Isaiah and Samuel live as enslaved men on a Mississippi plantation, finding solace and love in each other despite the brutality surrounding them. Their relationship becomes a beacon of hope and resistance — but also a target of suspicion and violence. Through lyrical prose and multiple voices, Robert Jones Jr. weaves a story of love, resilience, and the struggle for freedom in the face of oppression.
Rated 4.1/5 on Goodreads from 22,000+ ratings — "A powerful, poetic debut — Jones writes with breathtaking beauty and rage."
Celebrated on BookTok for its queer love story in a historical setting, lyrical almost-biblical prose, and themes of resistance and survival. Viral quotes emphasize the sacredness of love amid brutality.
Perfect for fans of Toni Morrison's Beloved, Colson Whitehead's The Underground Railroad, or James Baldwin's Giovanni's Room. A natural fit for a Queer & Black Literary Classics bundle alongside Morrison, Baldwin, or Whitehead.
A trade paperback Advance Reader's Copy (ARC, 2021 edition) in Very Good condition — collectible and well-preserved, a rarer find for literary collectors.
