Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

 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.(less)
Give some cover love - it's so "Poe" - black with blood red. LOVE IT.

Araby's lives in a "dark" world, where the plague is suffocating the entire city and it doesn't seem like her father is going to be fixing it any more than he already had. On to top of all that Araby,is grieving the loss of her twin brother. So to get through all of this, Araby goes to the Debauchery Club with her Best friend. And that's where we meet Will, man with a heart of gold, and where Araby drinks and drugs herself away - something that is acceptable. But because of her twin, Araby swears she will not experience anything that her best friend/brother did not. It's a vow she takes very seriously, but the guys that show up and teenage hormones - may not be able to compete.

But then she meets the cocky, handsome, and slightly deranged, Elliot. Elliot's a dreamer. Will's grounded. In my head, there really isn't a competition, not because I like one guy above the other, but because I think Araby has made her choice.

This world that Griffin describes, is very fragile and their are people just itching to get into control and Araby, who never wanted to be, is a key player, because of her connection to her father, the guy who everyone hopes has all the answers.

While I really enjoyed this book, I wanted to see more dark and gruesome Poe come out. But in reality, that might have taken that out of the YA category and right smack in the middle of adult fiction, that could be a little risque.

Overall - great book - looking forward to the next cover, er, next book. :)