Let me first begin by saying my rating was pretty generous considering that I came into this very biased, The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my all time favorite books. When I heard that this was a new YA take on it, I couldn’t resist picking it up, but I have to say this is a VERY VERY LOOSE adaptation of the classic. The story is meant to be a gender-swapped retelling told from the perspective of Amaya ( our Dantes) and Cayo ( our Albert de Morcerf sort of character). Amaya was sold to debtors and has been slaving away on a ship biding her time until she has enough money to escape. When she rescues Boons ( our Abbé Faria) they both escape and she joins him in taking revenge against the people the did this to her. Cue Cayo, a guy who has a gambling addiction and whose’s soul purpose in his life so far has just been to feel good. He gambled away his savings and his family fortune, and when his sister is sick he has to find a way to get money for her medication, no matter what it takes. Soon Cayo and Amaya cross paths and a complicated relationship ensues. Cayo needs money and Amaya’s wealthy Countess identity could be what helps him, while Amaya wants revenge against Cayo’s father and needs to wrap him around her fingers to get to him. Both of them find themselves unmasking the other and seeing each other for more than what first appears. Now the story has very light traces of the original material and while Amaya does feel wrath and wants revenge, she isn’t as sure of her plans or as convicted as Edmund was in his journey. Amaya is fairly new to this entire plan while Edmund has spent years crafting his plans. She is still unsure about her actions and how to perfectly move the machine of revenge, she feels so fresh faced compared to how convicted and determined Edmund was. While I did enjoy reading a new take on one of my favorite classics I kinda wish it had some more semblance to the original material ( though I can understand how difficult it would be considering how many points and parts there were in the original to layout the story). I did love all the representation in the story and I liked Amaya but knowing that she was suppose to be a different version of Edmund kinda tampered how much I could have liked her if she wasn’t. (

Spoiler

P.S. If I'm being honest I really did ship her with Roach despite them only having like 3 scenes together...

)Overall, if you enjoy a story about a girl getting revenge and fun twists ( and aren’t so bent on accuracy or haven’t read The Count of Monte Cristo) I definitely think this could be an enjoyable read for you!