuge for those despised and rejected by society and subject its own laws and protections. Many of the characters also display this contradiction of darkness and light in varying measures.

The Court of Miracles has been compared to Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows and it definitely has a similarly fast-paced, high-stakes, heist-style plot and equally engaging characters. The structure of the Court also reminded of the mime lords and voyant gangs of Scion London in Samantha Shannon’s Bone Season series. Though there are no overt magical elements in this book, the author still manages to create an atmosphere of fantasy with the mystery and menace of the various Guilds and their charismatic Lords, as well as Nina’s almost mythic abilities. For me, the fact that it is inspired by real historical events and issues, like human trafficking, made it even more compelling.

The Court of Miracles swept me away to the treacherous underworld of 19th century Paris in a thrilling, nail-biting adventure that I couldn’t put down. I didn’t realise it was the first of a series, as its narrative arc felt so satisfying and complete, but I will definitely read the sequels and probably buy myself a hardback copy of this beautiful book, as well.

It was exciting from the beginning to the end, I really enjoyed it and would recomend it to all lovers of historical fantasy, there are just not enough novels out there that fit into this category.
I have also reviewed it on Goodreads, and intend to do so on Amazon, with a five star rating.
It is not often you get a novel like this, full of action and adventure.
Nina, better known as Black Cat, is a burglar for the Guild of Thieves; I hesitate to say more, for fear of spoiling the book, but this is an alternate history, where the French Revolution failed, thwarted by the nobles.
This novel is a real page turner, I was obliged to charge my tablet, otherwise I would have continued to read it all night.=

I was SO surprised to receive an E-Arc copy of this book but so grateful I did. I’ve been looking forward to this book and I’ve even preordered the Waterstones special edition because it looks beautiful!
I’m really intrigued by this book because I’ve heard its a Jungle Book (Rudyard Kipling not Disney) meets Les Misérables meet Six of Crows. I’ve never watched or read Les Misérables or read the Jungle Book so I was a little apprehensive about reading this as I have literally no idea about what is going to go down!

The Court of Miracles is a super fast paced action packed story, there’s a lot going on, some clever twists and a lot of characters. There’s different guilds for different things such as the Guild of Assassins. There’s Lords of the Guilds and then masters, etc with lots of different characters in each guild so I think I would have benefitted from some sort of character list. I enjoyed the characters, they were dark, real, flawed and mysterious and I would have liked to have known more about their backstories and how they came to join the guilds, etc.
There were quite a few time jumps throughout the book which I did find a little confusing at times, I also found the appearance of Cosette or Ettie as she’s called by Nina a little confusing, there was no build up to a younger sister character appearing so I could have done with some more clarity on how she came to be so important to Nina.

This is a great tale of sisterhood and about how far we’ll go for those we love and for Nina, there is no limit. I LOVE Nina, I thought she was brilliantly flawed and determined character. I’d love to see more of how she became such a talented thief and more about her relationships with the other characters and protentional love interests. I quite liked that was little romance in this story and that’s coming from someone who loves romance in stories haha.

The world building is incredible, you can really get a taste for what life would be like and it is not pleasant. The poverty, the desperation, famine, the wealth gap, abuse, illness, it feels SO real. The book is set in 1820s Paris after a failed revolution and Grant has done a superb job of imaging and capturing the spirit of the citizens of Paris and how difficult life was when dealing with the horrors of poverty and famine.

I don’t think you need prior knowledge of the Jungle Book, Les Miserables, Six of Crows, etc to be able to read this story, I just enjoyed this book for what it was; a bloody good book. I could have quite happily read this book in one sitting but forcibly made myself take breaks so I could enjoy it for longer. I just loved this book so much more than I thought I would, and cannot wait for the next installment in the series.
A hugeee thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the E- Arc of The Court of Miracles.

I had a copy of this book early through Netgalley.

This is a story of a fictional France where the revolution never succeeded and the characters of Les Miserables walk the streets. Where the Court of Miracles is a real institution with laws, and lords and ladies. The use of fables within the book and on occasion a certain stateliness of language helps to set the period. The way words are used is clever as well – Robespierre the Incorruptible who was a martyr immediately conjures a different man to the historical Sea Green Incorruptible although they both died on the guillotine.

The phrase, ′Pay it forward′ in real life usually refers to a kindness, but in this book an underlying theme seems to be that cruelty is paid forward. The failed revolutionaries of 1789 died as martyrs, but not before they torture Louis XVII as a child, and that child grows up to be a tyrant. A child is sold to a slaver, and grows up to shackle others. But this makes the book seem very grim and instead it is a fast-paced adventure where there is kindness and loyalty. The Black Cat who is the protagonist of the story is fun to be with and uses her particular talents to drive the plot, but I was also fond of Ettie who has a tender heart which is also an advantage in some situations.

If you know something about French history or Les Miserables then there is a delight in seeing how things have changed, but even without that pre-knowledge you could pick this book up as a straight fantasy and still enjoy it. I think other books are going to follow in the series but it is completely self-contained as a standalone story.

Absolutely amazing !
I was so happy to be approved for an ARC of this book and I was even more ecstatic reading it.
This is a wonderful story, it’s extremely well written, I loved Kester’s writing style so much. The world building, character construction is just superb. I love les miserables and six of crows so this was a dream of a read for me and if you love both those things you will love this too.
I just absolutely adored this, it’s brilliant and will stay with you long afterwards, an unforgettable story.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I need to be able to give books 6/5 stars please.

The Court of Miracles is so so *so* good, I absolutely devoured it. This book is very reminiscent of Six of Crows in the best possible way although I loved it far more than SoC personally. Although I'm familiar with the broad strokes of Les Miserables I can't attest to how in keeping it is with *that* story (although Javert is a woman and I know that bit isn't the same!) but I certainly loved exploring this world. Kester Grant describes it so richly and thoroughly. We focus on Eponine, or Nina as she is here, and her various exploits to try and save her sisters. She is clever, quick-witted, has integrity, honour, and a keen sense of justice. She was a fascinating character to be our guide through Paris during those dark days.

I'm not usually a book hangover person but I waited a day before starting another book just so I could keep savouring the last bits.

This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2020. From the moment it was announced I have been dying to read this and I’m so thankful to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an e-arc of this.
I was not disappointed!
I’ve never read or watched Les Miserables, so apart from reading the blurb I went into this blind about what would happen.
This was truly, beautifully written. I enjoyed every word, every letter, from start to finish. I normally devour books, but this is the first book I’ve read in a long time that I felt the need to make last! I just didn’t want it to end.
I adored Nina and Ettie and the bond they made. I LOVED the Ghosts and Orso himself. The vibe of The Court of Miracles was so dark and mysterious and I really felt ruthlessness and also their dedication to their Guilds.
I need the next book right now!

The court of miracles by by kester grant is a book I was originally interested in due to the absolutely stunning cover. I can honestly say that the story inside matches the beauty of the cover. The book is about a young thief who’s sister Azelma has been sold to a vicious lord by her father and the last thing she wants before she is taken is for her sister to escape her father and to get to safety where she will have protection from his drunken antics. After finding her new family she gains a great bond with a young girl and takes her under her wing as a new sister and the story kicks off from there. This story had a found family, great political system and a great cast of characters. I loved the characters and I think there is a lot more to learn about the characters and the world. I really loved this book and I have already preordered my finished copy 5 out of 5

An absolutely cracking read - shame on me for taking so long to get to it! Subtly influenced by Victor Hugo's Les Miserables and capturing the depth and action of Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows, this is a plot driven corker of a book that goes deep into political machinations, class divides and sisterly love. Phenomenal.

Paris, 1828: The French Revolution has failed, and the division between rich and poor is stronger than ever. The Wretched are divided into nine guilds, known as the Court of Miracles. Nina is a member of the Thieves Guild, her sister Ettie is coveted by the notorious Tiger, leader of the Guild of Fleshers. Nina is determined to protect Ettie at all costs, but those costs could end up with the whole Court at war.

The blurb for this describes it as Les Miserables meets Six of Crows. I haven’t read either of those (although they are now on my list), so I can’t make any comments as to the comparisons and whether fans of one will enjoy the other.

I fell in love with this book from the first few pages. Opening up with an intricate map of Paris, followed by a beautiful description of the nine Guilds, and then laws of the Court of Miracles, was a fantastic way to start the book. I read on Kindle, and found that introduction really alluring, and imagine it would be even more so in a physical copy.

Grant wastes no time in getting the action going. We learn Nina’s story in the first few chapters, although it took a while longer for me to work out where the book was going. The book skips forward in time significantly in a couple of places, which did catch me out the first time, but it was explained quickly. I think it works well and gives the author the opportunity to keep the story moving without having long periods of not much happening.

There is a wonderful cast of characters present, hugely diverse and very well characterised. Nina is a brilliant protagonist, she’s smart, fierce and incredibly strong minded. Montparnasse was another favourite of mine, although he is much more mysterious. Lady Corday, St Juste and Thomasis all deserve a mention too. The Queen made my blood boil, and I desperately wanted to see Thenardier get his comeuppance. Regardless of whether they were good guys or bad guys, the whole cast is richly imagined and this is where a lot of the magic of the book comes from.

I don’t read a lot of YA fantasy, I usually find that it isn’t really my thing, but something about this caught my attention on NetGalley and I’m 100% glad I requested it. It’s one of my favourite NetGalley reads for the year, and I will definitely be looking out for the sequel.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperVoyager for an arc in exchange for an honest review

This was a fantastic story set in Paris and inspired by the wonderful Les Miserables, I adored this story from start to finish, the world and story swept me away, I didn’t want it to end.

WELCOME TO THE COURT OF MIRACLES, where criminals are divided into guilds and there are rules to follow and loyalties to observe.

“Wretched is the name given to all children of the Miracle Court. What binds us is our guild. It is a bond stronger than family, thicker than blood.”

I was first drawn to this book by the blurb: “Les Misérables meets Six of Crows“. I instantly knew that I had to read it because Six of Crows is one of my favourite books. And then I saw the cover. Have you seen it? So beautiful, shiny, and sparkly… I could stare at it for hours. Finally, I was lucky and my Netgalley request was approved. I got the chance to read it earlier and I was hooked right away. I was catapulted in 1820s Paris, a Paris divided in half following the failure of the French Revolution, a Paris half belonging to aristocrats and half belonging to criminals.

“There are no family names in the Miracle Court, no race or religion.”

Thieves, assassins, crooks, and beggars are all reunited in the Court of Miracles and among them is the Black Cat. Nina would do anything to protect the people she loves, even join the Court of Miracles and becoming a thief, a favourite of the Court, the Black Cat of the Thieves Guild. She breaks into houses, she steals, she forms alliances with other criminals and princes to get what she wants… and she does.

I loved the characters in the story. They are strong, engaging, and very well-crafted and I am already looking forward to see what happens next to them. The story reminded me of Six of Crows, but it is still unique, completely captivating, and with a fantastic world-building. I loved how the Court of Miracles is structured, with its various guilds, its rules, and its alliances. Thanks to the beautiful descriptions and the author’s exceptional writing style I could imagine each scene in my head and it was really really hard to put the book down. The Court of Miracles is the first terrific novel in a fantastic new series and I can’t wait to read more. And you, are you ready to join the court?

A huge thank you to HarperVoyager and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of the novel.

I adored this book and immediately pre-ordered it. So, so good and clever and I need a sequel asap.
I loved the ideas, the little snippets of Les Mis (a favourite of mine) and how it was all put together. Merci!

This clever, fast-paced novel kept me on my toes and utterly transported me. Well done indeed, and thank you for the ARC!

First in a trilogy and can’t wait for the next
Based onthe Victor Hugo book Les Miserables but to my mind so much better
Utilising the characters from Hugo,s book we are drawn into the under belly of post revolution Paris and taken on an amazing journey as seen through the eyes of our heroine Cat.
Absolutely brilliant