Originally posted to I Should Read That

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.

Prosper’s Demon was one of my most highly anticipated January releases, in part because of its astonishing cover -- yes, I am shallow. While this horror novella wasn’t necessarily what I expected or craved, I enjoyed this strange and snarky tale of demonic possession and exorcism.

This novella is a funny one, because while it does everything it says in the blurb it is much more literary than I expected. Novellas are obviously shorter than your standard book, so space on the page is at a premium. I really liked the plot, but the focus of the book wasn't the plot. There were pages of musings on philosophy and art that, although I enjoyed them, didn’t seem to quite fit in with the novella format. I think I expected a more straightforward narrative and while I did like this aspect of the book, it prevented me from adoring this book as much as I might have otherwise and I think it will turn off some readers. 

Despite this, Prosper’s Demon is a fun and snarky romp through a historical fantasy setting, mostly due to the fantastic nameless narrator. He’s an exorcist and self-proclaimed asshole who is incredibly morally grey -- the book opens with him waking up next to a dead body and he is mildly annoyed and inconvenienced rather than horrified. I really think that his voice and morally dubious nature is the factor that ties this story together -- Prosper’s Demon might otherwise have just been a forgettable novella with some good ideas.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and am so pleased I had the chance to read it. If you’re looking for an unconventional and entertaining novella, I’d highly recommend Prosper’s Demon. 

3.5 out of 5 stars