The Manifested Lie

by Sheyanne Warren

344 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2026

About the author

I’m Ashley Johnson or Sheyanne Warren. My whole name is Sheyanne Ashley Warren. Johnson is my mothers married name. Originally from Syracuse, New York, I now call Charlotte, North Carolina, home.

I have a master’s degree in forensic psychology (yes, I’m fascinated by the human mind!) and spend my days shaping young minds as a middle school teacher. But long before I stepped into a classroom, I was a book-loving kid who found magic in words. When I was three, my grandparents took the TV out of my room and replaced it with a bookshelf—best decision ever! From that moment on, stories became my escape, my passion, and ultimately, my calling.

Writing has always been second nature to me, but for the longest time, I didn’t realize becoming an author was actually within reach. It felt like an unspoken dream—something I carried in my heart without fully acknowledging. But now? I’m here, doing the thing I love, and I write with purpose.

Representation matters. It’s not just a phrase; it’s a commitment. I want my readers—no matter who they are or where they come from—to see themselves in the pages of my books. Whether it’s a fantasy world filled with adventure or a gripping mystery with unexpected twists, I write stories that reflect the diversity and richness of real life. Because everyone deserves to be the hero of their own story.

So, if you love books that blend heart-pounding suspense, intriguing mysteries, and unforgettable characters, you’re in the right place. Let’s embark on this literary journey together!

Reviews

[Brita Mackay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Selene Trueshadow never asked for destiny.

At the Academy of Arcane Wonders, Selene is just another girl waiting for her magic to finally manifest. But when a forgotten portal tears open, she’s dragged into Odreazah—a realm of warring royals, cursed legacies, and secrets her parents fought to bury.

Suddenly, her bloodline ties her to a crown, a curse, and a creature that hunts her every step. To survive, Selene must choose who to trust: the prince who swears he can unlock her power, the rival whose memory is too sharp to ignore, or the friend who might not stay on her side.

Her fire is gone. Her telekinesis flickers. And every choice draws her closer to betrayal. Saving this realm won’t come with glory. It will come with blood.

For readers who crave messy magic, slow-burn young adult romance, tangled alliances, and betrayals sharp enough to scar.

YOU'RE MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!!! Please read and pay close attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning of this book. There is some content and scenes in this book that may not be suitable for all readers and could be triggering for others. Always remember that your mental health comes first at all times. Reader discretion is advised. Intended for readers 18+.

Tropes: Destiny, Academy Setting, Magic, Portal, New Realm, Warring Royals, Cursed Legacies, Secrets, Bloodline tied to a Crown, Creatures Hunts her every Step, Choose who to Trust, Power, Telekinesis, Betrayal, Portal Fantasy, Magic Academy Setting, Two Realms, Late Bloomer to Powerful Heroine, Secret Lineage, Found Family, “One of You Lies” Energy, Elemental Magic, Suppressed Power, Royal Secrets, High-Stakes Betrayal, Dark Academia Vibes, Hidden Bloodlines, Slow-Burn Romance, Magic Academy Politics, Warring Realms, Betrayal that Fractures Trust, Betrayal Twist, Young Adult Romance, New Adult Romance, Parental Secrets, Hidden War.

The Manifested Lie by Sheyanne Warren.

Many years ago, Leia and Kofi married and had a daughter who they named Selene. Years later, Selene was ready to go to the Academy of Arcane Wonders for herself to find out what she would manifest as. Upon arriving, Selene met her roommate Astrid.

Slowly as they began their classes, others joined the two of them including Sunna, Zephyr, and then Caspian and Killian. Together the five of them discover that there’s a secret that nobody knows but they have to figure it out and solve it.

If you are into messy magic, slow-burn, YA Romance, tangled alliances, and betrayal that makes your stomach drop than I can promise you this is the book you will want to read.

After Selene starts at the Academy of Arcane Wonders waiting for her power to appear she meets 5 other amazing students who quickly become her friends. But, instead of her magic manifesting, Selene finds herself being dragged into Odreazah, and it’s here that she discovers that her bloodline is actually a liability and more than that, she learns that someone in her circle of friends is lying to her face.

Congratulations to @s.warren.author on your huge success.

I have to say that this is really a very good read with magical politics, portals, secret libraries, betrayal, secret royalty, and high stakes survival. And most of all this is a story about finding who you truly are amongst all the problems of your past.

The friendships that Selene builds over the course of this book is stunning and the romance feels like it’s more of a love triangle. I think this is the perfect book for anyone who loved the Harry Potter series and similar books. And it is to those reads that I recommend this book.

My favorite quote from this book is:

“She never asked for destiny.”

[Karen Sorg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long, long, time ago Leia and Kofi were married and had a daughter. Her name was Selene. When she went off to school to find out what she was going to manifest as. Her roomate is Astrid, and others who become part of the group, Sunna, Zephyr then they meet Caspian and Killian. There is a secret that nobody knows but must be found and solved.

“She never asked for destiny.”

And now the book is officially out.

I had the privilege of reading The Manifested Lie early, and if you’re into messy magic, slow-burn YA romance, tangled alliances, and betrayal that actually makes your stomach drop, this one is for you.

Selene starts at the Academy of Arcane Wonders waiting for her power to show up. Instead she gets dragged into Odreazah, where her bloodline is suddenly a liability and someone in her inner circle is lying.

Tropes inside:
✨ Elemental magic
🔥 Suppressed power
🌍 Two realms
👑 Royal secrets
🤝 Found family
💔 High-stakes betrayal

Huge congrats to @s.warren.author and thank you to @literaryinspired for bringing us together for this ARC.

It’s live. Go read it.

#LiteraryInspiredARCs #YABooks #FantasyBookRelease #DarkAcademia #FoundFamily #SlowBurn #PortalFantasy

[GetLitWithRae · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

Selene is a student at the Academy of Arcane Wonders, waiting for her magic to finally manifest when she suddenly finds herself pulled into the adventure of a lifetime. Dangerous though it may be, she isn’t alone. Selene is joined by a group of friends from both the academy and another realm.

The story has some slow parts in the beginning, but it really picks up in the middle and carries that momentum through the end. The adventure gave me Indiana Jones vibes… if Indiana Jones had magic, teens, and travel between realms.

I also really enjoyed Selene’s friend group. Well… most of them anyway. Not the betrayer, obviously. But the others? Definitely.

Overall, this is a fun fantasy adventure with magic, friendship, and high-stakes exploration.

Thank you to Ms. Warren and Literary Inspired for the ARC! This is my honest review.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic can be a tricky thing to unblock and for Selene she feels it may never manifest. She and her friends both old and new attempt to find their way through the Academy of Arcane Wonders and strange new lands they are drug into finding secrets that should’ve stayed buried. Can her blood save them or will it be the curse that undoes them all? Will she find the betrayer in their midst?

Very YA appropriate. Personally I was a tad confused during points and a few paragraphs seemed repetitive but overall it’s a good read. Magical politics, portals, secret libraries, betrayal, secret royalty, and high stakes survival. Interesting story about finding your true self amongst the problems of the past.

[Patsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so upset when my kindle crashed and I thought I lost this book. I loved that our FMC, Selene, is discovering who she is when her world is literally turned upside down.

She's thrust into a new world of deception where she's literally being hunted. Talk about chaos and intrigue. Not knowing who to trust is a complicated path to maneuver. The entire storyline really draws you in. This is definitely a YA vibe but I'm all about it.

I did feel like some of the material was a little repetitive, but I was able to get past that and still continue with the amazing story

I give this four out of five stars.

[Sofia Gajewski mamaqueleeromance · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Selene enters the Academy at age sixteen, she discovers that everyone has been lying to her all along. She must figure out how to manifest her magic and travel between realms, so the story is full of adventure and dangerous situations.
The friendship is really great, and the romance feels like a… love triangle?
But for me, they were so young (which is expected) in the way they talk and think.
So, sadly, it’s not my type of book.
I think it’s a story for younger readers (around 14–18 years old) who love Harry Potter and similar books.

[Cathy Pike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in a YA fantasy series and follows Selene Trueshadow and she starts at the Academy of Arcane Wonders with her best friend Astrid. Selene doesn’t feel like she belongs as she is still waiting for her magic to manifest. On their first day both Selene and Astrid are ripped from their dorm room through a portal to another realm and they soon discover nothing is as it seems. There are warring royals, hidden realms, cursed legacies, secrets and lies, and Selene doesn’t know who she can trust.

I really enjoyed this story. Cheyenne’s writing style is great, as was the plot and character development. There were some great plot twists and it was fast paced the whole way through. This was a great start to this series and I am looking forward to reading the next book. This was a great 4 star read for me and I would definitely recommend.

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely a great book for the YA audience. It’s intriguing and fun. The friendship that developed at the academy, and the way Selene discovered her magic. The magical elements were awesome. I fell in love with the world building. It was so well done. This book held a wonderful depth that really allows the reader to immerse themselves into this world. I really enjoyed reading this story. It was beautifully written.

[betbee_bookdragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Sharyanne Warren for this entertaining ARC! I was in a reading slump coming into March and this yanked me up by my shoelaces and threw me into a world of magic,drama and of course lies.
Our FMC follows her parents footsteps to magic school with her bestie boo, has two guys to ogle and decades of buried secrets to dig up.
I highly recommend you dig into the book and enjoy the roller-coaster.
@s.warren.author
@literacyinspired

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Selene's magic hasn't just not manifested yet. It's blocked. To protect her. She and her group of friends stumble and fumble their way seeking answers. Portals don't work exactly like they're supposed to, often leading to hilarious landings. Someone is lying.

This is a good YA appropriate portal fantasy story for readers of all ages.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is perfect for teenagers who love a good story with magic and suspension. The story is easy to follow and the main characters are strong individuals.

The story has everything that will keep you reading.

[Prose Before Bros · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adventure, magic and friendship, this YA story is appropriate for young readers and offers a coming of age tale with the excitement of new worlds.