This was a hard review to write. Why? First, I didn’t want to include any spoilers for the first book just in case there were readers waiting for this book to be released before starting it. Second, I didn’t want to include spoilers for this book. So, here I go.

I read this book without re-reading Masque of the Red Death first. Bethany Griffin’s evocative writing quickly drew me back to the plight of Araby and her friends. The book picks up almost immediately where Masque left off.

Araby has her father’s journal. Through it, we discover what happened between Prospero and her father. I was entranced while reading the book and kept flipping the pages to find out what was going to happen next.
The only problem I had was the drawn out love triangle. Maybe because I have never cared for love triangles. I wanted to yell at Araby to pick! Who she finally chose was the right fit for her.

As for Araby herself, I liked her growth in this book. Early in the book she talks about being hurt and how she doesn’t need Elliott’s syringe to help her survive the pain. This is much different from the Araby we met in book 1.
I am glad to have met Araby and her world. I’m sad to leave it after two books instead the promised series but very happy that Ms. Griffin didn’t drag the story out.

ARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss.

~Thalia

Buy It Now Dance of the Red Death (Masque of the Red Death)

Buy Book 1 Masque of the Red Death