The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding: {ARC Review}

Publication date: September 5th, 2017
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Series: The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding #1
Format: e-ARC
Source: Netgalley
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"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. 

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?

 I don't often read MG books, but every now and then I see one that catches my eye. The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding was one such book. 

Prosperity Redding is a 12-year old boy who discovers that he has a hundreds year old demon living inside of him.  His family is the most powerful family in the town of Redhood, and his grandmother is at the very helm of that power. On Founder's Day, the Redding family has gathered at the family estate for a "ceremony" which involves Prosper and his sister, Prudence. What was supposed to be a normal family gathering turns out to be so much more. Events are set in motion that will change Prosper, and the Redding family line, forever. 

The supernatural and paranormal elements in the story are what really interested me in the book in the first place. I liked the concept of a fiend living inside of a human, just waiting until their power was restored to be released. We are also introduced to witches, shades, ghouls, and hobs. 

The story mostly takes place in Salem, outside of Redhood, after Prosper flees for his life. He meets people who claim to be his family and who want to help him get rid of the fiend inside of him. But, can he trust them? Will he ever be able to return to his family? 

I really enjoyed the Salem setting within the story. It added a spooky element that made the creepy stuff even better. The story as a whole was very well done. I was never bored because the pacing was steady throughout, and the characters themselves were very enjoyable. 

My one gripe with the book was the voice for the age group. Prosper and Nell were supposed to be 12 but I kept thinking that they were much older because their dialogue was more mature than the average 12 year old's. 

Alastor, the fiend, was my favorite character. He was just the right amount of sassy bad guy, and I loved it. 

Of course, it had to end on an intense cliffhanger so be warned! I am already ready for book two because weirdly enough, I am rooting for Prosper and Alastor to hopefully become friends.