I received this book for free from my own shelves in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Babel Codex
by
Alex Archer
It is part of the Rogue Angel #43.5 series and is a urban fantasy in eBook edition that was published by Worldwide Library on September 1, 2013 and has 105 pages.
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Other books in this series include [books_series]
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include The Soul Stealer, Gabriel's Horn, The Golden Elephant, Swordsman's Legacy, Polar Quest, Eternal Journey, Sacrifice, Seeker's Curse, Footprints, Paradox, The Spirit Banner, Sacred Ground, The Bone Conjurer, Phantom Prospect, Restless Soul, False Horizon, The Other Crowd, Tear of the Gods, The Oracle's Message, Cradle of Solitude, Labyrinth, Fury's Goddess, Magic Lantern, Library of Gold, Matador's Crown, City of Swords, The Third Caliph, Sunken Pyramid, Staff of Judea
This short story falls at 43.5 in the Rogue Angel urban fantasy series and revolves around Annja Creed, an archeologist who wields the sword of Joan of Arc.
My Take
A very different author for this particular one, as he allows us to know too much about how Braden feels about Annja. There’s a weird vibe at the end — too homey for words.
Burris is such an American, not realizing people might actually shoot at him and being so oblivious to the dangers into which he’s thrown Annja.
Sneaky woman! LOL, I do love how Annja got away from Braden! And that bit about her husband paying for it…too funny.
It’s fast-paced Saturday-afternoon-at-the-movies and much more simplistic compared to the earlier Rogue Angel stories, although part of me preferred this one’s style.
The Story
Doug’s always open to upping the ratings on Annja’s episodes, but Burris is beyond the pale with his jokes and pranks. It’s payback when one rebounds upon him.
Meanwhile, Garin is having fun taking one of his ships back from Somali pirates, and Roux has run from a poker tournament to come to Annja’s aid.
The Characters
Annja Creed is an independent archeologist who also hosts a television show, Chasing History’s Monsters. Kristie Chatham is her co-host and inclined to fall out of her clothes. Her producer, Doug Morrell, has set her up with Burris Coronet, a thirty-nine-going-on-five, popular Los Angeles radio talk show shock jock. Burris accepted the deal to get away from his ex-wife’s boyfriend’s dad.
Roux had been a knight while Garin Braden had been his squire back in 1431 as they watched their charge burn at the stake. Now they are at cross-purposes with each other as each wants the sword Annja holds for their own purposes. Friedrich is part of Garin’s private army, DragonTech Security. Evander is the rocket man.
Cybele Coelho is a friend of Annja’s and a professor of linguistics at Universidade Federal do Rio de Janiero.
Professor Vittorio Sordi of the Università degli Studi di Milano is heading up the dig in Addis Ababa. Father Louay is one of the guides at the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East.
Rafik Bhalla is a former “priest at the Syriac Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Addis Ababa, now he’s an art dealer and relic hunter”. Tadesse is one of Rafik Bhalla’s thugs. Dawit is a marketer with an eye for the main chance.
Babylon 610 B.C.
What we know as the Tower of Babel is known then as the Great Tower of Shinar. Amraphel is the king having this built for his memorial; Joktan is his son. Elishah is a friend and a worker on the tower.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a close-up of an angry Annja, her face — her eyes — glaring out at us as she’s standing sideways with her sword in the upright position. In the deep background, you catch a glimpse of searing desert with a white tower of arches between the desert and Annja.
The title is the brick that needs translating, The Babel Codex, that will lead Annja to what she seeks.
