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jessie_h's review against another edition
4.0
I’m a little in awe of how the author could write such a cohesive story from so many POVs and a non-linear timeline that it sucks you in even as you read slowly in order to digest and sometimes savor what has been written. The central romance was beautiful and makes my heart sore. I quickly fell in love with Samuel and Isaiah and with every page I read, I was fervently hoping that their love and relationship would survive everything and remain whole.
My favorite character of the whole book was Maggie and her view of the world and her knowledge of her peoples’ past was intriguing. I also really enjoyed the parts of the story told from the view of the African king and getting to see parts of that village’s culture before everything goes pear-shaped.
This book has left a dent in my heart and is a story that I’m going to be thinking about for a long time to come.
Moderate: Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Slavery, and Violence
rhythmvick's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
At the centre of this ugly white plantation world is a tender queer Black love; the contrast between that deep humanity and the grotesque behaviour of the enslavers was captivating, both in a pleasant way and also a deeply painful way.
I appreciated the multi-character focus, the expansive understanding of gender and sexuality (particularly the chapters set in Africa), the strength of the female characters (including the spiritual femme characters), the growing tension as the book reached its climax, the lyrical prose and ability to weave the spiritual into the real. And I deeply appreciated that the author took the stories of these enslaved people, and the memory of all enslaved people, and lifted their testimonies into chapters named after the chapters of the Bible - I don't really have the words to articulate how significant it feels, but it felt like an honouring and a reclamation.
Graphic: Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Racism, Kidnapping, Grief, and Colonisation
kirstym25's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Rape
lklitup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Prophets focuses on Samuel and Isaiah, two slaves on the Halifax plantation (Empty) in Mississippi. These two men love one another and find refuge and purpose in their love. But from the pair’s peace comes others’ (Amos’) betrayal disguised as… protection? What was once between Samuel and Isaiah becomes a point of contention that then expands to consume Empty.
This novel also interweaves stories of other slaves, primarily the women— Maggie, Puah, Sarah, Essie— the Halifax family, and the ancestors.
In reading other reviews, the complexity of the writing style was a common gripe. While I agree with that challenge, I am more so falling on the side of recognizing The Prophets for its exploration of the “quiet, revolutionary power of love.” -National Book Award judge’s citation.
Graphic: Slavery, Racial slurs, and Rape
cait's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Prophets is a novel that takes some time to get into. As with many books about slavery, it is a distressing and uncomfortable read. We follow the occupants of a cotton plantation known as Empty as desperation leads one man to Christ and the rest to destruction. Wanting nothing more than to have his sort-of wife be excused from the forced inseminations, Amos decides to appease the plantation owner by turning to Christianity and spreading it amongst the other slaves, grasping particularly onto the "sins" he perceives are being committed by Isaiah and Samuel in the privacy of their barn. Though the duo is known for their hard work and kind natures, being the only men in Empty who don't participate in the forced rape of slave women at their master's command, it isn't long before the members of the community turn on them, just so they can have someone to look down upon.
This is a difficult story to put into words. It is equal parts fascinating and horrifying, beautiful and hideous. The way it delves into generational trauma and blood memory is fascinating. Jones did such an incredible job of fleshing out these characters within their limited amount of designated pages and completing the story so that it circles back in on itself. This is the sort of novel that makes you really think. I've heard it's the kind of story that, if you explore it a second time, you discover was deeper and more detailed than you originally imagined.
But, while this is a story of race and racism, I think that it is also a story of power and misogyny. Like the steps of a ladder: White over black and men over women. As you go down the rungs of the ladder, though, who has the least amount of power: Black women ... or black men who do not obey the "rules" of manhood? And why and by who was it decided that the thing that made these two boys lesser was the fact that they alone never laid a single hand upon anyone unwilling to be touched?
Graphic: Colonisation, Confinement, Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Colonisation, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Trafficking, and Violence
mariage's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Rape and Sexual violence
saraflexer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Rape and Sexual harassment
wherethewildreadsare's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Slavery and Torture
Minor: Rape
ashleysbookthoughts's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Homophobia, Murder, Physical abuse, and Rape
caroline_hutchison's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Slavery, and Violence