Chief Counsel Ariadne Corinth has just found out her long-time lover, the powerfully gifted Chief Counsel Kristov Haydn, has died. Newly evolved psychically gifted humans have been sent by the Homeworld on a space mission aboard two distinct “Nests”. Relationships between the Light Nest and the Dark Nest have faltered and Ariadne is sure there’s something insidious behind it. In a matter of hours, Ariadne must find out what really happened to Kristov, unite her people to discover vast new powers the Homeworld denied them, or else submit to genocide.

Dark Nest by Leanna Renee Hieber
Sci-Fi
March 1, 2008
Paperback, 140 Pages
Crescent Moon Press

Why I read: It was offered for review, and I had no idea Leanna Renee Hieber wrote something besides The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker.

As the blurb states, Ariadne has received word that her love, Kristov has died. They were not together when it occurred, both being on two separate “nests, “ kind of like two parties that were split up based on a set of questions. Travel is not allowed between nests and many fear the nests now oppose each other.

Ariadne feels differently though. She thinks all people want the same goal, peace and trust, but some are laying down the path for lies and evil thoughts. Because she is Chief Counsel she is able to travel to the Dark Nest for Kristov’s funeral. It is there where she will unravel the rebellious atmosphere and a huge twist.

Dark Nest takes you to a sci-fi world filled with political twists and turns. No one can be trusted as certain players try to pit the two nests against each other. Ariadne is a heroine that has extreme empath abilities, yet must repress them to fit in on her nest. She had to give up her true love, and give herself to another, to further the cause of her ship. She has sacrificed a lot in her life, and at times feel it is quite unfair.

As she travels to the Dark Nest and learns of an uprising and rebels, she also discovers powers that she had no idea existed. With the help of her old professor, Bodin, her life takes a shocking turn. There is such a nice twist in the middle of this book, that I don’t want to give away. It will put a smile on your face and it lightens the mood of the book quite a bit.

We get flashback scenes of Ariadne’s romance with Kristov from the beginning of their relationship. The uncertainly Ariadne has with her inexperienced empath powers and the contrast to the cool control she has in present day really makes her a heroine I enjoyed.

Although Dark Nest comes in at 140 pages, it is a solid sci-fi book that creates a really unique world.

Rating: 4/5

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