#122 Book Review: The Masque of the Red Death [ARC]

The Masque of the Red Death [ARC]
Release Date: 2 August 2012
Author: Bethany Griffin
Publisher: Random House Australia
Source: Publisher for Review
Format: Paperback
Where to Buy: Fishpond | Booktopia | Dymocks
More Info: Goodreads

Summary from Goodreads:
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.

Cover:
The cover looks so creepy! Unlike the US one, we can see a mask tainted with blood in the UK/AU cover. My ARC cover had a different cover but I preferred the final cover compared to the ARC's cover. The cover does reflect the eeriness of the book!

Story:

A world consumed by The Red Death with plague...


Masque of the Red Death was one of my most anticipated releases in 2012. I haven't actually read the original story of Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe but you don't have to read Poe's story in order to grasp the beauty of this book. 


Masque of the Red Death is set in a terrifying but exotic world. The book is written from Araby Worth's POV. People who can buy masks wear masks all the time to protect themselves from the plague. A mask can only be used by a single person so once you breathe in the mask, it will only protect you from the plague. The world-building is fantastic and Bethany Griffin's writing is gorgeous. It is entrancing and there is just that beauty that will keep you hooked into the story. There are also clubs where people just lose themselves and forget about the plague. Even though this book is a re-telling, it's unique in its own way. The book ends in quite abruptly but it still makes me excited for the sequel because things are not yet resolved!


Characters:
The characters are well-written! I really connected with Araby and felt her pains. She feels guilty for her brother's death and she tries to forget her pains by partying in the clubs. When she meets Will and Elliott, she finds herself drawn to them both. Both boys are completely different. Will is the proprietor of the Debauchery club and Elliott is the Prince's nephew. At first, I preferred Will over Elliott but by the end of the book, I'm not sure which 'Team' I'm in. Will did something in the book which made me disappointed and Elliott is not exactly a gentleman so I'm not sure! I guess I'll just have to find out if both boys get better in the next book! 


I also really enjoyed reading about Araby's parents, Will's siblings and April. Araby's father is the scientist who created the mask but he and Araby's mother is still torn about the death of Araby's brother, Finn. Will's siblings are very adorable and they show a different side to Will's life. April also gives a new side to Elliott's life. We can see how both Will and Elliott really care for their family. 


Overall:
Masque of the Red Death is a gorgeous book set in a terrifying yet exotic world. In a world consumed with plague, can Araby and the others survive? Despite the book being a re-telling of Poe's story, the book is unique in its own way and you don't have to read Poe's story to appreciate the beauty of the story.

4 Forget-Me-Not flowers for Masque of the Red Death!

Thank you Hachette Australia for the review copy!