3.5 stars.

An enjoyable, original twist on The Count of Monte Cristo.

Amaya is only a girl when she is sold into slavery aboard a debtor ship captained by the villainous Captain Zharo. For seven years, she has only one rule for herself: survive.

Years later, she has built a new identity for herself, and her mission has changed to a different word: revenge. Her opportunity comes when she finds herself returning to her home port city of Moray. In another part of that city, Cayo Mercado, a wealthy merchant’s son, is also trying to create a new life. Reeling from his mother’s death and outrunning a gambling, society boy past, he is desperate to find a cure for his very ill sister. In his search, he unravels a web of conspiracy surrounding his father, and becomes caught up in the city’s dark and dangerous underbelly.

This isn’t a fast-paced read, and my advice would be to sit and enjoy it. There is a lot to like. The writing is detailed and the setting is beautiful; the tropical city of Moray, set against the glittering sea, makes for the perfect summer book. Amaya and Cayo are great characters, with depth and drive, and it’s great fun to know that their paths are fated to cross but not know how it will happen. The plot is really strong: it builds on itself, slowly and continuously, twisting and turning, and I do love it when I can’t guess what will happen next!

The separate pieces of this are impressive: the writing, the twisting and thickening plot, the diverse cast of layered characters, and the world building. I found the unfolding of Scavenge the Stars to be a little bit too slow for my taste, but the pieces do add up to form a satisfying, absorbing adventure.