Court of Fives (Court of Fives, #1)

by Kate Elliott

Now available in paperback, World Fantasy Award finalist Kate Elliott's first young adult novel was praised by Kirkus for its "gripping, original plot; vivid, complicated characters; and layered, convincingly detailed world building."

Jessamy's life is a balance between acting like an upper-class Patron and dreaming of the freedom of the Commoners. But away from her family she can be whomever she wants when she sneaks out to train for The Fives, an intricate, multilevel athletic competition that offers a chance for glory to the kingdom's best contenders.

Then Jes meets Kalliarkos, and an improbably friendship between two Fives competitors--one of mixed race and the other a Patron boy--causes heads to turn. When Kal's powerful, scheming uncle tears Jes's family apart, she'll have to test her new friend's loyalty and risk the vengeance of a royal clan to save her mother and sisters from certain death. This imaginative escape into enthralling new lands weaves an epic story of a girl struggling to do what she loves in a society suffocated by rules of class and privilege.

• ISBN10: 0316364304
• ISBN13: 9780316364300
• Publish Date: 28 July 2016 (first published 14 July 2015)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
• Imprint: Little, Brown Young Readers
• Format: Paperback (UK Trade)
• Pages: 464
• Language: English

Reviews

[bookishzelda]

How do you write a review for a book like the Court of Fives? I loved everything, everything about it. From it’s fierce group of young women and mother, to the plot that has you wanting to throw things are the royals. When a book’s ending can elicit chills, you know you have been amazed.


Jess as the main character is definitely amazing but it’s her family of sisters and mother that make you scream girl power. They are strong and fierce woman without having to act like men. They represent finery, intelligence, grace, kindness, strength, sexuality, cleverness and durability. Each portraying a strength that over shadows any weakness.


The world building is fantastic. I loved the division of the classes and why. This is a country that was invaded long ago and it’s histories changed in favor of current rulers. I feel like history blurs the further we get away from it.


I truly adored this book and loved how it completely captured me with it’s an in-depth characters and strong family ties.

[Briana @ Pages Unbound]

Initial Thoughts:

There are definitely things I did not like about this book. I didn't find the romance compelling, and the writing is often confusing. I kept turning back the pages because I thought I had missed something or misread something, but the prose is really just that choppy and contradictory in places. However, I was interested in the story, and I can actually see myself continuing to read the series, which is an important test for me when I rate books.

Also: Ignore the Little Women comparisons. There's really nothing comparable here, except the fact there are sisters in it--which to me, is not enough to warrant bringing up Little Women in the first place.

[Angie]

I didn't know much (or anything, really) about Court of Fives before picking it up, other than that it was a YA Fantasy with a biracial heroine. I'm so glad that I decided to give it a try, because it kept me hooked from the very beginning! Jes lives with her mother and three sisters, and their father is always away at war. This gives Jes plenty of opportunity to sneak out and run the Fives, which is basically like a dangerous obstacle course. However, she can never win a real competition for fear of dishonoring her family. At least until someone comes to break them apart.

I wasn't sure where the plot was going at first, but soon Court of Fives became a race against the clock type of tale, which I adore! Jes has been separated from her mother and sisters, her father has been sent away to marry another before heading back to the war, and she's caught the attention of the handsome prince who also runs the Fives. This is not the story of a Commoner moving up in society and living her dream despite the odds. It's about a girl using her passion to save her family from certain death! I was shocked at what was done to Jes' mother and sisters, and the rescue was quite exciting and interesting. This city has a lot of secrets waiting to be unearthed (literally!).

Of course, there is a bit of romance in Court of Fives, but it's not the focus. There's no love triangle, but it is a pretty standard forbidden romance. Jes and Kal can't really be together since he's expected to inherit the crown, and she's just a "mule." But the two of them come together because of their passion for the Fives, and he's quite impressed with her since she's so much better than him. Jes also pushes Kal to not be such a pushover and stand up for himself! I did get a bit worried toward the end because of certain things going on, but I'm happy that Jes did not fall into that trap! You go, girl! And now I'm very interesting in seeing what comes next for her.

Court of Fives was a really great read. I found this world interesting, and all of the secrets and hidden things are intriguing. I loved Jes' relationship with her family. It's complicated and messy, but they love each other and are just trying to do the best they can with what the law allows. Clearly this is going to turn into an overthrowing the current power structure and making change and all that good stuff type of plot, but I'm looking forward to more!

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.