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    The Prophet
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    The Prophet
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    The Prophet
    Ebook358 pages5 hours

    The Prophet

    By Amanda Stevens

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Re-read award-winning author Amanda Steven's chilling modern gothic series and relivethe journey of Amelia Gray, Graveyard Queen.

    THE PROPHET

    My nameis Amelia Gray.

    I am the Graveyard Queen, a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts.My father passed down four rules to keep me safe and I've broken every last one. A doorhas opened and evil wants me back.

    In order to protect myself, I've vowed to return to those rules. But the ghost of amurdered cop needs my help to find his killer. The clues lead me to the dark side ofCharleston—where witchcraft, root doctors and black magic still flourish—and back toJohn Devlin, a haunted police detective I should only love from afar.

    Now I'm faced with a terrible choice: follow the rules or follow my heart.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarlequin MIRA
    Release dateSep 12, 2016
    ISBN9781488006401
    Unavailable
    The Prophet
    Author

    Amanda Stevens

    Amanda Stevens is an award-winning author of over fifty novels. Born and raised in the rural south, she now resides in Houston, Texas.

    Read more from Amanda Stevens

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    Reviews for The Prophet

    4/5

    150 ratings32 reviews

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    • 5/5
      The ProphetBy: Amanda StevensNarrated by: Khristine HvamThis book ha Amelia back home but what awaits her is the ghosts from book one. She also has one that is stronger. There is also someone that has special supernatural or voodoo type powers. Very suspenseful. Special secrets revealed! Non-stop creepiness! Her private and hallowed, sacred ground that kept things undead out of her house was breached by a ghost! Good creepy book about ghost and creepy people!Great narration!
    • 5/5
      As much as I enjoyed the second book, but this series delivers itself triumphantly. The only disappointment I had in the series was waiting for the next installment because it simply begging for more.

      While still retaining the gothic horror aura, straight out of the nightmare of her past, this time Amelia is called back to Charleston only to realize that there are far more sinister things that the town kept secret and the ghost that continues to haunt it.

      Emotionally drained from the events in Asher Falls, she came back almost defeated and depressed by everything only to be in Devlin's shadow and scrutiny. Again she became conflicted by her feelings to him which was intervened by the ghost of his wife. Along the line of investigative nature, Amelia was urged by a long dead ghost to find his killer. Along the way, she found trails that leads to a long buried secret.

      Written beautifully along the dark gothic romance atmosphere, Amanda Stevens does it again with her luscious almost descriptive words. Narrated by a haunted woman who just recently found the truth about herself, desiring the norm, she unwillingly brought back into the world of nightmare between life and death.

      If you love those stories and the gameplay of beautiful gothic HOG games, reading this book is almost a perfect complement to it.

      BTW, NBC didnt go on with the tvseries yet but they're making this series into a soap opera. Oh dear... this series is a gem like American Horror Stories (except less gore I suppose). They better not go through with the soap idea. I forbid it.
    • 4/5
      Wow, lots happened in this book. This one was a real game-changer. I won't go into spoilers, suffice it to say I really liked this entry in the series and look forward to reading the next and where the author intends to go from here.
    • 4/5
      The Prophet
      4.5 Stars

      The Prophet is book #3 but it continues from where book #1, The Restorer, left off in terms of Amelia's relationship with Devlin and the issues surrounding the deaths of his wife and daughter.

      Although Amelia is an engaging heroine, she has an annoying tendency toward TSTL behavior, particularly in this book. She constantly ignores her instincts and finds herself in precarious situations and the only explanation is that her actions are necessary for the story to progress as they ultimately lead to a revelation of some kind.

      Devlin is as dark and tortured as ever. The fact that he is not in book two (although there are many references to him and Amelia's feelings for him), only enhances the anticipation and makes his return all the more worthwhile. The connection between Amelia and Devlin is breathtaking in its intensity and despite some questionable moments, the reader's patience is rewarded once they take it to the next level.

      The story involving Amelia's investigation into the death of a murdered cop and her attempts to help Devlin's daughter is absorbing, and Stevens is very skilled at concealing the clues to unraveling the mystery within the seemingly mundane. As a result, a character that aroused my suspicions in book #1 (and turned out not to be the killer) ended up being the culprit in this book. It is rewarding to know that my suspicions were justified even if it was not in the right book.

      The references to voodoo, black magic and the menacing villain all add an additional sinister layer to the creepy tone and eerie atmosphere of the Southern gothic setting. Nevertheless, the ending is a bit rushed although the mystery is neatly solved and well explained. Some tantalizing questions remain unanswered such as is Mariama truly gone? Will Devlin learn of her treachery? Did Amelia or Devlin bring something back with them from the other side? What is Darius Goodwin's endgame?

      In sum, an exciting addition and I look forward to finding out where Amelia's abilities take her.
    • 5/5
      I'm loving this series! Although I wish we'd learn a bit more about Amelia's mother & father!!
    • 3/5
      That was a very anticlimactic ending compared to the first two books. I'm a bit disappointed. What happens next? What happened to Angus when Ethan was in Amelia's house? I have more unanswered questions than answered ones. And dammit I wanna know if she still has Angus.
    • 3/5
      Third in The Graveyard Queen series, this tied up some loose ends, but left many more. I understand that there are two more coming in this series, but I may be bored with it by the time it comes out.

      The characters are becoming more familiar over the course of the books, but continue to have the same irritating qualities and don't seem to be growing, at least for me. Amelia is still naive and overly trusting, and continues to follow a path that she has been warned against her entire life. She finally finds out about her birth and her family, and that was gratifying, but there is a chasm between her mother and father than I neither understand or sympathize with.

      The men in her life continue to be on the edge of trouble. She can't forget the man from the last book, while being hopelessly in love with the man from this book (as well as the first). Of course, they are both head over heals with her because she is blond and has a well-toned body from the physical activity required in her job. I get tired of hearing that. Like she has to make an excuse for her trim and toned body.

      I continue to love the dog that Amelia adopted, which she suspects was a "bait" dog in an dog-fighting ring. He is very protective and intuitive, and I like the relationship they have with one another.

      Overall, it was an entertaining read, if not completely satisfying. I may try the next one, and I recommend this one, if you have read the other two.
    • 3/5
      THE PROPHET is the third installment in the spooky Graveyard Queen series. This time around, Amelia is back in Charleston and haunted by the ghost of a murdered police officer. He needs answers, and Amelia won't find any peace until he gets his way. The mystery was good, though the pacing dragged a bit in places.The second book in this series, THE KINGDOM, was my absolute favorite, and THE PROPHET had a hard time measuring up. I'm kinda done with Amelia pining over John Devlin. He needs to go, so she can get back to restoring cemeteries (the coolest job!) and developing her unique abilities. She needs her confidence back! While I did enjoy the surprising twists revealed at the end, overall I thought this one was just okay.
    • 2/5
      I loved The Restorer, but this story fell a little flat. It was an interesting idea, but execution didn't really come through. Some formatting errors were both distracting and confusing. Mostly, though, the story suffered from the typically shortcomings of short book length -- minimal character development, rushed plot, and unconvincing relationship building.If you're interested in this series, I absolutely recommend reading the first full novel, Restorer, before reading this.
    • 3/5
      I really enjoyed this novella. It had a great story that I know leads into the series. Ree Hutchins is the main female character in the novella, instead of Amelia Gray who is the lead character in the series. There was a brief interaction with Amelia and I liked her, excited to read the rest of the series to get to know her better.Ree was pretty spunky herself and knows she needs to stay on the trail of the secret. With the help of Hayden Priest, they are able to uncover a lot of information. Quick read, was a lot of fun! Can't wait to read the rest of the series!!
    • 3/5
      I picked up this title because it was free (still is) and sounded like it had an interesting premise. It does, but I really couldn't get into this story very much. It's really more of the plot-driven variety, rather than the character-driven kind. There's nothing wrong with that at all, but it's just not my preference.I found the writing to be decent quality except for some point-of-view problems here and there. I think it does a fabulous job with the mystery and the suspense aspects, so a reader looking for romantic suspense would probably like this story. I, personally, would have liked to have gotten more attached to the characters, but I couldn't, since they just weren't very interesting. They weren't bothersome, either, but were simply not characters I could get excited about.This short story is a prequel to The Restorer, the first novel in the Graveyard Queen series, and is meant to illustrate what to expect from the subsequent novels. I was not intrigued enough by this prequel to want to read any further books in this series, but I think it is a good story for it's intended audience. So, if you love mystery, adult romance, and suspense with some ghosts furthering the plot (but, a story that is light on characterization), then you'll likely want to download this e-book.
    • 4/5
      I absolutely love love LOVED The Restorer and I finally got to read Amanda Stevens' novella, The Abandoned, prequel to The Graveyard Queen series. I'm a huge fan of Stevens' writing style - it's sexy, fluid and darkly beautiful and The Abandoned doesn't disappoint if you love her for that alone. She is an exceptional writer, a magician with words, invoking emotion and thought at her own whim. She is THE Queen of creepy.
      So while I really LOVED The Restorer, I really LIKED The Abandoned, and let me tell you why: it didn't prominently feature Amelia and Devlin! I know, I know, you get that from reading the blurb, so I did know that going in, but I was still a teeny bit disappointed because I do love those characters and this is a prequel to the series. However, that's the only grumble-factor for me, because I still liked it a whole heckuvalot. I also get what she did here: instead of featuring Amelia and Devlin, she featured the town itself, prior to Amelia receiving the grant, so we get a little back story and a bit of a teaser. And oh does Amanda Stevens tease us - with sleepwalking, more ghostly fingers and passion! Oh the passion! She knows just how to skirt the edge before dancing back with her words, leaving you yearning for more.
      I really loved the back story to the town and some of the supporting characters from The Restorer. I definitely had an opportunity to get to know them better than before. She also writes Ree and Hayden so perfectly; both are fleshed out and incredibly realistic, especially considering this is a ghost story.
      In short, if you've read The Restorer, go grab this novella for a quick fix until her second Graveyard Queen book comes out!
    • 2/5
      2.5
      I liked this story. The rating isn't for the writing or the story itself. It just felt a bit rushed. And there was nothing to introduce us to Amelia except Oh, this is Amelia. She restores graveyards and she was considered weird when she was young.
    • 5/5
      This was a great short read. I now want to find the other books in this series and read them. This book was well written with a great plot. This was a free book in the Kindle Store.
    • 3/5
      My biggest problem with this book was that it just seemed too short. I liked the plot and characters and was left wanting more. Having just read some of the other reviews, it has come to my attention that this is a prequel to a series. I'll have to go take a look at the other books in the series. Maybe those will be a bit (longer) more to my taste. :)
    • 3/5
      Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: A story reflecting the consequences of opening yourself up to ghosts.Opening Sentence: Ree Hutchins was dozing at the old woman’s bedside, a dog-eared copy of The Call of the Wild open on her lap, when Violet Tisdale passed away.The Review:In the past, I have been very harsh with novellas claiming to be prequel’s when the truth of that statement is in question. Yes, The Abandoned, is a prequel. It does introduce major characters in the main series, including the backdrop for the first book. The difference is that this story is not about the main characters, but two separate people who also are drawn into Amelia and Devlin’s ghostly world. I will note, however, that both Ree and Hayden are lightly mentioned in the second book, The Kingdom.Ree Hutchins is a woman who firmly believes in things that are explainable. She is a psychology major at Emerson University and a part time employee at Farrante Psychiatric Hospital. When the passing of one of the patients leads Ree to discover a conspiracy to cover up heinous crimes, her sheltered world is forever changed. Ree begins to obsess over the mysterious disappearance of a former patient, Ilsa Tisdale. Little does she realize that Ilsa’s vengeful ghost is the one driving her to find out the truth. Can a person who does not believe in ghosts come to accept that they are being haunted by one? If you don’t know the rules on how to deal with ghosts, is there any hope to break free of them?Hayden Priest finds the lovely Ree dancing around a graveyard in the middle of the night. He doesn’t yet realize that she is being possessed by a ghost until she wakes up in the middle of kissing him. Of course, he believes it’s possible because he happens to be a ghost investigator. So his interest with Ree is purely professional, right? It has nothing to do with how his body responds to hers, not at all. Right! Whatever the reason that brought them together, Hayden will do everything in his power to keep Ree safe. Even if that means inviting the ghost to inhabit him so that “she” can exact her revenge.Ree and Hayden’s search for the truth of Ilsa’s past puts them in harm’s way. Not everyone wants to truth to be known, even if the death occurred so many years ago. Will the people behind Ilsa’s demise and subsequent cover-up finally pay for their crimes? Or will the unwilling helpers of the ghost be the ones to pay the ultimate price?I read this novella first before I started on the main series. I usually try to make an effort to read series in order, including any extra stories that are available, because I am a stickler for timelines. After finishing the first book, I reread The Abandoned. I have to say that, even though I enjoyed the novella as a stand-alone, it was much better after reading The Restorer. I recognized characters and places mentioned in this novella from the main book that gave me a better understanding of the whole picture. I would recommend this to readers that are already fans of the series. If you do happen to read this novella first to see if the whole book would interest you, I recommend that you revisit it after you finish the book. Otherwise, I think that you will be missing out on many of the subtle references spread throughout the novella.Notable Scene:Ree knew that she should leave, but instead she lingered, inexplicably drawn to a total stranger. He was slim and attractive with an alternative edge to his demeanor and style that made her wonder if he was a musician, the kind one might see in some cool but slightly decadent after-hours club. Not someone she’d expect to find hanging out in an abandoned graveyard.She had no reason in the world to trust him, especially considering her state of undress when she’d… awakened, for lack of a better term. But she wasn’t without memories, though hazy they might still be. She’d kissed him. He may have responded-that part was a little sketchy-but she was pretty sure she’d been the instigator. Which wasn’t like her. She was hardly a shrinking violet but she wasn’t exactly aggressive, either. Certainly not with a stranger she’d just met in a graveyard. It was all just so odd. She’d felt compelled to kiss him, as if she had no will of her own. As if she were merely a puppet in someone else’s dream.The Graveyard Queen Series:0.5. The Abandoned1. The Restorer2. The Kingdom3. The ProphetFTC Advisory: Harlequin/Mira provided me with a copy of The Abandoned. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment received came in the form of hugs and kisses from my little boys.
    • 4/5
      So many of these 'freebies' are short snippets of a story and although some are very enjoyable, most aren't fully formed stories. I am pleased to say "The Abandoned" is a self-contained and enjoyable tale. This is a prequel to her new novel "The Restorer" which is about Amelia Gray, the "Graveyard Queen". In "The Abandoned" Amelia is very briefly introduced, really a side character. The story features a young intern named Ree who works at a physchiatric hospital. She finds out some things she was never meant to hear and is thrust into some intrigue involoving a mysterious old order and an elderly patient of the hospital. The story is short, but it is interesting. We meet some other characters who have bigger parts in "The Restorer". I am sure the graveyards mentioned as well as the secret order will come into play in the series later as well. For now, this story has a climax and a real ending. It was fun to read and made me eager for more. This is definitely worth your time to read.
    • 3/5
      This is a short story novella that tells the story of Reana (Ree) Hutchins who is a Master Degree student of Psychology at Emerson University located in Charleston, South Carolina. It gives the reader a taste of Amanda Stevens writing ability and story telling before The Graveyard Restorer is released. It's an interesting story that interwines history, the Order of the Coffin and the Claw, and old family hostilities that travel the generations. It has a "taste" of romance as well between Ree and a ghost hunting investigator/lawyer named Hayden Priest, but it's main focus is on the supernatural and payback for deeds done years earlier. Yes, both Amelia and Devlin make appearances, Devlin's is the more important role.
    • 3/5
      From my blogI read this one as a ARC and just couldn't put my thoughts together. This was suppose to be an end to a trilogy and was so successful, it is now being continued as a series. I was absolutely loving The Graveyard Series, but unfortunately for me this felt like a transition novel, it didn't meet expectations and I was bored at times, so disappointed.The creepiness is still there and done well, you can feel the presence of the ghosts and the eerie atmospheres. Can a ghost manipulate, blackmail and make you feel emotions you don't understand, absolutely, especially when you are Amelia.I couldn't wait to read more about Amelia and Delvin, well that suspense was for nothing, but in the end I felt maybe that is for the next installment. Delvin is still haunted by his wife and child, this is done very well. Amelia doesn't follow the rules her father taught her, she has tempted fate, hmm, I can't wait for the overall consequences of this throughout the rest of the series. Amelia is still learning who she is and why ghost come to her. The Prophet does come together for this meaning and Amelia is fighting with understanding her past and her future. I do think Amanda Stevens is a great author and I love the characters. I am very excited to read more of this series and think the next book will be amazing. Her fans of course are happy but I think the decision may have came to late in the writing of this one. Favourite quoteBut no rationale could convince me that the one crawling on my shoe had been an accident. I no longer believed in the randomness of the universe or the happenstance of everyday occurrences. Everything happened for a reason, and I was very much afraid this current synchronicity would be the death of me.
    • 4/5
      Well, well, well... I hear this is not the end of the series, but do we ever find out if there were some lasting effects of the gray powder and Amelia's foray to the other side? And what of Devlin's lasting effects? At last we get some closure in regard to Devlin and Amelia's "relationship" but I still feel like things are not settled completely between them. Lots of loose strings that need to be settled. I love these modern day Southern paranormal mysteries on audio, narrated by Khristine Hvam. I highly recommend it them for she gives you a real good flavor of that Southern Charleston feel. Makes me want to go there - now! The Charleston drawl, the Gullah people and everything else about that city and it's environs. A worthwhile read - and a TV series in the making? *gulp*
    • 4/5
      From NetgalleyThe Prophet by Amanda Stevens picks up right where The Kingdom left off. Amelia leaves Asher Falls behind to deal with some unfinished business in Charleston. The third installments answers some much needed questions and gives the reader more insight to our complex Amelia Gray. Resident ghost seer Amelia Gray returns to her hometown in Charleston to get some answers from her family and to determine if a future with Devlin is a possibility. We meet old friends and are introduced to new ones. While questioning her relationship with the haunted Devlin, Amelia promises to find the murderer of a ghost who has been haunting her. I really enjoyed this book, maybe more than The Kingdom. Amelia is back on familiar ground after she receives a mysterious text. In this book, we are reunited with characters from the first novel who are key players in the plot. Like I've stated in my reviews for the preceding novels, Amanda Stevens knows how to make a book spooky. While the plot is not complex nor is it driven by action, it is interesting enough to keep you coming back for more. And the plot is simple enough that you don't have try to remember what happened to who and how. I really enjoyed the pacing of the novel, I felt that it lent itself to the overall creepiness of the novel. The characters are exceptional as always. Amelia is a great complex heroine who does not let her emotions dictate how she reacts to certain situations. She is extremely logical but not logical to a fault. I feel like I am repeating myself because the same praise I am giving The Prophet can be found in my last two reviews of the Graveyard Queen series. Everyone is so real and believable, they react as you would expect a person in a situation to react and mirror real life every closely. I can't even talk about the writing without copying and pasting everything I have said in previous reviews! The writing lends itself to the creepiness of the novel and the writing style keeps the reader coming back for more even though this is not an action book. Stevens' command with words is such that you can easily digest the book within a day or two. I really enjoyed this novel and I hope that it isn't the last in the series! I can never have enough of Amelia and Devlin!
    • 4/5
      Good book but a bit creepy. I am nor sure if I would read more books in this series unless it was to better understand some of the references.
    • 4/5
      Received from NetGalley for review.Book three in a series.This book focuses on Amelia and John Devlin. I read this book without the benefit of reading the first two in the series. That's a mistake. If you choose to read this book, and I encourage you to, pick up the first two and read them before attempting The Prophet. I have since read both and then reread The Prophet, enjoying it much more.A wonderfully written story. Amelia is a great character. Imagine, a Graveyard Queen! And I just love the role of Devlin.Oh, and ghosts!!!! I love reading about ghosts.Upon finishing this book, I have several unanswered questions. I look forward to the next book to find out what happens with Amelia and Devlin. 4 stars
    • 3/5
      After being so wonderfully caught up in the atmospheric and entertaining second book of the Graveyard Queen series, The Kingdom, I ignored my schedule and plunged straight into The Prophet. Picking up just a short time after Amelia returns to Charleston after receiving a text from Detective Devlin proclaiming his need for her, The Prophet sees Amelia struggling to find her feet. Her experiences at Asher Falls have raised more questions than answers and Amelia feels lost and vulnerable.Unfortunately, The Prophet failed to be as mesmerising as The Kingdom as Amelia succumbed to constant self doubt and self pity. I lost count of how many times Amelia repeated she was breaking her father's rules, but it was far too many. She was also either frozen or paralysed with fear whenever something began to happen or alternatively, helpless because of the effects of the voodoo drug wielded by the mysterious Darius. Amelia's lack of drive and action irritated me, she just seemed so deliberately passive instead of actively seeking answers.I wanted her investigation into Robert Freeman's death to be an active one but mostly she seemed to waft around waiting for something to happen. Partly I think because she spent a lot of time agonising over Devlin, but their complicated relationship wasn't enough to sustain me.The sense of atmosphere in The Prophet was not as strong as in The Kingdom but it does remain a feature of this series, the hair stood up on the back of my neck as messages appeared in steam and the swing moved back and forth in the stillness of moonlight. Stevens truly has a way with words, her writing is evocative and enchanting.I am glad that the Graveyard Queen series has been extended, originally it was a trilogy, but there will be at least a fourth with a possibility of a fifth book from what I understand. Hopefully I will find the next installment as engrossing as The Kingdom.
    • 3/5
      3 STARSThis is the third book in the series. I have read the second and now this one.Parts of the story I got lost in and understand it all. Which could be because I did not read the first one.Amelia Gray restores cematarys and sees ghosts. She has pretended not to let them know she can see them or react to them. Her father warned her to never react to them. But the first book she did something that changed the rules on her.She fell for Devlin in first book but all of the ghosts around him draineed her. His dead wife, hated her with a passion and actualy pushed her down. His dead little girl wanted Amelia to help her some how and would hold her hand. Another ghost wanted her to find his killer so he could move on.Devlin does not belive in ghosts. He really misses his daughter.Their are talk about different powers like voodue & rootwork things I don't understand.Even though Amelia talks about her love of Devlin thier is not much business of them even being together.I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review from Netgalley.04/24/2012 PUB Harlequin HarlequinMira
    • 5/5
      This third book in the Graveyard Queen series was filled with the same Gothic creepiness that infused the first two volumes. If you haven't read the first two books in the series, you might want to stop reading now and quickly find yourself copies of The Restorer and The Kingdom because this story begins shortly after the events of The Kingdom.Amelia is back in Charleston. She quickly gets back involved in the life of John Devlin. John is a Charleston police detective that she met during The Restorer. They had started a romance but Amelia ended it because John was still being haunted by his dead wife and daughter. Losing Miriama and Shani left him feeling both grief and guilt. Seeing ghosts herself, Amelia had been raised by his father to never have anything to do with a haunted man. Getting close to Devlin, allowed other ghosts to come to her too. In the mythology of this story, ghosts are like "parasites drawn to our energy, feeding off our warmth. If they know you can see them, they'll cling to you like blight. You'll never be rid of them. And your life will never again be your own." The most persistent and least ghostlike of the ghosts that haunt Amelia is Robert Fremont. He, Devlin, and Tom Gerrity all graduated from the police academy together. He and Devlin were rivals for the affection of Devlin's dead wife. He wants Amelia to find out who murdered him. Amelia is also haunted by and sympathetic to Shani who was Devlin's four-year-old daughter. Her efforts to find Robert Fremont's muderer and find a way to send Shani to her rest lead Amelia to explore a lot of the ancient African beliefs of the Charleston area. She has to deal with spells, and potions, and magical visitors. She also manages to learn a lot about the relationships between Devlin, Fremont, Gerrity, and Ethan Shaw. Shaw is another forensic anthropologist and the son of a paranormal investigator who has been acting as a mentor to Amelia.As Amelia untangles the twisted relationships between all the players and delves more into the magic around her, the creepy atmosphere gets even more intense. This was an excellent mystery with wonderful paranormal aspects. I recommend it to fans of ghost stories.
    • 4/5
      The Prophet is the third book in The Graveyard Queen series by Amanda Stevens.

      After almost losing her life in Asher Falls (The Kingdom) Amelia is back in Charleston recovering and trying to assimilate everything she learned about her past and origins. She knows her actions have consequences but she never thought not following her father’s rules will have that much repercussions.
      “Never acknowledge the Dead. Never stray from hallowed ground. Never associate with the haunted. Never tempt fate.”
      Soon after her arrival to Charleston the ghost of Robert Freemont approaches her. He wants her to help him find his killer; he helped her once (The Restorer), now he wants her to pay back the favor and he won’t stop haunting her until she accepts. Amelia is forced to say yes, not only she feels obligated, but for some reason Freemont can approach her in holy ground, her house that was her unbreachable haven is not offering the same security that once had. To add to this, Devlin’s daughter, Shani is also haunting Amelia and requesting her help and if that wasn’t enough for poor Amelia Mariama’s ghost is doing her best to keep her away from Devlin, even taking her to a house where she sees Devlin in the arms of another woman.

      The Prophet wasn’t as creepy and scary as The Kingdom but still it had a good dose of spookiness.

      In this book Amelia is doing everything contrary to what she once believed. She is going against her father’s rules, but that’s the only way to achieve what she must. I loved Amelia in previous books but in this one I didn’t like the woman she becomes when Devlin is around, She feels weak and becomes a shadow of her old self. I understand their almost metaphysical connection but still I don’t like them together and that was my big issue with this book.
      Devlin is still the same Devlin from The Restorer, dark, moody and secretive. We learned more about him and his life with Mariama, but still there are many questions left unanswered and not enough for me to like him.

      I’ve loved Robert Freemont since The Restorer, he is a very mysterious character/ghost that was able to do the unexplainable. The mystery behind his death and the circumstances around it were well done and even though I had my suspicions about whom the killer was the why of it was a complete surprise.

      Another character I loved in this series and especially this book is the child ghost of Shani, I really wanted Amelia to help her find her peace, although I didn’t agree with the method Amelia used to do it, I kind of understood there was no other option. The resolution to Shani’s case was more than acceptable; it was perfect and completely unexpected.

      New characters were introduced in this book; from those the one that gave me the willies was Mariama’s cousin Darius Goodwine. He is a dark magic practitioner with an agenda; if that wasn’t enough I think he knows more about Amelia than what she knows about herself. He did things in this book that were impossible to understand, his actions were sometimes contradictory to what I was expecting but I guess this is where his dark plans come in. I’m sure he will play an important role in books to come and I really can’t wait to see what Mrs. Stevens has planned for him.

      Even though The Prophet was not my favorite book in this series I can honestly say it is still a great book. All the elements that made Mrs. Stevens’ writing magical are still present in this book. Her words are fluid and evocative. The plot moves at a good place, the mystery is well done and with many twist and turns that it will leave you scratching your head and saying: “I didn’t see that one coming” time after time. Many questions are answered in this book, but many others are left open. Like what it was said by more than one character about Amelia, that she didn’t know what she truly was and what she was able to do. I really hope to find out more about this in future books.

      I recommend you this book as I have recommended you previous books, especially if you like modern gothics, paranormal fiction or a good book with a nice dose of mystery.
      You should read these books in order and preferably during daytime is you are easily scared.
    • 5/5
      Amanda Stevens' haunting Graveyard Queen series continues with the story of Amelia , Delvin, and his ghosts. I normally don't believe in some of what Stevens writes about in this series, but while I am reading these books not only do I believe but I am along for the ride. It is as if I have left my world behind and entered into the haunted world of The Graveyard Queen. In book 3, Fremont's ghost asks Amelia to find his killer. As she searches for answers she finds much more than she expected. She finds not only Fremont's killer but who really killed Mariama and Shani, too.
    • 3/5
      The Prophet by Amanda Stevens

      ★ ★ ★

      This is the 3rd book in the Graveyard Queen series. And while still good, definitely my least favorite of the three. It just felt fairly anti-climatic compared to the other two and I felt it tried to add in too many new plots for such a short book. It may or may not be the end of the series. Given the ending, it seems like it might be but one never knows. I'm sure it matters how well the series sells. Unlike in the other two books, I found myself somewhat annoyed with the main character, Amelia, this time around. There just seemed to be too much “I shouldn't do that. Instincts say I shouldn't but I will. Knowing it's stupid.” But overall I still enjoyed the series and I was glad at the return of Devlin.
    • 5/5
      Another great entry in the Graveyard Queen mysteries. This one takes the reader back to Charleston to confront Amelia's past and try to resolve things with her police detective. Love the settings and the characters.