First published 2014
Mara Todd opens her eyes in a field of withered grass. Thick mist surrounds her. She cannot remember her name or her past. Fear grips her as she wonders if she has died. A boy emerges from the fog and calls himself the Messenger of Fear. He delivers justice to those who escape earthly punishment. The Messenger offers the guilty a game. Winners walk free. Losers must face their deepest terror. Both outcomes test their sanity. This system demands fairness but shows no mercy. The Messenger has chosen Mara as his apprentice. She does not know why she deserves this burden. She must witness three acts of justice before learning her fate. The truth will destroy her when it comes. Michael Grant creates a story that probes the moral darkness within all people. Readers who enjoyed Michelle Hodkin's Mara Dyer books and Stephen King's work will find this twisted tale compelling.
Genres: mystery, fantasy, supernatural, thriller, dark-fantasy
Vibes: dark, emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: chosen-one, enemies-to-allies, unreliable-narrator
272 pages · Paperback · Katherine Tegen Books
Content warnings: anxiety, death, mental-illness