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Essence of Ohr #1

Warden's Reign

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As a dark flame consumes the world, a larger threat looms over the refugees of Solpate.

WINNER: Pinnacle Book Achievement Award, Winter 2020 - Best Young Adult Fantasy
WINNER: Readers' Favorite Book Awards 2020 - Bronze Medal - Young Adult Fiction-Epic Fantasy

Orphans are snagged from their beds and used in the Warden’s dark experiments. Those who seek asylum in the forest must survive the dangers of the night, when the forest trees uproot and roam free.

Fifteen-year-old Kole, with the help of his mentor, Russé, has adapted. He’s learned to tame the rampant trees and protect the orphans. But when one of the Warden’s mutated creatures discovers the camp and sets it aflame, Kole’s life is upturned and the refugees’ haven is lost.

Kole must convince the others to make a stand to save themselves—and all their people—from the anguish of becoming the next subjects of brutal experiments. Yet what chance does a rag-tag band of refugees have against the malevolent power and magic of the Warden and his vile creations?

EVOLVED PUBLISHING PRESENTS the first book in the “Essence of Ohr” series of wondrous young adult fantasy adventures. [DRM-Free]

268 pages, Paperback

Published February 17, 2020

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Parris Sheets

7 books14 followers

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5 stars
29 (67%)
4 stars
7 (16%)
3 stars
4 (9%)
2 stars
2 (4%)
1 star
1 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for J.P. Barnett.
Author 6 books28 followers
November 25, 2021
In a word, Warden's Reign is absolutely spectacular. Stop reading my review, and just buy it already. Sheets' writing is fluid and engaging. There's enough intrigue to keep you flipping the pages, and enough action to keep you from zoning out. Every character has a part to play, and despite a good number of them, Sheets manages to keep them all straight for you, endearing each with unique qualities. The fantasy world that these characters inhabit grabbed my attention, feeling so tangible that it played out as a movie in my head, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if one day we see one. If anything about this book sounds interesting to you, you will absolutely love it.
March 22, 2020
This book really hit the mark for me. The author is not afraid to throw the characters into tough situations and it helps make the story unpredictable. Really looking forward to the next in the series.
2 reviews
April 19, 2022
I enjoy reading books like this... ones that make you feel as though you are living in the same world as the characters. Counting down the days until book 2.
Profile Image for Valinora Troy.
Author 4 books16 followers
April 29, 2022
Highly recommend this exciting and hugely imaginative story with fantastic world-building.
I absolutely loved the ramblers (the enormous trees who uproot themselves every night and walk around the forest of Solpate) and I would happily have spent more time in the forest learning about the children who escaped the city and their new way of life, and especially the ramblers, but events swept me and Kole (the protagonist) off to the city.
Savairo, the antagonist, is a super villain, and I love the arsenal of evil at his fingertips: Idris, the Kayetan, the red cloaks, the terrified people who, from a belief he kept them safe or out of fear of being killed, carried out his desires. I loved the magic system, the themes and choices the characters faced, and especially the Black Wall, an absolutely fantastic threat to the world.
Unfortunately I couldn’t take to Kole as much as I wanted to. He had good reasons for feeling angry but I would have liked to have seen less anger and petulance and more of a character arc, and I could not quite buy into him as someone who grew up in this world. However this wouldn’t stop me from reading more books in this series, and Warden’s Reign is a strong start to what promises to be an exciting fantasy series.
2 reviews
May 25, 2020
Fantasy literature lovers now have a new and richly complex world in which to get blissfully lost. Nothing is predictable in this debut novel, and the author does not shy from revealing that heroes are not always righteous and good doesn't always win. Expect to be thrilled, to laugh, to be horrified, and to grieve. And, expect to finish this first of the series impatient for Book 2 to be released.
Profile Image for Richard Robbins.
Author 4 books1 follower
June 3, 2020
I have read a number of fantasy books, but I particularly enjoyed this one. While it contained action, drama, and a well described evocative world, what really drew me into the story were the well developed characters. Author Parris Sheets has a keen eye for motivation and behavior, and creates characters which truly resonate, drawing you in to their adventure, making you care about their success or failures. An excellent, highly enjoyable book. Looking forward to the next volume.
Profile Image for Iseult Murphy.
Author 28 books122 followers
May 5, 2022
Cinematic fantasy adventure

The author writes well and I found it easy to picture each scene as described. I particularly admired how the close third person limited point of view was maintained throughout the book with Kole, the main character.

There are so many great ideas in this book. I loved the ramblers, the strange forest creatures, the black wall, the making of the kayetans, and the idea of the seven souls.

Unfortunately, the world building was severely lacking. Savairo didn’t make sense to me. He appeared to be evil for evil sake. Why anyone outside of the city followed him didn’t make sense. What were the other towns and neighboring countries doing? The rebels didn’t make sense. What was the refugees plan and ultimate goal?

I liked that Kole was small for his age and that he struggled with physical challenges. His close relationship with Niko made sense as the only person he loved, trusted and respected. I also liked his desire to be truthful and do the right thing. I was confused, therefore, when he was so disrespectful to others, accused someone of lying and betraying him for keeping personal information secret, and then proceeded to lie, cheat and steal throughout the book without a second thought. His anger, while understandable at times, was too one note throughout the book and he never seemed to develop any other emotional response to the circumstances he found himself in.

While I was willing to accept that Kole was the angriest of angry young men, every other character in the book was equally hostile and volatile. They didn’t appear to have affection or connection or alliances with any of the other characters. Every interaction was fraught with distrust and contempt and it didn’t make sense to me.

I loved the idea of the seven souls. Religion in fantasy books is an element I really like, and the seven souls had lots of potential. Unfortunately, it made no sense to me why the gods were so weak, why the people never prayed despite being believers, and I couldn’t understand how every character who met one of their gods treated them with rage and contempt. There was no awe, fear, hope, faith, excitement or even self interest in using the god’s powers to help them.

This book is well written, has some nice ideas and is full of potential, but is an unsatisfying read due to the lack of development of its world, characters and belief system.
Profile Image for Bo.
87 reviews2 followers
January 19, 2024
I embarked on another thrilling adventure in Warden’s Reign! This fantasy world is a delightful blend of meticulous world-building, a sprawling plot, and a diverse cast of characters, each with their own endearing flaws. It fearlessly dives into high stakes and sacrifices, firmly establishing itself within the uplifting realm of dark fantasy.
The story revolves around the ever-present and formidable evil embodied by Savairo, a sorcerer utilizing blood magic to transform individuals into formidable, intelligent monsters. A group of courageous renegades, mostly orphaned children rescued through daring escapes, bravely resists his tyranny in the enchanting forest.
In this magical world, sentient trees known as ramblers roam at night, a fiery wall moves through the forest like a living entity, and godlike "souls" hide among the renegades. Right from the beginning, the narrative thrusts you into action alongside these adorable ramblers. Kudos to Parris for creating such charming creatures!
The protagonist, Kole, a fifteen-year-old apprentice to a mysterious shepherd of the ramblers, is not only endearing but also burdened with overwhelming tragedy and responsibility. The plot is wrapped in mystery, unveiling revelations about Kole's past. The narrative maintains a tantalizing undercurrent of secrets, keeping readers guessing about the motives of powerful allies, not all of whom are benevolent. Amidst acts of heroism, the challenge of discerning trust keeps the tension palpable until the exhilarating conclusion.
The book wraps up with a thrilling cliffhanger. While some threads remain unresolved, the unexpected ending, reminiscent of a serialized format, hints at the exciting prospects awaiting in the second book. I wholeheartedly recommend this novel to fans of epic and dark fantasy for its captivating narrative and intricately crafted world.
1 review
June 28, 2023
I didn't know what to expect after the first few chapters as the book takes a turn I would not suspect. This is a book where really anything can happen at any time. I appreciated the author treating their story with respect so as to not hold anything back with the violence as a means to portray the story. The main characters are likeable enough and you find yourself rooting for them to save Ohr. I appreciated that the novel didn't take place entirely in one part of the world and explored other regions. By the time I finished the book I wanted more and will continue with the second book in the series. The book kept me on my toes and I was not able to predict exactly what would happen throughout the story. I also appreciated the detailed descriptions of the world around them. Looking forward to reading this again in the future.
Profile Image for Kristen Bales.
43 reviews1 follower
January 28, 2024

Thank you to Parris Sheets for reaching out via Instagram and sending me a copy of Warden’s Reign in exchange for an honest review! It’s always lovely to connect with indie authors.

Though I typically would not pick up a YA epic fantasy, I was pleased to read Warden’s Reign! I believe that young fantasy readers who love tales written by Paolini or Sanderson would adore this work. Warden’s Reign is an epic fantasy laden with intricate world building, a foundation of a disparate political system, and a plucky, 15-year ole main character, Kole. The book follows Kole’s journey as he’s forced out beyond the bounds of his mentor, Russe.

Full of magic, animated trees, and immersive realm building, Warden’s Reign is sure to please traditional fantasy fans. I appreciate the chance to step out of my usual bounds of NA/Adult Fantasy and experience something new!
Profile Image for D. Peach.
Author 23 books148 followers
June 9, 2023
This fantasy offers a lot of what I like in the genre: great worldbuilding, an epic plot, and a wide range of characters, all but the vilest in some way flawed. It also doesn’t hold back any punches when it comes to the stakes and sacrifices, sliding it into the dark fantasy subgenre.

The presence of evil is pervasive and powerful. Savairo is a sorcerer who steals people and uses blood magic to change them into intelligent and murderous monsters that are almost impossible to defeat. The people of his realm are cowed, but a group of renegades hides in the forest, most of them orphaned children snuck from the city through years of Escapes.

In this world, trees (called ramblers) pick up their roots and roam at night, a wall of fire moves through the forest like a living creature, and godlike “souls” hide among the renegades. Kole is fifteen, the POV character, an apprentice to a mysterious shepherd of the ramblers. He’s very likable, and to say he’s over his head with tragedy and responsibility is an understatement. He’s one of those characters you want to jump into the story and protect.

There’s a lot of mystery in the plot—including questions about Kole’s past. An undercurrent of secrets kept me guessing about the motives and agendas of powerful allies, not all of them kind. Despite a lot of heroism, it’s hard to know whom to trust, and that kept the tension high right until the end.

Speaking of the end, this book just stops with almost nothing wrapped up. I wasn’t expecting the abrupt end, and since I was completely absorbed in the action, I found it jarring. Along the lines of a serial, readers should expect to continue into book two for the ongoing story. With that in mind, I highly recommend this book to readers of epic and dark fantasy.
Profile Image for Kate13.
23 reviews5 followers
January 15, 2024
If you’re looking for a new, dark, ya fantasy series to get into, you should definitely check out this series.

When I first started reading this book I was enchanted with the Ramblers. I loved the idea of trees that can move and shepherds herding them. Then I got attached to Kole and a few other characters. Then things got crazy.

I highly recommend picking up a copy of Warden’s Reign. Between the moving trees, the shadow monsters, the 7 Souls (gods), and all of the rebellion, this story just keeps giving. I’m definitely enthralled now and I’m excited to read the rest of the series!

Profile Image for haya.
187 reviews4 followers
March 1, 2024
I really enjoyed this book! It’s different from my usually reads, but I’m so glad I branched out and read this one! Overall i loved the plot and the characters and it gave me LOTR vibes. I’m very interested to see where the story goes!
Profile Image for E.D. Martin.
Author 12 books207 followers
November 15, 2021
This book hits all the beats of the typical fantasy hero's journey: a young protagonist violently pushed into action by irreversible damage to everything he's known, the old mentor who knows more than he's telling this protagonist, a reluctant quest, and lots of action. But what sets this book apart is that this protagonist actually acts like a teenager. He's justifiably angry about what's happened to the only family he's ever known, about being lied to by people he trusted and respected, about being the only hope for the world without anyone ever asking him if he even wants to do this. Add in a realistic dose of PTSD, and Kole is one of the most believable fantasy protagonist's I think I've ever read. Yeah, maybe he's petulant a lot, but have you ever met a teenager?

I also enjoyed the soft worldbuilding. The author gives us details as Kole perceives them, not necessarily when we the reader need them, but I never felt confused or lost as to what was happening. The characters, too, are presented to us through Kole's perspective, leaving lots of room for twists and turns.

Altogether a good start to the series.
Profile Image for D.H. Nevins.
Author 3 books166 followers
February 28, 2022
In a world of magic and ramblers - which are giant trees that roam in the night - a young orphan named Kole is desperate to prove himself. First, he tries to impress by proving he can be a shepherd of the ramblers. Later, the stakes are much higher when he must face the evil unleashed by Ohr's ruler, a sorcerer named Savairo.
I enjoyed Sheets' writing style and found her prose to be both beautiful and crisp. The story moved along at an excellent pace and kept me turing the pages. I also really liked the character, Kole. Sheets wasn't afraid to pull any punches with him, and he often suffered for his mistakes. This really worked for me. I did get a bit frustrated with Kole at times, but in all honesty, he acted realistically.
Despite the young protagonist (which made me think this book would be rather tame) this is not a story for the fainthearted or the squeamish - there are some fairly gruesome scenes. Personally, I found they added to the story and gave it a nice, dark element and an overall feeling of foreboding. Great pace, high stakes and a fascinating world. I recommend it!
Profile Image for C.L..
Author 12 books196 followers
December 14, 2021
I try to go into new fantasy stories with an open mind with lowered expectations to give each author an honest change. Totally didn't need this for this book!

From the first chapter to the end, Ms. Sheets has created this amazing world rich with history and mythos that intricately intertwine with her wonderful cast of characters in a way that complement each other. I got lost in the story and found myself invested in each character after their introductions. She lays bare the the darker sides of humanity, while giving us a hero in Kole, who feels realistic in his flaws as he struggles to find the courage to do what needs to be done.

If you've been looking for an amazing, engaging fantasy story, I definitely recommend this one. I am picking up the second book as soon as I'm done writing this review. You will not be disappointed, but don't blame me when you're up to the wee hours of the morning reading, okay?
7 reviews
December 22, 2021
Great characters and a beautiful world

I rarely read young adult these days. I often find the characters bland and flat, and the plots so-so. But I picked this one up at the recommendation of a friend.

And I was not disappointed. What I like about it is the combination of traditional fantasy tropes and new, fresh ideas. It starts like many other fantasies, but quickly turns into a story of twists in which you’re never entirely sure who to trust. Kole acts like a real teenager, which is refreshing. And at times annoying, like most teenagers are, which only makes him more realistic.

And the world-building is top notch. The author does a wonderful job of creating a living and breathing world that’s feels refreshingly real. A highly recommended book, even if you’ve lost faith in young adult fantasies.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
147 reviews5 followers
March 19, 2022
I have this at 3 stars ONLY because I like the world building. The rest was a bit of a mess for me.

Everyone loves a good underdog story, but the resistance was so pitifully small that it broke my immersion into the story. There is absolutely no way that a resistance of 5/6 teenagers, 30-40ish orphans, and a handful of starved-near-death farmers could defeat an army in head on battle. It doesn't add up no matter how many spells or special abilities you throw into the mix.

That and the entire (quite long) book is supposed to happen in 3-4 days? IMO, the timeline needed to be stretched, the amount of traveling here & there and up & down the "hill" needed to be edited, and the godliness of the god needed to be.. just more.
1 review
June 8, 2021
This book grabbed my attention from the beginning and I could not put it down! It usually takes me a few chapters to get into some books but the action takes you on an immediate journey from the start. Very well written, I can imagine being in Kole’s world with him, looking forward to the next book in the series!
Profile Image for Liz Scott.
2 reviews
June 7, 2020
An amazing book! I cannot wait for the second one. I really enjoyed the characters and loved the fantasy world the author created.

I just wish it was longer! I need more! And I felt that I had a lot of unanswered questions which I hope will be answered in the upcoming books.
January 27, 2024
In a world filled with dark magic, sorcerers, shepherds, orphans and ramblers (running trees that only come out at dark) Kole embarks on a journey to prove himself. In the beginning it’s innocent and exciting, then things take a dark turn. Kole and his Friend Niko are on a mission to bring a rambler back to the camp, that is until they fall upon the black wall. In a panic they race back to the camp to tell their leaders what they have discovered.

Later he discovers that the black wall isn't his only problem, The warden has been creating dark shadow creatures from the bodies of the citizens; Children and adults taken in the dark of the night. And now the magic is faltering, the Ramblers are appearing when the sun is up and nothing is what it was.

Secrets are unravelled and there are so many twists and turns. Parris wasn't afraid to inflict trauma upon the main character. There was an aspect of realness to this YA Fantasy Book. Kole meets a tragic fate when he is engulfed by the flames of the black wall, saved by the ramblers kole is left with burns all over his body. It takes him time to come to terms with the fact that he was saved and his friends wasn't. Then upon that he now has to learn to love his new scarred body.

After Russe and Kole have an encounter with Idris, Kole is left to his own demise. With Russe taken by the shadow creature he must now embark on a journey to the city to find liberation. 

—-

The world building is unlike anything I have read before, it's so different and it caught me the moment I started reading it. I mean trees that are alive, that's so cool! It was very easy to grasp and explained very well. Though I did have some questions I realised this wasn't a stand alone and that certain things were planted there that will be revealed along the way.

The character development was noticeable. In the beginning i pegged kole as a people pleaser. Someone who doesn't ask questions and obeys. Then as the story rolled on, He came to question things and started to take a stand. I do admit he was annoying most of the time but he’s young so that makes sense. When you’re younger you don't really have the experience to make good decisions, and you act immature. 

Kole showed strength, loyalty and resilience. These are amazing traits for a young person, and I admired it a-lot.

There were a few scenes in the book that really confused me; Russe came from a tree and when Russe and Idris were fighting in the mountains. It started off with them climbing where they could see all that was below them including the pit of bodies. Then all of a sudden they were down there and yeah I was just a bit confused by that part. 
I'm not sure if i missed the part where Kole freed Russe from the tree because i do not remember that happening at all as Russe was present the whole time. Maybe it was before the book started but I think that part needed to be explained more clearly for the reader.

Other than that the book was well paced and exciting. 
I would recommend this book for any young adult or adults who like adventure based books. My rating would be ⅗ stars as it was good but there was just a few bits i didn't understand.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Bookaholic MK.
15 reviews2 followers
February 17, 2024
This book will be perfect for those who, just like me, are tired of seeing *definitely not YA, and doesn’t even feel like fantasy* in the YA fantasy shelves😅Because this one is the standard for YA. This is what I want to read when I talk about my love for YA!! It actually made me realize how much I miss the adventures and easiness of the contents that should be implied under the name of the genre. What’s more - the fantasy world was different from the most world building clichés used nowadays in basically every popular book. Honestly, this book felt like a fresh breath of air, because for once the genre actually described the book. It was an easy and comfortable read (that doesn’t mean that there was nothing happening, quite the contrary actually), fast-paced, and, most importantly, it has small comfortable chapters!
The quotes that really struck me were these 2, and I just felt like I had to use them in the review: “some words are deadlier than blades,” and “Thinking is never a waste of time. Mistakes are a waste of time.” I feel like I have to remind myself of those things quite a lot in daily life! And, as to the characters, my favourite was 100% Piper. She’s such a role model🥰
I can compare this book to the Inkworld series (the vibes), and, just like with Inkworld, I wish I could read it at a younger age. I enjoyed it a lot, but I feel like I’ve overgrown it a bit in order to enjoy it to its full potential.
I feel like this series and world have a huge potential of turning into an amazing series, can’t wait to see Kole’s and the Liberation’s adventures in the future!
Profile Image for Taylor Sanders.
87 reviews9 followers
February 17, 2024
Book one of the Essence of Ohr. I'm not sure why, but reading this gave me the magic treehouse book vibes from back in the day. I never read those and am in no way saying this is similar. It's just the feeling I had when reading. 

I wasn't the biggest fan of this book despite loving the premise. There is a mysterious wall of black flame that hasn't moved in years. This wall is controlled by Savairo who is 100% evil incarnate using blood magic. He performs experiments on orphans and it's pretty rough. The trees are alive and can be tamed by shepherds. Our MMC is just a kid training to be a shepherd and he's VERY hard headed which is why I couldn't really get more invested in this. I just can't vibe with a character who bulldozes their way into everything without thinking. This was a very fast paced book though with a really good plot to it. This is a true YA fantasy and is good for someone looking for a YA series that doesn't have a large page count per book. Which can be intimidating for most. 
Profile Image for Megan Gustafson.
28 reviews
January 19, 2024
《Warden’s Reign by Parris Sheets》
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

⇨ let’s just start out by saying that I started this book at 10am yesterday and finished it before I went to bed last night. I was hooked. This book was so fun and had me wanting to keep reading for all the right reasons. Warden’s Reign is about a teenage boy who is fighting to save everything he loves when he doesn’t have the answers he needs and that would just suck. But the book was just so well paced and there was always action and background information given that helped to move the story along in a way that kept everything so engaging. The last 20 pages had me reading on the edge of my seat as I wasn’t sure what would happen! I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun, adventurous, and unique YA fantasy.

Thank you Parris Sheets for the gifted copy of the book. I already bought book two and I cannot wait to read it!
Profile Image for Ellie Morris-Li .
37 reviews6 followers
January 4, 2024
This book impressively combines a captivating narrative with a unique writing style.

Sheets skillfully crafts a vivid world through descriptive prose, immersing readers in a rich tapestry of imagination.

The character development is noteworthy, with each character evolving organically, offering a nuanced exploration of their motivations and growth.

The world-building is intricate, seamlessly blending elements of fantasy and reality. While the narrative is compelling, the pacing occasionally falters, impacting the overall flow.

Nevertheless, Sheets' ability to interweave complex characters into an engaging world makes Warden's Reign a commendable read for fantasy enthusiasts.

Although it isn't a book I'd normally reach for it really did hold its own when I compare it to other books. I think everyone should give this book a chance and see what they think of it.
Profile Image for Sunshine_and_Fantasybooks.
79 reviews7 followers
January 2, 2024
"Wardens Reign" proved to be a compelling read, hitting the mark with its unpredictable plot and characters facing tough situations. The author, Parris Sheets, fearlessly throws the characters into challenging scenarios, adding a layer of unpredictability that kept me engaged through the whole book. This is a YA fantasy series that I thoroughly enjoyed. Which for me says something as I tend to not gravitate towards YA. There was some aspects that reminded me of books that I read as a young teenager that I really really loved. Like the forest somewhat reminded me of the lord of the rings, except different. I truly loved this book. I am excited to start reading the next installment in the series.
Profile Image for ashley ♡.
91 reviews
January 21, 2024
I really enjoyed this book, it had me hooked from the start. I especially liked the fact that the world-building in this book didn’t feel like an overload of information, which helped me breeze through the book pretty quickly.

Thank you Parris, for my gifted copy. Reading this book felt so magical and reminded me why I fell in love with reading so long ago.
20 reviews1 follower
March 19, 2024
Poor character and story development

Needed much better character and plot development. Wow. I mean I get it, it’s a YA book, but this should have been better.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews

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