*Review - Steel Rose: Van Helsing Academy by Stacey O'Neale #YA #Paranormal

Series: Supernatural Rehab # 3
Format: Kindle, 185 pages
Release Date:  June 28th 2021
Publisher: Phoenix Reign Publishing
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Young Adult / Paranormal

From USA Today bestselling author Stacey O'Neale comes the explosive conclusion to her Supernatural Rehab series!

The battle is won but the war is far from over. The uprising has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Order. Tensions between the factions are at an all-time high. Declan has a bounty on Mina’s head, forcing her to make impossible choices. Meanwhile, disturbing reports are coming out of the Van Helsing Academy. Although her life is in imminent danger, she must become the Order’s Steel Rose—no matter the cost.

Steel Rose is the third and final book in her YA Academy series. No harem. Perfect for fans of Darkblood Academy by G.K. DeRosa, Wolf Moon Academy by Jen L. Grey, and Shadowspell Academy by K.F. Breene and Shannon Mayer.

Steel Rose, by author Stacey O'Neale, is the third and final book the Supernatural Rehab trilogy. This story continues right where Legacies off. Mina Van Helsing, the great, great-granddaughter of the most famous vampire hunter in history, Professor Abraham Van Helsing, trained her entire life to be what the supes call a reaper. Reapers are the police department of the supernatural underworld and protectors of the Covenant that her grandfather worked hard to pull together but now is being pulled apart thanks to Vampire Master Declan. 

After being sent to Van Helsing Academy as punishment for something she didn't remember, Mina has had her eyes opened to the plight of the supernatural community. Thanks to her new friends Sacha, Alexei, Kiera, Bethany, Brianna, and yes, even Cassius, the vampire prince who has betrayed her, and saved her life, Mina stood and announced she would be the Steel Rose to unite the clans together. Even though the battle against Declan and his allies was successful, the war hasn't been decided yet. There are plenty of supernaturals who are unhappy with the Order. 

The Uprising against the Order began with the vampires but has spread to the werewolves thanks to Declan. Declan ups the ante by putting a $5 million bounty on Mina dead or alive. This means that anyone who an itch to scratch would inevitably be Mina's executioner. With that kind of money, Mina and her friends will be hard pressed to remain allies especially with the arrival of Sacha's nemesis from Russia. When Mina realizes the only way to figure out Declan's plans is to return to VHA, the others join her without hesitation.

While Mina is struggling not to rush ahead into danger like she always seems to do without regards to those around her, Cassius is playing another type of game. Cassius not a fan of his father's plans. While Cassius is somewhat of a outcast by his own clan for helping Mina escape, and isn't at all liked by Sacha's clan, or the witches, he knows that if he is patient, and stands his ground, he might be the savior that Mina needs to remain alive. Cassius has a chance to finally stand up and shine, but will his father's machinations end in tragedy? Or, can Mina find a way to survive the Declan's plot to take over the world and make humans slaves to the supernatural clans?

There are some curious connections that happen in this story. Especially between Sacha and Mina. I didn't see that coming, and I am still scratching my head. The author does something so unique that I am trying to figure out if this happened before or it's original without adding spoilers to my review. I liked the connection between Kiera and Alexei. It's grown out of respect and the fact that Kiera was pretty much shoved into joining Sacha's pack to save her life. I liked that we get a deeper look into the Order as well as not forgetting that Mina is still considered to be a Reaper. This is one of those rare series where the parents haven't been killed off, or are not in the scene at all. Mina's parents get a shock in this book but not once waiver in their support. 

Amazon