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A review by mariahistryingtoread
The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding by Alexandra Bracken
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.