World at War
World War III is raging. Citizens have been moved to refugee camps that are little more than work prisons for the armies, but the Russian and Chinese forces aren’t the only foes. Below these massive facilities dwell another form of army; those that if the surface dwellers ever discovered the real puppet masters in this global war would shatter their perception of the Earth they live on. In the underground depths, vampires and their alien counterparts work with elite politicians and scientists, using the refugees above as lab rats for their ever-increasing experiments to develop a more potent food source. Among the evacuees is Sandy and her protector Phil. Trained in the sacred art of The Rose as well as the blades, Phil is a follower of legendary and almost mythical resistance leader Robyn Winter. Phil’s mission is to bring Sandy and her unborn to Robyn at any cost. For reasons unknown, Winter believes that the child holds the secret to victory. When Sandy’s condition is discovered and she is taken below ground, Phil has no option but to go after her. Rallying a ragtag group of resistance fighters of his own, Phil and his comrades leap into the unknown horrors below to mount a rescue mission. Getting in does not pose a problem, but getting out is an entirely different story.
The Rose is the first in the series of the same name by author P.D. Alleva. Known mainly for horror, Alleva takes a dive into more of an apocalyptic, sci-fi fantasy realm with The Rose than he has with some of his other offerings, but that does not make this book any less horrific. Set sometime in the future, the world is in the throes of another global war. But the biggest threat isn’t the Russian or Chinese solider, it’s the vampires and aliens below the surface. If you are one of the few who manage to see the subterranean realms, the true might of the enemy is displayed, however, for those who gain access to the realm below they are usually not long for this world. Phil ventures boldly into the depths to save Sandy, but even he is not prepared for the horrors lurking below.
Overall, The Rose is a strong introduction to what is going to be a series of novels by P.D. Alleva. While the opening chapters are a bit slow, this does nothing to prepare the reader for the breakneck speed at which the story progresses once it really gets rolling. In fact, if I remember correctly the entire span of the book only encompasses about a day, but there is so much action packed into those hours that will have you turning the pages quickly eager to see what happens next. And while there is a semblance of closure to this initial installment, the door is wide open for more ground to be covered in the follow up.
While this book may not appeal to everyone, if you like science fiction, featuring vampires, aliens and dystopian war-torn societies ruled by dark masters with even darker motives, P.D. Alleva’s The Rose will not disappoint.
Full disclosure – I was provided an advanced reader’s copy of this book by the author or their representative but have voluntarily provided a review. All opinions are my own
Jennly Reads 