This book was so much fun to read!! 4.5 stars. It gripped my from the first chapter and was just in a constant state of motion, keeping my jumping from one page to the next like my life depended on it.

Amora Montara has spent her life training to become the heir of the High Animancer of Visidia, the master of soul magic. To secure her position, she must put on the most important demonstration of her life. But when that goes disastrously wrong, Amora forges a deal with the dashing, mysterious, and handsome pirate Bastian and flees for her life.

As she sails the islands that make up her kingdom, Amora discovers a dangerous enemy and new magic that may just spell the end for her kingdom and life as they know it. Amora must conquer all the dangers she faces beside a crew she never imagined she'd be a part of, or risk the fate of all of Visidia.

Okay, where to even begin? One of the most important parts of any story to me are the characters. If I don't find myself attached to the characters then I will be hard-pressed to enjoy the book. I LOVED these characters. They are well-written, developed, they all are distinct, with their own personalities and quirks that really make them fun to read. Amora herself is starting on an exciting path of growth, blossoming from a girl who thinks she knows everything, but when her truth is shattered, rather than be overwhelmed, she gets down to business to fix things and accepts that responsibility. I really admired that about her.
Our supporting cast, Bastian, Ferrick, and Vataea are all compelling (Especially this swoon-worthy Bastian *insert heart eyes here*)

I thought the world and kingdom, while I've seen plenty split into regions by magic or element, was still unique and different enough to feel like a new world I haven't been to before, which is not always easy to do. The history was rich and lent itself to making Visidia seem like a concrete place. I also was a fan of the magic system! I look forward to learning more about it and the way it will be changing in the upcoming book.

Overall, this was definitely a great book. I'd give it 4.5 stars. I 100% will be looking forward to the next installment. It kept me hooked with a fast-paced, exciting plot, engaging characters, and colorful world. There was even a little bit of a twist that I didn't see coming (which, again, is hard to do- I tend to see things coming a mile off in most stories). Definitely recommend this!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Imprint for the free e-arc I received for an honest review.

This is one of those times where I wish I could add on half stars in the ratings. I'd give it a 3 for the first half but a 4 for the second half. I liked this book. There were some highs and lows for me, moments where I didn't want to stop reading and a few moments scattered in when I found myself skimming a little bit to get to more interesting parts, but all in all, it was solid. I never read The Count of Monte Christo so I don't have anything to compare this gender-swapped retelling to, but that's not a big deal to me. Let's dive in!

Amaya has been spending her life indentured on a debtor ship she was sold to as a young girl. When she rescues a stranger from the ocean, her actions have set her onto an unimaginable path, where she must disguise herself in her quest for revenge from the man who had destroyed her family and life as she knew it all those years ago. But revenge isn't what she expected and Amaya finds herself tangled in a dangerous game of deception as she grapples with the truth of her past amid the perilous streets of Moray.

I would say I had two issues with this. The first was that in the beginning, the timing between the two point of views didn't seem to line up, where one was ahead of the other, but within a couple chapters that got resolved to where they were both at the same time, so no harm, no foul really. My second issue was that I found myself bored in some places. A lack of proper plot pacing and motivation made parts drag a bit, however, there were plenty of parts that got me excited to keep reading, so it pretty much balanced out.

One of my favorite things about this book was the two main characters, Amaya and Cayo. I felt that their chemistry was fantastic. It's no secret I enjoy a slow burn and that whole enemies to lovers trope and I though this one was done very well. Both Amaya and Cayo felt really flushed out and real. I sympathized with them, I rooted for them, and I wanted each of their happiness. I definitely cared about these two. I can't really say the same for many of the other characters yet (Except perhaps Beetle!) but Amaya and Cayo are both very successful as characters and BRAVO for that!

I'd also like to mention that Tara's style of writing is fantastic. Her words seemed to move across the page with a flourish- artistic, with a smooth and graceful flow that made it easy to envision the bustling streets and crowded docks of Moray. She definitely has a distinct style that I look forward to seeing more from.

There are a lot of pressures on both of our characters and you can tell that this is a first installment setting up for a much bigger collision in additional books. The world building is not complete but I have a feeling we will be seeing a lot more as the other books so that didn't bother me so much. And as I said before, when the plot was moving, it was moving! It was exciting and page-turning. Especially the second half where all of the reveals and twists and turns were happening.

If you like stories of revenge and romance and twists, you will enjoy Scavenge the Stars!

Thank you to Netgalley and Disney Hyperion for providing this e-arc free for an honest review!

Okay so I wasn't sure what to expect when I dove into this book. As a disclaimer, I have not read books 1-3 yet, but was told I could pick it up here and be okay and I have to say that was pretty much true! There may be a few things I missed among the nuances of character relationships and history and all that, but that had absolutely no effect on my ability to enjoy this book!

First of all, this book is so unique and unlike anything I usually read or have even read before. The entire series takes place among these different Wonderlands which include so many different areas plucked from the stories and fairytales we all heard as children, such as Neverland, Oz, Camelot, Atlantis, and more! I love the way this was down and how each land introduced in this fourth installment was different, unique, and distinct and therefor easy for me to keep track of because I am definitely guilty of getting lost sometimes (lmao)

As fun as this book was, there were parts of the plot that was predictable. This isn't inherently a bad thing as I do have some of my favorite plot tropes, but it did cause me to take a little peg off of my rating. Still, it was so much fun to read and kept me hurtling through the adventures of Cristanta with a smile on my face. There was no lack of action and the story itself was paced beautifully.

One of the things I think that Geanna does very well here is her characters, both leading and supporting. There were so many faces we get introduced to here and they all have their own quirks and personality and were genuinely enjoyable. Getting to know them in the middle of their journey really makes me want to go back and get to see them at the beginning. I think this will be especially helpful in really hitting home the cough betrayal cough of certain events.

So, thank you so much Geanna for sending me a copy of your book to enjoy! I can't wait to pick up from the beginning and go on this big adventure with Crisanta and co!

Also, points for this books title xD Love it!

I AM NOT FEELING NOTHING

Buddy read with Dorka for August challenge in our read-a-thin group!