99c Kindle sale, July 2, 2020, for this first book in a YA fantasy series. Review first posted on www.FantasyLiterature.com:Kate Elliott vaults into the YA fantasy game field with Court of Fives, which the author aptly describes as “Little Women meets American Ninja Warrior in a setting inspired by Greco-Roman Egypt.” This three-pronged description calls out three of the most noteworthy aspects of Court of Fives: the subtle references to Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, accentuating the importa...

My new favorite trend is high fantasy authors tackling YA. Mercedes Lackey dazzled me with her Hunter series, and now Kate Elliott has done the same with Court of Fives. High fantasy usually requires more expansive world building, back history, and longevity. These authors are so proficient at tackling these elements on a large scale that their YAs seems so much more robust than competitive titles. On the flipside though, YAs tends to require faster pacing and a more prominent love story – somet...

Like most here, I wasn't sure whether to give this novel a try. The premise sounded really interesting, with its greco-roman style of world, but the negatives put forward did cause me to ponder. As my score shows, I did like it, with some reservations.As expected, the setting Elliott portrays is compelling, with its complex structure, presenting a society made of two 'races', one having conquered the other, and the typical resulting social inequalities. The plot also shows there are more faction...

There should be a Netflix for books so you can get ALL TEH BOOKZZZ at one go!

You know what? This was actually a DNF at about 92%, but I will be DAMNED if I throw away a week-long slog through this book with nothing to show for it. So I'm marking it as read and it's going towards my reading challenge. I put in seven days' hard graft and I deserve to get something out of it. This book was terrible, and the thing is that I went into it blind; if I'd known it was based on Little Women I'd have never gone near it. I tried reading Little Women once, and it nearly killed me. Th...

I was fortunate to be asked to blurb this gorgeous novel. There are books that make you think and books that make you feel.This one is a rare bird; it is both. And I devoured it in one greedy, glorious go. Part of me regrets that. I should have savored it, and there are SO MANY questions. This is everything YA fantasy could possibly be. If you think the blurb sounds intriguing, the book is so much more. It's achingly lovely, heartbreaking, lushly imagined and beautifully wrought. I feel unworthy...

2 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/08/08/y...While it’s true that I have not read many books by Kate Elliott, I still feel pretty confident when I say this is not her best. I’m disappointed because I badly, desperately wanted to like this one, but ultimately it just wasn’t for me.First, a quick summary of the premise to set the stage for my points below. Our protagonist is a girl named Jessamy. She and her three sisters are raised in a household by their Patron fathe...

DNF at 30%. "But Khanh, how can you give such a low rating when you've barely given the book a chance?" Because I've read enough crap YA to tell when a book is beyond redemption. I almost abandoned it after the second chapter, but was in a forgiving mood, and hung on a little longer. I should have stopped then.In a faux-Roman whatever world where people speak in dialogue as natural as Yankee imitating Ye Olde English in King Arthur's Court, there lives a family. Sorta. Jessamy lives with her hug...

Well. THAT'S some worldbuilding.

The synopsis does a fair job of describing the book but it doesn’t do the intricate relationships and layers at play in the novel any justice. For instance, the synopsis doesn’t mention that Jessamy is one of four sisters, Maraya, Bettany (Jessamy’s twin,) and Amaya, all of whom are complex individuals with their own lives and story arcs. The synopsis also doesn’t mention Jessamy’s mother who is one of the more interesting, non-antagonistic, parents in the YA genre. The synopsis most certainly d...

Copy provided by the publisher. In order to discuss this book I have to get sort of spoilery. I try to avoid specifics, but I do talk about the general outline of the book.So, Court of Fives. It would be hard to find anyone less interested in sports than I am. But when I heard that Kate Elliott was writing a YA, and that it was a cross between teen gladiators and Little Women, I knew I had to read it.And I was not disappointed—in fact, the book grabbed me hard in spite of the sports at the cente...

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***Court of Fives by Kate ElliottBook One of the Court of Fives seriesPublisher: Little, Brown Books for Young ReadersPublication Date: August 18, 2015Rating: 4 starsSource: ARC sent by the publisherSummary (from Goodreads):In this imaginative escape into an enthralling new world, World Fantasy Award finalist Kate Elliott begins a new trilogy with her debut young adult novel, weaving an epic story of a girl struggling to do what she loves in a society

Court of Fives is sold as a high fantasy, but reads much more like a loosely-plotted YA dystopia, complete with a national competition and actions that make no sense.There was never a point when I got sucked into the story. The characters all feel flat as crepes (minus the delicious fillings) and I simply cannot understand what Jessamy's fucking problem is. I do not get why she is so caught up in her own self-centred need to enter the Fives (multilevel competition, blah blah, haven't heard that

“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.” ---- Charlotte BrontëKate Elliott, an award-winning American YA author, pens her new book, Court of Fives which is the first book in the Court of Fives trilogy, that tells the story of a young teenager, belonging from two different caste that divides her own world, is trying to find herself as well as trying to find her way through all those indifference set by the ruler of her world, by participating in

DNF at about 40%I really did not want to DNF yet another book. I struggled through this one and... started to slumber after a few chapters. Two days like this and I am done.This is how it should be.This is what I live for.All MC cares about is playing a game. She is selfish.Just once I want to run a real trial and pretend to be a different girl with a different life.I push her away and jump up to pace. Frustration burns right through me. “How do you think I feel, training for years without ever

Kate Elliott manages to combine everything I love best in a YA novel. Jes is a killer protagonist: tough, capable, but also lost in her upbringing and faced with impossible choices that test her character and her beliefs. Her family dynamic is genius. The love and combativeness between sisters is touching and realistic. The story is tight and tidy, comprised of rings within rings twisting and matching to one another. It's rich with detail, but plot is tied back to description in a way that makes...

☆☆☆☆☆*bumping cause I reviewed this super early and today is released day!* No spoilers and colorful language abound! I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Yes. Oh, hell yes. YA has a new gold standard, and it was woven by Kate Elliot.Here is how she did it:Take every trope and tangled mess of cliches and throw them out the window. Replace them with a strong female protagonist, guided by love of family, an unquenchable desire to cultivate sense of self, and...

Initial thoughts: This book was a pleasant surprise. I honestly had no idea what to expect, and I found myself intrigued by the Fives competition. Many slow moments and confusing/lacking world-building definitely ducked down my enjoyment level for this book. This series has great potential though! Read the full review @ A Perfection Called BooksThe first think I noticed about this book is its connections to An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. If you liked that one, then you might enjoy Court o...

This is a book I picked up in order to try out Kate Elliott and Renay recommended this one to me. It's a great start point with Elliott's work, and it's encouraged me to try out more of her books for sure!The story inside feels a little but like the Hunger Games at times becuase the world we follow revolves largely around two types of people, Patrons (rich, wealthy etc.) and Commoners (poor, mistreated etc.) who are constantly at odds, but all fascinated by the Fives games. We follow a family th...

This is one of those books with very divided reviews posted here on Goodreads I'm coming down on the side of those who enjoyed this creative YA fantasy about family relationships, race, colonialism, and secrets.There are some excellent reviews that go into a great deal of detail about the story and the things people liked or not about it, which I'm not going to repeat here. For me, I liked the overt way race was made a key part of the story. The main character is a young woman who, although she