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This was a fantastic part one to a very gripping take of love and revenge! I really enjoyed both of the POV characters and how well-crafted they were. I was able to root for them both the whole time, and felt for them when they floundered. One thing I've got to say is this book is an *excellent* example of representation. The book and the writing didn't make a big feel about it, but the rep was *everywhere* (particularly regarding LGBT+ characters, as well as female representation in varying roles) and it was incredibly refreshing. One of our POV characters is bisexual, and it's written so so so so perfectly that it reminded me of Adam from the Raven Cycle (even though Adam and Cayo are absolutely NOTHING alike). It's just that it we written so gently, so real, and it felt right.
Getting into the writing itself, I really felt like I was reading a professional who had done their research. I know this story is inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo, and though I have not read it myself (I've only seen the movie), this very much seemed well put-together and thought through. The plot was well balanced with character development, and I genuinely cared about the characters and am intrigued by the metaplot. Considering there are several different moving parts going on regarding said meta, this could have been very confusing and disorganized but it wasn't. This book has made me want to sit down and try and trudge through its inspiration material, and I don't really read classics.
I really appreciated how the characters have to deal with their own flaws, and how it's done in a real but very sympathetic way. Cayo and his vices, Amaya and her bloodlust ~ and the consequences of both ~ are all done very convincingly when, with all that's going on with the plot, it would have been easy to gloss over it. Sim gives us appropriate weight to the characters actions while still keeping the pace of the novel moving fluidly.
4/5. I would recommend to those who enjoy historical adventures. I didn't quite realize that I was going to be reading more of a historical fiction book but that's really more of what this is than a fantasy, since there aren't any fantastical elements (so far) about the world unless you count that it doesn't take place in any countries we'd ever know of. It's really more of an.. alternate universe history sort of spiel, which I like. This is part one of a duology, and I look forward to the conclusion in the sequel. I'm also very curious to read more by this author.
Getting into the writing itself, I really felt like I was reading a professional who had done their research. I know this story is inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo, and though I have not read it myself (I've only seen the movie), this very much seemed well put-together and thought through. The plot was well balanced with character development, and I genuinely cared about the characters and am intrigued by the metaplot. Considering there are several different moving parts going on regarding said meta, this could have been very confusing and disorganized but it wasn't. This book has made me want to sit down and try and trudge through its inspiration material, and I don't really read classics.
I really appreciated how the characters have to deal with their own flaws, and how it's done in a real but very sympathetic way. Cayo and his vices, Amaya and her bloodlust ~ and the consequences of both ~ are all done very convincingly when, with all that's going on with the plot, it would have been easy to gloss over it. Sim gives us appropriate weight to the characters actions while still keeping the pace of the novel moving fluidly.
4/5. I would recommend to those who enjoy historical adventures. I didn't quite realize that I was going to be reading more of a historical fiction book but that's really more of what this is than a fantasy, since there aren't any fantastical elements (so far) about the world unless you count that it doesn't take place in any countries we'd ever know of. It's really more of an.. alternate universe history sort of spiel, which I like. This is part one of a duology, and I look forward to the conclusion in the sequel. I'm also very curious to read more by this author.
Enjoyable if you just want something to comfort read, and you love the Count of Monte Cristo meets Pirates of the Carribbean vibe x
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc to review!
Scavenge the Stars is a gender-swapped retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo. Which, incidentally, I have never read. But I think most people at least know the premise of the story, and you really don't need any knowledge of it to read this book.
Amaya, or Silverfish, has spent seven long years indentured on a debtor ship. Captained by the cruel Captain Zharo, the Brackish is a debtor ship where children are forced to work off their family's debts. Approaching her freedom, Amaya makes the split second decision to rescue a mysterious stranger floating in the sea. This angers Zharo, leading to Amaya and the mystery man forced to escape overboard. Amaya finds herself stuck with mystery man Boon. Boon promises her revenge on the cruel Captain Zharo, if she also helps him take down his own enemy, Kamon Mercado. Through Boon's plotting and seemingly endless riches, Amaya finds herself taking on a new identity, worming her way into the heart of Moray's noble circle.
Our other point of view is from Cayo Mercado, a semi-reformed gambling playboy, and son of Kamon Mercado. Cayo's gambling addiction has lead to the draining of his family's coffers. When Cayo's beloved sister Soria comes down with deadly Ash Fever, Cayo will do everything in his power to get the money for the medicine that can save her. Soon Amaya finds her path entangled with Cayo's. But Amaya is quickly learning that what she's believed about her past may not be the whole story, and she must discover the truth before it's too late.
Can you tell it's a bit hard to write a concise summary of this book? Anyway, I really enjoyed this one! It starts a bit slow, and I was a bit confused at the start with the jump between POVs. But it quickly grabbed me and held me captive. I liked having both POVs of Amaya and Cayo. They're both well fleshed out characters and I cared about them both. I liked their chemistry and the slow burn romance. But don't think this book is romance heavy, because it's not. It's much more focused on the adventure and revenge plot. Also, we're definitely setting up for some big drama and climax in the next book. Which I am for sure excited to read. The writing style is really good. You get such a feel of the characters and their world. I could picture the city streets or docks very easily. I think the world will be more fleshed out and understandable in the next book too.
Another thing I enjoyed was the casual diversity in this book! It didn't seem shoved in there just to be in there; it was just part of the world. We had a bisexual (although it's never explicitly stated, it is implied) male MC, which is rare. And we got some small non-binary rep too! And it was just presented in a really casual and normal way, and shown to be accepted in their society. I would like to see more of that in book two.
Overall, if you're a fan of high stakes adventure and a good fantasy retelling, this book is a great choice. It's slow to start, but will hook you in and get action packed quickly. There's lots of twists and layers of deception, and a little side of romance. It's a good first book in a series, and I think book two will be even better.
Scavenge the Stars is a gender-swapped retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo. Which, incidentally, I have never read. But I think most people at least know the premise of the story, and you really don't need any knowledge of it to read this book.
Amaya, or Silverfish, has spent seven long years indentured on a debtor ship. Captained by the cruel Captain Zharo, the Brackish is a debtor ship where children are forced to work off their family's debts. Approaching her freedom, Amaya makes the split second decision to rescue a mysterious stranger floating in the sea. This angers Zharo, leading to Amaya and the mystery man forced to escape overboard. Amaya finds herself stuck with mystery man Boon. Boon promises her revenge on the cruel Captain Zharo, if she also helps him take down his own enemy, Kamon Mercado. Through Boon's plotting and seemingly endless riches, Amaya finds herself taking on a new identity, worming her way into the heart of Moray's noble circle.
Our other point of view is from Cayo Mercado, a semi-reformed gambling playboy, and son of Kamon Mercado. Cayo's gambling addiction has lead to the draining of his family's coffers. When Cayo's beloved sister Soria comes down with deadly Ash Fever, Cayo will do everything in his power to get the money for the medicine that can save her. Soon Amaya finds her path entangled with Cayo's. But Amaya is quickly learning that what she's believed about her past may not be the whole story, and she must discover the truth before it's too late.
Can you tell it's a bit hard to write a concise summary of this book? Anyway, I really enjoyed this one! It starts a bit slow, and I was a bit confused at the start with the jump between POVs. But it quickly grabbed me and held me captive. I liked having both POVs of Amaya and Cayo. They're both well fleshed out characters and I cared about them both. I liked their chemistry and the slow burn romance. But don't think this book is romance heavy, because it's not. It's much more focused on the adventure and revenge plot. Also, we're definitely setting up for some big drama and climax in the next book. Which I am for sure excited to read. The writing style is really good. You get such a feel of the characters and their world. I could picture the city streets or docks very easily. I think the world will be more fleshed out and understandable in the next book too.
Another thing I enjoyed was the casual diversity in this book! It didn't seem shoved in there just to be in there; it was just part of the world. We had a bisexual (although it's never explicitly stated, it is implied) male MC, which is rare. And we got some small non-binary rep too! And it was just presented in a really casual and normal way, and shown to be accepted in their society. I would like to see more of that in book two.
Overall, if you're a fan of high stakes adventure and a good fantasy retelling, this book is a great choice. It's slow to start, but will hook you in and get action packed quickly. There's lots of twists and layers of deception, and a little side of romance. It's a good first book in a series, and I think book two will be even better.
Gender bent Count of Monte Cristo... yes please.
I liked the characters and the world. It was clever and well done. For fantasy, and me personally, it felt low stakes. It seemed like these characters always had an out, like they didn't feel like revenge was the only option. That doesn't change the fact that I enjoyed reading this book.
Here's hoping for higher stakes, all or nothing choices, and never having an out, sequel.
I liked the characters and the world. It was clever and well done. For fantasy, and me personally, it felt low stakes. It seemed like these characters always had an out, like they didn't feel like revenge was the only option. That doesn't change the fact that I enjoyed reading this book.
Here's hoping for higher stakes, all or nothing choices, and never having an out, sequel.
This book is perfect for readers who enjoy both classic fiction and YA fantasy. It's a niche reader that enjoys these two separate genres but I happen to be one of them. Since this is a gender-swapped rendering of [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/1309203605l/7126._SY75_.jpg|391568], it helps to have read the original classic story. It's not necessary to do so, but it added to my appreciation of the story. It's fascinating to go through and see where [a:Tara Sim|14118411|Tara Sim|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1436027655p2/14118411.jpg] references the original work. Like the count, Amaya is determined to get justice for her forced servitude. Amaya is a complex character that not only wants revenge for herself, but for her family. She is just as complicated a character as the count from the original story, especially where their motivations are concerned.
This story reminded me strongly of two other young adult books, [b:Sea Witch|36502054|Sea Witch (Sea Witch, #1)|Sarah Henning|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1523871348l/36502054._SY75_.jpg|47793479] and [b:To Kill a Kingdom|34499221|To Kill a Kingdom|Alexandra Christo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1524322945l/34499221._SY75_.jpg|47852101]. Amaya's character is similar to Lira, someone who is also drawn to the sea. In both books, everything goes back to the sea. Even in "Scavenge the Stars," some characters are referred to as landless, similar to how characters in "To Kill a Kingdom" either reside on land or in the sea. However, there's one line of the text that made the similarities between Amaya and Lira apparent: "The feeling of Cayo Mercado's heart under her hand. If only she had reached in and squeezed it to pulp." Just as Lira wants to crush the heart of her prince, the one she can't help but love, so does Amaya want to crush her love's heart.
In "Sea Witch," there's also ill-timed romance and a marvelous cast of characters. Half the story takes place under the sea, which reminded me of the scene in "Scavenge the Stars" when Amaya goes underwater with Boon.
If a reader is searching for a fantasy adventure story with excellent pacing and astonishing, cerebral imagery, then this book should be next on their to be read list, Not only does it give off exciting Pirates of the Caribbean vibes, but there's just enough reality to it that it makes the reader question magic itself. What's equally impressive is the inclusion of lgbt characters in the book. It's just another way the story feels realistic and true to itself.
This story reminded me strongly of two other young adult books, [b:Sea Witch|36502054|Sea Witch (Sea Witch, #1)|Sarah Henning|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1523871348l/36502054._SY75_.jpg|47793479] and [b:To Kill a Kingdom|34499221|To Kill a Kingdom|Alexandra Christo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1524322945l/34499221._SY75_.jpg|47852101]. Amaya's character is similar to Lira, someone who is also drawn to the sea. In both books, everything goes back to the sea. Even in "Scavenge the Stars," some characters are referred to as landless, similar to how characters in "To Kill a Kingdom" either reside on land or in the sea. However, there's one line of the text that made the similarities between Amaya and Lira apparent: "The feeling of Cayo Mercado's heart under her hand. If only she had reached in and squeezed it to pulp." Just as Lira wants to crush the heart of her prince, the one she can't help but love, so does Amaya want to crush her love's heart.
In "Sea Witch," there's also ill-timed romance and a marvelous cast of characters. Half the story takes place under the sea, which reminded me of the scene in "Scavenge the Stars" when Amaya goes underwater with Boon.
If a reader is searching for a fantasy adventure story with excellent pacing and astonishing, cerebral imagery, then this book should be next on their to be read list, Not only does it give off exciting Pirates of the Caribbean vibes, but there's just enough reality to it that it makes the reader question magic itself. What's equally impressive is the inclusion of lgbt characters in the book. It's just another way the story feels realistic and true to itself.
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I’d love to hug this cover if I could for always, but I couldn’t get into this one!
This is a 3.5 star book for me. It made me wish that I had read "The Count of Monte Cristo" more recently so I would be able to draw more parallels. Amaya, also known as "Silverfish", is so close to being done with her term on a debtor's ship and so ready to return to her mother. Of course, things don't go smoothly when she decides to rescue a man in the ocean, and gets time added on to her service. Cayo is trying to recover from time spent in the gambling dens, to regain his father's trust and save his sister from the ash fever that is ravaging the country. Their lives slowly draw together and eventually collide.
This book is told in dueling perspectives, and for the most part I really enjoyed it. There were times when I wanted to shake both of them, but I can't deny that their actions make sense for the characters. It's a little bit bloody. Characters are bisexual and a range of skin tones, although the main romance is between a man and a woman.
This book is told in dueling perspectives, and for the most part I really enjoyed it. There were times when I wanted to shake both of them, but I can't deny that their actions make sense for the characters. It's a little bit bloody. Characters are bisexual and a range of skin tones, although the main romance is between a man and a woman.
This book starts on a debtor ship The Brackish where Silverfish is gutting a fish and cleaning it. A debtor ship is basically a fishing ship who employs CHILDREN as SLAVES to work on it to pay off their or their parents debt or basically random children who are sold to clear someone's debt.
This is a revenge story!
Silverfish remember the time she was Amaya a modest pearl merchant's daughter who has her life torn apart when her father is murdered and she is sold off to a debtor ship to pay for her family's so called debts.
One day she rescues a stranger from the sea, judging by his outfit and thinking that he is rich she thinks that he would help her get rid of her debt in exchange for his life. Soon she learns that he may not be rich but landless(basically exiled). Once she starts having conversations with the stranger she thinks she may have a chance after all.
She want's to find out who sold her, and take revenge on the captain of the ship for all those years of torture and mist importantly the man who started it all, who ruined her life in the first place Kamon Merchado.
As she gets entangled in other people's lies and her own she can't help but fall for the son of the mand she has vowed and promised to ruin.
Cayo is a recovering gambling addict, a rich and spoiled brat who spent away his family fortune in gambling debts. And now he is struggling to take care of his sister who has succumbed to a deadly disease. He is enamoured with a new addition to his town the wealthy Countess Yamaa.
Well I knew who Yamaa was right away, when Cayo first encounters her.
This book has quite a lot of violence and gore, trigger warnings include sexual assault, indentured servitude of children, gambling, prostitution. So it's not really YA either and Not really fantasy.
The world building was beautiful and it reminded me a little of Las Vegas. The one thing the book teaches us is not everything is the way it seems.
The romance between Cayo and Amaya was sizzling. I loved it. It's hate turned into love.. one of my favorite tropes. And its beautifully written. I absolutely enjoyed the parts wherever the sea and sea life is described.
This book keeps you hooked in right from the start.
The relationships between the characters are messy, unusual and complicated.
I have to mention one relationship that I am MOST excited to see in the sequel, which is the relationship between Amaya and Roach
This is a revenge story!
Silverfish remember the time she was Amaya a modest pearl merchant's daughter who has her life torn apart when her father is murdered and she is sold off to a debtor ship to pay for her family's so called debts.
One day she rescues a stranger from the sea, judging by his outfit and thinking that he is rich she thinks that he would help her get rid of her debt in exchange for his life. Soon she learns that he may not be rich but landless(basically exiled). Once she starts having conversations with the stranger she thinks she may have a chance after all.
She want's to find out who sold her, and take revenge on the captain of the ship for all those years of torture and mist importantly the man who started it all, who ruined her life in the first place Kamon Merchado.
As she gets entangled in other people's lies and her own she can't help but fall for the son of the mand she has vowed and promised to ruin.
Cayo is a recovering gambling addict, a rich and spoiled brat who spent away his family fortune in gambling debts. And now he is struggling to take care of his sister who has succumbed to a deadly disease. He is enamoured with a new addition to his town the wealthy Countess Yamaa.
Well I knew who Yamaa was right away, when Cayo first encounters her.
This book has quite a lot of violence and gore, trigger warnings include sexual assault, indentured servitude of children, gambling, prostitution. So it's not really YA either and Not really fantasy.
The world building was beautiful and it reminded me a little of Las Vegas. The one thing the book teaches us is not everything is the way it seems.
The romance between Cayo and Amaya was sizzling. I loved it. It's hate turned into love.. one of my favorite tropes. And its beautifully written. I absolutely enjoyed the parts wherever the sea and sea life is described.
This book keeps you hooked in right from the start.
The relationships between the characters are messy, unusual and complicated.
I have to mention one relationship that I am MOST excited to see in the sequel, which is the relationship between Amaya and Roach
"The most basic rule of water: better to be above than below"
I started out thinking I was going to be really good- I never thought it could reach five star level, but it started out as a four, then maybe 4.5, but then it started going downhill from there. I had considered briefly reading The Count of Monte Christo before picking up this reimagining (but knew it probably wasn't going to happen) but I still wonder if that would have impacted my enjoyment of the story any more or less. I don't know how faithfully it follows the original, but Scavenge the Stars had some plot points that just seemed out of character with the rest of the story.
Ok, let's discuss what I was alluding to but skirted around in the first paragraph- there is a division in this book that is split probably around the 30-35% mark- if you've read the book you probably know what I'm talking aboutwhen we find out that Countess Yaama was Amaya all along I thought everything before that mark was really inventive and smart interesting enough that I had a real vested interest in moving forward, mostly with Amaya's chapters. But then said event happens and... basically, it all goes down from there. The plot becomes little more than meandering, and what does happen, especially in Cayo's chapters, is pretty boring.
Also after that event happens the mood of the story basically does a 180. This was pitched to me as a pirate book first and foremost, yet basically all of those elements are left by the wayside and what we are left with is not the sea but land, a city called Moray. And while we're on the subject, the worldbuilding was shaky at best. Sim would often just randomly throw out names of places or titles (particularly with the Rain and Sun empires, but other things too), but just saying these things does not build a world- you need to expand on them and flesh them out so that they are more real in the reader's mind, which, unfortunately, Sim never accomplishes here. And even within the city of Moray itself- it felt like any generic fantasy setting. There were your typical high born wealthy people, and then the "seedy underbelly" of the vice sector with a caricature of a villain.
The characters themselves had some flaws, but overall I liked them. I much preferred Amaya to Cayo- her actions and personality were very much realistically shaped by not only her time on the Brackish but also her upbringing in Moray. I felt that Sim did a good job of making the reader empathize with Amaya and her mission, even if we can see from the beginning that not everything is as it seems. Her desire for revenge was I thought sort of strange- sure something horrible was done to her but it wasn't something personal- it happened to thousands of other children. This combined with her constantly shifting target for revenge left this plot point sort of... aimless. Her interactions with Cayo were probably a little more awkward and clunky than they needed to be.
Cayo on the other hand was a decent character, but as far as his actual plot line goes.... boring, boring, and more boring. I could not have cared less about his engagement to Romara or his half -baked romance with Sebastien. I'm sure both of these will be explored further in the next book but I'm sure as hell not reading it. Also, I am SO OVER the trope of having a mysterious disease where there's really something more going on. We've seen it once, we've seen it one thousand times. Overall, it often felt like he was adrift, contrary to Amaya's observation that Cayo was "firmly rooted in the ground, a tree with his roots stretching down anchoring him to the earth" (paraphrased). Cayo is constantly being pulled in every direction with little opposition, this only made more clear by this pull towards the Vice Sector, despite wanting to quit gambling.
And the reveals... there was one big one that I didn't see coming, but other than that it was all pretty basic. You could probably figure it out even if you haven't seen the basic YA Fantasy formula before (obviously Cayo's family and Amaya's family are more intertwined than they first expect), but knowing specifically what tropes it falls back on allowed me to figure it out pretty early on. Manipulating the timeline was a pretty genius move that contributed to my shock at the first reveal, but everything with Kamon and the Slum King and especially Boon was obvious from the beginning.
Ultimately, I think this book would have worked better if we had focused more on the circumstances Amaya finds herself in at the beginning of the book, on the debtor's ship. It seems then that the book has a really clear direction, but after that it's sort of all over the place, restless like Cayo. A revenge fantasy? An allegorical novel dealing with socio-political injustice? An adventure mystery? An explanation on why counterfeit money is bad? It was all over the place, and tried to be too much at once.
Needless to say, this did not hold up to my expectations. There was some really great representation with race but also diverse sexualites/gender identites- Amaya is demisexual, Cayo is bisexual, and there are side characters (who I think are going to get more screen time in book two) who are asexual and ftm trans, respectively. But unfortunately, good representation is not enough to save a story with a meandering plot, shoddy world building, and subpar characters. Originally I was going to give this three stars just because I so loved the beginning, but in writing this review I've realized more of its flaws and unfortunately have to give it a two, maybe 2.5 if goodreads allowed that. I know a lot of people loved this book and that's great, but this just wasn't for me.
I started out thinking I was going to be really good- I never thought it could reach five star level, but it started out as a four, then maybe 4.5, but then it started going downhill from there. I had considered briefly reading The Count of Monte Christo before picking up this reimagining (but knew it probably wasn't going to happen) but I still wonder if that would have impacted my enjoyment of the story any more or less. I don't know how faithfully it follows the original, but Scavenge the Stars had some plot points that just seemed out of character with the rest of the story.
Ok, let's discuss what I was alluding to but skirted around in the first paragraph- there is a division in this book that is split probably around the 30-35% mark- if you've read the book you probably know what I'm talking about
Also after that event happens the mood of the story basically does a 180. This was pitched to me as a pirate book first and foremost, yet basically all of those elements are left by the wayside and what we are left with is not the sea but land, a city called Moray. And while we're on the subject, the worldbuilding was shaky at best. Sim would often just randomly throw out names of places or titles (particularly with the Rain and Sun empires, but other things too), but just saying these things does not build a world- you need to expand on them and flesh them out so that they are more real in the reader's mind, which, unfortunately, Sim never accomplishes here. And even within the city of Moray itself- it felt like any generic fantasy setting. There were your typical high born wealthy people, and then the "seedy underbelly" of the vice sector with a caricature of a villain.
The characters themselves had some flaws, but overall I liked them. I much preferred Amaya to Cayo- her actions and personality were very much realistically shaped by not only her time on the Brackish but also her upbringing in Moray. I felt that Sim did a good job of making the reader empathize with Amaya and her mission, even if we can see from the beginning that not everything is as it seems. Her desire for revenge was I thought sort of strange- sure something horrible was done to her but it wasn't something personal- it happened to thousands of other children. This combined with her constantly shifting target for revenge left this plot point sort of... aimless. Her interactions with Cayo were probably a little more awkward and clunky than they needed to be.
Cayo on the other hand was a decent character, but as far as his actual plot line goes.... boring, boring, and more boring. I could not have cared less about his engagement to Romara or his half -baked romance with Sebastien. I'm sure both of these will be explored further in the next book but I'm sure as hell not reading it. Also, I am SO OVER the trope of having a mysterious disease where there's really something more going on. We've seen it once, we've seen it one thousand times. Overall, it often felt like he was adrift, contrary to Amaya's observation that Cayo was "firmly rooted in the ground, a tree with his roots stretching down anchoring him to the earth" (paraphrased). Cayo is constantly being pulled in every direction with little opposition, this only made more clear by this pull towards the Vice Sector, despite wanting to quit gambling.
And the reveals... there was one big one that I didn't see coming, but other than that it was all pretty basic. You could probably figure it out even if you haven't seen the basic YA Fantasy formula before (obviously Cayo's family and Amaya's family are more intertwined than they first expect), but knowing specifically what tropes it falls back on allowed me to figure it out pretty early on. Manipulating the timeline was a pretty genius move that contributed to my shock at the first reveal, but everything with Kamon and the Slum King and especially Boon was obvious from the beginning.
Ultimately, I think this book would have worked better if we had focused more on the circumstances Amaya finds herself in at the beginning of the book, on the debtor's ship. It seems then that the book has a really clear direction, but after that it's sort of all over the place, restless like Cayo. A revenge fantasy? An allegorical novel dealing with socio-political injustice? An adventure mystery? An explanation on why counterfeit money is bad? It was all over the place, and tried to be too much at once.
Needless to say, this did not hold up to my expectations. There was some really great representation with race but also diverse sexualites/gender identites- Amaya is demisexual, Cayo is bisexual, and there are side characters (who I think are going to get more screen time in book two) who are asexual and ftm trans, respectively. But unfortunately, good representation is not enough to save a story with a meandering plot, shoddy world building, and subpar characters. Originally I was going to give this three stars just because I so loved the beginning, but in writing this review I've realized more of its flaws and unfortunately have to give it a two, maybe 2.5 if goodreads allowed that. I know a lot of people loved this book and that's great, but this just wasn't for me.
Let me start by saying I am obsessed with the Count of Monte Cristo. OBSESSED. So this book had a lot to live up to.
It didn't.
The writing was nothing spectacular, the story was kind of meh, and it didn't have the VIBE of the Count. It was so painfully YA, and trying so hard to be Six of Crows when it really wasn't.
I did finish it, which makes it automatically a 3 star book. I do not finish books that suck. But what really saved it was the DIVERSITY. Brown girls! trans men! a bisexual male lead! an ace bestie! lesbians!!! What's not to love? I adored that. I think every book needs to be like that. It was done really well, too--it didn't detract from the story or shove it down your throat. I'm still not entirely sure it WAS a trans man, but it was a dude with a binder, so that was my assumption. Gorgeous. Chef kiss.
I'm really giving this book too much crap because I read YA even though YA is clearly not my thing...I think I should stop reading it because I expect too much. But as far as YA goes, you know. Kisses in the rain, pining over a White Boi, standard stuff. Cayo MADE it though, even though Tara totally stole the name from The Orphan's Code (ahem, sis, we need to have a talk). He loves fashion, just cause, and he's bi AF, and he's so protective of little kids and so sweet with his sister! It's adorable and I want to protect him forever.
I just really wish it would've captured that COUNT vibe. I love the Count so much. So, so much. This did inspire me to start planning my own retelling so........thanks, Tara? watch out? whichever one applies.
Anyway I don't know why I bother writing long reviews because no one cares, but here we are.
It didn't.
The writing was nothing spectacular, the story was kind of meh, and it didn't have the VIBE of the Count. It was so painfully YA, and trying so hard to be Six of Crows when it really wasn't.
I did finish it, which makes it automatically a 3 star book. I do not finish books that suck. But what really saved it was the DIVERSITY. Brown girls! trans men! a bisexual male lead! an ace bestie! lesbians!!! What's not to love? I adored that. I think every book needs to be like that. It was done really well, too--it didn't detract from the story or shove it down your throat. I'm still not entirely sure it WAS a trans man, but it was a dude with a binder, so that was my assumption. Gorgeous. Chef kiss.
I'm really giving this book too much crap because I read YA even though YA is clearly not my thing...I think I should stop reading it because I expect too much. But as far as YA goes, you know. Kisses in the rain, pining over a White Boi, standard stuff. Cayo MADE it though, even though Tara totally stole the name from The Orphan's Code (ahem, sis, we need to have a talk). He loves fashion, just cause, and he's bi AF, and he's so protective of little kids and so sweet with his sister! It's adorable and I want to protect him forever.
I just really wish it would've captured that COUNT vibe. I love the Count so much. So, so much. This did inspire me to start planning my own retelling so........thanks, Tara? watch out? whichever one applies.
Anyway I don't know why I bother writing long reviews because no one cares, but here we are.