Actual Rating: 4.5 stars 
 Before I got this book from the library, I heard that it was inspired by a poem written by Edgar Allen Poe. I've never actually read any of his work (I intend to in the future even though poetry usually isn't my thing), but I wanted to understand what this book would be about beyond the vague summary. So I looked it up, and, I admit, just kind of skimmed it. But I got a pretty good idea of what Bethany Griffin was expanding upon, and I have to say, she did a pretty good job. 
 The writing in this book is absolutely fantastic. Even during some of the slower parts, I wasn't bothered. Because I was far too busy imagining the world that was being described to me, a world full of disease and death and despair. I could see it all so clearly in my mind, feel the pain of mankind as a whole. It was all so vivid. 
 I had a hard time connecting with the main character, Araby, at first. She was so distant, it was really hard to like her and cheer for her. But I began to care somewhere in the middle of the novel, I think, when she explains what happened to Finn. If I went through everything she did, I might be a little distant and suicidal myself. I think she came alive a little more when she was with Will or Elliot. 
 Speaking of those two, there is a love triangle in this book. I knew this before I started, and I generally don't like them, but if I avoided all YA books these days with love triangles, I would eliminate three quarters of my TBR list. So, I just decided to go with the flow on this one. I actually didn't mind it so much in The Masque of the Red Death. I felt pretty sure who Araby would be with at the end of the book, but the triangle didn't go in the direction I was expecting, and so I found myself enjoying it. I preferred Will for most of the book, and I still like him, but Elliot kind of grew on me, and now I'm not sure who I like more. I think Elliot. 
 This one is going on my 'best of 2012' shelf, and I eagerly await the sequel. The cover also, is absolutely stunning.