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Book of the Order #1-3
The Order of Deacons
The Empire of Arkaym stands beseiged by the unliving—terrible agents of the Otherside. Only one thing protects the people from annihilation: the Order of Deacons. This is the world created by Philippa Ballantine in a stunning series that blends epic and urban fantasy, with worldbuilding and a magic system among the finest that fantasy has seen. Now experience all three Books of the Order in this exclusive omnibus!
In Geist, we meet Sorcha, one of the Order of Deacons’ most powerful members. Forced to partner with a novice named Merrick Chambers, Sorcha is sent to the isolated village of Ulrich to combat a major surge in geist activity—with the Emperor’s rival Raed Rossin in tow. The horror they uncover will challenge everything Sorcha thinks she knows....
In Spectyr, Sorcha and Merrick, still reeling, travel to the exotic city of Orinthal to escort the Emperor’s delegation. But a string of murders and a vengeful goddess wind up targeting the possessed pretender to the throne whom Sorcha loves....
And in Wrayth, it’s up to Merrick to break through to the incapactitated Sorcha—and decide whether to risk it all to save Sorcha and Raed at the expense of the throne he's sworn to protect....
In Geist, we meet Sorcha, one of the Order of Deacons’ most powerful members. Forced to partner with a novice named Merrick Chambers, Sorcha is sent to the isolated village of Ulrich to combat a major surge in geist activity—with the Emperor’s rival Raed Rossin in tow. The horror they uncover will challenge everything Sorcha thinks she knows....
In Spectyr, Sorcha and Merrick, still reeling, travel to the exotic city of Orinthal to escort the Emperor’s delegation. But a string of murders and a vengeful goddess wind up targeting the possessed pretender to the throne whom Sorcha loves....
And in Wrayth, it’s up to Merrick to break through to the incapactitated Sorcha—and decide whether to risk it all to save Sorcha and Raed at the expense of the throne he's sworn to protect....
787 pages, Hardcover
First published January 13, 2013
5 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Philippa Ballantine
70 books1,031 followersBorn and raised in Wellington, New Zealand, Philippa is a writer and podcaster of fantasy fiction.
Immersed in books from an early age, she moved onto to become a librarian. She'd been dreaming of being a writer since a teenager, but in the last ten years she's devoted herself to it.
She's the author of the Books of the Order series from Ace Books. Geist, Spectyr, Wrayth (2012) and Harbinger (2013).
Also, with Pyr books the Shifted World series, Hunter and Fox (2012) and Born and Made (2013)
Philippa is also the co-author of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series. Phoenix Rising and the Janus Affair (2012)
Philippa currently resides in Manassas, Virginia with her husband and co-writer Tee Morris, their daughter and a clowder of five cats who keep them all in line.
Awards
2011 Goodreads Short Listed for Best Science Fiction
2011 Airship Award winner for best written work (with Tee Morris)
2011 Sir Julius Vogel Award nominee for Best Novel- Adult
2010 Parsec Award finalist for Best Speculative Fiction Magazine or Anthology Podcast
2010 Sir Julius Vogel Award finalist for Best fan production
2009 Parsec Award finalist for Best Speculative Fiction Magazine or Anthology Podcast
2009 Sir Julius Vogel Award winner for Best fan production
2009 Sir Julius Vogel Award nominee for Best Novel- Adult
2007 Parsec Award finalist for Best Writing Podcast
2006 Sir Julius Vogel Award nominee for Best Novel
Immersed in books from an early age, she moved onto to become a librarian. She'd been dreaming of being a writer since a teenager, but in the last ten years she's devoted herself to it.
She's the author of the Books of the Order series from Ace Books. Geist, Spectyr, Wrayth (2012) and Harbinger (2013).
Also, with Pyr books the Shifted World series, Hunter and Fox (2012) and Born and Made (2013)
Philippa is also the co-author of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series. Phoenix Rising and the Janus Affair (2012)
Philippa currently resides in Manassas, Virginia with her husband and co-writer Tee Morris, their daughter and a clowder of five cats who keep them all in line.
Awards
2011 Goodreads Short Listed for Best Science Fiction
2011 Airship Award winner for best written work (with Tee Morris)
2011 Sir Julius Vogel Award nominee for Best Novel- Adult
2010 Parsec Award finalist for Best Speculative Fiction Magazine or Anthology Podcast
2010 Sir Julius Vogel Award finalist for Best fan production
2009 Parsec Award finalist for Best Speculative Fiction Magazine or Anthology Podcast
2009 Sir Julius Vogel Award winner for Best fan production
2009 Sir Julius Vogel Award nominee for Best Novel- Adult
2007 Parsec Award finalist for Best Writing Podcast
2006 Sir Julius Vogel Award nominee for Best Novel
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 8, 2013
Clever and interesting system, fast pacing, and interesting characters make up for some minor flaws like taking a while to understand the magic system.
June 3, 2013
A surprisingly clever magic system which was fun to explore throughout these stories. The only downside in my opinion was the relatively short length to each story which made the endings seem a little rushed and underdeveloped. I look forward to more from this author.
June 3, 2025
I re-read this about a decade later, and I enjoyed it as much or more the second time around.
July 24, 2016
2.5 stars because I didn't realize this wasn't the whole saga.
Well, it took longer than usual to finish this omnibus because I allowed myself to pick up other books midcourse -- not a very good sign. However, I was still enjoying it reasonably well (I'd been partly turned off by concern that book 3, Wrayth, was going to get more descriptive of the blank-minded, nameless captives being used in orgies, etc., in the Wrayth stronghold, but that's not the direction it took) ... until I neared the end and realized that there weren't enough pages left for a satisfactory resolution. Sure enough, . I guess it's my own fault for not researching more, and finding out that the series contains FOUR volumes -- silly me, thinking this was actually an OMNIbus (omni = all)!
Also, I don't really like how the Rossin's utterly conscienceless slaughter of numerous humans is becoming an ~accepted~ recurring grief: Oh, well, I/we can't control him. Sorcha doesn't even seem to feel enough hatred/disgust for him.
Well, it took longer than usual to finish this omnibus because I allowed myself to pick up other books midcourse -- not a very good sign. However, I was still enjoying it reasonably well (I'd been partly turned off by concern that book 3, Wrayth, was going to get more descriptive of the blank-minded, nameless captives being used in orgies, etc., in the Wrayth stronghold, but that's not the direction it took) ... until I neared the end and realized that there weren't enough pages left for a satisfactory resolution. Sure enough, . I guess it's my own fault for not researching more, and finding out that the series contains FOUR volumes -- silly me, thinking this was actually an OMNIbus (omni = all)!
Also, I don't really like how the Rossin's utterly conscienceless slaughter of numerous humans is becoming an ~accepted~ recurring grief: Oh, well, I/we can't control him. Sorcha doesn't even seem to feel enough hatred/disgust for him.
September 30, 2013
SPOILERS
The Order Of Deacons, to me, is a wonderful (3-book) omnibus that immediately draws me in to a fantastic world of mystical energy, angry geists and love & sense of duty.
In book one, known as Geist, our three main characters are introduced and we learn a great deal about their positions in the world. The first book shows how all is not perfect in the elevated status of the Deacons.
In book two, called Spectyr, we see one of the upper level geists known as Geist Lords attempts to regain their hold over some of the population that believed her to be a god.
Book three, titled Wrayth, speaks of a plan to over throw the current empire as well as The Order, and bring about a new reign of both human and geist lord as well as bringing back an old Order of Deacons thought long dead.
There is a fourth book called Harbinger that I just ordered off Amazon that is the final edition to this story arc. I can't wait to read it.
The Order Of Deacons, to me, is a wonderful (3-book) omnibus that immediately draws me in to a fantastic world of mystical energy, angry geists and love & sense of duty.
In book one, known as Geist, our three main characters are introduced and we learn a great deal about their positions in the world. The first book shows how all is not perfect in the elevated status of the Deacons.
In book two, called Spectyr, we see one of the upper level geists known as Geist Lords attempts to regain their hold over some of the population that believed her to be a god.
Book three, titled Wrayth, speaks of a plan to over throw the current empire as well as The Order, and bring about a new reign of both human and geist lord as well as bringing back an old Order of Deacons thought long dead.
There is a fourth book called Harbinger that I just ordered off Amazon that is the final edition to this story arc. I can't wait to read it.
March 13, 2014
A little tough for me to keep blazing through, hence the 4 stars not 5. Story line is fast & furious adventure with plenty of action to keep things moving. The hardest part was so many characters having different names/titles and getting them all sorted out in the first book as to who is actually who. Some typos that frustrated me. Seriously, please all you beloved authors out there: Turn off the dreaded microsoft program that just 'fixes' your words and/or sentences for you. But otherwise, I found it quite fun and an interesting twist on paranormal with a touch of steam punk and lots of magic and mayhem to keep me intrigued throughout. Quite the fanciful world indeed!
{Too bad I can't get credit for my Goodreads Reading Challenge for the 3 books this compilation contains} ;P
{Too bad I can't get credit for my Goodreads Reading Challenge for the 3 books this compilation contains} ;P
August 2, 2014
This omnibus I picked up quite on a whim. So glad I did. The stories are well thought out and executed, and you can't help but fall in love with the characters. From Sorcha, who's "old" in her 30s to her very wet-behind-the-ears partner Merrick...and of course, you cannot (and wouldn't want to) forget Raed and the Beast. I was so psyched when Ballantine wrote a fourth, Harbinger, to complete the series. The books aren't drawn out so you never get bored, they're fast paced but full of enough back story that I felt immersed in Arkaym right along. I now want to be a Deacon when I grow up. ;)
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews