Title: Dance of the Red Death
Author: Bethany Griffin
Series: Red Death, book #2
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: June 11, 2013
Source: from publisher via Edelweiss
Purchase: Amazon |
Barnes & Noble
Bethany Griffin continues the journey of Araby Worth in Dance of the Red Death—the sequel to her teen novel Masque of the Red Death.
In Dance of the Red Death, Araby’s world is in shambles—betrayal, death, disease, and evil forces surround her. She has no one to trust. But she finds herself and discovers that she will fight for the people she loves, and for her city.
Her revenge will take place at the menacing masked ball, though it could destroy her and everyone she loves…or it could turn her into a hero.
With a nod to Edgar Allan Poe, Bethany Griffin concludes her tragic and mysterious Red Death series with a heroine that young adult readers will never forget.
Well, now.
Dance of the Red Death picked up right where
Masque left off...with little to no review of the previous book's events. I suggest a re-read of
Masque if you've got the time. (I'd do it for the swoons alone...they are far and few in this follow-up novel.) Fighting abounds, escapes and near-misses are aplenty, and even an
I love you or two is uttered. And yet, this finale in the Red Death series just wasn't quite what I was hoping for.
Our Heroine: That damned silver syringe makes an appearance once again, but this time around, Araby is able to refuse oblivion. She has learned to deal with grief and regret on her own terms. Araby's truly grown as a character, from the spoiled, naïve girl she was in
Masque to the battle-hardened, world-weary revolutionary she is in
Dance. Despite all of the horrific things she's been a witness to, she still maintains hope that together, she and Elliott can right the wrongs of their families.
The Love Triangle: In retrospect, I think it was always pretty obvious where Araby's affections lie, even after loyalties were tested and betrayals had come between characters. But just because it was obvious, doesn't mean I wanted to see it. I always favor my bad boys with a side of redemption, and this series was no different. What Araby says is true: Elliott
would make a good leader. What I'm unsure of is whether that fact alone remains his only redeeming quality. I think Araby's presence does help to soften his demeanor some, but I'm not sure anyone could truly ever crack the ice surrounding his heart.
Will, on the other hand, is outwardly brusque, but on the inside, he's like a big, cuddly teddy bear. His presence on the airship, and among the group in general, is at first only mildly tolerated. His misdeeds are few but they are great, and he has a lot to atone for. But unlike Elliott, whose actions only serve himself or his purpose, Will
is trying to regain trust. It's clear that his feelings for Araby haven't changed and that he'd be willing to do anything to protect her...even if that means protecting her from Elliott.
I remember
Masque being much swoonier. There were
moments, but where were the lines like this?
“And I’m falling in love with you,” he whispers. “But I would throw you in the water and watch crocodiles tear you to bits, if I thought that doing so would accomplish my goals. Do. Not. Trust. Anyone. Especially me.”
What? You weren't swooning at that point? ;0)
The World: Still as depraved and desolate as it was in the first book...but maybe more so with the release of a second contagion. Now, even a mask may not keep you safe. But maybe the prince can? Doubtful.
The contradictions introduced in the first book are still prevalent in this sequel: the decaying, crumbling city versus the decadent castle. Traveling through the treacherous, crocodile-infested marshlands versus taking flight in an airship. The impoverished versus the wealthy. I imagine that's exactly what it would come down to if such a plague were to be released upon us today: those who can afford to survive and those who cannot.
My only issue with the world-building is actually one that I find all too common in dystopian and post-apocalyptic novels: what about the world outside of Prospero's city? Has there been no communication with the outside world? Is this place all that exists any longer?
I
thought two books would be enough, but I was wrong.
At first, I was rather elated that this would be a duology. I love when authors and their publishing houses realize that the material is better suited for a two-part series as opposed to the standard trilogy. Although a satisfying ending to the series,
Dance left this particular reader wanting still more from this derelict world, despite the dire conditions the characters still face. Sure, both books were crammed with drama and action and all manner of twists and turns. And the ending was great. But I still have so many questions. Still, the one that plagues me most, and the one I'm least likely to ever get an answer to is,
Would Elliott really have been able to do it?
Rating: 
Be sure to check out my guest post from the author plus a great giveaway as part of the Dance of the Red Death Blog Tour, hosted by Rockstar Book Tours!
the Red Death series
About the author:
Bethany Griffin is a high school English teacher who prides herself on attracting creative misfits to elective classes like Young Adult Literature, Creative Writing, and Speculative Literature. She is the author of Handcuffs & MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH (April 2012). She lives with her family in Kentucky.
Find Bethany:
Website |
Twitter |
Facebook |
Goodreads
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Review: The Fall by Bethany Griffin
Author: Bethany Griffin
Series: n/a
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: October 7th, 2014
Source: Received from Publisher via Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Friday, October 10, 2014
Judging a Book By Its Cover: The Fall by Bethany Griffin
Okay, I totally missed doing these posts with Katie, and it looks like it's been right at a year since our last one. While cleaning recently, I found the folder that I kept her previous iterations in -- all 33 of them! -- so I begged April to see if Aubrey would be up to contributing, too. Lucky for me, she was! =)
This week, the girls are working on the following book:
Author: Bethany Griffin
Series: n/a
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: October 7, 2014
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Behold, the girls' attempts at recreating The Fall by Bethany Griffin...
Aubrey's masterpiece & guess:
Aubrey says:
Now I haven't read this one, and I don't think Jen has either. Why would we choose this one for the girls to color then? well, scrolling through goodreads Aubrey started yelling that she wanted to draw the one with the yellow haired girl in the scary woods. So there you have it! I've been so wrapped up and busy lately, so I'm sad I haven't gotten to this one yet, but I hope to find time soon! It looks really creepy and Aubrey may be on to something here!
*update* I started The Fall this week, and it's so creepy and awesome so far!
Katie's artwork & thoughts:
Katie says:
Nope, I haven't read this one yet, but I loved Griffin's Masque of the Red Death duology. I've never read The Fall of the House of Usher, which this book is based on, but I'm intrigued by the premise. I don't think Katie got the same kind of creepy vibe from it that I did, but her interpretation based on the cover is still pretty scary. I'm hoping to get to this one before the end of the month in order to include it in my Spooky Reads.
Have you read this book or do you plan to? What do you think of the girls' artwork and their thoughts on the story's premise?
Monday, June 10, 2013
Review: Dance of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
Author: Bethany Griffin
Series: Red Death, book #2
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: June 11, 2013
Source: from publisher via Edelweiss
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In Dance of the Red Death, Araby’s world is in shambles—betrayal, death, disease, and evil forces surround her. She has no one to trust. But she finds herself and discovers that she will fight for the people she loves, and for her city.
Her revenge will take place at the menacing masked ball, though it could destroy her and everyone she loves…or it could turn her into a hero.
With a nod to Edgar Allan Poe, Bethany Griffin concludes her tragic and mysterious Red Death series with a heroine that young adult readers will never forget.
Well, now. Dance of the Red Death picked up right where Masque left off...with little to no review of the previous book's events. I suggest a re-read of Masque if you've got the time. (I'd do it for the swoons alone...they are far and few in this follow-up novel.) Fighting abounds, escapes and near-misses are aplenty, and even an I love you or two is uttered. And yet, this finale in the Red Death series just wasn't quite what I was hoping for.
Our Heroine: That damned silver syringe makes an appearance once again, but this time around, Araby is able to refuse oblivion. She has learned to deal with grief and regret on her own terms. Araby's truly grown as a character, from the spoiled, naïve girl she was in Masque to the battle-hardened, world-weary revolutionary she is in Dance. Despite all of the horrific things she's been a witness to, she still maintains hope that together, she and Elliott can right the wrongs of their families.
The Love Triangle: In retrospect, I think it was always pretty obvious where Araby's affections lie, even after loyalties were tested and betrayals had come between characters. But just because it was obvious, doesn't mean I wanted to see it. I always favor my bad boys with a side of redemption, and this series was no different. What Araby says is true: Elliott would make a good leader. What I'm unsure of is whether that fact alone remains his only redeeming quality. I think Araby's presence does help to soften his demeanor some, but I'm not sure anyone could truly ever crack the ice surrounding his heart.
Will, on the other hand, is outwardly brusque, but on the inside, he's like a big, cuddly teddy bear. His presence on the airship, and among the group in general, is at first only mildly tolerated. His misdeeds are few but they are great, and he has a lot to atone for. But unlike Elliott, whose actions only serve himself or his purpose, Will is trying to regain trust. It's clear that his feelings for Araby haven't changed and that he'd be willing to do anything to protect her...even if that means protecting her from Elliott.
I remember Masque being much swoonier. There were moments, but where were the lines like this?
What? You weren't swooning at that point? ;0)
The World: Still as depraved and desolate as it was in the first book...but maybe more so with the release of a second contagion. Now, even a mask may not keep you safe. But maybe the prince can? Doubtful.
The contradictions introduced in the first book are still prevalent in this sequel: the decaying, crumbling city versus the decadent castle. Traveling through the treacherous, crocodile-infested marshlands versus taking flight in an airship. The impoverished versus the wealthy. I imagine that's exactly what it would come down to if such a plague were to be released upon us today: those who can afford to survive and those who cannot.
My only issue with the world-building is actually one that I find all too common in dystopian and post-apocalyptic novels: what about the world outside of Prospero's city? Has there been no communication with the outside world? Is this place all that exists any longer?
I thought two books would be enough, but I was wrong.
At first, I was rather elated that this would be a duology. I love when authors and their publishing houses realize that the material is better suited for a two-part series as opposed to the standard trilogy. Although a satisfying ending to the series, Dance left this particular reader wanting still more from this derelict world, despite the dire conditions the characters still face. Sure, both books were crammed with drama and action and all manner of twists and turns. And the ending was great. But I still have so many questions. Still, the one that plagues me most, and the one I'm least likely to ever get an answer to is, Would Elliott really have been able to do it?
Rating:
Be sure to check out my guest post from the author plus a great giveaway as part of the Dance of the Red Death Blog Tour, hosted by Rockstar Book Tours!
Bethany Griffin is a high school English teacher who prides herself on attracting creative misfits to elective classes like Young Adult Literature, Creative Writing, and Speculative Literature. She is the author of Handcuffs & MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH (April 2012). She lives with her family in Kentucky.
Find Bethany:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Thursday, June 6, 2013
{Blog Tour} Dance of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin: Guest Post + Giveaway
Hello, lovely readers! I am so excited to bring you a special guest post from Bethany Griffin, author of the amazing Red Death series, as part of the Dance of the Red Death Blog Tour. The awesome ladies at Rockstar Book Tours have put together a great tour, complete with some equally amazing giveaway prizes. Before we get to that, here's a little bit about the epic sequel to Masque of the Red Death:
Author: Bethany Griffin
Series: Red Death, book #2
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: June 11, 2013
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
In Dance of the Red Death, Araby’s world is in shambles—betrayal, death, disease, and evil forces surround her. She has no one to trust. But she finds herself and discovers that she will fight for the people she loves, and for her city.
Her revenge will take place at the menacing masked ball, though it could destroy her and everyone she loves…or it could turn her into a hero.
With a nod to Edgar Allan Poe, Bethany Griffin concludes her tragic and mysterious Red Death series with a heroine that young adult readers will never forget.
My review goes up on Monday!
Bethany Griffin is a high school English teacher who prides herself on attracting creative misfits to elective classes like Young Adult Literature, Creative Writing, and Speculative Literature. She is the author of Handcuffs & MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH (April 2012). She lives with her family in Kentucky.
Find Bethany:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Bethany has obliged us today with a glimpse at her writing space. I just love when authors are willing to share such an intimate look at their lives as writers...and just how different each writing spot is from author to author! Without further ado, here's Bethany...
In the summer/spring/fall, this is where you can usually find me. Gilbert hangs out here with me, and usually a few cats.
Here is my reading chair and my stacks of books (behind chair) and Gilbert, again. I was planning to fill the wall with built in bookshelves, but since there is a chance we may not remain in this house as long as I expected when I bought it…(and this room is technically a dining room) I’m thinking of getting some of my foreign book covers blown up and framing them for that wall. Of course, that leaves the question of the books…
This is where I do the actual work, in the winter or when it’s raining. This particular picture was in the throes of revising Dance of the Red Death. I’m usually not that messy.
Hehe...don't worry, Bethany! My mother is always wondering how I ended up with a brown thumb when she's always been quite the gardener. People know better than to give me plants if they have any hopes of them remaining alive. =) Thanks for the view of your writing space! It was so fun seeing all of the spots where you make the magic happen. :D
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Follow the rest of the Dance of the Red Death Blog Tour:
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Teaser Tuesday #60: Born of Illusion by Teri Brown & Dance of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Author: Teri Brown
Series: Born of Illusion, book #1
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: June 11, 2013
Source: received from publisher via Edelweiss
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Born of Illusion is the first book in a new series. Each book in the series will introduce a new historical figure, whose legend is shrouded in magic, along with the young woman whose fate is irrevocably tied to his. The through line in each of the books will be The Ghost Club, the real life secret society that was founded in 1862 by the likes of Charles Dickens, Sir Conan Doyle, and W. B. Yeats to advance mankind’s knowledge of the paranormal. The first three books in the series will deal with Houdini, Aleister Crowley and Rasputin.
Isn't that cover simply gorgeous?!? I love books about magic, especially set in the practical world. And I absolutely adore books set in the 1920s. I think I should have been born a flapper. Goodness knows I've dressed up as one enough times over the years for Halloween! :) When I first discovered this book, I didn't know it was going to be a series, and I had no idea how it would evolve, but I am so delighted with this news!
Author: Bethany Griffin
Series: Red Death, book #2
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: June 11, 2013
Source: from publisher via Edelweiss
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In Dance of the Red Death, Araby’s world is in shambles—betrayal, death, disease, and evil forces surround her. She has no one to trust. But she finds herself and discovers that she will fight for the people she loves, and for her city.
Her revenge will take place at the menacing masked ball, though it could destroy her and everyone she loves…or it could turn her into a hero.
With a nod to Edgar Allan Poe, Bethany Griffin concludes her tragic and mysterious Red Death series with a heroine that young adult readers will never forget.
I have a weird soft spot for duologies. And this one most of all. I love the throwback to Poe but I also love that this is a post-apocalylptic story that brings something different to the table. Maybe not entirely new but definitely different.
Mendy didn't get a chance to send me her teaser this week, so I'm sharing two. The blog tours for both of these books are stopping by this week. Be sure to stop back by for awesome posts and giveaways!
What are you teasing this week? Share it in the comments or leave a link so we can visit!
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starryeyedjen
- I work with numbers by day, and I'm a mommy and avid reader by night. I'm a self-proclaimed Spreadsheet Queen, and I'll read anything you put in front of me. I seriously love all the books! And I adore audiobooks, too!
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