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A review by lastblossom
Scavenge the Stars by Tara Sim
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tl;dr
Knife girl and disaster boy find themselves at odds in a beautifully described oceanic setting with some thoughtful LGBT+ rep. Plot loses its way a bit with a lack of distinct villains.
About
Amaya has been living on a debtor's ship for the last seven years, paying off a debt that she's certain her family never owed. When she pulls a stranger aboard, he offers her the chance to enact revenge on the people who put her there. The job seems easy - pose as a fabulously wealthy countess, and lie and cheat her way through town until she finally brings down the family that destroyed hers. But revenge is never so simple.
Thoughts
This is a loose retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, a book I read so long ago that I remember nothing, so I came into this book largely without any expectations. And honestly, the plot did its work. Tasty plot twists, well-timed reveals, and vivid world-building. The two leads were fully fleshed out characters. Amaya is determined, hard-working, but somewhat conflicted. Cayo is a former spoiled child coming to terms with the fallout of his bad decisions, and aiming to be a better person. Their personalities don't exactly blend, but they do complement each other very well. The moment when they go swimming together and manage to be honest and vulnerable is especially well-written, and made me feel for them. The rest, however, didn't land as well for me. There are multiple villains in this book, and none of them get enough page time to be distinct from each other. Boon, in particular, feels somewhat underdeveloped, which dampens his actions in the back end of the book, and makes the climax fall a little flat. In general, it feels more like reading the first half of a book, instead of the first book in a duology. A good read for anyone who likes girls with daggers or starcrossed lovers.
Knife girl and disaster boy find themselves at odds in a beautifully described oceanic setting with some thoughtful LGBT+ rep. Plot loses its way a bit with a lack of distinct villains.
About
Amaya has been living on a debtor's ship for the last seven years, paying off a debt that she's certain her family never owed. When she pulls a stranger aboard, he offers her the chance to enact revenge on the people who put her there. The job seems easy - pose as a fabulously wealthy countess, and lie and cheat her way through town until she finally brings down the family that destroyed hers. But revenge is never so simple.
Thoughts
This is a loose retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, a book I read so long ago that I remember nothing, so I came into this book largely without any expectations. And honestly, the plot did its work. Tasty plot twists, well-timed reveals, and vivid world-building. The two leads were fully fleshed out characters. Amaya is determined, hard-working, but somewhat conflicted. Cayo is a former spoiled child coming to terms with the fallout of his bad decisions, and aiming to be a better person. Their personalities don't exactly blend, but they do complement each other very well. The moment when they go swimming together and manage to be honest and vulnerable is especially well-written, and made me feel for them. The rest, however, didn't land as well for me. There are multiple villains in this book, and none of them get enough page time to be distinct from each other. Boon, in particular, feels somewhat underdeveloped, which dampens his actions in the back end of the book, and makes the climax fall a little flat. In general, it feels more like reading the first half of a book, instead of the first book in a duology. A good read for anyone who likes girls with daggers or starcrossed lovers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Gore, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Slavery, Child death, and Grief