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To find out what I thought of this book, check out our #BookTalkWithWifey February booktalk https://www.instagram.com/tv/B9y5grXAFat/ !
UGH this book was amazing! Amaya is such a genius, well-written character; she's both hell-bent on getting revenge on the people who ruined her life, but also a teenage girl who is experiencing friendship and found family love for the first time. I knew I loved her as soon as I met her.
Overall, Scavenge the Stars tells the story of Amaya's process in getting her revenge; she becomes a new person with the goal of drawing in Cayo, the unsuspecting pawn in her game, and going in for the kill. This entire plot was so captivating and well-executed, the pacing was just right and hooked me from the get-go. There were very few parts that felt slow or made me want to skim through. Despite being told from alternating perspectives, Tara Sim's writing felt organic and purposeful, both voices wholly belonging to Amaya and Cayo, and still melding together to become a wonderfully harmonious story.
For a more thorough review, check out my review on loveyoshelf.wordpress.com! Scavenge the Stars has definitely earned a place on my shelves for life. https://loveyoshelf.wordpress.com/2020/01/11/review-scavenge-the-stars/
Overall, Scavenge the Stars tells the story of Amaya's process in getting her revenge; she becomes a new person with the goal of drawing in Cayo, the unsuspecting pawn in her game, and going in for the kill. This entire plot was so captivating and well-executed, the pacing was just right and hooked me from the get-go. There were very few parts that felt slow or made me want to skim through. Despite being told from alternating perspectives, Tara Sim's writing felt organic and purposeful, both voices wholly belonging to Amaya and Cayo, and still melding together to become a wonderfully harmonious story.
For a more thorough review, check out my review on loveyoshelf.wordpress.com! Scavenge the Stars has definitely earned a place on my shelves for life. https://loveyoshelf.wordpress.com/2020/01/11/review-scavenge-the-stars/
Private user's review
DNF
I've never read The Count of Monte Cristo before but I found this book entertaining and easy to follow. The setting was my favorite part, I loved the city and the scenes at sea, and I love the atmosphere in general. Sadly, the characters didn't really jump out of the page, I didn't feel attached to any of them, and the only reason I kept reading was because the plot was well-paced and intriguing.
However I'm not the biggest fan of plot-driven narratives, and since I never grew to care about the main characters I will likely not be reading the second book when it comes out.
However I'm not the biggest fan of plot-driven narratives, and since I never grew to care about the main characters I will likely not be reading the second book when it comes out.
I’ve been sitting on this book and thinking about my review for awhile because I just don’t know how I feel about the book. The problem for me, I think, is simply that it is a [b:The Count of Monte Cristo|7126|The Count of Monte Cristo|Alexandre Dumas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1309203605l/7126._SY75_.jpg|391568] retelling, and the Count of Monte Cristo is my all-time favorite book (despite its flaws, lol). I had high hopes because I love the original so much, but this just didn’t live up to it and because of that I wasn’t able to look at the book with a neutral feeling.
So instead, I have been trying to think about why I was disappointed with the retelling, which was also challenging because what makes a good retelling? I have, admittedly, read very few retellings; I guess more of the retellings that I’ve consumed have been movies and such—She’s the Man, Rent, West Side Story, I guess the only book I can remember reading is [b:Peter and the Starcatchers|34262|Peter and the Starcatchers (Peter and the Starcatchers, #1)|Dave Barry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435312363l/34262._SX50_.jpg|1625130]. So what is it about these retellings that make them compelling, and loved by both myself and the public?
I think the above retellings, and other retellings I can think of, fall into two different categories. Firstly, the same characters but either an alternate point of view or an alternate timeline—like Peter and the Starcatchers, or Wicked or Maleficent. These retellings bring something new to the old story, add a twist to the original. The second category is the alternate universe category—these stories use the original and keep the essential elements (the conflict, the strong feelings and themes) but create a new world and often update the setting so to make it relatable to modern readers. This second category is, of course, the category that Scavenge the Stars falls into.
So, this retelling needs to, in theory, reflect the same themes as The Count of Monte Cristo—the things that make The Count of Monte Cristo a good story needs to also be present in Scavenge the Stars. So what do I love about The Count of Monte Cristo?
The problem for me was that I simply didn’t see most of these elements in Scavenge the Stars. The elements of the story were changed in a fundamental way. The enemies are not clear-cut, the people Amaya thinks she can trust betray her, and she is simply not well put together. Yes, maybe this makes her more relatable as a character, but it loses the charm of the original story. Amaya does not lay out intricate plans to take down her enemies slowly and painfully. I might even forgive this if she had laid out such plans, but the plans were foiled; instead, it feels like she is just floundering and doesn’t know what she’s doing at all. She is not all-powerful with the downfalls of man, she is not able to hire highly competent people to carry out her plans, she does not have the years of wisdom and knowledge imparted onto Dantes by the Abbe Faria. You really lose something essential to The Count of Monte Cristo when you don’t have that.
Frankly, most of the issues I had were with Amaya’s perspective. I actually really enjoyed Cayo’s perspective (our Albert). His storyline and plot was much more compelling and I think it fit into the Count of Monte Cristo story much better. Honestly, I think I would have preferred this book if we hadn’t gotten Amaya’s perspective at all—if she could have appeared as Countess Yamaa and started controlling the city like a puppet, but we saw it all through Cayo’s eyes (except, maybe, her flashbacks from the beginning of the book. I thought those worked alright as well). Even if the plot moved the same way, and the ending was the same, I think that taking away Countess Yamaa’s perspective would have done a lot for the retelling. I don’t think including it added anything to the story.
As for some other issues I had with regard to the the retelling, I’ll have to wait to comment on it until the second book. As I said above, due to these issues that I had trouble overcoming, I was struggling to evaluate the merits or pitfalls of the book itself with a neutral eye. I think the pacing was a little quick, but it was honestly a pretty fast book in general and I got through it very quickly—were I not a working woman, I probably could have finished it in one sitting. At the end of the day, it was an enjoyable enough read but my expectations were too high and I was bummed with the end product.
So instead, I have been trying to think about why I was disappointed with the retelling, which was also challenging because what makes a good retelling? I have, admittedly, read very few retellings; I guess more of the retellings that I’ve consumed have been movies and such—She’s the Man, Rent, West Side Story, I guess the only book I can remember reading is [b:Peter and the Starcatchers|34262|Peter and the Starcatchers (Peter and the Starcatchers, #1)|Dave Barry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435312363l/34262._SX50_.jpg|1625130]. So what is it about these retellings that make them compelling, and loved by both myself and the public?
I think the above retellings, and other retellings I can think of, fall into two different categories. Firstly, the same characters but either an alternate point of view or an alternate timeline—like Peter and the Starcatchers, or Wicked or Maleficent. These retellings bring something new to the old story, add a twist to the original. The second category is the alternate universe category—these stories use the original and keep the essential elements (the conflict, the strong feelings and themes) but create a new world and often update the setting so to make it relatable to modern readers. This second category is, of course, the category that Scavenge the Stars falls into.
So, this retelling needs to, in theory, reflect the same themes as The Count of Monte Cristo—the things that make The Count of Monte Cristo a good story needs to also be present in Scavenge the Stars. So what do I love about The Count of Monte Cristo?
- The story has a little bit of everything—similar to the line at the beginning of [b:The Princess Bride|21787|The Princess Bride|William Goldman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327903636l/21787._SY75_.jpg|992628], The Count of Monte Cristo has “Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles…”
- The Count learns that revenge doesn’t solve all his problems BUT the ones who wronged him still get their due. Yes, he learned it was wrong, but not before everyone’s lives were ruined. It’s satisfying.
- There are clear enemies. The reader knows, right at the beginning of the story, who did Dantes wrong, and why they did it (and they all did it for selfish reasons. It wasn’t the way of the world, their actions were completely self-serving, which is important to the story).
- The Count sees how his actions to destroy his enemies ultimately affect people he loves, through the romance between Maximilien and Valentine; furthermore, by the time he arrives in Paris, the "bad guys" aren't really committing crimes anymore; they're shown to be regular people with good traits and bad who may or may not deserve what is done to them (ethical tension).
- Those who helped Dantes, and were kind to him, get their reward. Again, the lines are clear-cut—by the time Dantes escapes, he knows with certainty who was his enemy and who was his friend.
- Intricacy. The Count of Monte Cristo has an extremely intricate plot. The Count lays the groundwork for the end game much earlier in the book, and the reader sees everything play out in such a satisfying way.
The problem for me was that I simply didn’t see most of these elements in Scavenge the Stars. The elements of the story were changed in a fundamental way. The enemies are not clear-cut, the people Amaya thinks she can trust betray her, and she is simply not well put together. Yes, maybe this makes her more relatable as a character, but it loses the charm of the original story. Amaya does not lay out intricate plans to take down her enemies slowly and painfully. I might even forgive this if she had laid out such plans, but the plans were foiled; instead, it feels like she is just floundering and doesn’t know what she’s doing at all. She is not all-powerful with the downfalls of man, she is not able to hire highly competent people to carry out her plans, she does not have the years of wisdom and knowledge imparted onto Dantes by the Abbe Faria. You really lose something essential to The Count of Monte Cristo when you don’t have that.
Frankly, most of the issues I had were with Amaya’s perspective. I actually really enjoyed Cayo’s perspective (our Albert). His storyline and plot was much more compelling and I think it fit into the Count of Monte Cristo story much better. Honestly, I think I would have preferred this book if we hadn’t gotten Amaya’s perspective at all—if she could have appeared as Countess Yamaa and started controlling the city like a puppet, but we saw it all through Cayo’s eyes (except, maybe, her flashbacks from the beginning of the book. I thought those worked alright as well). Even if the plot moved the same way, and the ending was the same, I think that taking away Countess Yamaa’s perspective would have done a lot for the retelling. I don’t think including it added anything to the story.
As for some other issues I had with regard to the the retelling, I’ll have to wait to comment on it until the second book. As I said above, due to these issues that I had trouble overcoming, I was struggling to evaluate the merits or pitfalls of the book itself with a neutral eye. I think the pacing was a little quick, but it was honestly a pretty fast book in general and I got through it very quickly—were I not a working woman, I probably could have finished it in one sitting. At the end of the day, it was an enjoyable enough read but my expectations were too high and I was bummed with the end product.
A book that was maybe one of my most anticipated releases of 2020, because it's a retelling of "The Count of Monte Cristo", a classic I really love.
Unfortunately, I didn't like it as much I hoped. It felt more like a prequel than an actual story, the action progressed a bit slowly and the alternating chapters between Amaya and Cayo weren't really helping me either.
I have to say, I really loved the little snippets we got in the beginning of each chapter, but I wanted so much more. The world building was very intriguing, but I needed more! Imagine if the book was 100 pages longer, so we could get a better glimpse at the world and all the countries! For me, the world building is of utmost importance, I need to clearly know the culture and the ethos behind each imaginary world.
I found the relationship a bit predictable, I would much prefer Amaya with Roach, but there's also a hint of a love triangle in the second book, one I'm not too keen on, since I have a feeling that Roach will end up with Cayo's sister, so that Cayo and Amaya can be free to be together.
Even though it's an adventure with many intriguing aspects, I'm not too sure if I'd reread it or if I'd read the final book when it comes out.
Unfortunately, I didn't like it as much I hoped. It felt more like a prequel than an actual story, the action progressed a bit slowly and the alternating chapters between Amaya and Cayo weren't really helping me either.
I have to say, I really loved the little snippets we got in the beginning of each chapter, but I wanted so much more. The world building was very intriguing, but I needed more! Imagine if the book was 100 pages longer, so we could get a better glimpse at the world and all the countries! For me, the world building is of utmost importance, I need to clearly know the culture and the ethos behind each imaginary world.
I found the relationship a bit predictable, I would much prefer Amaya with Roach, but there's also a hint of a love triangle in the second book, one I'm not too keen on, since I have a feeling that Roach will end up with Cayo's sister, so that Cayo and Amaya can be free to be together.
Even though it's an adventure with many intriguing aspects, I'm not too sure if I'd reread it or if I'd read the final book when it comes out.
The novel Scavenge the Stars by Tara Sim offers us something very unique and never before seen, wrapped up in a package of comfort and familiarity. In the familiar to YA form of a retelling, we see a gender-swapped Count of Monte Cristo. In this novel we follow two main characters, one, a girl who had been sold into the child labor aboard a labor ship, the other, the son of a rich man in town battling with his gambling addiction.
This world is introduced to us in such a manner that its existence is never in question. The world building is so thorough, (including excerpts from made-up books that are written about the worlds lore) that we can easily and comfortably slip into this land, and see the struggles that both characters go through individually. Everything about this book comes together in a manner that is so well-crafted, and very intricately woven. There are some twists and turns which were unexpected for me (I haven’t read Count of Monte Cristo so I’m unsure which parts are more closely related) and I really enjoyed the relationship between the two players as they develop throughout the book.
My one complaint about this book is that I wish there was a little bit more resolution. I’m unsure if a sequel is due to be coming out, but it is left very open as if one could be coming. If a sequel is not planned, then I think that it could have used a little more at the very end, but in general it was a very good book!
4.5/5 Would Recommend!
This world is introduced to us in such a manner that its existence is never in question. The world building is so thorough, (including excerpts from made-up books that are written about the worlds lore) that we can easily and comfortably slip into this land, and see the struggles that both characters go through individually. Everything about this book comes together in a manner that is so well-crafted, and very intricately woven. There are some twists and turns which were unexpected for me (I haven’t read Count of Monte Cristo so I’m unsure which parts are more closely related) and I really enjoyed the relationship between the two players as they develop throughout the book.
My one complaint about this book is that I wish there was a little bit more resolution. I’m unsure if a sequel is due to be coming out, but it is left very open as if one could be coming. If a sequel is not planned, then I think that it could have used a little more at the very end, but in general it was a very good book!
4.5/5 Would Recommend!
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes