Masque of the Red Death

Title: Masque of the Red Death
Author: Bethany Griffin
Publisher: Haper Collins
Release Date: April 24th 2012
Source: ARC from Edelweiss

Summary:

Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her

Review:

I had extremely high expectations for Masque of the Red Death because of all the fantastic things I have heard about it over the last couple of months. I did really enjoy it, but I didn't totally love it as most people did. Of things considered I did finish this book in a day and am really excited to get my hands on the second book.

Masque of the Red Death is a prefect combination of glamour and gore, if that makes any sense. Fashion and going to clubs in a huge component to Araby, but so is the threat of the horrifying disease that has swept through the world. I haven't read Edgar Allan Poe's Masque of the Red Death so I can't compare how closely Bethany Griffin stayed to it's plot and what she changed and made her own. But I can say that the world building is fantastic, her writing is so well done that the world is easy to visualize.

There is a love triangle in Masque of the Red Death, Will who works at the club Araby and her best friends April go to, and Elliot who is April's brother and the leader of the rebellion to kill the Prince, which is his uncle. I didn't feel a connection to either of the guys, and as of now I don't really care who she picks in the end. They're both nice enough and both have secrets that may change your opinion on them once you figure it out. The villain, the Prince, I found to be horrifyingly fantastic, he's what a villain should really be like. Ruthless, not afraid to take risks, and has the power to do some serious damage.

I found it hard to get into the story no matter how amzing the world and characters are, and the dark feeling to the book. Everything is just so well done, I really don't have a reason to share why I didn't absolutely love this book. Maybe because it's historical fiction? Up until a new disease, The Red Death, was introduced I was enjoying it and after I loved it. Too bad it didn't come into play sooner.

Masque of the Red Death is an enjoyable read that fits into the genre of historical dystopian. It has a fantastic setting, a gothic feel to it, alright characters, and a villain that will have you shaking in your boots to just imaine going up against him. The gore and ick factor are also awesome, for someone like me who enjoys that sort of thing. This is definitely a book that you should at least try sometime in your life. You will at least like it and hopefully even love it!