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Deridia #13
Origin
Patient.
Prisoner.
No one.
He wakes up in darkness, his throat on fire, his memories gone. No name. No past. Just the number branded on his arm and a sentence he can’t remember earning.
On a desolate prison colony where survival means following the rules—or breaking them first—Ellion struggles to find his footing in a world that offers no mercy. Then there’s Hana. Bright, resilient, and dangerously kind. She knows the rhythms of this place, and for reasons he can't begin to understand, she chooses to help him.
As fragments of memory threaten to return, Ellion must decide who he was, who he wants to be.
And whether Hana is a risk worth taking in a place where trust can cost everything.
-x-
He scrubbed at his face. Drew in as deep a breath as he could. “I’m fine,” he insisted. “I had a rough go when they woke me up. That’s all.”
Her mouth twisted. “One benefit of a lifetime commitment here; I won’t have to get into one of those pods again.”
His head turned sharply. “Lifetime?”
She blinked once, slowly. “Of course. One-way ticket. That was all explained in the literature. Or did you not read it?” Her eyes widened. “Not that it would be bad if you didn’t! I’m sure lots of people don’t. They just want out, and this place isn’t so bad. Pretty sky.” She leaned her head back so she could look. “My pen before was off-planet. Metal everywhere. Like living in a box. There was a porthole, but then it was just... black.” She shivered. Patted her thumb against her knee and then seemed to shove the memory away. “I’m Hana, by the way.”
“Hana,” he repeated. He’d remember it, wouldn’t he? What if he slept that night and it all disappeared again?
“That’s me,” she answered brightly, but it faded quickly into something near to nervousness. “You going to give me yours?”
Prisoner.
No one.
He wakes up in darkness, his throat on fire, his memories gone. No name. No past. Just the number branded on his arm and a sentence he can’t remember earning.
On a desolate prison colony where survival means following the rules—or breaking them first—Ellion struggles to find his footing in a world that offers no mercy. Then there’s Hana. Bright, resilient, and dangerously kind. She knows the rhythms of this place, and for reasons he can't begin to understand, she chooses to help him.
As fragments of memory threaten to return, Ellion must decide who he was, who he wants to be.
And whether Hana is a risk worth taking in a place where trust can cost everything.
-x-
He scrubbed at his face. Drew in as deep a breath as he could. “I’m fine,” he insisted. “I had a rough go when they woke me up. That’s all.”
Her mouth twisted. “One benefit of a lifetime commitment here; I won’t have to get into one of those pods again.”
His head turned sharply. “Lifetime?”
She blinked once, slowly. “Of course. One-way ticket. That was all explained in the literature. Or did you not read it?” Her eyes widened. “Not that it would be bad if you didn’t! I’m sure lots of people don’t. They just want out, and this place isn’t so bad. Pretty sky.” She leaned her head back so she could look. “My pen before was off-planet. Metal everywhere. Like living in a box. There was a porthole, but then it was just... black.” She shivered. Patted her thumb against her knee and then seemed to shove the memory away. “I’m Hana, by the way.”
“Hana,” he repeated. He’d remember it, wouldn’t he? What if he slept that night and it all disappeared again?
“That’s me,” she answered brightly, but it faded quickly into something near to nervousness. “You going to give me yours?”
397 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2025
19 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Miller
25 books124 followersI am an American by birth and situation, whose heart forever remains in Great Britain. I derive much inspiration from my holidays abroad, and my writing is heavily influenced by the delights of the English and Scottish countryside. My author's journey began in several reimaginings of The Phantom of the Opera where I explore happier endings for our beloved Erik-- hopefully aided by my degrees in psychology. I have a love for fantasy and paranormal romance, as well as the pleasure of a thrilling murder mystery... each of which have begun to creep into my writerly pursuits. When I am not consumed with a novel, I enjoy lavishing affection on my two cats, and working in historical costume design.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 30, 2025
I LOVE Cat Miller books! (Can I call her Cat? After reading something like 18 of her books, I feel like she'd be okay with this.)
In Origin, Ellion (Catherine has such a gift for cool names!) wakes up in a prison ship with no memory.
Luckily he quickly meets a sweet girl named Hana.
I adore the gentle, seemingly small gestures and kind words that Catherine uses to weave a tapestry for us of the characters' alliance, then friendship---then love. I'm only partway into Origin and this story is shaping up beautifully!
Favorite quote so far:
In Origin, Ellion (Catherine has such a gift for cool names!) wakes up in a prison ship with no memory.
Luckily he quickly meets a sweet girl named Hana.
I adore the gentle, seemingly small gestures and kind words that Catherine uses to weave a tapestry for us of the characters' alliance, then friendship---then love. I'm only partway into Origin and this story is shaping up beautifully!
Favorite quote so far:
'That was a truth that settled rightly, as if known to this other part of him. The one in the past with all the answers Ellion would never have.
"Ready?" Hana asked, and her smile was soft and so were her eyes, and he rather thought he would follow her anywhere if she looked at him like that.'
May 25, 2025
Excellent sci fi romantic adventure
The title makes me think this book may be a prequel for the series, although the characters appear to be a human variant or a very human-like nonhuman species. The Narada, at least these Narada, aren't keeping slaves but are acting as guards to prisoners. Bad things happen; all the Deridia books are somewhat dark. The planet and its assorted species aren't perfect. Ellion is an interesting character with believable reactions to his situation. Hana has issues, but she is innately kind...and scared. The two are a good match, each needing the other to survive.
The title makes me think this book may be a prequel for the series, although the characters appear to be a human variant or a very human-like nonhuman species. The Narada, at least these Narada, aren't keeping slaves but are acting as guards to prisoners. Bad things happen; all the Deridia books are somewhat dark. The planet and its assorted species aren't perfect. Ellion is an interesting character with believable reactions to his situation. Hana has issues, but she is innately kind...and scared. The two are a good match, each needing the other to survive.
May 24, 2025
A well written book but a bit slow and bleak for me. 3 stars.
May 30, 2025
I wasn’t intrigued enough to finish reading this book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews