Scavenge the Stars is a gender-bent re-telling of the Count of Monte Cristo. I remember reading and watching Count of Monte Cristo, but it was well over a decade ago so while I remembered the vague outline of the plot and the instigating events, the twists and the ending have slipped my mind so I am still surprised!

Amaya, who has escaped a debtor ship where she was enslaved for 7 years, returns to her home city looking for answers about her parents and how she ended up on the ship, while also becoming part of a plot to seek revenge on the man who has crossed her. In the process, she becomes entangled with the man's son, Cayo, who has his own worries about ensuring his family doesn't fall into ruin.

This is the first in a duology, so the story has been somewhat dragged out and more nuances have been added by the author. It was a very smooth read, and even when there wasn't a lot of action going on, the way Tara Sim writes is enthralling. I didn't feel like the story dragged at all. She has a beautiful way of writing that I really enjoyed.

The main and side characters are all diverse. There are multiple LGBT+ couples and Cayo is bisexual. I'm looking forward to the next book and seeing Amaya and Cayo's relationship develop.

"I think you know who to hurt when the hurt they've given you makes nothin' else they do matter. When you can't see them as a person, but just a vessel for your hatred, your pain. Then you know."