The Prophet's Wife has been a joy, a pleasure, and a privilege to read. The catharsis I experienced in this was validating in ways few things in life can be (full disclosure, I was raised in the Mormon faith). It tells the story of the foundation and turbulent early years of the Mormon church through the life and lens of Emma Hale Smith, Joseph Smith's first wife.

The Mormon religion was founded in the fraught and volatile time of American religious revivalism of the early 1800's. The figures central to its inception are routinely mythologized by its adherents and the current LDS body, or outright forgotten (much to the detriment of historical accuracy). Many of those figures were far more human that what has been built up around them (hint, hint, we're talking about Joseph among others). As history shows, things are never as pure as nostalgia would have us wish for.

Libbie Grant, through exceptional prose and deeply complex characters, has written a novel that gets as close to the truth as we can have with this tale. Few things are perfect in their creation, least of all a religion.

This is powerful literature. This is literature that gives the reader the reason to pause and reflect on what they think they know. We need powerful literature in our lives and in the world.

Thanks go to NetGalley for the ARC (Advanced Reader's Copy) and to the author, Libbie Grant for manifesting this work into the world.

THE PROPHET'S WIFE is a fascinating look at the origin story of an American religion—and an equally fascinating portrayal of what we're willing to endure in the name of love and faith. Emma and Joseph Smith are both deeply flawed and curiously sympathetic, together making one of the most interesting and nuanced portrayals of a marriage I've read in a very long time. The psychology at work in this book is brilliant.

Emma's firm dignity and quiet strength aren't the way "powerful women" are usually handled in literature, but it feels so true to her character as presented. And while I have no doubt that some readers might dislike the book's portrayal of the early LDS faith—the author will be receiving emails— I found it thoughtful and artfully done. Joseph Smith as written here isn't a demagogue or a blistering false prophet: he's a human being who wants desperately, all-consumingly to believe and be believed. It made me feel toward him like Emma does: drawn to him, longing to protect him from himself, wishing the story could end differently.

THE PROPHET'S WIFE made me want to do more research of my own into the story it's telling, and for me that's the mark of successful historical fiction.