Praise for THE TATTOOED HEART: “An absorbing morality tale of guilt and redemption.” — Kirkus Reviews
“This will appeal to fans of the first installment as well as those who enjoy gory reads.” — School Library Journal
“Readers will still be satisfied with Mara’s growing maturity and acceptance of her own fate.” — Booklist
Praise for MESSENGER OF FEAR: “The Messenger of Fear has a two-word message for readers: BE AFRAID. The nightmares start in chapter one and don’t let up. Seriously, this book gave me chill after chill. My message to you: Read it in a safe, well-lighted place. It’s fright fiction at its best!” — R. L. Stine, author of the bestselling Goosebumps series
“The enviably cunning and ever versatile Michael Grant explodes on the scene with Messenger of Fear, a palpitating horror fantasy mash-up with a genius twist that blew my mind. I walked through O’hare with this book in my face-I couldn’t stop reading!” — Lisa McMann, New York Times Bestselling Author of the Wake trilogy and The Unwanteds series
“Mesmerizing, horrifying, and deeply thought-provoking.” — Carrie Ryan, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Forest of Hands and Teeth
“Grant only slowly unveils the reason Mara is with the Messenger, building tension and atmosphere expertly for maximum impact. Readers will find that in the end, it all comes together extremely well. An unusual and intriguing puzzle of a book.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Grant explores bullying, family problems, suicide, and more, and several painful passages will have readers cringing, even as they make them think about what they would do in the same situation….a solid beginning to a series that is likely to be quite popular with horror and paranormal fans.” — Booklist
The enviably cunning and ever versatile Michael Grant explodes on the scene with Messenger of Fear, a palpitating horror fantasy mash-up with a genius twist that blew my mind. I walked through O’hare with this book in my face-I couldn’t stop reading!
Readers will still be satisfied with Mara’s growing maturity and acceptance of her own fate.
Mesmerizing, horrifying, and deeply thought-provoking.
Praise for MESSENGER OF FEAR: “The Messenger of Fear has a two-word message for readers: BE AFRAID. The nightmares start in chapter one and don’t let up. Seriously, this book gave me chill after chill. My message to you: Read it in a safe, well-lighted place. It’s fright fiction at its best!
Readers will still be satisfied with Mara’s growing maturity and acceptance of her own fate.
07/01/2015
Gr 9 Up—Mara and the Messenger of Fear are back to mete out their particularly brutal brand of justice to those who have caused harm to themselves as well as to others. In this outing, they track two cases, one involving two teenage boys who have committed heinous hate crimes as well as those who have caused a young teenage runaway to overdose on illegal drugs. As in Messenger of Fear (HarperCollins, 2014), the punishments dispensed by the Messenger and his apprentice are graphic and will cause some readers to wince, though those who like their stories on the gory side will enjoy this work tremendously. Grant adequately expands the series' universe, gives readers more of the Messenger's backstory, and explains why he does what he does. There is sufficient summary at the start of this volume for those who have not read the previous title, but readers' experience will be greatly enhanced if they have. The ending is a bit rushed, yet teens will be satisfied with a few loose ends. VERDICT This will appeal to fans of the first installment as well as those who enjoy gory reads.—Christopher Lassen, Brooklyn Public Library
2015-06-06
This sequel to Messenger of Fear (2014) continues the story of Mara, who atones for her own evil acts by entering the service of a supernatural entity bound to punish other evildoers. Mara knows she caused a death. Now she works as the apprentice to the Messenger of Fear, confronting others who have done wrong and punishing them by inflicting their worst fears upon them. Unseen by humans unless they wish it, Mara and the Messenger watch the lives of the victims and the guilty to learn the truth about each. Much of this story follows the misfortunes of Graciella, now a drug-addicted prostitute, once a young songwriter victimized by a rising popular singer and her unscrupulous manager. Another storyline involves Trent, a hate-filled, racist teen who attacks Muslims and becomes one of the story's most interesting characters when he receives his punishment. Another, even darker force, represented by the immortal seductress Oriax, tempts Mara to leave the Messenger's service and follow her instead. Grant examines issues of truth, justice, and choice by building a supernatural world that interacts with reality and populating it with gods and demons. Justice and punishments take place even among the souls who, apparently temporarily, live outside of the real world while serving the goddess who balances existence. An absorbing morality tale of guilt and redemption. (Paranormal suspense. 14-18)
