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tampzappy 's review for:
The Court of Miracles
by Kester Grant
Let’s caveat this with the fact that I am a HUGE Les Mis fan. I’ve seen the show multiple times, adore the movie, used to write Les Mis fanfic and read A LOT of it. That established - I have a lot to say about this book.
Overall it was an enjoyable read - I was reading it between two heavier books - and while it’s dark it’s still fast paced and engaging.
The major problem is that it is too action filled to be fully engaging. This book reads like a fanfiction and the issue with that is in the way it does. Fanfiction’s are often written in short spurts with authors providing weekly updates and needing engaging arcs to keep readers intrigued week after week. That’s a common style I felt while reading this book - especially the second third of it. We had an issue, a quest to solve it, and almost immediately another quest and so on. Again reading like a fanfiction in pace/style.
Problem is, this book isn’t a fanfiction. It’s under 400 pages and the way it’s written makes it a quick read - so the constant circular story line and time jumps (which skip vital backstory) makes it difficult to fully immerse and engage in. By the last third I was flying but that second third was rough to get through due to the half dozen missions that you can tell were made to be exposition.
It’s something I noticed more because during the time period I was reading this, I was also listening to “Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens. That story is also incredibly episodic - due to the manner in which it was being released. Don’t get me wrong I have issues with Dickens too but at least his array of characters and setting lends themselves to that style.
This book didn’t need to do that. I wish it was smoother and a more coherent story line. It almost made me loose interest but then again - it’s a first novel in a series so i understand the background had to be set up. With the new book coming out soon, I hope it’s more cohesive now that the stage has been set.
I also don’t know how I felt about the characters names since Éponine goes by Nina and Cosette as Ettie with Enjolras as St. Juste. It almost took me out of the narrative since most characters are original
Also don’t get me started on the little fall of rain reference- Éponine is my fave character from the og book and show and even that threw me off.
As for the actual characters- Nina is probably the most complex, and I enjoy that Cosette got teeth by the end. However the rest of the guild confused me to no end and several key points were rushed
SPOILERS:
* Thenadier sticking around after his hand was cut off, and then killing his boss at Éponine’s instructions when the whole guild world is made to forbid that was a total 180 and it made for a disastrously unsatisfying plot point.
* eponine also got shot in the leg right after she twisted an ankle but keeps moving/fighting - that literally made no sense and it almost seemed like the author forgot dear Nina was injured
* i did love how complex and clever Nina was and how it was showcased through the story. The twists in the last quarter of the book were actually super surprising and enjoyable.
Overall enjoyable but not something I found myself obsessed with. 3.5/5
Overall it was an enjoyable read - I was reading it between two heavier books - and while it’s dark it’s still fast paced and engaging.
The major problem is that it is too action filled to be fully engaging. This book reads like a fanfiction and the issue with that is in the way it does. Fanfiction’s are often written in short spurts with authors providing weekly updates and needing engaging arcs to keep readers intrigued week after week. That’s a common style I felt while reading this book - especially the second third of it. We had an issue, a quest to solve it, and almost immediately another quest and so on. Again reading like a fanfiction in pace/style.
Problem is, this book isn’t a fanfiction. It’s under 400 pages and the way it’s written makes it a quick read - so the constant circular story line and time jumps (which skip vital backstory) makes it difficult to fully immerse and engage in. By the last third I was flying but that second third was rough to get through due to the half dozen missions that you can tell were made to be exposition.
It’s something I noticed more because during the time period I was reading this, I was also listening to “Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens. That story is also incredibly episodic - due to the manner in which it was being released. Don’t get me wrong I have issues with Dickens too but at least his array of characters and setting lends themselves to that style.
This book didn’t need to do that. I wish it was smoother and a more coherent story line. It almost made me loose interest but then again - it’s a first novel in a series so i understand the background had to be set up. With the new book coming out soon, I hope it’s more cohesive now that the stage has been set.
I also don’t know how I felt about the characters names since Éponine goes by Nina and Cosette as Ettie with Enjolras as St. Juste. It almost took me out of the narrative since most characters are original
Also don’t get me started on the little fall of rain reference- Éponine is my fave character from the og book and show and even that threw me off.
As for the actual characters- Nina is probably the most complex, and I enjoy that Cosette got teeth by the end. However the rest of the guild confused me to no end and several key points were rushed
SPOILERS:
* Thenadier sticking around after his hand was cut off, and then killing his boss at Éponine’s instructions when the whole guild world is made to forbid that was a total 180 and it made for a disastrously unsatisfying plot point.
* eponine also got shot in the leg right after she twisted an ankle but keeps moving/fighting - that literally made no sense and it almost seemed like the author forgot dear Nina was injured
* i did love how complex and clever Nina was and how it was showcased through the story. The twists in the last quarter of the book were actually super surprising and enjoyable.
Overall enjoyable but not something I found myself obsessed with. 3.5/5