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Rogue Angel #16
Polar Quest
The artifact is thousands of years old. And it may be out of this world.
When archaeologist Annja Creed reluctantly agrees to help an old colleague on a dig in Antarctica, she wonders what he's gotten her into. It turns out that her former associate has found a necklace made of an unknown metal depicting three snakes. He claims it's over forty thousand years old—and that it may not have earthly origins.
As the pair conduct their research, Annja soon realizes she has more to worry about than being caught in snowslides. Because everyone is hiding something—from her friend, to the U.S. military personnel guarding the site. With no one to trust and someone out to kill her, Annja has nowhere to turn. And everything to lose.
When archaeologist Annja Creed reluctantly agrees to help an old colleague on a dig in Antarctica, she wonders what he's gotten her into. It turns out that her former associate has found a necklace made of an unknown metal depicting three snakes. He claims it's over forty thousand years old—and that it may not have earthly origins.
As the pair conduct their research, Annja soon realizes she has more to worry about than being caught in snowslides. Because everyone is hiding something—from her friend, to the U.S. military personnel guarding the site. With no one to trust and someone out to kill her, Annja has nowhere to turn. And everything to lose.
315 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 6, 2009
5 people are currently reading
521 people want to read
About the author
Alex Archer
99 books237 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 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 3, 2011
Polar Quest was pretty good. This was my first book to read in the Rogue Angel series. Considering that it is #16, I wasn't lost. The idea of Annja being chosen by Joan of Arc's blade is a nice touch. Thus far, this series reminds me of "Witchblade" meets "Tomb Raider." Since I love both comic book series, that's fine with me.
Annja's likeable. She's pretty intelligent, and knows how to get herself out of a tight fix. She's not invulnerable, and gets hurt quite a bit in this story. I like that she's got a sense of right and wrong, and is willing to put herself in jeopardy to save the day. She can hold her own, which is always great in a heroine!
Garin is an interesting character. Apparently an ongoing antagonist/frenemy of Annja who is constantly trying to seduce her. I like that sort of character who's straddling the wall of bad and good. He reminds me of Vandal Savage from the DC Universe, and Ian Nottingham from "Witchblade." Their flirtation livened up this book. He sounds kind of sexy. I definitely hope to see more of him.
I admit this was a bit slow at times, a lot of talking and dialogue to push the plot along. I guess I was expecting more action. There were some good moments, but I would have liked more. This was more of a suspense story than straight-out action/adventure, which is fine if that's my expectation, but it wasn't. I think this would have been rated higher if there was more action. Even so, it was a good story. I loved the Antarctic setting. Those aspects felt very realistic and well-researched. Believe me, Annja doesn't run around in the book with her boobs hanging out like she is on the book cover. She'd get a nasty case of frostbite with the 50 below weather!
For the things that appealed to me outweighing what didn't appeal, I'm going to round this one up to four stars.
January 21, 2011
Plot Summary: Annja Creed is a part-time archeologist, part-time tv host of Chasing History’s Monsters, and full-time adventurer.
When archaeologist Annja Creed reluctantly (as if she had any choice at all when men in black show up and escort her to her plane) agrees to help an old colleague (Zachary Guilfoyle) on a dig in Antarctica, she wonders what he's gotten her into. It turns out that her former associate has found a necklace made of an unknown metal depicting three snakes. He claims it's over forty thousand years old--and that it may not have earthly origins. As the pair conduct their research, Annja soon realizes she has more to worry about than being caught in snowslides. Because everyone is hiding something--from her friend, to the U.S. military personnel guarding the site. With no one to trust and someone out to kill her, Annja has nowhere to turn. And everything to lose.
As usual, danger and mystery surround Annja’s exploits, and this time the suspense is increased tremendously just because of her location. Unable to remain outdoors for very long because of such extreme temperatures, only adds to the feeling of peril that always follows the heroin. But besides the setting, the characters are fantastic too. And the mystery and suspense culminates to the very end with a fabulous climax.
Review: IMO, this is a pretty good read especially considering where the story takes place. Antartica is a really interesting place to create this story, and whoever the writer was this time around, did a pretty decent job of capturing the isolation involved in being stationed there. I just wish each of these writers would stop treating Annya like's she a man.
Taking each of these books one at a time is actually fun and its just too bad that I can't get my hands on them locally, or thru my library instead of waiting weeks, sometimes months between reads.
Anyway, Garin Braden, does, in fact make a major appearance in this book, and let's just say that it's not all lollypops and sunshine either. Garin makes Annya feel as though he can trust her, when we all know that she can't, no matter what. Annya continues to be betrayed by those she believes are her friends, or persons that have known her for years. However, our girl always manages to find her way out of troublesome situations, and this one ranks right up there at the top. This installment actually delays the reader from finding out who the real villian is right until the very end. Nice.
There are double betrayals, US Government technology that is so advanced that terrorist organizations want to get their hands on it, and traitors within the group doing the so called dig that is nothing short of a sham.
I guessed who two of the villians were right off the bat. It was pretty much a given after then confronted Annya, who was just off the plane, and was given a ride to a bar, instead of meeting with the local US Marshall for a briefing. The other villian, however, didn't as much shock me, as threw me for a loop.
Rogue Angel, Polar Quest, is the 16th installment in the Rogue Angel series.
I lowered the rating due to the dialogue and the fact that certain parts seemed a little stretched.
When archaeologist Annja Creed reluctantly (as if she had any choice at all when men in black show up and escort her to her plane) agrees to help an old colleague (Zachary Guilfoyle) on a dig in Antarctica, she wonders what he's gotten her into. It turns out that her former associate has found a necklace made of an unknown metal depicting three snakes. He claims it's over forty thousand years old--and that it may not have earthly origins. As the pair conduct their research, Annja soon realizes she has more to worry about than being caught in snowslides. Because everyone is hiding something--from her friend, to the U.S. military personnel guarding the site. With no one to trust and someone out to kill her, Annja has nowhere to turn. And everything to lose.
As usual, danger and mystery surround Annja’s exploits, and this time the suspense is increased tremendously just because of her location. Unable to remain outdoors for very long because of such extreme temperatures, only adds to the feeling of peril that always follows the heroin. But besides the setting, the characters are fantastic too. And the mystery and suspense culminates to the very end with a fabulous climax.
Review: IMO, this is a pretty good read especially considering where the story takes place. Antartica is a really interesting place to create this story, and whoever the writer was this time around, did a pretty decent job of capturing the isolation involved in being stationed there. I just wish each of these writers would stop treating Annya like's she a man.
Taking each of these books one at a time is actually fun and its just too bad that I can't get my hands on them locally, or thru my library instead of waiting weeks, sometimes months between reads.
Anyway, Garin Braden, does, in fact make a major appearance in this book, and let's just say that it's not all lollypops and sunshine either. Garin makes Annya feel as though he can trust her, when we all know that she can't, no matter what. Annya continues to be betrayed by those she believes are her friends, or persons that have known her for years. However, our girl always manages to find her way out of troublesome situations, and this one ranks right up there at the top. This installment actually delays the reader from finding out who the real villian is right until the very end. Nice.
There are double betrayals, US Government technology that is so advanced that terrorist organizations want to get their hands on it, and traitors within the group doing the so called dig that is nothing short of a sham.
I guessed who two of the villians were right off the bat. It was pretty much a given after then confronted Annya, who was just off the plane, and was given a ride to a bar, instead of meeting with the local US Marshall for a briefing. The other villian, however, didn't as much shock me, as threw me for a loop.
Rogue Angel, Polar Quest, is the 16th installment in the Rogue Angel series.
I lowered the rating due to the dialogue and the fact that certain parts seemed a little stretched.
January 7, 2010
I liked this one better than a lot of the others because it was more of a mystery, whodunit rather than trying to be the first to find some relic or treasure. She's getting clever with her sword. I couldn't stand listening to how cold it was there, though! Haha. Other than that, this one was good. Sorry to hear how it turned out, but there were some twists, and it wasn't bad.
April 22, 2021
Archeologist and television personality Annja Creed accepts an invitation from an old friend to join him at the bottom of the world at a dig in Antarctica. Zach had found several artifacts at a site under the permafrost there, relics that may be extraterrestrial. Although not convinced of their alien origin, Annja agrees to the trip, which then makes her a target for mysterious entities who want her out of the way.
This entry in the series relies on Annja's investigative abilities for most of the story, as her use of her mystical sword is limited until the climax of the tale. The story, however, is a solid one, as she seeks the truth behind the mysterious objects and the reasons for the isolated dig by the American government. No romance for Annja in this book, just a very good mystery for her to solve.
This entry in the series relies on Annja's investigative abilities for most of the story, as her use of her mystical sword is limited until the climax of the tale. The story, however, is a solid one, as she seeks the truth behind the mysterious objects and the reasons for the isolated dig by the American government. No romance for Annja in this book, just a very good mystery for her to solve.
January 9, 2023
Books like this are kind of interesting to me. One of a series of adventure novels churned out at a rapid pace by a group of authors, this story involves some kind of archaeologist/TV host who gets whisked by the government to Antarctica to help on a dig that found strange artifacts. Of course, things aren't all that they seem to be on the surface, because they never are in these kinds of stories. The writing is competent and in some parts quite gripping, and the pace is maintained well. I did think the ending was a bit forced. These kinds of books are great to have on hand when stuck at the airport or on a long flight, because they will pleasantly chew up time without making your brain work very hard. Bottom line, I enjoyed this read but probably won't remember any of it in 3 months.
July 28, 2019
3.5 stars.
It's nice to know that Annja's spidey senses are not always infallible. Seems she's been tripped up by people who are supposed to be friends a few times now. And interesting that regardless of the history between her and Garin, he always seem to come through for her. Although the relationship seems to have gone backwards again in this episode.
Anyway, I still wish I could visit Antarctica. *sigh*
It's nice to know that Annja's spidey senses are not always infallible. Seems she's been tripped up by people who are supposed to be friends a few times now. And interesting that regardless of the history between her and Garin, he always seem to come through for her. Although the relationship seems to have gone backwards again in this episode.
Anyway, I still wish I could visit Antarctica. *sigh*
February 9, 2025
While I typically enjoy this series for some light reading this one missed the mark for me. While the book was fine to read it really did not have the archaeology focus that one should expect. In addition, the hinting at the extraterrestrial hints threatened to go further outside the norms than normal. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the book but if you did not know about the Rogue Angel series then you would not have recognized it as that.
June 22, 2020
Annja goes to Antarctica in this one, and Garen shows up in it. She of course encounters problems right away. Although, she doesn't use the sword very much in this one until the end. I didn't like that her friend Zach was one of the bad guys.One thing happened between Garen and her that I did like, but I won't spoil that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2022
And along cones a book that you really wonder "why?"
Why am I reading it?
Why did I bother finishing it?
The plot: forced.
The author did no research on how soldiers communicate.
The solutions to what I can assume were plot holes were stupidly far-fetched.
And Garin the wonder boy. Maybe he could have saved the plot but I think it was too far gone.
Why am I reading it?
Why did I bother finishing it?
The plot: forced.
The author did no research on how soldiers communicate.
The solutions to what I can assume were plot holes were stupidly far-fetched.
And Garin the wonder boy. Maybe he could have saved the plot but I think it was too far gone.
November 9, 2025
Rogue Angel books are hit and miss. this one was definitely a miss for me. They could have done so many interesting things with the setting being in Antarctica. But instead this was a fairly boring conspiracy plot. I could even predict who was behind it the whole time. This definitely should have stuck with the cryptid of the week, campy plots that I enjoy from these.
June 1, 2019
Be careful about how you choose your friends! Not everyone is as they appear, and at the ends of the Earth, it's important to have someone who has your back! Great job with one sucker-punch to he gut, kind of surprise! Awesome read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2017
More of what I read this series for. But when will Annja learn that just because Garin may not care about her objective, doesn't mean he doesn't care about her?
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
Read
January 10, 2021 i love that annja is a strong powerful woman who can fight and kick ass against the boys.
April 3, 2013
I started reading these books in order, and got bored. I think the first half dozen are written by the same ghost writer, and his work leaves me cold. So I just started picking and choosing depending on my mood.
This one is all kinds of goofy. The plot line kind of reminds me of the Dan Brown's Deception Point (I think), and well there are some serious, serious issues I had with, well stuff... being dropped off in Antarctica without a welcome wagon, hacking a military network over a satellite phone in under 5 minutes, security protocols on a military base becoming more lax after a murder?
This one is all kinds of goofy. The plot line kind of reminds me of the Dan Brown's Deception Point (I think), and well there are some serious, serious issues I had with, well stuff... being dropped off in Antarctica without a welcome wagon, hacking a military network over a satellite phone in under 5 minutes, security protocols on a military base becoming more lax after a murder?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2011
More of a mystery than finding treasure..To me not alot of action compared to the other books in this series..It would have been more interesting if the artifacts would have been from aliens but instead it was all fake..to steal a nuclear generator..pretty boring..I feel bad for Annja she gets betrayed again..
December 20, 2012
It took me forever to finish Polar Quest, but that's because I started up school again and had no personal time whatsoever to read. I did finally get some me time, and i must say this one definitely caught me off guard. Every chapter had me guessing, and in the end I was sorely wrong. Very well written, Archer. Fantastic job.
September 5, 2013
I usually enjoy the Annja Creed stories but I think this was very badly written. The word smirk appeared on every page and really began to grate on me. The story line was weak and I think the whole thing was just a tag on to what has been a good series.
June 30, 2012
A little out there plot wise, but the accuracy of the location and lifestyle helped me have intelligent conversations with a friend working down there
May 6, 2016
Interesting concept. Well done.
January 14, 2013
I got this and The Soul Stealer from the library. I am never reading any of these books again. I no longer care for this character. I find her willfully stupid.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews