Rogue Angel

Cover of Rogue Angel #6, The Lost Scrolls.

Rogue Angel is a paper back series of novels published bi-monthly since July 2006 by Harlequin Publishing's Gold Eagle division and written under the house name of Alex Archer. Actual authors are credited with small notes inside the books, but not on the front covers or spines. The main character is Annja Creed. Each novel offers an adventure based on history or mythology, with a heavy fantasy slant.

Main Character

• Annja Creed

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.

After growing up in an orphanage, where she developed a love of history—primarily because she didn't know her own history—as well as an interest in martial arts, Annja scored high enough to earn a full-ride college scholarship and studied diligently. She's achieved a Masters in Archeology, concentrating on medieval and renaissance time periods, and has specialized knowledge in anthropology, botany, art, and is perpetually a student of things that come her way. Her first major dig while in college was at Hadrian's Wall in England where the Romans battled the Picts.

Once she had her degree, Annja worked hard to gain recognition and finally caught a lucky break on the David Letterman Show. She's beautiful, charming, and extremely intelligent.

Within days of the Letterman appearance, Annja was offered a job working as a host on Chasing History’s Monsters, a syndicated television show specializing in sensationalizing the stories of vampires, serial killers, mythic beasts, mass murderers, and pop culture legendary beings.

Although Annja tries to bring a certain amount of factual material to the episodes she hosts, she invariably gets remembered (if she gets remembered at all, since the other hostess of the show was hired for her generous figure) more for the unbelievable aspects of the show than for any concrete details she reveals. This frustrates her, but the salary and expense account involved allows her to travel a lot and ensures she has a high public profile that brings other jobs her way.

In addition to the field work and the television career, Annja also researches COAs (certificate of authenticity) for different museum pieces and items in private collections. She's written several articles and a few books.

Her current base of operations is in a loft in Brooklyn, New York.

The Sword

When Joan of Arc was burned at the stake for heresy, her sword was shattered and two men, who were supposedly her body guards, were cursed to scour the ends of the earth to find the pieces and reassemble the sword. Joan was a Champion, one whose fate was tied closely to the struggle against the darkness that always lies in wait.

Annja was on hand when the final piece was found, and again when the pieces were all put together. At her touch, the Sword reformed and became magically tied to her. She has the ability to place the Sword in "otherwhere", where it can't be seen or taken by others, and draw it out with just a moment's notice.

No one can take the Sword from Annja. Even when she throws the blade at a foe, she can call it back to her hand. Time and space mean nothing to the Sword. It serves Annja and may, although no one is certain yet, draw evil to Annja so that it can be destroyed.

Other characters

• Roux

Roux is an old man apparently in his sixties who has been alive even longer than the five hundred years he admits to. He loves golf and Texas Hold 'Em poker. He lives in a castle-like mansion outside of Paris, France. He has a mentor relationship with Annja, but draws the line at ever becoming a father figure. Although he will help Annja on occasion, he wants her to be strong, fierce, and independent. Annja just wants to interview him and see the things he’s seen. He's operating on his own agenda, tracking down various items purported to have magical powers, and sealing them away from the world. And if he has to entice Annja and lie to her about it, he'll do that. Roux's a man that will take care of his own needs first.

• Garin Braden

Garin Braden was Roux's apprentice five hundred years ago. A bastard child, he was ill-treated in his father's house by his father's wife. He was given by his father to Roux at an early age just to get him out of the house. Five hundred years later, he's rich, arrogant, and contemptuous of Roux. Over six foot tall, athletic and musculine, he sports a goatee and long black hair and dark eyes. He's afraid that the reassembly of the Sword has put an end to his longevity, and believes that if the Sword were destroyed again that he might live forever. However, where he was once Annja's bitterest rival for Roux's attention as well as wanting to destroy the Sword, he’s found himself respecting Annja Creed more and more.

• Doug Morrell

Doug Morrell is Annja's producer at Chasing History's Monsters. He's 22, self-involved, and doesn't have a clue about history. Nor does he care. In television, as he often reminds Annja, it's all about the ratings. Although he has a good relationship with Annja and they are friends, he's not above guilting her to get her to do what he wants her to do.

Series History

The series was first envisioned by Randall Toye, a Harlequin executive who fell in love with the history concerning Joan of Arc and wanted to develop the idea of a present-day Joan. Veteran action-adventure editors Feroze Mohammed and Nicole Brebner teamed up with Mel Odom to flesh out their series.

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.

Novels

Although these books can be read individually as discrete adventures, when read in order some continuity of character development and sub-plots is apparent. Annnja also becomes more knowledgeable about the sword and its bond to her as time progress.

The adventure usually revolves around an artifact that falls temporarily into Annja's hands before being taken by the villains or a third party who sometimes proves to be evil. Sometimes Annja trails a lost artifact or one thought of only as legend.

During the story, she and the reader learn a little more about some historical period and the people who lived in it.

Sources

Rogue Angel is very similar to the premise of the 2001-02 Witchblade (TV series), which in turn was adapted from the Witchblade comic book series, first published in 1995.

Rogue Angel also has elements similar to the Outlanders series (1997–Present) created by Mark Ellis.

Audiobooks

In January 2007, GraphicAudio began releasing the books in a dramatized audio format.

Series listing

1. - Destiny
2. - Solomon's Jar
3. - The Spider Stone
4. - The Chosen
5. - Forbidden City
6. - The Lost Scrolls
7. - God of Thunder
8. - Secret of the Slaves
9. - Warrior Spirit
10. - Serpent's Kiss
11. - Provenance
12. - Soul Stealer
13. - Gabriel's Horn
14. - The Golden Elephant
15. - Swordsman's Legacy
16. - Polar Quest
17. - Eternal Journey
18. - Sacrifice
19. - Seeker's Curse
20. - Footprints
21. - Paradox
22. - Spirit Banner
23. - Sacred Ground
24. - The Bone Conjurer
25. - Tribal Ways
26. - The Dragon's Mark
27. - Phantom Prospect
28. - Restless Soul
29. - False Horizon
30. - The Other Crowd
31. - Tear of the Gods
32. - The Oracle's Message
33. - Cradle of Solitude

Forthcoming Volumes

34 - Labyrinth (January 03, 2012)

35 - Fury's Goddess (March 06, 2012)

36 - Magic Lantern (May 01, 2012)

37 - Library of Gold (July 03, 2012)

Comicbook series

In 2008 IDW Publishing will release a debut miniseries written by Barbara Kesel and featuring art by Renae De Liz.

External links

• GraphicAudio Books Dramatized audio book adaptations of the Rogue Angel Series.
• MySpace.com Annja Creed's profile on MySpace.
• Renae DeLiz MySpace page Artist on IDW's comic series.