Prophet follows two investigators, one of whom has the supernatural ability to tell if a statement is undeniably true or not. Adam and Rao are tasked with investigating a series of mysterious appearances of objects that aren't quite right. Before they know it, they are up against an oligarchy of billionaires seeking to control an unknown substance that preys on people's nostalgia until they are comatose. It's a slow-burn queer romance amid a science fiction thriller. The anchor of this story is the relationship between Adam and Rao. They are loners, having each grown up in difficult circumstances, though we see far less of Rao's childhood than Adam's, making Adam the more fleshed-out character. And yet their bond is unflappable. Their slow burn doesn't feel like a will-they-won't-they question. It's one of Rao's undeniable truths. It just is. That is the book's greatest achievement. The sci-fi elements are strongest in the beginning when mystery still shrouds their peculiar qualities. Once more is known, they veer into kitsch. This could've been avoided with more focus on the nature of nostalgia and how it can be tied less to an object than a time. However, the sci-fi element, the substance, creates objects, making that tie very black-and-white. In general, Prophet is a very enjoyable read and though my hunger for it waned towards the end, I gobbled up the finale all the same. I had to know what happened to Adam and Rao, after all.

Thank you to Recorded Books and NetGalley for this ALC!