Review: The Fall - Bethany Griffin

The Fall by Bethany Griffin, published by Orion Children's Books on 2nd October 2014 

Goodreads synopsis:
Madeline and her twin brother Roderick have the Usher name, the Usher house - and the Usher disease. Something is wrong with the family's blood - and it seems to have spread to the house itself. Sometimes Madeline even thinks that the house is alive... When Roderick is sent away to school, the house seems to want revenge on the one member of the Usher family left behind: Madeline herself.

Review:
This book is a retelling of Edgar Allen Poe's 'The Fall of the House of Usher'.  I wasn't familiar at all with the original so I really had no idea how the story was going to unfold and after the fantastic opening which had me hook, line and sinker, I was prepared for anything to happen!

The story involves twins Madeline and Roderick Usher, who are inflicted with a curse which has blighted the lives of all Ushers before them.  When Roderick is sent away to school, Madeline is left alone in the house which seems determined to have it's revenge on her.

Bethany Griffin's personification of the house was excellent.  It seemed to ooze maleficence and evil appeared to seep through the walls and floorboards.  It was extremely creepy and incredibly atmospheric.  It's certainly not a house that I would want to spend the night in.

The narrative structure was unusual and made the story a little difficult to follow at times.  Madeline recounts events but each chapter jumps around to when she is at a different age.  This meant that the plot unfolded at a slow pace.  Because of this I found that my attention wandered in the middle and as it's a fairly long book, I kept waiting for something more to happen. 

Deliciously gothic and mysterious, I was puzzled by some aspects of the story but wanted to keep reading because I felt like the payoff at the end was going to be worth it.  I won't give anything away apart from to say that this is a book which will keep you thinking long after the final pages.  I'm still not sure that I have everything straight in my head!  I'd like to read Poe's original story now as well, so that I can compare the two.  

If you're a fan of the gothic and the bizarre then I would recommend that you give 'The Fall' a read.

Review: The Masque of the Red Death - Bethany Griffin

The Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin, published by Indigo on 2nd August 2012

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.

Review:
This book is based on an original work by Edgar Allan Poe, although when I read it I was unaware of the link.  Araby Worth is living amongst a city decimated by a terrible plague - a plague which robbed her of her twin brother.  As she tries to find oblivion at the infamous Debauchery Club, she stumbles into the path of a power struggle which is more dangerous than she could have ever imagined.

Bethany Griffin has created a terrifying world where people live in fear of catching the plague.  To protect themselves, those who can afford it wear masks which stop them from catching the deadly air born germs.  The startling imagery of citizens with porcelain masks on, hiding their true expressions and creating a lack of intimacy, is quite frightening and sinister.

The first person narrative from the perspective of Araby meant that I could feel the sense of loss which haunts her throughout the book but also the gradual blossoming of hope she experiences by the end and the sense of a new beginning being on the horizon.   

I liked the love triangle between Araby, the darkly handsome and tattooed Will (who I loved) and Araby's friend's brother Elliott.  The latter never greatly appealed to me because although he showed glimpses of the good I didn't entirely trust him, whereas I adored Will almost immediately. 

'The Masque of the Red Death' is a dark and seductive story with vivid and imaginative writing which immersed me from the very beginning.  I'm looking forward hugely to the sequel which is due out next year.