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With a very minimal recollection of the story of THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, I found myself trying to compare the two stories and getting lost. Once I gave up on finding the similarities between them and think of this story as completely it’s own, I was able start really enjoying it.
The characters were interesting and the plot picks up once the two points of view cross paths. I didn’t love this book as much as I thought I would, and I can’t quite place my finger on why I didn’t love it. Overall found it to be a fun read but the ending kind of felt a little rushed. After I finished reading I realized that this was the beginning of a series so that eases my mind a little about the ending. I was left wanting more answers and thinking this was a stand-alone left me feeling a little lack luster.
This was my first book by Tara Sim. I enjoyed it and will probably do a reread before the second book releases. I’m also interested in trying her Timekeeper series a try.
The characters were interesting and the plot picks up once the two points of view cross paths. I didn’t love this book as much as I thought I would, and I can’t quite place my finger on why I didn’t love it. Overall found it to be a fun read but the ending kind of felt a little rushed. After I finished reading I realized that this was the beginning of a series so that eases my mind a little about the ending. I was left wanting more answers and thinking this was a stand-alone left me feeling a little lack luster.
This was my first book by Tara Sim. I enjoyed it and will probably do a reread before the second book releases. I’m also interested in trying her Timekeeper series a try.
3.75 stars. I liked how everything came together in the end. I hope to learn more about the world and more about the characters in the next one.
Private user's review
"Amaya stood there for what felt like hours, bathed in starlight and blood."
I am... so disappointed.
Scavenge the Stars is essentially a retelling of Monte Christo, which admittedly I know virtually nothing about. Nonetheless, I was super excited for Scavenge because I mean, a girl with a knife is on the cover. And she could stab me. Also, it's a revenge story. That is all so far up my alley it's wild, but I feel the disappointment deep in my bones.
I'm going to start with the one thing I did enjoy, which was the characters. Even though I believe they needed considerably more depth, they were overall enjoyable. Not to mention, super diverse! I could see myself loving them if their story would've meshed with me. But alas, it did not.
The plotline of Scavenge needed a lot, I mean A LOT, more depth and development. I didn't feel connected to anything happening and therefore I didn't care what the outcome was going to be. Not to mention, the writing didn't mesh with me either and made the plot even harder to care for.
Ultimately, I wanted more from Scavenge the Stars.
I am... so disappointed.
Scavenge the Stars is essentially a retelling of Monte Christo, which admittedly I know virtually nothing about. Nonetheless, I was super excited for Scavenge because I mean, a girl with a knife is on the cover. And she could stab me. Also, it's a revenge story. That is all so far up my alley it's wild, but I feel the disappointment deep in my bones.
I'm going to start with the one thing I did enjoy, which was the characters. Even though I believe they needed considerably more depth, they were overall enjoyable. Not to mention, super diverse! I could see myself loving them if their story would've meshed with me. But alas, it did not.
The plotline of Scavenge needed a lot, I mean A LOT, more depth and development. I didn't feel connected to anything happening and therefore I didn't care what the outcome was going to be. Not to mention, the writing didn't mesh with me either and made the plot even harder to care for.
Ultimately, I wanted more from Scavenge the Stars.
Really loved the first half of this, but the second half felt both meandering and rushed (somehow?) and had a lot of coincidences that didn’t feel set up enough.
DNF a little over halfway due to lack of interest. May try to reread in the future, but for now I'm not that interested in it.
Fans of Fable, and Shadow and Bone, how did you not tell me about this book sooner?! A queer, gender-bent, racially diverse, retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo is EVERYTHING I never knew I needed! <3 And it's MASTERFULLY written, the art in the word choices, and metaphors painted, twinkling in the text like brilliant little diamonds; I just want to hold onto every one! Tara Sim doesn't use the original Dumas story as a crutch. If anything, the changes improve the original story, elevating the tale of deception and bloody revenge to one of teen self-discovery, where emotions, inhibitions and flawed perspectives can make or break a whole young-person's world.
I love this book, and this author's voice, and I am dying to get my hands on the sequel. Tell. Your. Friends! Read this book!!
I love this book, and this author's voice, and I am dying to get my hands on the sequel. Tell. Your. Friends! Read this book!!
Like a 2.5
Meh.
It was alright, but.... I skipped like 100 pages to get to the final couple of scenes... I don't like doing that, but it wasn't really holding my interest.
Meh.
It was alright, but.... I skipped like 100 pages to get to the final couple of scenes... I don't like doing that, but it wasn't really holding my interest.
[b:Scavenge the Stars|42248816|Scavenge the Stars (Scavenge the Stars, #1)|Tara Sim|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1551991682l/42248816._SY75_.jpg|65856486] is a hard book to review for me due to the lack of opinion I have of this book. I guess that says something about my enjoyment of the book. Scavenge the Stars is a YA fantasy retelling of the Count of Monte Cristo. Unfortunately, I have not read this classic yet, so I cannot tell if the retelling was any good.
Let’s start with the fact that Scavenge the Stars is not a badly written book. In fact, I think it is a solid story. However, the story is not memorable. I was not really invested in the plot or in the characters. [b:Scavenge the Stars|42248816|Scavenge the Stars (Scavenge the Stars, #1)|Tara Sim|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1551991682l/42248816._SY75_.jpg|65856486] is a revenge story, but I did not feel the intensity of the stakes. For me, there was not anything in the plot that surprised or grabbed me. The story is told in a dual perspective and the scenes where the main characters were together, were actually the most filled with excitement or life. The story ended in a big way. It was explosive and dramatic. I loved how the climax of the story was handled and the upset to the sequel. Therefore, I might consider picking up the next installment.
I could not connect or relate to the two main characters. Therefore I was not invested in their lives or relationship. Both characters shone when they interacted with another. Apart they were unremarkable. The one character I truly liked was the Slum King’s daughter. She was the only one with a complex personality. Furthermore, I enjoyed the relationship between the main character and this sister. I also appreciate that the main characters handled themselves maturely. There is not any unnecessary drama.
The writing was enjoyable. It was easy to read and I loved the flow of the writing. However, there were barely any descriptions of the characters or the world. It was all very vague making it hard to imagine what was happening. I did love the atmosphere of the world. The island where the story takes place reminds me of Monte Carlo because of all the casinos and the roll of gambling plays in the story.
Overall, the Scavenge the Stars was an average read for me. I did not hate the story but I also did not love it. This was mainly due to the lack of connection I felt with the plot and the characters.
Rating breakdown:
- Plot: 2.5/5
- Characters: 2.5/5
- Writing style: 3/5
- Worldbuilding: 3/5
- Overall enjoyment: 3/5
Let’s start with the fact that Scavenge the Stars is not a badly written book. In fact, I think it is a solid story. However, the story is not memorable. I was not really invested in the plot or in the characters. [b:Scavenge the Stars|42248816|Scavenge the Stars (Scavenge the Stars, #1)|Tara Sim|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1551991682l/42248816._SY75_.jpg|65856486] is a revenge story, but I did not feel the intensity of the stakes. For me, there was not anything in the plot that surprised or grabbed me. The story is told in a dual perspective and the scenes where the main characters were together, were actually the most filled with excitement or life. The story ended in a big way. It was explosive and dramatic. I loved how the climax of the story was handled and the upset to the sequel. Therefore, I might consider picking up the next installment.
I could not connect or relate to the two main characters. Therefore I was not invested in their lives or relationship. Both characters shone when they interacted with another. Apart they were unremarkable. The one character I truly liked was the Slum King’s daughter. She was the only one with a complex personality. Furthermore, I enjoyed the relationship between the main character and this sister. I also appreciate that the main characters handled themselves maturely. There is not any unnecessary drama.
The writing was enjoyable. It was easy to read and I loved the flow of the writing. However, there were barely any descriptions of the characters or the world. It was all very vague making it hard to imagine what was happening. I did love the atmosphere of the world. The island where the story takes place reminds me of Monte Carlo because of all the casinos and the roll of gambling plays in the story.
Overall, the Scavenge the Stars was an average read for me. I did not hate the story but I also did not love it. This was mainly due to the lack of connection I felt with the plot and the characters.
Rating breakdown:
- Plot: 2.5/5
- Characters: 2.5/5
- Writing style: 3/5
- Worldbuilding: 3/5
- Overall enjoyment: 3/5