Rachel Rambles About Masque of the Red Death

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

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.

THIS BOOK THIS BOOK THIS BOOK.


You guys. I have found true love! And it is in the form of a book! *gets down on one knee* *proposes marriage to this book* What? Is that weird? IT WON'T BE IF YOU READ THE BOOK.

But in all seriousness...I absolutely love this book. At first, I was drawn to the pretty cover and the interesting summary. When I actually picked it up, it took about half a page for me to become a little bit obsessed. This book is completely unlike anything I've ever read, and I am absolutely crazy about it.

The world that the main character Araby lives in is so dark and deliciously creepy and intriguing. Everything about her life is so thorough and realistic, from her corsets and shredded skirts to the dark clubs she frequents to the steam carriages she travels in. The setting of this story is so weirdly beautiful, and I kind of want to live in it. And if someone can make me actually want to live in a place where everyone is dying of a plague, then they are truly a fantastic storyteller. So, basically, Bethany Griffin is a genius.

Also: the boys. WOW. Listen, if you haven't read this book, I don't want to spoil it, but HOLY CRAP THE BOYS. If this book rejects my marriage proposal, I will happily settle for one of the male characters in this novel. :)

Masque of the Red Death is very dark and creepy and sexy and mysterious and I am in love with all of it. This book freaked the hell out of me and sucked me in at the same time. AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH. I can't...I can't even put into words how obsessed with this book I am. As soon as I finished the last page, I wanted to immediately flip back to the beginning and read it again. (Alas: school and homework and things to do.) I will definitely be rereading this book many times. Masque of the Red Death is one of my top books of 2012 so far. I highly recommend it to everyone!

-Rachel