Prophet

Written by R.J. Larson

Narrated by Brooke Sanford Heldman

"Close your eyes, Ela of Parne. Close your eyes and you will see."

Ela Roeh of Parne doesn't understand why her beloved Creator, the Infinite, wants her to become His prophet. She's undignified, bad tempered, and only seventeen-not to mention that no prophet of Parne has ever been a girl. Worst of all, as the elders often warn, if she agrees to become the Infinite's prophet, Ela knows she will die young.

"Istgard has turned their back on Me. See the evil they do."

Yet after experiencing His presence, she can't imagine living without Him. Determined to follow the Infinite's voice, Ela accepts the sacred vinewood branch and is sent to bring the Infinite's word to a nation torn apart by war. Here she meets Kien, a young Traceland ambassador determined to bring his own justice for his oppressed people. As they form an unlikely partnership, Ela must surrender to her destiny... and determine how to balance the leading of her heart with the leading of the Infinite.

"Will you accept the branch and speak My will? Will you be My prophet?"

• Language: English
• Publisher: Oasis Audio
• Release date: Apr 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781608149797

R.J. Larson

R. J. Larson is the author of numerous devotionals featured in publications such as Women's Devotional Bible and Seasons of a Woman's Heart. She lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with her husband and their two sons. Prophet marks her debut in the fantasy genre. Visit http://rjlarsonbooks.com/ for more information.

Reviews for Prophet

[Reverie M. · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is AMAZING. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Would definitely recommend.

[Frances O'Connor · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

PROFIT, is the 1st book of the trilogy. Different world Old Testament story. It's easy to follow and to get to know the characters. . The audio level needs to be leveled. It gets loud and soft. To have the soft heard I have to turn it up and then the loud is painful a startling.

[vintagebeckie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I lead a Faith And Fiction Bible study/bookclub at my church and am always on the lookout for Christian fiction that will compliment what we are studying. As part of a survey of Old Testament prophets, I chose Prophet, a fantasy by R. J. Larson. The author took her inspiration for main character Ela Roeh from Jeremiah 1 and Ezekiel 2, so I knew it would be a great addition to discussion. What I didn’t know, but soon found out, was that Prophet is an engaging read that appeals to all ages. I loved the unique, yet familiar, world that Larson has created in this first book in the Books of The Infinite series. If you like fantasy with a Christian influence, this one is for you.The world in which Ela Roeh of Parne inhabits is filled with unusual and often deadly beasts, people with their own agendas, and the ever present voice of the Infinite. Ela is not only young, but the first girl the Infinite has chosen to speak for Him. His message is repent and return, which she dutifully shares. Yet Ela struggles with doubts, insecurities, and grief over an unresponding audience. Larson made me view OT prophets in a new way through Ela’s character. I looked beyond their stern warnings and pronouncements to the heart that they had for God and His people. The story is one adventure after another, but flows with the purpose given by the Infinite. There is plenty of action for those who like battles and intrigue, yet there is a sense of lightness and humor that help keep this one from being too heavy. I liked the subtle references to the Bible that Larson includes. You can hear the voice of God in the messages of the Infinite. There are a few hidden touches as well. I didn’t realize until deeper into my study of the Biblical record that Ela’s last name is inspired by the Hebrew word for vision. Pretty cool!Prophet is a well-written fantasy, yet I believe has a wider appeal. Its themes also make it a great book for book clubs. It is also just the first book for Ela and other characters I came to love. I look forward to visiting Ela’s world again.Recommended.Great for Book Clubs.Audience: YA and adults.(I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

[heatherlinc · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

While I liked the storyline of this book - it had adventure, anger and romance, I hated the writing which was unsophisticated and disjointed, and the characters lacked depth which stopped me from really engaging in, what should have been, a very enjoyable read.

[rosenectur · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A very good Christian fantasy novel that has a little bit of an historical feel. It draws you in and holds you. “Ela Roeh of Parne doesn’t understand why her beloved Creator, the Infinite, wants her to become His prophet. She’s undignified, bad tempered, and only seventeen–not to mention that no prophet of Parne has ever been a girl. Worst of all, as the elders often warn, if she agrees to become the Infinite’s prophet, Ela knows she will die young.” The characters feel real, the mystery feels real, and the danger mounts yet you never question that there is a greater plan behind it all. You don’t often find such a moving believable book in Christian fantasy. There are two more books in the series and Im looking forward to them.

[bookworm_lisa · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed how the author was able to make a story that was fresh, but fit in with the teachings that are found in the Bible.This book is not a book that can be read quickly. In order to get into the book, it takes a little time and imagination to realize the breath and scope of this undertaking.Ela is a fascinating character. She is loyal to those that she loves. Her greatest loyalty belongs to her Creator, the Infinite. She will do whatever she can to see that his will is accomplished. She longs for nothing more than to remain in His presence. She puts herself in situations that can be fatal to her, all to be the ambasador for the creator.I admit, I read the third book a while ago, so I knew a little of where this book was headed. I was familiar with Ela and her service and calling. That made this book all the more enjoyable for me. Now sometime, I just need to read the second book. :)

[lynn_in_mi · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was a rough start. The first few chapters had me doubting my ability to finish the book. As I rarely leave a book unfinished, I persevered and was rewarded for my tenacity. The book is very good. It does require you to suspend reality and move the the world created by the author. It is an excellent parallel to the Old Testament prophets and I loved the relationship that Ela establishes with the Infinite. There are some valid points in the reviews by others regarding character development but I believe that is the author's style. I found the book engaging and I truly enjoyed the story. I look forward to continuing the series.

[kaymackey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Prophet is a thrilling and emotionally driven story about a young woman who follows her faith and takes up the difficult, self-sacrificial task of being a prophet among unbelievers. The main character, Ela, is multi-faceted and inspiring: she wrestles with self-doubt even as she courageously leaves her home to obey the Creator's calling. Although Prophet is set in a fantasy world, not a factual place, few fantasy elements (ie, magic spells or elves) appear here, only a few mythological-type monsters. The themes of the book are overtly religious, and will largely resonate with Jewish, Christian, or Muslim readers, since the focus is monotheistic. However, Ela's story is a riveting read that stands strong even without looking closely at the spiritual overtones.

[cloudnrain · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I am very picky about the books i read and i didn't really enjoy this book. i only got up to page 10 and gave up. i didn't know that it would contain a lot of religious themes. I gave the book to someone else that would appreciate the book and i hope they enjoy it.

[saffie_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Loved it. I enjoyed the characters and how involved I got with them. I do wish he would have written more about tzana though. It was interesting all the way through. I can hardly wait for the second book!

[truly_bookish · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love crossover Christian fiction. It gives everyone, even those who normally wouldn’t read a Christian novel, the chance to enjoy the genre without feeling that they are being preached to. Prophet is a fantastic example of really good crossover Christian fiction. This book easily appeals to YA readers, fantasy lovers and anyone who likes action and supernatural elements in their books. In a vision, 17-year-old Ela Roeh sees the city of Ytar being attacked and burned to the ground by the rivaling city-state, Istgard. Ela hears the voice of the Infinite choosing her to be his prophet and go to Istgard, tell them to turn from their evil ways and free the women and children they look captive in Ytar. Even though she is afraid, Ela accepts this enormous and daunting task, one that changes her life in ways she could never imagine.The world building in Prophet is awesome. Larson makes it easy to envision impressive ancient cities, bloody battle scenes and ferocious wild animals with deadly venom. I really enjoyed getting lost in Ela’s world and especially loved the characters. Ela is not your typical main character. She doesn’t wield a sword (her staff is very cool, however) or is able to singlehandedly fight off armies of men. She is really just an ordinary girl who is chosen for an extraordinary purpose. I love Ela, she is brave, determined, completely trusts the Infinite and through Him, she does extraordinary things. I love that she is still human and works hard to keep her snark in check. Even though every prophet from Parne has died young, Ela still marches courageously into every situation not knowing if she will survive it. The other characters are very well written as well and I loved the sweet romance between Ela and Kien. I cannot wait for the next book in the series, Judge, to see where this romance goes.Prophet is an exciting and sweeping novel that I highly recommend for fantasy lovers everywhere, teens and adults alike. Judge comes out in November and it’s definitely on my must read list for the end of the year. On a side note, the cover of Prophet is perfect! It looks exactly like how Ela is described in the book. Content: Kissing and violence.

[rivkabelle_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Review originally published on my blog: AWordsWorth.blogspot.comARC provided by publisher for review, through EarlyReaders program.Prophet is fantasy, but it's also what I consider "Biblical fiction". It reads like an Old Testament story, but with a light brush of fantasy, and set in another world. It's beautiful, it's sweeping, it's not overwhelmingly fantasy - nor overwhelmingly preachy. Ela, our prophet, is a spunky and very human young lady. She knows the Voice of her Creator - Infinite - and though she doesn't always understand, and even questions Him at times, she is faithful to her calling. Her choice. Along the path of her mission, she meets Kien Lan Tec, and things get complicated. As the two become unlikely friends, Ela struggles with her perceived duties as Prophet and her human heart. Other characters flesh out the story, each bringing their own flavor and touch. And the horses - I'm such a sucker for a good horse, and the destroyers provide comic relief while also assisting the story.I'm trying to find the best words to describe Prophet, but really - I think it's something you have to read and experience yourself. Know that the story is well-plotted and well-paced. There are twists and turns you don't expect, but they work. The characters live and breathe, and you want to root for them. They're human, they're flawed, but they're trying. As I said before, the fantasy element is presented with a light hand - it strengthens Ela's story rather than distracting from it. And the relationship Ela has with Infinite - their conversations - oh, they made something in my heart tweak. Larson has done a beautiful job of showing the love that God - Infinite - has for His people, how very involved He is with even the smallest details of human life. Watching Kien and others slowly come to understand what Ela is saying is so much like watching humanity struggle to see - to know - why an all-powerful being would care about little ol' me. It's beautiful, simply breath-taking. Now, I really need to get my hands on Judge and find out what happens next.

[abbey.smith1660 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Upon receiving this book I was a little skeptical as I am not a fan of Christian Fantasy. However, by the end of the first chapter I was hooked. The book refers to the "Infinite" as the almighty creator, because of this I did not feel as though I needed any background in Christian religion to understand the plot. I also loved the way the characters were flawed, so often lead characters seem too perfect to be believable. Ela however, complained and whined, just as any eighteen year-old girl would in Ela's situation. Even though Ela's world and religion were completely foreign to me I found her relatable because of her flaws. I also loved the character of Kien, his sarcasm was refreshing in some of the book's more serious situations. My only complaint is that the end of the book felt rushed. Ela's second journey easily could have been expanded, possibly as the introduction to the second book.

[coranne_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Review will go live on Amazon and my site on April 5th.The Cover: I love this cover. I love the font, the way the cover is designed, and I love the model. The model looks like what I would imaging Ela to look like. She is innocent looking, dressed in robes, and carrying her "walking stick". I love they they put an effect on the stick to make it look like it was glowing. I think the cover designer did a beautiful job on this book.The Characters: The characters are what really shine in this book. I love Ela's innocence, with an occasionally sassiness. I love that the author made Ela a real person to me- she wasn't some mindless puppet. Ela had real feelings and desires and was struggling to ascertain what was appropriate to feel and do as "the prophet". I thought Ela was brave, intelligent, and a heroine I truly cared about. Ela's love interest (who will remain nameless to avoid spoilers) was sarcastic and a little vengeful, but transformed through the course of the book into someone that both Ela and the reader fell in love with.The Story: This was an easy story to read. I loved that the world the author created wasn't incredibly complicated. Fantasy novels have that problem usually- they spend the entire first half of the book world building. The author blends world building seamlessly into the narrative to create an enjoyable fantasy story. I am not sure why this is being recommended to people who like the Hunger Games. I get that the Hunger Games is popular right now, but I think the comparison does Prophet a great disservice. Prophet is not a dystopian- it is fantasy, and if you read the two genres they are not incredibly similar. Prophet is an excellent book and Hunger Games is an excellent book- but they are not the same. Christian and non-Christian readers will enjoy this fantasy novel. I am impressed by this author and can't wait to read more!

[nikka321 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was really quite shocked with how much I enjoyed this book. Being an athiest, and personally finding blind faith in "god" a little disturbing, I wasn't sure I even wanted to read this book. But I decided to give it shot, and I am so glad that I did, because I would have missed a true treasure otherwise. This story is the first installment in the Books of the Infinite series, and follows the trials and tribulations of Ela, the newest, and only known female Prophet of the Infinite. The style of writing was very easy to read and follow, which can not always be said for books in an imaginary world setting. It flowed really well, and quite truthfully hooked me in almost from the first page. I anxiously await the next book

[squeex_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A YA fantasy tale reading like a Bible story and that's not a bad thing. I like Bible stories, my favorites are the ones that have strong female protagonists. That's what PROPHET has, a strong lead character who is offered the daunting task of becoming the voice for the Infinite, the being her people worship. The Infinite wants war to end and for others to come back to his fold. The story flows along nicely with plenty of well-written dialogue, action, a bit of romance, humor. It's the beginning of a lovely series that's not too preachy.Four lovely flowing beans.....

[platsdevil · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Prophet by R.J Larson was not what I expected and not in a good way. Though the relationships between characters was at times interesting, the story just went too fast. I felt like there was no easing into the story, that you were just sort of dropped in the middle of this girls life without really getting to know the setting or people at all. You want to know more and get more feeling from it, but there isn't any. It was okay, is all I’ll say.

[ljldml · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A wonderful YA Christian book. Ela Roeh of Parne is chosen to be a prophet of The Infinite. She is a wonderful female lead. A less than perfect individual chosen by God as his prophet, proof that there is hope for all of us. I enjoyed her character, she is young, but not a pushover. A sometimes bad tempered individual who has no trouble speaking her mind. We are able to see "The Infinite" as a more personal God. The writing is fabulous. Nothing over the top. The book is easy to read and funny in spots. The characters are highly likable. We see Ela grow as a person.I have a favorite quote I would like to include,These words are Ela's:"You must be honest with your father about everything. Respect him. But don't give in to his demands or the Infinite will make you regret your cowardice."

[the_hibernator · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ela Roeh's life is turned upside down when The Infinite asks her to become his prophet. She must leave her family, her country, and everything she knows in order to travel to pass on the Infinite’s message to a foreign king. She shows amazing strength of character when she is embroiled in politics and war. This book is Christian Fiction, and is probably meant for young adults; however, despite Ela’s youth, she has the maturity of an adult. The Message can be a bit heavy-handed (which is understandable given that it is published in the Christian Fiction market) but it’s not preachy and the message flows pretty smoothly into the plot. Furthermore, the plot is exciting and intriguing enough to keep me curious about what was going to happen. Overall, I think it was an excellent addition to the Christian Fantasy genre.