A review by _head_full_of_books_
Prophet Song by Paul Lynch

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 
Prophet Song is a story of a family and society caught in midst of a war. It all begins when Eilish, a scientist and mother of four, answers her door to find the secret police on her doorstep asking for her husband, a trade unionist. Soon after her husband is taken in for interrogation by the secret police. As the war breaks out and everything, they know changes, Eilish's eldest son, Mark vanishes. 

The night the police knock, darkness enters Eilish's home and makes itself comfortable. Darkness is a character that silently runs the show in this story. We go through our lives without noticing its hidden presence that is just beyond the light we know and take for granted. This story is heartbreaking and harrowing and sadly a reality across the world today. We briefly see these stories on TV but in Prophet Song you are part of the spectacle. During an author talk I attended, the author mentioned that one of his goals with this story was to move past the sympathy and get to empathy. I think he delivered on that precisely. 

The story takes shape around Eilish’s consciousness. We see her struggles to stay strong and maintain her composure for her children but at the same time silently chipping away parts of herself. Some of her decisions frustrate the reader but I think this is where the empathy comes into play. Its easy to criticize when one is an outsider but if one puts oneself in Eilish’s shoes one might end up at the same place. 

The book makes you question humanity and how do you find hope in amidst a war. Is there hope to be found? We see the trauma play out in Eilish’s children with Molly, an out-going personality turning inwards and Bailey maturing too early for his age. These and thousands of the other children going through something similar would be forever changed for life. At that impressionable age what do they make of the world we have created? 

Prophet Song is a challenging read but a much-needed one today. 

Thank you Publishers Group Canada for my copy.