
4.5/5
Beautiful, dark and poetic, - I really enjoyed this book. Bethany Griffin painted a grim picture of the world bleak and desolate, world consumed by plague, cities falling to ruin, dead on the streets, children with no future because their parents can't afford masks which filter the air you breathe and therefore offer some protection from the disease...
Araby Worth is a daughter of the scientist who designed the first mask. The mask was meant for her weaker twin, Finn, but he thought it was too girly and Araby took it not knowing that the mask would adapt to her and won't help her twin. Finn dies in a horrid fashion, and Araby swears not to experience all the things he would never experience.
Her life is spent listlessly, wearing fashionable Gothic dresses, going to Debauchery Club and taking drugs which make her forget the world around her for just a moment.
Her apathy is lifted when Araby gets involved into a plot to overturn the tyranny of a current ruler. She starts to slowly care for her co-conspirator Elliott and for a lowly guard in the club, Will, who only tries to provide for his younger siblings...
But there is so little time to live and love with the civil war brewing, riots and horrible desperation which overcomes everyone when the new disease arises from the plague, The Red Death...
All-consuming, gripping plot, characters you feel for and beautiful storytelling. Do read this book, peeps!