Actual rating 4.5 but when you give me a queer revenge plot story with two characters I super loved and got invested in...I'm all in.

Amaya and Cayo are my tortured babies. The Water Bugs have my heart forever. And the plot device of children suffering because of the actions of their parents never stops breaking my heart. There are a ton of twists and turns in this story and I was gasping and rooting for my babes at every turn. Some of them were predictable and others were not but in the end, it was all fantastically woven. It was culturally and racially diverse, there was sexual diversity as well as gender fluidity that Tara Sim just does so well in all her novels.

Again, Tara Sim's writing is gripping and engaging and makes historical tales fun to read. Love her.

Trigger warnings for murder, physical violence, torture, child abuse, death of children, gun violence, illness, parental abandonment, excessive drinking, and overall scoundrel behavior.

Tara Sim’s debut TIMEKEEPER was a book I read and liked, but didn’t make me super eager to read more. However, the difference between SCAVENGE THE STARS and her debut is immense. It’s really interesting to see her growth as a writer and how deeply she went with the worldbuilding in this YA Fantasy based loosely on Monte Cristo. Every time I put this book down, I wanted to immediately pick it up again. I adored both our main characters, Amaya and Cayo, and became invested in both their stories.

Amaya’s revenge plotline after spending her childhood on a debtor ship was ready well done, and I loved that Sim didn’t just throw in a “tough” main character without direct emotional consequences for their actions. Cayo, a gambling addict desperate to save his sister as their family status crumbles, reminded me a lot of Jesper from SIX OF CROWS or Jac from The Shadow Game series by Amanda Foody—two characters I LOVE—but at the same time remained entirely his own. The worldbuilding involved was intricate and impressive, making me feel as if it was more historical fantasy than high fantasy. I give Sim major props for setting up a world I never wanted to leave, even with all its cruelty.

CW: gambling addiction, physical violence, child abuse/death, murder, drinking, parents abandoning their children.

Thanks to Edelweiss for providing an e-Arc!

I found this one disappointing. I had a hard time getting into it, and never felt very invested in the story.

A bit slow, especially the first half. I enjoyed the retelling of Monte Christo. I wish there'd been a little more action.