Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Os profetas

This book was beautifully written, complex, and had an amazing depth. It pulls on so many themes while setting a gay romance set during the brutality of slavery. The book examines how the relationship between Samuel and Isaiah develops and affects the lives of the both the slaves and slave owners.

One place this work of historical fiction excels is drawing direct paralells to current times. It examines issues of race, class, religion, power, and economics, in a way that you can see in modern society and how the same cycles are plaguing us today. With the romance connecting all facets of the story, it examines how acts of love can be revolutionary, and how far people will go to protect their own interests. The book utilizes books of the bible to relate to each chapter.

The characters, both slaves and slave owners have distinct personalities, which create a rich viewpoint in the way that dehumanizing systems ruin humanity and how power over others corrupts even those who believe they have good intentions.

Typically I offer a pros and cons list, but I couldn't do that. This book was like nothing I read before, and I think I'll definitely read it again to fully get everything I can from it. As someone who typically dislikes historical fiction, this was a 5 star read that I'll definitely recommend.

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davidrb's review against another edition

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challenging reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

An absolute triumph of writing, characterization, and execution. The first review I'm writing here, and for good reason. I think this is going to be my favorite of 2021.

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mich_26's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

What a literacy masterpiece and a debut novel too. I had to read this in small doses because there was just so much to be savored. The writing was absolutely beautiful. I’m still a little confused about the ending but I think this is a novel that needs to be read more than once.

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onmalsshelf's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

If The Prophets does not win some kind of an award this year, I’ll be very surprised. What an amazing debut!

I highly recommend listening on audio.

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caseythereader's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

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kylieqrada's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Review to come!

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mamiep's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional inspiring tense fast-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Robert Jones saw something missing in the novels of slavery that pepper the shelves: There were no accounts of homosexuality on the plantation. He started hearing voices, and after convincing himself he wasn’t crazy, began listening. Then he put pen to paper and came up with The Prophets, the magnificent story of two gay men on a plantation in the South. As he wrote, Jones added a story line about an African village where a woman is king and her wives are men, where two people in love, regardless of their sex, are celebrated, and another about people on a slave ship to America. This complex and beautifully written novel is like no other about this dark and desperate period of American history. Strong, supportive female characters abound. It is easy to see that Toni Morrison is one of the writers Jones respects; she would be a champion of The Prophets. I hope you will not only read this important book but attend one of his readings. His is a voice that we need to listen to.

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