Gather around, thieves and beggars, for The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant!
I have never read Lés Miserables nor seen any of the adaptions of the story, but maybe that’s exactly why I enjoyed this reimagining so much. I find that having preconceived ideas about how the characters should act sets you up for disappointment, especially when their roles are changed as drastically as in this story.
That being said, I really should get around to watching one of those Lés Miserable movies one of these days…
But back to the book: I think I have said this before, but I really love books about criminal underworlds, and this book is all about the politics between the various factions in the Court of Miracles. Sure, it’s also a story about a girl spending years trying to save her sister, but she really turns the criminals’ world upside down to do so.
Also, there are assassins. And I love assassins to the point where I bought Assassins’ Guild socks and wear them every Monday when I’m grumpy and murderous.
I tend to get a little sidetracked with these posts, don’t I…?
The Court of Miracles
by Kester Grant
In the violent urban jungle of an alternate 1828 Paris, the French Revolution has failed and the city is divided between merciless royalty and nine underworld criminal guilds, known as the Court of Miracles. Eponine (Nina) Thénardier is a talented cat burglar and member of the Thieves Guild. Nina’s life is midnight robberies, avoiding her father’s fists, and watching over her naïve adopted sister, Cosette (Ettie).
When Ettie attracts the eye of the Tiger–the ruthless lord of the Guild of Flesh–Nina is caught in a desperate race to keep the younger girl safe. Her vow takes her from the city’s dark underbelly to the glittering court of Louis XVII. And it also forces Nina to make a terrible choice–protect Ettie and set off a brutal war between the guilds, or forever lose her sister to the Tiger.