Alexandra Bracken

"I would say it's a pleasure to meet thee, Prosperity Oceanus Redding, but truly, I only anticipate the delights of destroying thy happiness ." Prosper is the only unexceptional Redding in his old and storied family history-that is, until he discovers the demon living inside him. Turns out Prosper's great-great-great-great-great-something grandfather made-and then broke-a contract with a malefactor, a demon who exchanges fortune for eternal servitude. And, weirdly enough, four-thousand-year-old Alastor isn't exactly the forgiving type. The fiend has reawakened with one purpose--to destroy the family whose success he ensured and who then betrayed him. With only days to break the curse and banish Alastor back to the demon realm, Prosper is playing unwilling host to the fiend, who delights in tormenting him with nasty insults and constant attempts trick him into a contract. Yeah, Prosper will take his exorcism without a side of eternal servitude, thanks. Little does Prosper know, the malefactor's control over his body grows stronger with each passing night and there's a lot Alastor isn't telling his dim-witted (but admittedly strong-willed) human host From #1 New York Times best-selling author Alexandra Bracken comes a tale of betrayal and revenge, of old hurts passed down from generation to generation. Can you ever fully right a wrong, ever truly escape your history? Or will Prosper and Alastor be doomed to repeat it?

The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding A Fiendish Arrangement

Moth

The writing in this book is just so much fun. To me, it was one of Bracken's better crafted stories and it doesn't get too boring, only a few moments that slowed down and left me crazy because I needed to know where the plot went past the filler section. As someone who loves witches and grew up on Harry Potter magic, this book had just the right amount of magic in it while bringing us a whole new ideas while feeling familiar. It also has the right amount of spookiness without being completely scary. I admit, I was creeped out a few times, so maybe not read this with younger readers just yet, but let them once they're in middle school, in my personal opinion just to keep it on the safe side. As for the writing quality, it was good. Unlike in some of the past books I read from Bracken, there wasn't as much unneeded moments in this book. There was a few that I wouldn't mind not seeing, but most of them come with at least a small purpose behind it, which we do find out later. I think she finally found the right balance in my opinion.

(Full Review on Blog)

alexandra

4.5/5 –

this is so cute & fun! i read the audiobook and the narrator had the best voices for the different creatures and characters. i was cackling at some parts due to the writing, characters, and voice. a super fun middle grade read – especially for halloween season :))

laura

I really loved alex first adventure into middle grade. I loved the world and how creepy it was. I really loved the world building and the elements of witch craft and the time and place of this novel. I thought the lead male was so well crafted and he had me on his side from page one. The story had so many twists and turns and I was shocked when it ended. It such a fun/creeepy read and can't wait to re-read/ eventually read the last book in the series next year

Kaitlyn Kelley

Alexis 

5/5 stars 

This book was AMAZING! Dark and mysterious and that plot twist!!! I didn't even see it coming! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and being in this new world! I can't wait to see what happens next!!

Oooh I loved that twist.
This was such an enchanting read.

Insiya Ghadiali

Wow!! For a middle grade novel this was amazing! There were so many characters to love and hate. And the huge twist at the end! I am so glad I don't have to wait for the next book

Michelle Boyea

I was browsing the bookstore when the cover of The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding caught my eye. Once I read summary on the back of the book, I was hooked.

From the first page, I was completely engaged with this book. Reading as Prosper became Ethan, as he grew to know and understand Alastor better, as he realized who his true family is, I couldn’t put this book down.

At the beginning of the book, to be honest, Prosper is annoying. While reading, it is easy to get annoyed with Prosper and wish that he would become more mature. As the book continues, the annoyance gets less and less as Prosper matures and does what he needs to do in order to take care of himself and his family.

The twists and turns in the book were both subtle and a surprise. As they occurred, I found myself thinking that I should have seen them coming, but I didn’t. With that being said, the ending definitely did not surprise me. I was not expecting it to occur the way it did, but I did expect it to happen.

As soon as I put the book down, I logged into the library website to check out book 2…and sadly realized that it won’t be out until February 2019. Needless to say, I marked it on my Google Calendar to remember to check it out!

I am intrigued to read more by Alexandra Bracken and see how they compare to this series….Stay tuned!

Léa Beauchemin-Laporte

Charming; a great balance between emotions and actions, well-developed character, surprising plot: magical. On the other hand, writing is okay, but sometimes feels repetitive when it comes to sentences structure.

Judy Hudgins

A YA book (or rather middle-schooler), it's a fun read. Ancient family curses set in and around Salem (of course). And Prosper Redding is just average in his family of achievers. For that, he will pay the price for a curse and contract with a fiend. Quick read, but very enjoyable. I would recommend to youngsters of all ages.

Jolie

There were a couple of reasons why I requested this book on NetGalley. One was because of the cover. I feel that the cover of The Dreadful Tale Of Prosper Redding totally captures what this book is about. The white fox in the mirror with a candle is creepy and a little surreal. The other reason is a personal one. I am forever on the look out for books for my 9-year-old to read. So, when this book turned up on my homepage, I requested it.

I wasn’t disappointed with The Dreadful Tale Of Prosper Redding. It was a quick read with likable main characters, evil secondary characters and a twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. Now, saying that I do think that it might be a little too scary for some Middle-Grade readers. There are some situations and scenes that could scare a tween/early teen. Like the scene in The Castle….when Prosper and Prue were getting tested or the scene at the end of the book with the mirrors. So just keep this in mind if you are going to buy/take this book out from the library.

I felt bad for Prosper in the beginning of the book. He was bullied mercilessly by everyone, including his own twin….who he used to super close with. His grandmother reminded me, strongly, of Joan Crawford and I won’t even begin to talk about his parents. What I got out of those first chapters was that they weren’t around much, leaving him to be with his grandmother most of the time. His family was also almost unnaturally gifted. Everything they touched turned to gold. Prosper was one of the only ones in his family that weren’t good-looking or had a gift (or so he was told). It was a very screwed up family dynamic going on in those first few chapters.

The night that Alastor, a malefactor from Downstairs (the different realms are fully explained in the book), who is heir to the throne of Downstairs (again, explained in the book). He got sent into Prosper’s body during the ritual that Prosper was forced into. He had a vow that he would destroy the Reddings and then go back to the Downstairs to retake back his position as heir. But, it was easier said than done because Prosper was doing everything in his power to get rid of Alastor….that didn’t include killing Prosper. The dialogue between Prosper and Alastor was pretty funny and Alastor did make himself known in different ways throughout the book. Like when he made Prosper run super fast and he smelled like eggs afterward or when he forced Prosper to write in Greek. He also would hijack Prosper’s body and go around town, trying to find out who was ruling the Downstairs.

Now, I did figure that something shady was going on with Nell and Barnabas but I was a little floored by what it was. I had actually liked Nell. She was the first person, ever, who actually treated Prosper like a person worth spending time with. So yeah, I was a tad floored when certain things were revealed about her and Barnabas.

I really liked that the author took her time and researched Salem. Having lived the next town over for years, attended college there, given birth to 2 out of my 3 children there, and having gone to the Salem Willows every summer for years, it irks me when I read a book and everything is wrong. She got present day Salem, with the strip malls and the touristy shops, right. She also had the history of the Salem Witch Trials right too. They weren’t just held in Salem. They were also held in Danvers, Andover and a couple of other cities nearby. Actually, in my hometown, there is a monument, which off the bike trail, to the only man who was executed (and his wife) during the Salem Witch Trials. So yeah, I was pretty happy to see that she did her research.

Like I said above, there were a couple of twists at the end of the book that I didn’t see coming, besides the Nell and Barnabas one. The one that shocked me the most happened literally at the end of the book and I was left going “What just happened”. The other one, I should have seen coming because there were plenty of hints but I didn’t catch onto it.

I am hoping that there will be a book 2 because I need to know what happens to Alastor, Nell, Prue, and Prosper. Also the other people….but mainly them.

How many stars will I give The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding: 4

Why: A deliciously scary story with a great plotline and great characters

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Young Teen

Why: Mild violence. Like I said above, there are some situations in this book that could scare a tween/young teen reader.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Every family has secrets - but not every family has a secret pact with a demon. A darkly comic tale with thrilling twists and turns that will keep every reader guessing. Perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket, Jonathan Stroud and Skulduggery Pleasant. Prosper is the only unexceptional Redding in his remarkable family. So, when he discovers that an 800-year-old demon called Alastor is responsible for their luck - and that this demon is currently living inside him - he's more than a little surprised. Alastor isn't keen to be banished back to the demon realm and will do anything to try and trick his unwilling host into a contract - from nasty insults to wild promises. And even more unnerving, his power over Prosper seems to be growing with each passing night. Prosper has only days to break the curse - a feat that seems impossible. But with the help of a feisty witch-in-training, maybe he can do it?

The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding

Tania Joana da Silva Monteiro

I found this to be fun and spooky, just what I wanted it! It had funny moments, intricate storytelling, good dialog and I really liked the characters. It kep my interest the whole way through and now I need to know how it ends! Good to know the sequel is out.

Manon van Heumen

"I would say it's a pleasure to meet thee, Prosperity Oceanus Redding, but truly, I only anticipate the delights of destroying thy happiness?." Prosper is the only unexceptional Redding in his old and storied family history-that is, until he discovers the demon living inside him. Turns out Prosper's great-great-great-great-great-something grandfather made-and then broke-a contract with a malefactor, a demon who exchanges fortune for eternal servitude. And, weirdly enough, four-thousand-year-old Alastor isn't exactly the forgiving type. The fiend has reawakened with one purpose--to destroy the family whose success he ensured and who then betrayed him. With only days to break the curse and banish Alastor back to the demon realm, Prosper is playing unwilling host to the fiend, who delights in tormenting him with nasty insults and constant attempts to trick him into a contract. Yeah, Prosper will take his afterlife without a side of eternal servitude, thanks. But with the help of his long-lost uncle, Barnabas, and his daughter, Nell, a witch-in-training, it seems like Prosper has at least a fighting chance of ridding himself of Alastor before the demon escapes and wreaks havoc on his family. Little does Prosper know, the malefactor's control over his body grows stronger with each passing night and there's a lot Alastor isn't telling his dim-witted (but admittedly strong-willed) human host? From #1 New York Times best-selling author Alexandra Bracken comes a tale of betrayal and revenge, of old hurts passed down from generation to generation. Can you ever fully right a wrong, ever truly escape your history? Or will Prosper and Alastor be doomed to repeat it?

Jessica 

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It took me forever to finish this in audiobook form. Not because I didn't like it, but because I am the actual worst when it comes to listening to audiobooks and this is the first one I've finished in years. The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding was already a brilliant book and an outstanding introduction to a brand new series by Bracken, but the audiobook gave the experience an extra kick. 

The narration was great. I felt like a child being read to during story time and I mean that in the best way possible. The thing about Alexandra Bracken's prose is that it feels classic. It's warm. It's an embrace from an old friend. It's something like innocence in the case of this novel. Finding the right narrator was going to be a difficult task and the person they picked for the job. I haven't had this much fun with an audiobook, let alone a middle grade one, since I was a kid and devoured Harry Potter. 

Everything about this was magical, fast paced and humourous. It provided just the right amount of bleak, spookiness, that will keep its audience on the edge of their seat. This book was one of those rare reads that would be perfect for any age--Bracken has done it again!

The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding A Fiendish Arrangement

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