Welcome to my tour stop! Check out my review, pre-order details and giveaway below...
Scavenge the StarsBy Tara Sim
YA Fantasy, Retelling
Hardcover & ebook, 336 Pages
January 7th 2020 by Dysney Hyperion
Summary
When Amaya rescues a mysterious stranger from drowning, she fears her rash actions have earned her a longer sentence on the debtor ship where she’s been held captive for years. Instead, the man she saved offers her unimaginable riches and a new identity, setting Amaya on a perilous course through the coastal city-state of Moray, where old-world opulence and desperate gamblers collide. Amaya wants one thing: revenge against the man who ruined her family and stole the life she once had. But the more entangled she becomes in this game of deception—and as her path intertwines with the son of the man she’s plotting to bring down—the more she uncovers about the truth of her past. And the more she realizes she must trust no one…
Packed with high-stakes adventure, romance, and dueling identities, this gender-swapped retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo is the first novel in an epic YA fantasy duology, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Sabaa Tahir, and Leigh Bardugo.
Pre-Order Campaign
Pre-order Package:
· Original 9x12 Art piece from Alex Castellanos (@alexisc_art)
· 3 exclusive SCAVENGE THE STARS character cards
· Exclusive SCAVENGE THE STARS book mark
· Signed Bookplate from author Tara Sim
Submit your pre-order info HERE. Check out the author's post about pre-ording HERE.
My Review
SCAVENGE THE STARS is a darker, edgier fantasy full of intrigue, romance, friendship, and betrayal. It's set in a world of corruption and greed on the brink of being lost to its corruption and war. In the middle of this all are some characters who unwittingly become pawns in the game. If you like fantasy that is set among opulence that is breaking and the dark and dirty streets of gambling dens, then you may enjoy this one.
I've been anticipating this story for some time. The cover is fantastic and I felt it fit the story well. I also loved the way this felt ethnic and rich in culture. I found the world-building to be quite interesting. There's lots going on and several different lands and peoples who are all represented in the main and side characters.
I liked both Amaya and Cayo. They have tough pasts and things don't tend to let up a whole lot for them during this story. They shared some really sweet moments. I have to say that the times they're together are my favorite parts of this story. I also really liked Cayo's relationship with his sister and Amaya's with the other bugs. The ending left things in such a way that I'm curious as to what will happen next and what other adventures these characters will face. A very interesting and unique twist on The Count of Monte Cristo.
There were also things that didn't work for me in this story. It reminded me quite a bit of Bardugo's Six of Crows, but that isn't really a fair comparison as this story is just not as intricately woven nor does it have the same strength of characters. It takes place among the slum and greedy and I didn't enjoy most of it because of that. There was a lot that turned me off and the characters didn't seem to have learned a whole lot from their experiences, but instead seemed to fall into the same pitfalls. It was actually quite depressing to watch them give in and be fooled so easily. This also didn't seem to fit their circumstances completely since I thought they would have learned more from their past. I think if it would have been balanced more, had stronger characters, and not been quite so gritty and dirty, it might have worked more for me.
In the end, was it what I wished for? This is definitely a retelling that the author made her own. It's full of a complex characters set in a unique fantasy world. It wasn't really my kind of story, but I did enjoy aspects of it. Those who don't mind the content and the darker setting may enjoy reading this.
Content: Lots of references to drinking, prostitution, gambling, murder, slavery, sexual interactions (including gay), some swearing (including a few s-words and one f-word)
Source: I received a complimentary copy through the Fantastic Flying Book Club, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
About the Author
Tara Sim is the author of SCAVENGE
THE STARS (Disney-Hyperion) and the TIMEKEEPER trilogy (Sky Pony Press) and writer of all things magic. She can often be found in the
wilds of the Bay Area, California.
When she’s not writing about mischievous boys in
clock towers, Tara spends her time drinking tea, wrangling cats, and
occasionally singing opera. Despite her bio-luminescent skin, she is
half-Indian and eats way too many samosas.
Tara is represented by Victoria Marini at Irene
Goodman Literary Agency.
Name pronunciation: “tar-ah” (not “terr-ah”).
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