K. Cole takes us back to the streets of Oakland, California where we visit the pain that produced the fame. Based on an actual event and somewhat autobiographical, K. Cole spares no words when exposing us to the life of Rose, a 17 year old prostitute struggling through a life with her drug addict mother and drug selling brother. The debauchery is unreal and vivid. The pages are riveting and painful with characters as funny and philosophical as they are tragic. With a noble cause, Rose enters a life she doesn't know to bury a brother she loves. When you gamble with your life and the house always wins; the wages of sin is death and ultimately the devil gets his due in blood. Compared to the Coldest Winter Ever, Empire Rose makes Winter just another breed.