Steel Rose by Barbara Custer

Eternal Press, 2013

ISBN: 9781615728534

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

Steel Rose is a stand–alone novel, which may yet produce a series. This book focuses on the staff and patients of a hospital in Philadelphia. Alexis suffers from horrifying body riddling arthritis. While she is undergoing treatment, an alien race known as the Draekh invade Philadelphia through the hospital where she is staying, and take possession of numerous patients and staff. In particular, they find Alexis’ nemesis, Laurel, a tech at the hospital, of great interest, and turn her into the vampiric ground forces commander.  Alexis and her family must stave off these forces, but given her debilitating illness, this is no easy feat.

I found this book engrossing. The details on disease, zombie eating habits, and vampiric tendencies, are well-crafted and nuanced. I rather dug how venomously Laurel hates everybody. This is a deliciously evil book. It comes HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to readers of zombie, vampire, and science fiction.

Contains: Graphic Violence, Profanity, Adult Situations.

Reviewed by Benjamin Franz