“A soft heart only makes it easier for a knife to slip in.”

Prosper Redding is of the Massacusetts Reddings: a very rich, very privileged family whose lineage goes back to the pilgrims. Prosper is a bit of a black sheep, caring mostly about art and his twin sister Prue.  His grandmother, a severe matriarchal type, seems to particularly despise him, probably because he doesn’t do much to contribute to the Redding Name. Even he couldn’t guess how much he was despised, though — until the day of a local fair, when he is dragged down to the family dungeon (yes, dungeon), exposed to a magical book only he is able to read, then roughly tacked by his grandmother who wields a knife.  He is hustled away by an estranged uncle, who reveals to him that the family has been dealing with demons. An early settler of the Redding family made a contract with the underworld for eternal prosperity for his family. Unfortunately, this ancestor also broke that contract, and now the demon has returned for revenge – returned himself right into the body of Prosper Redding, which he plans to inhabit until he’s returned to his full strength and can destroy the Reddings in a deliciously violent way. Together, Prosper and his family begin to make plans to rid themselves of this demon once and for all. But how do you keep these plans a secret from a demon who can hear your thoughts and possess your body, and what happens if the people who are keeping you safe are holding secrets of their own?

This was a quick fun read, perfect for kids who want something a little dark to read that won’t be overwhelming.  Prosper is a very likable character and his demon is also fun to read. Chapters alternate between the two POVs so the reader is invited into the demon Alastor’s world and predicament. The most delightful part of the book is how Prosper and Alastor’s stories intertwine and some fun twists take advantage of this tangled web in a very satisfactory way. One twist came out of left field for me, but didn’t spoil the story.