Prophet's Debt

by Robert Creekmore

At fourteen, Naomi Pace knows she loves her best friend, Tiffany. During the Perseid meteor shower of summer 1993, she finds out Tiffany feels the same, just as they’re outed.

Naomi is sent away to a conversion program in the remote Appalachians of North Carolina, knowing nothing of the horrors that await or the strength they will catalyze.

Escaping into the frigid wilderness, she forges her own destiny. Trapped in hiding, Naomi fights to conquer fear and find her way back to Tiffany.

Taking bloody vengeance to end a cult that tortures and murders children seems impossible, but so is having the guidance of a mythic creature of strength and violence.

Those who hurt Naomi as a girl will come to fear the woman she has become and the path she will tread to find revenge, safety, and Tiffany.

284 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 5, 2022

About the author

2023 - Manly Wade Wellman Finalist

2025 - Manly Wade Wellman Semifinalist

2025 - Killer Shorts Semifinalist with an honorable mention.

2025 - HorrOrigins Finalist

Author of the LGBTQ+ thrillers:

PROPHET'S DEBT (2022) - Manly Wade Wellman Literary Award finalist.

PROPHET'S LAMENTATION (2023) - Lambda Literary recommendation, July 2023.

PROPHET’S DEATH (2024) - Manly Wade Wellman Literary Award Semifinalist.

Reviews

[Pam K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book intriguing, enjoyable and horrific at times. Naomi is a young girl who falls in love with her best friend Tiffany. When they are found together making out, Naomi's parents send her to a "conversion camp". But Doctor Proffit abuses Naomi and a young boy who is also under his care. Despite all that Naomi goes through, she survives and becomes stronger for it.
There were some rough spots in the book. Rape, murder, and mutilation are described in very clear detail. I could visualize the event, and had to put the book down for a short while. My only issue with the story is when the golem begins to appear. The story was "real" until then. These are things that are really happening in the world, even if we don't want to admit it. But the mythic creature took away from the tale for me.
I am still going to read the other 2 books to the series. I recommend this book to anyone who has a strong constitution and can handle the couple of rough patches throughout the book.

[Gina Rae Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t planning to review this book, but the blurb drew me in like a moth to the flame. I was not disappointed.

Prophet’s Debt is not an easy book to read. It contains horrible people, violence, torture, white supremacy groups, religious fanatics, cults & every type of evil imaginable. But, it also has beautiful friendships, sapphic love, a mythical creature, and even humor.

You might say this book is ultimately about revenge, but I prefer to see it as hope. Hope for deliverance from evil and hope for the future.

While this might be the darkest book I have read this year, it had a profound effect on me. I knew from the start that Naomi would be a difficult protagonist to love. As the pages and chapters passed, I began to understand her better. She deserves to be happy and loved, the two things that are denied her most of her life.

If your psyche allows you to read Prophet’s Debt, I believe you will gain insight into what a person is capable of, good and bad, when pushed to the limits of their endurance.

While the epilogue does tie things up in a magnificent way, I wasn’t ready to let these characters go. I wanted to keep reading and isn’t that the true testament to a great book? Kudos to the author, Robert Creekmore, for an intense, wild ride. I can’t wait to see what he writes next.

[Elias Grimsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredible. I didn't want to stop reading as soon as I initially began. Robert Creekmore has crafted a compelling, challenging, and moving story. Every character and turn of the plot is conceptualized in a unique, deep, and creative manner that remains plausible and allows the function of each to shine through. Every part of the story (characters, actions, scenery, objects, etc.) are described so well that feeling engaged with and imagining what's occurring is effortless.

As far as the story itself, it surely contains violence, heartache, and sexual abuse. However, these things occur to many individuals all the time (especially in cases similar to the protagonist); therefore, the disturbing themes are as real as any feel good sentiments you may want (and will receive nonetheless.) Every setting and group of characters that Naomi finds herself surrounded by presents different obstacles and unveils a new dark corner of the world while you're on the edge of your seat anticipating the prevailing of good.

This book is a great piece of art.

[JT · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a person who did not have to experience the horrors of conversion camp (I have friends who did not), I was excited to read this book. It proved to be quite an interesting read. It touches ideas that I am not usually inclined to read or entertain. Robert Creekmore takes the reader on journey that is unimaginable yet engaging and angst ridden and intense at each turn. The characters involved at each twist are by shift compassionate or terror inducing. All this being said. I enjoyed this book more than I probably should have. Please note that if you are prone to nightmares this will add fodder to such dark places. Oh yes, I would recommend reading this book just not right before bed. The 4 star rating is attached to the idea that in the content warning the word graphic might be best added to describe the degree of violence depicted. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ngoni Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me longer than I expected to finish this book, sometimes I would dread continuing to read because of the pain and cruelty of some characters. One thing that grabbed my attention in the first place was how well written the book is, the characters are well developed and fleshed out and the plot is just as brilliant.

Revenge seems to be the theme but I see it as a book of resilience and hope. Naomi fought everything in her way to get her happiness and love. She wasn't easy to love either, but that's just how good this book is.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Patrice Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has an appreciation for all things dark, thrilling, and mind provoking, this book is an absolute GEM. Prophet’s Debt is hands down the best book I have ever read. What I love the most about this story is that it paints a picture in great detail about all things that are typically uncomfortable topics. I find that it is very important to educate ourselves on even the darkest, uncomfortable topics. To shed light. This book did just that with a twist, and for that, I found it extremely comforting. Reader to reader, although the graphic details are key, pay more attention to the storyline as a WHOLE. There is so much beauty in this redemption. Enjoy your read! (:

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Rebecca Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

First things first. If you are sensitive to topics, descriptions whatever of Sexual Assult (especially CSA) be wary. It can get a little intense. But overall great read. A little slow at the start (like most books) but once the action starts it DOES NOT STOP! I was very well captivated. Can't wait for the next book!

[Kara (Books.and.salt) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cant believe I forgot to update this review. This story was absolutely WILD and has a twist at the end that sent me reeling. Naomi is one of the most bad ass characters I have had the pleasure of reading about in a while.

Trigger warning for sexual assault.

[Saffron Asteria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been meaning to read Prophet's Debt for a while now, and I finally indulged myself. I could hardly put this book down, and I read it in a couple of days (I read at night so I'm a slave to my exhaustion, otherwise I would have read the whole thing in one go!)

Robert Creekmore is a phenomenal writer and story teller. There were moments where I had to practically double-take. The protagonist's journey through the horrendous events of her early teens are brutal, and Creekmore does a great job of capturing the agony and torture that she experiences in a way that may make some people uncomfortable. The beauty of this, is that there's purpose to the grotesque characters that she meets on her journey because these monsters exist, and they're capable of terrible things.

Now, don't read this review and think that it's full of needless violence and gore. There's a beautiful reprieve shown with love and tenderness, giving you hope that in spite of the trauma endured throughout ones life there is light and joy and a sense of belonging.

A subject such as conversion therapy is a heavy choice, and Creekmore tackles it with a combination of elegance and satisfying vengeance.

If you like:
-Whimsy
-Holding a mirror up to power tripping cults
-Revenge
-Justice
-Action
-Romance
-A light tickling of fantasy

Then this is the book for you!

[Paige Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wild ride that will take you places you wouldn’t imagine, even after reading the synopsis. Definitely head the content warnings, but if you’re up for it this book is a roller coaster you want to be on. The perfect combination of teenage love story, trials by fire, revenge fantasy, and chosen one story. Our protagonist is somehow relatable and untouchable, vulnerable and damaged, but superhuman.
I think it’s a must read if you have experienced persecution for who you are, you will feel seen. It’s also a must read if you haven’t! It will open your eyes.
I couldn’t put it down!

[Jenni McGrady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naomi Pace is the Goddess of vengeance. Coming from unimaginable and brutal start, she can play the long game and give returns where they are due. Also, shout out to Mara her BFF (best freaky friend).

Also, this is a book you can not out down. I burned through this book like cautery through tissue. 😉

[Josi]

When I first started Prophet‘s Debt I did not know what I was getting into. The story, albeit dark, is one of revenge but also perseverance and ultimately hope. The main character’s journey goes to unexpected places many times and in ways that I couldn’t predict which is what I look for in a book. The ending, even though at times the story is horrifying is extremely satisfying.

[Holly · Rating 1 out of 5]

First of all, anyone going into this book should be prepared for a lot of very graphically described violence, including against children, as well as sexual assault. This alone made this book a really hard read for me, but I also had a lot of other issues with the book. For one thing, just the general lack of any apparent editing for grammar/clarity - somebody really needed to do a closer read through of this before it was published. My major issue was with the main character, who is 14 for much of the book. Despite her young age and apparently fairly sheltered upbringing in the 1990s, she borders on omniscient in her worldview and understanding the motivations of the incredibly twisted and violent adults around her, casually tosses out mental disorder diagnoses for people she meets, and then about halfway through the book suddenly has a supernatural companion and magical powers. The satisfaction of her revenge plot at the end was really undercut by the fact that she basically only pulls it off due to the help from her mysteriously all-powerful golem friend and what amounts to superpowers. The side plot into weed dealing and murdering a bunch of skinhead gang members was honestly just bizarre and I would have rather the author spent more time world building and introducing the characters at the beginning. Finally, according to the synopsis, she spends the whole book trying to get back to the girlfriend she was separated from at 14 but not only do we barely get to know her in the beginning of the book or understand much of anything about their relationship, she's not mentioned during the midst of the main character's imprisonment or later on when she's growing up in hiding. If the main character spent any time pining for her, we don't hear about it. The girlfriend then magically reappears at the end of the book (with her own very briefly mentioned sob story) and they're back together despite the 10-ish years apart?? If you're like me and are going into this expecting something along the lines of The Miseducation of Cameron Post meets a thriller, you're going to be disappointed.

[I received a free copy of this book as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.]

[Wendy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thriller? No this book is an unmitigated horror fest. And not in a fun to be scared way.

In the first part of the book, I expected the horrible abuses because there were warnings in the book description and I was not living under a log. I was aware of the horrors these Conversion Camps were.
What I did not expect was the rest of the book being full throttle gratuitous violence. Ugh.

[Carol Markowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prophet's Debt is a gripping thriller with a touch of the supernatural. We follow Naomi, as she goes from an abused victim to a powerful, determined woman out to avenge the wrongs she has experienced. Creekmore also tackles societal issues of hate and discrimination. The fast-paced plot will keep you reading until the finish.

[Emilie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway, and I could barely get past the first chapter. The writing was incredibly dry and lacked any feeling or emotion behind it. Maybe some people don't mind that writing style, but for me it felt so robotic to read.

[Erica Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book!!! I didn't want to put the book down, so many chapters kept my heart racing. I loved the main character Naomi! I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

[Sarah Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Visceral and haunting

I love this book. I found a kinship with the character of Naomi. She is an avenging angel unleashed to bring about justice in a world that doesn't always see justice done. As a survivor of domestic violence both as a child and as an adult, so much of this story resonated with me. But with that being said, please be advised that many scenes are rather grotesque. Even if one has never experienced these specific traumas, they will still resonate and resound. But good does triumph over evil, and for that, I cheer and applaud. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to see the "bad guys" get what they truly deserve, for a once victim to take her power back, and for love to ultimately win.

[Arley Shephard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! 😊
I completely devoured this book! It had the element of self-righteous religous fanatics getting what they deserve that I personally love. The heroine of this story begins as their prisoner and is ultimately their judgment. Loved the twist at the end. It was very original and completely unexpected. 🤌