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Weather Child
From the writer of Books of the Order (Die Runen der Macht) and the co-author of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences (Books & Braun) comes a new historical fantasy about two lovers separated by magic and circumstance.
Never alone. Never apart.
They are the Awakened, a unique breed of people in a remote corner of the world. Faith is one of these gifted carriers of the Seraphim; and in return of her unconditional love, her Seraphim grants her powers of incredible potential.
But not all carriers embrace their blessing.
Jack loathes being an Awakened. He never asked for it, his Seraphim keeping him alive even in spite of his desire to die. Not even a great war could rid him of this curse.
Now a magician of incredible ability and a walking dead man must find a way to work together to save the Seraphim. Someone covets the power of the Awakened, and will not stop until that power belongs to him.
Jack Cunningham comes home to New Zealand from the First World War deeply changed. He is now unwilling one of the Awakened, a magician who gains his power from the creature whispering inside his head. He calls it a parasite.
Faith Bennetts is a young woman with a far different relationship with her seraph. He gives her the power of the Wellington weather, and an ever present friend. However when her cousin is caught up in a terrible manipulation, she becomes aware that someone is manipulating the Awakened for their own dark reasons.
Together Faith and Jack become embroiled in conspiracy, murder, fire and death that ranges across many years. They are drawn together, then flung apart, in a tangle of family relationships, and looming danger.
Never alone. Never apart.
They are the Awakened, a unique breed of people in a remote corner of the world. Faith is one of these gifted carriers of the Seraphim; and in return of her unconditional love, her Seraphim grants her powers of incredible potential.
But not all carriers embrace their blessing.
Jack loathes being an Awakened. He never asked for it, his Seraphim keeping him alive even in spite of his desire to die. Not even a great war could rid him of this curse.
Now a magician of incredible ability and a walking dead man must find a way to work together to save the Seraphim. Someone covets the power of the Awakened, and will not stop until that power belongs to him.
Jack Cunningham comes home to New Zealand from the First World War deeply changed. He is now unwilling one of the Awakened, a magician who gains his power from the creature whispering inside his head. He calls it a parasite.
Faith Bennetts is a young woman with a far different relationship with her seraph. He gives her the power of the Wellington weather, and an ever present friend. However when her cousin is caught up in a terrible manipulation, she becomes aware that someone is manipulating the Awakened for their own dark reasons.
Together Faith and Jack become embroiled in conspiracy, murder, fire and death that ranges across many years. They are drawn together, then flung apart, in a tangle of family relationships, and looming danger.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2009
1 person is currently reading
717 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 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 23, 2014
Wow. Philippa Ballantine has awakened a rarely heard legend in the vibrant world of New Zealand. Drawing to the forefront a seraphim and magic, in first generations born into the land, that many Urban Fantasy fans will fall for. A serial killer is on the lose and seraphim and their hosts are not safe. Fresh and traces of old blended together for our enjoyment.
4.5 stars
****FULL REVIEW****
Not only does New Zealands residents have to worry about fighting the war over seas for England but also the war in their own lands - the loss of their own protectors, the seraphim and their hosts. Three people are drawn together when what appears as a serial killer first with the many Awakened soldiers that are caught off guard in their home land, thrilled to be home, then takes children, who are first children and could host seraph. Faith goes in search of her missing cousin. Lily has lost her mother, and the name of her seraph before completely awakening. Jack, home from the war where his seraph awakened, struggles with the curse he lives with and the isolation he feels from the loss of his loved ones. All three are drawn together over years as they are drawn for personal reasons to the troubles and murders.
Wow. Philippa Ballantine has awakened a rarely heard legend in the vibrant world of New Zealand. Drawing to the forefront a seraphim and magic, in first generations born into the land, that many Urban Fantasy fans will fall for. A serial killer is on the lose and seraphim and their hosts are not safe. Fresh and traces of old blended together for our enjoyment.
Seraphim are the magic in the oldest child of a New Zealand child. They always want to please their hosts so the temptation of the power they offer is easily accessed, and can be dangerous with feeling the power they have. Many feel the seraph are a curse as usually the hosts don't live to middle age, let alone old. The constant connection driving the host mad. Yet there are many who enjoy having the friend to never feel alone. The seraph awakened by severe pain and trauma to the host.
In the Prelude we meet Jack, three years prior to the story starting, while in the war in Turkey. We witness his awakening and how he has survived when so many are lost. I really like that we are introduced to the magics of being an Awakened from page one. Into the story we meet Lily and witness her awakening, and this is when the mystery takes off.
This story also brings to life the wars fought, for the country and personal. We are set us in a time that many loved ones are lost due to war, personal reasons with those lost at war, and the deadly fever that has spread through the land. So many battles to fight here. These all affect the characters and the world they are living in.
There was a mystery to the magic the seraph gave their host from early on. I was curious of it along with drawn into the lives of Faith, Jack, and Lily and those around them. I found I was hoping and wanting them all to meet up again, loving the time they spend together. There is chemistry between them each time they are together, bringing action and emotions to a heightening. I love them all for different reasons.
There are breaks in the story by years, but each section is a story of what has happened to bring us to a point in each characters lives. They are almost like short stories with arcs and endings, yet we know there is something not finished yet. In the end, we get our answers.
The story is set in New Zealand, an old yet new and exciting world. As much as it's described in all it's glory, it feels like home to me. The legend Philippa draws on is new and exciting. Pip briefly touches on a few dark topics. We are aware of it happening, and pull through it. Amazing talent with words on Pip's behalf for leaving the hints of what's happening without drawing us through the actual events.
I can't wait for more of this world and creation Philippa has brought to life for us.
4.5 stars
****FULL REVIEW****
Not only does New Zealands residents have to worry about fighting the war over seas for England but also the war in their own lands - the loss of their own protectors, the seraphim and their hosts. Three people are drawn together when what appears as a serial killer first with the many Awakened soldiers that are caught off guard in their home land, thrilled to be home, then takes children, who are first children and could host seraph. Faith goes in search of her missing cousin. Lily has lost her mother, and the name of her seraph before completely awakening. Jack, home from the war where his seraph awakened, struggles with the curse he lives with and the isolation he feels from the loss of his loved ones. All three are drawn together over years as they are drawn for personal reasons to the troubles and murders.
Wow. Philippa Ballantine has awakened a rarely heard legend in the vibrant world of New Zealand. Drawing to the forefront a seraphim and magic, in first generations born into the land, that many Urban Fantasy fans will fall for. A serial killer is on the lose and seraphim and their hosts are not safe. Fresh and traces of old blended together for our enjoyment.
Seraphim are the magic in the oldest child of a New Zealand child. They always want to please their hosts so the temptation of the power they offer is easily accessed, and can be dangerous with feeling the power they have. Many feel the seraph are a curse as usually the hosts don't live to middle age, let alone old. The constant connection driving the host mad. Yet there are many who enjoy having the friend to never feel alone. The seraph awakened by severe pain and trauma to the host.
In the Prelude we meet Jack, three years prior to the story starting, while in the war in Turkey. We witness his awakening and how he has survived when so many are lost. I really like that we are introduced to the magics of being an Awakened from page one. Into the story we meet Lily and witness her awakening, and this is when the mystery takes off.
This story also brings to life the wars fought, for the country and personal. We are set us in a time that many loved ones are lost due to war, personal reasons with those lost at war, and the deadly fever that has spread through the land. So many battles to fight here. These all affect the characters and the world they are living in.
There was a mystery to the magic the seraph gave their host from early on. I was curious of it along with drawn into the lives of Faith, Jack, and Lily and those around them. I found I was hoping and wanting them all to meet up again, loving the time they spend together. There is chemistry between them each time they are together, bringing action and emotions to a heightening. I love them all for different reasons.
There are breaks in the story by years, but each section is a story of what has happened to bring us to a point in each characters lives. They are almost like short stories with arcs and endings, yet we know there is something not finished yet. In the end, we get our answers.
The story is set in New Zealand, an old yet new and exciting world. As much as it's described in all it's glory, it feels like home to me. The legend Philippa draws on is new and exciting. Pip briefly touches on a few dark topics. We are aware of it happening, and pull through it. Amazing talent with words on Pip's behalf for leaving the hints of what's happening without drawing us through the actual events.
I can't wait for more of this world and creation Philippa has brought to life for us.
June 29, 2010
Yet another of Philippa Ballantine's books that made me cry at the end. The characters were very solid and I quickly became invested in their doings. The way the POV shifts between chapters to give a more full view of the unfolding situation yet not merely repeat anything you already saw is executed extremely skillfully.
This book is another in the growing pile of evidence that the author has an incredibly broad range and isn't afraid to explore her talents in new ways. Weather Child has some similar themes to Chasing the Bard, Digital Magic, and Weaver's Web (sacrifice is a big one, and finding equilibrium between power and honor, and how the meaning of home can change; also telepathic sex), but its format and emotional impact go to new places.
This book is another in the growing pile of evidence that the author has an incredibly broad range and isn't afraid to explore her talents in new ways. Weather Child has some similar themes to Chasing the Bard, Digital Magic, and Weaver's Web (sacrifice is a big one, and finding equilibrium between power and honor, and how the meaning of home can change; also telepathic sex), but its format and emotional impact go to new places.
May 17, 2011
All power comes at a price. Magical power doubly so. Weather Child is Philippa Ballantine's tale of magic and power and the lengths that some will go to gain more than their fair share.
Each child born in New Zealand has the chance to become bonded to a Seraphim, in a bond formed out of pain. With the bond comes a constant companion and the chance to tap into the power of the seraphim. But the price of that power is pain. And if one taps the power too deeply or too often, madness.
Weather Child tells the tale of New Zealand's children. How they grow up in a world that fears and envys them this dubious gift. And how some seek to exploit them for their own eds. How does it all end? Not even the Seraphim know.
This is a fantastic and engaging story and a creative look into history. This book is a gem, and sadly overlooked because it is set in New Zealand. Some publisher should wake up and ask to put this into print, but for now, you can have it in the author's own words by podiobook.
Doc
Each child born in New Zealand has the chance to become bonded to a Seraphim, in a bond formed out of pain. With the bond comes a constant companion and the chance to tap into the power of the seraphim. But the price of that power is pain. And if one taps the power too deeply or too often, madness.
Weather Child tells the tale of New Zealand's children. How they grow up in a world that fears and envys them this dubious gift. And how some seek to exploit them for their own eds. How does it all end? Not even the Seraphim know.
This is a fantastic and engaging story and a creative look into history. This book is a gem, and sadly overlooked because it is set in New Zealand. Some publisher should wake up and ask to put this into print, but for now, you can have it in the author's own words by podiobook.
Doc
November 30, 2015
I'm a little conflicted on this books. First of all, I love Pip Ballantine's writing, and as a novel, this is pretty weak compared to her other novels. For one thing, it reads more like a series of short stories tossed together, especially with the long breaks between sections (mainly due to one of the main characters being locked up/trapped in a coma/etc).
The magic system was very intriguing, and the idea of a world where only New Zealand produces magic-users is certainly original.
I just wished that the overall story was a little more coherent. It gave the feel of someone just writing the good bits, and never getting around to writing the connective tissue.
But I definitely hope she will write more in this world. In particular, I would have loved to have seen more about the effect on WWI that was hinted to at the start. Or perhaps what happened in the earliest colonial days as the Brits start to realize what is happening to their New Zealand-born children.
The magic system was very intriguing, and the idea of a world where only New Zealand produces magic-users is certainly original.
I just wished that the overall story was a little more coherent. It gave the feel of someone just writing the good bits, and never getting around to writing the connective tissue.
But I definitely hope she will write more in this world. In particular, I would have loved to have seen more about the effect on WWI that was hinted to at the start. Or perhaps what happened in the earliest colonial days as the Brits start to realize what is happening to their New Zealand-born children.
June 7, 2014
When I first came to the word "seraph", a word loaded with biblical and religious baggage, I nearly didn't bother to read any further. Whether there really is a New Zealand myth about seraphim I have not been able to determine, so I still wish she had used another word. I'm glad I persevered, however, because this is an emotion-charged, action-packed story well worth reading. There have been other books about human symbionts - Heinlein's "Puppetmasters" springs to mind, but this book brings out the price using magic exacts on its user, human or not.
My main reason for choosing this book in the first place was that Ms Ballantine is a co-creator of the enjoyable Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series, but this book had the additional interest of being set in New Zealand, a country many have wanted to visit, but which so few of us manage to do.
My main reason for choosing this book in the first place was that Ms Ballantine is a co-creator of the enjoyable Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series, but this book had the additional interest of being set in New Zealand, a country many have wanted to visit, but which so few of us manage to do.
November 18, 2009
Likes: Engrossing imagery, characters, and plot. Interesting use of gender while avoiding traditional gender roles, even for the genre. I'm not usually drawn in to fantasy, but the magic seemed to fit so naturally with the real-world setting of post-WWI New Zealand that I was hooked.
Dislikes: Many significant plot points that build the otherwise rich character arcs occur in rushed sequences or between chapters. Minor point: I would have liked the exposition that enabled Lily's role in the plot resolution to come at least a chapter or 2 before the climax.
Dislikes: Many significant plot points that build the otherwise rich character arcs occur in rushed sequences or between chapters. Minor point: I would have liked the exposition that enabled Lily's role in the plot resolution to come at least a chapter or 2 before the climax.
August 12, 2009
Listening to Philippa's podcasts is like getting hooked on a drug. You just can't seem to get enough of it. This story had me intrigued and glued to my I-Pod throughout. She is such a good story teller and I recommend every book of hers that I've ever read or listened to and I think that's pretty much all of them.
In this story she has again woven magic and locations that the reader would be familiar with and made them into a fantasy land that you want to go back to again and again.
In this story she has again woven magic and locations that the reader would be familiar with and made them into a fantasy land that you want to go back to again and again.
January 19, 2010
I really enjoyed the adventure that Weather Child led me on. I enjoyed meeting and learning about the characters and that it made me do a little research into the real world post-WWI New Zealand. And Phillipa has a really lovely reading voice.
At times the story seemed a little cluttered though, with bits and pieces that would have made lovely books of their own being just a part of the book as a whole.
At times the story seemed a little cluttered though, with bits and pieces that would have made lovely books of their own being just a part of the book as a whole.
March 28, 2015
Ok, after reading the Kindle sample I bought the paper version and finally, finally got around to reading it. Another example of didn't want to put it down, somewhat devoured it reading. Good stuff. Want more of the story!
Clearly too many things going on in my brain. I haven't finished reading this yet, but what I read in a kindle sample made me want to but the paper copy. I'm looking forward to reading the entire book!
Clearly too many things going on in my brain. I haven't finished reading this yet, but what I read in a kindle sample made me want to but the paper copy. I'm looking forward to reading the entire book!
January 14, 2011
Weather Child is currently my favorite Philippa Ballantine book, although Geist is coming close. I love the way she weaves history and magic together, and I love the voice work in the podcast. I have high hopes that this is available at some point in print, because I will certainly be buying a copy!
August 1, 2009
Great Book with great writing and a compelling story. The narration of the audiobook is simply top notch.
The only thing that prevented me from giving it the 5 stars it deserves was that it did not touch me as so few books do.
A great read and I highly recommend it.
The only thing that prevented me from giving it the 5 stars it deserves was that it did not touch me as so few books do.
A great read and I highly recommend it.
March 6, 2013
Podiobook Version: Very polished production +1 star
It was a solid good vs evil story that I truly enjoyed; along with an interesting system of magic based upon sacrifice an symbiotic relationships.
It was a solid good vs evil story that I truly enjoyed; along with an interesting system of magic based upon sacrifice an symbiotic relationships.
August 3, 2009
Definitely worth the listen. A very dark fantasy, but really evoked a feeling of the time and the world.
September 13, 2012
One of my all time favorite authors!
June 29, 2013
I don't know what else to say but wow, I love this book!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews