Prosper Redding's family is old and well established. Everything they desire, they get; everything they attempt is a great success. The good fortune did not rub off on Prosper, however. No matter how hard he tries to live up to the perfection of the Redding family, he always falls short. Now, just shy of thirteen, Prosper is going to find out exactly how cursed he is. It seems the family's good fortune is not pure luck. Instead, it comes from a deal his great-great-great-to the whatever power grandfather made with a demon. But Honor Redding was not necessarily an honorable man and he broke that agreement and the debt has come due. That demon now shares living quarters with Prosper. Actually, it shares Prosper's body, mind, and maybe even his soul, but the demon wants out and Prosper's family will seemingly do anything to get rid of that demon before it wreaks havoc on the Redding name. Even if it means Prosper's death. Thus begins the dreadful tale of Prosper Redding. Middle grade students will find the first title in this new series a magically exciting read. With just the right amount of mystery, danger, and strange characters, Alexandra Bracken leads the reader into Prosper's world, where sometimes the reader cheers for Prosper, and sometimes finds herself cheering for the demon! Strong male and female lead characters make this ideal for a wide audience.

This was such a fantastic middle grade novel! A perfect read for the fall! (AND LOOK AT THAT COVER!)

Prosperity Redding is the odd duck in his family full of successful, wealthy, and just plain lucky people. And one a day near his thirteenth birthday he learns why. His family's luck and wealth is due to an ancestor who made a contract with a demon - a malefactor - whom he discovers, has been living dormant in his body.

We follow Prosper on his journey to rid himself of this malefactor before it gains enough power to leave his body and destroy his family, meeting all sorts of strangely lovable characters on the way.

This book was seriously a delight. The author is so descriptive with the settings and characters, it was so easy to picture everything in my mind. Alastor and Prosper both cracked me up, they were so opposite, yet similar in some ways. Their relationship (is that what you'd call your interactions with a demon living inside you? Haha) was hilarious, and was probably my favorite part of the book. The book ended on a perfect note - answering some questions but leaving so many more for the sequel!

"The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding" by Alexandra Bracken is a middle-grade fantasy novel about a boy, Prosperity Redding, who discovers he has a malefactor named Alastor (a demon who makes deals with humans) trapped inside him. With the help of his long-lost Uncle Barnabas and his dauther, Nell (a witch), Prosper fights to get rid of Alastor before he escapes and destroys the Redding family.

I enjoyed reading "The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding" and only has one complaint. For some reason, when I received the ARC, I did not see that it is Book #1 in a series. The book ends with major cliffhangers. Even with series books, I do prefer ones that stand on their own. No waiting, no torture! That said, it's a great book with a caveat for parents (from a faith standpoint).

The characters in this book are so very interesting. They come to life with their quirks and personalities leaping off the page. They also have depth that might surprise readers and teach them that good guys aren't always good, bad guys aren't all bad, and those who think less of themselves actually have much more to offer. The settings are just as good with their own personalities and quirks. The descriptions of each place (from Redhood to Salem, from the Cottage to the House of Seven Terrors) is well-crafted that it's easy to be there.

I finished this book in one day! I just had to keep reading to know what happens (and so when it ends on a cliffhanger...*heartbreak*). There are good plot twists and surprises here and there. Most of the book is in Prosper's first-person point-of-view, but there are parts where it is in Alastor's third-person point-of-view. I'm not a big fan of multiple POVs because they're not always done well. Bracken does it well, and I think, it's because the switch is from first to third person and isn't overdone. I don't think it would confuse younger readers.

Now for the caveat. This book is geared for 9-12 year-0lds or Grades 3-7. How overactive is the imagination of your child? Because if I had read this as a 9-year-old, I would have had nightmares. Also, I would have had a million questions about demons and possession. Yes, I was that kid. And if you have that kid, this caveat is for you.

I think this is a great fantasy book that kids will enjoy. It's very imaginative overall (in plot, in characters, in settings). From a faith standpoint, it would raise questions about spiritual things that parents need to answer. Read it yourself first to determine if it's right for your family. But don't be afraid to have deep spiritual conversations with your kids. Don't be afraid to talk to them about the similarities and differences between fictional worlds we find in books and the spiritual world the Bible describes.

"The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding" also addresses family, friends, growing up, being different, and finding your courage. If you like fantasy that's hard to put down, and don't mind cliffhangers, then pick up this book.

Equal parts charming and spooky, Alexandra Bracken's first foray into middle grade doesn't disappoint. I enjoyed every minute of it and can't wait to read more.

Bracken always creates characters you instantly root for, and this novel is no different. Prosper is a funny and extremely likable main character and the rest of the cast is equally as interesting - particularly Nell, a young witch. Alastor provides both spookiness and comedy and I really liked how Prosper and Alastor team up on occasion, while also maintaining their enemy vibe. Each character has such a distinct personality and it was fun to read about all of them.

Ultimately, this is a story about family, legacy, and revenge and trying to escape a history that technically has nothing to do with you. Prosper has to deal with the many consequences of his ancestors' actions, as well as those within his immediate family, and his struggles are compelling. As I said in the beginning of this review, this book has a good balance of humor and creepy, making this a perfect fall read. Fans of Bracken's YA should enjoy this, as well as those new to Bracken's work. It's a lot of fun!

In her first foray into middle grade fiction, Alexandra Bracken weaves a magical tale full of wit, heart, and a whole lot of whimsy. Having only previously read Bracken's work for YA, I found myself pleasantly surprised by THE DREADFUL TALE OF PROSPER REDDING. It's a story that I would recommend to both young readers, teens, and adults alike, because it has immense crossover appeal and something for everyone. In my opinion, it's Bracken's best work to date.

[NOTE: Will post a longer, more comprehensive review closer to publication date on my blog]

Prosperity Redding didn't know he had a malefactor living inside him. And he certainly didn't expect his grandmother to try to cut it out of him, using an iron knife in the dungeon in the basement, but he isn't really all that surprised. His grandmother has always been slightly evil, at least to him, and he knew that being a Redding in Redhood meant that not everyone liked him, but this still seemed a little much. Imagine his surprise then when he is whisked away from the evil ceremony by his long lost uncle Baranaby and unknown cousin Nell who have pledged to help him. Because not only is he the unwitting host to a malefactor (Alastor), he will be consumed by him within two weeks if nothing is done. And, all of the families wealth, health, and safety will go with him.

Working with Nell, and trying to stop Alastor's powers from growing, Prosper settles in to his new identity as Ethan White at his new school. While there, Alastor shows him what it would be like to finally fit in, and Prosper tries to remember the deadly consequences that come from such contracts.

This book reminded me at times of both the Beautiful Creatures and Lemony Snickett series. The voice, style, and subject matter would appeal to fans of both those books and storylines. This book is appropriate for students in grades 5-9.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for providing an advance copy for review. All opinions are my own.

i received a free advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

LOVED it. it was original and interesting. the characters were finely drawn and fleshed out. the plot was both unique and well crafted to maintain engaged interest throughout. my only complaint is that it's the first in a series and the second is forever away.

the dreadful tale of prosper redding is about a young boy named prosperity oceanus redding (props for awesome name) as he becomes host to a demon. prosper's family has broken covenant with this demon and he is out for revenge. prosper's family are mostly assholes. he has a twin sister named prue who actually also seems like a bit of a jerk at the beginning of the book and i don't fully understand yet why he loves her so much. it's possible prosper is just too good of a person (a serious problem for the demon, Alastor, who wants to make a new bargain with him).

i don't want to give too much away but let me just stress that the core cast of characters are really good, the writing is great, the plot is well thought out, and the setting is awesome. i really want to visit Salem, MA now.

excellent book from an author i admire and i heartily recommend it to ages 12 and up.