Violet Black wakes from a coma, lucky to be alive after contracting M-Fever. Many have died from this highly contagious disease – a deadly strain of Measles that has risen after a fall in vaccination rates. There is no vaccine for M-Fever, despite millions of dollars spent on producing one.

After Violet regains consciousness, she realises she is different. She can hear people’s thoughts, and can feel with her mind that there is someone else close by who can do the same.

Another survivor in the hospital, Ethan is just as surprised at his new skill. Violet and Ethan find each other with their minds, and soon discover others too.

This art of communication is detected by specialised medical staff who put these teens through a barrage of tests. Before they know it, Violet and Ethan, and three others are ripped from their normal lives, waking up in a new world far from home.

Their new lives have been forced upon them, but they have the best food, housing, teachers and scientific experts, in order for them to become agents for an organisation simply known as the Foundation. Violet and Ethan are determined to find a way to flee – but the Foundation controls everything, and escape is impossible.

Set in a very plausible future, with climate change rife, fruit and vegetables a luxury and almost extinct, Prince William is King and a vicious measles-type virus is ravaging NZ, Australia and Germany; two teens wake to a completely different consciousness.

Told in two viewpoints, Violet, daughter of an eminent scientist, and Ethan, a budding game developer, Violet Black is gripping, and scary in the fact that the world they grew up in is so possibly our own future.

The author’s science and medical background is evident in Violet Black, setting up a strong foundation for this exciting trilogy. No.2 Black Wolf – is out September 2021, and told in another of the teen’s viewpoints (Phoenix). No.3 Black Spiral – is due 2022.

Science, espionage, betrayal, secrets, and the promise of more action, revenge, and heart ache will hold me until the next episode.

Author – Eileen Merriman

Age – 14+

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(2021, Penguin NZ, Future, Pandemic, Virus, Coma, Brain, Enhanced learning, Trilogy, Series, NZ Author, Kiwi Author, Romance, Secret Organisation, Anti-vaxxers, Science, Secret, Agent, Spies)