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Rogue Angel #37
Library of Gold
He was one of Russia's most infamous rulers, and he alone held the key to a legendary Byzantine collection of books, given to him in the dowry of Princess Sophia of Constantinople. Ivan Vasilyevich—otherwise known as Ivan the Terrible—owned a library filled with rare and priceless tomes that men would kill for. Would die for. But the czar carried the knowledge of its whereabouts to his grave. And it falls to archaeologist Annja Creed, almost five hundred years later, to discover the secrets of the Library of Gold.
When the opportunity to unravel the mystery of this so-called eighth wonder of the world lands in Annja's lap, she can't resist. Armed with a diary of cryptic clues, she embarks on a journey to Russia, where she must somehow find her way into the very heart of the country, beneath the Kremlin.
But Annja soon discovers she's racing a ruthless KGB agent driven by sinister motives. She finds herself deep beneath the Russian soil in a dangerous game of cat and mouse… Will she be the next to mysteriously disappear from history?
When the opportunity to unravel the mystery of this so-called eighth wonder of the world lands in Annja's lap, she can't resist. Armed with a diary of cryptic clues, she embarks on a journey to Russia, where she must somehow find her way into the very heart of the country, beneath the Kremlin.
But Annja soon discovers she's racing a ruthless KGB agent driven by sinister motives. She finds herself deep beneath the Russian soil in a dangerous game of cat and mouse… Will she be the next to mysteriously disappear from history?
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2012
About the author
Alex Archer
98 books239 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 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 10, 2026
This is the thirty-seventh Rogue Angel adventure and was the fifth that was written by Joseph Nassise, who went on to write five more- under the house pseudonym Alex Archer, of course. Annja Creed is an archaeologist and historian who appears on a syndicated television program called Chasing History's Monsters. She's also the heir to the blade and power of Joan of Arc. This one has some input from one of the two Joan-adjacent guys, Roux, but Garin doesn't have much influence. Annja is working on DVD commentary for her television show and is invited to dinner by the man who owns the network. He sends her off to Russia with a lead on where the 15th century library of Ivan the Terrible may be hidden. Nothing life a rare-book quest to turn on the readers, am I right? She explores the underground of the Kremlin, encounters a nuclear train (?!), and finds herself in competition with a KGB agent. Lots of chases and fights and mayhem ensues, and it all wraps up with a sad conclusion. In between all of the Lara Croft/Indiana Jones/Sara Pezzini trappings there's some good character development, interesting historical speculation, and a quick read with an interesting story. The nifty Tim Bradstreet cover has a group of those cool turnip-topped roofs in the background behind Annja, who's holding her sword cocked in both hands but facing left; who knew she was a switch-hitter? One of Nassise's best Annja adventures.
January 13, 2012
*Genre* Science Fiction, Adventure
*Rating* 3-3.5
*Thoughts*
Library of Gold takes us to Russia, more specifically Moscow, where Annja and her companion(s) Gianni Travino, and later Vladimir Vikofsky, go in search of the Library of Gold which is said to have been created by Ivan the Terrible in the 1500's. This comes after Gianni turns up with a supposed map of the location of the library itself deep under the Kremlin and Annja is asked to go to Moscow to lead the expedition.
Naturally, we have some nasty villains who want the library as well, and are willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that they get it, including using Annja to lead them right to it. For some reason or the other, I'm always surprised when our heroine fails to realize that she's been used as a pawn until she is facing a gun pointed at her face and somehow manages to escape just in time each and every time.
A major part of the story takes place underground and I was interested in the parts where Annja and crew are chased into a hidden city where Soviet spies learned their trade before going to the US during the Cold War. I don't think that was that far fetched and wouldn't necessarily toss the idea away as bull crap. Not so sure about the whole nuclear powered train, but interesting nonetheless.
I've exceeded my expectations in that I've now read 37 novels in one series and haven't thrown in the towel due to the story going in different directions or the author suddenly making her heroine a full fledged sex magnet. I could also say that about the In Death series by J.D. Robb as well.
I continue to read this story because I like the credence behind Annja Creed's existence and the fact that she's carrying Joan of Arc's broadsword and is also a defined archaeologist like Indiana Jones, as well as a host of Chasing History's Monsters. She's also not a weeping willow by any stretch of the imagination and has tons of enemies that have come and gone, while others still exist.
I like the fact that Annja has come to terms with the fact that she was chosen to become the protector of innocents and defender of the good even though her life hasn't exactly been smooth nor easy since the sword chose her. Sometimes, however, there are parts to this series that just make me shake my head in disbelief. Yet, this is fantasy/science fiction and in order to fully take advantage of the writing and story telling, you need to suspend some sort of reality and just let things go.
Now, onward and upward to Book 38 in the Rogue Angel series The Matador's Crown!
Library of Gold was published July 3rd, 2012 by Harlequin/Golden Eagle - My copy was provided to my via a Interlibrary Loan.
*Rating* 3-3.5
*Thoughts*
Library of Gold takes us to Russia, more specifically Moscow, where Annja and her companion(s) Gianni Travino, and later Vladimir Vikofsky, go in search of the Library of Gold which is said to have been created by Ivan the Terrible in the 1500's. This comes after Gianni turns up with a supposed map of the location of the library itself deep under the Kremlin and Annja is asked to go to Moscow to lead the expedition.
Naturally, we have some nasty villains who want the library as well, and are willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that they get it, including using Annja to lead them right to it. For some reason or the other, I'm always surprised when our heroine fails to realize that she's been used as a pawn until she is facing a gun pointed at her face and somehow manages to escape just in time each and every time.
A major part of the story takes place underground and I was interested in the parts where Annja and crew are chased into a hidden city where Soviet spies learned their trade before going to the US during the Cold War. I don't think that was that far fetched and wouldn't necessarily toss the idea away as bull crap. Not so sure about the whole nuclear powered train, but interesting nonetheless.
I've exceeded my expectations in that I've now read 37 novels in one series and haven't thrown in the towel due to the story going in different directions or the author suddenly making her heroine a full fledged sex magnet. I could also say that about the In Death series by J.D. Robb as well.
I continue to read this story because I like the credence behind Annja Creed's existence and the fact that she's carrying Joan of Arc's broadsword and is also a defined archaeologist like Indiana Jones, as well as a host of Chasing History's Monsters. She's also not a weeping willow by any stretch of the imagination and has tons of enemies that have come and gone, while others still exist.
I like the fact that Annja has come to terms with the fact that she was chosen to become the protector of innocents and defender of the good even though her life hasn't exactly been smooth nor easy since the sword chose her. Sometimes, however, there are parts to this series that just make me shake my head in disbelief. Yet, this is fantasy/science fiction and in order to fully take advantage of the writing and story telling, you need to suspend some sort of reality and just let things go.
Now, onward and upward to Book 38 in the Rogue Angel series The Matador's Crown!
Library of Gold was published July 3rd, 2012 by Harlequin/Golden Eagle - My copy was provided to my via a Interlibrary Loan.
December 27, 2012
This was definitely one of the better Rogue Angel books lately, despite a couple of 'huh?' moments.
Annja is working on the commentary track for a DVD release of Chasing History's Monsters (where can I get one of those?) when she is invited out to dinner by Sir Charles Davies, owner of the company that owns the network that owns her show. Needless to say, she goes.
Sir Charles has been approached by an Italian artist who has a family diary written by the man who designed the vault in which the Golden Library was hidden long ago. This is a library of books that are bound in covers with gold and jeweled inlays. And when Sir Charles decides he wants to find the library, just because, his old friend Roux sends him Annja's way.
So, Annja is off to Moscow to hunt for lost treasure, along with the artist, and then a Muscovite who explores the hidden underground of the city.
There were a couple of things that left me gritting my teeth, but they were minor. For one, there is an underground train system, built by the KGB and powered by a mini nuclear plant that is still running, even though it hasn't (presumably) been maintained. Also, one character says that the train is also nuclear powered, but hopefully not with nuclear material *on* the train, considering what happens to it.
Also, one character is left buried in the underground. Annja promises to get his body out, but ends up fleeing the country without the chance to follow through. I do hope she later deals with that, since the story ends with her flight getting in to New York.
It was nice to see her again working on her TV show, since that's (I think) the main source of her income for all this world travelling. Well, and the reward for the treasure she found in a previous book, and the mention of her writing her own books.
Meanwhile, at this point I've been following this series for so long, I doubt I'm going to quit reading them, so take what I say as coloured by that.
Annja is working on the commentary track for a DVD release of Chasing History's Monsters (where can I get one of those?) when she is invited out to dinner by Sir Charles Davies, owner of the company that owns the network that owns her show. Needless to say, she goes.
Sir Charles has been approached by an Italian artist who has a family diary written by the man who designed the vault in which the Golden Library was hidden long ago. This is a library of books that are bound in covers with gold and jeweled inlays. And when Sir Charles decides he wants to find the library, just because, his old friend Roux sends him Annja's way.
So, Annja is off to Moscow to hunt for lost treasure, along with the artist, and then a Muscovite who explores the hidden underground of the city.
There were a couple of things that left me gritting my teeth, but they were minor. For one, there is an underground train system, built by the KGB and powered by a mini nuclear plant that is still running, even though it hasn't (presumably) been maintained. Also, one character says that the train is also nuclear powered, but hopefully not with nuclear material *on* the train, considering what happens to it.
Also, one character is left buried in the underground. Annja promises to get his body out, but ends up fleeing the country without the chance to follow through. I do hope she later deals with that, since the story ends with her flight getting in to New York.
It was nice to see her again working on her TV show, since that's (I think) the main source of her income for all this world travelling. Well, and the reward for the treasure she found in a previous book, and the mention of her writing her own books.
Meanwhile, at this point I've been following this series for so long, I doubt I'm going to quit reading them, so take what I say as coloured by that.
July 12, 2012
One of the best in this series, written by a bunch of anonymous authors under the name Alex Archer. The series is sort of like Lara Croft, but more intelligent, and I always learn something from the novels. Two minor faults:
1. The heroine gets shot at point blank range by expert marksmen and suffers only a minor head would. Necessary to the polt - absolutely. Possible - certainly. Likely - highly not.
2. Possible poor editing (or the author inserting a joke, usually not done). The heroine is very hungry and is described as eating breakfast "with relish." Aw, come on. Any editor should have seen this double meaning.
1. The heroine gets shot at point blank range by expert marksmen and suffers only a minor head would. Necessary to the polt - absolutely. Possible - certainly. Likely - highly not.
2. Possible poor editing (or the author inserting a joke, usually not done). The heroine is very hungry and is described as eating breakfast "with relish." Aw, come on. Any editor should have seen this double meaning.
August 30, 2012
This one was actually really good. I was highly entertained which was nice since the last few I read in the series were a little lacking.
August 17, 2012
Annja receives a fancy envelope that contains an in invitation from a Sir Charles Davies.(who owns the network that airs Chasing History's Monsters) He shows her a journal supposedly written by Fioravanti.(a Italian architect who designed & built a secret vault to house the Library of Gold..A collection of ancient, priceless books gathered over several hundred years by the Byzantine empire.Charles hires Annja to find the library..
July 16, 2026
Annja Creed, our favorite archaeologist and adventurer, is off in Russia looking for a secret library reputed to have been filled with jewel-encrusted books and hidden by Ivan the Terrible. As is usual, bad people are also looking for the library, and are glad to let Annja do the hard work of finding the place.
There are tidbits of history in the story. Annja is hired for this job this time. She has a couple of assistants, one of whom is in the pay of the bad people. We even get a little bit of humor in the person of Boris, the biggest fan of Annja in the world. How that turns out to help save her life is very satisfying.
You know I enjoy this series. I am reading it all the way through in order as my waiting room book. I continue to say, if you can find copies of this series, read them.
There are tidbits of history in the story. Annja is hired for this job this time. She has a couple of assistants, one of whom is in the pay of the bad people. We even get a little bit of humor in the person of Boris, the biggest fan of Annja in the world. How that turns out to help save her life is very satisfying.
You know I enjoy this series. I am reading it all the way through in order as my waiting room book. I continue to say, if you can find copies of this series, read them.
November 12, 2021
Annja Creed is one of my favorite characters to read. I'll pick up a new Rogue Angel when I can't find something interesting to read out in the wild. Library of Gold almost didn't live up to the expectations as the others that I've read in this series. I usually like the ones where Garin and Roux are included in the story.
June 1, 2019
What book collector wouldn't do practically anything to get their hands on this particular book collection?! Another spy, super ninja ride to the grand finale! I loved it! But the end may leave one pulling out all of their hair! It's that good!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2019
3 stars.
This one takes Annja to the undergrounds of Moscow. I enjoyed the blending of the "hopefully" fictitious Cold War infrastructure with the real thing. And again, Annja's curse prevailed *sigh*. And I can't believe she didn't know who owns the network she works for?!!
This one takes Annja to the undergrounds of Moscow. I enjoyed the blending of the "hopefully" fictitious Cold War infrastructure with the real thing. And again, Annja's curse prevailed *sigh*. And I can't believe she didn't know who owns the network she works for?!!
Read
April 29, 2020everyone dies but annja, and the library gets destroyed so she can escape. the destruction of an ancient library (or any library actually) really bothered me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2013
Thirty-seventh in the Rogue Angel urban fantasy series about an archeologist/TV show host who "inherits" a metaphysical sword that urges her to avenge wrongs and protect the innocent.
My Take
There's a bit of the Clive Cussler in this with its historic prologue setting us up. The action is definitely worthy of Dirk! As well as Indiana Jones!
I don't get why Annja didn't wait. For all her vaunted experience, she didn't anticipate the guns? Waiting would have created a completely different ending. For that matter, why didn't the bad guys wait until the library was actually found???
There was a sense of Archer needing to crank this out, a little too much hurry-hurry in this. Still, it's a great Saturday-afternoon-at-the-movies action adventure even if it's a B-class series.
Be warned, it does have a very sad ending…and, yes, I cried.
I also suspect this is the start of an interesting relationship. Hmmm, I wonder what other treasures Sir Charles is interested in.
The Story
Sir Charles Davies has insisted on Annja joining him for dinner. It seems he has a little project in mind for her and Roux has been telling tales. A possible lead to the lost library of Ivan the Terrible has come to Sir Charles' attention and he wants Annja to hunt it down.
It's a scavenger hunt, a mad scramble through the sewers, a descent into Cold War hell, and a nuclear-powered train through earthquakes and bullets.
The Characters
Annja Creed is an unaffiliated archeologist who accepts the necessity of co-hosting Chasing History's Monsters, a syndicated TV series that prefers to hype the impossibilities of the past. Annja sees it as a chance to keep the show at least partially anchored in the real world. Doug Morrell is her attention-seeking producer.
Sir Charles Davies is one of the richest men in the world. He also owns the channel that pays for Chasing History's Monsters. Vladimir Vikofsky is the leader of the Urban Underground who sees its mission as one of "mapping the historical, ecological, and social aspects of Moscow's underground". He cares for his old mother.
Ridolfo di Fioravanti is the chief foreman who designed the library and its protections only to be betrayed. Giuseppe is Ridolfo's nephew charged with a message. Czar Ivan wants a secret library to hold a rare and valuable collection of ancient books of Byzantium. Gianni Travino claims to be a descendent of Ridolfo's and he has a journal that could be the key to the library's location.
Yuri Basilovich is a supervisor in immigration in Moscow who has flagged Annja's passport.
Colonel Viktor Goshenko is officially Federal Security Service, but he's not above making his own retirement plans. Sergeant Arkady Danislov will do whatever it takes to accomplish his mission. Subotin is the point man assigned to take down a that little slip of a thing.
Semyon Pyotr is actually Dr. Semyon Petrescu, who is in charge at the Cathedral of the Assumption, and he's working with Goshenko.
The Cover
The cover's background is a collage of the colorful onion turrets from St. Basil's Cathedral while the base of the cover sees a flitter of code and scraps of paper, while in between, a new model for Annja in jeans and a tight-fitting, short-waisted black leather jacket prepares to swing the sword of Joan of Arc.
The title is definitely about a Library, but the of Gold refers to the Gospel of Gold.
My Take
There's a bit of the Clive Cussler in this with its historic prologue setting us up. The action is definitely worthy of Dirk! As well as Indiana Jones!
I don't get why Annja didn't wait. For all her vaunted experience, she didn't anticipate the guns? Waiting would have created a completely different ending. For that matter, why didn't the bad guys wait until the library was actually found???
There was a sense of Archer needing to crank this out, a little too much hurry-hurry in this. Still, it's a great Saturday-afternoon-at-the-movies action adventure even if it's a B-class series.
Be warned, it does have a very sad ending…and, yes, I cried.
I also suspect this is the start of an interesting relationship. Hmmm, I wonder what other treasures Sir Charles is interested in.
The Story
Sir Charles Davies has insisted on Annja joining him for dinner. It seems he has a little project in mind for her and Roux has been telling tales. A possible lead to the lost library of Ivan the Terrible has come to Sir Charles' attention and he wants Annja to hunt it down.
It's a scavenger hunt, a mad scramble through the sewers, a descent into Cold War hell, and a nuclear-powered train through earthquakes and bullets.
The Characters
Annja Creed is an unaffiliated archeologist who accepts the necessity of co-hosting Chasing History's Monsters, a syndicated TV series that prefers to hype the impossibilities of the past. Annja sees it as a chance to keep the show at least partially anchored in the real world. Doug Morrell is her attention-seeking producer.
Sir Charles Davies is one of the richest men in the world. He also owns the channel that pays for Chasing History's Monsters. Vladimir Vikofsky is the leader of the Urban Underground who sees its mission as one of "mapping the historical, ecological, and social aspects of Moscow's underground". He cares for his old mother.
Ridolfo di Fioravanti is the chief foreman who designed the library and its protections only to be betrayed. Giuseppe is Ridolfo's nephew charged with a message. Czar Ivan wants a secret library to hold a rare and valuable collection of ancient books of Byzantium. Gianni Travino claims to be a descendent of Ridolfo's and he has a journal that could be the key to the library's location.
Yuri Basilovich is a supervisor in immigration in Moscow who has flagged Annja's passport.
Colonel Viktor Goshenko is officially Federal Security Service, but he's not above making his own retirement plans. Sergeant Arkady Danislov will do whatever it takes to accomplish his mission. Subotin is the point man assigned to take down a that little slip of a thing.
Semyon Pyotr is actually Dr. Semyon Petrescu, who is in charge at the Cathedral of the Assumption, and he's working with Goshenko.
The Cover
The cover's background is a collage of the colorful onion turrets from St. Basil's Cathedral while the base of the cover sees a flitter of code and scraps of paper, while in between, a new model for Annja in jeans and a tight-fitting, short-waisted black leather jacket prepares to swing the sword of Joan of Arc.
The title is definitely about a Library, but the of Gold refers to the Gospel of Gold.
May 20, 2014
A magic sword? I guess you really need to read more of the books in the series to know what that's all about. The story itself wasn't too bad, searching for a long lost library hidden by Ivan the Terrible under the Kremlin. Sneaking around Moscow? Sneaking out of Russia? With the help of a Russian airport security guard? Hmm, not likely. It's all pretty unlikely, that's why it's called fantasy. It's book #37, so maybe I should go back and start at book #1?
January 6, 2012
So, the last book involved Annja searching for a treasure down in tunnels in Paris. This one...tunnels in Russia. Really? Couldn't change it up a bit from book to book? And this one didn't even have anyone half as interesting as Fiona...
July 4, 2012
This book had very little on the history side other than mentioning some places. A quick easy read, lot of the chasing shooting going on. I have read better.
August 13, 2014
thought the main character was better this time around. not so many rookie mistakes. missed Roux and Garin but fell in love with Vlad was sorry he was killed of. hope to see more of Yuri
November 24, 2014
Entertaining.
July 2, 2016
Great author!! Super book!! I couldn't stop reading this book.
September 6, 2012
Nice read but winds up too fast
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews