“A Prophet Named Ike” by Evelyn M. Exley

A Prophet Named Ike

Evelyn M. Exley
Exley Books (2026)
ISBN: 978-1954448360
Reviewed by Jennifer Bishop for Reader Views (08/2026)

What would you do if a young woman showed up on your doorstep with a child who had obviously been hurt? Would you bring them in and promise to get the child back to her home far away? Or turn them away and let someone else handle it? A Prophet Named Ike by Evelyn M. Exley is about a monk who allows his life to be led by God daily. Both through visions, hence the name Prophet, and instincts, he is able to work to make their world a safer place. When Vessy shows up at his cabin out in the woods with an injured child, he has no choice but to accept that this is God’s plan for him. They decided to set out to return her to her home. Will they succeed? Or will there be too many obstacles?

The setting starts out in Ike’s cabin in the woods, but we also get to explore the city of Harsy and a few other cities on the way to Bjor-ia. There is a mixture of modern transportation and space-type travel. Also, the types of weapons are varied depending on what area they are in. Ike himself has a unique weapon that can shoot lightning, but can only be used by certain people. It was really interesting seeing the different cultures and ideas Exley had when creating this unique world.

The characters not only go on a journey physically, but spiritually as well. Even though Ike was spiritually in tune with God, he was still learning how that could translate towards others. Vessy herself was on a complete journey of discovery of both her purpose and her relationships with other people. Seeing how they navigate this along with their growing attraction to each other was so well done I could truly understand the emotions they were going through in each moment. I also appreciated that they gave each other the space they needed throughout to process both past traumas and current struggles.

Exley is a new author to me, having read only one other book of hers so far; however, it was a very different genre and vibe. I mention this because the versatility of an author is so important when it comes to multiple books. She was able to successfully keep me just as intrigued in this novel as she was in the first book I read by her! I appreciate this so much, as I love to read so many different types of stories.

A Prophet Named Ike by Evelyn M. Exley is a wonderful space opera with an underlying tone throughout of faith and trusting in God. While the intended audience is adults, its content would also be appropriate for some young adults. There is no cursing, very mild romance, and a moderate amount of violence. There are some darker elements of trauma from torture; however, the torture itself is off-page. This is such an interesting read, and I highly recommend it, especially to anyone who enjoys stories set in another world.