I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't what I was expecting after reading the summary, but what I got was definitely worth the surprise. The only truly disappointing thing about it was that it wasn't a standalone novel, however the disappointment is more that it ruined my reading experience when I expected the conflicts to end when I was finished but they didn't – the good part is that I can read another novel in the series.

I could've done without the constant suicide and death obsession from Araby, but she did have redeeming qualities so I stuck through her whining. I particularly liked how she refused to take part in things that her brother couldn't, keeping my eye rolling to myself mostly because it was something I hadn't seen before in a character.

YA is usually hit or miss for me, and even though it did things I would prefer to avoid I still stuck around because I loved the world that involved the Gothic and elements of Steampunk in a way that didn't make it all about blackness and death, gears, and ridiculous fashion (well, the clothing may have been described a bit too often when it wasn't necessary, and, again, the mentions of suicide were rather rampant).

The world felt like it had a permanent darkness around it, with pollution and red skies everywhere (probably influenced by the cover), but it felt so right to be like that regardless of how close my imagination was compared to what was written in the book. That world had its own feel and it felt right for the setting, and once I got settled in I was able to immerse myself fully. The masks were also an interesting addition, and they fit in so well considering the plague is a huge part of the plot.

Like many YA novels there was a love triangle, but this time I didn't groan – I enjoyed it. While it does slightly lean towards one man, it doesn't feel like a pointless one-sided relationship on either end (as it was with Gale in the Hunger Games, where Peeta was the clear winner) – either one could 'win' the relationship and I wouldn't feel cheated out of anything or severely disappointed. Her roles with Elliot and Will weren't pointless, either, although it did feel odd with Elliot at first until I realized that she was the scientist's daughter so it would explain his interest in her (and how quickly she got involved in the revolution).

I wish I paid more attention when they were first introduced, though, as they both felt like minor characters to me so I passed over their descriptions without a glance. I had to read back so many times to understand who was who in relation to the men she met at the Debauchery Club. I, for some reason, imagined Will as a blonde, so when she ended up in bed with him I didn't understand who he was. I had thought he was the one who gave her oblivion in the beginning, not even realizing it was instead the proprietor that tested her when she entered the club. When she saw the blonde man and recognized him, I thought it was Will (I was still confused about the blond hair) and wondered why he felt different – to me, it was the same character three times. It took a few rereads and a bit of confusion to understand who was who, but I got it in the end and was able to separate Will and Elliot and credit their previous encounters to their rightful actors.

The mystery behind her brother's death was interesting, although at times I wondered if I skipped over parts again because it felt like Araby's narrative would change as though something new had been revealed when it really hadn't.

The plot went too quickly, too, passing certain points far too soon without a build up. I had forgiven it at the time because I thought it was a standalone novel, but with it being a series I would've preferred a slower introduction to characters, side plots, and main events.

I still look forward to the next novel, having greatly enjoyed myself in the author's world. The characters were interesting, the plot was enjoyable, and the setting was wonderful. I hope the next book in the series lives up to the fun I had in this one, because I expect good things from it.