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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “So far this is my surprise book of 2012. I loved the gothic, steampunk, alternate history setting. Araby is a beautiful, yet deeply disturbed girl living a life of wealth in a world of dispair. She goes out to the Debauchery Club and takes drugs to make her forget all the sad in her world, but...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “This book never really appealed. I liked the dark, gothic feel of the book, but the plot was weak and sometimes confusing. As a heroine, Araby was rather weak and the love triangle just didn't feel real. In fact, I had no real connection with any of the characters. I will definitely not be...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“What a book! Anyone who loves Poe should read this. I don't even know how to classify it! Dystopian society, sci-fi, romance, gothic, victioran, and so much more. There is so much to love about this book. I am waiting very impatiently for the second one.”
Anjeanett Grant wrote this review Thursday, February 14, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is a really good YA dystopian read. I liked the characters and found them to be very believable. Elliot is one of my favorite characters because he's very complex. Of course I love Will and Araby and April. I even like the little I've seen of Araby's father. I think Elise and Henry are your typical children, cute and there when the author wants them to be and not when she doesn't. I think Will is typical and, even though he is good as a leading man in a YA book, sometimes I wish he wasn't so perfect. He does do one thing that isn't perfect, but it's obvious that his motives are perfect, so that wipes out his one blemish. And the only other complaint I would have is that sometimes Araby's emotions seem inconsistent. Other than this, I loved the book.”
Kat wrote this review Sunday, October 21, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I really enjoyed reading this! Masque of the Red death had some very uncommon stuff for the YA genre: Drug use, self-destructive characters, a suicidal main character, and LOTS of death. This was the reason I picked up this book in the first place-the book was so unique I just had to buy it! The characters were all very real. They all reacted to all the death and disease in different ways and were very interesting and unique. Most of the characters did a great amount of growing throughout the story. The world building was just PERFECT!!!! I could imagine this really happen if a deadly disease really struck. The rich are able to survive and try to remain oblivious to all the chaos around them and the poor are just struggling to not get the disease. I really thought the idea of the Debauchery Club being a safe haven for the rich was really clever. I think the author did a really good job building the world and the characters. The plot was great to! A revolution to help the struggling people and their city-count me in! The love triangle in the story was pretty good to. There was actually competition between the two men. I did not know who Araby was going to pick until the very end. The pacing was perfect! I did not feel like the story was being rushed or going to slow just to fill up some more pages. The reason I am only giving it 4 Stars is because the book did not exactly make me feel like I would explode if I put the book down for a couple of days.
Lottie wrote this review Wednesday, October 17, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I really enjoyed reading this book! The ending was pretty open-ended but I was pretty satisfied with it but I am definitely going to get the next book when it comes out!
I give Masque of the Red Death 4 out of 5 stars
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“I was a little reluctant to pick this book up at first. I've had bad experiences in the past with authors basing novels on short stories that I like. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, go and read Edgar Allan Poe's The masque of the red death. It's not a long story and is still one of the creepier short stories you will ever read. It turns out however I'm a sucker for a good cover so in the end I caved.
Donald wrote this review Thursday, October 11, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
That said, Bethany Griffin, has done reasonably well with this reimagining of Poe's story. This novel is steampunk in style and, odd as it may seem, I can imagine Poe's original taking place in a steampunk world. Unlike the original, however, this Masque of the red death does not focus on the goings on in the prince's castle but the lives of those who have avoided being called into the prince's circle. The prince is described as a tyrant and our main character, Araby Worth, finds herself caught in the outer circle of his influence. Her father is tied in some way to the plague that covers the land and the people she thought were whiling away their last hours in the debauchery club are not what they seem.
Unfortunately the all too common love triangle rears its head in this novel (as it does in so many teen novels at the moment) but despite this, Griffin has created an interesting world with a vivid array of characters. Enough to keep most of us reading to the end. As with other teen books at the moment this isn't a one off and the story is far from over. The Masque proper is only beginning at the prince's palace and as yet the mysterious figure has not appeared. I suspect this may be Araby herself but I, like you, will have to wait to find out.
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“Around page 50, I was talking to my sister about this book and telling her that this book better pick up soon or I might quit on it. (There's just way too many books in my stack for my to waste my time on a book I'm not enjoying). A little bit later, I was on page 103 and I knew I was going to be up until I finished the book. Somewhere in between, the action and story had caught up and got to going good and I was loving it. The mystery is so convoluted in this book. What is the plague? How did it come to be? Who can be trusted? Who can't be trusted? (And the answer to that question will surprise you). When I finished Masque of the Red Death, I was ready to start the next book. So I say give this book a try and STICK IT OUT! I know it starts off slow but it definitely picks up and is not the same old story that's being told over and over. It's new and refreshing.”
Melissa wrote this review Sunday, October 7, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Araby Worth is quiet and depressed to say the least blaming herself for her brother's death. The world Araby lives in is infected with deadly plague. The only thing protecting the people is a special mask that people buy. Araby tries to hide her sadness and guilt over her brother's death by going to The Debauchery Club, with her friend April. They are able to enter the club as long as they are "clean". It's there that Araby meets Will a young man and during the course of their various interactions does she learn about his younger sister and brother who are parentless with only Will to raise them.
Book Lover wrote this review Monday, September 24, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
We also meet Elliott, April's brother who wants to rise up against the Prince to free people from the disease. Make masks for the kids, with Araby's help they are able to make new masks, and turn the Prince's army against them.
Both Elliot and Will have secrets from Araby and both seem to be in love with her. This was a great story of a very horrible situation and what happens when people are desperate for saving. When everyone believes they know what is right from the town. I really loved reading about Araby, Elliot and April rising up against their ruthless Uncle the Prince. I can't wait to see what happens next!
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“From the first time I heard about this book I was eager and excited to get this. The idea of a retelling of the Allan Poe story fascinated me. Post apocalyptic set in a Steampunk-Dystopian Area? Yes please! But when I started reading it, it just really didn't grab me the way I had hoped it would.
Inky wrote this review Thursday, September 13, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Let's take the writing. I really wasn't grabbed in the first ten pages. It felt slow and confusing. There were times throughout the book where I felt there were sentences missing! For example there was a time when it mentions "Elliot followed my gaze." It never even told us she was looking at that particular thing! That's just one instance. There were times I was confused about what happened. I found myself asking. "Where exactly are we?" "How do you know this guy?" "How did he get there?" and things like that.
And then we have Araby. I just didn't feel the connection at all. In the beginning of the book she's taking drugs to relieve herself and contemplating suicide. That changes by the end but I just never even got a hold of her character and her strengths. She wasn't particularly unique in anyway and even though she had a decent voice, it didn't capture me well.
Basically I kept reading because I had so many expectations and I wanted them fulfilled even if the first part of the book didn't have that. And by the end I think it grabbed me pretty well, but still not in the way I like.
The romance was interesting. The guys are not swoon-worthy but they are interesting. Elliot was better in the beginning but I never really liked him. Will was much better and I loved him and his siblings. Okay and then you have Araby in the middle. I didn't even get who she really liked. Total mixed signals. It was annoying.
So most of the book wasn't that impressive but I will give it to Bethany for her world-building. I totally got that point she was trying to get across. It was well developed and disease ridden and quite apocalyptic. Although I would have liked more Debauchery Club development.
Overall, this book wasn't a total loss. It semi-kept my interest and the world was great. I think Will was part of the main reason I kept reading. I wanted to find out what happened to him and his little siblings. As for the rest, I didn't get the character connection or the writing suck. However if you are prone to like this kind of book I still suggest you try it. Maybe you'll like it better than me. ”
“The book makes me think it sorta set in like a steampunk era. Science and inventions, the development of an airborne virus that has killed many. That leaves the strong and sometimes not the just in charge of the population due to fear. Araby is the daughter of the scientist who created the masks that safes many, but did not save her twin brother. Lost has changed Araby that she is going to the club to forget everything. It is at the club that Araby meets two men that have impacted her life before all falls. Will is a bouncer at the club and Elliot is her best friends brother. The book does well in setting everones characters and leaves questions so its a good start to a series.”
Jennifer G wrote this review Monday, August 27, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“This book never really appealed. I liked the dark, gothic feel of the book, but the plot was weak and sometimes confusing. As a heroine, Araby was rather weak and the love triangle just didn't feel real. In fact, I had no real connection with any of the characters. I will definitely not be looking for the sequel.”
Heather wrote this review Friday, August 24, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
