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Book of the Order #0.5
In the Beginning
This short story is set in the world of the Deacons of the Order, before the time of the novels, Geist, Spectyr, Wrayth and Harbinger.
It tells the story of the first day of the Break, when the undead come in the world of Arkaym, and the horror they bring with them. One small village is caught in the chaos of that day. Some will live, and some will find new purpose.
It tells the story of the first day of the Break, when the undead come in the world of Arkaym, and the horror they bring with them. One small village is caught in the chaos of that day. Some will live, and some will find new purpose.
Nook
First published March 21, 2013
147 people want to read
About the author
Philippa Ballantine
66 books1,030 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 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 6, 2025
This is fine but doesn't really add anything to the world or give any insight into its history ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ and as a story on its own, it's pretty unsatisfying
May 8, 2013
A view of the Break through an innocents eyes. Philippa brings the feel of worry and strange new in a world to the front for the people. New fears surface, and a far worse death then any could expect.
***FULL REVIEW***
Life is hard and death is harder here in the highlands, but what death they find next is the worst. Myra was enjoying her early spring day with her flock of sheep, son, and two dogs. Following out a harsh winter the predators were on the prey, when suddenly wolves of strange behavior show, threatening her family. When Myra goes to get the healer what she finds... is death and loss and a question of why.
A view of the Break through an innocents eyes. Philippa brings the feel of worry and strange new in a world to the front for the people. New fears surface, and a far worse death than any could expect.
This is a quick jump into Myra and her son's short story. It keeps you here, wanting to learn. The things of campfire stories to scare children come to life... Geists now appear along with Geistlords. What happens this night breaks Myra's thoughts on the religion she was raised on. The world has changed and she has experienced it first hand.
Can you read this without reading A Book of the Order series? Yeaaa, you could. But I think you'd be lost on what's happening. After reading at least the first book of the series? Yes, you will understand the break and geists. You'll get the geists here but there's more to the background you get from the books to fill in for reading this. It in now way spoils what's to come in the books, this is the far history of what happened to bring the world to the point we read in the series.
Myra doesn't have answers but she hopes to find them. I would like to read more of Myra's journeys to learn what's coming of the world and why. And how they tend to it to come to the system we find in A Book of the Order series. This one leaves me wanting more.
***FULL REVIEW***
Life is hard and death is harder here in the highlands, but what death they find next is the worst. Myra was enjoying her early spring day with her flock of sheep, son, and two dogs. Following out a harsh winter the predators were on the prey, when suddenly wolves of strange behavior show, threatening her family. When Myra goes to get the healer what she finds... is death and loss and a question of why.
A view of the Break through an innocents eyes. Philippa brings the feel of worry and strange new in a world to the front for the people. New fears surface, and a far worse death than any could expect.
This is a quick jump into Myra and her son's short story. It keeps you here, wanting to learn. The things of campfire stories to scare children come to life... Geists now appear along with Geistlords. What happens this night breaks Myra's thoughts on the religion she was raised on. The world has changed and she has experienced it first hand.
Can you read this without reading A Book of the Order series? Yeaaa, you could. But I think you'd be lost on what's happening. After reading at least the first book of the series? Yes, you will understand the break and geists. You'll get the geists here but there's more to the background you get from the books to fill in for reading this. It in now way spoils what's to come in the books, this is the far history of what happened to bring the world to the point we read in the series.
Myra doesn't have answers but she hopes to find them. I would like to read more of Myra's journeys to learn what's coming of the world and why. And how they tend to it to come to the system we find in A Book of the Order series. This one leaves me wanting more.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews