This is one of those times where I wish I could add on half stars in the ratings. I'd give it a 3 for the first half but a 4 for the second half. I liked this book. There were some highs and lows for me, moments where I didn't want to stop reading and a few moments scattered in when I found myself skimming a little bit to get to more interesting parts, but all in all, it was solid. I never read The Count of Monte Christo so I don't have anything to compare this gender-swapped retelling to, but that's not a big deal to me. Let's dive in!

Amaya has been spending her life indentured on a debtor ship she was sold to as a young girl. When she rescues a stranger from the ocean, her actions have set her onto an unimaginable path, where she must disguise herself in her quest for revenge from the man who had destroyed her family and life as she knew it all those years ago. But revenge isn't what she expected and Amaya finds herself tangled in a dangerous game of deception as she grapples with the truth of her past amid the perilous streets of Moray.

I would say I had two issues with this. The first was that in the beginning, the timing between the two point of views didn't seem to line up, where one was ahead of the other, but within a couple chapters that got resolved to where they were both at the same time, so no harm, no foul really. My second issue was that I found myself bored in some places. A lack of proper plot pacing and motivation made parts drag a bit, however, there were plenty of parts that got me excited to keep reading, so it pretty much balanced out.

One of my favorite things about this book was the two main characters, Amaya and Cayo. I felt that their chemistry was fantastic. It's no secret I enjoy a slow burn and that whole enemies to lovers trope and I though this one was done very well. Both Amaya and Cayo felt really flushed out and real. I sympathized with them, I rooted for them, and I wanted each of their happiness. I definitely cared about these two. I can't really say the same for many of the other characters yet (Except perhaps Beetle!) but Amaya and Cayo are both very successful as characters and BRAVO for that!

I'd also like to mention that Tara's style of writing is fantastic. Her words seemed to move across the page with a flourish- artistic, with a smooth and graceful flow that made it easy to envision the bustling streets and crowded docks of Moray. She definitely has a distinct style that I look forward to seeing more from.

There are a lot of pressures on both of our characters and you can tell that this is a first installment setting up for a much bigger collision in additional books. The world building is not complete but I have a feeling we will be seeing a lot more as the other books so that didn't bother me so much. And as I said before, when the plot was moving, it was moving! It was exciting and page-turning. Especially the second half where all of the reveals and twists and turns were happening.

If you like stories of revenge and romance and twists, you will enjoy Scavenge the Stars!

Thank you to Netgalley and Disney Hyperion for providing this e-arc free for an honest review!