Scavenge The Stars by Tara Sim Published by Disney Electronic Content on January 7, 2020
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Loners & Outcasts, Fantasy, Epic, Diversity & Multicultural
Pages: 383
Format: eARC
Source: Edelweiss
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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.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Why Did I Read?
I loved Timekeeper by Tara Sim and The Count of Monte Cristo is a favorite of mine (both movie and book!) so when I heard about this latest book by her, I was sold!
My Thoughts:
This was a really cool Count of Monte Cristo retelling! It’s a loose retelling: the bones of that story of revenge are there but set in its own unique fantasy world. There are many differences that make the story original and fresh but with the familiar themes that fans of Count of Monte Cristo will recognize and appreciate.
Amaya has spent years on a debtor ship after she was sold as a child as payment for her family’s debts. Now she’s back on her home island of Moray and she’s out for revenge with the help of a strange man she saved from drowning. In her sights is the family of Mercado and the merchant’s son, Cayo. Cayo is sort of a mess, trying to recover from some addictive vices, and constantly making poor decisions — but he has such a good heart! I adored him. He cares so much for his sister and tries so hard. It’s not too difficult for Amaya to figure out just how to play Cayo but as a result, Amaya actually gets to know him.
Amaya and Cayo are so different that seeing them together is just fun to watch. They’re from completely different worlds but yet share a lot of the same desires. They complement each other so well.
As Amaya digs deeper into her past now that she’s back on Moray, she starts to unravel all sorts of secrets not only about herself but about some key figures in Moray’s social structure. Who really was that man she’s working with/for? And what really happened that landed her on that debtor’s ship? There are so many interesting layers that I was kept interested and engaged the whole time! I was invested in Amaya’s journey, Cayo’s fate and eager to learn more of the secrets surrounding the past and Moray and the underlying political tension between the two empires Moray lies between.
In Short…
Whether or not you’re a fan of The Count of Monte Cristo, I’d recommend this for fans of fantasy and stories full of deception, manipulation and revenge because this one has it in spades. The fantasy world felt a touch historical which seems appropriate and I’m eager to see more of the world and political motivations of the different empires we briefly hear about. Amaya and Cayo are a new favorite pair and I can’t wait to see what they get up to in the sequel!
I was also lucky enough that Tara Sim was in my area for her book tour and got to hear her talk about her process for writing this book. It also made me even more excited for what else is to come in the next!
My Rating: 
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