Messenger of Fear Messenger of Fear, Book 1, (Paperback)

In this suspenseful, gripping tale, The Messenger of Fear inflicts an awful cat and mouse game upon unsuspecting victims, who may or may not deserve their worst fears coming true. A fight of good versus evil. Mara, a young girl, wakes up in an eerie, misty field with no recollection of how she got there. She feels cold and afraid and suddenly a boy appears. The Messenger of Fear. A character that definitely lives up to his name. Mara Todd learns quickly about the justice he yearns for. Her job is to help him guide a twisted game. If those chosen to play, beat the game, they win. But to beat the game is difficult to say the least. If they lose, their worst fears will become reality. Mara is the apprentice, but seems to be more like a pawn in his creepy game. She is the one who acts while he watches and directs. She has no clue as to why she was chosen but plays along out of fear for the unknown. She is relatable and easy to like and sympathize with. Why was she chosen? Is she playing her own evil game along with the others? Is she being tested too and what will happen to her when the game is over? What the book provides is a great sense of mystery as well as horror and distress. It was gripping and unpredictable and the tests were creative and unique. The characters are full bodied but still have a bit of mystery about them. It was very descriptive and detailed which helps make it more real and more horrifying. The story is dark and will cause its readers to decide what their definition of justice is. It may also be great for a twisted lesson of the consequences of evil and negativity. It is an easy and fast read but a great introduction to the rest of the series. Like something out of a Goosebumps book, this book is chilling and will leave it readers uneasy till the end. The end, though, provides clarity and a better understanding of the game and why. Michael Grant has written a phenomenal story where the characters feel real and the antagonist is horrifying. My son and I both read this book and could not put it down. We cannot wait for the next books.