Series: Vox Oculis #1
Pages: 304
Genres: Coming of Age, Fantasy, New Adult, Science Fiction, Young Adult
ASIN: B0848WTG7P
ISBN: 9781734024005
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Source: ARC, VRO
Blue DuBois wants the world to leave her alone, but the world has other plans.
It's summer, 2011, and for four and a half years, all Blue has been looking for is a normal life after losing her family in a suspicious fire. But what is normal for a fourteen-year-old that can hear what no one else can? And what should she do when she hears something that presents a tantalizing opportunity to avenge her family? With an unexpected new friend and ally, she comes up with a slam-dunk plan. All she has to do is risk everything, including both of their lives.
Whether you like coming-of-age or teen thrillers or mystery (and just a touch of paranormal/sci-fi), you will find an enticing blend of all these elements in this first book of a unique YA series set in down-to-earth rural Vermont. With just a touch of maybe-this-could-be-real scientific conjecture as an intriguing element, this is a story more about friendships and those magical bonds created by shared terrifying experiences during a formative time of life.
Tropes:
- Telepathy / “Vox” Senses
- Foster Care Journey
- Coming of Age
- Small Town Mystery
- Vengeance Quest
- Found Family
- Intelligent Villain
My Review
When I opened this book, I was immediately curious about the author not wanting to label this book as one genre. It was some stream of letters that made me laugh, but it was a highly accurate description of the type of book that I read.
This story has so many sub genres of trauma, sci-fi, drama, YA/NA, thriller, mystery, fantasy, coming of age. The best sum up of a genre I can come up with is a YA dramatic sci-fi fantasy thriller.
The FMC is a very traumatised orphan who has bounced around social care settings for years until she comes to live with a new family. She has the ability to see thoughts and finds another person who also has this ability who lives nearby (MMC), they slowly become friends after she begins to come out of her shell, which is difficult for her due to her constant battle with inner demons.
She learns something and begins to plot, leading to a dramatic event, this is spurred on by her history. She feels she has no choice but to do this to save others, the people who have now become important to her. Basically all goes to hell.
After the issue is resolved and things are normal again, we learn the villain is still on the loose. I was kinda hoping that when that thing happened after car flip they would end up belly up in the lake, but ya know, that wouldn’t be as gut punching as keeping the sod alive for book 2! And yes, at the end of the book, I got a sneaky peek of book 2 and I am absobloodylutely going to read the whole series because I’m fully invested now. I require answers after what I read on that preview, so I’m chomping at the bits.
This book is a clean read, although there are mentions of rape, there isn’t actually any, it’s just the word is used, like out of fear. Whatever trauma the FMC suffered post orphaning, I’m not certain of. It isn’t stated. There are of course scenes of violence, and blood and gore, drug dealing and use, but the premise of this book is trust, and friendship. Accepting that you are NOT alone in this world, there is always someone there for you. You just have to reach out.
I am giving this beaut a fab 4* stars because it was weird and wonderful, and I loved it.
Can’t wait to get my hands on book 2!
audentes fortuna iuvat!
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