The Spider Stone

by Alex Archer

Book Overview

In the crumbling remains of a tunnel that was part of the Underground Railroad, a mysterious artifact reveals one of the darkest secrets of Africa's ancient past. Intrigued by the strange, encrypted stone, archaeologist Annja Creed opens a door to a world--and a legend--bound by a fierce and terrible force. She is not alone in her pursuit of the impossible. A bloodthirsty African warlord, and an international corporate magnate exploiting a land, a...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373621213
• ISBN13: 9780373621217
• Release Date: November 2006
• Publisher: Gold Eagle
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

Sort of a Flintstone's Vitamin of literature. Good stuff.

"The team failed," a slim warrior with an eye-patch told Tafari. "How?" "They went after the woman. They thought she would be the easiest to capture. Instead she killed three of them." In Alex Aracher's, "Rogue Angel: The Spider Stone," that's pretty much how it goes for the bad guys who go after Annja, the story's hero, an archeologist with a secret weapon - the reassembled mystical sword that once belonged to Joan of Arc. The sword awakens a warrior's fighting ability within Annja (to nothing less than superhero proportions) and it's a good thing since her latest excursion into an archeological mystery eventually causes her to cross paths with an African warlord. That poor warlord didn't even know what he was getting himself into. I was unfamiliar with the Rogue Angel series and only read it at the suggestion of a friend. I'm glad I did because not only was it designed to be a quick read that throws you into the fast-paced action sequences, but it also brought the brutality of slavery and the horrendous economic conditions that plague Africa alive for me in a way that history books and news articles don't. That's what good storytelling is, I think, it entertains, but also opens your eyes to something you might not have seen before (without getting preachy in the process). The book itself is a relatively quick read, by design, and is broken up into brief chapters for people on the go - read a little here and there, stop, then pick it back up later - the type of book that satisfies the reader on the go. (The writer seems to have understood who today's readers might be.) I recommend this book for the action lovers out there who read sporadically, love history and world events, but don't have the time to become completely immersed in them - sort of a Flintstone's Vitamin of literature. Good stuff.

An old fashioned highball

"Rogue Angel: The Spider Stone" is an old fashioned highball. It's a big shot of action in an ice cold world, lightning fast pacing to fill and garnished with a sacred stone from the heart of Africa. It's intoxicating and fun. The action in this story is positively breathtaking. An experienced hand wrote this book and it shows. That hand has been in the dojo, doubled into a fist and smashed through some bricks. That hand recognizes the feel of steel, has cradled a blade and known a sword as weapon and a friend. That brings an edgy reality to the action sequences that pop right off the page. Annja Creed is a heroine with a mission from the highest power. She's definitely not one of Alcott's little women "taught by weal and woe to love and labor ..." She's on the other end of the pendulum's arc with Laura Croft and Electra. She is a hero in the ultramodern sense, and that is the story's only flaw. She is unshackled by uncertainty, romantic interest, or existential introspection. I missed the depth that would have brought to her character. But this isn't a tea and crumpets romance, it is an unapologetic action thriller, and it earns its chops. "Rogue Angel: The Spider Stone" stays true to its theme rooted deep in a constant opposition of light and shadow. Alex Archer's commitment to plain prose makes this story read fast and sure. Annja Creed has the avenging sword and social compass of Saint Joan of Arc. And that's just for starters. This story takes Annja Creed across the world on a quest to protect a sacred stone. Yes, the trail is bumpy, dangerous and littered with plenty of bad guys. I'm glad I went Annja on this adventure. You will be glad too. Highly recommended.

Clean Writing

This book is the third in a new series, featuring as the lead character a young female archeologist. Anja Creed. The story is action-adventure with a mix of fantasy and mystery. Alex Archer is a pen name under which several authors will write, and this entry is by Mel Odom. I found the pacing to be just right. Odom is especially good at establishing a sense of place, and this was an enjoyable page-turner. Odom must have done some good research for this book, for he has woven interesting bits of knowledge here and there into the story. I also enjoyed how well the characters were delineated. With deft, clean writing, the novel pulled me in with its strong story line, entertained me with bits of knowledge, and captured my attention with its interesting characters.

ROGUE ANGEL: THE SPIDER STONE by Alex Archer

With a vicious African Warlord hot on her trail, Archaeologist Annja Creed meets life head on, first in Kirktown, Georgia, then in West Africa as she deciphers the story and treasure map of the Hausa people's past found on a small stone. THE SPIDER STONE is Alex Archer's third book in the Rogue Angel series, with DESTINY being the first and SOLOMON'S JAR the second. A fourth book, THE CHOSEN, will be released January 2007. Even though this was my first Alex Archer book, I enjoyed it enough to order the first two in the series and anxiously away the release of the fourth. The action-packed story contains strong characters that face life-and-death battles. At times the take-charge heroine and cast of colorful characters kept me guessing who was friend and who was foe, effectively increasing the story tension. The author's succinct style creates an edge-of-the-seat read, which made it difficult for me to put down before turning the last page. This reader kept waiting for a stronger romantic subplot to develop for the main character, as the necessary elements were present. Now, I wonder if the seeds were planted for the two characters to meet again in another story and further develop the romantic relationship. Readers with eclectic tastes who like a cross-over of genre elements will enjoy ROGUE ANGEL: THE SPIDER STONE, which is shelved as science fiction, but tinted with fantasy and embroidered with legend and history, yet grounded in modern times. A surprisingly fresh story experience!

Move over Laura Croft.

Rogue Angel: The Spider Stone was another amazing read. This series has quickly become my favorite this year. Getting off to an exciting start, Rogue Angel: Destiny introduces us to Annja Creed. Creed is a part-time archeologist, part-time host of a tv show called Chasing History's Monsters, and full-time adventurer. In this third book in the Rogue Angel series,The Spider Stone, Annja is hired to find a treasure with a small stone as her only clue. From Atlanta, Georgia to West Africa, Annja is hunted by mercenaries and treasure seekers. But wielding the lost sword of Joan of Arc, Annja is a formidable force to be reckoned with. As in the first book, the characters are all well developed. I can't wait to see where this series takes Creed and her mysterious, occasional allies, Garin and Roux. As always, action and adventure abound in this cross between Indiana Jones and Laura Croft. Mel Odom and Victor Milan alternately write the Rogue Angel series, under the pseudonym Alex Archer.