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mariahistryingtoread's review against another edition
5.0
I have had this book on my shelf for ages. I first saw it a few years ago when I still worked at a bookstore and the cover immediately drew me in. Despite that, I had a policy of not reading ongoing series at the time so I resolved to wait until the series was done. The sequel came out in 2019 and it looks like it’s a duology so I finally felt comfortable going for it.
I’m happy to report it lived up to its premise.
This was a fun, twisty book that I was invested in from the beginning. It was somewhat predictable in some regards, however, that did not detract from my enjoyment in the least. One, I’m an adult so I often am able to figure out twists due to the fact that I’ve spent more time consuming media to see the patterns. Two, there is some deliberate foreshadowing I feel that kids could also pick up on so it's not as if it's just a matter of it being obvious. Intentionally laying the foundation is better than random plot twists, even if it would be more shocking; at least to me.
Prosper is an immediately endearing protagonist. An underdog practically from birth, he's spent his entire life as the odd one out in his perfect family of beloved high society snobs. Despite this he hasn't let it make him bitter. His strong moral compass was my favorite aspect of his character. It says a lot about a person who has his kind of mental fortitude, especially given his age and how tempting Alastair's offers can be.
Prosper’s arc is about discovering his own worth while Alastair’s is being taken down a peg. It makes the two wonderful foils, but also leaves room for interesting parallels between two seemingly disparate individuals. I liked how you could see the grounds for an acquaintanceship if not an actual friendship, if only Prosper and Alastair (mostly Alastair since he was the one trying to steal a body in order to exact his misbegotten revenge) could overcome the shortcomings of their respective upbringings.
The underlying lore creates an immersive world that I loved learning more about. Malefactors are only the tip of the iceberg. There’s a whole huge magical universe with specific rules and a distinct culture to explore. I felt we could have used more on this aspect because for all its strengths, it wasn’t expanded upon enough. However, what we got was fascinating so I still was really into it. But, the sequel takes place in the actual malefactor dimension so I’m looking forward to digging deeper.
I’m really looking forward to the next book. This one ended on a great note. The whole final act I couldn’t put it down. It’s probably one of the best middle grade books I’ve read in the past few months. And I’m notoriously picky so that’s saying something.
I’m happy to report it lived up to its premise.
This was a fun, twisty book that I was invested in from the beginning. It was somewhat predictable in some regards, however, that did not detract from my enjoyment in the least. One, I’m an adult so I often am able to figure out twists due to the fact that I’ve spent more time consuming media to see the patterns. Two, there is some deliberate foreshadowing I feel that kids could also pick up on so it's not as if it's just a matter of it being obvious. Intentionally laying the foundation is better than random plot twists, even if it would be more shocking; at least to me.
Prosper is an immediately endearing protagonist. An underdog practically from birth, he's spent his entire life as the odd one out in his perfect family of beloved high society snobs. Despite this he hasn't let it make him bitter. His strong moral compass was my favorite aspect of his character. It says a lot about a person who has his kind of mental fortitude, especially given his age and how tempting Alastair's offers can be.
Prosper’s arc is about discovering his own worth while Alastair’s is being taken down a peg. It makes the two wonderful foils, but also leaves room for interesting parallels between two seemingly disparate individuals. I liked how you could see the grounds for an acquaintanceship if not an actual friendship, if only Prosper and Alastair (mostly Alastair since he was the one trying to steal a body in order to exact his misbegotten revenge) could overcome the shortcomings of their respective upbringings.
The underlying lore creates an immersive world that I loved learning more about. Malefactors are only the tip of the iceberg. There’s a whole huge magical universe with specific rules and a distinct culture to explore. I felt we could have used more on this aspect because for all its strengths, it wasn’t expanded upon enough. However, what we got was fascinating so I still was really into it. But, the sequel takes place in the actual malefactor dimension so I’m looking forward to digging deeper.
I’m really looking forward to the next book. This one ended on a great note. The whole final act I couldn’t put it down. It’s probably one of the best middle grade books I’ve read in the past few months. And I’m notoriously picky so that’s saying something.
uutopicaa's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
Me gustó, pero no me encantó.
La historia es entretenida y el personaje de Alastor es genial. El resto me resultó "meh". Esto no quiere decir que sea un mal libro, solo que a mí me costó mucho encontrarle el encanto.
Eso sí, puedo imaginar esta novela como una de esas películas que pasan en los canales de TV infantiles para Halloween (como Hocus Pocus). Tiene un aura similiar: Salem, brujas, demonios, hechizos, maldiciones y demás. Y está pensada para lectores jóvenes de alrededor de 14 o 15 años en cuanto al vocabulario y el tipo de humor que maneja.
Prometo hacer una reseña completa apenas tenga el tiempo =)
Me gustó, pero no me encantó.
La historia es entretenida y el personaje de Alastor es genial. El resto me resultó "meh". Esto no quiere decir que sea un mal libro, solo que a mí me costó mucho encontrarle el encanto.
Eso sí, puedo imaginar esta novela como una de esas películas que pasan en los canales de TV infantiles para Halloween (como Hocus Pocus). Tiene un aura similiar: Salem, brujas, demonios, hechizos, maldiciones y demás. Y está pensada para lectores jóvenes de alrededor de 14 o 15 años en cuanto al vocabulario y el tipo de humor que maneja.
Prometo hacer una reseña completa apenas tenga el tiempo =)
maddi_bernards's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
astheplotthickens24's review against another edition
4.0
”being different -- being simply you instead of what other people wanted you to be -- was its own kind of bravery.”
I loved the Passenger Duology by Alexandra Bracken and I don’t really know what to expect when it comes to her middle grade novel, which is why I’m really surprised on how much I adore Prosper and the demon inside him!, he is so cute and the things he say to his grandmother are funny af. This is creepy sometimes but the tone of the author is light enough that the reader doesn’t get spooked too much.
I’m not going to prolong this review, this is such an entertaining read and I love how short and wonderful it is.
nicholemurphy's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 What a perfect read for October! The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding tells the story of Prosperity Oceanus Redding, but please call him Prosper, when he finds out that his family made a deal with a demon, or what they refer to as a fiend, to secure success for all present and future generations of the Redding family. Unfortunately for Prosper, his ancestors never intended to pay the price for their luck, and Prosper now has to deal with the consequences of a fiend living in his body. We follow Prosper with the help from some outcasted family members as they try to find a away to sever himself from his unwelcome visitors. Since I live in the South, Fall never makes an appearance in the month of October so I appreciated the atmosphere the book created in the first few chapters. I really enjoyed the ending of this book and will definitely continue with the series.
honey_stardust_13's review against another edition
5.0
This book has become one of my favorites. The characters are amazing, and I would give it 5 stars on the characters alone. The plot was a somewhat predictable, and info heavy; I personally had no issues with that , and it was still so enjoyable. I also liked the information given and it wasn't completely overbearing. I just noticed of occasionally.
I am anticipating the sequel already, and this book has only just come out. The fact that I have to wait so long is so depressing. I would highly recommend this book.
I am anticipating the sequel already, and this book has only just come out. The fact that I have to wait so long is so depressing. I would highly recommend this book.
katie1031's review against another edition
4.0
Okay so I reviewed this book without giving it much thought. I realize i may have made myself sound like i didnt like it, thats not the case. I loved this book, it was spooky and a super fun read. I loved the main character and while i didnt love the romance aspects in the book i just think i didnt go into it with that expectation and even with that in mind it was really well written and it was a fun book to read around halloween time
chaosandbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Going into this book, my first thought was that the narration was a charming blend of Rick Riordan and Lemony Snicket. I absolutely adored that style and I think it worked really well with the Halloween-esque vibes that the book gave off. There were times it made me laugh and I enjoyed the descriptive attention to detail in it.
The plot itself was very unique and refreshing, even if the pacing of the book felt slow at times. There were a few bits that felt repetitive and made me think of foreshadowing, to which I was right. Despite that, I think the faster pacing in the last few chapters thoroughly made up with it and the plot twist was cleverly crafted. I was actually upset to realize this ended with a cliffhanger because I wanted more.
I look forward to the sequel and seeing the relationship between Alastor and Prosper develop further because I think it has a cranky family-type to it that I find adorable. I'm also interested to see if Nell plays a part in the next book because I think her character is a rare gem, but what I'm most interested in seeing is how Prue is developed.
Overall, this was a light-heartened and enjoyable read.
The plot itself was very unique and refreshing, even if the pacing of the book felt slow at times. There were a few bits that felt repetitive and made me think of foreshadowing, to which I was right. Despite that, I think the faster pacing in the last few chapters thoroughly made up with it and the plot twist was cleverly crafted. I was actually upset to realize this ended with a cliffhanger because I wanted more.
I look forward to the sequel and seeing the relationship between Alastor and Prosper develop further because I think it has a cranky family-type to it that I find adorable. I'm also interested to see if Nell plays a part in the next book because I think her character is a rare gem, but what I'm most interested in seeing is how Prue is developed.
Overall, this was a light-heartened and enjoyable read.