Rating: 3.5
Title: Scavenge the Stars
Author: Tara Sim

Synopsis:
When Amaya rescues a mysterious stranger from drowning, she fears her rash actions have earned her a longer sentence on the debtor ship where she’s been held captive for years. Instead, the man she saved offers her unimaginable riches and a new identity, setting Amaya on a perilous course through the coastal city-state of Moray, where old-world opulence and desperate gamblers collide. Amaya wants one thing: revenge against the man who ruined her family and stole the life she once had. But the more entangled she becomes in this game of deception—and as her path intertwines with the son of the man she’s plotting to bring down—the more she uncovers about the truth of her past. And the more she realizes she must trust no one…
Packed with high-stakes adventure, romance, and dueling identities, this gender-swapped retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo is the first novel in an epic YA fantasy duology, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Sabaa Tahir, and Leigh Bardugo.

Initial thoughts:
I am a major fan of Tara Sim’s work so when I heard that this book was coming out I was so excited! I am probably going to be destroyed for saying this, but I have never read the Count of Monte Cristo so I was going into the book with a blank slate when it came to the comparisons (trust me I will pick it up eventually). I legit have been blessed with getting a copy of this book early. The cover is stunning and I love the idea of what this book is going to be. I wonder how many changes are going to be made over the course of the next few months when it is released as I was given the book so early, but I am excited to see them in the copy that I purchase.

Plot:
What I liked:
The amount of diversity in this book is astounding. I enjoyed the character development very much as well as the split narration between Cayo and Amaya. The description of gambling addiction was sad and yet beautifully explained showing the dangers that they can bring. I also loved the way Tara always seems to design characters that have ulterior motives than what we originally see. This allowed me to guess as to where the progression will go, but also keep me kind of in the dark. Assumptions can always be wrong.

What I didn't like:
Honestly, I will admit that there is some world building issues that I would love to see resolved. This is just the first book though and there is definitely room for growth in the world, but even so there didn’t seem to be a lot of description throughout this book. I really had to guess about certain things and it made it hard for me to actually see the world in my mind's eye. I also wish that I could have learned more about the history between the different empires a little bit more.

Overall:
Overall, I found this book to be an enjoyable read and I cannot wait to see where the second book goes! This story also has me grabbing for the book it was based on. I loved the tale of revenge and I am certainly invested in the characters and how they will be affected now that some major plots have been revealed.