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This book was one of my most anticipated reads of 2020. A gender-swapped retelling of the Count of Monte Cristo? Yes, please!
As many of you probably know, the Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas is one of my all time favorite books. I was very curious what a retelling would look like in the hands of a writer as skilled as Tara.
And I have to say, the story definitely incorporates recognizable elements of the Count of Monte Cristo, but it is wholly it’s own story. Tara does an amazing job capturing the essence of the story, without falling prey to typecasting each and every character.
I loved that this story was told from two perspectives because I felt like it gave the story a lot of depth. Both Amya and Cayo are brilliantly flawed and interesting characters. They each grew into their own as they uncover separately different aspects of the dark underbelly of Moray.
I believe this is going to be a duology, and I honestly cannot wait for the second and final book. I’m dying to see where this story leads!
As many of you probably know, the Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas is one of my all time favorite books. I was very curious what a retelling would look like in the hands of a writer as skilled as Tara.
And I have to say, the story definitely incorporates recognizable elements of the Count of Monte Cristo, but it is wholly it’s own story. Tara does an amazing job capturing the essence of the story, without falling prey to typecasting each and every character.
I loved that this story was told from two perspectives because I felt like it gave the story a lot of depth. Both Amya and Cayo are brilliantly flawed and interesting characters. They each grew into their own as they uncover separately different aspects of the dark underbelly of Moray.
I believe this is going to be a duology, and I honestly cannot wait for the second and final book. I’m dying to see where this story leads!
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Character: I found Amaya and Cayo enjoyable characters. They're these messy people trying to work through their issues.
Definitely an A for diversity. POC present. Cayo is bisexual. There's a non-binary character.
Score 7/10.
Atmosphere: The setting and world building is pretty genetic to be honest. It's a coastal city and that's about all we get. I mean we get descriptions of food, which I think added to the world building and feel but.... It was pretty lacking. 5/10.
Writing style: Enjoyable to read but there was jarring jargon that felt out of place at times. 8/10.
Plot: I think the dual points of view worked really well here. I wasn't expecting some of the plot twists. Like I knew a few seemingly good characters were sketchy and not to be trusted but I didn't see a lot of the events unfolding the way they did. It's one of those "I guessed it I just didn't guess the exact details." 7/10.
Intrigue: I was interested enough to want to know what's happening. 8/10.
Logic: The events were explained well enough that I could buy the various twists. 8/10.
Enjoyment: 8/10.
Total: 50
Score: 7
Definitely an A for diversity. POC present. Cayo is bisexual. There's a non-binary character.
Score 7/10.
Atmosphere: The setting and world building is pretty genetic to be honest. It's a coastal city and that's about all we get. I mean we get descriptions of food, which I think added to the world building and feel but.... It was pretty lacking. 5/10.
Writing style: Enjoyable to read but there was jarring jargon that felt out of place at times. 8/10.
Plot: I think the dual points of view worked really well here. I wasn't expecting some of the plot twists. Like I knew a few seemingly good characters were sketchy and not to be trusted but I didn't see a lot of the events unfolding the way they did. It's one of those "I guessed it I just didn't guess the exact details." 7/10.
Intrigue: I was interested enough to want to know what's happening. 8/10.
Logic: The events were explained well enough that I could buy the various twists. 8/10.
Enjoyment: 8/10.
Total: 50
Score: 7
I was never able to finish The Count of Monte Cristo. So obviously I cannot compare how "loyal" this version is. I don't believe any retellings should ever be completely faithful though, as I want to read something unique.
I personally enjoyed this and look forward to the next. Quick and entertaining. I could see a few things that would bother some, so do go in expecting more easy entertainment.
I personally enjoyed this and look forward to the next. Quick and entertaining. I could see a few things that would bother some, so do go in expecting more easy entertainment.
DNF @ 30%
I'd only recommend this to someone who wanted a watered down version of The Count of Monte Christo, stripped away of all the long-con plotting, and, the very personal revenge. This just didn't work for me
I'd only recommend this to someone who wanted a watered down version of The Count of Monte Christo, stripped away of all the long-con plotting, and, the very personal revenge. This just didn't work for me
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I didn't read the summary of this before I began, and I've got to say: finding out it was a Count of Monte Cristo retelling? AWESOME.
Loved the plot, loved the characters (Amaya! Cayo! Etc!), and was just generally quite pleased with the whole adventure.
Loved the plot, loved the characters (Amaya! Cayo! Etc!), and was just generally quite pleased with the whole adventure.
I’ve been sitting on this book and thinking about my review for awhile because I just don’t know how I feel about the book. The problem for me, I think, is simply that it is a [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] retelling, and the Count of Monte Cristo is my all-time favorite book (despite its flaws, lol). I had high hopes because I love the original so much, but this just didn’t live up to it and because of that I wasn’t able to look at the book with a neutral feeling.
So instead, I have been trying to think about why I was disappointed with the retelling, which was also challenging because what makes a good retelling? I have, admittedly, read very few retellings; I guess more of the retellings that I’ve consumed have been movies and such—She’s the Man, Rent, West Side Story, I guess the only book I can remember reading is [b:Peter and the Starcatchers|34262|Peter and the Starcatchers (Peter and the Starcatchers, #1)|Dave Barry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435312363l/34262._SX50_.jpg|1625130]. So what is it about these retellings that make them compelling, and loved by both myself and the public?
I think the above retellings, and other retellings I can think of, fall into two different categories. Firstly, the same characters but either an alternate point of view or an alternate timeline—like Peter and the Starcatchers, or Wicked or Maleficent. These retellings bring something new to the old story, add a twist to the original. The second category is the alternate universe category—these stories use the original and keep the essential elements (the conflict, the strong feelings and themes) but create a new world and often update the setting so to make it relatable to modern readers. This second category is, of course, the category that Scavenge the Stars falls into.
So, this retelling needs to, in theory, reflect the same themes as The Count of Monte Cristo—the things that make The Count of Monte Cristo a good story needs to also be present in Scavenge the Stars. So what do I love about The Count of Monte Cristo?
The problem for me was that I simply didn’t see most of these elements in Scavenge the Stars. The elements of the story were changed in a fundamental way. The enemies are not clear-cut, the people Amaya thinks she can trust betray her, and she is simply not well put together. Yes, maybe this makes her more relatable as a character, but it loses the charm of the original story. Amaya does not lay out intricate plans to take down her enemies slowly and painfully. I might even forgive this if she had laid out such plans, but the plans were foiled; instead, it feels like she is just floundering and doesn’t know what she’s doing at all. She is not all-powerful with the downfalls of man, she is not able to hire highly competent people to carry out her plans, she does not have the years of wisdom and knowledge imparted onto Dantes by the Abbe Faria. You really lose something essential to The Count of Monte Cristo when you don’t have that.
Frankly, most of the issues I had were with Amaya’s perspective. I actually really enjoyed Cayo’s perspective (our Albert). His storyline and plot was much more compelling and I think it fit into the Count of Monte Cristo story much better. Honestly, I think I would have preferred this book if we hadn’t gotten Amaya’s perspective at all—if she could have appeared as Countess Yamaa and started controlling the city like a puppet, but we saw it all through Cayo’s eyes (except, maybe, her flashbacks from the beginning of the book. I thought those worked alright as well). Even if the plot moved the same way, and the ending was the same, I think that taking away Countess Yamaa’s perspective would have done a lot for the retelling. I don’t think including it added anything to the story.
As for some other issues I had with regard to the the retelling, I’ll have to wait to comment on it until the second book. As I said above, due to these issues that I had trouble overcoming, I was struggling to evaluate the merits or pitfalls of the book itself with a neutral eye. I think the pacing was a little quick, but it was honestly a pretty fast book in general and I got through it very quickly—were I not a working woman, I probably could have finished it in one sitting. At the end of the day, it was an enjoyable enough read but my expectations were too high and I was bummed with the end product.
So instead, I have been trying to think about why I was disappointed with the retelling, which was also challenging because what makes a good retelling? I have, admittedly, read very few retellings; I guess more of the retellings that I’ve consumed have been movies and such—She’s the Man, Rent, West Side Story, I guess the only book I can remember reading is [b:Peter and the Starcatchers|34262|Peter and the Starcatchers (Peter and the Starcatchers, #1)|Dave Barry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435312363l/34262._SX50_.jpg|1625130]. So what is it about these retellings that make them compelling, and loved by both myself and the public?
I think the above retellings, and other retellings I can think of, fall into two different categories. Firstly, the same characters but either an alternate point of view or an alternate timeline—like Peter and the Starcatchers, or Wicked or Maleficent. These retellings bring something new to the old story, add a twist to the original. The second category is the alternate universe category—these stories use the original and keep the essential elements (the conflict, the strong feelings and themes) but create a new world and often update the setting so to make it relatable to modern readers. This second category is, of course, the category that Scavenge the Stars falls into.
So, this retelling needs to, in theory, reflect the same themes as The Count of Monte Cristo—the things that make The Count of Monte Cristo a good story needs to also be present in Scavenge the Stars. So what do I love about The Count of Monte Cristo?
- The story has a little bit of everything—similar to the line at the beginning of [b:The Princess Bride|21787|The Princess Bride|William Goldman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327903636l/21787._SY75_.jpg|992628], The Count of Monte Cristo has “Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles…”
- The Count learns that revenge doesn’t solve all his problems BUT the ones who wronged him still get their due. Yes, he learned it was wrong, but not before everyone’s lives were ruined. It’s satisfying.
- There are clear enemies. The reader knows, right at the beginning of the story, who did Dantes wrong, and why they did it (and they all did it for selfish reasons. It wasn’t the way of the world, their actions were completely self-serving, which is important to the story).
- The Count sees how his actions to destroy his enemies ultimately affect people he loves, through the romance between Maximilien and Valentine; furthermore, by the time he arrives in Paris, the "bad guys" aren't really committing crimes anymore; they're shown to be regular people with good traits and bad who may or may not deserve what is done to them (ethical tension).
- Those who helped Dantes, and were kind to him, get their reward. Again, the lines are clear-cut—by the time Dantes escapes, he knows with certainty who was his enemy and who was his friend.
- Intricacy. The Count of Monte Cristo has an extremely intricate plot. The Count lays the groundwork for the end game much earlier in the book, and the reader sees everything play out in such a satisfying way.
The problem for me was that I simply didn’t see most of these elements in Scavenge the Stars. The elements of the story were changed in a fundamental way. The enemies are not clear-cut, the people Amaya thinks she can trust betray her, and she is simply not well put together. Yes, maybe this makes her more relatable as a character, but it loses the charm of the original story. Amaya does not lay out intricate plans to take down her enemies slowly and painfully. I might even forgive this if she had laid out such plans, but the plans were foiled; instead, it feels like she is just floundering and doesn’t know what she’s doing at all. She is not all-powerful with the downfalls of man, she is not able to hire highly competent people to carry out her plans, she does not have the years of wisdom and knowledge imparted onto Dantes by the Abbe Faria. You really lose something essential to The Count of Monte Cristo when you don’t have that.
Frankly, most of the issues I had were with Amaya’s perspective. I actually really enjoyed Cayo’s perspective (our Albert). His storyline and plot was much more compelling and I think it fit into the Count of Monte Cristo story much better. Honestly, I think I would have preferred this book if we hadn’t gotten Amaya’s perspective at all—if she could have appeared as Countess Yamaa and started controlling the city like a puppet, but we saw it all through Cayo’s eyes (except, maybe, her flashbacks from the beginning of the book. I thought those worked alright as well). Even if the plot moved the same way, and the ending was the same, I think that taking away Countess Yamaa’s perspective would have done a lot for the retelling. I don’t think including it added anything to the story.
As for some other issues I had with regard to the the retelling, I’ll have to wait to comment on it until the second book. As I said above, due to these issues that I had trouble overcoming, I was struggling to evaluate the merits or pitfalls of the book itself with a neutral eye. I think the pacing was a little quick, but it was honestly a pretty fast book in general and I got through it very quickly—were I not a working woman, I probably could have finished it in one sitting. At the end of the day, it was an enjoyable enough read but my expectations were too high and I was bummed with the end product.
I have not read The Count if Monte Cristo. So I am not sure if it would lend anything to my experience with this book.
Thank you to Disney Hyperion and Netgalley for my copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the plot. I enjoyed the character developments. I enjoyed my journey through Moray.
The characters were really interesting. Amaya was such a strong character in spite of every single punch life hit her with. Her compassion and kindness to those who deserved it made her likeable and her anger made me believe her.
Cayo spent a considerable amount of time making me feel sorry for him. Then Frustrated. Then angry. But I could appreciate his personality.
I felt the threads all dove together really nicely and I wasn’t super confused or frustrated at the end.
Although I could hear the Disney soundtrack and end credits rolling in the final pages. This book had enough violence and heartache to balance out the happy feelings.
Can we also talk about this insanely gorgeous cover?!
Looking forward to the next book!
Thank you to Disney Hyperion and Netgalley for my copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the plot. I enjoyed the character developments. I enjoyed my journey through Moray.
The characters were really interesting. Amaya was such a strong character in spite of every single punch life hit her with. Her compassion and kindness to those who deserved it made her likeable and her anger made me believe her.
Cayo spent a considerable amount of time making me feel sorry for him. Then Frustrated. Then angry. But I could appreciate his personality.
I felt the threads all dove together really nicely and I wasn’t super confused or frustrated at the end.
Although I could hear the Disney soundtrack and end credits rolling in the final pages. This book had enough violence and heartache to balance out the happy feelings.
Can we also talk about this insanely gorgeous cover?!
Looking forward to the next book!
Haven't seen or read The Count of Monte Cristo, but I enjoyed this book- a well written and fast paced fantasy story with compelling characters. Inevitably I compared it to Six of Crows in my head, simply because of the Vice Sector's similarities to Ketterdam. I would have liked to see a greater cast of main characters with more page-time given to Soria and Liesl and Romara instead of just a focus on Amaaya and Cayo, which would have fleshed out the story more and given it greater depth. And I was SO disappointed that the story didn't take the route of creating a relationship between Cayo and Romara, with both of them at each others throats and manipulating and scheming to get the upper hand in their continuous game of cat and mouse. I suppose Cayo wasn't written in a way that would have allowed that kind of toxic yet compelling relationship to he explored, but Cayo and Amaaya being paired off was just too unimaginative and staid. Sim really missed the opportunity to write something brilliant by focusing on Romara who was infinitely more interesting.