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adventurous
fast-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:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Slavery, Trafficking, Murder
Minor: Blood, Death of parent
While there were some really great things about this book, it didn't do it for me. I love the Count of Monte Cristo. It is one of my all time favorite stories. It's so vibrant and full of intrigue. This retelling had a lot to live up to. I loved the beginning, but by the end I really struggled to finish a book with so many questions. The ending felt abrupt and inconclusive. The cliffhanger(s) did not leave me wanting more.
3.5; can't decide whether to go 3 or full 4 for GR!
Short review: I read finished this a month or two ago and am having trouble remembering the characters and plot - not a good sign. From what I recall, this was pretty standard pirate fantasy type fare. I enjoyed it, but wouldn't go out of my way to recommend.
Short review: I read finished this a month or two ago and am having trouble remembering the characters and plot - not a good sign. From what I recall, this was pretty standard pirate fantasy type fare. I enjoyed it, but wouldn't go out of my way to recommend.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Although this book started out well, the characters felt underdeveloped. The plot had potential, yet the character interactions seemed forced and awkward. In general, although the book wasn't terrible, there was nothing which stood out which is why it gets 3 stars from me.
It was interesting, but just didn't keep my attention the whole time. I found myself confused or missing important stuff and had to go back. I'll give it another try when I have more mental bandwidth.
Trigger warning: Child abuse, child death, death, blood.
My rating for this is really neutral. Honestly, I wasn't as interested/invested in this book as I'd hoped to be. If it's on your TBR, I definitely recommend giving it a read, because I know a lot of people who have loved it. One day I might try giving it a reread, or pick up the sequel. But right now, it was just okay to me.
My rating for this is really neutral. Honestly, I wasn't as interested/invested in this book as I'd hoped to be. If it's on your TBR, I definitely recommend giving it a read, because I know a lot of people who have loved it. One day I might try giving it a reread, or pick up the sequel. But right now, it was just okay to me.
Full review at Wild and Wonderful Reads
The only thing I needed to hear for this book to catch my attention was gender-bent retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo.
Quite frankly, I tend to avoid retellings because I rarely enjoy them — it’s hard to not be critical in comparing the spin to the original. That being said, I found the idea of putting a twist on the French classic to be intriguing and decided to approach Scavenge the Stars as a book inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo rather than a retelling. That might sound weird, but it ultimately allowed me to enjoy this book in its own right!
Scavenge the Stars is the first book in a YA Fantasy duology. Told in the alternating POVs of Amaya and Cayo, this is a story of revenge and political intrigue.
As I was reading, I could certainly see the parallels to The Count of Monte Cristo. Most of the story is fast paced and, for those unfamiliar with the original, full of twists. I did find the world-building to be a bit generic and the ending fell a little flat for me, regardless of it being a lead into book 2.
As for the characters, I loved Cayo and felt indifferent towards Amaya. They both had a lot of growth throughout the story while battling their inner turmoil. I thought the “bugs” made a great addition to the narrative, and the villains were perfectly nefarious!
Overall, I really enjoyed Scavenge the Stars. I fully recommend trying to read it without being hypercritical of how much of a likeliness it bears to the classic tome.
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
The only thing I needed to hear for this book to catch my attention was gender-bent retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo.
Quite frankly, I tend to avoid retellings because I rarely enjoy them — it’s hard to not be critical in comparing the spin to the original. That being said, I found the idea of putting a twist on the French classic to be intriguing and decided to approach Scavenge the Stars as a book inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo rather than a retelling. That might sound weird, but it ultimately allowed me to enjoy this book in its own right!
Scavenge the Stars is the first book in a YA Fantasy duology. Told in the alternating POVs of Amaya and Cayo, this is a story of revenge and political intrigue.
As I was reading, I could certainly see the parallels to The Count of Monte Cristo. Most of the story is fast paced and, for those unfamiliar with the original, full of twists. I did find the world-building to be a bit generic and the ending fell a little flat for me, regardless of it being a lead into book 2.
As for the characters, I loved Cayo and felt indifferent towards Amaya. They both had a lot of growth throughout the story while battling their inner turmoil. I thought the “bugs” made a great addition to the narrative, and the villains were perfectly nefarious!
Overall, I really enjoyed Scavenge the Stars. I fully recommend trying to read it without being hypercritical of how much of a likeliness it bears to the classic tome.
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Please note that it, in no way, had an effect on my opinion or review.
Considering how surprised I was when I started reading this because I thought it was a sci-fi book? I really enjoyed myself! I'm looking forward to reading the sequel!
Note to self though: really must watch The Count of Monte Cristo soon to see if I can understand even more references!
Note to self though: really must watch The Count of Monte Cristo soon to see if I can understand even more references!
DNF - PG 24
Why?
... Because I don't do my proper research on books.
Look, I liked Sim's Timekeeper trilogy so when I saw she was writing another book, I just added it to my TBR. This was like three years ago. Maybe I knew what it was about then, but I've been sitting here thinking that this was going to be a sci-fi story like [b:Heart of Iron|35181314|Heart of Iron (Heart of Iron, #1)|Ashley Poston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498506185l/35181314._SY75_.jpg|52787851] or [b:Stitching Snow|16067008|Stitching Snow|R.C. Lewis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1390498946l/16067008._SY75_.jpg|21858427].
When I started reading it, it dropped me down on a slaver style debtor ship and all I was thinking of was [b:Seafire|37822534|Seafire (Seafire, #1)|Natalie C. Parker|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519742447l/37822534._SX50_.jpg|55913489]. The I decided, upon slogging through less than a dozen pages, that now was a good time to read the dust jacket synopsis.
...
I never read [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/1611834134l/7126._SY75_.jpg|391568] but I know the story. I also know I don't like the story and I don't want to read a retelling of it. Even a gender-swapped retelling.
So I slogged through two dozen boring pages of two characters that do not interest me in the slightest, while starting and finishing two other books. (And one of those books wasn't very good, but at least it hooked me at the beginning).
I know twenty-four pages isn't enough to say I dislike the book, but something should have caught me by this point, and nothing did.
Why?
... Because I don't do my proper research on books.
Look, I liked Sim's Timekeeper trilogy so when I saw she was writing another book, I just added it to my TBR. This was like three years ago. Maybe I knew what it was about then, but I've been sitting here thinking that this was going to be a sci-fi story like [b:Heart of Iron|35181314|Heart of Iron (Heart of Iron, #1)|Ashley Poston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498506185l/35181314._SY75_.jpg|52787851] or [b:Stitching Snow|16067008|Stitching Snow|R.C. Lewis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1390498946l/16067008._SY75_.jpg|21858427].
When I started reading it, it dropped me down on a slaver style debtor ship and all I was thinking of was [b:Seafire|37822534|Seafire (Seafire, #1)|Natalie C. Parker|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519742447l/37822534._SX50_.jpg|55913489]. The I decided, upon slogging through less than a dozen pages, that now was a good time to read the dust jacket synopsis.
...
I never read [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/1611834134l/7126._SY75_.jpg|391568] but I know the story. I also know I don't like the story and I don't want to read a retelling of it. Even a gender-swapped retelling.
So I slogged through two dozen boring pages of two characters that do not interest me in the slightest, while starting and finishing two other books. (And one of those books wasn't very good, but at least it hooked me at the beginning).
I know twenty-four pages isn't enough to say I dislike the book, but something should have caught me by this point, and nothing did.