I LOVED this book!! It's a retelling of the Count of Monte Cristo, gender-swapped, and the cast is made up of all colored and LGBTQ people. I don't have a background in the Count of Monte Cristo, but I was kind of glad for that because I wouldn't have wanted an idea of the many twists and turns I encountered while reading this book.

Tara Sim does a great job of emphasizing representation of all types of people without making it seem like she was trying hard. It was natural for the story, and such a wonderful element.

One of the main characters, Amaya/Silverfish/Yamaa, is a lovely (albeit angry) character who grapples with the balance of avenging yourself and those you love without losing who you are in the process. She is angry and vengeful, yet she is also selfless, brave, and caring, which is something she cannot hide throughout the novel, making her such a likable character.

Cayo Mercado was the most interesting character to me. He struggles with agency throughout most of the novel, after having lost it, and continues to be a pawn in people's games. Honestly, he could have been a really annoying character, but Sim did a GREAT job of making him likable and noble. I think the additions of these flaws in these characters really fleshed them out and made them very human, in my eyes.

My only critiques were that I got slightly bored in the middle, waiting for something major to happen, but that quickly went away, and some of the dialogue was a little corny/forced at times, but it didn't bother me that much.

Love this book and can't wait for the sequel!