Scavenge the Stars

Gr 7 Up–Amaya has worked for years on a debtor ship, cleaning fish and searching for pearls in order to pay off the debts of her parents. On one of her last days on the ship, she rescues a mysterious man who offers her riches and a chance at revenge. Masquerading as a wealthy countess in the city of Moray, Amaya is quickly drawn into a world of subterfuge and plots. Meanwhile Cayo, a rich man’s son, finds himself forced into a deal in the seedy underworld of Moray’s thieves and gamblers in order to save his sister. Each working toward their own ends, they find themselves caught up in schemes larger than they imagined and discover secrets stretching back to their childhoods. Often at odds, they nevertheless cannot deny the attraction between them. This retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo features a cast that is not assumed white or straight, and a new world waiting to be explored in the sequel. While the plot twists and turns are, at times, not as nail-biting as might be desired, Amaya and Cayo are both interesting characters with real flaws that add depth to the story.