readerjenn's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
rosetyper9's review against another edition
4.0
I wanted to read this novel because I am an avid fan of E.A.P., even though I haven't read the novel that was this novel's namesake. I do know what happens in the E.A.P version. Reading this made me wonder whether or not this book would be considered fan fiction and where the fan fiction line is drawn, with age? with the genre? Just something I was thinking about.
I enjoyed the glitz and the glam in this book, I like the way the glitter and the circumstance juxtaposed off the crumbling ruins of the city and the people. I definitely loved WIll, even with what he does in the end, I get it, it sucks, but I get it. I think I like April, she seems pretty straight forward.
I did not like Elliot, he always seemed so fake and almost as crazy as his lunatic uncle. I think if Araby ends up with him I will throw the book. I also did not like the cliff hanger. I really hate the trend of leaving YA novels on a cliff hanger. There is nothing happy for now about that ending.
I liked how this book is set in a sort of steam-punk way and its like the gothic for this age, it's new, fresh, something that is coming back in style and I love how that corresponds with E.A.P's novels, his stories were sort of out of the norm, just coming into fashion and such when he was writing.
I wanted to feel that sense of awe and mystery you get from the end of E.A.P's Red Death (I read some of it, ok), and I almost had it at the end of the story right before the part with the ship...but it slipped through my fingers. I think that with some more time Ms. Griffin will definitely be able to achieve that. I am aware by not having read all of E.A.P's story I probably missed a lot of undertone and such from this book. I am sorry I can't offer that insight here in this review.
I enjoyed the glitz and the glam in this book, I like the way the glitter and the circumstance juxtaposed off the crumbling ruins of the city and the people. I definitely loved WIll, even with what he does in the end, I get it, it sucks, but I get it. I think I like April, she seems pretty straight forward.
I did not like Elliot, he always seemed so fake and almost as crazy as his lunatic uncle. I think if Araby ends up with him I will throw the book. I also did not like the cliff hanger. I really hate the trend of leaving YA novels on a cliff hanger. There is nothing happy for now about that ending.
I liked how this book is set in a sort of steam-punk way and its like the gothic for this age, it's new, fresh, something that is coming back in style and I love how that corresponds with E.A.P's novels, his stories were sort of out of the norm, just coming into fashion and such when he was writing.
I wanted to feel that sense of awe and mystery you get from the end of E.A.P's Red Death (I read some of it, ok), and I almost had it at the end of the story right before the part with the ship...but it slipped through my fingers. I think that with some more time Ms. Griffin will definitely be able to achieve that. I am aware by not having read all of E.A.P's story I probably missed a lot of undertone and such from this book. I am sorry I can't offer that insight here in this review.
sabregirl's review against another edition
5.0
I was SO excited for this book. Mostly because of the fact that it's influenced by one of my favorite novellas. This book definitely holds up to the Poe story, even though the 'Red Death' does not actually start happening until around the middle of the book. But that's okay because the background and history that the author is building up is enchanting. The only hitch is that sometimes it's hard to picture what is going on. After a while though you get used to it all, and it's easy to figure. Araby, is a nice narrator she has a unique view on things an that helps with the dystopian world that she is growing up in. The world had been destroyed by a plague and the only surviving people survived by luck or by the masks that Araby's father had invented. She is torn between two men Elliot and Will. Both of them betray her in the book, but I think Will's betrayal hit her the hardest. She seemed the most attractive to him. But now they're all stuck on a flying ship leaving the city as it's being destroyed I'm SO happy that this book is apart of a series, I was worried it was only going to be a stand alone. Is it next year yet?
ashal23's review against another edition
1.0
Interesting concept, but absolutely nothing made sense in this book. And not in a delightful kind of way, but in a I want to punch a wall kind of way. I cant quite tell what era this is supposed to be, there is too much back and forth between technology and possibly victorian? The love interests are both severely damaged individuals, and they are possibly on an island cut off from the whole world? I just don't get it.
kelz31's review against another edition
3.0
The plague has struck. The air itself carries the disease, forcing everyone to wear a mask. While the poor fight for their lives, the wealthy revel in debauchery, all assuming the end is not far gone. Araby participates, but only to escape her own dark thoughts. Suddenly caught up in a potential coup to overthrow the uncaring ruler of the city, Araby begins to learn that some things are worth risking.
This is quite good. It's a little stilted in writing but I found that to be reminiscent of Poe's tale that it retells. The setting is appropriately dark, the story moves quickly, and by the end the set up for Poe's story is poetic and believable. I'm guessing there will be sequels and I will certainly be reading.
This is quite good. It's a little stilted in writing but I found that to be reminiscent of Poe's tale that it retells. The setting is appropriately dark, the story moves quickly, and by the end the set up for Poe's story is poetic and believable. I'm guessing there will be sequels and I will certainly be reading.
a_verthandi's review against another edition
3.0
Really more 3.5 stars.
I want to like Araby so badly, but I don't all too much. Her vow not to do things that her brother couldn't seems a little bit...well...flimsy. Points for not expressing physical affection for a while, and it definitely takes some convincing for her to give the vow up. I like the ideas in the book and wish they were expressed more clearly.
I want to like Araby so badly, but I don't all too much. Her vow not to do things that her brother couldn't seems a little bit...well...flimsy. Points for not expressing physical affection for a while, and it definitely takes some convincing for her to give the vow up. I like the ideas in the book and wish they were expressed more clearly.
pearlagcalo's review against another edition
3.0
3.25 stars. Griffin took Edgar Allan Poe's The Masque of the Red Death and went to town. I had a hard time being objective since I studied Poe in college, so I kept looking for the symbolism, allegory, similarities, etc. It likely triggered a mini anxiety attack. Gothic Victorian literature was my thing, fellow English majors!
The Goods- The city succumbed to the plague and the disparities between the rich and the poor are tragic. Death and decay are written into every single page (and hence my Aha! moment- it's everywhere because you can't run from the disease.. You can't run from death, Prince Prospero, and your 7 colored rooms! ..oh that Poe). I also liked meeting Griffin's Prospero. He's got a family, there's a back story and even dialogue, but he's still that same awful terror. The story starts moving toward the latter part. The characters revealed more and I felt like I could breathe. There's redemption, you just have to hold out for it.
The not so goods- Like I said, it was hard to separate Poe's work and Griffin's novel. I kept looking for the similarities; the layers. And I wanted more substance out of Araby. She's bugged out, drugged up and has suicidal tendencies. Her small moments of bravery are eclipsed. She has no support- her parents are just as bananas and the love interest is her drug pusher. I had to get through lots of dark baggage before I started to like you, Araby Worth. Lots.
There's likely a book 2 coming out, and I would read it. Just maybe not right away. And if you've read the short story, I suggest you read this novel as well. At least to appreciate how a traditional gothic fiction is retold into a modern steampunk YA novel. Pretty cool.
The Goods- The city succumbed to the plague and the disparities between the rich and the poor are tragic. Death and decay are written into every single page (and hence my Aha! moment- it's everywhere because you can't run from the disease.. You can't run from death, Prince Prospero, and your 7 colored rooms! ..oh that Poe). I also liked meeting Griffin's Prospero. He's got a family, there's a back story and even dialogue, but he's still that same awful terror. The story starts moving toward the latter part. The characters revealed more and I felt like I could breathe. There's redemption, you just have to hold out for it.
The not so goods- Like I said, it was hard to separate Poe's work and Griffin's novel. I kept looking for the similarities; the layers. And I wanted more substance out of Araby. She's bugged out, drugged up and has suicidal tendencies. Her small moments of bravery are eclipsed. She has no support- her parents are just as bananas and the love interest is her drug pusher. I had to get through lots of dark baggage before I started to like you, Araby Worth. Lots.
There's likely a book 2 coming out, and I would read it. Just maybe not right away. And if you've read the short story, I suggest you read this novel as well. At least to appreciate how a traditional gothic fiction is retold into a modern steampunk YA novel. Pretty cool.
lizzy_22's review against another edition
3.0
A YA heroine I didn't hate but *sigh* a love triangle that I kinda did. This was not what I expected but it wasn't terrible. Luckily it's a quick read so I burned through it in a day. Not sure I'd pick up the sequel, we'll see.
girlgoesbookish's review against another edition
4.0
This book was pretty good and everything but I didn't finish it. After all the sappy Will/Araby romance started I just couldn't get into it... I'll probably finish it some day when I'm bored. Maybe.