Masque of Red Death
Friday, May 25, 2012Haunting
and mysterious, Bethany Griffin’s first YA novel Masque of Red Death
was a surprise that I never expected. The title, as well as the plot, is
inspired by the well-loved short story of the same name written by
Edgar Allen Poe. What I really loved about this book was its
originality. Although the plot was inspired by another story, it
encompassed much more than the original. Bethany Griffin has created a
world that combines the devastation of Dystopia with the mysterious
nature of eighteenth century surroundings. The corsets, the cobblestone
streets, the castles, and the hierarchy all suggest to the reader that
they are in a time far from their own, yet this changes when tall
skyscrapers appear, and we are taken into an underground club scene that
screams twenty first century. It is the mystery surrounding time and
place that makes this novel so engrossing.
We follow Araby Worth, a
young girl who is fighting against a world that has crumbled around her.
A devastating plague has hit the population and while the citizens are
desperate to stay healthy, the city goes into ruins around them. Araby
knows the disastrousness of the plague, the way it tore her family apart
and created an everlasting rift between Araby and the reality she once
coveted. So how does she cope? by escaping. The Debauchery Club is one
of the few places where Araby can go to get away from her life and it is
within those walls that she meets two very handsome, but very different
young men. Will, the proprietor of the Club and causes Araby to rethink
the way she was living her life, making her question her morals. Then
there’s Elliot, the aristocrat that causes her to rethink the world that
surrounds her, and if it really is possible to live a normal life, away
from the plague. It is through these two relationships that Araby
discovers that everyone has secrets, even the ones she loves the most.
Bethany
has a way of drawing the reader into her world without question, and I
have to say that I could not put this book down. It took two of my
favorite genres and mixed them with some old school Gothic fiction,
which created a novel that many will enjoy. I highly recommend this book
to anyone who loves Dystopian fiction, the Gothic, and a hint of
historical fiction because this book is full of them all. Please take a
chance on this amazing debut, I did and I can say that it was well worth
it.
1 comments
Awesome review! I really enjoyed this book too! I can't wait for Dance of the Red Death! :D
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