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whimsyvoid's review against another edition
4.0
This was really good! I love Al. He’s such a little butt. But I adore him. Lol And Prosper is a dear. My heart goes out to the poor boy. Over all the story was good and I honestly enjoyed myself. I can’t wait to see what happens next after that freaking ending!
izumisano's review against another edition
3.0
While this book wasn't perfect, there was some elements I really liked in it. I thought the Alastor chapters were interesting and really fleshed out his character. He wasn't just a malevolent fiend with colorful insults. You got to see how his mind worked and what his weakness were. Nell's constant ragging on Prosper for being rich got old after awhile. She really didn't take the time to see that he was the failure of his family. There was also the weird relationship between Nell, Uncle B, and Missy. Some of it was explained at the end, but there are still some gray areas that bug me. I really hope she clears these up in the next book. I have a lot of questions.
Spoiler
Nell knew that her dad (or the man posing as her dad) made a contract with another malefactor to get back at the Reddings for screwing them over all those years ago. I'm guessing she was mad at Missy for either letting her "dad" take her away easily or maybe not being willing to partake in the contract. But Missy seemed not to know about how involved Nell was with the malefactor situation. I'm also not sure why Uncle B didn't want Nell to have contact with Missy. Unless he thought that she would talk her out of what they were doing with malefactor business.maryfaithreads's review against another edition
4.0
This book was so cute! In a creepy, supernatural sort of way. I don't read a lot of middle grade, but this reminded me of how fun that genre can be. I really loved these characters, especially Prosper and Nell. I even liked Alastor. (I mean, come on, who doesn't love a good villain?) I didn't know that this was going to be a series, but now that I do I'm so excited to see where things go!
Two complaints:
1. There was a period around the middle of the book that kind of dragged on for me. Things just got boring. It was a total lull. Didn't love that, obviously.
2. It was clear that there was more to the story than what Prosper was being told, but that ending was kind of crazy. I feel like everything happened in two pages. It just felt a little too fast and random to me.
Other than that, I loved this. And I need book two now.
Two complaints:
1. There was a period around the middle of the book that kind of dragged on for me. Things just got boring. It was a total lull. Didn't love that, obviously.
2. It was clear that there was more to the story than what Prosper was being told, but that ending was kind of crazy. I feel like everything happened in two pages. It just felt a little too fast and random to me.
Other than that, I loved this. And I need book two now.
laurenparrott's review against another edition
5.0
First and foremost, this book made me wish it was currently October. I was in desperate need of Halloween, jack-o-lanterns, black cats, and haunted houses in the entirety of reading this book. Alex Bracken has been one of my favorite authors in the past few years and this book does not fall short of any expectations I hold; she exceeds all of them. The Darkest Minds series holds such a special place in my heart and I thought nothing could ever come close to that. Then, I read the Passenger series and had the same thought. And most recently, The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding came along.
Prosper Redding is your average twelve-year old boy (he's sassy and often confused), but he has an ancient demon trapped inside of him that constantly threatens to ruin his whole family and their empire. Not to mention, the Reddings are hated by what seems to be the whole general population. You know, average twelve-year-old things. It's been eight, nearly nine, years since I was twelve and I can honestly say that Bracken captured a twelve-year-old perfectly. From the sinking feeling in your stomach on the first day of school to the terrifying adventure of meeting new people, it's all there.
The world building is on another level. Like The Darkest Minds and Passenger, Bracken writes a new world and describes it in the best way possible. It's so easy to see the scenes and every little detail in the setting because she paints it so well. She is beyond descriptive and it made me get lost in Redhood and Salem.
Despite being a middle-grade novel, and me being twenty, I adored this story. Bracken always has the most thought-out plots and she doesn't disappoint. Her characters are absolutely incredible and so realistic. From the moment Nell was introduced, I completely fell in love with her sarcastic comebacks, her passion for witchcraft, and her selflessness. Nell is fierce and a force to be reckoned with. She's also never afraid to ask questions and that's a lesson we can all afford to learn. Alex Bracken even finds room in this novel to discuss the unequal treatment of women and men in theatrical productions and if that isn't astounding, I'm not sure what is.
I want to keep this a spoiler-free review. I do. And I will. But this whole book, especially the ending, is truly told in Alex Bracken style.
You're going to want to pick this book up, and if you don't, you'll kick yourself for missing out. And you don't have to be a kid to enjoy it; you just have to love a great book, spectacular characters, and a fantastic author who knows how to write a stunning story.
And a huge thank you to NetGalley for supplying me with an early copy to read and review!
Prosper Redding is your average twelve-year old boy (he's sassy and often confused), but he has an ancient demon trapped inside of him that constantly threatens to ruin his whole family and their empire. Not to mention, the Reddings are hated by what seems to be the whole general population. You know, average twelve-year-old things. It's been eight, nearly nine, years since I was twelve and I can honestly say that Bracken captured a twelve-year-old perfectly. From the sinking feeling in your stomach on the first day of school to the terrifying adventure of meeting new people, it's all there.
The world building is on another level. Like The Darkest Minds and Passenger, Bracken writes a new world and describes it in the best way possible. It's so easy to see the scenes and every little detail in the setting because she paints it so well. She is beyond descriptive and it made me get lost in Redhood and Salem.
Despite being a middle-grade novel, and me being twenty, I adored this story. Bracken always has the most thought-out plots and she doesn't disappoint. Her characters are absolutely incredible and so realistic. From the moment Nell was introduced, I completely fell in love with her sarcastic comebacks, her passion for witchcraft, and her selflessness. Nell is fierce and a force to be reckoned with. She's also never afraid to ask questions and that's a lesson we can all afford to learn. Alex Bracken even finds room in this novel to discuss the unequal treatment of women and men in theatrical productions and if that isn't astounding, I'm not sure what is.
I want to keep this a spoiler-free review. I do. And I will. But this whole book, especially the ending, is truly told in Alex Bracken style.
You're going to want to pick this book up, and if you don't, you'll kick yourself for missing out. And you don't have to be a kid to enjoy it; you just have to love a great book, spectacular characters, and a fantastic author who knows how to write a stunning story.
And a huge thank you to NetGalley for supplying me with an early copy to read and review!
ladidareads's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars - Super cute and enjoyable autumnal/halloween read :)
kaitrosereads's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve loved Alex Bracken’s writing since I read her first novel, Brightly Woven. I don’t read a ton of middle grade novels but I’m always willing to check out a new book by an old favorite. The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding is one of those books that honestly makes me eager to seek out more middle grade titles. It’s a fun read with quirky characters and tons of twists that I did not see coming.
Prosper Redding is one of those characters that you just can’t help but love. He’s snarky and a little bitter but both characteristics are warranted since he seems to have the worst luck of anyone, ever. As if things aren’t bad enough being a preteen, now he’s saddled with a voice in his head that belongs to the family demon. What more could a kid ask for, right? Prosper’s sense of humor and his banter, not only with Alastor but with everyone around him, were possibly the best things about this book. The story itself was good but Prosper and Alastor are what made it great.
The setting played a big part in my love for this book. I read it in the middle of winter but this is truly the perfect read for a fall day. Redhood is one of those towns full of history and character that would be at the top of my list to visit. Alex Bracken did a wonderful job giving Redhood it’s own unique brand while also invoking all the things I loved about Salem. Good luck reading this one and not wanting to curl up in front of a fire with a mug of hot chocolate!
My one and only complaint about The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding is that the pacing is a little odd. There are times when it felt like there was tons of stuff going on and other times it seemed like nothing was ever going to happen again. With it being the first in a series, I understand that some information needed to be provided but at times it just felt like one giant info dump rather than really laying everything out. And don’t even get me started on the ending. The cliffhanger came out of nowhere. I’m all for a good cliffhanger but this one seemed really rushed and when I turned the final page I couldn’t actually believe that there wasn’t more. It did succeed in making me super impatient for the next book though so I guess that has to count for something.
Overall, The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding is one that I would definitely recommend. It’s the perfect read for middle grade fans or even those looking for a good introductory middle grade read. If you’ve read anything by Alex Bracken, you won’t be disappointed with this one.
Prosper Redding is one of those characters that you just can’t help but love. He’s snarky and a little bitter but both characteristics are warranted since he seems to have the worst luck of anyone, ever. As if things aren’t bad enough being a preteen, now he’s saddled with a voice in his head that belongs to the family demon. What more could a kid ask for, right? Prosper’s sense of humor and his banter, not only with Alastor but with everyone around him, were possibly the best things about this book. The story itself was good but Prosper and Alastor are what made it great.
The setting played a big part in my love for this book. I read it in the middle of winter but this is truly the perfect read for a fall day. Redhood is one of those towns full of history and character that would be at the top of my list to visit. Alex Bracken did a wonderful job giving Redhood it’s own unique brand while also invoking all the things I loved about Salem. Good luck reading this one and not wanting to curl up in front of a fire with a mug of hot chocolate!
My one and only complaint about The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding is that the pacing is a little odd. There are times when it felt like there was tons of stuff going on and other times it seemed like nothing was ever going to happen again. With it being the first in a series, I understand that some information needed to be provided but at times it just felt like one giant info dump rather than really laying everything out. And don’t even get me started on the ending. The cliffhanger came out of nowhere. I’m all for a good cliffhanger but this one seemed really rushed and when I turned the final page I couldn’t actually believe that there wasn’t more. It did succeed in making me super impatient for the next book though so I guess that has to count for something.
Overall, The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding is one that I would definitely recommend. It’s the perfect read for middle grade fans or even those looking for a good introductory middle grade read. If you’ve read anything by Alex Bracken, you won’t be disappointed with this one.
sasha_in_a_box's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great Halloween read - fun, twisty, a little gross, a little creepy, and did I mention fun? I enjoyed reading this, even if it wasn't the most revolutionary thing I've read. So if you're looking for a contemporary cursed families kind of story, check this one out!
themichellegray's review against another edition
4.0
Alexandra Bracken painted a beautiful picture of fall in New England. This was such a fun story to read during this time of year and is absolutely perfect for those who don't like to get too scared. There are definitely some spooky elements within this story but it doesn't feel too dark being a middle grade book. The only thing I didn't like was the ending; the twist wasn't that big of a surprise and readers didn't get any resolution to the plot. Either way, I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!