Take a photo of a barcode or cover
(WARNING) Before I review this I will say I have ONE issue: the cover. It does not accurately represent the characters in any way. The characters for the most part are dark-skinned. Our protagonist is medium/dark-skinned and of mixed race. The cover art is of a pale-skinned person. That alone makes zero sense. Who is that supposed to be? Because it’s not Amaya.
(Update on this) I got a reply from the publisher and apparently Amaya is half Asian and half Indian? The model is apparently Indian. But I remember Cayo saying she was dark skin so I’m still a bit bothered by this. I won’t let it affect the review though since the BOOK was good and it’s not the authors fault.
ANYWAY...
The book was wonderful. The story was wonderful. I very much enjoyed Tara’s use of swear words in this book considering there were many sailors and captains and such that we encounter. It felt very real to the story.
The plot was fast-paced, full of betrayal, and gambling and intrigue and I was here for all of it.
Onto the spoilery bits.
I enjoyed Amaya. It’s been a while since I’ve actually cared about a protagonist, but she really spoke to me. Her situation with being on a debt collectors ship, having to work to be free, losing her family, it caused me to be sympathetic to her situation. I definitely rooted for her.
Cayo caught my attention more immediately. I love that he’s bi and that he was this boy born to someone of position and power. He was a gambler and had made a dozen mistakes, and I enjoyed that. He wasn’t perfect—far from it. He was the one who destroyed his family—until we realize it wasn’t entirely his fault. But overall I just enjoyed Cayo as a character.
The two together was a wonderful paring. It didn’t feel rushed, didn’t feel instant, it played out perfectly and I rooted for them immediately.
The plot was definitely fun. Amaya saves a man named Boon and book helps her get revenge on the people who killed her father and ruined her life, landing her on the debt collectors ship. Meanwhile Cayo is trying to clean up the mess he created causing his family to go broke and to get his sister—who is dying—the medicine she needs because she is sick with ash fever, which results in death. I liked the connection. I liked that Cayo’s father was the one who screwed Amaya and landed her on the ship. I like that she had to go out and try to use Cayo to get to his father. All of it made for a edge-of-your-seat kind of ride. I was here for the entire thing.
The plot twists were great. Turned out Boon killed her dad, Boon was in on all of it, and Boon was the one who got Cayo’s sister sick. Both of their fathers also played huge roles in the scheme to get counterfeit money out into the world. Counterfeit money that also causes Ash-fever *gasp* that got me.
I cannot wait for the second book. And am highly anticipating it’s release.
(Update on this) I got a reply from the publisher and apparently Amaya is half Asian and half Indian? The model is apparently Indian. But I remember Cayo saying she was dark skin so I’m still a bit bothered by this. I won’t let it affect the review though since the BOOK was good and it’s not the authors fault.
ANYWAY...
The book was wonderful. The story was wonderful. I very much enjoyed Tara’s use of swear words in this book considering there were many sailors and captains and such that we encounter. It felt very real to the story.
The plot was fast-paced, full of betrayal, and gambling and intrigue and I was here for all of it.
Onto the spoilery bits.
I enjoyed Amaya. It’s been a while since I’ve actually cared about a protagonist, but she really spoke to me. Her situation with being on a debt collectors ship, having to work to be free, losing her family, it caused me to be sympathetic to her situation. I definitely rooted for her.
Cayo caught my attention more immediately. I love that he’s bi and that he was this boy born to someone of position and power. He was a gambler and had made a dozen mistakes, and I enjoyed that. He wasn’t perfect—far from it. He was the one who destroyed his family—until we realize it wasn’t entirely his fault. But overall I just enjoyed Cayo as a character.
The two together was a wonderful paring. It didn’t feel rushed, didn’t feel instant, it played out perfectly and I rooted for them immediately.
The plot was definitely fun. Amaya saves a man named Boon and book helps her get revenge on the people who killed her father and ruined her life, landing her on the debt collectors ship. Meanwhile Cayo is trying to clean up the mess he created causing his family to go broke and to get his sister—who is dying—the medicine she needs because she is sick with ash fever, which results in death. I liked the connection. I liked that Cayo’s father was the one who screwed Amaya and landed her on the ship. I like that she had to go out and try to use Cayo to get to his father. All of it made for a edge-of-your-seat kind of ride. I was here for the entire thing.
The plot twists were great. Turned out Boon killed her dad, Boon was in on all of it, and Boon was the one who got Cayo’s sister sick. Both of their fathers also played huge roles in the scheme to get counterfeit money out into the world. Counterfeit money that also causes Ash-fever *gasp* that got me.
I cannot wait for the second book. And am highly anticipating it’s release.
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I received an ARC of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
[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]: 3.5/5 stars ★★★1/2☆
[b:Ravage the Dark|42249037|Ravage the Dark (Scavenge the Stars, #2)|Tara Sim|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1595792894l/42249037._SY75_.jpg|65856780]: 4/5 stars ★★★★☆
"Nothing could stay; everything was temporary. You could never trust what you have, only what you were capable of.
10/17/2020: Just did a speedy reread before starting the sequel because I remembered nothing, and my rating and review hold true: this is a fun, intelligent, multi-layered, exciting story that suffers slightly from not enough character development at times, and from cramming all the plot reveals into literally the last chapter...that being said, it's still a solid story and I'm excited for the next book!
original review:
I really enjoyed this! Amaya, sold off as a child to slave away on a fishing ship in order to pay off her family's debts, finally escapes her captor and vows to seek revenge for her suffering and her parents' downfall by returning to her home city of Moray in search of the guilty party. Cayo, heir to a wealthy family in Moray, has been blamed by his father for gambling away their money, but is suddenly distracted by his beloved sister falling ill with the mysterious "ash fever" sweeping through the region. The medicine she needs is expensive, but Cayo decides to do whatever it takes to make up for his mistakes and save her.
The stories of Amaya and Cayo, two desperate souls searching for the answers to their problems, almost immediately intertwine. From that moment, twist after twist of this fast-paced tale, and the massive con at its center that has fooled nearly everyone (reader included) made it hard to put this book down. Scavenge the Stars is a great story that kept me guessing what would happen and which characters could be trusted. While the writing style and world-building faltered for me at times, this plot and its swash-buckling characters were just so much fun.
[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]: 3.5/5 stars ★★★1/2☆
[b:Ravage the Dark|42249037|Ravage the Dark (Scavenge the Stars, #2)|Tara Sim|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1595792894l/42249037._SY75_.jpg|65856780]: 4/5 stars ★★★★☆
"Nothing could stay; everything was temporary. You could never trust what you have, only what you were capable of.
10/17/2020: Just did a speedy reread before starting the sequel because I remembered nothing, and my rating and review hold true: this is a fun, intelligent, multi-layered, exciting story that suffers slightly from not enough character development at times, and from cramming all the plot reveals into literally the last chapter...that being said, it's still a solid story and I'm excited for the next book!
original review:
I really enjoyed this! Amaya, sold off as a child to slave away on a fishing ship in order to pay off her family's debts, finally escapes her captor and vows to seek revenge for her suffering and her parents' downfall by returning to her home city of Moray in search of the guilty party. Cayo, heir to a wealthy family in Moray, has been blamed by his father for gambling away their money, but is suddenly distracted by his beloved sister falling ill with the mysterious "ash fever" sweeping through the region. The medicine she needs is expensive, but Cayo decides to do whatever it takes to make up for his mistakes and save her.
The stories of Amaya and Cayo, two desperate souls searching for the answers to their problems, almost immediately intertwine. From that moment, twist after twist of this fast-paced tale, and the massive con at its center that has fooled nearly everyone (reader included) made it hard to put this book down. Scavenge the Stars is a great story that kept me guessing what would happen and which characters could be trusted. While the writing style and world-building faltered for me at times, this plot and its swash-buckling characters were just so much fun.
being that i'm not familiar with The Count of Monte Cristo (tho i do so adore the monte cristo sandwich) i must confess i have no opinion on how faithful this retelling is to the original story. however, the world building is interesting, and the characters are flawed and complicated. overall Scavenge The Stars is a quick, effortless read that kept me entertained.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a fun book, with several twists and villainous characters on which to enact revenge. It seems like, at the end of book one, Amaya's desire for revenge is all gathered and focused on one single person, and I'm looking forward to her (and her allies) having that concentrated target to focus on in book two.
adventurous
mysterious
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
i'm not really a fan of the count of monte cristo, but oh boy. i fell into this headlong. it was so deeply interesting, with this interesting world and these flawed characters and their deep convictions based on only partial understandings. it was a very fun romp and i'm looking forward to reading the conclusion of the duology.
buddy read with the wonderful mina!
ah mina.... we're just horrible at choosing books to buddy read! what's wrong with us!
this was a disappointment, big time. i hope the original Count of Monte Christo novel is more bloody and revenge-y than this retelling, because i was seriously disappointed by the lack of badass revenge in this book. if only Ramora (or Ramona? can't remember.... whoops) was the MC! then there would've been lots of badassery ;)
ah well, maybe our next BR will be better! fingers crossed....
ah mina.... we're just horrible at choosing books to buddy read! what's wrong with us!
this was a disappointment, big time. i hope the original Count of Monte Christo novel is more bloody and revenge-y than this retelling, because i was seriously disappointed by the lack of badass revenge in this book. if only Ramora (or Ramona? can't remember.... whoops) was the MC! then there would've been lots of badassery ;)
ah well, maybe our next BR will be better! fingers crossed....
An intricate and vibrant retelling of a classic story, Tara Sim brings a whole new twist to the Count of Monte Cristo tale. Revenge, politics, economic downfalls, and all the glitz and false glamour of a Monte Carlo casino create a lush world for the young Amaya and her band to seek vengeance upon those who destroyed their lives.
Sold into indentured servitude at ten years old, Amaya has slaved away under the whip of a vicious captain for seven years. But just as her debt is nearly paid off, she takes a risk and rescues a man from the sea. That man, calling himself Boon, in order to repay her kindness tells Amaya not to trust the captain to keep his word of release once her debt is paid and gives her a cryptic message on how to escape to riches beyond her wildest dreams should she choose to follow his instructions to seek revenge on all those that have wronged them both in life.
Taking society by storm as the Countess Yamaa, Amaya sets her sights on the cruel captain, the owner of the ship that held her captive, and the monsters who framed her father for smuggling and destroyed her family.
Meanwhile, Young Lord Cayo is trying to reform his wild ways in order to win his father's tightfisted approval and earn the money needed for medicine to treat his gravely ill sister. The more he learns of his father's shady ethics in both business and family, the more he finds himself disgusted by how lightly those with power oppress and discount those that have nothing. All the back door dealings and under the table trades are almost enough to give his faith in humanity. . . but for his sweet younger sister who has spent her entire life trying to better the wotld however she can as often as she is able.
The lyrical writing that flows back and forth bwteen Amaya and Cayo's points of view is smooth and full of rich descriptions that the bring the city of Moray to life. I picked this book and refused to put it down til it was finished.
*I recommend this book to fans of Alexdre Dumas, Mercedes Lackey, and all those who like a bit of swash with their buckles.
*special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital copy ARC in trade for an honest oipinion*
Sold into indentured servitude at ten years old, Amaya has slaved away under the whip of a vicious captain for seven years. But just as her debt is nearly paid off, she takes a risk and rescues a man from the sea. That man, calling himself Boon, in order to repay her kindness tells Amaya not to trust the captain to keep his word of release once her debt is paid and gives her a cryptic message on how to escape to riches beyond her wildest dreams should she choose to follow his instructions to seek revenge on all those that have wronged them both in life.
Taking society by storm as the Countess Yamaa, Amaya sets her sights on the cruel captain, the owner of the ship that held her captive, and the monsters who framed her father for smuggling and destroyed her family.
Meanwhile, Young Lord Cayo is trying to reform his wild ways in order to win his father's tightfisted approval and earn the money needed for medicine to treat his gravely ill sister. The more he learns of his father's shady ethics in both business and family, the more he finds himself disgusted by how lightly those with power oppress and discount those that have nothing. All the back door dealings and under the table trades are almost enough to give his faith in humanity. . . but for his sweet younger sister who has spent her entire life trying to better the wotld however she can as often as she is able.
The lyrical writing that flows back and forth bwteen Amaya and Cayo's points of view is smooth and full of rich descriptions that the bring the city of Moray to life. I picked this book and refused to put it down til it was finished.
*I recommend this book to fans of Alexdre Dumas, Mercedes Lackey, and all those who like a bit of swash with their buckles.
*special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital copy ARC in trade for an honest oipinion*
