Serpent's Kiss

by Alex Archer

Book Overview

Some say they are a cursed people. But those who try to find them will be just as unlucky... Working on a dig on the southern coast of India, the last thing Annja Creed expects is to be hit by a tsunami. Or to strike archaeological gold. But that's exactly what happens when several objects wash ashore in the storm. The relics carry unfamiliar markings that hint at a legendary city. Excited by the prospect of discovering a culture believed lost to...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373621280
• ISBN13: 9780373621286
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: Gold Eagle
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

Modern day pirates, Archeology, and ancient curses unearthed

As the tenth book in the ROGUE ANGEL series, SERPENT'S KISS combines action and suspense with ancient curses and myth brought into the modern world through archeology. Easily read as a stand alone, this action-packed read is both entertaining and one that sparks the imagination with curiosity about ancient cultures. In India in 509 BC, a man's love for a woman leads to a daring plan of escape, to take her from a secret village. Carrying with him a book in snakeskin leather and jewels, Sahadeva escapes only to find worse trouble. Today, Annja Creed joins the archeological dig of Professor Rai on the southern coast of India to investigate a burial pit of the Shakti, a culture known for human sacrifices. When a tsunami hits, the sea opens up the secrets of the past, as ancient relics emerge from the ocean's depths. Nagas, figures with one part human and one part snake that have been hidden for centuries, indeed millenia, now come to the surface. Pirates, the most ruthless pirates now doing business in the waters around India, have turned their aim on Annja Creed's find. Can Annja discover the archeological significance of these relics before the thieves can stop her? Will an ancient curse, the curse of the nagas, follow all those who touch or hunt for these relics? A relic with writing in a language unknown to the world's linguistic experts tantalizes with its hint of a lost culture. What strange mix of legend and reality will archeology unearth? What is the relationship between natural phenomena and science and ancient myths and cultures? From previous books in the series, the reader learns that Annja Creed discovered the last remnant of Joan of Arc's sword. Now re-assembled and available to her through destiny and willing its appearance from another dimension, Annja Creed can do battle with the most fierce opponents. Working for a television show, Chasing History's Monsters Annja makes a living to support her archeological digs while coming head to head with producer Doug Morrell and his need to sell television. Does Doug ever have a new twist, humorous in its baseness, in this ROGUE ANGEL! As an archeologist, Annja Creed leads the reader into ancient worlds through her hunt to unearth relics. Her respect for her discipline creates a richness in her character that combines intelligence with an ethical code. This author's writing is breathtaking. Fine details create an aura, a level of suspense and myth, that make this read intriguing from start to finish. From the snakeskin leather in the prologue to knowledge of skin diving and linguistics, this novel is written with a firm underpinning of detailed research. Never heavy or pedantic --- these details just seems to flow from his pen (or keys) as part of the story, creating layer and layer of intrigue as ancient myth encounters current day events. Characterization gives SERPENT'S KISS both humor and depth. The antics of the college students on the dig leave the reader laughing. Annja Creed is mag

Serpent's Kiss (Roque Angel)

I really love this series! It's a quick read, and always makes you feel like you are there. Action, a little romance,and sword play. What more do you want. I have the whole series and hope more are on the way!

Most Exciting Rogue Angel Yet!

While working on archeological site in India, Annja and the rest of the team are caught in a tsunami. But when they begin uncovering relics in the aftermath of the storm, Annja and the rest of the survivors find themselves in even greater danger. The artifacts that are found are thought to be cursed. And a group of pirates want the treasure for themselves. As always, Annja must fight her way out of mortal danger, and this time protect an ancient artifact that supposedly leads to a lost city of reclusive cannibals. This was the most exciting and fast-paced Rogue Angel book yet. Pirates and sharks attacks and cannibals, oh my. Ending in a thrilling climax, this is one adventure not to be missed!

Mystery, archeology, cannibals, and a bit of humor. Great read.

Archaeologist Annja Creed is on a dig in India--about as far away as she can get from either her annoying boss at the Searching for History's Monsters television series or her twin nemeses--Garen and Roux. But sometimes history doesn't give up its secrets too easily. Just when Annja and her team discover what might be the final resting place of a number of human sacrifices, a tsunami strikes, burying the site and nearly killing Annja and the other archaeologists. But the wave also churns up secrets from the sea and the small treasure Annja finds, including a ring showing a half-snake, half-human naga. The evidence, Annja believes, is clear. An ancient shipwreck is nearby. Although Annja is conducting serious archeology, there are others who see her finds as treasure waiting to be plucked, and the Indian Ocean is home to modern-day pirates. One of these pirates, though, takes a special interest when he hears about the Naga discovery. For countless generations, his wife's family passed down a legend of a fantastically rich secret city hidden in the interior of India. The naga ring, and especially the other finds that may be on Annja's old shipwreck, might be the clues he needs to claim that wealth. And nothing, certainly not a group of archaeologists, will stop him from claiming what he believes is a part of his history--and his right. Staying alive gets increasingly tough as Annja is attacked by bandits, sharks, pirates, and finally a savage tribe of cannibals. All of that is fine when you're doing an episode of Searching for History's Monsters, but it's not fine at all when it comes to serious archeology. Fortunately, Annja has a secret of her own--Joan of Arc's mythical sword. But can even a sword protect her from anti-ship missiles and machine gun fire? Author Alex Archer continues his Rogue Angel series with a fast-paced adventure that nevertheless manages a serious look at modern archeology. At the same time, Archer pays homage to the long-standing subgenre of lost civilization stories--something that we don't see much of any more now that the world is supposedly fully explored and mapped by Google Earth. Fans of action adventure will definitely enjoy this fast-paced thriller. On a minor note, one editorial error seems to have crept into the novel. SERPENT'S KISS repeatedly refers to 5th Century B.C. Roman trade vessels trading with India. During the 5th Century B.C., Rome was an insignificant central-Italian city and the Persian Empire straddled any possible trade routes. I suspect a Gold Eagle editor may have 'corrected' Archer's original dates as Archer's research otherwise seems to have been excellent.

Excellent addition to the series!

A tsunami hits... right in the midst of an archaeological dig Annja Creed is on! She finds herself trapped with Professor Lochata Rai and a group of students in the midst of the chaos. But what treasures will the tsunami uncover? Just what is the secret behind the naga statue, a statue depicting a woman who is half serpent? Meanwhile, modern day pirates stalk the seas and soon Annja is going to have more than just an archaeological mystery on her hands! The good books just keep coming in the Rogue Angel series! Pirates are hot now, thanks to Johnny Depp, but Alex Archer has a different kind of pirate in mind for Annja Creed to encounter. Annja is a quick thinker and good at improvising in any situation but the double whammy of the tsunami and pirates may prove to be one of her toughest challenges yet! SERPENT'S KISS focuses more on Annja's inquisitive nature. Annja is an archaeologist at heart. She's become a television celebrity through her involvement with Chasing History's Monsters. She's also had to reexamine all that she believes to be true, thanks to her acquisition of the sword belonging to Joan of Arc. In SERPENT'S KISS, Annja isn't as focused on these issues as she is on the hunt- the hunt for archeological artifacts and knowledge. This perspective adds a new dimension to the character of Annja Creed as we see her dedication to science. Even her interactions with others on the various excavations show us the perseverance and total commitment that Annja has to her field. From the devastation of the tsunami to the treachery pirates commit in the name of greed, SERPENT'S KISS provides readers with a fascinating look at the dark side of the seas. The Rogue Angel series never disappoints and SERPENT'S KISS is yet another fascinating installment in this spectacular series. Highly recommended! COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES