Mara awakes surrounded by a strange mist with no memory of what has happened or who she is, other than that her name is Mara. Guided by the mist to a church, she finds a young man, a Messenger, who goes back in time to punish people for deeds done wrong. He offers them a game – if they choose to play and win they go free, if they lose or decide not to play they are subjected to their greatest fear. But why is Mara here, and why does she have to witness these horrible events?

Messenger of Fear is a gruesome, horrific novel, not only for the violence and fears inflicted on the subjects, but also for the serious and upsetting topics Michael Grant tackles. This is a book about suicide, bullying, homophobia and the choices you make that can change your life (and someone else’s) forever.

A captivating read for ages 14 and up.

Katherine Dretzke