Kester Grant’s The Court of Miracles is inspired by both Les Miserables and The Jungle Book. Set during the time of the French Revolution, those wretched that are forgotten and neglected, just outside the gates of the opulent palace in Paris, draw together and create their own laws to survive by. This Court of Miracles is made up of 9 guilds that coexist but do not interfere with one another’s business where possible.

On the night Alzema is sold by her father into the Fleshers Guild, she arranges for her younger sister Nina to be accepted into the Thieves Guild, where she will be protected from the same fate. Nina desperately tries to save Alzema but finds her way blocked by the same set of laws that are now protecting her. In her new guild, she becomes the Black Cat and forms both new allies and enemies- and maybe even friends. To save her sisters, both by blood and by bond, Nina must challenge the complacency, hypocrisy, and willful ignorance around her and be willing to sacrifice everything.

I really enjoyed Grant’s debut novel and can’t wait to read the next book in the series when it comes out! I love the bond created between Eponine “Nina” and Cosette “Ettie.” The whole story line of the guilds within the Court of Miracles and the laws they are supposed to follow was so cool. And the scheming lengths to which Nina must go for the one she has promised to protect are a sight to behold. On another note, I am in love with this Illumicrate edition with the metallic foiling on the jacket and the black sprayed edges
The Court of Miracles: 4/5 Stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
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a lot darker than i anticipated. its not a retelling of les mis, but it borrowed characters and setting, and with a dollop of jungle book. i think it has the signs of a book by a first time author, but what a lovely read nevertheless. i think i will pick up the rest of the series when i get a chance. ( )

4.5 stars
Excellent audiobook action novel ( )

This book pulled me out of a reading slump. Everyone saying that it's like Les Mis but better? Yes. I got so excited about it that my initial review was just a list on Twitter of things I loved:

- steal everything from the rich & never give up
- les mis but Eponine gets to stab the bad guy!
- Javert is a woman!
- Secret underworld in alt-history Paris, diverse cast and immersive world-building
- Eat the rich!

This is first in a series in which the French Revolution failed. The current monarchs are determined to maintain power at any cost and Nina (Eponine) is determined to save her sister, her pseudo-sister (Ettie/Cosette) and the entirety of her underground world from both the nobility and a horrible man called The Tiger. It's dark and dangerous and Nina breaks into things... It's so good. The ending will leave you wanting more.


Content Warnings: forced prostitution, forced drug use, slavery, murder, attempted assault, beatings and alleyway attacks, poisoned water (death of many children)

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Intricate and beautifully written book

I liked the setting and really enjoyed the writing. I would recommend it as an enjoyable spin on alternate historical fantasy. But I suppose as a personal preference I wanted a deeper sense of vast tragedy, which I could not find in this; specifically I wanted it because the book was comped to Les Miserables, which has such heart rending depths of personal sorrow. Here, the scope of the novel has been expanded to include complex and intricate guilds, but in exchange it has lost a touch of that deep interiority which I loved in classic Les Mis.

Ymmv there. Also, Javert being a woman was interesting. ( )