| Author: Alex Archer | Series: Rogue Angel |
| Rating: 9 | Reviewer: Rune |
| Genre: Fantasy | Publisher:Other Publisher |
| Pages: 346 | Orig Pub Date: July 2006 |
| Binding: Paperback |
This fast paced story is very enjoyable; kept my interest and made a story loosely based on historical facts more exciting.
The story opens with the burning of Joan in France 1431, with two men, Roux and Garin, witnessing the splintering of her sword. Then the story moves to present day, introducing a young archaeologist, Annja Creed, as she hunts for the truth behind the Beast of Gevaudan myth in the caves of France.
Annja’s journey brings her into the world of killers and monks. As all search for their own truths and will kill to protect their own secrets.
Personal Thoughts –
The story’s written from Annja’s viewpoint. During an archaeological search for the history behind a French myth, she comes to the attention of Lesauvage, a powerful killer, who also searches for the Beast of Gavaudan, but for different reasons. Also, there is a brotherhood of monks, who have kept the identity of the Beast a secret for many years and will kill to keep it a secret. Whilst trying to escape Lesauvages henchmen, she meets Roux, a 500 year old soldier, who once fought with Joan. Fate takes a part in her life and she finds a piece of Joan’s shattered sword, which for some reason chooses her.
Annja has to deal with an old feud between Roux and Garin; cursed with long life. Come to terms with her links with a powerful sword and avoid death at the hands of fanatical monks who want to keep a secret and a powerful madman who wants to discover a treasure. The author manages all these storylines well, filtering the historical information, the journey to solve the mystery and all the character’s aims without over loading the plot with unnecessary detail. This fast paced story is very enjoyable; kept my interest and made a story loosely based on historical facts more exciting.
There are many unanswered questions about Joan’s sword and its true reason for choosing Annja. I also found Roux and Garin interesting characters, with so much scope in future books to explore their lives. Overall a very entertaining read and one that grabbed my interest enough to want to read future books in the series.
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