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postitsandpens's review against another edition
3.0
I would be curious to see if the first book in this series stands up to its initial five star rating, but I'm not curious enough to actually reread it. I had forgotten a lot of the details from book one, which I do think influenced my reading of this one, as I didn't find myself terribly connected to any of the characters. The gothic feeling of the book was first rate, although perhaps reading about a plague that was sweeping the city was a bit too close to home considering everything that's gone on in the world the past year and a half, and while I enjoyed the story and adventure, I didn't like certain aspects at all. Regardless, I'm happy to cross another series off my to-read list, and to purge another book from my overflowing collection.
Spoiler
I will say that at least Araby ended up with the better guy, LOL. So that's one point in its favor.rdyourbookcase's review against another edition
3.0
This was an adventure. Everyone was always running somewhere, but unfortunately, they went back and forth a lot. It kind of got old fast. How many times can they escape in one book? Overall, it fell kind of flat for me. I don't think I'm a Steampunk person. It was well done, I just wasn't thrilled, unfortunately. The girls didn't seem to do much or show a ton of attitude in the first book, but it was better in this book. Araby got to do some important stuff, but it seemed at a majority of the time she was wondering what to do and thinking that her best option was just staying put. Also, if there's going to be a third book, I don't know how interesting it will be. It seems like all of the action happened already and all that will be left is the aftermath and clean up.
golden_lily's review against another edition
2.0
Update 7/25/13
Read This Review & More Like It At Ageless Pages Reviews
This entire review contains spoilers not only for Dance of the Red Death, but book one as well.
What the hell happened to this series?
Masque of the Red Death was a really fun, atmospheric affair dealing with teen grief, suicide, drug use, and sex in a world inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s short story by the same name. It supposes what life would be like outside of abbey with disease striking down the poor, as well as the feeling of unrest that would come with having a ruler who hides in his home while the people suffer. It ends with all the major characters on a balloon, floating towards Prince Prospero’s palace and their predestined party, ready to confront him for what he’s put the city through.
So why it takes them 80% of the second novel to reach the eponymous ball is beyond me.
Dance takes place immediately following Masque and instead of flying straight to the palace, our heroes instead spend 270 pages wallowing in their love triangle. People who read the first book may recall Will BETRAYED Araby at the end of book one, which would seemingly eliminate him from competition, but no. We are not that lucky. Instead, the characters wander through all of the sets from the first book, despite having two homicidal maniacs after them, while Araby bemoans having to choose.
There are so many plot holes, rushed developments, characters appearing out of nowhere and disappearing just as easily. Frankly, it’s badly written. Examples:
”The Hunter” is released into the swamp because Thom feels bad for the prisoner. Elliott is furious. This isn’t mentioned again until they’re back in the same house in the swamp and he magically reappears at the same time as the heroes. Thom ALSO hasn’t been mentioned in about as many pages. They exist solely for these two scenes.
Mina, another character they find in the swamp, has NO development, yet they let her join the band and follow them around for the rest of the book. They find her. 100 pages later she leads them to an orphanage. The end.
Araby is told her father is dead. She pays a man on the street a diamond for his glasses as proof. He’s not dead. There’s no explanation as to how the man got the false information or the glasses. Elliot gives her the diamond back in the next scene with no explanation as to how he got it. Prospero uses the glasses as part of his ball. No explanation for that either.
Araby figures out that the water pump is in the swamp. She risks her life to give this information to Will and free him so he can activate it. She forgets to tell him where she hid the keys to make it run.
The maids and the jailer who agree to help her free Will are killed and displayed at the ball. Will still escapes. No explanation as to how.
She tells Will she’s also freeing him so he can take April, who is dying from the virus, to her father, the murderous Reverend Malcontent, because he has a cure. April dies offscreen while this conversation happens.
Prospero commissions a giant, mysterious clock just so he can die at the foot of it. While this harkens back to the original story, it doesn’t fit in this one. Several other references to the original are shoehorned in.
Especially in a fantasy novel, suspension of disbelief is important. I could move past one or two unexplained coincidences, but the fact that Prospero seems to be several steps ahead of the heroes, including planting one of his seven items for Araby ON Elliott, and knows things that no one but Elliott does, seems to indicate he’s either a genius and mastermind, in which case he should put up way more of a fight at the end, or much more likely, Elliott is on his side.
Which takes us to the end. Will and Thom risk life and limb to make sure Elliott holds elections once everything is done. They set Araby up as a hero who helps the common people, who rescues orphans and brings clean water to a city under plague, while Elliott is a power-mad dictator like Prospero. Elliott runs unopposed.
When you hear hooves, think horses, not zebras. The fact that the world is suddenly sunshine and children’s laughter doesn’t jive with the gradual change to villain they’ve set up for Elliott. Either the book is so badly written that the author accidentally, to use a wrestling term, turned a love interest heel, or the main character installed another dictator on the throne and is more concerned with throwing birthday parties than worrying about her mistakes. Either way, what a horrible ending to this duology.
7/23/13: Well that was an almost unprecedented disappointment. Review to come.
Read This Review & More Like It At Ageless Pages Reviews
This entire review contains spoilers not only for Dance of the Red Death, but book one as well.
What the hell happened to this series?
Masque of the Red Death was a really fun, atmospheric affair dealing with teen grief, suicide, drug use, and sex in a world inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s short story by the same name. It supposes what life would be like outside of abbey with disease striking down the poor, as well as the feeling of unrest that would come with having a ruler who hides in his home while the people suffer. It ends with all the major characters on a balloon, floating towards Prince Prospero’s palace and their predestined party, ready to confront him for what he’s put the city through.
So why it takes them 80% of the second novel to reach the eponymous ball is beyond me.
Dance takes place immediately following Masque and instead of flying straight to the palace, our heroes instead spend 270 pages wallowing in their love triangle. People who read the first book may recall Will BETRAYED Araby at the end of book one, which would seemingly eliminate him from competition, but no. We are not that lucky. Instead, the characters wander through all of the sets from the first book, despite having two homicidal maniacs after them, while Araby bemoans having to choose.
There are so many plot holes, rushed developments, characters appearing out of nowhere and disappearing just as easily. Frankly, it’s badly written. Examples:
”The Hunter” is released into the swamp because Thom feels bad for the prisoner. Elliott is furious. This isn’t mentioned again until they’re back in the same house in the swamp and he magically reappears at the same time as the heroes. Thom ALSO hasn’t been mentioned in about as many pages. They exist solely for these two scenes.
Mina, another character they find in the swamp, has NO development, yet they let her join the band and follow them around for the rest of the book. They find her. 100 pages later she leads them to an orphanage. The end.
Araby is told her father is dead. She pays a man on the street a diamond for his glasses as proof. He’s not dead. There’s no explanation as to how the man got the false information or the glasses. Elliot gives her the diamond back in the next scene with no explanation as to how he got it. Prospero uses the glasses as part of his ball. No explanation for that either.
Araby figures out that the water pump is in the swamp. She risks her life to give this information to Will and free him so he can activate it. She forgets to tell him where she hid the keys to make it run.
The maids and the jailer who agree to help her free Will are killed and displayed at the ball. Will still escapes. No explanation as to how.
She tells Will she’s also freeing him so he can take April, who is dying from the virus, to her father, the murderous Reverend Malcontent, because he has a cure. April dies offscreen while this conversation happens.
Prospero commissions a giant, mysterious clock just so he can die at the foot of it. While this harkens back to the original story, it doesn’t fit in this one. Several other references to the original are shoehorned in.
Especially in a fantasy novel, suspension of disbelief is important. I could move past one or two unexplained coincidences, but the fact that Prospero seems to be several steps ahead of the heroes, including planting one of his seven items for Araby ON Elliott, and knows things that no one but Elliott does, seems to indicate he’s either a genius and mastermind, in which case he should put up way more of a fight at the end, or much more likely, Elliott is on his side.
Which takes us to the end. Will and Thom risk life and limb to make sure Elliott holds elections once everything is done. They set Araby up as a hero who helps the common people, who rescues orphans and brings clean water to a city under plague, while Elliott is a power-mad dictator like Prospero. Elliott runs unopposed.
When you hear hooves, think horses, not zebras. The fact that the world is suddenly sunshine and children’s laughter doesn’t jive with the gradual change to villain they’ve set up for Elliott. Either the book is so badly written that the author accidentally, to use a wrestling term, turned a love interest heel, or the main character installed another dictator on the throne and is more concerned with throwing birthday parties than worrying about her mistakes. Either way, what a horrible ending to this duology.
7/23/13: Well that was an almost unprecedented disappointment. Review to come.
lauraew333's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book (and the series) but at the same time... I didn't. I just felt like there was some lack of explanations for my taste. I don't know. Maybe they're included in Glitter and Doom (1.5) and I'll realize that this review is all wrong after I finish reading that. Either way. I don't think it ever actually says what the year is (or am I missing something?) so I don't know if this is the original Red Death era or if it's reincarnated or what. This is the story of Araby who lost her twin brother, Finn, to the plague. She is the daughter of the leading scientist that invented the masks that protect against it so she's either hated or loved by all. However, bad people are ruling the city and are killing people (the poor) so there's got to be a revolution!
Like I said, I just feel like there is a lack of explanations. I may be wrong but until I finish Glitter and Doom, I'm sticking with it! It was a pretty addicting book and I did see lots of character growth, especially in Araby. I just... it was an ok book to me. It definitely isn't bad - please give it a try! But I didn't love it either. And maybe it just takes a certain kind of person to like these books.
3 stars for a good story and growth but just... lack of me loving it and explanations.
Like I said, I just feel like there is a lack of explanations. I may be wrong but until I finish Glitter and Doom, I'm sticking with it! It was a pretty addicting book and I did see lots of character growth, especially in Araby. I just... it was an ok book to me. It definitely isn't bad - please give it a try! But I didn't love it either. And maybe it just takes a certain kind of person to like these books.
3 stars for a good story and growth but just... lack of me loving it and explanations.
bookish1's review against another edition
4.0
A thrilling conclusion to Bethany Griffin's "Masque of the Red Death". I couldn't put this book down! The characters are just as compelling as in the first book--to my mind, perhaps even more so. This book gives you a little more depth into the characters' backgrounds and motivations, which I, for one, love. All the characters that you fell in love with during the first book are present, and it's exciting to get to watch them navigate new challenges. While good books always leave me wanting more, this book does provide a satisfying conclusion to the saga.
trisha_thomas's review against another edition
4.0
"I'm pretty sure that everything doesn't work out in the end," April says. "Not for everyone."
Wow, I'm not sure what I expected of book 2. But this one definitely is loaded with surprises.
Some of it broke my heart, some of it made my heart sore with joy - but mostly I was shocked and horrified by the cruelty of other people. there is so much pain and sorrow and revenge that it's hard to remember who the good guys are.
I'm sad this is how it ends. I would love to have one more.
Wow, I'm not sure what I expected of book 2. But this one definitely is loaded with surprises.
Some of it broke my heart, some of it made my heart sore with joy - but mostly I was shocked and horrified by the cruelty of other people. there is so much pain and sorrow and revenge that it's hard to remember who the good guys are.
I'm sad this is how it ends. I would love to have one more.
jennifermreads's review against another edition
3.0
This is a book duet that I initially picked up because of the cover: dark, mesmerizing, haunting. And the covers accurately hinted at what was to come. The raging plague, then the addition of the Red Death, prove to be a scary setting as Araby moves from meek follower to more confident leader. A perfect duet – thankfully not stretched into the trilogies that are becoming so common!
beckykirk's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars really. Just not a great read but not horrible either.
erinarkin20's review against another edition
3.0
I'm conflicted on this one.
Dance of the Red Death is one of those books I feel like I have been waiting on forever and imagine my excitement when this was up on Edelweisse. I have to admit, I was a bit underwhelmed with this one which has me very conflicted because I love Araby’s story and loved Masque of the Red Death.
Let me start with what I loved:
• The writing – I thought Griffin did a wonderful job and brought the story to life. Most of the highlighting I did was because of the words and descriptions more than the actual situation.
• The characters - Araby, Will, Elliott, Kent, and Alice – I enjoyed them all and actually wanted more of all of them.
Here is where people may (or may not) get mad at me – I will do my best not to give anything away. What I didn't enjoy as much:
• The last 1/3 of the book – it felt very rushed and the pacing was off. The beginning of the book in comparison seems slow (in my head now that I think back to how it all flowed).
• I have more questions – the end did not give me answers to everything. There were some answers but I thought some critical pieces were missing.
• The showdown between Prospero and Elliott/Araby as well as Araby’s challenge during the ball. It all seemed rushed and anti-climactic.
• I thought April got shafted…that is all I will say.
Based on this review you might think I didn't enjoy this – that’s not really true. I liked the story and still like that this focuses on the plague. Overall I wish that this had been paced a bit differently and perhaps instead of focusing on Araby trying to find her father or saving other people, perhaps (in my humble opinion) it would have been better to focus more on the actual fight between Elliott, Prospero, and Malcontent. I would have also liked to see more about how the plague was going to be eliminated and now you see why I didn't get all the answers I wanted. Again, just my opinion but I wanted to love this one like I loved the first book and I kind of didn't.
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC.
Dance of the Red Death is one of those books I feel like I have been waiting on forever and imagine my excitement when this was up on Edelweisse. I have to admit, I was a bit underwhelmed with this one which has me very conflicted because I love Araby’s story and loved Masque of the Red Death.
Let me start with what I loved:
• The writing – I thought Griffin did a wonderful job and brought the story to life. Most of the highlighting I did was because of the words and descriptions more than the actual situation.
• The characters - Araby, Will, Elliott, Kent, and Alice – I enjoyed them all and actually wanted more of all of them.
Here is where people may (or may not) get mad at me – I will do my best not to give anything away. What I didn't enjoy as much:
• The last 1/3 of the book – it felt very rushed and the pacing was off. The beginning of the book in comparison seems slow (in my head now that I think back to how it all flowed).
• I have more questions – the end did not give me answers to everything. There were some answers but I thought some critical pieces were missing.
• The showdown between Prospero and Elliott/Araby as well as Araby’s challenge during the ball. It all seemed rushed and anti-climactic.
• I thought April got shafted…that is all I will say.
Based on this review you might think I didn't enjoy this – that’s not really true. I liked the story and still like that this focuses on the plague. Overall I wish that this had been paced a bit differently and perhaps instead of focusing on Araby trying to find her father or saving other people, perhaps (in my humble opinion) it would have been better to focus more on the actual fight between Elliott, Prospero, and Malcontent. I would have also liked to see more about how the plague was going to be eliminated and now you see why I didn't get all the answers I wanted. Again, just my opinion but I wanted to love this one like I loved the first book and I kind of didn't.
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC.
readerjenn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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