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Scavenge the Stars #2
Ravage the Dark
For seven long years, while she was imprisoned on a debtor's ship, Amaya Chandra had one plan: to survive. But now, survival is not enough. She has people counting on her; counting on her for protection, for leadership, for vengeance. And after escaping Moray by the skin of her teeth, she's determined to track down the man who betrayed her and her friends: Boon.
Cayo Mercado has lost everything: his money, his father, his reputation. Everything except his beloved sister. But he's well on his way to losing her, too, with no way to afford the treatment for her deadly illness. In a foreign empire also being consumed by ash fever, Cayo has no choice but to join Amaya in uncovering the mystery of the counterfeit currency, the fever, and how his father was involved in their creation. But Cayo still hasn't forgiven Amaya for her earlier deception, and their complicated feelings for each other are getting harder and harder to ignore.
Through glittering galas, dazzling trickery, and thrilling heists, Cayo and Amaya will learn that the corruption in Moray goes far deeper than they know, and in the end the only people they can trust are each other
Cayo Mercado has lost everything: his money, his father, his reputation. Everything except his beloved sister. But he's well on his way to losing her, too, with no way to afford the treatment for her deadly illness. In a foreign empire also being consumed by ash fever, Cayo has no choice but to join Amaya in uncovering the mystery of the counterfeit currency, the fever, and how his father was involved in their creation. But Cayo still hasn't forgiven Amaya for her earlier deception, and their complicated feelings for each other are getting harder and harder to ignore.
Through glittering galas, dazzling trickery, and thrilling heists, Cayo and Amaya will learn that the corruption in Moray goes far deeper than they know, and in the end the only people they can trust are each other
ebook
First published March 9, 2021
About the author
Tara Sim
18 books1,407 followersTara Sim is a YA and adult fantasy author found in the wilds of the Bay Area, California. When she's not writing about magic, murder, and mayhem, she drinks tea and wrangles cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
March 27, 2021
what i loved about the first book and what made me give it five stars was that its inspired by one of my all time favourite novels, ‘the count of monte cristo.’ however, this sequel continues with only the original parts of the first book, which made me sad. i still really enjoyed this, but definitely not as much as ‘scavenge the stars.’
from just a YA standpoint, this has everything you could want from a sequel. the expanded world building allows for the story to become more adventurous. there is a greater focus on characterisation, especially with side characters. and the pacing is fast with a very active plot. as a concluding book, i feel like everything is wrapped up nicely and in a way that makes sense.
so if you enjoyed the first book, then you will for sure enjoy this, because its very much the same tale of revenge, just without the specific ‘the count of monte cristo’ inspiration.
↠ 4.5 stars
from just a YA standpoint, this has everything you could want from a sequel. the expanded world building allows for the story to become more adventurous. there is a greater focus on characterisation, especially with side characters. and the pacing is fast with a very active plot. as a concluding book, i feel like everything is wrapped up nicely and in a way that makes sense.
so if you enjoyed the first book, then you will for sure enjoy this, because its very much the same tale of revenge, just without the specific ‘the count of monte cristo’ inspiration.
↠ 4.5 stars
June 2, 2021
I'm not going to lie. After finishing the previous book, Scavenge the Stars, I was really excited to dive into Ravage the Dark. In it, you will still be following Amaya and Cayo. Also, the rest of the found family crew filled with amazing people. We are also still trying to figure out what's going on with the mysterious plague. Yeah, so a lot happened in this book and my mind is still trying to cope with what went down.
Now the plague isn't the only dramatic thing in this either. Nope, we have Amaya trying to figure out her family history and such. Things weren't that easy to digest when it came to her family. So I could see why she kept some things a secret but it still hurt my heart that she didn't tell Cayo the truth until it was (sort of) too late.
Speaking of Cayo. Oh man. These two frustrated me so much in this one. I just don't get why they dance around one another and don't communicate necessary things. I'll even admit that I wanted to strangle them from time to time. I still like them but the trust issues are THERE people.
In the end, this sequel did a pretty good job for me. The twists and turns throughout this adventure definitely made it a page turner for me. I'm so happy that I dove into this and fell in love with these characters!
Now the plague isn't the only dramatic thing in this either. Nope, we have Amaya trying to figure out her family history and such. Things weren't that easy to digest when it came to her family. So I could see why she kept some things a secret but it still hurt my heart that she didn't tell Cayo the truth until it was (sort of) too late.
Speaking of Cayo. Oh man. These two frustrated me so much in this one. I just don't get why they dance around one another and don't communicate necessary things. I'll even admit that I wanted to strangle them from time to time. I still like them but the trust issues are THERE people.
In the end, this sequel did a pretty good job for me. The twists and turns throughout this adventure definitely made it a page turner for me. I'm so happy that I dove into this and fell in love with these characters!
Shelved as 'zzzz'
June 15, 2022#1) Scavenge the Stars ★★★★☆
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October 25, 2020
I received and ARC of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Scavenge the Stars: 3.5/5 stars ★★★1/2☆
Ravage the Dark: 4/5 stars ★★★★☆
"There were hardly any words to describe the unbearable truth of humanity- that people were there and then gone, and that you had to live on in the aftermath."
This is such a stunning series conclusion that manages to balance emotional, complex character arcs with a twist-filled plot that always kept me guessing.
Amaya, Cayo, and the rest of their rag-tag crew have fled the city of Moray and continue their search for the cause of the mysterious plague (so timely!) reeking havoc on their city and, gradually, the neighboring nations. They follow lead after lead in their attempts to solve the problem of the plague, some of which are red herrings while others lead terrifyingly close to the main characters themselves.
Meanwhile, Amaya struggles with her own family history as it becomes more complex and painful that she ever imagined it could be while Boons betrayal continues to cut her deeply. Cayo, meanwhile, struggles to find a place in the world after his fall from the gentry and under the judgement of the group and gets desperate in his fight for his sister Soria's life.
Throughout all the above drama, Amaya and Cayo continue to dance around each other in a painfully-realistic romance atypical of most YA tales. These two, the obvious love-interests from the beginning of the first book, battle issues of trust, communication, and warring priorities in ways that hit close to home for me (which is rarely the case with YA romance).
Meanwhile, sub-plots include a crew-member's search for her sister on the debtor ship owned by her greatest enemy, the revelation that Amaya's best friend from her own debtor ship has become a soldier in the neighboring empire and is therefore an ideal ally, a network of alchemists with suspicious agendas and patrons, and the spread of the terrible disease that is bringing Moray to its knees and the city's enemies to its door.
All in all, this is a fantastic conclusion to this duology that began as a Count of Monte Cristo retelling and grew into a tale all its own. There is death, betrayal, politics, mystery, greed, revenge, alchemy, lust, adventure, and a deeply satisfying ending that I think will stay with me for a long time. This little series is far underrated, while the power of its words is not small in the least.
Scavenge the Stars: 3.5/5 stars ★★★1/2☆
Ravage the Dark: 4/5 stars ★★★★☆
"There were hardly any words to describe the unbearable truth of humanity- that people were there and then gone, and that you had to live on in the aftermath."
This is such a stunning series conclusion that manages to balance emotional, complex character arcs with a twist-filled plot that always kept me guessing.
Amaya, Cayo, and the rest of their rag-tag crew have fled the city of Moray and continue their search for the cause of the mysterious plague (so timely!) reeking havoc on their city and, gradually, the neighboring nations. They follow lead after lead in their attempts to solve the problem of the plague, some of which are red herrings while others lead terrifyingly close to the main characters themselves.
Meanwhile, Amaya struggles with her own family history as it becomes more complex and painful that she ever imagined it could be while Boons betrayal continues to cut her deeply. Cayo, meanwhile, struggles to find a place in the world after his fall from the gentry and under the judgement of the group and gets desperate in his fight for his sister Soria's life.
Throughout all the above drama, Amaya and Cayo continue to dance around each other in a painfully-realistic romance atypical of most YA tales. These two, the obvious love-interests from the beginning of the first book, battle issues of trust, communication, and warring priorities in ways that hit close to home for me (which is rarely the case with YA romance).
Meanwhile, sub-plots include a crew-member's search for her sister on the debtor ship owned by her greatest enemy, the revelation that Amaya's best friend from her own debtor ship has become a soldier in the neighboring empire and is therefore an ideal ally, a network of alchemists with suspicious agendas and patrons, and the spread of the terrible disease that is bringing Moray to its knees and the city's enemies to its door.
All in all, this is a fantastic conclusion to this duology that began as a Count of Monte Cristo retelling and grew into a tale all its own. There is death, betrayal, politics, mystery, greed, revenge, alchemy, lust, adventure, and a deeply satisfying ending that I think will stay with me for a long time. This little series is far underrated, while the power of its words is not small in the least.
August 1, 2021
Hello book peeps
It would seem that I am in the minority when it comes to this book. I thoroughly enjoyed book one because of the premise and the momentum of the plot being developed there but book 2 was a lot slower. The book is solely centred around finding out who the Benefactor is which was not interesting enough for me to feel like the plot was moving. There was a lot of meandering happening and I felt that if the romance was built up more then it would have helped the pacing a lot. The ending was a bit haphazardly thrown together and don’t even get me started on this magic fabric that showed up in the end. I just can’t.
Either way I’m glad this is only a duology and I’ve finished it. On to bigger and better things.
Happy reading
Jo
It would seem that I am in the minority when it comes to this book. I thoroughly enjoyed book one because of the premise and the momentum of the plot being developed there but book 2 was a lot slower. The book is solely centred around finding out who the Benefactor is which was not interesting enough for me to feel like the plot was moving. There was a lot of meandering happening and I felt that if the romance was built up more then it would have helped the pacing a lot. The ending was a bit haphazardly thrown together and don’t even get me started on this magic fabric that showed up in the end. I just can’t.
Either way I’m glad this is only a duology and I’ve finished it. On to bigger and better things.
Happy reading
Jo
September 16, 2021
Wow! That was a nice ending but this isn't my favorite series... Might unhaul these two books sadly! Buddy read with my friend Charlie!
April 19, 2021
*Source* Library
*Genre* Young Adult / Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
Ravage the Dark is the second installment in author Tara Sim's Scavenge the Stars duology. This story once again focuses on two main characters: Amaya Chandra and Cayo Mercado. 7-years ago, Amaya aka Silver Fish, was sold to a debtor ship Brackish to pay off her father's debts. For years, Amaya tried to save enough money to pay off her debts. Then she met a man named Boon who claimed he was rich beyond her dreams and needed her help with a bit of revenge on those who destroyed his life.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Young Adult / Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
Ravage the Dark is the second installment in author Tara Sim's Scavenge the Stars duology. This story once again focuses on two main characters: Amaya Chandra and Cayo Mercado. 7-years ago, Amaya aka Silver Fish, was sold to a debtor ship Brackish to pay off her father's debts. For years, Amaya tried to save enough money to pay off her debts. Then she met a man named Boon who claimed he was rich beyond her dreams and needed her help with a bit of revenge on those who destroyed his life.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
September 2, 2022
I enjoyed this so, so much. This definitely wasn't the last book by Tara Sim I read! I truly love the casual queerness and its acceptance, I love all the action scenes and the heists, I love the angst and possibilities of love and better destinies. I enjoyed all the twists so much and how the book wrapped up everything perfectly as well. All of the characters have come such a long way and I really loved to see how far they've come!
June 8, 2021
Aghhh I loved this a lot! Definitely want to reread this duology at some point.
Ravage the Dark follows Cayo and Amaya as they try to figure out the source of the false currency in Moray. They don't know if they can trust each other, yet keep finding themselves in situations where they must. It makes for tense but fun times!
There's so many queer characters in this just having a fun time! Being queer and being happy! Like that is what I need. Don't get me wrong, they still have problems and obstacles to overcome but none of those are related to the fact that they are queer. It's refreshing.
I like Cayo and Amaya and I liked the chemistry they have with each other. But sometimes, I really wanted to strangle them! There were quite a few time where had they confided in each other, something bad would've been averted, but ya know drama is fun.
I liked that we got to find out more about Amaya's family, several surprises were in tow there! The ending was really interesting too, for a hot second I thought this was going to be a trilogy. I wouldn't mind another book, but I am also really happy with this ending!
Ravage the Dark follows Cayo and Amaya as they try to figure out the source of the false currency in Moray. They don't know if they can trust each other, yet keep finding themselves in situations where they must. It makes for tense but fun times!
There's so many queer characters in this just having a fun time! Being queer and being happy! Like that is what I need. Don't get me wrong, they still have problems and obstacles to overcome but none of those are related to the fact that they are queer. It's refreshing.
I like Cayo and Amaya and I liked the chemistry they have with each other. But sometimes, I really wanted to strangle them! There were quite a few time where had they confided in each other, something bad would've been averted, but ya know drama is fun.
I liked that we got to find out more about Amaya's family, several surprises were in tow there! The ending was really interesting too, for a hot second I thought this was going to be a trilogy. I wouldn't mind another book, but I am also really happy with this ending!
July 29, 2024
But the pain written in her bones spoke of a grief too deep to mend with words alone, the years of abandonment, loneliness, and desperation whittling away her capacity for forgiveness. Even for herself.Ravage the Dark was a mediocre read. I read the first book of this series some years ago, so I forgot a lot of information that probably would have made it easier for me to comprehend this book. I also don’t think I would enjoy Scavenge the Stars if I read it now instead of so long ago.
Especially for herself.
This book was very slow and nothing interesting enough occurred to hold my interest. The main focus was on finding the Benefactor, something I forgot existed, but that whole process was incredibly slow.
It had been so easy, once, to look up at the sky and believe the stars shone for her. That nothing bad could ever happen and that love would always save her.Though I didn’t really enjoy the book, I did not hate the way the romance played out. There was yearning, which I liked to read, but I wish there was more of a romantic focus, especially since the main storyline was so boring. I found the ending to be very conveniently pieced together, but overall, I am happy the duology is over.
But stars were cold and distant things, and love was too abstract to ever hold on to.
Rating: 2 stars
Read
July 20, 2021This was such a great conclusion to the duology! While nothing will ever take the place of Scavenge The Stars in my heart, this definitely came close to it!! I just,,, loved seeing how all of the different characters’ storylines were wrapped up and how different characters came together and interacted for the first time and I just had so many feelings the whole time I was reading this book it was such a good time!! I genuinely think this was an incredible sequel. While it did take me a moment to remember where Sim left things off in the first book (because it has been over a year since I read it and I did not have the patience to reread lmaoo), I really loved jumping back into these characters’ lives. Both Cayo and Amaya’s character arcs were really well done and I also really loved the relationship arc between the two of them. Also I am just unreasonably attached to Cayo and I think that’s valid of me because he means the world to me <3. I did find the plot to be a little rocky at times and I had a few issues with the pacing, but they weren’t something that really affected my enjoyment of the book overall. All in all, I really adore this series and I can’t recommend it enough!
content warnings: alcohol addiction, gambling addiction, death of sibling, death of parent, grief, violence, plague/epidemic
rep: South Asian-coded demisexual MC, East Asian-coded bisexual MC, ace SC, trans SC, sapphic SCs, largely POC cast
content warnings: alcohol addiction, gambling addiction, death of sibling, death of parent, grief, violence, plague/epidemic
rep: South Asian-coded demisexual MC, East Asian-coded bisexual MC, ace SC, trans SC, sapphic SCs, largely POC cast
March 27, 2021
Really not sure how I feel about this. I really enjoyed the first one... this one, not so much.
June 25, 2021
Series Info/Source: This is the second book in the Scavenge the Stars duology. I borrowed a copy of this audiobook through the library.
Audiobook Quality (3/5): I wasn’t a huge fan of the narration for this audiobook. The narrator’s voice is fairly high-pitched and young sounding; it didn’t match Amaya very well. The narration was also a bit dry and didn’t convey character emotion very well. Character voices were definitely different between characters but again didn’t match the characters well. I would recommend reading this in paper format rather than listening to the audiobook. The narration was okay and understandable but not pleasant to listen to.
Story (4/5): This was a well done conclusion to this duology and I enjoyed seeing how things wrapped up. This book follows Amaya and crew as they try to unravel the secrets behind the forged money and Ash fever, and work to find a cure for Ash fever. The world is well built and the story moves at a decent pace. While I didn’t absolutely love this, I did enjoy it quite a bit. There are some fun twists and turns and it was intriguing to watch our characters unravel the web of deceit here. The Ash Fever plotline hits a bit close to home after the last year of the COVID pandemic, so just be aware of that.
Characters (4/5): There is a fun cast of characters, even if I did get a bit frustrated with how Amaya and Cayo keep lying to each other throughout the story. A lot of the characters here are fairly flawed but that served to make them feel very human and relatable (even if it was frustrating at points). I didn’t love the characters but they do have a lot of depth and are intriguing to read about.
Setting (4/5): The world building here is solid and our characters alternate between a couple different continents, finally ending up back on Moray. It’s a very believable world and it's well thought out. There is a lot of traveling by sea, which is okay, but I am not a huge fan of seafaring stories.
Writing Style (4/5): This was well written and the story was tied up nicely. I was interested throughout the whole book and enjoyed the twists and turns in the plot. I also enjoyed the flawed characters and how they had to learn to accept each other’s faults to work things through. I enjoyed Sim’s Timekeeper series a lot more than this series, but this wasn’t a bad series.
My Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed this, it was a decent retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo with a gender swap. I found the story entertaining and liked how the whole thing played out. There are a lot of politics, twists and turns, and confidence schemes set in a seafaring type of fantasy world, so if that sounds like your thing I think you will enjoy this. I didn’t love this was much as “The Timekeeper” series but I did enjoy it and plan to check out Sim’s future books.
Audiobook Quality (3/5): I wasn’t a huge fan of the narration for this audiobook. The narrator’s voice is fairly high-pitched and young sounding; it didn’t match Amaya very well. The narration was also a bit dry and didn’t convey character emotion very well. Character voices were definitely different between characters but again didn’t match the characters well. I would recommend reading this in paper format rather than listening to the audiobook. The narration was okay and understandable but not pleasant to listen to.
Story (4/5): This was a well done conclusion to this duology and I enjoyed seeing how things wrapped up. This book follows Amaya and crew as they try to unravel the secrets behind the forged money and Ash fever, and work to find a cure for Ash fever. The world is well built and the story moves at a decent pace. While I didn’t absolutely love this, I did enjoy it quite a bit. There are some fun twists and turns and it was intriguing to watch our characters unravel the web of deceit here. The Ash Fever plotline hits a bit close to home after the last year of the COVID pandemic, so just be aware of that.
Characters (4/5): There is a fun cast of characters, even if I did get a bit frustrated with how Amaya and Cayo keep lying to each other throughout the story. A lot of the characters here are fairly flawed but that served to make them feel very human and relatable (even if it was frustrating at points). I didn’t love the characters but they do have a lot of depth and are intriguing to read about.
Setting (4/5): The world building here is solid and our characters alternate between a couple different continents, finally ending up back on Moray. It’s a very believable world and it's well thought out. There is a lot of traveling by sea, which is okay, but I am not a huge fan of seafaring stories.
Writing Style (4/5): This was well written and the story was tied up nicely. I was interested throughout the whole book and enjoyed the twists and turns in the plot. I also enjoyed the flawed characters and how they had to learn to accept each other’s faults to work things through. I enjoyed Sim’s Timekeeper series a lot more than this series, but this wasn’t a bad series.
My Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed this, it was a decent retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo with a gender swap. I found the story entertaining and liked how the whole thing played out. There are a lot of politics, twists and turns, and confidence schemes set in a seafaring type of fantasy world, so if that sounds like your thing I think you will enjoy this. I didn’t love this was much as “The Timekeeper” series but I did enjoy it and plan to check out Sim’s future books.
April 20, 2021
Initial thoughts:
I'm torn and conflicted. Ravage the Dark is a fascinating follow-up and good conclusion to this dark, gritty fantasy duology. However, its boundless potential was not fully realized and that's largely due to the plot and pacing issues.
On one hand, I don't think that this story has enough material to be expanded into a trilogy. But on the other hand, I also feel that Ravage the Dark tried to cram in too many things within a finite number of pages. The change in pacing was hard for me to ignore, especially since I had reread Scavenge the Stars prior. And even more unfortunate, despite the sequel's brisk pacing, the plot did not carry the same level of energy. Much of the politics and conspiracies were left vague and lacking.
Nonetheless, I am impressed that the author managed to tie all loose ends - because believe me, there were plenty - in ways that are sensible and satisfactory. I also liked how this sequel handled grief, trauma, and healing. My main gripe lies in wishing the author had more time and more pages to work with.
Recommended!
I'm torn and conflicted. Ravage the Dark is a fascinating follow-up and good conclusion to this dark, gritty fantasy duology. However, its boundless potential was not fully realized and that's largely due to the plot and pacing issues.
On one hand, I don't think that this story has enough material to be expanded into a trilogy. But on the other hand, I also feel that Ravage the Dark tried to cram in too many things within a finite number of pages. The change in pacing was hard for me to ignore, especially since I had reread Scavenge the Stars prior. And even more unfortunate, despite the sequel's brisk pacing, the plot did not carry the same level of energy. Much of the politics and conspiracies were left vague and lacking.
Nonetheless, I am impressed that the author managed to tie all loose ends - because believe me, there were plenty - in ways that are sensible and satisfactory. I also liked how this sequel handled grief, trauma, and healing. My main gripe lies in wishing the author had more time and more pages to work with.
Recommended!
January 25, 2023
Perfect for fans of the found-family trope and heists (like Six of Crows). Really enjoyed this second book ! The pace of the plot or the characters' depth were very well done here. Also liked the relationship building between the two main characters and their epilogue.
Enjoyed my reading !
Enjoyed my reading !
December 19, 2020
Me: 2020 has made me a dried out barnacle I feel nothing
Also me: sobs twice over the ending
Also me: sobs twice over the ending
March 16, 2021
*3.5
I think this duology would have been better as a trilogy. While I like our characters quite a bit the story felt meandering and then towards the end it felt very rushed. It all felt a bit too wrapped up in a neat little bow. Overall, I really enjoyed this duology but I’d be lying if I didn’t say the ending was a bit lackluster.
I think this duology would have been better as a trilogy. While I like our characters quite a bit the story felt meandering and then towards the end it felt very rushed. It all felt a bit too wrapped up in a neat little bow. Overall, I really enjoyed this duology but I’d be lying if I didn’t say the ending was a bit lackluster.
September 24, 2022
Disappointing. I really liked the first novel, Scavenge the Stars, but this duology based loosely on The Count of Monte Cristo ended in an immensely unsatisfying way. The romance between Cayo and Amaya is never believable, and all the work they and the other children do to try to stop the plague is unrealistic.
July 30, 2021
And with this library book, I’ve read all of Tara Sim’s novels. Which. Feels weird, honestly. After the Scavenge the Stars Duology, I’m definitely interested in where Sim goes next.
Picking up soon after Scavenge the Stars ended, Ravage the Dark follows our queer crew’s investigation into counterfeits coins and the plague they carry. Cayo struggles to support Soria as being alive costs so much money. Reeling from Boon’s betrayal, Amaya needs new flesh in which to stab her knife, and Liesl, Deadshot, Avi, and newcomer Jasper are more than happy to provide targets. Remy threatens to tear his hair out when the crew consistently has the worst ideas. Nevertheless, this motley group is determined to bring justice to the land—and make the more difficult decision of what form that justice will take.
Strengths of the first book carry over to this one. The plot is exemplary. Twist after twist, layer after layer: all delivered with an intoxicating swiftness. I took a brief break from the book, but when I came back, I was sucked right back in like no time had passed at all. I was utterly engrossed. Sim mentions in the Acknowledgements that she planned the plague plot before COVID-19, but God, did she nail the plague year experience on the head. The future is written on the subway walls.
One plot point that keeps bugging me was why the group doesn’t pay for Soria’s medicine. Experiencing manual labor is necessary for Cayo’s character growth, but there’s a weird contrast. The group has no money problems, and the investigation doesn’t take all day every day. Amaya has hours of staring out the window angsting. Liesel doesn’t mention needing to take odd jobs for food. Yet Cayo takes up two jobs during the day and helps the group, and no one wants to help save his dying sister? There might have been a one-liner explanation of why, but I missed it. The decision seemed pretty cold-hearted for an otherwise compassionate friend group.
Outside of that plot point, the characters become more themselves, if that makes sense. They grapple with the world and themes, and I rooted for them all the way. One critique I had of the later books in the Timekeeper Trilogy was the cast became too unwieldy—Sim took too obvious of pains to introduce everyone, provide a reason for them to be present, and give the reader a reason to care. Here, our heroes are kept to a minimum, so I got to love each one. And, for the record, there are no cishets in this universe, which makes me colon capital D.
And whoa!!! The romance is so good y’all. Cayo and Amaya are OTP material. It’s an absolute treat to watch them grow into one another, to fit their messes together and find healing. I really want the Scavenge the Stars Duology to be a mini-series or Netflix movie because gaaaHHHH, what I wouldn’t give to externalize the vision that is Amaya/Cayo.
Until then, I’ll enjoy the books. I’m super excited to read Sim’s upcoming The City of Dusk.
Picking up soon after Scavenge the Stars ended, Ravage the Dark follows our queer crew’s investigation into counterfeits coins and the plague they carry. Cayo struggles to support Soria as being alive costs so much money. Reeling from Boon’s betrayal, Amaya needs new flesh in which to stab her knife, and Liesl, Deadshot, Avi, and newcomer Jasper are more than happy to provide targets. Remy threatens to tear his hair out when the crew consistently has the worst ideas. Nevertheless, this motley group is determined to bring justice to the land—and make the more difficult decision of what form that justice will take.
Strengths of the first book carry over to this one. The plot is exemplary. Twist after twist, layer after layer: all delivered with an intoxicating swiftness. I took a brief break from the book, but when I came back, I was sucked right back in like no time had passed at all. I was utterly engrossed. Sim mentions in the Acknowledgements that she planned the plague plot before COVID-19, but God, did she nail the plague year experience on the head. The future is written on the subway walls.
One plot point that keeps bugging me was why the group doesn’t pay for Soria’s medicine. Experiencing manual labor is necessary for Cayo’s character growth, but there’s a weird contrast. The group has no money problems, and the investigation doesn’t take all day every day. Amaya has hours of staring out the window angsting. Liesel doesn’t mention needing to take odd jobs for food. Yet Cayo takes up two jobs during the day and helps the group, and no one wants to help save his dying sister? There might have been a one-liner explanation of why, but I missed it. The decision seemed pretty cold-hearted for an otherwise compassionate friend group.
Outside of that plot point, the characters become more themselves, if that makes sense. They grapple with the world and themes, and I rooted for them all the way. One critique I had of the later books in the Timekeeper Trilogy was the cast became too unwieldy—Sim took too obvious of pains to introduce everyone, provide a reason for them to be present, and give the reader a reason to care. Here, our heroes are kept to a minimum, so I got to love each one. And, for the record, there are no cishets in this universe, which makes me colon capital D.
And whoa!!! The romance is so good y’all. Cayo and Amaya are OTP material. It’s an absolute treat to watch them grow into one another, to fit their messes together and find healing. I really want the Scavenge the Stars Duology to be a mini-series or Netflix movie because gaaaHHHH, what I wouldn’t give to externalize the vision that is Amaya/Cayo.
Until then, I’ll enjoy the books. I’m super excited to read Sim’s upcoming The City of Dusk.
July 28, 2021
While I loved the first book in this duology and had the very rare experience of not thinking a young adult fantasy series would've been better as a standalone, I still ended up a little disappointed with this one and wondering if maybe it should've been a standalone after all.
The characters were still great and I really enjoyed their interactions and how they worked together, each using their own skills and knowledge to help with their aims. I also liked how the author examines the concept of revenge, not painting it as either all good or all bad, nor those who desire it as evil or sick. If someone royally fucks you over, wanting them to suffer for it may not be morally right, but it's an understandable impulse.
But this was just so slow at times, and felt much longer than it actually is. I kept thinking, "Okay, good Lord, get on with it already!" Some of the villains in this one took on too much of a mustache-twirling vibe, and there were a lot of scenes with the main characters explaining things to each other that were clearly meant to explain those things to the reader, and it often felt clunky. Plus, a whole lot of shit could have been avoided in here if people would just use their words.
It's not bad exactly, but definitely not as strong as Scavenge the Stars. But I'd still be interested in more of this author's work, and would recommend this duology if you're into a gender-swapped revenge story, and who isn't?
The characters were still great and I really enjoyed their interactions and how they worked together, each using their own skills and knowledge to help with their aims. I also liked how the author examines the concept of revenge, not painting it as either all good or all bad, nor those who desire it as evil or sick. If someone royally fucks you over, wanting them to suffer for it may not be morally right, but it's an understandable impulse.
But this was just so slow at times, and felt much longer than it actually is. I kept thinking, "Okay, good Lord, get on with it already!" Some of the villains in this one took on too much of a mustache-twirling vibe, and there were a lot of scenes with the main characters explaining things to each other that were clearly meant to explain those things to the reader, and it often felt clunky. Plus, a whole lot of shit could have been avoided in here if people would just use their words.
It's not bad exactly, but definitely not as strong as Scavenge the Stars. But I'd still be interested in more of this author's work, and would recommend this duology if you're into a gender-swapped revenge story, and who isn't?
September 1, 2021
I found this one to be a lot more entertaining and exciting compared to the first one, but I was still a bit bored honestly.
The main thing I was looking forward to was the blooming romance of Cayo and Amaya, and unfortunately, it didn't happen for a long ass time. And when it did, something messed them up. It was just a constant back and forth of not trusting each other, doing something the other person doesn't know about and then blaming each other when the thing that they did ends up backfiring. Was pretty annoying, to be honest.
But this book definitely kept me on my toes a lot more than the first book. For one, I wasn't suspecting Boon to be Amaya's dad at all, quite embarrassing. I also had a lot of hope for Soria surviving the ash fever, and when she died I was pretty heartbroken and shed a few tears.
I also was a bit surprised with who the Benefactor was. For some reason, Andre Basque slipped out of my mind and I was suspecting Avi for a bit but that obviously was wrong.
The duology overall was a pretty nice read, but not something I would read again or remember anything about (which is why I'm writing the reviews because I would forget absolutely everything - most of the plot is forgettable).
The main thing I was looking forward to was the blooming romance of Cayo and Amaya, and unfortunately, it didn't happen for a long ass time. And when it did, something messed them up. It was just a constant back and forth of not trusting each other, doing something the other person doesn't know about and then blaming each other when the thing that they did ends up backfiring. Was pretty annoying, to be honest.
But this book definitely kept me on my toes a lot more than the first book. For one, I wasn't suspecting Boon to be Amaya's dad at all, quite embarrassing. I also had a lot of hope for Soria surviving the ash fever, and when she died I was pretty heartbroken and shed a few tears.
I also was a bit surprised with who the Benefactor was. For some reason, Andre Basque slipped out of my mind and I was suspecting Avi for a bit but that obviously was wrong.
The duology overall was a pretty nice read, but not something I would read again or remember anything about (which is why I'm writing the reviews because I would forget absolutely everything - most of the plot is forgettable).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2021
“The rest of the casino was an unsightly blur in comparison to that smile.”
•
The book is a good conclusion of this beautiful duology. Honestly I have found the end a bit rushed and I would have liked to know more about politics in and outside Moray . There has been great hints about conspiracies and power struggles that it would have been interesting to actually follow them. Nonetheless the story is very gripping with a huge plot twist that I didn’t see coming. But what really drove me to this series is the relationship between Cayo and Amaya. Her betrayal had made him distance himself but in this book they both understand that life is so unfair and full of sorrow sometimes that you must take joy whenever you can and that forgiveness is very important. Amaya remains a great heroine. In my review of the first book I said she reminded me of Mia Corvere and this is still true. She needs to fight alone against a world that has taken everything from her and a family that has lied and abandoned her despite her unconditional love. I think it takes a lot of courage to love again after what she has suffered and this is why I admire her that much.
I have received an early copy through NetGalley.
•
The book is a good conclusion of this beautiful duology. Honestly I have found the end a bit rushed and I would have liked to know more about politics in and outside Moray . There has been great hints about conspiracies and power struggles that it would have been interesting to actually follow them. Nonetheless the story is very gripping with a huge plot twist that I didn’t see coming. But what really drove me to this series is the relationship between Cayo and Amaya. Her betrayal had made him distance himself but in this book they both understand that life is so unfair and full of sorrow sometimes that you must take joy whenever you can and that forgiveness is very important. Amaya remains a great heroine. In my review of the first book I said she reminded me of Mia Corvere and this is still true. She needs to fight alone against a world that has taken everything from her and a family that has lied and abandoned her despite her unconditional love. I think it takes a lot of courage to love again after what she has suffered and this is why I admire her that much.
I have received an early copy through NetGalley.
September 25, 2023
2.75★
It's pretty predictable and anticlimactic. The resolution was rushed, in my opinion, because I did not expect to read the conclusion in a short letter after reading 2 books, but I would like to think that I understand the author's choice. Plus, the main characters had their personal resolutions, too, which was good.
Though the main characters did well on their own personal growth, I wish the side characters had more weight and purpose in the story and the MCs' lives. Of course, it was implied but I wish to have witnessed the development of these lifetime relationships.
I don't know what happened but there was some inconsistencies with the writing like the ring not fitting Amaya's hand in book 1 but it fits perfectly in book 2. Then, there was also 1 conversation between the MCs that I believe they already went through in book 1. That being said, I think I liked this better than the first book.
Theme: 3
Writing: 2
Plot: 2.5
Pacing: 3
Character/s: 3
Entertainment: 3
It's pretty predictable and anticlimactic. The resolution was rushed, in my opinion, because I did not expect to read the conclusion in a short letter after reading 2 books, but I would like to think that I understand the author's choice. Plus, the main characters had their personal resolutions, too, which was good.
Though the main characters did well on their own personal growth, I wish the side characters had more weight and purpose in the story and the MCs' lives. Of course, it was implied but I wish to have witnessed the development of these lifetime relationships.
I don't know what happened but there was some inconsistencies with the writing like the ring not fitting Amaya's hand in book 1 but it fits perfectly in book 2. Then, there was also 1 conversation between the MCs that I believe they already went through in book 1. That being said, I think I liked this better than the first book.
Theme: 3
Writing: 2
Plot: 2.5
Pacing: 3
Character/s: 3
Entertainment: 3
August 2, 2021
When I read “Scavenge the Stars” last year, I was blown away. When I finished “Ravage the Dark,” just a few moments ago, I was even more blown away.
This book is a sequel, so I can’t divulge too much information, but I do have some things I’d like to say. The writing in this duology is wonderfully crafted. I spent a good 50% of my reading time highlighting full pages of text and fawning over (or sometimes crying over) the way things were being described to me. The amount of time that was spent crafting this story, and the ways all the characters and all the deceit tie together, is evident. I was in awe of everything while I was reading, from setting to characters.
The characters, by far, were my favorite part. There was a huge found family vibe and it reminded me a lot of “The Lies of Locke Lamora” & “When the Sea is Rising Red”… two of my faves.
Also, if you’re a fan of “Fable” I would recommend this.
This book is a sequel, so I can’t divulge too much information, but I do have some things I’d like to say. The writing in this duology is wonderfully crafted. I spent a good 50% of my reading time highlighting full pages of text and fawning over (or sometimes crying over) the way things were being described to me. The amount of time that was spent crafting this story, and the ways all the characters and all the deceit tie together, is evident. I was in awe of everything while I was reading, from setting to characters.
The characters, by far, were my favorite part. There was a huge found family vibe and it reminded me a lot of “The Lies of Locke Lamora” & “When the Sea is Rising Red”… two of my faves.
Also, if you’re a fan of “Fable” I would recommend this.
January 1, 2021
4 stars. A fantastic conclusion to this duology. I was promised a gender-bent Count of Monte Cristo - a book that sat at the top of my favorites list for YEARS between junior high and high school - and this more than delivered on fulfilling the excitement/adventure/revenge of the original tale while simultaneously striking out its own brilliant nuances and world-building. This second installment truly captures the author's originality in claiming this series for her own, and she was wildly successful.
No synopsis because it will spoil the first book, but can I just say:
1) I loved the realistic romance.
2) I loved the characters dealing with traumas in different ways.
3) The complex family history threw me for a spin and I live for twists like that.
4) The adventure!!!!
I'm so happy to have read this and believe this duology to be criminally underrated. Thank you Edelweiss and Hachette Book Group for the ARC!
No synopsis because it will spoil the first book, but can I just say:
1) I loved the realistic romance.
2) I loved the characters dealing with traumas in different ways.
3) The complex family history threw me for a spin and I live for twists like that.
4) The adventure!!!!
I'm so happy to have read this and believe this duology to be criminally underrated. Thank you Edelweiss and Hachette Book Group for the ARC!
January 24, 2022
4.5 stars
This duology really stole my heart. I love Tara Sim's writing, the way the world was build complex and ugly, but also beautiful.
My favorite part will always be the characters though. The go through devastating lows and beautiful highs, but they stay there disaster humans with painful history and messy decision making skills. I really do think you can't help but love them both. And the *cast*. God, they were perfect for me. Queer AF, loyal and complicated, but so *wonderful*.
There is a death in here that absolutely tore me apart, and the posts about the illness and the hospitals... It's a lot to read while we're in the third year of a Pandemic.
But i still loved it, and i can't wait to read more by the author.
Cw: fast-spreading disease with no cure, death of loved ones, blood, indentured servitude of children, violent action
This duology really stole my heart. I love Tara Sim's writing, the way the world was build complex and ugly, but also beautiful.
My favorite part will always be the characters though. The go through devastating lows and beautiful highs, but they stay there disaster humans with painful history and messy decision making skills. I really do think you can't help but love them both. And the *cast*. God, they were perfect for me. Queer AF, loyal and complicated, but so *wonderful*.
There is a death in here that absolutely tore me apart, and the posts about the illness and the hospitals... It's a lot to read while we're in the third year of a Pandemic.
But i still loved it, and i can't wait to read more by the author.
Cw: fast-spreading disease with no cure, death of loved ones, blood, indentured servitude of children, violent action
March 2, 2021
Source: ARC received from publisher
A thrilling conclusion to this duology that packs in plenty of action as well as a complicated romance. The writing is more refined than in the first installment, but readers may be disappointed that much of the climax occurs off the page. In the end, there were too many threads for them all to be wrapped up sufficiently, and many of the vague allusions to other nations and their politics were left just that--vague. The worldbuilding is not a strong point, but the plot is energetic enough to lure readers in.
A thrilling conclusion to this duology that packs in plenty of action as well as a complicated romance. The writing is more refined than in the first installment, but readers may be disappointed that much of the climax occurs off the page. In the end, there were too many threads for them all to be wrapped up sufficiently, and many of the vague allusions to other nations and their politics were left just that--vague. The worldbuilding is not a strong point, but the plot is energetic enough to lure readers in.
August 11, 2024
3.75
MS Sims did a very good job w/ creating this story and keeping it interesting throughout both books. The characters were developed well and stayed true to form throughout. It was a remarkable story that kept the reader engaged and there were a few surprises tossed in throughout to prompt the reader to say: "What?!? No way!!!"
I would recommend this story. I admit, I preferred it much more than the Timekeeper series which was somewhat disappointing for me, (My review of that series can be found here on Goodreads if you are curious as to what I thought). The only problem I had w/ this series was trying to picture the geography of where the story took place. A map in the front of the book would have nice, but then, maps in the front of the book is always a "win" 😉😁
MS Sims did a very good job w/ creating this story and keeping it interesting throughout both books. The characters were developed well and stayed true to form throughout. It was a remarkable story that kept the reader engaged and there were a few surprises tossed in throughout to prompt the reader to say: "What?!? No way!!!"
I would recommend this story. I admit, I preferred it much more than the Timekeeper series which was somewhat disappointing for me, (My review of that series can be found here on Goodreads if you are curious as to what I thought). The only problem I had w/ this series was trying to picture the geography of where the story took place. A map in the front of the book would have nice, but then, maps in the front of the book is always a "win" 😉😁
July 9, 2021
Since the first book was a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, I did not expect a sequel. For the length of the book, I found not as much action as expected. For me, it was slow moving and fell flat when it's revealed who is the cause of everything that has sent these characters on a quest for information and revenge.
January 12, 2023
I, personally, was highly entertained in by the subplot in this book in which resident rich pretty boy Cayo Mercado is forced to take a retail job at a fish market. Also, a good sequel in general that upped the stakes, explore the world and characters in more depth, and threw in some twists I really didn't expect. Plus, there's a scene where Amaya applies eyeliner to Cayo while thinking about how she could kill him and that's just top-notch in my opinion.
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