Death Mask

Rogue Angel #52

by Alex Archer (pseudonym)

The face of evil.

And the face of greed…

The video showed a nearly naked man bloodied and beaten. Even as archaeologist and TV presenter Annja Creed watched, the clock on his suicide vest ticked down, and precious seconds were lost. But this was no stranger. Garin was her friend. Their fates had been bound by the secrets of Joan of Arc's sword. And Annja had less than twenty-four hours to save his life….

The price for Garin's life was the lost mask of Torquemada, rumored to have been cast by the Grand Inquisitor himself, five hundred years ago during the Spanish Inquisition. Abandoned crypts, lost palaces and a cruel and ancient brotherhood: all clues to the mask's complicated and deadly mystery that Annja, and her mentor, Roux—using all of their considerable resources and cunning—must solve before Garin runs out of time.

Annja Creed is facing her greatest trial. And not even the holy sword of Joan of Arc can spare her from the final judgment.

Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Audiobook, Mystery, Thriller, Action

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

A 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.

Reviews

[Choko]

*** 3.44. ***

This was fun, but a bit more predictable and full of unlikely coincidences than usual. It is a Fantasy-Adventure so it is fantastical ​to begin with, but having Anja discover a historical artifact that has been lost for centuries in only 24 hours, that is beyond unbelievable!!! I know she is a kick-ass magical sword wilding archeologist, but even she can't do everything!!!

So, if you know me you are aware of my love for this "popcorn" series. When I want to read something fun and full of action without the need to involve the higher functions of my brain, this is a sure bet ☺! I just found out that the series has come to an end within several books and am actually very saddened... What is going to take its place when I need cotton candy and blood??? I guess I will have to resort to re-reads...

I also have to say that if one of the other two main characters was going to really turn out to be a bad dude, I was glad it was the one the authors chose. This one was more than shady to begin with, while I really like the other one.

If you enjoy mindless, actiony, adrenaline pumping, brawling fun, this is the series for you! Don't try to judge it as anything else, entertaining is all this series is aiming to be, not a candidate for the Pulitzer prize!!!

Now I wish you all Happy Reading and may you always find what you need in the pages of a Good book!!!

[Craig]

This is the fifty-second Rogue Angel adventure and was the third that was written by Steven Savile, who wrote five of the last ten of the paperbacks, all under the house pseudonym Alex Archer, of course. Annja Creed is an archaeologist and historian who appears on a syndicated television program called Chasing History's Monsters. She's also the heir to the blade and power of Joan of Arc. This one has major input from both of the two Joan-adjacent guys, Garin and Roux. Garin is in deep trouble, Roux works with her to save him, and at the end we learn something new and disconcerting about one of them, though it was little hard to accept. Annja is given twenty-four hours to find the lost mask of Torquemada, cast by the Grand Inquisitor during the Spanish Inquisition. If she doesn't.... well, the trio will be reduced. I thought she found it a little too easily, but she was working under pressure. Lots of chasing and fighting ensue... Never trust religious fanatics. The settings are all quite well described, as usual, and it's a fast-paced adventure. In between all of the Lara Croft/Indiana Jones/Sara Pezzini trappings there's some good character development and interesting historical speculation, as always. Annja appears on the Tim Bradstreet cover with her sword over her shoulder, l looking like she's uncharacteristically confused or pensive.

[Dale Russell]

Garin Braden may be many things, but helpless has never been one of them...until now. Annja must use all of her knowledge and skills to uncover a buried secret - one that may not even exist. And she only has a day or Garin's life is forfeit. With the clock ticking, Annja - with the help of a certain elderly Frenchman - is soon on the hunt for the last artifact of one of history's greatest mass murders and religious zealots.

But soon, the hunt turns out to be even more than Annja anticipated and secrets are revealed that will change her life and her world and reveal a darkness that may tear her heart from her.

ROGUE ANGEL has arguably been one of the most fun current series that crosses over so many genres and gives readers not only amazing adventures but present myths and legends in new ways that will thrill and entertain.

While the series uses the house name of ALEX ARCHER, many authors who have been published in their own rights have been given the task of crafting these stories. As you would imagine, with that many voices being given the task of generating an ongoing and continuing series, keeping canon consistent can be a full-time effort. And yet it works, as each author gives their unique style to the whole but the story still reads as an Annja Creed, Rogue Angel story with all the elements, beats, and tropes that have been there from the very first story.

In this story, author Steven Savile is once more handed the reigns for his 3rd dive into the world of Annja, Roux, and Garin and the sword of Joan D'Arc. With first Grendel's Curse and then Celtic Fire, Steven's books has been some of the more fun adventures and the body counts definitely have increased during his time as ALEX ARCHER. Savile introduces - or perhaps reveals - a secret that has been an undercurrent of the prior 51 stories but now is exposed fully with its potential dramatic changes to Annja's life going forward.

With over 65 novels, dozens of anthologies contributed to, and many collections published, Steven is an author of many and myriad stories and continues to build worlds and create new characters that fans will love.

[Lianne Burwell]

I came away from this book having enjoyed it, but also having some quibbles. For one thing, if it was so damned easy for Annja to find the Mask of Torquemada and find out where the treasure it points to is, why was it necessary to blackmail her into doing it? Why didn't the bad guys just do it themselves?

Also, the ending appears to create a major change in her relationship with one of the two immortals she hangs around with. One could argue that he's tried to kill her in the past, but she never *knew* he was being the bad guy. Now she has proof. The only question is, in a series written by a variety of authors, will that simply disappear?

Still, recommended to fans of the series, but probably not a good place to start.

[John Hanscom]

Better than most but not as good as some. Certainly, except for one spot, not as violent as Anja was made out to be in one recent book. What will be interesting is this book demonized one of the main characters, and it will be necessary to read further to see if this person will be rehabilitated somehow.

[Douglas Larson]

I almost gave this 4-stars but not quite. I think 3.5 or 3.7 or maybe even 3.8 would be closer to my opinion. The story was engaging and not at all formulaic even though this, like all the other stories of this series that I have read, follows the formula with only the characters, setting and other details changed. A few years ago when I had read only about 7 of these stories I said I was tired of the same formula over and over. But I have changed my opinion now so I will continue to read them. I have read only twelve of the fifty seven stories and I doubt that I will try to read all of those I have not yet read but I will continue on with the last few.

I am a bit unnerved by the ending and I wonder just how the lives of the three primary characters will play out in the final five episodes.

[Alexandra Neznamy]

I love this series, even better when you listen on graphic audio.

[Gina]

The story was definitely very exciting and action-packed. I simply had a very difficult time believing that Annja would so easily discover something that had been lost for so long, AND that was only rumored to exist. I know that she is very intelligent, but the clues listed were all kind of obvious. Surely other historians would have discovered it long before she did.

Other than the believability factor, the story was very enjoyable. I always love a good puzzle. Add in action, possible death, and a time limit and you have a story that is very difficult to put down.

[Deborah]

It was ok. I just wasn't convinced Garin was in danger. After all, I thought he and Roo were immortal.

[Laurel]

As always I truly enjoy The Rogue Angel books. The particular story touches on The Inquisition. A period of the world's history that saddens me. If you like mystery mixed with a touch of the paranormal, and a hint of romance at times. Please read this series. Alex Archer does a wonderful job making the story move quickly without losing touch of the plot.

[Mylia Muse]

I enjoyed the story up to a point, but then I think the ending was a cop out. I won't give spoilers since it's so new, but the last third of the book really annoyed me.