Parasite

Vertex #2

by Soren Summers

It’s been one hundred and forty-five days since the world ended. Paragon has swept through the city of Pleasance like a reaper’s scythe. Now the dead walk the earth, seeking the flesh of the living. Still Jarod Samuels refuses to die.

As a hunter, Jarod safeguards the Hive, the ruined mall he calls home. He exterminates zombies to protect the city’s last few survivors, and to keep Gabriel Anderson unharmed, their lives intertwined now more than ever.

But in a city ravaged by Vertex’s corruption, there’s no telling what dangers each day will bring, whether the threats within the Hive’s walls might be deadlier than those without – or whether monsters from the past still lurk and linger in the city’s shadows.​

This romantic horror story is approximately 69,000 words in length.

Genres: Horror, M M Romance, Romance, Zombies, Mystery, Dystopia, LGBT

245 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 15, 2017

About the author

Hi, Soren here. After 15 years spent working in lifestyle journalism and public relations I decided it was time to stop selling other people’s stories and start telling my own. I’m obsessed with writing about ordinary people struggling against overwhelming supernatural odds. I’ve also been told that I’m kind of charming. No, really.

I love video games, staying home on the weekends, and geeky guys. I'm great with animals and I have a soft spot for cats, dogs, and geeky guys. My favorite edibles are pizza, coffee, and geeky guys. My favorite shows are RuPaul's Drag Race, Better Off Ted, and anything that has geeky guys in it. Also my friends say I have a one-track mind but they have no idea what they're talking about.

Reviews

[Kazza · Rating 5 out of 5]

More book specific review at On Top Down Under - http://ontopdownunderbookreviews.com/...

I was so nervous going into this book because of how much I loved Monster, book #1. I said to Cindi, my blog partner, I was leaving the genre if this book didn't work. BUT... all the freaking stars for Parasite. All of them. As I said above I loved Monster and I then hoped that Smolder, same world different characters, would keep the strong theme and characterisations going, it did, and more than that, it was so funny and incredibly entertaining, complete with characters I'm hoping to meet up with again. Now Parasite has blown me away. Genre saved.

Who should read the Vertex series?

People who like dystopian worlds with extremely good world building and a strong sense of place. If you like zombie books, this one's for you. If you don't like zombie books then this could still be for you because it is well written, refreshing and there's humour and incredible relationships between primary and secondary characters. This book, the previous two as well, is how you write strong secondary characters without taking over the primary relationship. Soren Summers characterisations are second to none. I've read another book or two recently where the ensemble cast of a newish series royally messed up the chemistry of the main protagonists, that does not happen with this author.

Readers who like really good main characters - ones that are flawed, unique, ordinary guys doing extraordinary things. I find them unforgettable. I love these guys. Really love them. I'm totally addicted. There's also fantastic secondary and cameo characters, I'm beginning to see what a friend of mine sees in one sinister J. Hargroves, he's an absolute scene stealer, chilling, intriguing.

If you like your books somewhat graphic and gory, the author holds nothing back. There's horror and it's well written - everything is organic, not written for the sake of shock value. It's perfect. Not ridiculously heavy, not a lightweight either.

If you like an offbeat and quirky sense of humour. Jarod and Gabriel's I love yous are different and funny. They can sure snark at each other in a good hearted way, and they also love passionately, at times to the death... of others.

If you need appropriate sex to plot to action ratio- I don't want people fighting off zombies, anomalies, creepy corporation owners and falling into bed in the middle of the blood and gore, well, maybe sometimes, but that's another kink altogether - don't judge me. However, I do want and like the necessary cigarette smoking scene, and I got what I needed because it's sexy. I want to see Jarod and Gabriel together, and I got that again, but not at the expense of the story building and giving me a real joyride.

Also recommended if you like some aha moments and oh my god, and fuck you moments. There's a couple in this book, I wasn't sure who someone was (that I won't give away) and it was well written. What happens when people you love come for you? How would you really feel? And I got so stressed in one scene I nearly threw my Kindle.

If you like intelligent and at times subtle writing, Soren Summers has a way of writing so that people and feelings sneak up on you and by the end you're immersed, in love, and you don't want it to finish.

Most of all, Soren Summers is one hell of a writer. Seriously, if you like a gay horror dystopian romance style of genre do yourself a huge favour and start at Monster and keep reading.

I recommend you start with Monster first, it will make this a better read, but it isn't 100% necessary.

I want more now, I don't know when the next book will be out but whenever it's planned for it's still too bloody far away.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS. This is another fantastic Soren Summers book that starts with a bang then someone places a brick on the accelerator pedal and we’re off. Put your seat belts on
About six months ago I stumbled across an amazing book. Stumbled is being polite really, I literally had it thrown at me by a good friend. I opened a book rec on GR and it could have read. “Bitch please why haven’t you read this yet?!?!” and possibly slapped me in the process. So I purchased a copy and I literally had to duck as it was delivered. Thanks K, best rec from you ever! I was now sitting there with one Monster and it gave me the creeps.

As a lover of futuristic, dystopian, horror and other books from those genre's, it blew me away. I know the YA market has been flooded with them recently but not so much in the MM department. I read it in one sitting and when I saw there was a link for a free novella on the author’s website called Siren, which gives a brief account from the other MC’s POV, Gabriel's, as Monster is mostly Jarod’s POV, I didn’t hesitate, I had to have it. Yep join up there’s no spam!

SIREN LINK excellent free novella http://www.sorensummers.com/free.html

So I lunged for it to discover on the author’s blog that Monster was Soren Summer's first novel. I was stunned, but not for the reasons you might think. I've read quite a few amazing and well written first novel's, but not one from this genre and it was also MM (I really wish there was a better acronym.)

Personally I love the dystopian genre but it’s so hard to do properly without being tacky, especially when it's dystopian horror, not dystopian fantasy. Which makes it rather difficult for authors to write in, so for a first book WOW!

Then Summer's did something which I thought was a risky move to be proven wrong. ONLY due to frustration because I was gagging for the sequel to monster, but Summer's released instead. That very quickly was no longer a personal ‘risky move' either. It’s still set in the same verse and became another 5 STAR book in my opinion. Actually it was quite a smart move, what better way to get an entire verse up and running. With the free novella and now with the release of Parasite, Summer’s has four amazing books off the ground now all within six months. Which I have given 5 STARS to all of them.

The old and obnoxious mould of releasing a MM series with book #1 then having all the covers and release dates for the rest of the series looks to be slowly dying away. Not that Summer’s did that but it became problematic enough that people stopped investing in book #1 of a series because we never saw the rest of the other books with their prefab cover art and fake release dates. Most of which never made it past book #2.

Parasite was released last week, it’s book #2 in the Vertex series and the sequel to Monster and it doesn’t disappoint. It takes us back to see what happened to Jarod and Gabriel as they had to move on quickly at the end of the last book. Don’t want spoilers now do we.

To me Parasite once again managed to maintain that constant underlying creep factor that has now become synonymous with his work. It's constantly running through the background of your mind while reading all three books in this verse. It’s very subtly done though, but it’s akin to having creepy music playing in a horror movie and not many people can get that vibe into a book! Despite the fact that it's Summers third book, that is no easy feat. These books are neither over the top nor lacking, they’ve hit that sweet spot that keeps you intrigued and I want more and there are more coming. I’m guessing from the second book in this verse Smoulder, it looks likely to keep this theme possibly running too. I don’t know if they’re going to be one off’s in the verse or seperate series in the verse but a solid base is there already.

The writing is excellent as are the main characters Jarod and Gabriel. The newer characters in this book are also excellent from the nicer people right down to the arsehole’s, with some surprises thrown in for excellent measure. The so called zombie’s included, which Jarod notices do not follow the stereotypical zombie camp fire stories. They have amazing eye sight, some can heal, have an amazing sense of smell but worst of all is their preternatural hearing. Guns draw them like flies and as this book progresses so do their senses and it all just keeps getting creepier and creepier. Jarod does not believe that their zombie’s and neither do I. We do know however from Monster what caused this and so far as we know only Jarod and Gabriel do too. Sure this book has taken bits from the zombie hand book but it holds it’s own. I get the feeling we’ll find out more as the series progresses, I think the author has some very out of the box plots on the verge of jumping out to say boo or was it something else?

The mall that a few residents from the town of Pleasance are trapped in seems quite large. With time passing quickly though, supplies are beginning to dwindle. The daily runs through the town to collect more of anything is getting harder. The zombie like creatures who didn’t quite escape to safety have changed. The scene where that happened freaked me out, it was also during while they were out scavenging, which has become harder now. It’s now been one hundred and forty-five days since the world ended with the explosion at Vertex. They’re completely cut off and have no communication system at all.

The world has gone to hell in a hand bag and everyone knows whatever’s happening started at Vertex. Both guys had been working at Vertex, but a few other Vertex workers made it too. They’re all hell bent on keeping that a huge secret from everybody. You just never know what’s going to happen or when. Surprisingly enough it’s not as often as you might think, but that's the reason Summer’s is such a good writer. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all sunshine and roses for the people trapped in the mall. They call it the Hive but it felt like it should be called smother land.

Summers manages to make you leave scorch marks on the pages as you frantically read on to ensure both boys are always safe. Somehow they manage to keep safe and although there seems to be some kind of zombie apocalypse happening outside. I personally don’t know exactly what it is, but I think it’s something else, more than likely it’s a lot more sinister too.

Poor old Jarod is rather socially inept but at least he's completely aware of it. It doesn’t take long for the golden boy to begin singling him out either. His partner Gabriel isn’t however and fits in perfectly, leaving Jarod extremely paranoid after an accident one day. This escalates quickly as Jarod doesn’t tell Gabriel everything. Actually he hardly tells Gabriel anything about the taunts the prised cock of a prick keeps poking Jarod with, about how he’s going to steal his man right out from under him. Jarod doesn’t want to come off being the whining bitch either for two reason’s. Due to Jarod’s injury Gabriel works twice as hard so they don’t get thrown out. Anyone who doesn’t pull their weight is thrown out and Tyler is now one of Gabriel’s best friends. Fucking Tyler, yes that should be his name, is constantly putting Jarod down around everyone, even in front of his boyfriend who he hangs off constantly while giving Jarod shit eating smirks. Gabriel is completely oblivious to this and just see's Tyler’s more tame veiled threats as jokes. He picks up a few but for the most part doesn’t realise why Jarod is occasionally so rude to him. Tyler does let a few nastier ones slip through which Gabriel calls him out on until Tyler doesn’t realise Gabriel’s there one day and someone else really gives Tyler a verbal tongue lashing. That helps with Gabriel laughing off Tyler’s acid laden barbs directed at Jarod now, because even though he thought a few were out of line, he still doesn’t quite realise that they really are full of venom.

This is when you really notice that Gabriel is still quite a huge unknown factor, even though I like his character he puts me on edge. They hadn’t known each other for long in Monster and they’re both very private people. It might be a mall but every time Jarod turns around Tyler is giving him a death glare, there is no where to escape to either except for the roof. That soon becomes a problem too for another reason.

This might be long but I’ve not really given anything away I hope. There is a snowball of events towards the end of the book, but for now they’re secure again. For how long this time is anyone’s guess.

**written while sick will fix when better

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK IS AWESOME!!

Right out of the blocks Parasite hits the ground running like a racing zombie.

I believed Monster was a whole lot of epic when I read it but Parasite called it out and upped the game. I like and don't like zombies~ a friends boyfriend's weird belief in zombies kind of messed with my head. So I can laugh AND say hell nah at the same time about those things.

J & G are back and living in a mall with other people who won the we might've been lucky to have escaped the Paragon smackdown lotto. I've thought about that. How good would it be to be the ones living the end of days lifestyle with zombies all around? Messes with my head! So the undead are all around being typical zombies at first but nothing's normal when Vertex has a thumb in the pie. Then Jonathon Hargrove shows up and shit got more interesting. Waiting for the next one now.
I have a bit more to say on the blog but it's totes NSFW and 18 + http://cockyreviews.com/parasite-iver...

[Karen Wellsbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading Siren I though that this book would develop the relationship between Jarod and Gabriel and show it growing, that was not the case. You would think that when faced by life and death situations very day the boys would talk to each other. But no they didn't.
I liked the development of the zombie plot, and I really want to see what happens there, but the relationship is daft.

[The Novel Approach · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s the end of the world as we know it, at least the world Soren Summers has created in the Vertex series, and it’s so much more than fine.

After this author’s debut novel, Monster, made my Best of 2016 list, it isn’t much of a stretch to say that Parasite, book two in the series, is not only the best book I’ve read year-to-date but that it will make my 2017 list, uncontested. If you’re a fan of post-apocalyptic dystopia and horror along the lines of Stephen King’s The Stand, Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend, The Walking Dead, or even Shaun of the Dead (okay, that one is stretching it a bit), then all I can say is you’re missing out on a utopian reading experience if you don’t delve into the new world order that Paragon has built.

Picking up five months after the end of Monster, Parasite is the all hell that broke loose in the aftermath of Paragon’s unleashing on an unsuspecting Pleasance. As the walking dead stalk the streets of a walled off city, the survivors hole up in a shopping center where they’ve created a Hive community and are attempting to mimic civility while scavenging for the scraps leftover from a once thriving consumerism. It’s a somewhat dangerous place for Jarod Samuels and Gabriel Anderson because they have a secret, one they’re holding close to the chest for fear of being turned out—a fate that’s worse than death, by infinite degrees—but as needs must, justice is meted out to keep the Hive from slipping into chaos.

Summers makes this community of people from different walks of life relatable in its make-up, from the aging Esther who assumes the role of queen bee (and who has a secret of her own), to the workers who assume the roles of hunters, scavengers, innovators, cooks, healers… There is a hierarchy that works among the Hive dwellers, from the elders all the way down to the children, and, of course, when the zombies breach their fortress walls, every able body jumps into the fray. That’s when a person’s most valuable asset becomes their weapon and their will to live. If you’ve no idea how you’d fare in a world where every creature comfort has been lost to one man’s vision of perfect humanity, a world where the line between life and death can be obliterated with a single bite, this novel will at the very least make you think about how much of an asset you would be to the perpetuation of the human race.

As a perfect human contrast to the inhuman threat Jarod, Gabriel, and the rest of the Hive face, the idea that where there is love there will also be conflict holds true. Jealousy, insecurity, fear for one another’s safety, it all brings a layer of realism to the unreality that is their existence now. Jarod and Gabriel’s relationship might have been hard pressed to survive under normal circumstances—may not have even started, if not for Vertex and Gabriel’s lies—but the path to their connection has been paved with blood and mutual dependence. That’s a bond that goes just a bit deeper and while it might not be considered healthy, there is nothing in this setting that can be minimized with a “normal” label.

One of the things that Soren Summers does with a consistent beauty is translate his narrative into gorgeous imagery. Even in its horrific and morbid portrayal, each zombie encounter is stunning in its terror and violence and the uncertainty of who will and won’t come out on the other side alive. It’s his ability to draw the reader in by the senses that makes these books so engrossing, and it’s not an exaggeration at all to say that I see the story as much as I read it. Jonathan Hargrove appearing on page is enough to send a chill down my spine—better the devil you know? In his case, the answer to that is a definitive not. He is a conundrum of deadly proportions and composed in creepy perfection, as is this book and this series.

And yet somehow, in the end, Summers at his crafty best manages to leave us with a small ray of hope for the survival of mankind. He also has left me anticipating book three with unhealthy levels of obsession and impatience.

Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach Reviews

[Soren Summers]

Parasite picks up pretty much where Monster left off, but you’ll have a better handle of things if you also read Siren, a free novella you can download from my website and book #1.5 of the series.

Parasite carries over the same tone and themes from Monster and features many of the same characters you've come to love (or more, likely, come to hate). Some readers have stated that it's possible to read the books out of order but going Monster > Parasite is still recommended if you want to stay on top of both lore and the cast.

Thanks for reading. You're (still) the best <3

[Harper Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a beta reader for this story. I was also bedridden thanks to a wicked bout of the flu. I had no energy to do anything, and reading was a struggle since staring at my Kindle for too long hurt my eyes. My dedication is strong because I powered through this sucker despite being miserable as hell!

Parasite made life tolerable.

If you haven't read Monster, do it. You get a great introduction to the oddities of Vertex. You also get the set up for Jarod and Gabriel's dynamic. Parasite picks up right where Monster ends.

*Spoiler* There's a zombie apocalypse. The blurb gives it away in case you missed it, lol. The best way I can describe this series is The Walking Dead with male leads and one hilarious and juicy slow burn that ends up becoming quite endearing.

Get on board the Soren Summers train. He's definitely an author you want to watch. M/M horror with romantic elements? Yes please! I give Parasite 4.5 fabulous stars.

[Sara]

5 Hearts

Dear Soren Summers,

You did it again. I am not sure if I should side-eye you for making me read zombies or thank you for pushing me out of my comfort zone. I don’t do zombies and yet I was surrounded by them because I couldn’t get enough of Jarod and Gabriel. And there was the other stuff, just the daily stuff that happens within these 20 days and all that has been declared as a civilization that is now the Hive. There was so much I had to know and though you tossed Tyler in there, I will forgive you because you also tossed in Danny.

Yeah, you are some sort of wizard or just a brilliant and talented author because you made me, the zombie loather, read a book full of zombies.

Also, that end? Did you hear me yell when I read it? Well done.

Still a fan but now with possible side-eye while I wait for the next book,

Red.

This ain’t your normal zombie story…

Before this all happened, Jarod didn’t think that the dead would be able to walk. Hell, he didn’t think people could bleed to death and come back to life. He didn’t think people could move things with their minds.

It’s been 145 days since we left Jarod and Gabriel fleeing the destruction of Vertex and the thing Robbie had turned into. 145 days of them finding the North Pleasance Mall aka the Hive, where they have created an apartment out a storefront and 145 days of them living this budding dystopian world full of zombies and trying to do what Jarod promised Gabriel, not to die.

Getting back to this world took a bit of time for me. I’ll be honest and admit that zombies leave me cold like a naked man in security but I knew I had to read this. I’ve always said I can read anything if the author is good enough and well, Summers is damn talented because he dragged my ginger ass through the mess that Paragon has created and even meet new folks along the way. The new folks were amazing and annoying at the same time… Lord, Tyler tried my patience and for most of the book, I wanted to kick him in the nards. I knew he would have a story and I just didn’t want to like him. I needed not to like him. Dammit.

But then we get Danny and Danny is all sorts of great and this character who pulled at my heartstrings the moment I met him. It’s not the pull of fluff, it’s the pull of all this young man could have been if Vertex could control their whacked experiments and ultimate destruction of mankind. You know?

The best part, perhaps the only good part of being in this hellhole is knowing he’ll wake up next to Gabriel every day, without fail. That’s all Jarod wants now. It’s all he can hope for.

I know, I am getting off on tangents already but this book, it’s one for me that really doesn’t show me how completely brilliant it is until I sit back and take it all in when I am finished. It’s like a Monet you know? Up close it’s a total mess but when you take a few steps back to look at the whole picture, it’s gorgeous. For me that is the best way I can describe this book because it was frustrating to read with the lack of romance between Gabriel and Jarod I was jonseing for because I am a hopeless romantic. But then again, zombies and fucking don’t really go together and once I chilled, I was fine. We do get swoony moments between the couple as they navigate their new relationship in this crazy world they live in and the jealousy added a good amount of angst. The intimate moments between Jarod and Gabriel were perfect and honestly, I couldn’t ask for anything more. I mean, I could because I am greedy but it was enough for this book.

Now while it took me longer to read it than book one, trust me when I say it’s no less brilliant. Goodness. This was amazing.

So, Jarod and Gabriel are living at the Hive and following the new rules that go along with it. Everyone has a job and the couple are hunters who go out and kill the zombies. They go out with Tyler Torres who as I mentioned is an asshole but he is one of those redeemable assholes that happen to be favorites of mine. The hunting provided a lot of action when the men come across clusters of zombies but folks, these are not your run of the mill zombies. These are creature made by Vertex and they are smart because they were created by Paragon, the regeneration drug. I won’t even get into the complexity of these zombies; how they were created, what they can do and who they come after once they are dead and then undead. It’s freaking trippy as hell but so well thought out and just brilliant that there is no way I could paraphrase it all.

But you know how it started.

Yeah, that’s another thing. Folks at the Hive don’t know that Jarod and Gabriel used to wear gray shirts with the Vertex logo on them. They don’t know that they watched Robbie die and them come back as a gurgling mess to then regenerate before their eyes and kill Nessa. They don’t know that the escaped Vertex as the staff was being torn apart by Robbie’s hunger and turning them all into zombies. The only ones who know are Jarod and Gabriel until Esther decides to make Jarod talk. OMG! Do not get me started on Esther because the shit that happened at the end? WTF was that and also how cool was that? The author has thrown in some new ideas with Ester that blew my mind and made me grin. I love her… all of her.

Jarod and Gabriel may have escaped Vertex but that doesn’t mean they have left it behind. When Jarod’s old boss comes for him and we learn more about the zombies it was intense. And then that whole visit on the rooftop with you know who when Jarod needed air? OMG and say what? That was crazy, the revelation of what Paragon was created for was disgusting and yet, I need that man to come back because he needs to be taken care of. Ugh. This book, was so freaking good.

“You made me one promise. I need you to keep it.”

“I promise. I swear. I can do this because you’re always here. You’re always looking out for me.”
“We can do this…Together.”

I feel like I need to add in just one more time about Jarod and Gabriel because this is still a romance. It’s still very romantic it’s just in this crazy setting. Looking back on my notes as I write this review, there are some very poignant and emotional moments between the couple and Gabriel still has a knack for the dirty talk but their relationship was on par for their situation. I think I would have been turned off if there was a butt load *ahem* of sex in this as it would have felt misplaced. Gabriel and Jarod are trying to survive, they are trying to do their best while keeping secrets from the others in the Hive and each other. Yeah, the men have secrets and while Jarod learns what Gabriel has been hiding, Jarod is keeping his secrets buried way deep and are they twisted AF!

Oh boy. I could keep going because I haven’t even talked about Magpie who is wicked smart and shiny. I haven’t talked about the politics of the Hive which I got but couldn’t help but get sad when someone was turned out even though they deserved it. I didn’t go into detail about a lot of things but I won’t either because I want you to read it all and absorb it until you feel goosebumps at the hissing of your sprinklers turning on in the early morning and you wonder if they are whispering your name….

Okay. I am done. I’ll stop now.

Parasite is a stellar follow up to Monster and a perfectly placed and paced book for this series. We get 20 days from start to finish, 20 days of action, of jealousy, of truths and lies and we end on hope. Oh yeah, that end had me yelling and wishing I had the next book because it was stunning.
Wow. Yep, I am hooked.

I read zombies and I liked it.

Go figure.

[Pixie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reviewed for JustLove...so disappointed: https://justlovereviews.com/2017/05/2...

[Nerdy Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every year a reader has a new author they discover who blows their socks off. In 2016 my discovery was Soren Summers. In 2017 he continues to impress me!

I read Monster his debut novel because another reviewer gushed over it. I read the bonus material that accompanies Monster because the man is smart when it comes to marketing. I read Smolder because it’s a spinoff that also happens in the same universe.

So of course, I was anxiously awaiting Summers’ next release. And boy did Parasite deliver. It was action packed and full of so many HOLY COW moments.

Premise:

The timetable is a few months after the shit has hit the fan and Pleasance was overtaken after the showdown at Vertex headquarters. The bodies have piled up, and the conspiracy is far reaching. We know that many people have been turned into zombies. Jarod and Gabriel are still together and are fighting side by side. We don’t know how widespread the outbreak is but the undead are everywhere. Jarod and Gabriel are stopped by armed officials while trying to escape the city and end up squatting in an abandoned mall with other survivors. The reader is then taken on a journey with Jarod and Gabriel. Will their relationship survive, is everyone in their new group trustworthy? Why are some of the undead different than others?

Verdict:

Summers delivers! He left me on edge the entire time. I loved everything about this story including the secondary characters. And the whole Hargrove aspect, I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS. I was literally screaming at my Kindle like, “WHAT WAS THAT? WHATTTTTTT?” My gosh people, what a thrill ride. I’m being somewhat vague with the more meaty details in my review because I don’t want to spoil. But trust me, if you’re a fan of gay horror, with romantic elements, this is your series.

I have to say my favorite part of the book, was the “mind eraser.”

I’ll never view blowjobs the same again.

Summers is an author I will continue to follow. He has a unique way of having a story unfold, and it’s his unique style that continues to appeal to me as a reader.

I give Parasite 4.5 exciting stars.

Reviewed for Gay Book Reviews
http://gaybook.reviews/2017/04/02/par...

[JustJen "Miss Conduct" · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as with the first book, this installment went in a direction I never saw coming. Initially, it took me quite some time to get up to speed with the amount of time that has passed since the ending of book 1, Monster. Gabriel and Jarod were on the run at the end of that book. Here, they have joined a colony after a plague has seemingly wiped out most of the population. This isn’t an ordinary plague though. It is one that was set in motion by everything that was going on at Vertex. The result? Zombie mania.

Being part of the colony known as the Hive, where everyone has a role and jobs that will ensure the survival of the Hive. Gabriel and Jarod are hunters who go out in search of items while fending off the zombies at the same time. Unfortunately, it becomes clear that the zombies they have been fighting are evolving, actually showing signs of free thinking, regeneration, etc. While initially clueless as to what could be going on, it doesn’t take long for things to become clearer.

In the middle of it all, with connections being made to Jarod and then Gabriel, there are struggles within the Hive, and potential infighting. And while Gabriel and Jarod’s relationship seems pretty solid, there are a few others in the mix that flare up the jealousy and cause some tension. But, mostly, these guys are just trying to concentrate on staying alive and sticking together.

I definitely recommend you read these in order, as you really need to get the background on what these guys have already been through, as well as learning about some of the key players. I love how this story is evolving, and even enjoy the different aspects I didn’t quite see coming. I’m not a fan of present tense, in any person, so I struggled a bit with that throughout, though it was less noticeable as the story went on. There were often times where I was trying to recall how these characters were in the previous book compared to how they are now, because I wasn’t sure I was remembering things correctly. But, all in all, I enjoyed this installment. If you are a fan of creepy sci-fi type turn zombie fest stories with a bit of mystery and suspense, be sure to give this series a try.

Review written for Love Bytes Reviews/

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.5 stars

My biggest fear before reading this book was that Parasite would lose the impetus created by Monster. I shouldn’t have worried. With Parasite we see the resurrection (puns ahoy) of the rather tired idea of zombies, but done in such a novel and eerie way, it was impossible not to enjoy the ride. Parasite continues to build on the foundation laid by Monster and keeps the idea of survival fresh and clever. The enemy here, at least the obvious one, is not merely a shuffling corpse, but a walking, talking, conceptual terror. These zombies understand survival of the fittest. They kill the weaker of their own kind to fuel the intellect and cunning of the stronger. Paragon was created to regenerate and repair and to some extent it continues to work even after death. It means the survivors are fighting an organized army with little more than bats and nails. It’s makes for a properly creepy menace that kept me riveted.

Jarod and Gabriel are stronger than ever and utterly entwined with one another. But the author does a good job of reminding us that even in the middle of an apocalypse, humans are emotional, foolish creatures. There are jealousies, self-doubt, fear, and cowardice and Jarod and Gabriel must deal with it all while trying to stay alive. As with the initial book, Parasite provides us with an array of monsters, both human and otherwise, and they add to the struggles with which Jarod especially must contend. The only blip of ridiculousness in Parasite is the revelation of the larger evil behind the zombies. It feels forced and a bit silly. That said, this author has surprised me more than once and I’m willing to believe this could turn around in the next book.

Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.

[Jammie Bebout · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an innovative and interesting take on the zombie genre! I really enjoyed the first book in this series, but dare I say this second book is even better. The plot is intriguing, the imagery incredibly vivid, the writing impressive, and the characters complex and well thought out. Authentic and engaging, these characters just jump off the page. They completely draw you into the story, and make you believe in this extraordinary world of undead, evil corporations, and humanity’s fight for survival that the author has created for us. Woven throughout this almost post-apocalyptic nightmare is a beautiful love story between two complex, sensitive, and soulful men. They've managed to find love in the midst of chaos, and they hold onto it with every ounce of strength they have. It's truly a joy to read. This book/series is dramatic, exciting, impassioned, enthralling, romantic, and utterly compelling. I would highly recommend it, and I eagerly anticipate the next book in the series.

*I was given a copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review. All opinions are my own.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creepy thy name is Soren Summers! From start to finish you are literally on the edge of your seat, the creep and ick factors are high in this one but really they need to be. The point is driven home, stay alive!

Jarrod is growing and adapting to his new surroundings, the world is overrun with victims of Paragon and Jarrod still has somewhat of a chip on his shoulder.

And zombies, delicious gross flesh eating zombies! and they know Jarrod's name....An awesome installment in the series shows us the fallout from Monster and the devastation the Vertex Corp has done to Jarrod and crew, and possibly the world...?

Thanks for another great book Mr Summers....and the nightmares of a giant, angry, flesh eating crazy blond lady who does cheesy needle points in her spare time hiding under my bed *shudders*

[Pamela Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in The Vertex Saga .

This is another great addition to this series this time we find out happened too our protagonist after they made their escape from Vertex after patient zero got loose . We also find out about what some of the human test subjects are and why they are the way they are we also find out why Paragon was implemented in the first place . Who is Mr Hargrove of better yet what is he and are there more of his kind out there what his his ultimate plan for the human race . And will the people in the Hive gonna survive and who lit the other flare are there other survivors maybe even government assistance I can't wait too find out personally I'm waiting for Robbie too show up for his Ice cream date lol .

[Simera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parasite is the second book in Vertex.
Zombies, romance and some comedy all mixed together. We start off with the guys living in a mall with others. Jarod and Gabriel we see more of their dynamic and there are several new characters introduced. The story is gripping and intriguing from the start.
I received a copy for an honest review.

[DeeNeez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, I had to read one more creepy zombie book in honor of Halloween. And creepy thriller dark this was! Dark, very dark. Scared myself with a nightmare reading this...the rest of the night I kept the light on.

[Denise White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

The 2nd book was good as well...this book was very well written... Katie was annoying as hell at times with all his inner monologue...but I guess he came thru in the end... Off to the next book