Clues for Book 2 - Masque of the Red Death

We know that Bethany Griffin was inspired by Edgar Allen Poe's Masque of the Red Death. I thought it might be fun to use Poe's story to try and gain some insight into what we MIGHT be able to expect in the follow up to Masque of the Red Death.

Poe's tale takes place at a Masquerade that Prince Prospero is hosting. It's a means to escape the Red Death and only a select few are invited. I believe we can safely expect to have some sort of Masquerade in Bethany's novel as well.

The Masquerade takes place in a suite made up of 7 rooms. Each of these rooms is decorated in a specific colour. Even the windows are made of stained glass in the same colour of the decorations.

Room 1 - Blue
Room 2 - Purple
Room 3 - Green
Room 4 - Orange
Room 5 - White
Room 6 - Violet
Room 7 - Black

Room 7 is unique in that the windows are stained not black, but a deep red. Again, this is such a huge part of the original story that I believe we will see different coloured rooms. I am quite excited as I think Bethany will expand on the themes and go into more detail for each room. I am not 100 percent sold on her using the exact colours, but I would bet the last one is black. Will the colours themselves mean something? My hunch is that yes, Bethany will make the rooms even more significant in her story.

The overall theme of Poe's story is death. Trying to avoid, or hide from death and it coming for you anyway. Prince Prospero dies chasing a masked figure that resembles Death himself (someone with the plague that is destroying the city) through the different coloured rooms. If taken literally this seems to imply someone with the disease getting into the party. I could see Bethany going that route. It may even be one of our beloved characters that Price Prospero follows to his demise. The ending of the story is quite sad as every single person at the party  meets their end. I am hoping that Araby survives to have some kind of happiness, but a tragic end would be fitting to her story.

The clock striking down the hour plays a significant role in the story. It's so distinctive and distracting that the band and the guests stop when it chimes. It feels them with a sense of foreboding. Will Bethany incorporate a clock? Will she use a countdown of sorts to increase suspense by having the characters working within a set time before something happens? I look at the clock as a reminder that the party guests are getting ever closer to death, time does not stand still even if you wish it to.

While there is no mention of romance in Poe's tale, the triangle between Araby, Will and Elliott is sure to heat up. I am looking forward to seeing what developments take place on that front. I am hoping for some kissing scenes!

The main thing we can surmise from Poe's story is that a Masquerade will be involved, different coloured rooms seem to be a given, and death will come calling. Excuse me while I go pray for Will's safety! ;)

Have you read Edgar Allen Poe's Masque of the Red Death? If so what clues do you think are hidden within?

My Masque Playlist

I am sure we've all been there, you're reading a book and certain characters, or scenes make a song jump into your head.

Here are a few of the songs I associate with Masque of the Red Death.

1 Something I Can Never Have by Nine Inch Nails

As soon as I interviewed Bethany and she mentioned this song I listened to it again. It may be the power of suggestion, but I totally think it fits. Each characters is kind of wishing for something they can't have. A world without the plague, someone who has died to still be alive, a reprieve from their own guilty conscience, etc. The fact that the world has crumbled leaving fading reminders of how it used to be.

2 Poison and Wine by The Civil Wars

This sort of reminds me of Will and Araby. The melody is very haunting as well which fits the story. The lyrics "you only know what I want you to" remind me of Will and his double life. His persona at the Debauchery Club and his real home life. The refrain of "I don't love you but I always will" also reminds me of Araby fighting her feelings. She is beginning to feel things for both Will and has had a crush on him for awhile, even though she's sworn to not feel these things.

3 Anthem for the Year 2000 by Silverchair

This song really reminds me of Elliott. His disillusionment of how the city is being ran, and the desire to stand up and so something about it. The lyrics allude to innocence and it being fragile "maybe we don't want to live in a world where innocence was so short" could also apply to the children who come into this ravaged world. They can't have a typical childhood due to the disease, they either die young or end up being very shut away from the world.

4 Gloomy Sunday by Kronos Quartet




Really I think the instrumental version is the best for what I am talking about. The melody of this song is so haunting and melancholy. I think it fits perfectly with Poe's writing and in turn this novel. The song is also about being so sad that a loved one died, and wanting to join them that it, I am sure, fits a lot of characters in Bethany's world.

5. Damned If She Do by The Kills

I feel like this is a very Araby song. "She come alive when she dying" is fitting because while everything is dying and crumbling around her she finds something to fight for. Her hazy time at the Debauchery Club fit the distorted melody as well. I also love the lyrics

"There's been a perception
Of sweet hearts passing through
Some of them left no trace at all
Some left her black and blue"

Sort of reminds me of Araby and how much her brother's death hurt her.

*some of the songs have coarse language if you are looking to download them*

Be sure to come back tomorrow where I will be talking about finding clues for book two in Poe's original story.

The Guys of MASQUE - Will and Elliott

The steamy love triangle is Masque of the Red Death has provided two swoon worthy guys for Araby to grow close to.

Here is your chance to learn a little more about them and see a little eye candy at the same time!

Will

Description:

Dark hair and eyes, ""Swirling tattoos cover his arms, climbing up from the collar of his shirt to twist around his throat, the ends hidden by his tousled dark hair" (ARC, Chapter 1, page 8)

How he meets Araby:

He works at the Debauchery Club she frequents

Selling points:

He's gentle, concerned, he looks out for Araby. He's also quite different than most people expect him to be. He has responsibilities that he takes very seriously, and is a pretty fantastic big brother

The Actor I selected:

Ok, so he has the wrong colour eyes and his hair is a touch too light but I totally picture Will looking somewhat like this. The actor's name is Grey Damon. He has that rugged, sexy quality I think Will possesses. 

Elliott

Description:

Blonde, blue eyes, referred to as tall and lanky.

How he meets Araby:

He is the brother of her best friend and nephew to Prince Prospero 

Selling points:

He is very focused, wants a better future for the city, is passionate about what he believes in, and totally unpredictable.

The Actor I selected:

Max Irons! His hair is a touch too dark, but he is tall,and lanky. He also has an aristocrat look to him that suits Elliott perfectly.

Araby has a tough choice between these two equally compelling young men. Neither offer stability or safety. Each has shown that they are capable of hurting her, and yet each has shown that they do truly care. Desperate times call for desperate action and it's easy to see why they each one behaved they way they did.

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Will Araby eventually find happiness with one of them? I can't wait to find out in the sequel!

What guy do you think Araby should choose? Let me know in the comments.

Masque of the Red Death Week Giveaway!

Now that I have told you how amazing this book is I am pretty sure you want to get your hands on a copy!

I am giving away one copy of the book (ordered from Book Depository) and some sweet Masque goodies. The giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.

Bethany has kindly provided some leather bracelets and bookmarks.

There will be 2 winners.

Prize # 1- A copy of the book, bookmark and bracelet
Prize # 2 - bookmark and bracelet

The bracelets are AMAZING and come with a quote from the book on them.

Thank you again Bethany for the goodies for giveaway.

You can enter by using the Rafflecopter form below! Good luck!

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

Release Date –  April 24, 2012

Publisher Website –  Harper Collins

Publisher Social Media - Twitter/Facebook/SavvyReader

Pages - 320 pages
My Rating- ALL THE STARS!
**obtained from the awesome Kristina @ Ladybug Storytime**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Everything is in ruins. 

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them. 

So what does Araby Worth have to live for? 

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all. 

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. 

Everyone does. 

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

What if the air you breathe could kill you? Masque of the Red Death asks exactly that. A world where having access to a mask may just save your life and oblivion can be found at the Debauchery Club. Bethany Griffin has created something that captured me from the first page.

The writing is simply amazing. Bethany is able to weave a slower paced, and  intricate tale while providing some amazing imagery. There are so many quotes I love from this book. I could list a whole bunch. I fell for the writing with this simple, but effective sentence “I am beautiful, fake, shallow, incognito” (ARC, chapter 1, page 7). It sums up the allure of Debauchery Club with the grittiness underneath that exists in the city. I also love the line “The Debauchery District. The very name makes me shiver” (ARC, chapter 1, page 2). Simply put Bethany’s Poe inspired novel will satisfy fans of Poe’s writing while appealing to people who have never read him before.

Bethany has created a world so vivid and intriguing that I easily got lost in it. From the crumbling city, to the delectable Debauchery Club, and the apartment Araby lives, you will feel transported. The world is a mix of old Victorian and bleak futuristic that blends into a chillingly possible reality.

The characters are all wonderfully developed. Flawed, damaged and real. Each character will pull you in and push you away at the same time. Araby is selfish, haunted, and yet so completely fascinating. Her desire to escape by searching out oblivion in the decadence of the Debauchery Club is not only understandable, but relatable. This is a young woman who has had a lot of truly horrible things happen in her life, is facing a horrific plague, and is trying to keep people at arms length as self-punishment. I loved that she grew, changed, and challenged herself throughout the novel. The Araby we meet in the beginning is quite different from the one we leave at the end of the novel.

The triangle between Araby, Will and Elliott is well executed. Both Will and Elliott are captivating, intriguing young men and neither is perfect. They both have their faults, but that makes each of them more compelling. I am firmly Team Will! He’s sexy, tortured, subdued, and has a good heart (as well as some sexy tattoos). Elliott is more headstrong, reckless, and vibrant.It's easy to see how Araby drawn to both of them, and for different reasons. What makes this triangle unique is everyone is in desperate situations, and the characters often have to put more personal needs ahead of others. It rings true to the situation. I think both guys are on pretty equal footing and that is also a little unusual in this type of setting.

The ending of the novel kicks in with a quicker pace. While not a cliffhanger per say, there is enough unresolved to make you anxiously await the Masquerade that is sure to be in the sequel. I am looking forward to learning more about Prince Prospero as while I felt scared of him in this instalment, I don't think we've seen the full extent of how cruel he can be.

Bethany Griffin has created a world where the air you breathe could kill you, oblivion is something people strive for, and the unrest is growing. It will leave you with your breathe held and heart pounding. Desire is contagious says the tagline, so is anticipating what is sure to be an electric sequel once you’ve read this stellar novel.

Author Interview - Bethany Griffin

Welcome to day 1 one of my Masque of the Red Death event. Stopping by the blog today I have the author, Bethany Griffin for a fun Q & A about the book, the characters, and her writing.

1. Describe Masque of the Red Death in 3 words

dark, romantic, suspenseful.


2 Describe your novel's main character Araby in three words.

desperate, disillusioned, stronger than she thinks she is (cheated a bit on that last one)


3 What sort of research did you do for Masque of the Red Death? 

I read a few biographies of Poe, as well as reading The Masque of the Red Death multiple times, reading about Poe's life was what gave me the idea to set the story in a world right after his death. I did basic research about knowledge and terms from the time period, and then changed them to suit myself and the story.


4 How would Araby describe Will and Elliott?

She would describe Will as painfully good looking, and intimidating (at least in the beginning) she would describe Elliott as brash, arrogant, and driven.


5 What was it about Edgar Allen Poe's short story that inspired you?

The world, and the darkness, and the theme of not being able to avoid death.

6 Do you listen to a play list while you write? If so what is the one song you listened to the most while writing Masque of the Red Death. 

I don't actually listen to music WHILE I write, it distracts me. But I do usually have a playlist, for when I'm thinking about the book. If I had to pick an overarching theme song for everything I've ever written, it would be Something I can Never Have by Nine Inch Nails


7 Who is the first person that gets to read your writing?

Usually my husband, sometimes my real life critique group.


8 What is the last book you read that you would recommend to everyone? 

Wow, I don't think I would recommend any one book to everyone, a big part of my job is matching up books with readers and talking to kids about books.


9 If you could go back in time to any time period and any place, where and when would you travel to? 

It would probably be a waste to ask for a Nirvana concert since those happened in my lifetime, I just didn't get to go, the middle ages are my favorite time period, but you wouldn't really want to GO there, so how about Victorian London?


10 What has been the most surprising part of the publishing process?

Well, since I'm not actually a debut, the fact that I got a second chance? And an awesome one, at that!

Thank you Bethany for stopping by and answering my questions. Tomorrow I am reviewing Masque of the Red Death. It's one of my favourite (if not my favourite) book of 2012!

Masque of the Red Death Event Annoucement

I may have gushed and squealed about this novel quite a bit. It's for a good read though - this novel is simply fantastic. So fantastic I am dedicating the entire week to promoting it.

Here is what you can expect

April 23 - Interview with Bethany Griffin

April 24 - My review of Masque of the Red Death

April 25 - Giveway Details!

April 26 - Will & Elliott: The Men of Masque

April 27 - My Masque Playlist

April 28 - What to Expect in Book 2: Using Poe's story to find clues

April 29 - My very gushy letter to Bethany

Hope you will follow along. I have some great goodies up for grabs including a copy of the book, amazing bookmarks, and leather bracelets!