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themiddlemiss 's review for:
The Court of Miracles
by Kester Grant
I think I may be biased in my view of this book - like so many others I saw the promise of Les Mis retellings, Six of Crows style criminality and heists, and badass women reclaiming their story and got excited, because those three things are my absolute JAM. That is not what this book was.
I devoured this book. It was an absolute page turner, and that I give Grant credit for, but I think part of that was because I was so... bewildered as to what was going on? The other thing I absolutely loved was the lore and the world building - I know Guilds and Courts are overdone in YA atm I am a sucker for a good criminal underworld, and the creation of the Lords and Masters and the way each Guild worked was fascinating, and I greatly appreciated that element.
HOWEVER
Maybe I'm being led by my adoration of Les Mis, but damn if you're going to market something as a retelling at least make sure it actually uses some elements of the original story beyond facile character name mentions? I won't deny I got really excited about Grantaire and Enjolras being mentioned but they were just The Revolutionary and The Drunk, which is a disappointing turn of events. Also, Enjolras as a potential love interest for our dear protag' Nina? The boy is SO queercoded in EVERYTHING it seems so strange, especially as his brain is basically just a French flag with Revolution written across it. 'Who cares about your lonely soul' n all that?
Also Javert was a WOMAN? Which would be so cool!! But it was literally just for some weird plot about her being the jilted lover of Jean Valjean which seems very redundant. And Cosette was reduced to a whimpering mess until the last... 5 pages, which seems like an injustice to her character.
Beyond that, to the actual plot, if you finish this book and haven't worked out that Nina is an Amazing Thief (TM) I'm not convinced you've read the book. I get it, she's the Black Cat, she's all skills and vengeance and can apparently run around and save the day with 24601 different injuries. Combine that with the fact that despite being one of the groundlings of her Guild she can basically command the other Guild Lords to do her bidding?? Actual superwoman/criminal mastermind.
She also has 3 love interests??? None of which come to fruition but are CONSTANTLY mentioned in a way that really distracts from the whole criminal vibe, especially as one is the Dauphin of France.
The time jumps were also jarring as hell, and unless you remember the date on the Book 2 (etc) page things get veeeeery confusing.
Finally, where's Marius at? I know the author hates him but he's a pretty vital character? And does Montparnasse do anything other than stand in corners scowling and spinning pretty knives before 'melting out of the shadows'? Because that's a mood.
I have so many questions, but I hate to admit that I'll probably read the second one just for the familiar characters and criminal underworld.
I devoured this book. It was an absolute page turner, and that I give Grant credit for, but I think part of that was because I was so... bewildered as to what was going on? The other thing I absolutely loved was the lore and the world building - I know Guilds and Courts are overdone in YA atm I am a sucker for a good criminal underworld, and the creation of the Lords and Masters and the way each Guild worked was fascinating, and I greatly appreciated that element.
HOWEVER
Maybe I'm being led by my adoration of Les Mis, but damn if you're going to market something as a retelling at least make sure it actually uses some elements of the original story beyond facile character name mentions? I won't deny I got really excited about Grantaire and Enjolras being mentioned but they were just The Revolutionary and The Drunk, which is a disappointing turn of events. Also, Enjolras as a potential love interest for our dear protag' Nina? The boy is SO queercoded in EVERYTHING it seems so strange, especially as his brain is basically just a French flag with Revolution written across it. 'Who cares about your lonely soul' n all that?
Also Javert was a WOMAN? Which would be so cool!! But it was literally just for some weird plot about her being the jilted lover of Jean Valjean which seems very redundant. And Cosette was reduced to a whimpering mess until the last... 5 pages, which seems like an injustice to her character.
Beyond that, to the actual plot, if you finish this book and haven't worked out that Nina is an Amazing Thief (TM) I'm not convinced you've read the book. I get it, she's the Black Cat, she's all skills and vengeance and can apparently run around and save the day with 24601 different injuries. Combine that with the fact that despite being one of the groundlings of her Guild she can basically command the other Guild Lords to do her bidding?? Actual superwoman/criminal mastermind.
She also has 3 love interests??? None of which come to fruition but are CONSTANTLY mentioned in a way that really distracts from the whole criminal vibe, especially as one is the Dauphin of France.
The time jumps were also jarring as hell, and unless you remember the date on the Book 2 (etc) page things get veeeeery confusing.
Finally, where's Marius at? I know the author hates him but he's a pretty vital character? And does Montparnasse do anything other than stand in corners scowling and spinning pretty knives before 'melting out of the shadows'? Because that's a mood.
I have so many questions, but I hate to admit that I'll probably read the second one just for the familiar characters and criminal underworld.