Scavenge the Stars (Scavenge the Stars, #1)

by Tara Sim

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.

• ISBN10: 1368051413
• ISBN13: 9781368051415
• Publish Date: 7 January 2020
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 336
• Language: English

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Scavenge the Stars is the first novel in a new series of the same name, written by Tara Sim. It’s been described as a gender-bent retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, and being a massive fan of that novel, I just knew I had to give this one a try.
In a world where debts are an unfortunate reality, certain (and wealthier) members of society have found a solution. A way of getting their money back. They’re called debtors ships. These ships take on people – adults and children alike – and force them into work until they’ve paid off their (or their family’s) debt.
For the last seven years, that has been Amaya’s life. Not that she was allowed even her name, while onboard the ship. Instead, she was merely Silverfish. But she is a girl with a long memory, and she will have her revenge, once she is free.
Cayo is the son of a merchant, but not a wealthy one. No, those funds went away with Cayo’s gambling habit. But that is far from the end to Cayo’s story, for the city he lives in is as complex as the day is long.

“Women with knives are sharper than any mind.”

Warnings: Scavenge the Stars is a novel full of intense emotion and heavier subjects. These elements include abuse, drug use, maiming (specifically involving eyes), child slavery, and gambling. There’s also a sickness described, one that is affecting (and killing) many. All of these subjects are handled carefully.

Scavenge the Stars was a brilliant and fascinating novel. I was lucky enough to get one of the special editions from Owlcrate, and I couldn’t be happier with it. The fact that I enjoyed the contents as much as the cover was perfection.
As I mentioned above, I’m a huge fan of the Count of Monte Cristo. So right off the bat, this book had a lot to live up to. But I’ll say, I was pleasantly surprised by what I found here. This was an intricate and compelling plot, one that well-earned the comparisons made.
I was immediately caught up in this story, from the first moment I saw the depth of Silverfish’s (Amaya) plight. It’s hard not to forge an emotional connection when reading something such as that. From there I was sold, following her story from one page to the next.
Scavenge the Stars was an amazingly complex story. There were several moving pieces in this story, as each character seemed to have their own motivation and focus on revenge. It made for a fascinating tale, one that I just can’t get out of my head.
I very much enjoyed following the multiple threads of this story, trying to piece it all together as it went. Not everything was so clearly laid out, but the evidence was there to be found, if you knew where to look. I loved that balance. It really enhanced the story, watching the characters solve the concerns on their own.
In short, I really enjoyed Scavenge the Stars. I’m thrilled with how it turned out, and am shocked to say that the novel did justice to the comparison (in my opinion). I haven’t read anything else by Tara Sim, but clearly I’m going to have to change that.

For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

[tweetybugshouse]

This is the story of a young girl who has spent 7 years aboard a debtor ship and all she wants to do is pay off the debt and return to her family. The heart of this story is about corruption, the twisted tale of how Amaya ends up on the ship is heart wrenching. The story alternates between the perspective of Amaya and Cayo the son of a wealthy gentry who Amaya believes is responsible for the path her life has taken.
The author did a great job of pulling inspiration from The Count of Monte Cristo and the weaving of all the corruption left me reeling to the point where i was like ok who gonna die next. Their are some scenes that are a bit on the gory side so if your all at squeamish (think eyeballs floating in a jar) ya may need to pass. Overall it was a page turning adventure and highly recommend it.