Reviews with content warning for Torture - Prophet Song

Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Prophet Song by Paul Lynch

68 reviews

timmytunter's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Prophet Song is an unflinching and emotionally brutal portrayal of a nation spiralling into war. Paul Lynch’s novel grips the reader with its intensity, pulling you into the heart of a society on the brink of collapse.

What stands out most is Lynch’s exceptional prose. His unconventional descriptions of everyday moments breathe life into the narrative in ways that are unexpected yet striking.

For instance, when describing a simple exchange, Lynch writes:

She finds herself watching the face so intensely she is met with the feeling of an existence unalterably separate from hers, can feel her smile uncoupling from her face, the smile sliding past her jaw onto the floor.

Or this vivid depiction of a tender yet tragic moment:

What has been stored in the body, what has been locked in the heart gives release through Molly’s mouth into sobbing…We have entered into a tunnel and there is no going back, she says, we just need to keep going and going until we reach the light on the other side.

Lynch’s writing is both beautiful and harrowing, capturing the emotional toll of life under siege. The novel’s intensity weighs heavily, and while I found it incredibly powerful, I have no desire to read it again—not because it’s a bad book, but because of its emotional heft. The experience was profound, but draining.

That said, Prophet Song is a novel everyone should read at least once. It exposes the jarring and tragic realities of life in a war-torn country in a way that will leave you both shaken and reflective. The devastating truth is that this depiction accurately reflects the reality for many in our world today, a fact which is cause for pause, reflection, and action.

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columba_livia's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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aseel_reads's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

I think the idea of the story was interesting but I hate this style of execution and it was really hard to concentrate on the story. Some plot events had me super engaged

um bailey dying?? Wtf

but like it took me so long to remember the names of the kids and I felt like the mum could have been more proactive, especially in the second half

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krysley's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

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marmalou_'s review against another edition

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dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I wont ever forget this story.

Set in a modern-day Ireland at the start of a civil war, where the country quickly descends into a totalitarian regime. The story follows Eilish trying to hold her family together amongst the terror and chaos as their lives unravel around them. A very tough read because this dystopian world doesn’t seem that far away.

4.5* but would have been 5* if I hadn’t found the writing style so challenging

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gracethebibliofeline's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Absolutely heart-wrenching. The writing is beautiful, and the story is so emotional. Truly one of the most impactful modern novels, and at such an important time for bringing the refugee experience to light. I believe this should be considered a modern classic. Truly horrifying insight into the lives of those ravaged by war and instability, especially the mothers, their children and ordinary families, it confronts the reader with a reality we often detach ourselves from. Truly important to humanise the refugee plight further than just news reports. I was brought to tears by this novel. Amazing writing, my favourite novel of the year.

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