Annja Creed is a world-traveling archaeologist with a penchant for adventure, lost cities, mysterious codes and puzzles, and shadowy history that was never recorded. Heir to Joan of Arc's mystic sword, Annja finds herself drawn into the webs of darkest villainy with lives on the line. This series is a cross between Indiana Jones and the Tomb Raider.

In the 23rd release of the Rogue Angel, Annya accepts a job as a consultant for a diamond mining company which gives her 4 weeks to clear an Araktak burial ground of its artifacts and remains. The Araktak are part of the Inuit group that is isolated from society and mysterious. If she completes the mission on time, she will get a hefty paycheck and bonus. Annya has taken a vacation from her job as host of Chasing History’s Monsters in order to take this job. Some vacation!

The setting for this story is the Northwest Territories of Canada, home to the Ice Road Truckers who risk life and limb in order to deliver goods and services to remote areas of Canada via frozen lakes and roads. (They do the same thing across Alaska to the pipelines and remote villages.) Ok, so, I can say honestly that I am a fan of that show on History TV.

The question I’ve had for a while now is this; how can Annya be so skeptical about magic and myths when she carries Joan of Arc’s broadsword and is able to do the amazing things she does? Even the shaman of the Araktak tribe, Wishman, asks her that same question for which she has no answer.

The next question I had was why doesn't Annya actually do a better job researching the company she intends to work for? Obviously, if someone knows too much about me, I would start to ask questions, and then walk away from the job. Naturally, this is pure fiction, so, forget my opinion on the matter.

Summary of story: Annya ends up in a situation with Derek Wainman, and Godwin (who is truly mysterious character and a possible love interest, right until the very end), where she is forced to use her sword to protect herself and the others. She stops a massive 18 wheeler by stabbing her sword into the frozen ice causing a break in the ice which swallows the truck whole. Yep, that really happenes in real life!

Annya then meets an injured Polar Bear named Chunok. She befriends Chunok by helping take a piece of broken arrow from its paw. She is now called Friend of Bear by the Aratak tribe shaman, Wishman, who grants her access to their grounds, which they nearly refused because she was a female. Ah, the arrogance of the male species is astounding at times.

She later goes head to head with an evil God (Onur) that was unleashed by Derek and his second Hansen from a sacred burial chamber that the Araktak had closed, or so we thought. The question remains whether or not the fight actually took place, or was Annya drugged at the time? Annya has never truly fought a supernatural being before, and I wonder if this particular author writes about the supernatural and paranormal. Annya ends up questioning herself right until the very end.

Naturally, Onur is awakened by the blood sacrifice of the cult and Araktak tribe members, and tells Annya that we’ll meet again. When it comes to this series, nothing is really settled. Questions remain unaswered, and Annya ends up losing what she has traveled the world to find. This is no exception.

Next book in series: The Bone Conjurer (05/11/2010) ( )