Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
In Rogue Angel: Solomon’s Jar, rumors of the discovery of Solomon’s Jar — in which the biblical King Solomon bound the world’s demons after using them to build his temple in Jerusalem — are followed with interest by Annja Creed. Her search leads to a confrontation with a London cult driven by visions of a new world order, and a religious zealot in search of glory.
Once again I was treated to a Graphic Audio performance that really brings you into the story. The combination of sound effects and artistic vocal performances creates what Graphic Audio calls a “Movie in your Mind,” and that is truly what it is.
The premise of this story is that if there were a jar of Solomon, it would be one of the most important artifacts in the world. It would be a two-edged sword in that, while it would contain strong magical powers, it would also most surely be haunted by the demons that were condemned to it.
To me, the beginning of the story is disjointed and starts out confusing. I found myself having trouble trying to keep up with what was going on for the first 30 minutes or so. Then it started to settle in and became more coherent and solidified. It turned into much more of what I liked about the first story. It was all about the character development, the storyline and how it worked with the presentation.
Once things got going, the movement was fast paced. What I liked about the Rogue Angel series is that it is sprinkled with history and facts. It is these details that give authenticity to the story. My only disappointment was that I wish there had been more of Roux and Garin as I really loved the good cop/bad cop interaction between the two and how they both interacted with Annja.
I find that when I am listening to a Graphic Audio book, I am so immersed in the story that time just flies. If you are into graphic books or you want to be entertained while you are listening to an audio book, you will find Rogue Angel: Solomon’s Jar very enjoyable.
As with movies, sometimes there is a humorous mistake in production. At one point, around the beginning of the sixth hour (about 10-20 minutes into it), the narrator says something to the effect of “He raised his shotgun into the air” and you then hear a submachine gun fire multiple rounds.
The quality of the story and performance are the reasons I will be coming back for the next Rogue Angel. I will also be checking out some of their other series as well. You can download the MP3 excerpt or purchase the Graphic Audio Book from their online store. The story comes three ways: standard CD, MP3, and downloadable WMA CD (the version I reviewed), with digital rights management.
