I rated this 4 stars at first. Looking back, there really were vast chapters of me just not enjoying anything the book had to say. But now that I'm done, being objective about it, it really all had its function. It was just slow untangling of blushing maidens, noble gentlemen playing with contemporary ideas into a rotten core of French high society. Monte Cristo being the single fuse that can blow up this facade through his masterfully woven web.

It's weird because the main theme of revenge never hit me. Revenge has consequences, and consumes the one taking revenge. Nothing ground breaking from a modern perspective. The juxtaposition of how people were and the logical conclusions of their personalities in a span of 16 years were my favorite instead. The materialists, the ambitious brilliant men who would crush anyone in front of them to achieve their goals. The traitors, the weak. They're all there, as their past and present selves.

Monte Cristo is a great, masculine (in the traditional sense) character with surprising depth. The religious aspect of his character gives it a whole new dimension too. Side characters range from extremely interesting with very good character progression to archetypes only there to serve a single purpose.

Overall a very good read, with a payoff that's worth it all. But what sets it apart from some other books I'd consider 10/10 is that it really didn't make me feel so much. And I doubt I'll be thinking about Monte Cristo in a year, like I did with War and Peace and Crime and Punishment.