Alex Archer

This was easily the worst in the series. As a huge Rogue Angel fan, I hate to say it, but this installment by Victor Milan was awful. Annja is completely out of character - acting like a silly school girl, crying in a strangers arm about a dead woman she met once, laughing and hugging a woman she couldn't stand minutes before. And the rest of the characters were completely lifeless. The story iteslf was random and disjointed, and the badd guys were completely predictable. The only surprises show more were the bad dialog.
I usually don't write negative reviews, but I had to warn other fans against this one. show less

Silly, yes. Fluff, yes. Totally enjoyable, yes. Also, who doesn't love a series about an ass-kicking archaeologist who can summon Joan of Arc's sword from thin air?

Annja is asked to accompany Ascher Vallois, a colleague she met online, to uncover the legendary sword of seventeenth century, musketeer D'Artagnan. Ascher admits to being a treasure hunter, but Annja can't resist the obsession she has for the story of the relic. But another mysterious man is after the sword and the secret it carries as well. And both Ascher and Annja find themselves in mortal danger.

As a fan of Alexandre Dumas' tales, I found myself immediately pulled into the search for show more D'Artagnan's sword and secret. Swordsman's Legacy contains everything that makes this series great: archeology, history, mystery, action, adventure, suspense, a bit of fantasy, and fascinating artifacts.

The newest writer to the Alex Archer/Rogue Angel team is a female by the name of Michele Hauf. She has flawlessly blended history with fiction, and made for an incredibly intriguing and exciting story. And as the main character of Annja is a female, we are able to see her a bit more (believably) emotional as far as her relationships and romance entanglements. Annja is well-described as strong and independent, yet a bit self-conscious when it comes to men with whom she could develop feelings.

The story jumps back and forth from supposed events in the seventeenth century to present day, as "history" unfolds to the reader just as the story unfolds to Annja. This installment has easily become one of my top favorites in the series. I hope Hauf continues to write many more for Rogue Angel. show less

(Review specifically for Solomon's Jar, but referring to the entirety of the volume/series concept as a whole.)

Attractive female archaeologist with a mystical destiny, questing for mysterious ancient artifacts that could destroy the world if they fell into the wrong hands = I will love it.

Yes, the Rogue Angel series reads like a combination of Tomb Raider, Relic Hunter, Indiana Jones, and Uncharted, but that's why I love it. It's ridiculous, full of intense action, wild adventure scenes, and show more moments of utter insanity. Meanwhile, the archaeological lingo is spot on, including inside jokes about archaeology as a career and little digs at prominent archaeologists, and even accurate mentions of various theories concerning whatever the main character is chasing at the time.

I liked the first book in this series, and loved the mindless adventure found in this one. If the writing stays this good, I'll be happy to read the next 17+ books in the series. I realize that there are 3 or 4 writers working under the Alex Archer pseudonym to write these books, but they must all have strong backgrounds in the field or have an archaeological consultant go through the manuscripts, because... dang. So much fun, rather addictive, and suitably ridiculous.

Looking forward to book three! show less