Masque of the Red Death

Araby has been wanting to die for sometime. This is world full of masks, and the air tainted. Her father is a scientist, and might have brought so many people to their deaths. She loves to go to the Club Debauchery with her friend April. She is interested in the boy with tattoo's.

Her life is changed with her best friend April is missing. There we meet her brother Elliott, and Araby eyes open up even more to the world and change. She meets learns more about the boy with tattoo's life and his situation. She takes drugs to survive her daily life in this world filled with contaigion. There is a plague that changed the world.

There are changes and a Rebellion coming from Reverend Malcontent, but there the city is unrest under the Prince Prospero .

I didn't know what to expect from this book, and as I was explaining this book to my wonderful husband last night. I realized that this book was a different book, and so much better than I expected. I saw that Araby eyes were opening up to her life. I also love that there was a romance but very subtle. This was a very gothic world. I did love that family does play a role in this book, and that science and religion were both touched a bit. I hope that there is another book in the series. I also loved the cover very much.

Best Lines: Just because you don't see something doesn't mean that it will go away. Do you think inhumanity doesn't exist if you pretend not too see it. ? Or maybe get to drunk to understand ? We've forgotten the things that make life worthwhile.

Don't Trust Me

He believes that the masks are making us inhuman because we don't see people's faces. And part of me agrees with him

A little post-apocalipitc and a little steampunk (a super combination in my opinion), Masque of the Red Death drew me in right away. It's another one of those faced paced YA novels that I didn't want to put down for so many reasons...

First, I was massively curious about the disease in this book. The first sounded pretty much like your traditional plague - fever, pustules that ooze nastiness, you know what I'm talking about, but the fact that it could be prevented by a masque that only the rich can afford - well, that brings up all sorts of social issues, doesn't it? That was probably more interesting to me than the disease itself. The second disease involved suddenly bleeding from the eyes and instant death. That one made me even more curious - what's causing it? How does it work? Did someone create it and release it into the public? All questions I hope will be answered in the sequel.

Second, Araby. She's got a tough life. Sure she's wealthy now, but it wasn't always that way (though I wish that had been explored more). But despite her wealth, she still has problems - she has friends she wants to help, she finds out terrible secrets about her mother, and she keeps an even worse secret from her father about her brother's death. Of course, in addition to that is something of a love triangle, though it didn't read like your stereotypical YA love triangle. It really added to the plot.

Third, the battle between science and religion. I found this aspect of the novel to be interesting as well. It seemed there were two camps - those who were religious minded, who felt science had failed humanity, who wanted to pray to god for a cure. Then there were those who were science minded, who, like Araby, had never read the bible or given god a second thought. Sometimes I feel our real world is becoming more polarized in this way, but I don't think it has to be so. When plague hits, perhaps the best solution is a little of both worlds, but I don't want to get all philosophical on you.

Four stars! Fictional diseases are so interesting to me, so I adored this book. Bottom line, this book was fantastic and I'm eagerly anticipating its sequel due out in April and I urge to you read this soon. In the meantime, I'm going to have to read the Edgar Allen Poe short story that inspired this novel because I've heard it makes you appreciate Griffin's work even more.

I'm an unabashed fan of all things dark. Therefore anything by Edgar Allan Poe is a little bit like crack to me. I took the time to read Poe's story that inspired the book before I started, and fell in love with it. It has a very distinctive feel and is something I imagine would be hard to catch by anyone who isn't Edgar Allan Poe. Luckily, Bethany Griffin did it, and it made her book work on so many levels and made me desperate for more.

The setting of The Masque of the Red Death is nonspecific but it has the appealing look and feel of the darker, more dangerous and mysterious parts of New Orleans, Paris, or maybe even Vienna without all the water. It's so fitting for the story and works to enhance the already palpable eerie feel. The porcelain masks, the Debauchery Club, and rich dresses only add to the idea. Honestly, what makes this book memorable and so worth your time is the immersing setting and vibe.

I found Araby to be an appealing and easy to understand protagonist. She's deeply mourning the loss of her beloved brother, forgoing the good parts of life that he will miss. She spends her nights at the Debauchery Club, trying to forget and pass the time. She finds herself caught between Will and Elliot, two very different men with two different causes. I could understand the appeal of each to Araby and could feel her confusion. Sometimes I did want to smack her, but I find that I commonly want to smack the people I love most in the world, so I suppose that is a good sign. :)

The ending was a quick succession of big reveals and shocks for me. I went from heartbroken to angry to crying and to hopeful, all to be heartbroken yet again. The story and its repercussions kept with me for a long time after I finished reading, and I'm just dying to read more.

MY REVIEW
I was kindly sent this ARC of The Masque Of The Red Death to read and review for my blog by Indigo books, so thank-you Nina! As the book was an Arc it has a different cover to the one pictured above and below. I have to admit the ARC cover would have put me off reading the book slightly had I seen it in a store. Though I like both the cover pictured above and the cover below too. They carry the theme of the people having to wear masques to breath through. The cover pictured below also shows you that the dresses are rather revealing as the people want to show as much flesh as possible to prove that they are well and don't have the sickness.
When you think of Masques, it usually brings to mind beautifully decorated, masquerade ball masques, but the masques in this book are actually the difference between life and death and are made of a plain white porcelain. When reading the book you come to hate the masques and what they actually stand for. The masques are the only protection against what can only be described as a type of plague.
The description in the book of the clothes, makes you visualize such beautiful elaborate clothes being worn by the rich at the Debauchery Club in stark contrast to the drab rags worn by the common people. The description through the whole book is really good, helping you easily visualize what is being written about.
The whole story is quite tragic, the scientist clever enough to make the masques, yet his own son dies because of falling ill maybe due to not having a masque. Both parents and Araby carry guilt about this. The first mask the scientist made was meant for his son Finn, however Araby took it and tried it on which then rendered it useless to Finn her brother. Each masques is made for the individual, and once someone has breathed through the masque it is of no use to anyone else.
There are a great mix of characters in this book, there's Araby who has known both riches and having very little. Her friends, who are nephew and niece to the man who is the cruel dictator of the land they live in and where she now lives are rich and are Elliott, a love them and leave them type of rich guy, and his sister April, who loves nothing more than to dress up and flaunt her wealth and regularly attend the Debauchery Club.
The poorer characters we learn about are Will who works at the Debauchery club (also a love them and leave them type) and his younger brother Henry and younger sister Elise who he is sole carer/guardian of.
So which guy suits Araby the best? Which one, if either is just using her and who truly wishes to change their former ways and love Araby and protect her too? Both guys have their moments with Araby, but you will have to draw your own conclusions as to who would suit her best when reading the book.
This book is not just a love/romance story as there is rebellion and revolution, as certain people try to make the masques available for all not just the rich. However just as things seem like they could turn for the better another strain of virus begins to claim lives. Do the masques protect against this new strain of illness?
So did I enjoy the book? Yes. Would I recommend? Yes Would I read more? Yes definitely!
The writing and description reminded me a little of the Melissa de la Cruz's series of Blue Blood Novels.

Masque of the Red Death is a delightfully dark gem. It is gorgeously composed, mysteriously twisted, overtly dramatic. In a world where modesty has given way to devastation, Araby loses herself in the glitzy makeup, the vivid dresses, searching for a way to forget it all. She is a lost girl, punishing herself with continued despair for reasons we will discover later, and come to understand.

The plague isn't the only disease in this place. The people are too - full of dark lies, secrets and intrigue. No one is good, everyone has a dark side, there is no black and white. In a world where you can't even seem to trust yourself, how is Araby to navigate the troubled waters between the two men whose lives she becomes ever-more involved with? It is one of the few novels I've read that can pull off a love triangle simply because you don't know who to root for. You're tossed from one side to the other as each becomes appealing and appalling in turn. At times, you're not sure Araby can ever forgive them, but at the same time, you just don't want her to end up alone.

The seeds of discontent are strewn throughout society. People need masks to survive. There are never enough, and only the wealthy can afford them. Death is an everyday occurrence. Rebellion simmers hotly in the underbelly of the city, ready to burst.

I was a huge fan of Masque of the Red Death, and I highly suggest it. It was unapologetically gothic, dark, and full of well-timed twists. I can't wait for the sequel, when we finally get to Prince Prospero's ball!

Set against the backdrop of plague-ridden humanity, MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH, is nothing less than stunning. And I would expect no less from a book based on the classic by Edgar Allen Poe. The world has gone to hell. The wealthy wear masks to protect themselves. The poor are left defenseless. Carts roll through the streets collecting bodies. Prince Prosperous rules through fear and intimidation. But when Araby finds the opportunity to help bring about new hope for humanity, can she do it, despite the risks?

Author Griffin paints a morose, depressing, stunning portrait of a world gone nearly mad. I felt utterly entrenched in the story, the stakes involved. The sheer hopelessness and desperation that threaten to overwhelm main character, Araby Worth, is palpable. I found myself covering my own mouth as Araby ventured into the open, dangerous outdoors. I wanted to cover myself in clothes so I couldn't be infected by the Red Death. [sidenote: I tend to get a little too involved in books. My kids, like most little ones, are germy little creatures. But I'm fairly certain they don't carry the plague.]

The social statement of MASQUE was obvious, and relevant. Much like real-life tyrants (I'm thinking Hussein, Kim Jong-Il), Prince Prospero is living a life of grandiose proportions while the poor suffer. I was struck by the decadence in the midst of chaos. The activities in the Debauchery Club were almost sickening in the face of the disaster outside the doors.
And although I enjoyed the story, I was also bothered. It's a case, though, of "It's Not You, It's Me". The story had to be depressing. It had to be harsh and cruel. But I found myself being drug down into a depressive spiral. I had to take breaks, gain my bearings, and dive back in. That's actually a compliment to Griffin, to her ability to pull readers in and shroud them in the emotions of the characters.

Now for the guys. You know I couldn't leave Will and Elliott out, right? I've seen many, many conversations debating the hotness of Will vs. Elliott. And that's going to cue a mini-rant. *deep breath* Elliott? Come on. Yes, I know he is very emotionally damaged. And he's complicated. But when a guy tells you not to trust him, says he would kill you if it meant gaining an advantage, and goes so far as threatening to prove his point? LISTEN TO HIM. Don't over think it, ladies, or make excuses. Run for the hills and don't look back. Having said that, his character did make strides towards become a less horrible person, but I don't know if I could ever root for him. Ever. Now for Will. Ninety-five percent of the time, I loved him. He was tragic, and beautiful and wonderful. His big flaw is actually not his fault, nothing I could blame him for. Make sense? I didn't think so. :-) So I guess if I had to choose a "Team", I would undoubtedly be "Team Will", but not very enthusiastic.

MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH has all the elements of a hit: tragic, flawed, but engaging characters; a gripping, suspenseful story; strong, beautiful writing. It's an intense story of deception, chaos, love and possible redemption. Ultimately, MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH is a book the reading community will love. Of that, I have no doubt.

Favorite Quote:

"One white flower blooms on the vine.

'It only opens at midnight, and only for a few hours, when the full moon is directly overhead. Maybe someone planted it here before the plague, when the world was hopeful. At the end of the day, after sweeping the floors and cleaning up the vomit, I come here. It reminds me that there are still beautiful things.' "(pg. 105-6, ARC)

Source: Received for an ARC tour hosted by Southern Book Bloggers. Thanks, ladies!

3.5 stars
Note: NOT FOR YOUNGER READERS due to violence, disturbing imagery of people suffering from the plague(in my mind) and mentions of drug use.

My Thoughts:

If you are looking for a light and fun read you shouldn't touch this book with a ten foot pole.

Now,with that out of the way I have to say this book was very different from what I expected but by the end of it I was fully engaged and engrossed in the story.

This book was very depressing in the beginning.Also,I was not impressed by the main character ,Araby but the book started picking up as soon as Elliot entered the scene.So my advice to people who get bored in the beginning or too depressed is... hang in there till Elliot gets there because things start getting very interesting as soon as he enters the scene.

Basically in the first few chapters (Before Elliot enters the scene) you are introduced to the world and the main character .Considering the fact that I did not like the main character because she was suicidal and I found the world depressing because lots of people were dying due to a plague ,I did not enjoy the first few chapters but I did not give up on this book!

Araby ,the main character grows on you.At first she's a little TOO much but as the story progresses she becomes more normal and less of a pathetic pretty faced girl.ALL the characters grow on you .You just need a little bit of patience to enjoy this book.

I cannot decide which Team I'm on.Team Will or Team Elliot.
I was fairly sure I was Team Will but whenever Elliot comes in ,I'm hooked and hanging onto his every word.Even though Elliot is mean I think I like him a little bit because he's unpredictable.I think the main reason I'm not 100% sure that I'm Team Will is because even though Will is nicer and such a dependable guy I have no idea why he's drawn to Araby.

Overall,I'd recommend this book to lovers of dystopian fiction and people who don't think romance should be the main focus of the story.I would like to see how the story progresses in Book #2

My Rating:

3.5/5

Slow start but hooked by the end!

*This book is by a 2012 Debut author

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH felt like a massively lavish and gothic prologue to Edgar Allen Poe's short story by the same name. In Bethany Griffin's tale the rich are privileged enough to live in secluded areas and wear masks to protect them from the Weeping Sickness while the poor are left to await the corpse collectors to carry away their loved ones. While the masks are meant to be protection, I got a distinctly creepy vibe at the thought of people wandering the streets with half their faces frozen as if the living are wearing reminders of the death they were trying to avoid every day.

Araby, a suitably tragic character for a gothic tale, is one of the fortunate mask wearers who is not only trapped behind her mask, but by her grief over her brother Finn's death which she blames herself for.Throughout the story Araby denies herself everything that her brother can't experience anymore including intimacy with emotion numbing drugs that often leave her passed out in clubs.

The love triangle was complex in the sense that I kept changing who I felt Araby should be with every time some new bit of information came up about Elliot or Will. Both guys had their positive and negative qualities. Will is poor and taking care of his siblings while working at the Debauchery Club that Araby meets him at. Elliot is an artist type trying to rebel against Prince Prospero; the tyrannical ruler of their land who does all he can to deny the poor protection from the Weeping Sickness. But both were deceptive or exhibited frightening behaviour towards Araby multiple times in the story. There wasn't really a romance per se as Araby spent a lot of the book wanting to but denying herself the pleasure of kissing. I don't necessarily agree with who she appears to choose in the end since one guy's negative qualities outweighs the other's significantly from my perspective.

It was fun noting the allusions to the original Masque of the Red Death work while reading Griffin's retelling which expertly matched Poe's tale in tone and style. I loved the beautiful gothic descriptions of this world though it did take me awhile to get used to the first person present tense and the story started off slow, but once the action picked up the story didn't drag as much. MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH weaves a compelling tale in a dark homage to Poe's classic gothic horror story.

I've heard nothing but good things about Masque of the Red Death, so I was super excited to finally read it myself to see what the fuss was about. This book was definitely not what I expected.

After the death of her twin brother, Araby struggles daily just to find a reason to live. Nights are spent with her best friend April at the Debauchery Club, which is the only place Araby can go to escape the disease and death that they face on a daily basis. The club is where she meets Will, and also Elliott, who both have secrets, but also have the ability to change Araby's life forever.

The characters in this book were all amazingly well developed. I found each of them fascinating, and all for different reasons. You have to feel bad for what Araby, the main character, has been through. I can imagine why she wanted to slip into oblivion whenever she possibly could. We do see her change throughout the book from a girl with many issues into a very strong, determined young lady. I was very glad to see that.

The romance in the book comes in the form of a love triangle. I pity Araby her decision between the two young men, Elliott and Will. I found both young men to be completely fascinating, and each for different reasons. Will is sweet and thoughtful, and really seems to care for Araby, even when he has to make a very difficult decision that involves Araby. Elliott, on the other hand, was quite mysterious and thrilling, but also with a soft side. It's definitely hard to choose between these two men.

The thing I love most about this book is the uniqueness of the storyline; it was a mixture of modern day and Victoria times. The world that the author created was engrossing as well as terrifying. The descriptions of the era and illnesses, as well as the clothing and world itself, were extraordinary. I definitely had a clear picture in my mind of what Araby had to deal with. The book was also very well paced; I was definitely hooked throughout the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters and the world building all join together to make a unique, thrilling read that you won't soon forget! I can't wait to get the next book to see what is going to happen next, and most importantly, what guy Araby is going to choose!

Happy Reading!

I heard such great things about Masque of Red Death, and I was really excited to read the book. The premise of the story is fascinating -- it's what I think of as a "steampunk dystopian," and the world is suffering from a contagion called the Weeping Sickness. (I love stories about survivors of plagues, which is another reason why this book was something I wanted to read!) The cover is also totally gorgeous.

The author did a great job with the world building of this story. It felt very realistic, and she described it vividly. I could picture everything perfectly in my head while I was reading. The writing was great, and the pacing was done well. Unfortunately I didn't connect with the main character, Araby, as much as I wanted to. I had a disconnect with understanding her motivations behind the things she did and got involved with, and it lessened my enjoyment of this story. She was also very depressed and even mentioned thoughts of suicide. I prefer stories about protagonists who have a strong will to survive in tough situations. I think I would have enjoyed this story better if it had been told from April's perspective opposed to Araby's. I loved all the scenes with April in them, and wanted to see more of her in the story.

The parts of this story that stood out to me were when Araby was with Will. I felt more of an emotional connection during those scenes, especially the ones where Will's siblings were involved. It was in those scenes that I felt more of connection with the characters, and I wish there was more of that in the book. Elliott as a love interest did not appeal to me -- he did some crazy things in the middle of the book, and I hope Araby ends up with Will, even though I wasn't happy with Will's actions in the end. (I can understand why he did what he did though).

I wanted to like this book more than I did, but I'm in a minority because most people are loving it. I definitely recommend checking out a sample to see if this book is for you!

In this dystopian-type world, the wealthy survive with masks on their faces that protect them from a plague that fills the air. In the clubs, everyone goes to partake in drugs and alcohol while dressed to the max. It's a way to forget just what life is really like. The world Griffin has created is terrifying, people come around to collect the bodies of the diseased. Any bodies that are unable to be retrieved are left of the streets. She has gone to great depth to create a story I think Poe would be proud of. It's scary, intense and so fascinating - much like Poe's works.

Araby has created rules for herself, her little brother passed away as a result of the plague so she strives to do nothing he will never get to do. From holding hands to falling in love. Mixed in with the horror of this "world", our girl is discovering just who she is and who she deserves to be. Mix in a love triangle with two boys who want totally different things. Then as a more intense plot line, "rebels" seek to uncover the plans for the masks to mass-produce them so that they are accessible to everyone. What better way than to involve the creator's daughter, Araby?

Masque of the Red Death is the sort of book with a lot going on and it handles it nicely. The ending did leave a bit to be desired, it was rushed and at times I found myself having to re-read to be exactly sure I didn't "miss" something. I'm hoping that with a sequel more will be explained and it will make it even better.

Regardless, I love this more recently popular combination of dystopian and steampunk and eagerly crave more. If you aren't a fan of steampunk, Masque of the Red Death isn't that steampunk - there are factors, but it's not heavily present.

I received my copy of Masque of the Red Death from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

Does this cover remind any of you of Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel?

Okay, that aside, I really wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I was a bit tentative about it in the beginning but when I started reading more and more good reviews from people I trust, I thought "why not?"

Masque of the Red Death isn't a book you read for rollicking adventure or that bubbly feeling you get after a long read. The tone of this book is most definitely gloomy and dark laced with prominent moments of despair. It's got a darker thread running through it, much more than some of the recent titles out in the YA field. There's recreational drug use, the almost constant feeling of horror lurking around the corners, death, and depression.

I actually found Araby an interesting character. I thought her vow to reject all the pleasureful things in life that her brother won't experience is something new. It's one of the key components of her character makeup and why she's so withdrawn and sullen, but also a huge factor in her depressive thoughts. She's certainly not someone who's ineffective but she's not the type to immediately grab you with an overly vibrant personality.

There's the dreaded love triangle in this book and while it's not so heavily played upon as other books it is there. I didn't really root for either guy as they both didn't seem to have much of distinguishing characteristics to make them stand out from the other. They sort of blended together for me, and while they are different people they don't make me want to gravitate to one or the other.

I loved the world building of this book, though. The whole porcelain masks, steampunk bits, ever present fear of disease and death, and the distinct class separations in the book were very well thought out and implemented into the story in a very natural and organic way. The whole theme of political oppression, maneuvering, and desperation brought another layer to the world that gave this book a lot more depth.

It's a slow and steady crawl, so don't expect anything loud and flashy in this book. Despite this, I was drawn in by the skilled writing and I sure did enjoy the ending a whole lot more than I expected to.

Not a bad book at all.

This story transcended labels such as "YA" or "horror" or "romance." Bethany Griffin gives us a fully realized, lush, descriptive tale that is impossible to put down. She didn't cheat with cliches, metaphors or familiar plot turns. Everytime we relax into the plot, the plot turns unexpectedly, a character spots something horrific and a sense of doom rushes over the reader.
The vow that Araby makes keeps the book suspenseful, who will she chose or will she chose? Most novels make the "good" choice mundane and the "bad" choice thrilling. But in this novel there is only one place Araby should be, one place where she feels safe. Then it changes completely, and you're left wondering what she should do. I look forward to the next book, due next month! A+

This book wasn't terrible. The concept is magnificent, so original (except for the whole love triangle thing). However, I had trouble connecting with the characters. It wasn't so much they were bland, but the writing made it seem like I was an outsider looking in. The reader couldn't penetrate the character's surface, but you know there is something to penetrate. Araby is a drug addict due to feelings of guilt for something that happened when she was younger. You know this and you sympathize, but you still feel at arms length. Her actions are driven by this guilt, but you don't really get into her head to know her. Its more like someone drew up a character sketch and gave it to you. However, I have a sneaking feeling this is because she wanted to pack as much information as possible to get to the really good stuff in the next book. I am hoping the characters come alive in the next book because if they do this series will be great and I can forgive a rather average "First Book of the Series." I really hope that is the case because the concept is wonderful.

This review is also posted at The Bawdy Book Blog.

2 1/2 stars.

It's possible that Bethany Griffin is TOO good at what she does. I came into Masque of the Red Death expecting a dark, twisted novel about a girl whose emotions were worn down to nothing...emotionally incapacitated. And that is exactly what I got.

Araby Worth is living a rich life, literally. Her father is a scientist who invented the life-saving masks society wears to protect them from the plague that swept the world and killed many. This has provided Araby's family, previously poor, with wealth and plenty of food in a city where the lower echelons of society kill for even less. But her life is still empty of heart and warmth because she feels alone, though she has her parents, her friend, April, and two men who may be interested in her (although for the life of me, I can't think of why).

I wanted to love Masque of the Red Death. It sounded like such an emotionally raw and intriguing book. But it just...wasn't. Based on the synopsis, I expected the lack of emotion from Araby, but as the main character, she was too apathetic for me. I couldn't abide by her decisions; she made a lot of stupid ones and I often found myself questioning her judgement - and not in the good way that makes a book interesting. She also wasn't a very strong character; it seemed as though anyone could manipulate her to do as they wanted. It's as though she existed in this fog of disregard for everything around her, and while I know a lot of that has to do with the drugs and her past, I just can't imagine caring that little. While Araby drove me crazy, I did like Griffin's other characters, April, Elliot and Will. All three were very interesting people, each with their own agendas and surprises. So it's not that Griffin didn't write Araby well; I think she wrote her too well.

The world-building in Masque of the Red Death is elaborate and great: it's Dystopian-meets-Steampunk and I had a good time getting to know the streets, nightclubs and the people who lived there. It's supposedly a cross between Louisiana and Paris, however, I couldn't get Baltimore out of my head, probably because of the reference to Edgar Allen Poe. Plus, Baltimore is kind of crummy. It seemed to fit into my imagination well. Griffin's writing is fluid and engaging, as well, and the pace is steady throughout the story, so it was very easy to read without putting down.

In summary, this isn't a terrible book, and I think a lot of people will like it. I fought with myself over a rating; it's really hard to rate a book you did enjoy reading. The apathy is really what did me in with this book, though. I just can't get past that. I want to connect to the characters and especially, the main character. I didn't connect at all in Masque of the Red Death and without that, the author has lost me. So it gets a 2 ½: it's not a "Meh" book, but I didn't exactly like it.

**I received this eARC from the publisher for review.**

Like its title, Masque of the Red Death is dripping with dystopian gothic atmosphere. Bethany Griffin created a very stylized world that has steampunk Victorian yet futuristic elements. Those who can afford it wear porcelain masks that somehow protect them from the plague. The pampered rich drive around in steam-powered carriages because all the horses died. They also regularly go to the Debauchery Club where they can get drugged to help them forget the pain of living in a ruined society. It's a place that's tragically beautiful - as the women wear, for some reason, corsets and floor-length gowns - but ultimately empty. Masque of the Red Death is full of style, with little substance to bolster it.

The world the novel inhabits seems to be set in the future yet for some reason people drive around in carriages and have reverted to Victorian modes of dress. Even the ships are steam-powered. Though Griffin's writing is descriptive and full of striking imagery, logic prevented me from fully believing in the setting. For example, the same Debauchery Club where the young party recklessly also houses a very important, secret book guarded by old, powerful men. It just didn't make sense to me.

As implausible the rules of this world may be, Araby as the heroine was the weakest part of the novel. She spends most of the book either drugged and wishing to sink into oblivion or participating in shallow rituals. The moments when she rouses herself from numb self-absorption seem unlikely and out of character.

"I'm barely alive. I stare into space and whimper in my sleep. When I'm awake, I contemplate death, try to read, but never really finish anything."

When another character singles her out and predictably falls in love with her, the plot becomes even more dubious, as Araby does not exhibit any truly admirable qualities until then. Of course, this same character admits that he was smitten with her when he saw her for the first time ---- passed out on the floor. His judgment seems not quite sound as he trusts Araby, who has shown no accomplishments except how to pass out very beautifully, to get the above-mentioned secret book for him.

"She raises her face to the rain, her misery palpable.

"I can't explain how I know which drops of condensation running down her cheeks are rain and which are tears. But I do.

"The girl's eyes catch mine.

"I feel something. The first emotion I've felt all day, besides vague anticipation for tonight. This isn't the sort of thing I want to feel. Gnawing and sick, it wells up from my stomach."

Although I have never read the original Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allen Poe, I enjoyed Bethany Griffin's interpretation. Araby (love that name) is an interesting character, a girl who tries to make herself numb after her twin brother's death (twin brothers sure are popular in YA) by delving into the Debauchery Club to do drugs. Add in the fact that a devastating plague makes masks a necessity (but only the rich can afford them) while revolutionaries battle the cruel Prince of the city. It's a fascinating read.

I loved the setting--it was a mash-up of steampunk, Gothic, and dystopian. Ms. Griffin pulls it off nicely. It was such an intricate and unique world to dive into, though I don't think I'd like to actually live there.

The plot was a bit slow, and Araby's depressed to the point where she does some incredibly stupid things. However, there were a few nice twists and turns at the end that I enjoyed.

Despite Araby's moping, I did like her. Her rich friend, April, was more complex than I (and Araby) expected. She's not just a brainless pretty girl. And then we have the two Love Interests, setting us up with a neat little love triangle. I hate love triangles with the passion of a thousand fiery suns. But...this one didn't annoy me as much as others I've read. Will and Elliot are likable, in their own way, and I could see either one as a plausible match for Araby. Will is the proprietor of the club and is not your typical YA bad boy. He's devoted to his (adorable) younger siblings, Henry and Elise. Elliot, April's older brother, is an enigma--clever, manipulating, and full of secrets.

I'm curious to see where the author takes her story (and what the next books will be called). Masque of the Red Death, while a bit slow, offered a haunting, beautiful dying world, and a cast of intricate characters.

If Araby Worth had more courage, she might just end her life. Instead, she separates herself as much as she can from the real world in her parents' luxury apartment or with her friend April and trips to the Debauchery Club behind her porcelain mask to protect her from the deadly plague. When her normal defenses don't work, Araby looks for escape in drugs, not particularly caring who she scores from or even what they are.

It's through the club that she meets Will and Elliot. They're practically polar opposites: Will is dark, tattooed and poor while Elliot is blonde, refined, wealthy and April's brother. Araby lost someone very close to her and had vowed never to kiss, hold hands - fall in love - with anyone because he wouldn't have that chance either. Both boys rouse emotions she's tried to suppress - romantic interest, hope for their crumbling society and renewed fears and worries about her family. There isn't really the dreaded Love Triangle, although there's romance. I know that's sort of contradictory, but within the story and all the turmoil, the push and pull of the guys and Araby, it doesn't come off as any kind of triangle at all. So...breathe out. Heaven knows I did.

Araby narrates the story so obviously the city and people get translated through her. In the beginning, she's doing everything she can to be detached and other than some brief flares of extreme emotion, she does seem pretty disaffected. Griffin writes with a slightly staccato style and it suits Araby perfectly. Later in the story, the writing gets looser as Araby's emotions start going haywire. I think some people might find Araby dull or a little stupid with some of the decisions she made but I think given her age, the state of society and her desire to make things right, I understood her and even liked her. Even if she made some horrible choices, in a city where breathing bad air could kill you within days, she did make those choices instead of hiding and did things that put herself at risk when she didn't have to because she thought she was doing the right thing.

Even in its lighter moments, this is still a grim story. The threat of death hangs everywhere, from the despot leader, Prince Prospero and the maniacal revolutionary Malcontent to the Weeping Illness and the Red Death. Every moment, everyone has to ask themselves - should they ever take their mask off and where, who can they touch, what do you do if you cut yourself? People who can't afford the expensive porcelain masks don't leave their houses or they risk using a flimsy fabric mask and possible death. Historic incidences of the plague are a sort of macabre interest of mine and Griffin really did her homework for more than just the emotional despair. I was torn between being fascinated and a little grossed out by her detailed descriptions of the latter stages of the disease and its mutated cousin. Grossed out is meant to be complimentary.

I'm not going to give away the ending, only say that Griffin knocked the wind out of me with it. I don't know if I just was enjoying the story so much that I wasn't paying attention or she just threw something in there that that hadn't had any clues dropped about, but it completely wiped out the conceptions I had about nearly all of the characters. It was a devious, cruel, torturous twist that delighted me in a completely warped way since I normally hate those, "you figure it out," endings with a passion and now I'm so anxious to read the next book, it's crazy.

I'm starting to open books with so-so expectations right now, and even though I had really been waiting for this, I tamped down my hope and just started reading - and was engrossed almost immediately. The dark world controlled by disease, the contrast of the disaffected, passionate and forgotten people and the suspense storyline hooked me. 2013 seems very, very far away for the next book.

Masque of the Red Death By: Bethany Griffin was both dark and beautiful. Set in a devastating time and place, during a deadly plague, Griffin's story, influenced by non other than Edgar Allan Poe was utter fantastic!

From beginning to end, I was mesmerized, lost in Griffin's world... just as a great book should accomplish for its reader. It's not often that I've been lucky enough to find a book that so utterly captivated me, but this one hands down did just that. I had no idea what to expect when I picked this one up, but I knew that many others had been raving about the title. I couldn't have been more pleased that I listened to what my fellow readers and bloggers had to say when it comes to this new favorite title.

Araby is one of the lucky ones. She lives a privileged life in an otherwise crumbling, plague riddled world. What might be perfect on the outside, nice place to live, a best friend, fancy dresses and glittery make up and so much more... isn't so perfect on the inside. She's a girl mourning the death of her twin brother. Taken by the plague at such a young age, Araby feels she's to blame for Finn's death and sets out to live her life by certain rules. She doesn't think its fair that she gets to experience many things in life that Finn never will.

With visions of the Debauchery Club whirling and twirling in my head, gowns cut short to reveal the unmarked skin proving you are plague free and the masks only the wealthy can afford to help keep the disease away, Griffin's story is rich in colors in an otherwise colorless city.

All at the hands of a mad Prince, who is more than out of his mind Araby and Elliott, the Prince's nephew make an unlikely pair while trying to sneak and scheme to work on many of their worlds issues and one is in finding a way to get the much needed masks into the hands of everyone and not just those who can afford it.

It's a dangerous world that Griffin has created, with a hugely glamorous side in a damaged land and its people, the two work so well together it's almost as if they have been woven from the same cloth. In my opinion it was hard for me to find much that I didn't love about this book and its captivating characters.

Griffin found a way to hook me from the start and left me ready for more. With so much at stake and so much more to come Griffin has an amazing start to her series and I'm excited to see where she takes us next! Zeppelin ride anyone?

I ordered "The Masque of the Red Death" expecting slightly irritating but highly engaging fluff with a decent gothic flair. What I got was a surprisingly original and gripping novel. It is definitely targeted toward those in their mid-teens, but doesn't particularly suffer for it.

One interesting feature was the non-time period in which this book is set. It certainly isn't the present, but I had a difficult time indeed distinguishing whether it was set in a semi-lost past or the future. I finally gave up, simply soaking in the unique atmosphere.

"The Masque of the Red Death" has a dark, dreamy, often surreal atmosphere that works extremely well with a concrete, simple plot: a pandemic has swept and is continuing to sweep the city, possibly the world. The rich are cloistered, their children horribly spoiled and sinking into a lifestyle of opulent debauchery, sometimes dying before the disease picks them off slowly, sometimes not. The poor suffer below, struggling to survive, and likely as not serving the fading wealthy. Teenage Araby has a ticket to this world through her best friend as well as the achievements of her father, the man who invented masks--the only objects that keep the disease at bay. But Araby hates it. Her family's success has come as a terrible price, and despite all her efforts to project otherwise, she is miserable. Nights at a glittering club with her friend and the club's other patrons are the only weak thing she grasps at. But this club harbors two men. They are startlingly different, both dangerous, and both have much to gain and lose. Within days of knowing one and hours of meeting the other, the course of Araby's life takes a violent twist.

"The Masque of the Red Death" is simply a great read. The author manages to craft a wonderfully refreshing story while staying true (I believe) to the spirit of the original. The atmosphere is glorious, the characters maddeningly mysterious and vibrant, the romance frustrating, frightening, fraught with betrayal, and delightful, the storyline satisfying and very different from the recycled plots that are endlessly repeated in most YA novels. I can't wait for the next one, which will be a definite purchase. "The Masque of the Red Death" is highly recommended, and I'm crossing my fingers for the recognition it deserves.

MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH bored me to tears. Everything was grim and gloomy. It frustrated me so much that I felt like I wanted to strangle myself while reading it. The story failed to hook me and I couldn’t really connect with the characters.

I find it hard to sympathize with Araby. I get it that she feels guilty about her twin brother’s death and she somehow blames herself for it. But I think the way she repents is unnecessary. It’s self-destructive and in my own opinion, a rather stupid way to honor Finn’s memory. She’s also detached from everything and that did not help me to connect with the story since it’s told from Araby’s perspective. As for the other characters, I can’t decide whether to pity or hate Elliott. He’s mysterious and sinister, but he’s actually the most tolerable character for me. Will lacks the charm to really capture my attention. Sure, he’s described as gorgeous and kind (according to Araby) but he came across as plain and boring. Again, I blame that on the fact that Araby is the one telling the story.

Frankly, I got so little from the story that I couldn’t really tell where it’s going. Elliott’s rebellion is so downplayed that I wasn’t sure it’s happening at all. Prince Prospero’s motives are also unclear. Another mystery is Araby’s father. Where does he fit in all this? And why did Elliott take interest in Araby aside from the fact that she’s the daughter of the scientist who supposedly saved humanity from the plague? MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH confused me so much and left me with so many questions I wasn’t sure I’d care to know the answers anymore. I’m not really looking forward to the next book.

Araby Worth lives in a world run rampant with disease and misery. The Weeping Sickness is airborne, causing the inhabitants that can afford it to wear masks to keep from contracting it. She happens to be the daughter of the inventor of these life saving masks and is therefore very rich and privileged. Despite this, her favorite activity is to go the Debauchery District and its clubs to drink and shoot up drugs to forget her miserable existence. At these dubious club, she meets two very different young men with secrets: Elliot, the owner of the club and a rich dandy with revolution on his mind, and Will, the mysterious and tattooed young man who works at the club and has an unexpected home life. Together, they will give her something to truly live for and put her on a path to actually help people.

I didn't have too many expectation going in to Masque of the Red Death. Mostly I expected it to be a retelling of Poe's story of the same name and it's a very, very loose adaptation. The only things in common are disease, parties, large buildings, and the name of the prince (Prospero). Everything else was unique to her book. I really liked the world. It was a great mix turn of the century society with a dash of the black plague, steampunk, alternative history, and modernity. I liked that pre-disease, this society was pretty much Victorian with the same fashion and sensibilities. After the disease, it's more important for people to show that they are healthy and have no sores than it is for people to be modest and proper. Women's fashions are much more risque as a result and expectations of young people are much different. I loved the atmosphere of this world where death is an unremarkable, every day occurrence and people try to live as much as possible because death is so close. This setting made the main characters and the motivations behind their actions make sense. Who wouldn't want to enjoy oblivion once in a while to escape that horrible reality? or change the world you live in for the better? or do whatever it takes to keep your family safe?

Although there were many things I liked about this novel, it seemed to fall in some typical pitfalls of YA books. First is the love triangle. It's just overdone at this point and annoying. Choose one already and having two guys fight over you does not make you in any way special. Second, Elliot (one third of this love triangle) literally threatens Araby's life. This is not sexy or desirable at all. I don't understand this normalizing and sexualizing abuse especially in novels that are intended for a young audience. It would be nice for these heroines to have a normal reaction and separate themselves from this type of person.

Overall, I liked Masque of the Red Death, but it fell a little short of my expectations. I would read the next book and hope the issues I had with the first installment improved somewhat. I would recommend it to fans of dark romances and gothic literature.

A deadly plague has swept through the city and now Araby is looking for oblivion. Anything to make her forget that she's alive and her brother is dead will do. At the Debauchery club she finds the distractions she needs but she might also find herself in more trouble than she bargained for. Between meeting Will and Elliott, two very enticing guys from the club, Araby delves deeper and deeper into the devastated city she's been looking to forget.

The eclectic atmosphere of the setting evoked vivid images in my mind and I could feel every bit of fear or excitement that Araby was experiencing. I love when I'm pulled into a story that's so intense I wonder to myself, would I be brave enough to do that? I can only hope that from reading books like this that I've learned a little something about being courageous and valiant.
Griffin crafts a truly suspenseful story, dripping with dark delights and even a few surprises. Masque of the Red Death has definitely found a spot on my favorites list.

Very well written and so looking forward to a sequel. Bethany Griffin has mixed Poe's Masque of the Red Death and Steampunk together very well. It is the story of Araby Worth and the world she lives in, one of disease and death. Where wearing long sleeves or skirts could mean that you are hiding infected skin, where infection mean death, either by the disease itself or should you be discovered by other people, by their hand. Either way is not very pretty, and the corpse gathers roam the streets daily, for pick up of fresh bodies. Araby is one of the lucky ones that has a mask, one that can filter out the deadly germs in the air, so many of the well off do and the poor do not. The mask came at a price when she was a child, that of her twin brother. Once breathed through a mask can not be shared, it is now attuned to one person and one person only. Araby breathed through her brother's mask and has felt guilty about it ever since his death.

Araby seeks oblivion to help deal with the pain, mainly through drugs and drinking. One night while at The Debauchery Club she meets Will. She's seen him before, he works there, but after being left behind, he takes her home and they begin to get to know each other more. Araby is also introduced to her best friend April's older brother, Elliot, a leader of the resistance, and he needs Araby's help.

Oh, the rich Gothic setting! This was a weird and ambitious novel. Based on Edgar Allan Poe's The Masque of the Red Death, Griffin does an outstanding job in the world-building department. She created a lavishly dark and ominous story, so urgently fast paced that it's painful to stop reading. I has hooked right away, enveloped in her gloomy fog of decay and death.

Araby lives in a corrosive city cursed by a deadly plague. Under a tyrannic ruler, citizens live heavily divided by social classes and protected by masks, if they can afford it. Corpse-Collectors pick up bodies every morning, but Araby's privileged life allows her to lose herself at night in glitter-wearing club parties with her friend, April. She uses these parties to try to forget what goes on outside and to deal with her grief over her dead brother, Finn.

And thus, the story begins with no warning, and throws the reader in this deliciously Gothic setting with twists and unexpected turns, where not even the romance is predictable. Part dystopia, part steampunk, this is one of the weirdest books I've read, and it is definitely a good kind of weird. The writing was really good in a new way too, it attempted to be modern and old-fashioned at the same time and in my opinion, it definitely worked.

My only complaint? The ending was very unsatisfying, in the I-need-more sense. A cliffhanger that left me almost angry that I couldn't keep reading, just as things were getting good.

Overall, this is definitely a book that brings new material to YA. Weirdly imaginative and atmospheric, this one will leave you wanting more of this glorious gloominess.

This book sounds a lot darker than it actually is, let me start with that. The original Poe story was a short work about revelry, plague and death. In the novel to begin with, one plague has already happened and the contamination from it forces the public into wearing weird, china masks all the time. Since death and despair are everywhere, those who are left spend a good deal of time in the Debauchery District, especially the main character, Araby and her best friend. But the desperate people of this world are about to be given something to fight for. Sounds really interesting, right? Let me go to the pros and cons.

Pros -

World - Is very well-built, though this can be a little confusing at times as there is no source for any part of the world except a certain castle in the original story, so everything else comes entirely from the author's head.

Characters - Though Araby is a bit tough to relate to at times as the incredibly-depressed-bordering-on-suicidal heroine, I do enjoy Will, the owner of the Debauchery Club. He is charming, sexy and sweet. His family are likewise likable and relatable characters. I found myself even liking and having sympathy for Araby's parents...they are very vividly drawn and considering all the family has been through, not hard to understand.

Crisis - The original plague (called the Weeping Sickness) is a driving conflict for the story. The fact that the need to spread preventative measures to other places and find out if they too have been devastated by plague is a driving factor is easily understood, as is the fact that in order to do this, certain elements of society must change. It is a dangerous and exciting quest.

Cons -

World- As stated before, although well-crafted and vividly drawn, the world tends to confuse a bit at times. I'm still not even sure if the area where the main characters live is a kingdom/principality/province or just a city. They refer to it as a 'city' consistently, yet they're ruled over by a prince, so this left me scratching my head. Also, the demarcation between lower and upper class portions of the area is never explored, just vaguely alluded to. There are areas that the upper class isn't supposed to venture into, but other than 'unseemliness' and the potential of being involved in riots/attacks, we're never really told why, or what unsavory elements they might bump into.

Characters - I...found the heroine a bit hard to swallow at times. Araby's story is a tragic one, but it's not fully revealed until the final pages of the book, and the cause of her extreme sadness while serious, is made to sound much less tragic than it actually is, so until you're fully filled in, you're constantly wondering what her problem is and why she finds it necessary to so extremely beat herself up over a misfortune that clearly wasn't her fault. You also don't fully understand why she dislikes her parents so much, both of whom, while they might seem a little disinterested at times, don't appear to be the devil incarnate, just people suffering a tragedy, the same as she is.

I also don't like the character of Eliott much. That is not to say the character is not well-built. You find out who he is and his needs and motivations are clear, and while there are times when you do feel sorry for him due to his misfortunes, the man in my humble opinion has all the charm of a car salesman at the best of times and a pit viper at the worst. I also finished the book not fully convinced that he might not be unhinged in some way. And to be fair, perhaps that was intentional on the author's part.

Crisis - Though it's titled "The Masque of The Red Death" just like the Poe story, almost the entire plot focuses on the first plague, the Weeping Sickness. The Red Death is not introduced until about the final act of the novel and there is no clue as to how it started or why, just people are talking about it. Aside from a couple of gruesome deaths, almost nothing is said about it, and it's not spoken about again until the end which is supposed to be the 'setup' it seems for the original Poe short. I really assumed going into the novel that it was going to be about The Red Death, or what happened during or after, but for something titled after it, The Red Death has surprisingly little to do with the novel at all. I also didn't like or feel satisfied with the twist at the ending.

Should YOU Pick It Up?
If you like. I don't think it's a necessary add to anyone's library, but it is interesting and steampunk and Poe fans will probably like it.

My Final Rating is 3.5 stars (but since you can't actually do that, I had to rate it four). I hope the review is helpful for anyone considering this book. :)

Wow.

I think 2012 is definitely the year where fresh, great books make a comeback. And this book falls into that category. I devoured this today after starting it a few days ago and getting hit with edits. It was absolutely fantastic. Definitely worth more than 5 stars.

I don't know where to begin really. The setting of the book is set in a city filled with absolute despair. After a horrible plague has wiped out most of the population and forced people into wearing special porcelain masks, there is no hope left and rather than living, most people are merely surviving.

Enter Araby. The daughter of the man who made the masks. She's empty of positive emotions and filled to the brim with survivors guilt. Her twin brother is dead and she feels like she shouldn't experience anything he'd want to experience but never got the chance to. Which made for a very frustrating excuse when she pulled back from two deliciously, equally tempting boys.

This was probably one of the best love triangles I have read about in a long time. Because I just couldn't decide. I thought I was Team Will, but then I became Team Elliott, and this went back and forth for the whole novel. I think I know who I want to win Araby's heart fully now, but no doubt this'll change in the next book. The well developed love triangle is just one testament to Griffin's talent as an author. Her characters felt so real and so did the story itself. Like I could imagine that happening some day soon.

There was a great adventure throughout and I enjoyed spending my time with Araby as she learned which side she was on and what part in all of this she and her family played. There were a few twists, and some deception, and a horrible ending where I actually shouted out "No!" because I couldn't believe it ended there. Griffin's writing was beautiful, simple, and descriptive. It wasn't filled to the brim with purple prose, but there was a beauty in it that flowed well.

I recommend this to all readers who want to read a novel that crosses genres. This can be post-apoc, dystopian, adventure, steampunk, romance...the lot! Seriously, I dare you to read this and not enjoy it. Even if you only read it to spend time with Will and Elliott. 5 stars.

This book felt a bit mediocre in the beginning, but picked up as the novel progressed. It is full of action (at the end), and is a bit scary, as it talks about a [steampunk] society that is battling contagion, and has to wear masks to protect themselves against it, only to find themselves facing a new contagion that the masks do not protect against. The upper class society indulges in drink, drugs, and sex to numb the pain. It is an interesting story, and I plan to read the rest of the series.

I had high hopes for debut author, Bethany Griffin's Young Adult Steampunk/Dystopian like mashup with Masque of the Red Death (Masque of the Red Death #1). This might be my favorite cover of this year and I'm a big fan of anything Edgar Allen Poe.

Masque of the Red Death introduces a world where the air is poisoned and only the rich can afford breathing masks so they don't die from the virus in the air. Araby Worth is very lucky because her scientist father is responsible for creating the masks that keep people alive and well. Araby is also very suicidal because she feels responsible for her younger brother's death. She goes to clubs where she can get high in the hopes she may overdose. She's more than depressed and is barely functioning. But then she meets two boys. One is Will, a bouncer at her favorite club, The Debauchery Club, who takes care of her one night when she overdoses. The other is Elliot, the brother of her best friend April who has gone missing and wants her to help him take down his uncle, the crazed Prince Prospero who rules the land. Araby wants to find April, and even though she doesn't really trust or like Elliot, she will betray her father and put herself in danger to help Elliot unseat tthe Prince and restore hope across the land and allow every citizen a chance to have their own breathing mask so they can live a life free of disease and not suffer a horrible, early death.

Masque of the Red Death was a major disappointment. I DNFed half way through because I was so bored. The plot is weakly written and the dark atmosphere and Araby's self flagellation grew tiresome and ridiculous. The writing is very cut and dry and has no meat to it. There was no real substance to the story, and again we have the familiar trope with Elliot, the semi bad-boy who doesn't treat Araby with that much respect, and yet wants her to give up her entire life to help him. Araby was a cardboard character for me who was DOA as soon as the story began. Her personality was as dead as the corpses found on the streets and in the alleys. I had no sympathy for her plight and why she wanted to give up on her life. I found myself wanting to smack her because she came across as some whiny daddy's rich girl.

Masque of the Red Death is a big pass and another poor attempt at trying to write some hybrid Steampunk universe that isn't Steampunk at all.

Katiebabs

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To me, this is a hard one to review. I liked it and I didn't like it. Sometimes the story went round and round and I felt like it was giving me whiplash. This book had a problem that it didn't know what genre it wanted to be. Was it steampunk, science fiction, horror, love story, historical fiction? But pretty much you get everything that I just named in this book and unfortunately, it's not done very well.

The first part of the book is just confusing. The prologue tells us about Araby and her family (brother and father) and her mom who has abandoned them. They seem to be in hiding in a basement and cannot go above ground. Okay, check. Something above is dangerous. But that was in the past about 3 or 4 years ago.

Araby and her friend April are heading to the Debauchery Club pretty much to do what the name of the club says. Both seem to be drug addicts. However because of the Red Lung, everyone who can must wear a special masque and they are checked over by the bouncer at the club. Who has taken a liking to Araby.

I enjoyed the relationship that was budding between Will and Araby. Will is a young man (18/19?) who has custody of his two younger siblings who immediate take to Miss Araby. All is well and good. Until April goes missing and her brother Elliott comes into the picture. Elliott is portrayed as a rake and a general villain. But you know what? Griffin doesn't know how to draw out suspense, so you pretty much know that Elliott is just a guy who is misunderstood. He's also the one who has been supplying Araby with her drugs.

The plot is confounded and is hard to follow. Elliott tries his damndest to get Araby to fall in love with him, but her heart is firmly with Will. Sweet wonderful Will.

But what we really need is a villain. And that would be Elliott's uncle who has killed his father, possibly kidnapped April and is controlling his people by allowing them to die. He is also the self-appointed Prince of the area.

The last quarter of the book is so jumbled and rushed and everything seems to pop up conveniently and possibly inconveniently. A new disease has sprung up. (?) Someone who we thought was dead, is not. The person we thought was evil is not and the person we thought was sweet is not, but for a reason. A reason that is overused and should pretty much be banned from young adult books especially when there is nothing leading up to this one thing happening.

I really tried to like this book and the characters, but I just couldn't.

This is an interesting idea: take a Poe story, create an entire fictional world around it, turn it into a teen romance triangle, and give the creepy supernatural of the original a steampunk pseudo-science explanation. Gas masks and plagues, reckless 19th century raves and the terror of sudden death. The result is actually really quite original with a vivid and moody atmosphere. My only non-positive reaction is that I didn't know it wasn't a stand-alone novel, so as I neared the end I kept thinking, "Where is the climax of the story?" It has its own nice ending, and the author definitely paced it for a sequel, but it sort of threw me off expecting...well, expecting a masque!

I was looking forward to reading this book but had to force myself through it while watching sports on telly to distract me from time to time. The problems largely stem from the first person point of view and that Araby is about the stingiest narrator ever in terms of answering any plot threads. Also, neither love interest is convincing as such since Araby herself cannot explain why she is exactly attracted to either other than perhaps the way they look. Elliot in particular is just cruel to her most of the time and has about the biggest unexplained turn of character I've ever read in a book. And Will is so perfect that the author seems to simply give him faults to make him less of a wonderful human being.

As for the plot, it's full of holes that may or may not be answered in coming books. Little of plot actually exists as it is mostly Araby running about either getting herself in trouble or mooning over one boy or another. I have no clue what exactly the plague is, how long it's been a problem, why Prince Prospero is so horrible, where the City is actually located, and why on earth this book has not been edited better. Oh, and I have definitely had enough of Araby's survivors guilt which was more than obnoxious by the time we finally find out why she has it. My personal whinging aside, the basics of there being a plague and some political intrigue has potential, but not with the way this book is written with its series syndrome of not giving readers much of anything solid in terms of information and the annoyance of a cliffhanger ending. I like the idea but definitely not the execution.

Very disappointed and frustrated with this book, largely because of the way it is written. I felt almost no connection to any character in any way other than my general hatred of Elliot for the way in which he was so drastically unreliable in so many ways. Also, the word "I" needs to be removed from the author's vocab, honestly. I cannot in good conscience recommend Masque of the Red Death to anyone. This is one book I will not be reading the sequel to.

I really hate being a constant Debbie Downer, but, this is another throwaway, unfortunately. I've been unlucky with my book picks lately, as you can tell.

So, Masque of the Red Death. Conceptually interesting and, might I say, stylish - plague, porcelain masques, corsets, steam carriages, debauchery.

But why must it be, essentially, just like every other book that's been published in the genre over the last year or so? I've lost count of how many times I've read the same elements of this story: a heroine, in a dazed, catatonic state, mourning her brother; her obvious love interest, a debauchery club bouncer (there was NO debauchery in the first 50 pages!) for some unknown reason drags her unconscious body to his poor house, so that she can wake up in his bed and admire his tats; she is suddenly stricken by realization of how poor and unfortunate his family is while she is a rich girl; she is jealous of her new flame within hours, because the guy is just so nice and family-oriented; and of course there is absolutely no chance she will kiss the dream-boy, because, of course, there is a huge, massive obstacle in a form of her vow never to indulge in such thing because, you know, her brother is dead...

Let me put some guesses of future plot development out there: there is going to be a love triangle (that handsome guy who supplied the MC with drugs wasn't there for no reason, right? he is probably rich); there is going to be some rebellion (otherwise, the poor guy and his underfed siblings wouldn't be in the book); there is going to be a discovery of a plague cure and fight to give it to the least fortunate. Did I get it right, or wrong? Spoil it for me, please.

Is it unreasonable to expect some originality, some new events and situations and characters and voices that haven't been written so many times already?

With a setting a postapolyptic city similar to the real New Orleans but with a twisted, dreary version of a turn of the century Europe seen in the people's manners, dress and attitudes, Masque of the Red Death is a very different story than what I expected to read. Masque of the Red Death was much more darker, grittier and thorough about it's telling of the tragedies that are wrought by a plague that has everyone fearing the very air they breath including Araby Worth.

Araby Worth is the voice of this story. She is a lonely teen who has self imposed an unfeeling life upon herself because she feels guilt for being alive while her twin brother has died from the contagion caused by the plague. Araby avoids any experience that her twin will never experience such as kissing and she never touchs people. She has lost her faith in her parents and has given up hope for herself and her family so every chance Araby gets she visits the Debauchery Club owned by the dictator Prince Prospero, to lose herself in whatever vise she can a hold of, so she can forget.

Within the Debauchery Club, Araby is caught up between to very different guys, dark haired Will who is the bouncer at the club and blonde, aristocratic Elliott, her best friend's brother who also Prince Prospero's nephew. Araby finds herself being pulled between them, in different directions forming the love triangle trope found in a lot of YA stories recently.

Masque of the Red Death kept me reading by holding my interest in the small hints and tidbits dropped throughout, building the story's mystery of the contagion and following Araby as she finds herself after the tragedy of her twin's death, discovering that everything is not as she had thought they were but there are many layers of secrets and political subterfuge surrounding her family and friends. While I enjoyed darker atmosphere and mystery of this story, at times the reading felt surreal, at times hazy, kind of like the state Araby has put herself into since her brother's death. Maybe that was on purpose but to me it gave the effect that Araby was just artlessly following others, being lead, without much thought or questioning. I really don't care for that aspect of the story which unfortunately was a big part of it. However, the ending was spectacular and full of so many emotions for Araby that I definitely want to read the next book, just to see where Araby will end up.

Choppy, yet interesting, retelling of an Edgar Allen Poe short story with a bit of steampunk thrown in. This version of events was dark, intriguing and very curious. I was confused once or nine times about what was going on, who was thinking what, and what was going to happen next but I found myself oddly enjoying the uneasy feelings that arose from my confusion (instead of being annoyed). Very evocative of Poe in general. I've never been that interested in Poe, but now I want to get my hands on his writing. I also want to get my hands on the next book in this series! Oh, and Team Elliott (though I was Team Will for a good portion of the book).

This book was amazing!! I loved it and couldnt put it down till I finished it. I loved all the characters, the plot, and how it leads you to figure things out on your own right before it happens. Leaves off as a cliff hanger which i love but cant wait till april 23 when dance of the red death comes out. I would recommend this to anyone as long as they arent bothered by books that are a little sad like this one. Purely wonderful(:

This dark world is amazing and mysterious. I loved the flawed characters. I love when I get a book, this is one of those ones where you get it or you don't. Love or Hate. I loved. I recommend this book all the time. I'm not going to do the Synapsis of the book for you, my review is read the book. Careful of the longer reviews, they have spoilers...