The bloody plague is finally past, but what fresh horror lies in its wake?
Princess Imogen of Goslind has lived a sheltered life for three years at the boarded-up castle—she and the rest of its inhabitants safe from the bloody mori roja plague that’s ravaged the kingdom. But Princess Imogen has a secret, and as King Stuart descends further into madness, it’s at great risk of being revealed. Rations dwindle each day, and unhappy murmurings threaten to crack the facade of the years-long charade being played within the castle walls.
Nico Mott once enjoyed a comfortable life of status, but the plague took everyone and everything from him. If not for the generosity of a nearby lord, Nico may not have survived the mori roja’s aftermath. But does owing Lord Crane his life mean he owes him his silence?
When Lord Crane sends Nico to search for more plague survivors in the castle, Nico collides with a princess who wants to break out. They will each have to navigate the web of lies they’ve woven if they’re going to survive the nightmares that lie ahead.
I've never read The Masque of the Red Death, though I know the story. Like a lot of Poe's work, the original is quite short, but in this retelling it's not only been expanded but an equally developed subplot has been added. (Co plot? They're as important as each other.)
Some people will probably have difficulty reconciling the various plot elements, and I agree that some of them aren't as well developed - one character's Jewishness, for example, is used only for angst, she never seems to actually lean on her faith. It's just so her family can die in a pogrom.
Our main characters, Imogen/Seraphina and Nico, are interesting. In their own ways they've each had to remake themselves, and while there is an element of instalove to their relationship, they both work hard and fight for what they want. Imophina is not a fainting princess by any measure.
I did wonder about some of the practicalities, spoilered here: why do people outside keep supplying the castle, as we see during the novel? Why do the servants stay so long and only run away when they know for sure something outside is hunting them? If the vampires need untainted blood to survive, and the plan is for everyone to be tainted to keep them safe, how will the friendly vampires survive? But I always want to know the practicalities, and as I was reading a proof some of these may be addressed in the final version.
I enjoyed this overall; I can see that some people might find it difficult, but I thought it was exciting and interesting and I'll be recommending it.
A Multitude of Dreams publishes on the 28th of October, 2023. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.
No comments:
Post a Comment