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Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Scavenge the Stars
Author: Tara Sim
Book Series: Scavenge the Stars Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: POC and LGBT characters!
Publication Date: January 7, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (Language, suicide TW, child slavery TW, human trafficking TW, gambling, and abuse TW)
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 336
Amazon Link
Synopsis: When Amaya rescues a mysterious stranger from drowning, she fears her rash actions have earned her a longer sentence on the debtor ship where she’s been held captive for years. Instead, the man she saved offers her unimaginable riches and a new identity, setting Amaya on a perilous course through the coastal city-state of Moray, where old-world opulence and desperate gamblers collide.
Amaya wants one thing: revenge against the man who ruined her family and stole the life she once had. But the more entangled she becomes in this game of deception—and as her path intertwines with the son of the man she’s plotting to bring down—the more she uncovers about the truth of her past. And the more she realizes she must trust no one…
Packed with high-stakes adventure, romance, and dueling identities, this gender-swapped retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo is the first novel in an epic YA fantasy duology, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Sabaa Tahir, and Leigh Bardugo.
Review: So I’ve never read The Count of Monte Cristo and as of right now I don’t have the desire but DANG I was in a mood to read it while I was reading this book. This book was highly imaginative and it set the sails high (get it? Get it?... okay fine). I loved the pirate setting and I loved how fierce the main character was. She wasn’t like other girls (no seriously, not a meme this time), she was already self assured in her own body and identity, she didn’t need to discover who she truly was on the inside… just what the heck happened to her a long long time ago. I also liked how the book didn’t shy away from hard topics. The characters were all really well developed and the world building was absolutely amazing. And all jokes aside, while the book isn’t strictly a pirate book, it does have a lot of high seas elements in it that it did satisfy my need for more pirates. I even listened to the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack while reading this book!
The only downside I had of the book is that some of the sections are a bit slower, as the POV switches between two characters, and all of the names and such can be a bit confusing at times.
Verdict: I highly recommend this swashbuckling read! Yo ho, yo ho, a pirates life for me!
Book: Scavenge the Stars
Author: Tara Sim
Book Series: Scavenge the Stars Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: POC and LGBT characters!
Publication Date: January 7, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (Language, suicide TW, child slavery TW, human trafficking TW, gambling, and abuse TW)
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 336
Amazon Link
Synopsis: When Amaya rescues a mysterious stranger from drowning, she fears her rash actions have earned her a longer sentence on the debtor ship where she’s been held captive for years. Instead, the man she saved offers her unimaginable riches and a new identity, setting Amaya on a perilous course through the coastal city-state of Moray, where old-world opulence and desperate gamblers collide.
Amaya wants one thing: revenge against the man who ruined her family and stole the life she once had. But the more entangled she becomes in this game of deception—and as her path intertwines with the son of the man she’s plotting to bring down—the more she uncovers about the truth of her past. And the more she realizes she must trust no one…
Packed with high-stakes adventure, romance, and dueling identities, this gender-swapped retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo is the first novel in an epic YA fantasy duology, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Sabaa Tahir, and Leigh Bardugo.
Review: So I’ve never read The Count of Monte Cristo and as of right now I don’t have the desire but DANG I was in a mood to read it while I was reading this book. This book was highly imaginative and it set the sails high (get it? Get it?... okay fine). I loved the pirate setting and I loved how fierce the main character was. She wasn’t like other girls (no seriously, not a meme this time), she was already self assured in her own body and identity, she didn’t need to discover who she truly was on the inside… just what the heck happened to her a long long time ago. I also liked how the book didn’t shy away from hard topics. The characters were all really well developed and the world building was absolutely amazing. And all jokes aside, while the book isn’t strictly a pirate book, it does have a lot of high seas elements in it that it did satisfy my need for more pirates. I even listened to the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack while reading this book!
The only downside I had of the book is that some of the sections are a bit slower, as the POV switches between two characters, and all of the names and such can be a bit confusing at times.
Verdict: I highly recommend this swashbuckling read! Yo ho, yo ho, a pirates life for me!
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
DNF on 02/07/2020 at page 162.
I tried to keep plugging through this one, but just couldn't. I'm not enjoying it and I'm bored. It was interesting at first and then it just wasn't anymore. Nothing seems to be happening and I don't feel connected to the characters at all. I'll keep it on my shelves for awhile to see if I'm interested later, but for now I'm putting it down.
I tried to keep plugging through this one, but just couldn't. I'm not enjoying it and I'm bored. It was interesting at first and then it just wasn't anymore. Nothing seems to be happening and I don't feel connected to the characters at all. I'll keep it on my shelves for awhile to see if I'm interested later, but for now I'm putting it down.
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
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:
Yes
I really liked the story, it was a quick fun read but I LOVED the nonchalance in dealing with gender fluidity and sexual fluidity. It was just a normal part of life and we need more representation like this. Where it’s just not a big deal to be any gender or sexuality in the slightest. 10/10 in that regard.
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Scavenge the Stars
By. Tara Sim
P. 336
Format: Paper
Rating: ***1/2
***********************
All I knew going into this book is that it was a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, one of my favorite classics. For some reason I was under the impression that the book was set on a spaceship among the stars. Well, the book had ships, but they were the water going kind. It was very different then what I thought going in, but it was enjoyable.
Amaya grew up on a debtors ship, paying off her father’s loan. In the world she lives in the economy seems to be in a constant flux. Everyone is reaching for the top, but most end up paying their dues. Either that or they end up dead, like Amaya’s father.
What comes is a plot intertwining Amaya and the son of the man who set up her father. It was a fast and enjoyable read. There were times that I wanted the plot to be a bit more flushed out, but it was still enjoyable. The book seemed to leave me with more questions than answered and I am excited to pick up the second book in the series.
This book showcases Tara's amazing ability to craft characters, motivation, and worldbuilding. What she was able to do in her Timekeeper series has only improved. I absolutely loved this book as it deals with identity, economic corruption, revenge, and betrayal.
We get two POVs-Amaya and Cayo-whose stories come together as they find out more and more about the true natures of their family and the city Moray. I devoured this book because I loved how realistic these characters felt and how bad I wanted them to get some kind of closure. We have Amaya who wants to find out why she was sold to a debtors ship as a child and Cayo who begins to learn that complacency may not be the best route.
I am so excited for book two and where these characters end up because UGH THE ENDING.
We get two POVs-Amaya and Cayo-whose stories come together as they find out more and more about the true natures of their family and the city Moray. I devoured this book because I loved how realistic these characters felt and how bad I wanted them to get some kind of closure. We have Amaya who wants to find out why she was sold to a debtors ship as a child and Cayo who begins to learn that complacency may not be the best route.
I am so excited for book two and where these characters end up because UGH THE ENDING.