A twisted take on the battle of good and evil from Michael Grant, the dark genius of YA Fiction.
When Mara wakes up lying in a field of dead grass and shrouded by a heavy mist, she can remember nothing but her name. At first she thinks she is dead. But then she meets him: young, good-looking but pale almost to translucence and dressed all in black. He is the Messenger of Fear. But what does he want with her? And what is the significance of the dead girl in the coffin?
The Messenger sees the darkness in young hearts, and the damage it inflicts upon the world. If the wicked go unpunished, he offers them a game. Win, and they can go free. Lose, and they will live out their greatest fear. But why has Mara been chosen to accompany the Messenger and what secrets are lurking in her memories that are just out of reach?
Messenger of Fear is a fantastic allegory of our times in the spirit of The Hunger Games or Divergent. It is about the pain of adolescence, teen suicide, and guilt. It is the kind of gothic horror that could only have come from the pen of Michael Grant: the man who gave us GONE.
Don’t miss the heart-stopping sequel The Tattooed Heart.
Michael Grant has lived an exciting, fast-paced life. He moved in with his wife Katherine Applegate after only 24 hours. He has co-authored over 160 books but promises that everything he writes is like nothing you’ve ever read before!
Michael Grant is also the author of the GONE Series: Gone, Plague, Light, Hunger, Lies, Fear, and the BZRK trilogy:BZRK, BZRK Reloaded, BZRK Apocalypse.
"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, Bestselling Author of the Goosebumps and Fear Street 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's new series starts off with a bang and never lets up.The games will delight those readers who enjoy a little gore and horror in their books. This is a promising start to a series with a truly unique concept."--School Library Journal
"Written from a stream-of-consciousness point of view, this book is a welcome change from the current dystopian young adult books that are so popular.The idea that good and evil in the world are balanced on the edge of a knife is a motivating philosophy."--Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
"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 withhorror and paranormal fans.""--Booklist
Praise for GONE: "If Stephen King had written LORD OF THE FLIES, it might have been a little like this."--VOYA (starred review)
Praise for HUNGER: "Readers will be unable to avoid involuntary gasping, shuddering, or flinching while reading this suspense-filled story."--VOYA (starred review)
Praise for LIES: "Disturbing, brilliantly plotted, and boasting a balanced mix of action and scheming."--ALA Booklist
