Thanks to Disney-Hyperion for sending me a copy of The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding by Alexandra Bracken, and for providing a prize pack! All opinions are, of course, my own.
I’ve always felt that magical reads were best enjoyed during the fall, and not just because of Halloween. The atmosphere just feels spookier, the air tingles with mystery and mystique. Maybe it has something to do with nature’s transition from lush and lively to cold and desolate. Autumn is a “tween” place, and I don’t mean the middle-grader kind. If you’ve read as many fairy tales as I have, you know that the in-betweens are places of great power and magic. Midnight, crossroads, transition seasons, and yes, adolescence: all transition times, moments when what was and is intersects with what could be.
In the new middle-grade fiction novel (and short series) by Alexandra Bracken, young Prosper Redding of Redhood Massachusetts finds himself faced with a major transition. Think adolescent in the crossroads at midnight during fall! Not literally, but boy, Prosper has some major demons to face. That, I mean literally! The book is full of autumn atmosphere, making it the perfect read for ages 9 and up this Halloween season.
The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding
“I would say it’s a pleasure to meet thee, Prosperity Oceanus Redding, but truly, I only anticipate the delights of destroying thy happiness….”
Like the town of Redhood, there’s nothing particular outstanding or unusual about Prosper Redding. While the rest of his family is full of mayors, CEOs, and 5-star generals, Prosper himself is pretty much just an average kid. That is, of course, until he finds out there’s a demon living inside of him! See, told you I was being literal when I saw he had to face his demons! Check out this super cute book trailer, then I’ll tell you more about it.
Read the first two chapters on Disney.com!
About the Book
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, eight-hundred-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 to trick him into a contract. Yeah, Prosper will take his afterlife without a side of eternal servitude, thanks. But with the help of his long-lost uncle, Barnabas, and his daughter, Nell, a witch-in-training, it seems like Prosper has at least a fighting chance of ridding himself of Alastor before the demon escapes and wreaks havoc on his family.
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?
Since my son is in cyber school this year, he has to read more independent selections than usual. Prosper Redding is the perfect book for him. It’s spooky, but not outright scary. At 12, he’s not quite ready for horror, even though he tries to convince me otherwise. I know my kid, he won’t sleep for a month if he watches or reads something too scary! If you read Alexandra Bracken’s Passenger series, you know she does a fabulous job creating atmosphere. As much as I liked her YA books, I feel like she really found her groove with middle grade fiction. Even though the target age group for the genre is separated by just a few years, with middle grade books you can really unleash your creativity and stretch the boundaries of the imagination, which she definitely does in a totally fun way. Yet, at the same time, Prosper Redding faces many of the same issues that tweens in the non-magical world deal with, making him a relatable character.
The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding is available now at your favorite bookstore, including Amazon.
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About the Author
Alexandra Bracken is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Darkest Minds series. Born and raised in Arizona, she moved East to study history and English at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. After working in publishing for several years, Alex now writes full-time and can be found hard at work on her next novel in a charming little apartment that’s
It is raining so much so I have been reading a lot. I love reading Dracula, Anne of Green Gables and The Phantom of the Opera!
I like reading cozy mysteries, and especially, the holiday cozy mysteries.
As Halloween nears I love to read thrillers and horror novels. Dean Koontz is a favorite.
I love to read and love a variety of styles. I love romance, intrigue, time travel, vampire, & murder mysteries. I don’t know that I have a favorite. Reading is my way to unwind and relax at the end of the day or when on vacation.
I like to read mysteries
I love reading home decor books and fictions.
I like to read mysteries during the fall season . If is a mystery with an autumnal setting, that is extra fun.
I love to read mystery books and romance during the Fall.
My favorite Autumn reads are mysteries, English/ Early American classics, and non-fiction books on herbs/plants. I also like certain kinds of fantasy like Chalice by McKinley or The Princess and the Goblin by MacDonald.
I like reading Halloweeny type books like Harry Potter, The Halloween Tree, The Graveyard Book…stuff like that.
I like both romance and thrillers.
thrillers and horror
I love to read the classics such as Emma or Pride and Prejudice.
I love reading Western Romantic stories.
“What are your favorite books to read during the fall?” In any season, I like a variety of genres!
I like to read fiction thrillers this time of year.
I love to read cozy longer books. Its really anything that can really pull me into the story.
Sounds like a wonderful fiction book of a western romance. I’m going to get this book for a Christmas gift for my daughter. She will love it. Thanks for sharing.
This book looks amazing I would Love to win it. Thank you so much for the chance. I am so excited!
I enjoy all types of books as long as they tell a good story. I like anything that takes me away from reality for a little while.
I read mostly mysteries and thrillers all year long.
I like to read cozy mysteries. Especially the culinary/baking ones! I also love thrillers!
I too love mysteries and thrillers!
I love thrillers and detective novels.
I love romance novels
Sophie Kinsella books
My favourite fall reads are romance novels.
Awesome fun giveaway! Can’t wait to read these!
I love a variety of books including romance, intrigue, time travel, historical romance, vampires, & murder mysteries. I just love to read.
I like the classics, a good scary one is always fun this time of year.
I like to read in the fall stories depicting Colonial Eras and how people survived the challenges of winters.
I really enjoy dramatic books with good atmosphere.
I love to read historical romances.
I read all kinds of books no matter the time of year. I tend to rotate so I don’t get bored with the same type- historical fiction, chick lit, mystery, non-fiction, literary fiction, etc.
I love books that take me to new lands.`
Come Fall, I like to read cozy, autumn-related or even holiday-related books. Stories that revolve around or incorporate family ideals and cooler weather.
I like to read memoirs all year round.
Cosy mysteries and suspense are great during fall.
I tend to read more horror during the fall because of Halloween. After that I enjoy the fantasy and science fiction genres.
My favourite fall reads are romance novels.
Book sounds super interesting 😮
I like to curl up with a good romance book in the fall!
Since I read a lot consistently throughout the year, I don’t have any particular books that I aim toward during the fall, except to possibly look at some handicraft ideas to make for Christmas.
I love to read mystery books in the fall.
I like to read the Bible during the fall.
My fave fall reads are Science Fiction books and stories
I like reading mystery and suspense novels in the fall.
I don’t think I have a preference for any kinds of books in the fall. I just read year round.
Scary
I like to read atmospheric books in the fall! An Unkindness of Magicians by Kat Howard was one that worked perfectly for me this fall!
I love historical fiction!
I like reading mystery books in the fall.
I like mystery books !
My favorite book series to read during Fall is the Harry Potter series!
I like reading Beverly Lewis novels about the Amish.
In the falltime, I like to read fact books.
I love to read true crime books
I like mystery books.
I like to read mysteries and horror in the fall, to get in the Halloween spirit. Thanks!
I like a good mystery in the Fall
I either like a good romance or mystery book to read during the fall.
I like mysteries.
Thanks for the chance to win!
I’ve been reading a lot of autobiographies lately but I love all sorts of books.
I like to read mind expanding books. I try to keep my mind in top condition during the slower winter months.
I like to read thriller in the fall and really any time of the year!
I don’t have a preference. The last book I read this fall was a book about 9/11, the book I’m reading right now is historical fiction set after WWII.
I like to read “To Kill A Mockingbird” never gets old to me
I love reading mysteries.
I love reading thriller books in the fall.
Harry Potter
I LOVE TO READ SUSPENSE AND THRILLER BOOKS.
My 8 year old son and I are currently reading the Captain Underpants series.
My daughter and I are going to read the Harry Potter books together! She’s seen the movies but never read the books!
I’d like to win it
I love reading horror, thrillers and mystery books during the fall.
I like to read murder mysteries and psychological thrillers
I love both cozy mysteries and any type of romance book.
Yes! You are exactly right. I like spine tingling books best in fall when it gets dark out earlier, stays dark longer, the trees are bare, the wind howls, acrid burning leaf smoke fills the air…………..it just goes together!
I like reading thrillers
I like romance novel. Thanks for the chance to win such an amazing giveaway.
I don’t have a particular genre that I read. If it’s a good book I will read it.
This series depends on your reading skills for sure, this books doesn’t make my granddaughter think of horror or wickedness instead it’s a book that helped her visualize harmony, and how respect is different from loyalty, Alastor’s from the fiend realm but he enlightens what kind people and wicked people have in common. Solution and success are the main subjects in the two current Prosper Redding books.