📖 Overview
Tara Sim is a young adult and fantasy author best known for her steampunk Timekeeper trilogy and the fantasy novel Scavenge the Stars.
Her debut series, Timekeeper, features an alternate Victorian world where clock towers control time itself, following a young gay clock mechanic as he works to solve mysteries and save his father. The trilogy garnered attention for its LGBTQ+ representation and imaginative world-building.
Sim later pivoted to young adult fantasy with Scavenge the Stars, a gender-swapped retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, and its sequel Ravage the Dark. Her work The City of Dusk marked her adult fantasy debut in 2022.
Beyond writing novels, Sim has contributed to anthologies including All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens Throughout the Ages. Her work frequently incorporates diverse representation and explores themes of revenge, romance, and complex family dynamics.
👀 Reviews
Readers appreciate Sim's diverse LGBTQ+ representation and atmospheric worldbuilding, particularly in the Scavenge the Stars and Timekeeper series. Many reviews note the strong romance elements and character dynamics.
Readers liked:
- Victorian-era steampunk settings
- Complex magic systems
- LGBTQ+ relationships handled with depth
- Morally gray characters
Common criticisms:
- Pacing issues, especially in middle sections
- Some plot points feel predictable
- Worldbuilding can overwhelm the narrative
- Character development moves slowly
Average ratings:
Goodreads:
- Timekeeper: 3.8/5 (12,000+ ratings)
- Chainbreaker: 3.9/5 (3,000+ ratings)
- Scavenge the Stars: 3.6/5 (2,000+ ratings)
Amazon:
- Timekeeper: 4.4/5
- Scavenge the Stars: 4.2/5
One frequent reader comment highlights the "immersive alternate histories," while others note "confusing time mechanics" that require close attention to follow.
📚 Books by Tara Sim
Timekeeper (Book 1)
In an alternate Victorian world where clock towers control time itself, a young gay clock mechanic must solve the mystery of bombing attacks on the towers while falling for a clock spirit.
Chainbreaker (Book 2) Danny's quest takes him to colonial India where he confronts new threats to the clock towers while uncovering dangerous secrets about his family's past.
Firestarter (Book 3) The trilogy concludes as Danny races to prevent a devastating plot that threatens to destroy the clock towers and unravel time itself.
Scavenge the Stars A gender-swapped retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo following a young woman seeking revenge after being imprisoned on a debtor ship.
Ravage the Dark The revenge plot deepens as Amaya faces the consequences of her actions while navigating political intrigue and betrayal.
The City of Dusk Four heirs from noble houses must work together to save their dying world as the gods abandon them and darkness rises.
Chainbreaker (Book 2) Danny's quest takes him to colonial India where he confronts new threats to the clock towers while uncovering dangerous secrets about his family's past.
Firestarter (Book 3) The trilogy concludes as Danny races to prevent a devastating plot that threatens to destroy the clock towers and unravel time itself.
Scavenge the Stars A gender-swapped retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo following a young woman seeking revenge after being imprisoned on a debtor ship.
Ravage the Dark The revenge plot deepens as Amaya faces the consequences of her actions while navigating political intrigue and betrayal.
The City of Dusk Four heirs from noble houses must work together to save their dying world as the gods abandon them and darkness rises.
👥 Similar authors
V.E. Schwab writes fantasy with intricate alternate worlds and LGBTQ+ characters at the center of the narrative. Her Shades of Magic series features parallel Londons and complex magic systems similar to Sim's clockwork-based world.
Adrienne Young specializes in revenge plots and morally gray characters in fantasy settings with strong worldbuilding foundations. Her Fable duology contains similar themes to Scavenge the Stars, focusing on a young woman seeking vengeance.
Diana Wynne Jones creates fantasy worlds with unique magical mechanics that affect how society functions. Her Howl's Moving Castle series demonstrates the same attention to magical infrastructure that Sim shows in her clocktower system.
Mackenzi Lee writes historical fantasy featuring LGBTQ+ characters and found family dynamics. Her Montague Siblings series combines historical settings with fantasy elements in ways that mirror Sim's approach to alternate history.
Sabaa Tahir builds complex fantasy worlds with revenge plots and strong character relationships at their core. Her An Ember in the Ashes series shares similar themes of family loyalty and systemic oppression with Sim's work.
Adrienne Young specializes in revenge plots and morally gray characters in fantasy settings with strong worldbuilding foundations. Her Fable duology contains similar themes to Scavenge the Stars, focusing on a young woman seeking vengeance.
Diana Wynne Jones creates fantasy worlds with unique magical mechanics that affect how society functions. Her Howl's Moving Castle series demonstrates the same attention to magical infrastructure that Sim shows in her clocktower system.
Mackenzi Lee writes historical fantasy featuring LGBTQ+ characters and found family dynamics. Her Montague Siblings series combines historical settings with fantasy elements in ways that mirror Sim's approach to alternate history.
Sabaa Tahir builds complex fantasy worlds with revenge plots and strong character relationships at their core. Her An Ember in the Ashes series shares similar themes of family loyalty and systemic oppression with Sim's work.