Doubt, Among Us Trilogy 1

ABOUT Anne-Rae Vasquez

Anne-Rae Vasquez
 Anne-Rae Vasquez, is a web design geek, freelance journalist for Digital Journal, author and filmmaker.  Doubt is her latest novel, book 1 of the Among Us Trilogy. She wrote the novel and screenplay for the award winning feature film and web series Almost a Turkish Soap Opera, Salha's S More...

Description

Do you love shows like J.J. Abrams' Fringe and read books like Cassandra Clare's City of Bones?

"Doubt" mashes fringe science, corporate espionage and paranormal encounters to catapult you into an out-of-this-world experience.


At 21 years old, Harry and Cristal are fresh out of university with their PhD's. Labeled all their lives as being 'weird' and 'geeky', they find true friendships with other outcasts by playing online virtual reality games.

Harry Doubt, a genius programmer and creator of the popular online game 'Truth Seekers', has a personal mission of his own; to find his mother who went mysteriously missing while volunteering on a peacekeeping mission in Palestine. His gaming friends and followers inadvertently join in helping him find her; believing that they are on missions to find out what has happened to their own missing loved ones. During Harry's missions, Cristal and the team of 'Truth Seekers' stumble upon things that make them doubt the reality of their own lives. As they get closer to the truth, they realize that there are spiritual forces among them both good and evil, but in learning this, they activate a chain of events that start the beginning of the 'end of the world' as they know it.


Doubt is Book 1 of the Among Us Trilogy. Among Us is a book series which delves into the world of the supernatural and how it intersects with the everyday lives of seemingly ordinary young people as catastrophic events on earth lead to the end of times. Among Us weaves the theme of a young man and woman, who while not fully understanding their 'abilities', are drawn together in their desire to find out the truth about the world they live in which is similar to themes used in J.J. Abrams' TV shows Fringe and Lost.


What readers had to say...
 

  • As a big fan of the show Fringe, this book appealed to me tremendously. The writing was well done, and the way the "supernatural" forces were introduced was great.
  • A good, clean read for any age.
  • It was an excellent story that I'm sure both adult and teen urban fantasy fans will enjoy. You don't have to be a gamer or know one to identify with the characters. They're very well developed and definitely feel like people. I would definitely recommend it to a friend and I'm really looking forward to the second book.
  • ...the novel is written in such a languid style, it moves on effortlessly and absorbs the reader into the story completely. Although the story itself revolves around the online gaming industry, one does not have to have an in depth knowledge as it is ably explained and discussed within the plot line.
  • OMGosh! I just finished reading "Doubt" INCREDIBLE! I couldn't put it down.



˃˃˃ >>> Depth and Substance mashed up with Fringe Science. Will entertain young and old alike.

This book is intended for mature young adults and new adults. Ages 16 to 45 +


˃˃˃ >>Inspired by real Truth Seekers Aaron Swartz and Harry Fear
The main character Harry Doubt was inspired by Aaron Swartz, internet prodigy and activist, co-founder of the Creative Commons and Reddit, and Harry Fear, journalist, documentary filmmaker and activist whose coverage of the conflict in the Middle East was seen on UStream by millions of viewers.

What’s behind the story? A note from the author: I wrote the first chapter after I woke up from a dream with a vivid image of the beginning of the end of the world. It was so clear in my mind that it frightened me. The only thing that gave me hope was that in the same dream, there was a group of young people who risked their lives banding together to try and save the world. Perhaps my dream was inspired by what I’ve seen in the news where young people around the world are fighting back against their governments’ oppressive policies. This wave of ‘Truth Seekers’ is evident with the recent “Arab Spring” and other youth led revolutionary protests and peaceful activism against governments who resort to terror and bloodshed to suppress their voices. The book is also a tribute to Aaron Swartz, an internet prodigy who was ‘behind some of the Internet’s defining moments, soaring to heights that many developers only dream of–CNN‘ and an activist. His activism led him into hot water with the FBI when he was arrested and later indicted by a federal grand jury ‘on charges of wire fraud, computer fraud, unlawfully obtaining information from a protected computer and recklessly damaging a protected computer’ [wikipedia]. His fight for the truth and justice was ended when he was found dead in his apartment on January 11 2013. His father Robert Swartz said, “[Aaron] was killed by the government, and MIT betrayed all of its basic principles.” At that time, I was shaping out who would be the hero of my story and I decided that I wanted someone like Aaron, intelligent beyond his years, courageous and a seeker of truth and justice. My book Doubt is a tribute to Aaron’s memory and also an inspiration for all young people to uphold Aaron’s determination that all of us can use our talents to help make the world a better place. I also was inspired by another young activist Harry Fear whose fearless coverage of the conflict in the Middle East was watched by millions of young people around the world. Both Aaron and Harry are real truth seekers and were my main inspirations for the main character Harry Doubt. “[Aaron] used his prodigious skills as a programmer and technologist not to enrich himself but to make the Internet and the world a fairer, better place.” – Remember Aaron Swartz I have taken this same theme of Truth Seeking and applied it to the fictional story ‘Doubt’. -------------------------- Why Truth Seekers? -------------------------- I was asked by someone why I chose the theme of young truth seekers in Doubt, book 1 of the Among Us Trilogy. The answer is simple. I was inspired by two young truth seekers, Aaron Swartz and Harry Fear, who dedicated their lives to seek the truth and to share it with the world. There is a Truth Seeker in all of us. I truly believe that there is a truth seeker in all of us whether we choose to accept that or not. Some people will reject the idea while others will open their eyes and embrace it. I dedicate my book Doubt to all truth seekers. You don't have to be a hero to be a truth seeker. You just need to open your eyes and listen to the facts, check your sources, and do not be afraid to share the truth.

Here’s what readers had to say…

“…This novel contains a mixture of interesting genres, including fantasy, thriller, adventure, mystery and even romance. The letter in the beginning written to “truth seekers” was a nice touch; a good way to foreshadow what is about to happen.

 

As a big fan of the show Fringe, this book appealed to me tremendously. The writing was well done, and the way the “supernatural” forces were introduced was great. The characters, primarily Harry and Cristal, were developed and built up very well, and had enough detail about their lives for us readers to understand them as people, not just characters. Genuinely looking forward to read the rest of the series when it comes out!”- Melissa Greenberg, Inkspand reviewer

“Doubt, Among Us Trilogy, by Anne-Rae Vasquez, was a good and refreshing read for me. I am not too into books about the supernatural, but the idea of angels on assignments was intriguing.

The characters in this book are mainly young, gifted adults. The fight is one that is as old as time itself—good against evil. Trust is a precious commodity, for your very existence may depend on who is really true and who is not. Love, jealousy, deceit, and friendships play a big role in the plot and bring home the fact that knowing someone may be just a myth. Loved ones disappear without explanation, adding to the mystique of the story, and Cristal, the center of the story remembers her father telling her before he disappeared to not trust anyone.

In the battle of good and evil, Cristal finds that she has powers that are spiritual in nature that she has barely learned to control. Little does she know that this gift may yet help in finding the missing in a place called purgatory. The author uses this story to show that we are spiritual in nature, either for good or for bad. Cristal and all of her associates often obey orders without question until good eventually overcomes and the reader is left with a lot to think about.

I would recommend this book to a friend. I would liked to have seen some of the characters developed more, but maybe Ms. Vasquez intends to reveal more in book two. I will read book two and three because of the interesting way the subject of angels and demons is approached. A good, clean read for any age.” - S. Coleman, Inkspand Reviewer

“It starts with a game designer and shining star programer, Harry Doubt. His father is dead. His mother is missing. And he has created a network of online gamers. ‘How was he going to convince online gamers to leave the privacy of their virtual world to work with others in the real world?’ is the question that ends chapter three. As someone who is married to an online gamer, that strikes me as a really good question. Curiosity is apparently the strongest motivating force at first.

As the book progresses and the characters develop, we see that not only are these gamers working on missions in the real world as well but we also start to realize that their real world isn’t quite like ours. Or maybe it is and the rest of us just don’t see, making it the perfect urban fantasy world because it feels so real. With everyone else blind or willfully ignoring the spiritual forces at play, only the truth seekers can head off the danger.

It was an excellent story that I’m sure both adult and teen urban fantasy fans will enjoy. You don’t have to be a gamer or know one to identify with the characters. They’re very well developed and definitely feel like people. I would definitely recommend it to a friend and I’m really looking forward to the second book.” - G. Lego, Inkspand Reviewer

“Doubt is book 1 of an intriguing and exciting trilogy by Anne-Rae Vasquez.  With enjoyable, vibrant young characters fighting a frightening unknown entity in a world that is about to self-destruct, Doubt will definitely appeal to readers of all ages who love sci-fi supernatural thrillers.”
- Owen Choi, author of Amazon Best Seller, Tendrils of Life

“Captivating, thrilling and compelling. The story is original and fresh–a definite ‘have to read’ for new adult urban fantasy fiction readers.”
- Libby Howell, reviewer

“A dystopian adventure, edgy and thought-provoking which raises questions about what we’re doing to our society and planet. This gritty narrative which is fast paced and full of twists and turns is hard to put down till the end.”
- Cid Andrenelli, author of The Burqa Master

“International intrigue, encryptions, and clandestine arrangements tumble together in this action-packed plot as young internet gamers use their skills to investigate who, or what, is behind the catastrophic events happening around the globe, led by this season’s newest, and most brilliant, master-mind – Harry Doubt!”
- Emily Hill, author of upcoming paranormal novel Voodoo Vision and award winning, The Ghost Chaser’s Daughter and the Ghost Stories series.

“Doubt is a must-read novel that has depth and substance mashed up with fringe science. If you read no other book this year, this is the one to read!” - W.B. Miller, author of Kyrathaba Rising

“I thoroughly enjoyed the book and read it in one weekend; it was captivating and engaging to the reader. Although characterization could have been developed more, this may be intentional as this is only the first part of a trilogy however and is my only slightly negative comment. The writing style perfectly compliments the story line which is fresh and intriguing and I will certainly be looking forward to book 2 and indeed, reading the entire trilogy and unearthing what the author has in store for the various characters. I think the book will appeal to many readers of general fiction, particularly lovers of science fiction, young adult, fantasy and paranormal. There is also the romance element which opens up the possible readership to a much wider audience. I would recommend this book to a friend and will actually do so as I know many people who enjoy this genre and the fact that the novel is written in such a languid style, it moves on effortlessly and absorbs the reader into the story completely. Although the story itself revolves around the online gaming industry, one does not have to have an in depth knowledge as it is ably explained and discussed within the plot line. Suspense builds at a good pace throughout the book and I am sure any reader picking up this novel will enjoy it and be happy with their purchase. I gave the book 4 out of 5 stars, just shy of fantastic, only because the ending was not quite ‘complete’ which I feel will be absolutely resolved by parts 2 and 3 of the trilogy.”- Steven J. Smith, Inkspand Review

OMGosh! I just finished reading “Doubt”… INCREDIBLE! I couldn’t put it down. Well developed characters with thoroughly explained relationships. Great background info – adds so much to the reader knowing what is going on at all times. Cristal is a great lead. She is strong, smart, beautiful – a brilliant package. The twists and turns and the espionage involving the gamers and the GN kept me on the edge of my seat. The paranormal aspect was something I wasn’t expecting, but was pleased with. The flow/pace was great. The writing was smooth and there were enough ups and downs to keep a reader interested. I’m not sure what to expect next, but know that I can’t wait to read more!” – Lisa W., GoodReads member reviewer

“I like books that go straight to the point without a flood of unnecessary introductory words. And {Doubt] grabbed me from the beginning with the idea of time travel… I was also impressed by the fact that there were “pictures” of all main characters, including their avatars. I love being able to imagine exactly how they look like. The author’s style is light and pleasant to read and I read it very quickly. And when thing got more complicated I couldn’t stop reading.” – R. Chelebieva, Inkspand Reviewer

“Doubt, Part one of Among Us caught my attention right away when reading the synopsis. I think tossing JJ Abrams’ name into the ring to give an idea of the type of story was a good call. One event in the story actually reminded me a little bit of one of the ideas in Fringe, but it was unique to it’s own and wasn’t a direct similarity.

I have to say, that starting the book I expected the main protagonist to remain Harry Doubt, but was surprised at the shift so don’t pass this over if a male lead isn’t your thing. This change of perspective made for an interesting read. Normally I am a very fast reader averaging about 2.5 pages a minute, and I found myself unable to put this down, absorbing it in a matter of hours. The story never lagged out, making me want to take a break, but instead kept me engrossed wanting more.

All in all, I think this was a great read. The story, while very ‘out there’ at times, was captivating. The biggest tell for me is that I am actively interested in reading the next two books in the series. I feel like there was just enough detail given in this part of the Doubt tale to make it hold it’s own, but plenty left to make you really want to know both the answers to questions/issues presented and wonder what else there is that you can’t even think of.” – Justdej, Amazon Kindle review

“I loved the intrigue of this book and how it kept me guessing. It was a very easy read with well drawn characters that I cared about. So much of the time with books like this there’s not enough attention put into character details, but I liked the little touches here. I also thought there was just enough twists to keep things lively. I was a big fan of the tv show Fringe and how it combined a number of genres and elements, and this book did it as well.” – Brian M, Amazon Kindle Review

“A unique and intriguing story line. It starts off slowly but builds up towards the end. The story builds up naturally, making you want to get to the end. A real page turner. Love the easy to read set out also.

Keen to source the next books. Another wonderful Good Reads giveaway. Really enjoyed it.”- S. Morrison, GoodReads member

“I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I first started reading the book but I was hooked rather quickly. The story keeps moving and the characters are well developed and likeable. I did receive a free copy of the book but I would have gladly paid.” – J. Worzola, Amazon review

“I loved the intrigue of this book and how it kept me guessing. It was a very easy read with well drawn characters that I cared about. So much of the time with books like this there’s not enough attention put into character details, but I liked the little touches here. I also thought there was just enough twists to keep things lively. I was a big fan of the tv show Fringe and how it combined a number of genres and elements, and this book did it as well.” – Twitter Lover Book Club