Friday, June 12, 2020

Review: The Court of Miracles

Title: The Court of Miracles
Author: Kester Grant
Publisher: 16th June 2020 by HarperCollins AU
Pages: 402 pages
How I Read It: ARC book
Genre: fantasy, young adult, retellings, historical fiction
My Rating: 4 cups


Synopsis:

A diverse fantasy reimagining of Les Misérables and The Jungle Book.
In the dark days following a failed French Revolution, in the violent jungle of an alternate 1828 Paris, young cat-burglar Eponine (Nina) Thenardier goes head to head with merciless royalty, and the lords of the city's criminal underworld to save the life of her adopted sister Cosette (Ettie).
Her vow will take her from the city’s dark underbelly, through a dawning revolution, to the very heart of the glittering court of Louis XVII, where she must make an impossible choice between guild, blood, betrayal and war.
My Thoughts


‘I like to think of this book as vengeance for years of wanting to strangle Marius ... and because Eponine deserved so much more!’
~Kester Grant


I love a good reimagining and what could be more inviting than Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables? This tale is set in Paris early 1800s where the Revolution has failed and the aristocracy is paranoid of future uprisings especially with a shortage of food and the lower classes numbers rising. Kester does well to capture the desperation of this burgeoning and desperate class. Enter the Court of Miracles.


‘There are no friends in the Miracle Court, only allies. You may think you have purchased her freedom tonight, but others will come for her eventually, including those you think are your friends, those you believe you can trust.’


The Court is composed of nine Guilds made up of the various poor and outcasts, ranging from beggars and thieves to smugglers and assassins. Each has its own leader and all must adhere to the strict rules governing the Court. I give credit to the originality and world building Kester has provided here. Yes, it was a little slow to start but it definitely picks up by the end. There are some jumps in time that are somewhat abrupt but overall it is well worth the journey. For the Young Adult fantasy genre, I think it hits the mark. 


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


Knowing Hugo’s original tale is not necessary but definitely enhances the appreciation of the twists provided here. I truly loved the way certain things were flipped from Javert being female, to Eponine (Nina) being as far removed from the heartbroken original as one could get. Nina is the heart and soul of this tale with the love of her sister Azelma and the care she later provides for Ettie (Cosette) being fierce and sincere. Kester provides a strong cast of characters, richly described and magically delivered.  


‘I hear the voice of the city around me: a beast, half mad with pain, clawing at my ears, demanding that I listen. Its pulse beats through the cobblestones, anchoring my steps as I climb up unscalable slippery walls that fall away beneath my fingers. But I’m the Black Cat of the Thieves Guild, and this is my hunting ground.’


The reimagining of an absolute classic is a big ask and I applaud Kester believing many will sign up for her future instalments. If you are into retellings and appreciate a good Young Adult tale then this one's for you. With a strong foundation of the Les Mis themes of poverty and injustice, law and order this is a tale to lose yourself in. 


"I see my whole life laid out before me drawn in threads of crimson, gray, and black. I see
how it started, with a sister weeping in her bed; a child so terrified she gave herself to a thief; a girl who was so lovely, the world would go to war to possess her .... it ends where it begins ... it ends with him.”




This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

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