Take a photo of a barcode or cover
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
I was about halfway through this book when I suddenly had a light bulb moment and said: "Oh my God! Revenge was a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo!" So, there's that.
Turns out, I really like retellings of The Count of Monte Cristo (so maybe I should read the real thing at some point). I devoured this book and loved every minute of it. I can't wait for the next one!
Turns out, I really like retellings of The Count of Monte Cristo (so maybe I should read the real thing at some point). I devoured this book and loved every minute of it. I can't wait for the next one!
MORE WHEN?
.
Not at all what I was expecting with a title like that, but this book absolutely blew me away. The gilded edges of this story peel slowly away from the plot in gorgeously detailed layers as Amaya and you, the reader, figure out what exactly is going on. There's an air of shady mystery, an atmosphere of deception and double-crossing, a slick of decadence that sticks to the story like glitter, and I loved every moment of it. I hate to do comps, but since that's the publisher's bread-and-butter now, here's a few: If you loved the gold-leaf-covered-up grime of Six of Crows and the personal-stakes-that-get-much-much-bigger of Heart of Iron and the enemies?-to-lovers??-ish??? of Wicked Saints all combined with a revenge-fantasy-come-true with characters deep as the waters they dive through, you're going to love this one.
.
Not at all what I was expecting with a title like that, but this book absolutely blew me away. The gilded edges of this story peel slowly away from the plot in gorgeously detailed layers as Amaya and you, the reader, figure out what exactly is going on. There's an air of shady mystery, an atmosphere of deception and double-crossing, a slick of decadence that sticks to the story like glitter, and I loved every moment of it. I hate to do comps, but since that's the publisher's bread-and-butter now, here's a few: If you loved the gold-leaf-covered-up grime of Six of Crows and the personal-stakes-that-get-much-much-bigger of Heart of Iron and the enemies?-to-lovers??-ish??? of Wicked Saints all combined with a revenge-fantasy-come-true with characters deep as the waters they dive through, you're going to love this one.
I first would like to say that it has been 10 plus years since I’ve read The Count of Monte Cristo so I’m a little rusty remembering the book. And trying to read a summary was just super confusing…BUT do you need to read The Count of Monte Cristo to read and enjoy this books..NOPE!
Amaya Chandra (also known as Silverfish and Countess Yama) is one of the books tow main characters. She has spent the last 7 years on the a debtors ship (that bought children) called the Brackish working off her parent debut. We our introduced to Silverfish when she is only days away from returning home with her debut paid. That all changes when she rescues a man, named Boon, out of the sea. Long story short (I don’t want to give it all away ; ) ) the two team up to get revenge on the men who ruined their lives and so Countess Yama is brought to life. Amaya is fierce and strong and won’t let anything stop her from getting revenge she deserves.
Cayo Mercado is out second main character and he is the son of the businessman, Kamon Mercado. Cayo’s family had fallen on hard times and he has done a fair share of damage to the family name with his gambling addiction.
What I liked:
- I enjoyed the gender-swapped YA spin on the. The Count of Monte Cristo was one of my favorite books that I had to read in high school. So how can I not enjoy it. Also the author made the story a whole lot less confusing which I am grateful for.
- I loved how protective Amya was of all the younger kids
- just enough action in it to make the story interesting.
What I didn’t like:
- the story dragged in the beginning and took me FOREVER to get into
- kinda confused about the kingdoms and would like to know more
Overall I did really enjoy the book and would recommend it! And after that ending I need the next book like now please and thank you!
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC if this book!*
*I received an eARC in exchange for a honest review*
Amaya Chandra (also known as Silverfish and Countess Yama) is one of the books tow main characters. She has spent the last 7 years on the a debtors ship (that bought children) called the Brackish working off her parent debut. We our introduced to Silverfish when she is only days away from returning home with her debut paid. That all changes when she rescues a man, named Boon, out of the sea. Long story short (I don’t want to give it all away ; ) ) the two team up to get revenge on the men who ruined their lives and so Countess Yama is brought to life. Amaya is fierce and strong and won’t let anything stop her from getting revenge she deserves.
Cayo Mercado is out second main character and he is the son of the businessman, Kamon Mercado. Cayo’s family had fallen on hard times and he has done a fair share of damage to the family name with his gambling addiction.
What I liked:
- I enjoyed the gender-swapped YA spin on the. The Count of Monte Cristo was one of my favorite books that I had to read in high school. So how can I not enjoy it. Also the author made the story a whole lot less confusing which I am grateful for.
- I loved how protective Amya was of all the younger kids
- just enough action in it to make the story interesting.
What I didn’t like:
- the story dragged in the beginning and took me FOREVER to get into
- kinda confused about the kingdoms and would like to know more
Overall I did really enjoy the book and would recommend it! And after that ending I need the next book like now please and thank you!
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC if this book!*
*I received an eARC in exchange for a honest review*
*7/10 Stars*
Note to self: as part of my writing practice going forward, I want to review more books in a critical way, with an eye to what felt strong/weak and how the different elements affected my experience of the book as a whole.
Craft Review:
There was so much I liked about this story, and so much I loved about the writing. But in the end, I felt like the plot— both emotional/internal and external— was lacking. The start was really ambitious, but I think that the time skip really worked against it, and even made things confusing. It’s also feels true that the set up really made me expect more death and actual destruction; I’ve never read “The Count of Monte Cristo,” but I think a good revenge story can be difficult to pull off. This one felt like it was almost muted, somehow. Maybe that’s because punches were pulled? Like, other than at the beginning and the very end, and when it was revealed (after the fact) that Bas had lost his eyes, there wasn’t a lot of direct violence happening. And I think there was so much time actually spent on world building and plot that I didn’t get to know Cayo and Amaya very well, which it harder to care about them. I think Amaya’s multiple roles and identities are fascinating, but that made her characterization somewhat shallow as well. From a structural perspective, I think that telling the story after Amaya had already escaped the debtor’s ship, along with the rest of the bugs, weakened her emotional stakes as well. She’d already gone through a major change and developed a relationship with Boon, which readers were cheated of seeing in real time. And I already considered her safe, which meant that the whole elaborate orevenge plot felt almost nonsensical to me. And Cayo felt some what static too... I’m realizing now that maybe what was missing was a personal change. Roach says Amaya has changed, but it feels sort of false, to be honest. Her goal is still the same at the end of the story as at the moment she gets off the ship, even if her target has changed— revenge. She’s learned about her past and has feelings for this boy, but that doesn’t strike me as internal change either.
All that being said: as I read this, I could see the skill with which it was written. It’s not bad in any sense of the word, and I still enjoyed all of the pieces coming together. Like, other than the squashed beginning section, the pacing felt mostly good, and the writing was clear and graceful. There was a strong sense of place, good world building, and I really enjoyed the moments between Cayo and Amaya a lot. So I guess from the outside the book looks great, but there’s some heart missing, and to really flesh out all of the things that happened (past and present) in this novel would have made it much longer.
Note to self: as part of my writing practice going forward, I want to review more books in a critical way, with an eye to what felt strong/weak and how the different elements affected my experience of the book as a whole.
Craft Review:
There was so much I liked about this story, and so much I loved about the writing. But in the end, I felt like the plot— both emotional/internal and external— was lacking. The start was really ambitious, but I think that the time skip really worked against it, and even made things confusing. It’s also feels true that the set up really made me expect more death and actual destruction; I’ve never read “The Count of Monte Cristo,” but I think a good revenge story can be difficult to pull off. This one felt like it was almost muted, somehow. Maybe that’s because punches were pulled? Like, other than at the beginning and the very end, and when it was revealed (after the fact) that Bas had lost his eyes, there wasn’t a lot of direct violence happening. And I think there was so much time actually spent on world building and plot that I didn’t get to know Cayo and Amaya very well, which it harder to care about them. I think Amaya’s multiple roles and identities are fascinating, but that made her characterization somewhat shallow as well. From a structural perspective, I think that telling the story after Amaya had already escaped the debtor’s ship, along with the rest of the bugs, weakened her emotional stakes as well. She’d already gone through a major change and developed a relationship with Boon, which readers were cheated of seeing in real time. And I already considered her safe, which meant that the whole elaborate orevenge plot felt almost nonsensical to me. And Cayo felt some what static too... I’m realizing now that maybe what was missing was a personal change. Roach says Amaya has changed, but it feels sort of false, to be honest. Her goal is still the same at the end of the story as at the moment she gets off the ship, even if her target has changed— revenge. She’s learned about her past and has feelings for this boy, but that doesn’t strike me as internal change either.
All that being said: as I read this, I could see the skill with which it was written. It’s not bad in any sense of the word, and I still enjoyed all of the pieces coming together. Like, other than the squashed beginning section, the pacing felt mostly good, and the writing was clear and graceful. There was a strong sense of place, good world building, and I really enjoyed the moments between Cayo and Amaya a lot. So I guess from the outside the book looks great, but there’s some heart missing, and to really flesh out all of the things that happened (past and present) in this novel would have made it much longer.
This book was so much more than I though it would be. I love the Count of Monte Cristo so I was hesitant going in but it blew me away.
This genderbent retelling is full of even more intrigue than the original. So much happens and we’re trying to solve so many mysteries throughout the book. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves books 😂. But really to anyone who loves a good romantic mystery where you doubt your loved ones with a deadly illness on the side.
This genderbent retelling is full of even more intrigue than the original. So much happens and we’re trying to solve so many mysteries throughout the book. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves books 😂. But really to anyone who loves a good romantic mystery where you doubt your loved ones with a deadly illness on the side.
This book had an interesting plot but it was honestly boring.
