The Rampart Guards

Chronicle One in the Adventures of Jason Lex

By: Wendy Terrien

Narrated by: Brian Callanan

Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Named to Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2016

Short-listed for Grand Prize, Eric Hoffer Awards

Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award Finalist

A family legacy mired in mystery. A plot to unleash madness. Can Jason survive a barrage of life-threatening battles and save humanity?

Fourteen-year-old Jason Lex would like nothing more than to play basketball and hang with his friends. But when his mother disappears, leaving behind blood-soaked belongings, his world turns upside down. After being dragged to a boring town by his father, Jason’s forced fresh start instead finds him afraid he’s losing it after he’s ambushed by bizarre flying creatures.

Thrust into a world once sequestered to the darkest corners of the internet, he teams up with a new friend who has family secrets of her own. Jason’s also stunned to learn mythological entities like Skyfish, Kappa, and the Mongolian Death Worm are real and live unseen alongside the human race. An invisible shield keeps these cryptids hidden and protects people from their threatening power. But shadowy forces are intent on the destruction of the shield - and all of humanity.

Jason may be the key to ending their deadly designs. Can he stop an onslaught of cryptid horrors before he and those he loves are incinerated?

Confronted with loss, heartbreak, and a devastating betrayal, Jason combats the sinister faction but must make a gut-wrenching decision:

Who lives, and who dies?

Chronicle one: The Rampart Guards

Chronicle two - Jason: The League of Governors

Chronicle two - Sadie: The Clan Calling

Chronicle three (book four): The Forge of Bonds

©2015 Wendy Terrien (P)2016 Wendy Terrien

A unique coming of age story

What did you love best about The Rampart Guards?

I liked that the author came up with a way to explain why only certain people can see the legendary creatures that mankind has come up with.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Rampart Guards?

When Jason finally looked at things with an unbiased eye, as soon as that happens, things start to get done.

Which character – as performed by Brian Callanan – was your favorite?

Jason's Uncle. He had a very good voice for somebody who was very obsessed with their work, almost to the point of insanity.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The truth will "shock" you!

Any additional comments?

I received this book for free from the author, narrator, or publisher via audiobookboom for an unbiased review.

Unique and Captivating Story

This fantasy is filled with unexpected twists and turns and the excellent narration brings the characters to life. I purchased a hard copy and read it before the audio book was released and I gave that version five stars also. Listening versus reading brings a different and very interesting tone and flavor to the story....a fantastic experience!

Interesting concept

I found the idea behind this story really interesting, the idea of the rampart protecting humanity from other beings is not an idea I've come across before and this story is well written.

I was a bit unsettled by the age of the hero, he's only 14 for most of the story and experiences things that no 14 year old should so I didn't really like that aspect, but everything else worked for me.

The narration is well done, good character voices and the delivery was engaging.

I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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Great Beginning!

The Rampart Guards: Chronicle One in the Adventures of Jason Lex was a fun enjoyable listen. I loved to hear about the all of the interesting strange characters that Jason and his strange Uncle encountered. Brian Callanan did a great job as narrator. This is Chronicle One so it will be interesting to see where the series heads after this.

Admittedly Good, But Not For Me

Although I am far from the target audience of a young adult novel, I do occasionally read them. The great ones hold my attention and are as entertaining for me as something that was intended for my demographic. Unfortunately, “The Rampart Guards” is a YA novel that didn’t work for me. I admit it is actually a good book, it just didn’t grab me. There is a decent amount of interesting stuff in the book starting with cryptozoology and beings who help mediate a balance between cryptid species and humanity.

I really don’t know why “The Rampart Guards” didn’t click with me, it just didn’t. I will admit, however, that the last two-thirds of the book really picked up. Overall, I think for its target audience, “The Rampart Guards” will be well received. Finally, this audio book was provided by the narrator at no cost in exchange for an honest review, courtesy of Audio Book Boom.

Great book

This book has some twists you see and some you don't it will keep your imagination running.


I got a free copy to read and review and I would give it 5 stars any day.

Option- save the correct one or the one you love

A very innovative story, that unravels just as all good stories should, answering the readers unasked questions, and giving a look at the scenario from various characters perspective. I appreciated the audio rendition of each character, making it more like an old time radio play.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting suspense, drama and supernatural themes.

Great start of the series

I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

So, I was afforded the opportunity to go back and listen to this book after having listened to the others in the series first. It actually made several things "click" into place for me that I wasn't entirely clear on. It definitely cements my belief that this series should be listened to / read in order. The narration is quite well done and the story is pretty good.

Engaging middle grade/young teen fantasy adventure

Jason Lex is just a young teen when his mother disappears. His father moves the family, Jason, his older brother, Kyle, and his younger sister, Della, to a new town near his grandmother and uncle. Jason is struggling and things get worse when he begins to see swarming fish diving at him in the sky. His father warns Jason away from his Uncle Alexander, his mother’s sister, who studies cryptozoology and is known for strange behaviors.

Slowly Jason begins to learn that there are creatures that exist that are not known by the public. He suddenly has physical skills, like lightning bolts from his hands, that he doesn’t understand and can’t control. Then he is approached in secrecy by his mother. He is lured to help her but realizes he has to make a hard choice to prevent the destruction of his family, friends and the world as he knows it.

The story moves along quickly with danger and light action. Jason faces a lot of new challenges – new facts and betrayals -- in a short time. The adventure is fun, if not always quite plausible. But it is a fantasy adventure after all. I was disappointed by a little bit of language although that isn’t unrealistic.

I do think that middle graders/young teens would enjoy this as would fantasy, adventure, light sci fi fans. The end has a bit of a twist and I was glad to have book 2 to follow the adventure.

Audio Notes: Brian Callanan does a good job with the narration. He gives personality to the characters with appropriate voices and emotions. The narration added to my enjoyment of the story.

I received this title from the narrator for an honest review.

A Fun-For-All

The beginning and ending could use a do-over. (Unless I missed something, police don't assume blood near personal items automatically belong to that person). And since when do kids have a say-so in whether or not a move is evident?
The ending about the "tests" seem far fetched. Was his mom and her brother ever tested? No.

Otherwise, overlooking these inconsistencies, it's a sound story. TBH, I was hesitant to pick up this book. I had gotten the next two books and figured, Heck, lemme grab the first one.
And that was when I learned we have a dead/missing parent and I thought, Here we go again. This cliché again? But it was very different and very good. The twists were good, although I felt there was a loose end. Talk about distrust in the community seemed to be a dud.
Sadie was a wonderful friend with a good head on her shoulders.
I liked the characters, their growth, and interactions.
The writing and story plot was above average. The world building was fun. The magic wasn't completely explained to my satisfaction but I liked how Jason subtly figured things out and understood it. I especially appreciated the children's powers were not sudden nor super heroic unbelievable.
It comes to a satisfying conclusion and could be a stand alone book. ( Except we have an excerpt for the next book at the end! What a treat!!)