“Kings and Priests” by Evelyn M. Exley

Kings and Priests

Evelyn M. Exley
Exley Books (2026)
ISBN: 978-1954448179
Reviewed by Jennifer Bishop for Reader Views (09/2026)

What if you were promised to the temple before you were even born? Would you embrace the role as you grew, or try to make a different life for yourself? In Kings and Priests by Evelyn M. Exley, Eren decides to embrace her destiny and become the Head Priestess just as her grandfather, Malachi, has raised her to be. Throughout her journey, she faces persecution by someone whom she holds dear, and the decision of whether or not love and a family could be a part of her journey. She leans on the other priests for support and guidance as she is faced with many difficulties, sometimes including watching those she loves be cut down too early in life. Will she be able to stay strong and continue to listen to the Whisper? Or will it all become too much?

Well, I officially am calling myself a fan of Exley’s writing! This is the third book I’ve read by her, and each has been so different in the story and plot, yet still so captivating. Her writing really does stay consistently beautiful, and she does a phenomenal job of connecting the reader with the characters of the story! Even the antagonists of the story have reasons behind the decisions they make! Her characters also deal with both good and bad decisions and the consequences of them. I love when an author can successfully highlight both of these!

We get to see a lot of travel in this story as the priests are ejected from their home and forced to march through rough terrain to find a new, temporary home. In this travel, we get to see some of the hardships that accompany a group that has never had to do hard labor, since they served the people through the temple. We also get to experience both rural areas and living inside the big city, Periburn, where the castle and the king preside. Both areas are described well enough that the reader is able to picture the differences and also imagine the culture shock that Eren went through.

One of the biggest messages for this book seemed to be that no matter the difficulty or circumstances, lean on the Whisper and He will guide you and, ultimately, take care of you.  While that didn’t always mean avoiding heartache or danger, it did mean that He was always directing Eren down the path planned. There were many moments where it seemed mere coincidence that she landed where she did, but in the end, the purpose was always revealed to her.

Kings and Priests by Evelyn M. Exley is an adult Religious/Inspirational Fiction tale that would be appropriate for an upper YA audience and above. While there is no cursing and very mild romance, some of the violence is a bit extreme, and some of the topics might be too much for a younger audience. This is a phenomenal book for anyone who loves reading about kings, wars, and the people trying to live through it. I highly recommend checking this, and any of her other books out!