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Rogue Angel #32
The Oracle's Message
Men would do anything for it...but one woman will determine its fate
Steeped in legend, the Pearl of Palawan has a history marked by destruction, vengeance and love. But more important, the mythical black pearl is rumored to grant a power long coveted by mankind--immortality. It is a power men would risk dying to achieve.
Sun, sand and scuba diving in the Philippines certainly sounded like an ideal vacation. But after a way-too-close-for-comfort encounter with a tiger shark, archaeologist Annja Creed finds herself drawn into a group of German divers. They are treasure hunters searching for the fabled pearl. Out of curiosity, Annja accompanies them. But when an old friend of hers turns up unexpectedly, she finds herself torn between her past and new acquaintances.
The race is on to possess the pearl. But no one realizes the true nature of the artifact, or the danger it poses to them all.
Steeped in legend, the Pearl of Palawan has a history marked by destruction, vengeance and love. But more important, the mythical black pearl is rumored to grant a power long coveted by mankind--immortality. It is a power men would risk dying to achieve.
Sun, sand and scuba diving in the Philippines certainly sounded like an ideal vacation. But after a way-too-close-for-comfort encounter with a tiger shark, archaeologist Annja Creed finds herself drawn into a group of German divers. They are treasure hunters searching for the fabled pearl. Out of curiosity, Annja accompanies them. But when an old friend of hers turns up unexpectedly, she finds herself torn between her past and new acquaintances.
The race is on to possess the pearl. But no one realizes the true nature of the artifact, or the danger it poses to them all.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 2011
6 people are currently reading
414 people want to read
About the author
Alex Archer
98 books234 followersA house name for the Rogue Angel series, published by the Harlequin Publishing's Gold Eagle division.
The first eight novels were written by Victor Milan and Mel Odom. New writers joining the series starting with book nine include Jon Merz and Joseph Nassise.
The first eight novels were written by Victor Milan and Mel Odom. New writers joining the series starting with book nine include Jon Merz and Joseph Nassise.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 20, 2022
I finished another of my purse books. To understand that reference, I direct you to other Rogue Angel books that I have reviewed. I've been reading them in order, which means I'd better get to reading them or I won't finish the series. We can't have that, the series is so much fun.
Annja is on vacation. She deserves one. She's been very busy saving the world in between short stints at archeology. She used to do that full time before she was blessed with Joan d'Arc's sword. So, while she's vacationing at a resort in the Philippines, she meets a single man. He is there with some friends, chasing a legend about a giant pearl that will grant immortality. It sounds like fun, so Annja joins the group on their next dive.
Well, nobody is who they said they were. The men are special operators from a foreign country. They want the pearl because it is radioactive, and they plan to make a bomb out of it. Considerating that Gavin, one of Joan's original protector, is the one most interested in ancient artifacts, I would have expected him to show up. Instead, it's Roux who is by Annja's side.
The pearl is a natural object, a NORM (naturally occurring radioactive material) shaped into a sphere. The powers the story gives it I had to believe for the story. I don't think it has the powers claimed, but since the bad guys were using it as part of a bomb, it wasn't important. The book itself moved at a good clip, considerating I only read it now and then. I liked it just as well as all the other books in the series.
Annja is on vacation. She deserves one. She's been very busy saving the world in between short stints at archeology. She used to do that full time before she was blessed with Joan d'Arc's sword. So, while she's vacationing at a resort in the Philippines, she meets a single man. He is there with some friends, chasing a legend about a giant pearl that will grant immortality. It sounds like fun, so Annja joins the group on their next dive.
Well, nobody is who they said they were. The men are special operators from a foreign country. They want the pearl because it is radioactive, and they plan to make a bomb out of it. Considerating that Gavin, one of Joan's original protector, is the one most interested in ancient artifacts, I would have expected him to show up. Instead, it's Roux who is by Annja's side.
The pearl is a natural object, a NORM (naturally occurring radioactive material) shaped into a sphere. The powers the story gives it I had to believe for the story. I don't think it has the powers claimed, but since the bad guys were using it as part of a bomb, it wasn't important. The book itself moved at a good clip, considerating I only read it now and then. I liked it just as well as all the other books in the series.
August 21, 2019
3 stars.
This one shows that Annja's sense of trouble does not always work, even with the sword!
This one shows that Annja's sense of trouble does not always work, even with the sword!
October 29, 2023
I'm just confused. Why did the bad guys ask her to join the dive? They didn't need her and now she knows stuff about them.
I can suspend disbelief about the magic sword and whatever else mystical things, but that's not how radiation works. Annja gets radiation poisoning from being in the room with the pearl - which the sword heals, whatever- but then doesn't get it later from touching it and neither does anyone else. How'd the bad guys even know it was radioactive?
Nothing makes sense!
I can suspend disbelief about the magic sword and whatever else mystical things, but that's not how radiation works. Annja gets radiation poisoning from being in the room with the pearl - which the sword heals, whatever- but then doesn't get it later from touching it and neither does anyone else. How'd the bad guys even know it was radioactive?
Nothing makes sense!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2012
*Genre* Science Fiction
*Rating* 3 1/2
*Review*
In the Thirty-second release of the Rogue Angel series featuring archeologist Annya Creed, we find our heroine taking a much needed vacation from her duties as host of Chasing History's Monsters. She, naturally, returns to the Philippines where she previously had nothing but troubles and nearly died at the hands of a terrorist group.
This time around Annya runs into German divers lead by the 80 year old Joachim Spier who is looking for the Pearl of Palawan. The pearl is said to be a solid black pearl whose origins are a mystery. They may, or may not have come from the Moros Empire. It is also said that they who possess the pearl have at their disposal an object that can grant the owner incredible vitality and powers. Just the thing all megalomaniacs like Garin Braden would love to get his hands on.
Roux makes his presence known throughout this book, including some of the best quotes of the book clearly aimed at Annya and her disbelief of all things supernatural.
Anna gasped and looked at Roux. “That’s impossible.”
“See?” Roux shook his head. “Honestly, Annya, I don’t know why I bother with you sometimes. After everything you’ve seen in connection to the sword and after all the experiences you’ve had, you still cling to the ridiculous notions that the world is as the world seems to be.” – page 102
“Stop using sex as a weapon, Annya,” Roux said.
Annya looked at him and broke into a grin. “What did you say?”
Roux waved his hand in the air, “Oh, nothing, I heard a song the other day and I’ve been dying to say it ever since.” – page 220
Vic, the former Marine Corps sniper who Annya once worked with, now works for an unnamed secret organization. He makes his return to the series in a small role when it appears that a bomb, carried by Spier, is heading for the US and is targeting both the US president, and German chancellor on Martha’s Vineyard. It's nice to see Vic back as both he and Annya work well together.
George, the Hacker Dude friend of Annya's, makes an appearance for the same reason as Vic. He also happens to also work for one of those 3 letter organization in DC and is a source of tremendous amounts of information. George has a mad crush on Annya. The only thing he has ever asked for from Annya in return for all his help, is one simple dinner that he pays for. Such a nice and simple guy.
The writer of this book is obviously the same one who wrote about Annya’s previous adventures in the Philippines, which is why he/she brought Vic back. It’s actually nice to see a reoccurring character other than Roux and Garin for a change.
Garin doesn’t appear in the book nor does he walk off with the Pearl. He has a tendency of showing up in the nick of time and then walking off with the artifact while Annya goes home empty handed.
While I continue to read this series, and wonder when it will end, I do have some issues with the whole idea of fighting underwater with a sword against knives and spear guns and the fact that the sword actually heals Annya from radiation poisoning. I also continue to dwell on the fact that Annya has had Joan of Arc's sword for several years now, and yet she continues to belittle the thought that not everything is as it should be. How can she be a non-believer after 32 books?
Roux definitely brings up some valid points in that Annya is really Joan of Arc reincarnated. That, would make a lot of sense. He also believes that if the sword ever leaves Annya's possession, it would most likely break into a thousand pieces and it would take centuries for someone else to come along and hold the sword.
One can only hope that one day the writers of this series will realize that they need to find a way to either end this series with dignity for Annya, or make her aware of how stupid she sounds she questions everything she sees around her.
*Rating* 3 1/2
*Review*
In the Thirty-second release of the Rogue Angel series featuring archeologist Annya Creed, we find our heroine taking a much needed vacation from her duties as host of Chasing History's Monsters. She, naturally, returns to the Philippines where she previously had nothing but troubles and nearly died at the hands of a terrorist group.
This time around Annya runs into German divers lead by the 80 year old Joachim Spier who is looking for the Pearl of Palawan. The pearl is said to be a solid black pearl whose origins are a mystery. They may, or may not have come from the Moros Empire. It is also said that they who possess the pearl have at their disposal an object that can grant the owner incredible vitality and powers. Just the thing all megalomaniacs like Garin Braden would love to get his hands on.
Roux makes his presence known throughout this book, including some of the best quotes of the book clearly aimed at Annya and her disbelief of all things supernatural.
Anna gasped and looked at Roux. “That’s impossible.”
“See?” Roux shook his head. “Honestly, Annya, I don’t know why I bother with you sometimes. After everything you’ve seen in connection to the sword and after all the experiences you’ve had, you still cling to the ridiculous notions that the world is as the world seems to be.” – page 102
“Stop using sex as a weapon, Annya,” Roux said.
Annya looked at him and broke into a grin. “What did you say?”
Roux waved his hand in the air, “Oh, nothing, I heard a song the other day and I’ve been dying to say it ever since.” – page 220
Vic, the former Marine Corps sniper who Annya once worked with, now works for an unnamed secret organization. He makes his return to the series in a small role when it appears that a bomb, carried by Spier, is heading for the US and is targeting both the US president, and German chancellor on Martha’s Vineyard. It's nice to see Vic back as both he and Annya work well together.
George, the Hacker Dude friend of Annya's, makes an appearance for the same reason as Vic. He also happens to also work for one of those 3 letter organization in DC and is a source of tremendous amounts of information. George has a mad crush on Annya. The only thing he has ever asked for from Annya in return for all his help, is one simple dinner that he pays for. Such a nice and simple guy.
The writer of this book is obviously the same one who wrote about Annya’s previous adventures in the Philippines, which is why he/she brought Vic back. It’s actually nice to see a reoccurring character other than Roux and Garin for a change.
Garin doesn’t appear in the book nor does he walk off with the Pearl. He has a tendency of showing up in the nick of time and then walking off with the artifact while Annya goes home empty handed.
While I continue to read this series, and wonder when it will end, I do have some issues with the whole idea of fighting underwater with a sword against knives and spear guns and the fact that the sword actually heals Annya from radiation poisoning. I also continue to dwell on the fact that Annya has had Joan of Arc's sword for several years now, and yet she continues to belittle the thought that not everything is as it should be. How can she be a non-believer after 32 books?
Roux definitely brings up some valid points in that Annya is really Joan of Arc reincarnated. That, would make a lot of sense. He also believes that if the sword ever leaves Annya's possession, it would most likely break into a thousand pieces and it would take centuries for someone else to come along and hold the sword.
One can only hope that one day the writers of this series will realize that they need to find a way to either end this series with dignity for Annya, or make her aware of how stupid she sounds she questions everything she sees around her.
November 15, 2011
Thirty-second in the Rogue Angel urban fantasy series revolving around an archeologist who may be the incarnation of Joan of Arc—she already has Joan's sword.
My Take
This particular installment was not impressive as a whole. Sure, I loved the memories wrought of scuba diving but the whole exploration and interaction with the undersea people was just too cheesy. The primary positive note was Annja's subtle proof to Roux that it is well worth leaving alive those people who learn about the sword. *snicker* —That'll larn 'im.
I don't mean to rain on Annja's parade, but she's had enough encounters with bad guys that I would have thought she'd be a bit more circumspect about joining in with their plans.
The Story
Sneaking off for a week of relaxation as she dives a beautiful reef off the Philippine coast, Annja encounters a tiger shark and then a group of divers searching for sunken treasure who rescue Annja from the results of her shark fight. The leader, Joachim Spier, talks a good game and seems to have good intentions in finding this mythical Pearl of Palawan so when he invites Annja to join them in their search, she accepts.
Then Roux shows up in mysterious circumstances, cadging a spot on their search team. Then it's both the amazement of discovery, the fight for survival, followed by the tragedy of destruction. Not all of the dive team makes it out of the undersea cavity alive. But that night, Annja and Roux discover a betrayal. A betrayal they quickly turn around with Annja's network of contacts. And a friendly shark.
The Characters
Annja Creed is an archeologist and, to pay the bills, works as a cohost for Chasing History's Monsters. On one of her explorations for the show, she came across the shards of Joan of Arc's broadsword. Her touch rebound them back together leaving Annja as the wielder of justice.
Roux was one of Joan of Arc's knights. He was there when she was burned at the stake and he had been searching for the shards of her sword ever since. Something changed time for Roux and for his squire, Garin Braden (who doesn't show in this story) when Joan was burned and they have lived for over 600 years.
George and Vic Gutierrez are friends of Annja's who both work for different alphabet agencies in D.C. George as a hacker for the government; they met when Annja was doing research "on black helicopters and conspiracy theories about Area 51". Vic was a gunnery sergeant with the Marines, a sniper Annja encountered the last time she was in the Philippines and they rescued each other.
Joachim Spier is an 80-year-old billionaire with an interest in artifacts of power. He has recruited a team to aid him in their recovery: Heinkel Guttiger, Karl Mueller, Gottlieb Schwarzwalder, and Hans Schmidt.
The Cover
It's Annja in camo pants and a short, black tank top in one of her battle stances holding the broadsword in both hands over her shoulder, the sword pointed toward the ground. The background is a collage of a flattened world map against a turquoise sea of fish and shark.
The title is fair enough for it is the Oracle's Message that causes Annja to fight the Queen just as it is her fight that prevents the Oracle "speaking" anywhere else.
My Take
This particular installment was not impressive as a whole. Sure, I loved the memories wrought of scuba diving but the whole exploration and interaction with the undersea people was just too cheesy. The primary positive note was Annja's subtle proof to Roux that it is well worth leaving alive those people who learn about the sword. *snicker* —That'll larn 'im.
I don't mean to rain on Annja's parade, but she's had enough encounters with bad guys that I would have thought she'd be a bit more circumspect about joining in with their plans.
The Story
Sneaking off for a week of relaxation as she dives a beautiful reef off the Philippine coast, Annja encounters a tiger shark and then a group of divers searching for sunken treasure who rescue Annja from the results of her shark fight. The leader, Joachim Spier, talks a good game and seems to have good intentions in finding this mythical Pearl of Palawan so when he invites Annja to join them in their search, she accepts.
Then Roux shows up in mysterious circumstances, cadging a spot on their search team. Then it's both the amazement of discovery, the fight for survival, followed by the tragedy of destruction. Not all of the dive team makes it out of the undersea cavity alive. But that night, Annja and Roux discover a betrayal. A betrayal they quickly turn around with Annja's network of contacts. And a friendly shark.
The Characters
Annja Creed is an archeologist and, to pay the bills, works as a cohost for Chasing History's Monsters. On one of her explorations for the show, she came across the shards of Joan of Arc's broadsword. Her touch rebound them back together leaving Annja as the wielder of justice.
Roux was one of Joan of Arc's knights. He was there when she was burned at the stake and he had been searching for the shards of her sword ever since. Something changed time for Roux and for his squire, Garin Braden (who doesn't show in this story) when Joan was burned and they have lived for over 600 years.
George and Vic Gutierrez are friends of Annja's who both work for different alphabet agencies in D.C. George as a hacker for the government; they met when Annja was doing research "on black helicopters and conspiracy theories about Area 51". Vic was a gunnery sergeant with the Marines, a sniper Annja encountered the last time she was in the Philippines and they rescued each other.
Joachim Spier is an 80-year-old billionaire with an interest in artifacts of power. He has recruited a team to aid him in their recovery: Heinkel Guttiger, Karl Mueller, Gottlieb Schwarzwalder, and Hans Schmidt.
The Cover
It's Annja in camo pants and a short, black tank top in one of her battle stances holding the broadsword in both hands over her shoulder, the sword pointed toward the ground. The background is a collage of a flattened world map against a turquoise sea of fish and shark.
The title is fair enough for it is the Oracle's Message that causes Annja to fight the Queen just as it is her fight that prevents the Oracle "speaking" anywhere else.
May 4, 2012
After two books in a row set in England, the Rogue Angel series moves to the Philippines.
Annja has been running on empty, so she decides, on a whim, to head to the Philippines to do some reef diving. During a solo dive (which is a no-no for the sensible diver), she's attacked by a tiger shark. She kills the shark, but gets knocked unconscious, and would have died if it weren't for a group of German divers nearby.
The divers are hunting for the fabled Pearl of Palawan; a black pearl, ten inches across, that supposedly has great powers. Annja falls in with the group on a whim (and an attraction to Hans, one of the divers with a tragic past as a soldier in Afghanistan), only to find that Roux (one of the two immortals who have an interest in her and the mystical sword she controls) is also in the area looking for the Pearl.
From there we head into fantastic territory, with a lost, underwater civilization of immortals, ruled by a queen, where the legendary Pearl is their Oracle. And then it takes another sharp turn into terrorism.
All in all, it was a great story, although, again, I wish they'd done a better job scheduling these books. The last two had digs in the British Isles, and this one has an artifact reminiscent of the one in the previous book, and the villains have some similarities. With some completely different plots put in between, these similarities wouldn't be as obvious. There are different writers on the books, but the editor should have been a little more careful about scheduling.
Annja has been running on empty, so she decides, on a whim, to head to the Philippines to do some reef diving. During a solo dive (which is a no-no for the sensible diver), she's attacked by a tiger shark. She kills the shark, but gets knocked unconscious, and would have died if it weren't for a group of German divers nearby.
The divers are hunting for the fabled Pearl of Palawan; a black pearl, ten inches across, that supposedly has great powers. Annja falls in with the group on a whim (and an attraction to Hans, one of the divers with a tragic past as a soldier in Afghanistan), only to find that Roux (one of the two immortals who have an interest in her and the mystical sword she controls) is also in the area looking for the Pearl.
From there we head into fantastic territory, with a lost, underwater civilization of immortals, ruled by a queen, where the legendary Pearl is their Oracle. And then it takes another sharp turn into terrorism.
All in all, it was a great story, although, again, I wish they'd done a better job scheduling these books. The last two had digs in the British Isles, and this one has an artifact reminiscent of the one in the previous book, and the villains have some similarities. With some completely different plots put in between, these similarities wouldn't be as obvious. There are different writers on the books, but the editor should have been a little more careful about scheduling.
November 16, 2022
This, the 32nd installment of this series is about a woman who inherits Joan of Arc's sword. The story has magical/mystical components since the protagonist, Anya, keeps the sword in a nether-world and can summon it at will (which she does often). She travels the world for her day job as a TV host for a popular TV show but her training is as an archeologist.
There are two other characters, Garin and Roux, one of which appears in every book and who also further the magical component, since they are both several centuries old. Otherwise, these books are part adventure, part mystery, part crime drama.
I have read about 5 or so of the series and like them to a degree though they are not profound stories. The author Alex Archer, is actually a Nom de Plum for a collection of several writers (about 5). I find the prose style of some of the writers better than others and find each story somewhat compelling.
If you start reading the series at #1 and move forward you gradually learn about background and facts of Anya, the protagonist, as well as the two other characters.
There are two other characters, Garin and Roux, one of which appears in every book and who also further the magical component, since they are both several centuries old. Otherwise, these books are part adventure, part mystery, part crime drama.
I have read about 5 or so of the series and like them to a degree though they are not profound stories. The author Alex Archer, is actually a Nom de Plum for a collection of several writers (about 5). I find the prose style of some of the writers better than others and find each story somewhat compelling.
If you start reading the series at #1 and move forward you gradually learn about background and facts of Anya, the protagonist, as well as the two other characters.
July 6, 2012
Those who read this series probably have picked up on how there are several writers who ghost write for our favorite Rogue Angel and it has become more evident in recent books. The Oracle's Message was rather messy and had a few too many cliché's for my taste and it be nice to see the series move away from the common threat of a psychotic megalomaniac who is intent on ruling the world via some magical artifact. A few books back there were hints of someone knowing a bit more about Annja's past and I think if this series wants the reader to keep coming back at least start throwing us and Annja a crumb into who she really is.
October 5, 2012
Annja decides she needs to take a bit of a break so she heads to the Philippines for some Scuba diving.After being attacked by a Tiger shark she awakens and is introduced to some German divers who are searching the Pearl of Palawan.Supposedly the pearl grants those who possess it great power.While diving strange shaped pieces of coral are found.Did they come from a lost civilization?
March 2, 2013
I love this series but this one wasn't as good in my opinion as many of the others. I like the ones that involve history and this one didn't so much. It was still a good book, it just isn't among my favorites of this series.
September 25, 2011
Just a cute adventure story.
July 28, 2014
nice action packed story. Enjoyed having Roux be so involved again. Action through the whole story
Read
January 6, 2021"we've only got a little time before this turns into a three-ring circus, so i want to be sure i have all the facts straight before the clowns get in here and ruin everything."
March 23, 2017
This one was a good one. i liked they brought back some other characters from previous books and how the plot was more than just finding some ancient relic.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews