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I enjoyed this book! It was well written and I believe the character development was good. For me it lacked a spark, something that makes me want more. I might read book 2 but it’s not absolutely necessary.
3.5 stars. I liked it! But the book is not really my genre so I liked it less than I might have otherwise. I would recommend this book to someone who likes Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom and revenge stories.
I really liked the characters and the idea of wearing different identities in different contexts/to accomplish different tasks. I love Cayo and his sisters's relationship. I also really loved the twist at the end and it made me very excited for the next book. I almost rounded up to 4 stars because it was so good but 3 felt more honest.
The reasons this book didn't connect with me as well are below:
1) Revenge stories. I feel like I should like the revenge element more than I did but I do find that I have a hard time connecting to revenge stories (which is what I meant by this not being my genre; Vengeful was kind of like that for me too). It's not that I don't understand the characters' emotions and motivations but that I just don't engage with it in the same way as book that starts with a different plot, something bad happens to characters we already knew and loved, and then they went out to get revenge. It's easier for me if I know and love the characters first, is what I mean.
2) Moray. The other thing that hindered my enjoyment of the book was the setting. I actually really like the setting in some ways--the different countries and cultures all mixing in an independent city-state, fighting to survive between two empires. That sounds interesting, politically. But I dislike cities like Las Vegas, like Ketterdam, like Moray. I don't enjoy being in them, in actuality or in books, so it hindered my enjoyment. But if you like that kind of thing, then you will definitely like this book.
I really liked the characters and the idea of wearing different identities in different contexts/to accomplish different tasks. I love Cayo and his sisters's relationship. I also really loved the twist at the end and it made me very excited for the next book. I almost rounded up to 4 stars because it was so good but 3 felt more honest.
The reasons this book didn't connect with me as well are below:
1) Revenge stories. I feel like I should like the revenge element more than I did but I do find that I have a hard time connecting to revenge stories (which is what I meant by this not being my genre; Vengeful was kind of like that for me too). It's not that I don't understand the characters' emotions and motivations but that I just don't engage with it in the same way as book that starts with a different plot, something bad happens to characters we already knew and loved, and then they went out to get revenge. It's easier for me if I know and love the characters first, is what I mean.
2) Moray. The other thing that hindered my enjoyment of the book was the setting. I actually really like the setting in some ways--the different countries and cultures all mixing in an independent city-state, fighting to survive between two empires. That sounds interesting, politically. But I dislike cities like Las Vegas, like Ketterdam, like Moray. I don't enjoy being in them, in actuality or in books, so it hindered my enjoyment. But if you like that kind of thing, then you will definitely like this book.
I was so excited for this book - a Count of Monte Cristo retelling (gender-swapped!) and an ace side character! Unfortunately, it barely functioned as a retelling (and when it do so, it was painful) and the ace character literally disappears for about 90% of the book. The world building was lackluster and it was frustrating to try to understand until I realized there wasn’t much thought put into it and gave up. This may have been partially doomed from the start because I don’t think a teenager could ever take on the role of the Count, but accepting that premise would be part and parcel of a YA retelling, it still failed inside that structure. It could’ve explored gender expectations and could’ve built up to the “twist” by recasting who some of the key characters were in the retelling (setting up Amaya as the Countess only to subvert reader expectations and have her really be an Albert analogue would’ve been fascinating, keeping Roach in the picture as a Franz stand-in, but the relationships needed to build that up were glossed over).
I did appreciate the abundance of POC and queer characters in the cast, especially for something published by Disney. I had already decided not to read the sequel, but this did wrap up very well for not being a standalone.
If you’re looking for a good Monte Cristo retelling, I can’t recommend watching Gankutsuou enough instead.
I did appreciate the abundance of POC and queer characters in the cast, especially for something published by Disney. I had already decided not to read the sequel, but this did wrap up very well for not being a standalone.
If you’re looking for a good Monte Cristo retelling, I can’t recommend watching Gankutsuou enough instead.
Private user's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Slow plot, but excellent characters.
Writing style was very good, easy to read and held a great tone. Tara does an amazing job as capturing the voices of Cayo and Amaya and making their chapters distinctive. I really liked the city of Moray and the political tensions established in the world building. I especially liked the excerpts from different tales and books at the start of each chapter. I think Amaya is one of my favorite female characters ever, along side Liesl and Deadshot. Amaya was so messy and brash, but filled with heart and morals. I loved seeing her battle with herself and her choices, and in the end she could only do what she thought was best at the moment.
Liesl and Deadshot are the best wives and I love their relationship so much. I also really liked Cayo and how he developed through the story, starting to gain some agency to take his life in his own hands.
Overall, great story, great characters, and great writing. Really looking forward to Ravage next.
Liesl and Deadshot are the best wives and I love their relationship so much. I also really liked Cayo and how he developed through the story, starting to gain some agency to take his life in his own hands.
Overall, great story, great characters, and great writing. Really looking forward to Ravage next.
I LOVED this book!! It's a retelling of the Count of Monte Cristo, gender-swapped, and the cast is made up of all colored and LGBTQ people. I don't have a background in the Count of Monte Cristo, but I was kind of glad for that because I wouldn't have wanted an idea of the many twists and turns I encountered while reading this book.
Tara Sim does a great job of emphasizing representation of all types of people without making it seem like she was trying hard. It was natural for the story, and such a wonderful element.
One of the main characters, Amaya/Silverfish/Yamaa, is a lovely (albeit angry) character who grapples with the balance of avenging yourself and those you love without losing who you are in the process. She is angry and vengeful, yet she is also selfless, brave, and caring, which is something she cannot hide throughout the novel, making her such a likable character.
Cayo Mercado was the most interesting character to me. He struggles with agency throughout most of the novel, after having lost it, and continues to be a pawn in people's games. Honestly, he could have been a really annoying character, but Sim did a GREAT job of making him likable and noble. I think the additions of these flaws in these characters really fleshed them out and made them very human, in my eyes.
My only critiques were that I got slightly bored in the middle, waiting for something major to happen, but that quickly went away, and some of the dialogue was a little corny/forced at times, but it didn't bother me that much.
Love this book and can't wait for the sequel!
Tara Sim does a great job of emphasizing representation of all types of people without making it seem like she was trying hard. It was natural for the story, and such a wonderful element.
One of the main characters, Amaya/Silverfish/Yamaa, is a lovely (albeit angry) character who grapples with the balance of avenging yourself and those you love without losing who you are in the process. She is angry and vengeful, yet she is also selfless, brave, and caring, which is something she cannot hide throughout the novel, making her such a likable character.
Cayo Mercado was the most interesting character to me. He struggles with agency throughout most of the novel, after having lost it, and continues to be a pawn in people's games. Honestly, he could have been a really annoying character, but Sim did a GREAT job of making him likable and noble. I think the additions of these flaws in these characters really fleshed them out and made them very human, in my eyes.
My only critiques were that I got slightly bored in the middle, waiting for something major to happen, but that quickly went away, and some of the dialogue was a little corny/forced at times, but it didn't bother me that much.
Love this book and can't wait for the sequel!
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I’m squeaking this in right under the wire for Pride Month! Scavenge the Stars was delivered to our home in an Owlcrate box…last year, but better late than never. And I’m glad I can immediately dive into the sequel because WOW what a book.
In a fantasy world that I’m 75% sure is the Mediterranean Sea, Moray stands alone as a neutral island between the two massive Rain Empire and Sun Empire. Distinguished for its premiere access to waterways and important trade routes, Moray is also known for its Vice Sector, which is full of delights, and its massive economic inequality and rampant ash fever plague, which are decidedly less delightful. As a young girl, Amaya was sold to a debtor ship. These ships function as floating debtor prisons, with children forced to work off their parents’ debt in time/labor or any treasures they find while pearl diving. After seven years, Amaya can almost taste freedom, but her plans go quite sideways when she fishes a noble covered in marigolds out of the sea. Meanwhile, back in Moray, Cayo Mercado is out of money: recovering from gambling addiction, he finds out his family’s coffers will be further strained when his sister contracts ash fever. The required medicine is deathly expensive.
Strangely, the weakest part of the novel is the world-building. I say “strange” because I read the Timekeeper Trilogy earlier this year, and that world-building is top-notch. Throughout the novel, Sim describes the world beautifully, but often couches these descriptions in reference to fantastical places I couldn’t match to reality. For example, so-and-so has Sun Empire and Khari features, or this building has a Rehanese architecture style. Fantasy novel locations don’t need to have to be a 1:1 match to someplace in reality, but buildings, fashion, and people kept being described as “Khari,” “Rehanese,” or “from the Sun Empire” or “hailing from the Rain Empire” and I didn’t know what that meant. It’s a descriptive tic in the story, and I itch for a world map. My best guess is Khari is India, Rehanese means Chinese, the Sun Empire is on the African continent, and the Rain Empire is…all of Europe? Cause Europe is wet? Maybe it would have gone better if I’d read the Count of Monte Cristo instead of just watched the movie. In addition, there were some logical holes: if trade contracts with the Empires are forbidden, who does Moray trade with; when the big scheme is revealed, I failed to see how that’s easier than a military takeover; this character has been with the Navy for a few weeks and somehow he’s fully trained and trusted, etc.
Leaving all that aside, however, I enjoyed this book. The plot is immense and interlocking, but Sim is in control. I could feel my head spin at some points, but a quick breath and I grasped the tail again. The characters, if not the brightest bulbs in the bunch (looking at you, Cayo) are painfully doing their best and lovable for it. As I’ve said in other reviews, sometimes I become exasperated with overwrought teenage antics, possibly because my overwrought teenage antics went less traditional directions. Remarkably for me, the Scavenge the Stars teenagers act like teenagers, but I never wanted to put the book down. Amaya is an especial delight, with many layers. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. AND, making this a perfect Pride Month read, we get some excellent asexual and bisexual rep.
In conclusion, if you’re looking for adventure, if you like your justice bloody, if you want schemes upon plots upon intrigue, pick up Scavenge the Stars. I’ve already requested Ravage the Dark at the library.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Blood
Minor: Terminal illness
The last 50 pages of the book were really exciting and now I have a lot of questions, but otherwise it was a little slow moving and I'm just annoyed that some questions weren't answered.
