The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding (Prosper Redding Series #1)

by Alexandra Bracken Narrated by Kirby Heyborne

Overview

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, four-thousand-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?

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

★ 07/03/2017
Every family has its secrets, but not every family has a secret pact with a demon. In a promising series opener, Bracken (Wayfarer) kicks off the darkly delicious story of Prosperity “Prosper” Redding and his powerful family’s efforts to protect its legacy. Hapless, unpopular Prosper and his twin sister, Prue, are on the cusp of turning 13 when their frosty grandmother holds an impromptu family reunion, with nefarious intent, while the children’s parents are away. Soon after, Prosper is whisked to a haunted house in Salem, where he learns that his body and mind are entangled with a fiend named Alastor (“I know all of thy fears, thy desires, thy jealousy—where thou hides thy collection of small porcelain ponies,” the demon informs him). The story’s mysteries, which involve the fates of multiple dimensions of reality, unfold slowly enough to build anticipation but quickly enough to keep readers furiously flipping pages. Prosper shows tremendous growth (his testy interactions with Alastor may remind some readers of Jonathan Stroud’s Bartimaeus books), Bracken’s cast is drawn in loving detail, and her twisty plot will keep readers guessing. Ages 8–12. Agent: Merrilee Heifetz, Writers House. (Sept.)

From the Publisher

"Bracken delivers a funny, thrilling, and unexpected tale."—Robert Beatty, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Serafina series

"Unique and humorous...The main characters, including the villain, are likable and flawed. The author’s smooth transitions and delightful writing style will draw readers into the story with ease. This is a must-read for fans of Bracken and paranormal mysteries."—School Library Journal

*"An infectious, entertaining series starter. Hapless, dry Prosper is at hilarious odds with his demanding, old-fashioned demon companion, and the thrilling plot twists will keep even the most savvy readers guessing. Clever, occasionally frightening, and always fun, this will hook plenty."—Booklist, starred review

*"The story's mysteries, which involve the fates of multiple dimensions of reality, unfold slowly enough to build anticipation but quickly enough to keep readers furiously flipping pages... Bracken's cast is drawn in loving detail, and her twisty pot will keep readers guessing."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

PRAISE FOR THE DARKEST MINDS

"The conclusion to the Darkest Minds series is as tense, emotional, and brutal as one would expect... The plotline has plenty of twists, up until the last page... It's safe to say fans will appreciate the well-thought-out conclusion."—Booklist Online

School Library Journal

09/01/2017
Gr 5–9—A long time ago, during the Salem witch trials, Honor Redding promised a fiend named Alastor the eternal servitude of everyone in his line in exchange for unimaginable wealth. Instead, Honor outwitted the fiend and reneged on the deal. Now Prosper Redding, Honor's modern-day descendant, is possessed by Alastor, and it's up to the teen and his family to vanquish the demon. With the help of some "black sheep" in the family, Prosper must figure out a way to break the curse. Alastor, however, has other ideas. Can the young man survive his family curse long enough to break it? Unique and humorous, the plot is filled with fantastical mystery and paranormal elements. The main characters, including the villain, are likable and flawed. The author's smooth transitions and delightful writing style will draw readers into the story with ease. This is a must-read for fans of Bracken and paranormal mysteries. VERDICT A first purchase for middle school audiences.—Kira Moody, Salt Lake County Library Services

Kirkus Reviews

2017-07-02
The consequences of a centuries-old bargain fall on Prosper Redding. The Reddings, premier WASP family of the posh Massachusetts town of Redhood, are rich, talented, and successful—except for 12-year-old Prosper, a bullied D student. On Founder's Day, the extended family gathers, taking twins Prosper and Prue to the dungeon basement of their family estate for an odd ceremony that ends in an attack on Prosper. Rescued by a stranger, he wakes to learn that his rescuer is his disgraced uncle, Barnabas Redding. Aided by his witch daughter, biracial, bronze-skinned Nell (whose identity goes largely unplumbed), Barnabas has hidden Prosper from the Reddings. Barnabas and Nell tell Prosper of a complicated mythology (it involves four realms: of humans, spirits, fiends, and ancients) and explain that in 1693, Honor Redding made a deal with a type of fiend called a malefactor in exchange for family prosperity. A later attempt to break the contract went wrong, enabling the malefactor—Alastor—to be reborn, trapped in Prosper. Alastor waits, gathering his strength to escape for vengeance on the Reddings—which Prosper must prevent. Alastor's supernatural threats aside, Prosper thrives in hiding, out from the Redding shadow. From time to time, sometimes conveyed in third-person breaks in Prosper's narration, the entertaining Alastor possesses Prosper, leading to comedic moments as he adjusts to the modern world. The betrayal- and twist-packed conclusion sets up the sequel. Strong characters and humor lift an otherwise slow and complicated plot. (Fantasy/horror. 9-14)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171141363
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	09/05/2017
Series:	Prosper Redding Series , #1
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

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