Vox Oculis Series

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.   "Extraordinary and unforgettable ... Martin blends elements of thriller, science fiction, and teenage drama into a taut YA coming-of-age tale about a young girl struggling to find her bearing in the cozy town of Westbury, Vermont. Martin's keen understanding of adolescent psyche, sharp observations, and lively imagination command steady attention. A dazzling blend of thriller and SF, this is a knockout." -- The Prairies Book Review "The author's ingenuity in masterminding [the] genetic trait upon which much of his narrative is crafted is truly brilliant. It adds depth to those who possess it and greatly enhances the overall storyline. All who read it will be enthralled by the twists and turns that ensue and will wait with arms wide open for its sequel to be published."-- San Francisco Book Review "While stories of teen characters with exceptional abilities are abundant, Martin offers an alluring blend of the paranormal with a more grounded, realistic storyline ..." --The BookLife Prize "This book was totally unexpected. I really enjoyed it. It's a YA thriller with sci-fi elements ... very well written." ­-- Isabella Wilson, London Book Trio   "The first half of the book is set up ... the second half of the book is a blur of flipping pages ... I found the character Martin wrote to make the villain oddly fascinating ..." ­-- Carolina Herdegen, Kiss the Book

Will and Blue are each recovering in their own way from their near-death experience over the summer, but a ghost from Blue's past threatens to turn their lives as well as the entire town of Westbury upside down in this exciting sequel to the first book of the ground-breaking "Vox Oculis" trilogy by award-winning author Frederic Martin. It's autumn. It's high school. Will is dealing with unwanted fame while Blue flies under the radar, but for how long? Will is healing and wishing life would return to where it was at the beginning of the summer--peaceful and fun. Blue, meanwhile, finds that high school life is much more tolerable than she expected thanks to a new friend and a surprise mentor. But deep in the foundation of Westbury, a crack is forming that threatens to undermine everything they've come to take for granted, and Blue is forced into a position where she must decide if it's worth risking her life to stay in Westbury. Whether you like coming-of-age or teen thrillers or mystery (with just a touch of paranormal/sci-fi), you will find an enticing blend of all these elements in this unique YA series set in down-to-earth rural Vermont.   "Fabulous, unforgettable, and riveting... A psychological dynamite. Martin's spectacular second installment in the Vox Oculis series blends a haunting mystery with a dash of science fiction. With its sustained suspense, last-minute plot twist, and cliffhanger ending, this YA thriller is a winner." -The Prairies Book Review "This is an amazingly well-crafted novel. Raw emotion is laced through its pages. Though Bronco's disappearance remains somewhat of a mystery ... the author enables the reader to follow his voyage west and uncover some unimaginable ties. All the dots that remain unconnected will leave readers more than eager to plunge into the final book of the Vox Oculis trilogy." -The San Francisco Book Review

Running from her past, Blue finds herself crashing right back into it in this exciting and emotional finale to the Vox Oculis trilogy.   Vox oculis ability allows Blue and Will to delve into the hidden thoughts behind people's words and emotions, but what happens when that insight leads them astray?   Blue's unexpected encounter with Babineau's bodyguard causes her to disappear in the belief that it is the best path to protect herself, her friends, and the O'Days. But during her months-long exile, flashes of her past pop up everywhere, uncovering a tapestry of truths that draws everyone she was trying to protect into a deadly confrontation that no one could predict . . .   "A beautifully crafted, riveting tale ... Martin covers timeless themes of friendship and the strength of love along with teen angst, mental illness, homelessness, runaway youths and exploitation, drugs and prostitution ... Many YA novels delve into similar themes, but few do it so beautifully." -The Prairies Book Review   "Martin seals the Vox Oculis trilogy with an explosive final installment that leaves readers hanging by a thread until the very end." -The BookLife Prize   "This fast-paced sci-fi thriller is crafted with wit and ingenuity ... emotionally riveting and intriguing." -The San Francisco Book Review

The Vox Oculis Trilogy is a story that follows the life of a fourteen-year-old girl named Blue as she grapples with her tortured past and tries to navigate a seemingly endless series of unpredictable tragedies in pursuit of some semblance of stability and normalcy, without really knowing what that means. Having a genetic trait that seems to be unique to her and allows her to eavesdrop on people's thoughts definitely complicates this pursuit of normalcy. How she survives that journey and its stunning twists and turns makes this story less of a run-of-the-mill thriller and more like an intriguing testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of youth and the power of friendship and community. And, like real life, the pace of the story alternates between la-ti-da and OMG in a rhythm that will keep you on your toes while the final chapters wind things up in a wild thrill ride with a shocking surprise.