Robert Jones, Jr.

A singular and stunning debut novel about the forbidden union between two enslaved young men on a Deep South plantation, the refuge they find in each other, and a betrayal that threatens their existence.

The Prophets

Robert Jones Jr.

Robert Jones

'Rarely is a book this finely wrought, the lives and histories it holds so tenderly felt, and rendered unforgettably true' Ocean Vuong, author of On Earth We're Briefly GorgeousIn this blinding debut, Robert Jones Jr. blends the lyricism of Toni Morrison with the vivid prose of Zora Neale Hurston to characterise the forceful, enduring bond of love, and what happens when brutality threatens the purest form of serenity.The Halifax plantation is known as Empty by the slaves who work it under the pitiless gaze of its overseers and its owner, Massa Paul. Two young enslaved men, Samuel and Isaiah dwell among the animals they keep in the barn, helping out in the fields when their day is done. But the barn is their haven, a space of radiance and love - away from the blistering sun and the cruelty of the toubabs - where they can be alone together.But, Amos - a fellow slave - has begun to direct suspicion towards the two men and their refusal to bend. Their flickering glances, unspoken words and wilful intention, revealing a truth that threatens to rock the stability of the plantation. And preaching the words of Massa Paul's gospel, he betrays them.The culminating pages of The Prophets summon a choral voice of those who have suffered in silence, with blistering humanity, as the day of reckoning arrives at the Halifax plantation. Love, in all its permutations, is the discovery at the heart of Robert Jones Jr's breathtaking debut, The Prophets.

Stas

If you’re Black American, please check trigger warnings before reading this. If you’re anything else, check the warnings but push through; you need to be uncomfortable and read this.

I genuinely don’t know how to properly write this review except to say this book was perfect. It was raw, unfiltered, challenging, but beautiful and somehow one of the most romantic pieces of literature I’ve ever consumed. Honestly, it’s just very special and I felt connected to some of the characters in a way that I’ve never felt before. As a Black American, I obviously feel some level of kinship with the Black people in these kinds of stories because it’s my history, but something about Samuel really resonated with me. Also, Maggie felt just like one of my aunts or my grandmother and was just a really calming “presence” to me.

This is a multi-pov story, and we do go inside the heads of some of the oppressors as well as some of the slaves that were more “cooperative” with the slave owners. I think that every pov was worthwhile, enlightening, and engaging — which doesn’t mean you enjoy sitting in their thoughts. The author did an amazing job of making you understand why a character feels the way they do, even if you, the reader, doesn’t agree.

I felt fucking SICK through so much of this, but I also felt joy and pride during other parts. It’s just a testament to the strength, love, and community of Black people. Pre-colonization and the differences in beliefs and cultures were addressed in a way I thought was beautifully done. The fact that this is a queer-centered story is unique, and I think that perspective is vital when exploring the damage colonization did to the minds and morals of Black Americans over time. The impact of this is still evident today. I don’t know; I’ll just be thinking about this for a VERY long time. One of the best books I’ve ever read.

Nik ✨

If you’re Black American, please check trigger warnings before reading this. If you’re anything else, check the warnings but push through; you need to be uncomfortable and read this.

I genuinely don’t know how to properly write this review except to say this book was perfect. It was raw, unfiltered, challenging, but beautiful and somehow one of the most romantic pieces of literature I’ve ever consumed. Honestly, it’s just very special and I felt connected to some of the characters in a way that I’ve never felt before. As a Black American, I obviously feel some level of kinship with the Black people in these kinds of stories because it’s my history, but something about Samuel really resonated with me. Also, Maggie felt just like one of my aunts or my grandmother and was just a really calming “presence” to me.

This is a multi-pov story, and we do go inside the heads of some of the oppressors as well as some of the slaves that were more “cooperative” with the slave owners. I think that every pov was worthwhile, enlightening, and engaging — which doesn’t mean you enjoy sitting in their thoughts. The author did an amazing job of making you understand why a character feels the way they do, even if you, the reader, doesn’t agree.

I felt fucking SICK through so much of this, but I also felt joy and pride during other parts. It’s just a testament to the strength, love, and community of Black people. Pre-colonization and the differences in beliefs and cultures were addressed in a way I thought was beautifully done. The fact that this is a queer-centered story is unique, and I think that perspective is vital when exploring the damage colonization did to the minds and morals of Black Americans over time. The impact of this is still evident today. I don’t know; I’ll just be thinking about this for a VERY long time. One of the best books I’ve ever read.

Liyah 🤎

This book was so much more than expected! It’s prose is so beautiful and poetic but the plot and character still feel grounded and realistic. I love love love the rotating perspectives. Hearing about a character from someone else’s POV and then getting to read from the character’s POV was so rich and was an ingenious way to bring nuanced perspectives topics of religion, race, gender, sexuality and power. I love that this book is about Black gay characters but it doesn’t just make that the focus. It puts them in context as whole people and as a part of a community and really dives into how their love impacts them, their circumstances, and their community and vice versa. I was skeptical of the Toni Morrison comparisons @ first but I think they’re well earned! I highly recommended this book to anyone, especially Black people, who want a rich story, well written characters, and want to think about race gender sexuality and power differently.

Desire JoRay

Was about a 3.5 for me. These are stories that will stay with you. Heartbreaking what was lost during this time in history. From loss of life, freedom, culture, to humanity. Reason for the rating is that the story was bit too broken up and confusing to follow at times. Certain sections will switch to another character’s perspective without notice. The ending also seemed a bit rushed compared to the rest of the story.

Lisa Lindquist 

Micah

** spoiler alert **
           Not a fan of "bury your gays," but I understand why that choice was made for this book. Otherwise, it was well-written, compelling, and filled with rich lore.

This was probably one of the most profound books I've ever read. It tells a version of history that has been omitted and does it with so much beauty and honesty. There were parts that I didn't understand, but I don't think it was for me as a white person to understand. This book is meant to give voice to the people who were made to be forgotten by white people and made to give a voice to the history that my people attempted to erase. This book affected me in ways that I never thought a book could in it's beautiful telling of Samuel and Isaiah's love, the beautiful and complex culture of African people, the tragedy of having that culture stripped from them, and the pain that white people inflicted and continue to inflict on the Black community. 

Jenna Thornton

Jessica Guht

DNF page 53. The writing in this book is beautiful, and the history it shares is so important so that we never forget what slaves had to endure, but it's a little too dark for me to enjoy reading. I also had a hard time understanding what was supposed to be happening, with the explanation into each character I didn't feel like much was happening plot-wise.

Brian Walborn

María Belén

Another one that didn't live up to the hype, imo.

The story didn't draw me in at all. The pov switches were annoying and took away from the character's complexity.

I also didn't like the writing style. There's a lot of telling and not enough showing; the author doesn't give the reader the possibility of figuring anything out. Everything is laid out and explained. 

I honestly don't get all the buzz around this book. I didn't find it interesting or even good, but maybe it's just me.

Natalie Sypeck 

4.5 stars. 
I listened to the audio-book and I though that that really breathed life into the words more than I ever could reading it on my own. The writing was beautiful and the story as a whole was meaningful. The only reason I couldn't give it a full 5 stars is because I fully expected to cry, but while i came close a few times, the tears never came. I think the issue was there was too many POV, so I didn't feel as connected to the characters as a would have needed to, to fully morn their ending (whether it ended in death or not). Still highly recommend everyone read this book. I truly is a must read book.

Devin Mainville

What a stunning debut novel! The Prophets tells the tale of Samuel and Isaiah, two slaves whose love seems to threaten or endear everyone who comes across it. The book is beautifully written – the absolute epitome of literary. It feels like the kind of book an entire curriculum could be built around because there was so much depth, classic inspiration and nuanced storytelling. There were many times I wished I had brushed up on the Bible because a lot of it, unfortunately, went over my head.

While the story is clearly about Samuel and Isaiah, it is often told from everyone else’s point of view – slaves and slave holders alike - and I loved the rich tapestry of characters and backstory it provided. While the through line of the narrative is very much about love and joy as a form of resistance, this is still a very heavy book which made it a bit of a slower read for me. I really enjoyed it and I’m glad I read it, but I need to follow it up with something lighter.

Jemima Scott

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millie

marie

Jayme Bosio

Catherine Nicolai

Finalist for the National Book Award Instant New York Times Bestseller "May this book cast its spell on all of us, restore to us some memory of our most warrior and softest selves." —The New York Times Book Review “A new kind of epic...A grand achievement...While The Prophets' dreamy realism recalls the work of Toni Morrison...its penetrating focus on social dynamics stands out more singularly.” —Entertainment Weekly A singular and stunning debut novel about the forbidden union between two enslaved young men on a Deep South plantation, the refuge they find in each other, and a betrayal that threatens their existence. Isaiah was Samuel's and Samuel was Isaiah's. That was the way it was since the beginning, and the way it was to be until the end. In the barn they tended to the animals, but also to each other, transforming the hollowed-out shed into a place of human refuge, a source of intimacy and hope in a world ruled by vicious masters. But when an older man—a fellow slave—seeks to gain favor by preaching the master's gospel on the plantation, the enslaved begin to turn on their own. Isaiah and Samuel's love, which was once so simple, is seen as sinful and a clear danger to the plantation's harmony. With a lyricism reminiscent of Toni Morrison, Robert Jones, Jr., fiercely summons the voices of slaver and enslaved alike, from Isaiah and Samuel to the calculating slave master to the long line of women that surround them, women who have carried the soul of the plantation on their shoulders. As tensions build and the weight of centuries—of ancestors and future generations to come—culminates in a climactic reckoning, The Prophets fearlessly reveals the pain and suffering of inheritance, but is also shot through with hope, beauty, and truth, portraying the enormous, heroic power of love.

The Prophets

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