Zoe Pappas, diplomat and heir to the Byzant throne has been taken as a prisoner by the Hajim, an enemy alien race and sent to their underground prisoner-of-war-camp run by another alien race called the Krils. There she keeps her identity a secret and is mistaken as a lieutenant pilot. She is surrounded my many other war prisoners who vary from humans to other interesting life forms. One such prisoner gives her pause. He is Dr. Matthias Raven, the highest-ranking Byzant officer at the camp and in charge of all the human POW's. Matthias goes by the nickname of Doc and has been at the underground prison for sixteen months. Now that eighty new humans have arrived, he must acclimate them to their new home and warn them that there is no escape.

Doc finds Zoe to be very brave and outspoken. Because there are not many women at the prison, he feels he must watch over her and protect her from those males who have been without a woman for so long. Zoe is a quick learner and is able to navigate around and make some new friends. She finds herself bonding with Doc and ignores the jealous feelings she has, especially when some female prisoners have a habit of latching onto Doc. But Doc doesn't want any of them, only Zoe.

When Zoe is attacked and almost killed, Doc is there to save her and she finds out his secret. Doc is not human, but an alien with the worst type of reputation. He is a vampire, a parasite that comes from a planet known for its dark pleasures where blood sucking during sex is accepted. Doc tells Zoe his true identity and is in for a shock when Zoe tells Doc that she is the heir to the Byzant throne and must find a way to escape before her mission is lost. If the Hajim figure out who Zoe is, her life will be forfeit. Only Doc can save her and possibly the whole empire.

DARK STRANGER is a great gross-genre book that takes the vampire myth and evolves it into a very believable science fiction tale. The sexual tension between Doc and Zoe is very intense and these two work very well together as a team. There are no stereotypical clichés in regards to any miscommunication between these two and they are very upfront and honest with one another. Readers who enjoy a more mature hero and heroine will certainly like Doc and Zoe.

I also loved the world building as well as many other characters Zoe and Doc interact with. Susan Sizemore has a great skill of building up a sympathetic response with her readers in regards to the situations that arise in DARK STRANGER. Even though there is danger and death, there are some light moments, especially when the prisoners try to find ways to relax and forget their closed in quarters.

Susan can sure write some steamy love scenes and even though Zoe and Doc have an intense physical relationship with one another, I loved how their emotional bond grew. It was very believable and I kept turning the pages, hoping they would escape their prison and work towards a happy and long life with one another.

If you like a different type of science fiction story with a great futuristic feel and well written romance with lots of action, definitely give DARK STRANGER and Susan Sizemore's Prime series a read.

Book Summary

A twist of fate made Zoe Pappas heir to the Byzant throne. Bound by duty and devotion to keep the Empire safe, Zoe is captured while on a secret diplomatic mission and sent to an underground prisoner-of-war camp. In this strange, shadowy place, residents are governed by fellow inmate General Matthias "Doc" Raven, whose powerful magnetism rouses an urgent desire in Zoe. But the intensity of her attraction is matched by her surprise at discovering that Doc has a secret of his own: he is a vampire.

Zoe's presence puts everyone in the camp in danger. Doc knows it, and knows too that Zoe's royal status makes it impossible for her to bond with a vampire. The only way to save her is to help her escape, and lose her forever. But some fires are impossible to quench, even when following your heart is the ultimate taboo....