Review: The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding

Title: The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Rating: 4 Stars

Format: Paperback

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Date Published: 5 September 2017

Goodreads Description: “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 future 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.

I was given a review copy by the lovely people at PanMacmillanSA.

Spoiler Free

I always read children’s and middle-grade books with the following quote (by C.S Lewis) in mind:  “A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.” I know these kinds of books are written for a younger audience, but adults should still be able to enjoy them. They speak to our inner children, to the wide-eyed optimists we all once were, and we can enjoy them in a fun, nostalgic manner.

This Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding does exactly that. It was a fun, light read, even though it deals with demons. It’s creepy and the perfect Halloween read for lovers of all things spooky.

The writing was easy to read and the story flowed really well, I never felt like I was just waiting for the action to start. Bracken did a great job with writing younger characters. Sometimes you forget Nell and Prosper are only 12, but it never feels inauthentic. I’m super excited to see where the rest of this story goes.

Characters

Prosper is a really well-written character. He is definitely a product of his surroundings and upbringing. He reminds me a little of Harry Potter, in the way that his family always treats him as if he’s beneath them. It makes it even better when he rises above it, and I can’t wait to see where is ARC goes in the next book.

Nell is one of my favourite characters. She’s a super smart witch with the cutest familiar (a black cat changeling called Toad). I was a little annoyed with her behaviour toward Prosper, especially when he was being a cutie. She was cold and mean to him sometimes, but the twist at the end of the book explains it.

Alastor was another wonderful addition to this book. He’s the demon possessing Prosper. Now as you know, I’m a fan of the supernatural, so it would be awesome to have a demon possessing me who could help with my homework and P.E. (Seriously, any demons wanna possess me and write my masters thesis for me? I would be SO grateful). His voice is so distinctly different from Prosper’s and I love their conversations.

This book was a great read and I can’t wait to read the second one.

Spoilers

I’ve decided to get rid of the spoiler section in my reviews unless a review requires a spoiler. But most of my reviews don’t contain spoilers since I want you guys to actually go and read the book xD.

Let’s Chat

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