Hidden

The year is 2093 in a post apocalyptic future Earth brought on by the Noble Wars. The world has been divided into to four sectors, the harshest of which is the Northern Waste where bitter cold and desperate poverty are facts of life. It is the home of Tatiana, the youngest of three genetically enhanced test tube siblings. The siblings had been raised by a computer and tortured by the maniacal Duncan Bane who had forced them to hone their genetic gifts to the extreme, building them into his soldiers. Her older siblings (DRIVEN) had been strong, but Tatiana had been a late bloomer. It had taken her far longer to develop her abilities and by then Wizard and Yuriko were gone. Her siblings had chosen to endure Bane's wrath in her stead. Due to her failures her sister was dead; her brother at best was missing. Bane was dead now as well, but Tatiana still had another madman to content with, his successor Dr. Gavin Ward, a supremacist who had sliced her and diced her and finally used her genome to produce a plague that would be used to eliminate all those whom he considered to be inferior. But when Tatiana finally bloomed her ability to heal bordered on miraculous, her physical strength was unsurpassed, she could endure the harshest environments and was able to read other's thoughts, vicariously experiencing emotion for she had none of her own. She had escaped Ward six months ago and now earned what she needed to survive by retrieving stolen items for those who were willing to pay. Her latest assignment has taken her to Abbott's General Store in search of two gun truckers. She notices another customer meandering through the aisles, male, a settler. She likes his smile, but can't read him, like most. He makes her nervous; he intrigues her against her will. Tatiana gets her information from Abbott for a price. But she has one more question. For that answer she offers a rarer commodity than interdollars - real sugar. She requires information about Tolliver, Ward's scientist, the specialist who had helped him develop the plague. Find Tolliver-find Ward's secret underground laboratory-stop the madness. Her past inquiries had come up empty. She is disappointed again. Abbott has no information. The truckers arrive. Tatiana's mission is successful. Not so for the settler who had been in the store. Tatiana has recovered the ring sought by her client and from the trucker's memories her first solid lead pointing to the location of Ward's lab and the mysterious Tolliver. Tristan had found the woman a fascinating enigma. Abbott had not known her identity. Was it a coincidence that they were hunting the same truckers? He hadn't interfered in her battle, he was only interested in their cargo. Unlike Tatiana however, he comes up empty. His microscope and samples are gone. Tristan Tolliver had gone to work for Ward with the idea of creating a special injectable, virally infected bacteria that would induce temporary symptoms in a critically injured patient that wou

This sequel to Eve Kenin's fast-paced futuristic Driven keeps up the page turning action from the first book. The heroine from this one is Tatiana - the third sister mentioned in Driven. The hero has his own dark past. The action as they both pursue their own [hidden] agendas is non-stop. The resolution is satisfying and touching.

If you enjoyed the first book, Driven, then you should not miss this sequel about a woman living on the edge. Gritty and fierce are only a few words to explain this book and the master storytelling of Eve Kenin Hidden takes place in the year 209 in the frigid tundra called the Northern Waste. There is a woman named Tatiana whose job is to retrieve stolen items. Tatiana was once a victim of a crazed scientist who tried to make her and her siblings the perfect weapons to help take over the world. Tatiana has an amazing genetic makeup that allows her to read people's thoughts and regenerate from any illness or scar. Tatiana was able to escape living for the moment when she will take down Gavin Ward, the scientist who experimented on her. She is looking for Tolliver, the one man who can lead her to Ward since he is his right hand man. There is another man who watches Tatiana. Tristan is also on a mission where he must try and stop a plague that could destroy mankind. When Tatiana is exposed to the deadly virus, he takes her under his protection. Tatiana can withstand anything, even death itself and welcomes Tristan and his special secret world he has created. But when she finds out that Tristan is closer to Ward than she thinks, she may be able to get her revenge. But at what price? Tatiana and Tristan are running out of time as Ward is close to finding them down. When Tatiana finds out what Tristan has done, they will work together to find a cure as well as releasing her inner demons with his love. We return again to the Northern Waste where desperation and death rules the land. Tatiana is a truly unique, yet amazing heroine that will make you ache because of her suffering. Tristan is also like Tatiana in many ways because of his past mistakes, but because he wants to right his wrongs, he is very much a hero in the reader's eyes. Hidden is a wonderful, action paced science fiction tale about the survival of the fittest. Eve Kenin has a way of writing strong characters and a setting that grabs you and won't let go, right up till the last page. For the best in thrills, on the edge of your seat action and a wonderful romance, you must pick up Hidden and loose yourself in the world of Eve Kenin. Katiebabs Driven (SHOMI)

In 2093 in the futuristic Northern Waste land, the death of one despot opens the door for only more as corruption, greed and power influence the New Government Order. After a history of deadly and continual wars, country names have disappeared and the world is broken into 4 land masses, four branches of government. The Northern Waste is a vast and empty land inhabited by Siberian Ice Pirates, Reavers, corruption. In this land of outlaws, women are few and far between except in their relationships to others as wives and prostitutes. Orphans struggle for survival along with everyone else. In the midst of this dangerous, nearly barren land, Tatiana stands out as an oddity, an independent woman, a kind of waif and warrior combined. The freezing cold barely produces a shiver in her body. Raised by a computer, her emotions and heart are close in temperature to the land in which she now lives. Normal human interactions mystify her. Tatiana can read minds and her hand alone has the power to cut through human bone faster than a knife. Her tattoo marks her as a rebel, a woman in violation of the law but Tatiana has a mission of justice to accomplish. She plans to hunt down Tolliver, a genetic and infectious disease scientist, a man who worked for her nemesis, Gavin Ward. During her imprisonment, Tatiana saw firsthand the destruction of evil posing as a good in the scientific research that created a plague that could now destroy mankind. When Tatiana's hunt leads to a confrontation with a Siberian Ice Pirate, she can't help but notice the cool settler on his scooter watching her. Rugged, ready for action and masculine, Tristan makes her heart race. Can she trust this man? In the life threatening Northern Waste where people take and take, Tristan talks about questions of enlightenment. In their interactions, Tatiana is thrown off by his politeness, a remnant from a more innocent time of courtly manners and chivalry. What can he be hiding? Tatiana might be able to read people's minds, but this man remains a mystery to her, a man who makes her body feel alive. Something doesn't quite add up about this man and his memories. Before she can decide whether he is a friend or foe, the two must battle an underground trap and hunt down a madman. Eve Kenin's second book set in Northern Waste reaches a new height as the author takes everything so wonderful in the previous novel DRIVEN and steps up the level even higher. Dynamic action, an unusual intriguing romance, a mutated landscape and riveting suspense all work together, combining the best in science fiction and romantic suspense. Hot and cold mix together in this romance, casting a classic Petrachian love theme into a wild new futuristic world. The hero and heroine, two outcasts in an outcast rough environment, struggle to pursue justice in a world that no longer cares about justice. A deadly threat brings together two of the most unlikely people into a conflict that challenges both to the core of their identit

Eve Kenin's first novel in this series, 'Driven', was a great read. Set in the future in the inhospitable, icy Northern Waste, the characters and situations were fresh and enjoyable. 'Hidden', the second in the series, follows events for Tatiana, sister of Wizard, the hero of the first novel. Tatiana believes that her brother Wizard and sister Yuriko are dead - and that she was partly to blame. She spent her youth caged and experimented upon by Duncan Bane and his evil successor, Dr Gavin Ward. Tatiana's mission is to prevent Gavin Ward from carrying out his plan to unleash a plague using samples from Tatiana's own genetic engineering. As the story begins Tatiana is following a slim lead that she hopes might help her to find Dr Ward's underground laboratory - the name 'Tolliver'. When she asks a local gang leader about Tolliver she finds herself in the middle of trouble - whilst being observed by an unusual man. When she meets the man, Tristan, again the following week, they form an unlikely alliance. But Tristan has a lot of secrets, including the reason why he can't let Tatiana leave their underground complex. They face attacks from people infected with a fatal plague as well as dealing with their own demons. As before, the writing is tight, interesting and the pace of the story is good. Tatiana and Tristan are very well drawn characters and it's possible to believe in their weaknesses as well as their strengths. Tatiana's super-hero genetic engineering seems to sometimes allow the author rather too much leeway in terms of escaping from tricky situations but it's a fun read overall with some amusing moments as well. Highly recommended. Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © 2008 Helen Hancox