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Geist (Book of the Order #1)

by Philippa Ballantine (Goodreads Author)

3.71 of 5 stars 3.71 · rating details · 1,363 ratings · 275 reviews

Between the living and the dead is the Order of the Deacons, protectors of the Empire, guardians against possession, sentinels enlisted to ward off the malevolent haunting of the geists...

Among the most powerful of the Order is Sorcha, now thrust into partnership with the novice Deacon, Merrick Chambers. They have been dispatched to the isolated village of Ulrich to aide t...more

Paperback, 294 pages

Published October 26th 2010 by Ace (first published September 29th 2010)

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Jul 28, 2011 Catherine rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, fiction-vixen-reviews, first-reads-arcs-won-a-copy, cheating-sleeps-with-someone-else, crime-police-mystery-private-invest, historical, magic-mystical-ability, manipulation-plot, pirate, read-2010, steampunk, were-shifter, series

*Orginally Read 11/4/10 - 11/6/10*

Wow, this book turned out to be quite the dark horse for me! It had a pretty rough start. It took me days to get past the first three chapters. I just kept setting it down for something more interesting…like cleaning. I know, right? Buuuut somewhere before page one hundred things seemed to click for me. Even though I wasn’t rooting for every character whose pov I read (yet), I finally understood their motivations and cared about their storyline.

The first chapter...more

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Dec 28, 2012 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, action

I didn't put near the time into this book I'd like to have. I'm (again) badly over committed when it comes to books. Too many library books in at once, too many reading group commitments, just the problems that arise when you have no will power.

I'm going to try again to cut back on actual "commitments" and read what I want for a while. I just got the next 2 Verus books by Jacka and the 4 Ash books, not to mention hundreds of other volumes I already own that I've been "meaning to read" some of th...more I didn't put near the time into this book I'd like to have. I'm (again) badly over committed when it comes to books. Too many library books in at once, too many reading group commitments, just the problems that arise when you have no will power.

I'm going to try again to cut back on actual "commitments" and read what I want for a while. I just got the next 2 Verus books by Jacka and the 4 Ash books, not to mention hundreds of other volumes I already own that I've been "meaning to read" some of them literally for years...oh yeah, and I still have a few library books backed up.

Then there's this book, another first in a series. And it's good. I was reading several books at a time as I read this. I'd been meaning to get to it for some time. It was selected as a group read so I finally "had an excuse" to move it to the top of my "to be read list" (see I own it and books I own always have to wait for library books and so on). Here we get a relatively new take on a fantasy world. This is built around a dichotomy between "this world" and "the other side" (Otherside). The dead and "other things" want to come here see and that tends to be a problem as they tend to spread death and destruction (this is of course a gross overs simplification so read the book). The Deacons are responsible for opposing and 2 of our protagonists are Deacons.

They are called Deacons (by the way) as they are part of the "Presbytery". This was at one time a church but for those of you this would bother...don't worry. They seem to have gotten over any religious belief long before the book opens (I'm a Christian so I'd notice that). There are 2 types or schools of Deacon and they have traditionally worked in pairs, bonded...and that's all I'll say here as I'm entering "spoiler tag" territory.

The book tells a fairly good story and draws the reader into the action. The characters are complete enough and have enough depth to make them real. The story has more romance than I care for but while it did intrude (for me) (view spoiler) it doesn't swamp the novel. It does remain a side show if a very loud one.

I can recommend this one. I like it and plan to (try and) make room for the series on my "read soon" book mountain.

Like I said, I'd like to have lingered over this one more. It's making me rethink some of my reading habits, novels are supposed to be enjoyed not conquered. I need to take time and enjoy the brain candy more. Again pretty good book, 4 stars and recommended. (less)

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Dec 15, 2012 Hanne rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, shelf-a-ton-14, aye-aye-captain

i guess this is what you call a genre blender: it's fantasy, with influences of urban fantasy and steampunk (they have some sort of zeppelins!) and even romance and some horror-esque elements.

sadly i wasn't too impressed.
the beginning was really promising, but near the last 50 pages or so i actually lost interest (how often does that happen?!). i forced myself to finish, but it wasn't with the attention a book normally gets from me. i just wanted to have it over with so i could move on to the...more

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Aug 23, 2011 Kara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, action-adventure, favorites, ghosts-shades-geists, active-magic, i-own-it, strong-females

First off, I don't think I write good enough reviews to do this book justice, so I highly recommend you just read it.

Sometimes you just connect with a book. Maybe it's the timing, the setting, the author, your life cycles, etc., but I connected with this book. After giving Phoenix Rising a hands down 5 star rating, I had to check out more of Ballantine's work, and Geist suited my preferred genre for unique high fantasy novels. So I was expecting something good - which usually is a surefire way...more First off, I don't think I write good enough reviews to do this book justice, so I highly recommend you just read it.

Sometimes you just connect with a book. Maybe it's the timing, the setting, the author, your life cycles, etc., but I connected with this book. After giving Phoenix Rising a hands down 5 star rating, I had to check out more of Ballantine's work, and Geist suited my preferred genre for unique high fantasy novels. So I was expecting something good - which usually is a surefire way to set myself up for a disappointment. I was very pleasantly surprised when I enjoyed this novel even more.

I like the characters. Sorcha is strong, smart, and determined, but she's not cold. Raed seems like a man I would fall in love with myself, kind, noble, and tortured. (view spoiler) Merrik, a powerful unknown with a history that ties him to the past, the land, and the problem. There are others, all of who played important roles and were well developed.

I liked the plot. No - saving the day from evil of another realm is not a new theme, but the way it's presented here was very enjoyable. I like the use of "Geists" as the evil we fight, and how their known behavior turns chaotic - our characters were always dealing with something unprecedented, and had to work together in very creative ways to solve problems and succeed in their missions. There wasn't a whole lot of "I saw that coming" in this book.

I also found myself curious about the history of the land and the background of the Order, both native and new. (On this note I will mention that I have started listening to the Chronicles of the Order podcasts, I'm only 1 down, but it was very good, and I'm hopeful the others will be as well - and they DO apparently address the histories that came before the book.) Well developed world intricately laced with true mythic origins... (view spoiler)

I loved the magic system. The pairing of an active and a sensitive was a really unique and well thought-out idea. Basically, the Order works in pairs, an active and a sensitive. The active gets gauntlets and bright colorful displays of active magic which they use to control or vanquish giests. The sensitive wears a strop (when necessary) and is able to "see" into the other realm, and identify what type of geist the active is dealing with. Without one, the other fails.
The actives' gauntlets has 7 runes, and the sensitive's strop has 7 different runes. Together, two people must work as partners to defeat the constant threat from geists. They must rely on each other wholly and implicitly. They are "bonded" to one another, an idea that brings new levels of complexity to the plot as the story progresses.

What else to say? The book was a page turner. Plenty of action and mysteries to unravel. Very little in the way of regants/rulers/monarchs and throne politics involved, (which was nice). A bit of romance, that actually fit in where it should. Very good and easy to read writing style. If I had just finished the book, I would probably give more details, but as it is, I just remember that I absolutely loved it, and I'm currently happy to know that book 2, Spectyr is on it's way to my mailbox. (less)

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Dec 24, 2010 Felicia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: steampunk, vaginal-fantasy

I love when a book makes me ponder before marking which shelf to place it on. This is definitely a fantasy novel, but with a strong urban fantasy attitude, some steampunk/paranormal thrown in and just enough romance to keep me rooting for the characters.

We're in a great time of innovation in world-building, seems like people are getting away from strict Tolkien worlds and adding twists, which I find quite enjoyable. The society and magic system in Geist is REALLY interesting and believable. The...more

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Nov 10, 2010 Odin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I am extremely character driven. World building seems to have turned into the rage these days. Many authors spend so much time creating the universe the characters live in, the forget to make those same characters breath.

For me, this is obvious in stories like (prepare for blasphemy) Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series. After reading all but the last book of the series, I realized I had no desire to complete them because while the world lived and breathed, the characters hadn’t developed suffic...more I am extremely character driven. World building seems to have turned into the rage these days. Many authors spend so much time creating the universe the characters live in, the forget to make those same characters breath.

For me, this is obvious in stories like (prepare for blasphemy) Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series. After reading all but the last book of the series, I realized I had no desire to complete them because while the world lived and breathed, the characters hadn’t developed sufficiently to keep me interested beyond the second or third book.

Ms. Ballantine does create a firm mythos that encapsulates the motivations driving her characters towards their objectives. However, she does this whilst keeping the focus on the characters and letting the mythos build along the way. This is a lesson I think many writers need to learn.

Ms. Ballantine's characters are worth knowing. Her strong female lead is unique. Sorcha Faris is a strong, powerful, mature, attractive woman. She is direct, almost brutally blunt at times. She enjoys a good cigar and is truthful with herself. She is easily the driving character in the story and she exudes potential development in subsequent stories. She might not be the easiest person to know, but she would be someone that would be worth that effort.

Raed Rossin enters the story relatively early on (the second chapter) but remains outside of the main storyline, moving parallel, for the first part. Raed is a member of the once ruling family, now a sea nomad doing his best to stay alive. He hides his inner qualities behind a course (though not unrefined) exterior. He effortlessly claims loyalty from those that follow him. He is a prince among men and a pirate at heart.

Merrick Chambers completes the starring cast. He is a young but powerful idealist partnered, against their wishes, with Sorcha. Along the way they learn to trust and rely on one another. It is neither an easy or enjoyable path for them at times, but it does make for a very good story.

Geist is much more than another quest fantasy. Geist has elements of fantasy, horror and romance all rolled into one action packed adventure spanning continents where loyalties are called into question, rogues can be heros and heros can be idealists.

At a purchase price of under $8 US, this is a story you shouldn’t hesitate in buying. This book begs you to lock the doors, get comfortable in your favorite chair, turn down the lights and read. I encourage you to do the same. You won’t be disappointed.(less)

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May 27, 2011 Jan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, fantasy, z-2011, fantasy-romance

Sigh. I have incredibly mixed feelings about this books. While reading it my emotions meandered from incredible awe and 'great story!!' delirium, to snorting, grinding my teeth and being so frustrated I almost wanted to give up. I'm all about characters normally, but this was a book where the greatness of the characters could not overcome the writing style. In fact, I've never read a book where the style and POV did such a disservice to the story.

And yet, there's so much to love in this book. I'...more

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May 16, 2011 Heather Book Savvy Babe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, review-on-blog, book-bonanza-2012

Geist is attention grabbing right from the start. This story is full of action, intrigue, and is never boring. The world created in Geist is exceptional. It is a very fantasy world, full of magical fighting and otherworldly creatures. The otherworldly creatures are unique though, no vampires or traditional witches grace the pages of geist. The otherworldly creatures are called geists, and are undead monsters, almost demon or ghost-like that can possess people and incite violence. The concept of...more

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Nov 08, 2010 Julia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, arcs, dropbox

This book does have some flaws, there is a rather blurry back-story of ancillary characters that never quite come into focus (amusingly enough, this includes the main character's husband). This issue was not bad enough to outweigh my enjoyment of the gook parts of the book, however, and I know I’ll be picking up the next in the series to see how the main characters fare.

Read Abigail's review at All Things Urban Fantasy.

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Jan 02, 2013 T.S. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Philippa Ballantine’s Geist is a lush fantasy that straddles many subgenres: fantasy, steampunk, paranormal, but is a solid read that makes reader’s comfortable in the vivid mash-up of the various tropes.

Deacon Sorcha Faris is a protector in an Order whose task is securing the safety of the world from geists (ghosts) whose sole focus is possessing the innocent. Sorcha and her husband, Kolya, fight the geist with their individual and intricate powers, (Kolya is a Sensitive who guides Sorcha’s Act...more Philippa Ballantine’s Geist is a lush fantasy that straddles many subgenres: fantasy, steampunk, paranormal, but is a solid read that makes reader’s comfortable in the vivid mash-up of the various tropes.

Deacon Sorcha Faris is a protector in an Order whose task is securing the safety of the world from geists (ghosts) whose sole focus is possessing the innocent. Sorcha and her husband, Kolya, fight the geist with their individual and intricate powers, (Kolya is a Sensitive who guides Sorcha’s Active powers), but when Kolya is injured in a surprise attack, Sorcha is assigned a new partner, Merrick Chambers.

The pair is sent to the village of Ulrich to investigate unusual geist attacks and along the way they meet Reade, a captain with a past and a few secrets he’d like to keep to himself. Sorcha and Raed develop an attraction for one another, despite her ties to Kolya as the journey continues. When they come ashore in Ulrich, they discover more than they expected in both the town and each other.

Ballantine has crafted a highly conceptualized magical and political system in her novel. In lesser hands, this intricate, developed universe may have been cluttered and distracting, but she manages to keep her reader engaged and interested without sacrificing the sophisticated tapestry of the intricate world.

Geist is full of action and characters that are finely developed and conflicted by the roles they must play and their individual parts in resolving some of the novel’s greatest challenges. I found Sorcha to be a colorful, out-of-the-norm character; a hero who is both brave and brass and unapologetic about how she lives her life or the means she takes to complete her missions.

This is not, however, a “guilty pleasure” novel, and not for readers who want to leisurely read. I’ll warn you now that once you start Geist, you won’t be able to stop. Prepare yourself for a long haul because you won’t be putting this one down. Action is on nearly every page and Sorcha’s sarcastic, anti-social manner is both endearing and funny and will have you cringing, laughing and cheering her along.

Highly recommended.(less)

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May 07, 2013 Whitney rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, paranormal

I found this an interesting read, mainly for two reasons: the usage of magic and the paranormal is different from anything I have read before, and most of the characters are older - thirty-ish, rather than precocious teens or early twenty-somethings - which also feels different. I like the three main characters and found the conspiracy interesting, as was the kind of steampunk feel to parts of it.

Why I bought the book:
- I'm looking for new authors, and this book had a pretty high rating
- It came...more

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Apr 12, 2013 Tom Lloyd rated it 3 of 5 stars

a bit of an odd one for me, I did enjoy it but the book never really made enough of an impact on me to be classed as "really liked it". Certainly I'd suggest others read this, but for me a few elements didn't quite work. I liked the main character in particular and none were problematic, but at the same time none were a surprise. None did anything unpredictable or went beyond what I assumed of them - might be just me reading too many fantasy books but...

As for the plot, it was interesting but ag...more

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Mar 14, 2013 Blood Rose Books rated it 3 of 5 stars

Philippa Ballantine introduces the reader to the Order of the Deacons, sworn to protect the Empire from the Dead and Hell.

The Order of the Deacons are the protectors of the Empire and guardians of the people to prevent them from being possessed or haunted by Geists. The Deacons are divided into two different types Actives and Sensitive, the Actives have the powers to fight the Geist and the Sensitives that give the Actives the ability to see the Geists. Without this partnership, the Order would...more Philippa Ballantine introduces the reader to the Order of the Deacons, sworn to protect the Empire from the Dead and Hell.

The Order of the Deacons are the protectors of the Empire and guardians of the people to prevent them from being possessed or haunted by Geists. The Deacons are divided into two different types Actives and Sensitive, the Actives have the powers to fight the Geist and the Sensitives that give the Actives the ability to see the Geists. Without this partnership, the Order would fail Sorcha is the most powerful Active within the order, but her control over her power is questionable. Merrick is a young active who has been forced into a partnership with Sorcha, which is one neither is too keen on. Sorcha seems to have a problem keeping her Sensitive partners in one piece. They have been dispatched to an isolated city where, there have been strange Geist happenings, ones that defy all the rules of the Order. And over the ocean seas appears Raed, the Pretender to the throne, the true ruler of the Empire, but the inability to take control because of the Geist living inside him. Their three lives are intertwined whether they want it or not and becomes apparent that someone does not want Sorcha, Merrick or Raed to reach their destination or destiny alive.

This book is a pretty good start to a new series. I would classify this as part of the fantasy genre, not the paranormal one, as the powers that the Deacons have and the description of the Geists makes me think more fantasy that paranormal. However, I do think that it will appeal to people who like both of these genres, as the aspects from each genre have been somewhat interconnected into the storyline, it just has a more fantasy feel.

Ballanitine has created a rich world, that is part historic part fantasy. She has expertly weaved these two different aspects into one, that would have the reader believing that this world actually did exist. She is fairly descriptive ion places, especially around the Feel of places, a sense that is often missed by writers, but one that is key to the Deacon's world.

I enjoyed the interaction between Sorcha and Merrick, as they do have some funny interactions, which are enhanced by the bond that they share. Sorcha is a strong female protagonist, who has that kick-ass attitude that is common within the paranormal genre, however, because of the bond that she shares with Merrick the reader is able to get more emotions from Sorcha as well as more depth to her personality. Raed and the ancient Geist (called the Rossin) living inside of him, just waiting to take control, is an interesting aspect within the book. I enjoyed the interaction between Raed and the Rossin, it is something similar to Faith Hunter's Beast in her skinwalker series, however, the Rossin is much much darker, and is more concerned with death and destruction.

I am not 100 percent sure what it is about this book that only made it only okay to me. I think at times I got a touch lost in what a Geist was and how they were created and destroyed. I think that there was lack of explanation about this in the beginning of the book, which lead me to be confused for the first bit. Just so everyone knows, I equated the Geist as an evil spirit that was able to possess or haunt people, but if they were powerful enough they were able to take their own form to attack people (hopefully this understanding will possible help you enjoy the book more). There were also a few slow parts but there were battles and fights, but they just seemed to be Wham Bam, done. I think this is the part where the story and writing lacked was within the fighting scenes, which are very key to this story (and to me when I am reading a book). They seemed to be somewhat disjointed at times, and even slow and battles should never feel slow. However, I did like that the ending of the book was not quite as cookie cutter as you would expect.

I think this is a pretty good start to a new series, not the best I have read this year, but still interesting. I know that there is going to be a second book in the series, and I am interested to see what happens next, but it is not a priority like some of the other debuts. If you are looking for a paranormal book that is more on the fantasy side, then this book is for you. Also if you are looking for something different from what has become the norm in the paranormal genre you should take a look at this book as well. There is also a little bit of romance and I think there is just enough romance within the book that it would appeal to those who like paranormal romance (however, you have to be aware that the romance is secondary within the book).

Enjoy!!!(less)

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Jun 02, 2012 Indrani rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'll confess: I have mixed feelings about this one.

Picked it up at the library, based solely on the cover (a female on a book cover, in a pose that looks as though it could be easily and comfortably duplicated by just about any able-bodied person? No way!). Slight spoiler: I'm still not certain why they put a lion on it. This is not how I pictured the Beast, but maybe that's just me.

On the surface, the protagonist, Sorcha, is a feminist's dream: strong, intelligent, independent, capable, in a fi...more I'll confess: I have mixed feelings about this one.

Picked it up at the library, based solely on the cover (a female on a book cover, in a pose that looks as though it could be easily and comfortably duplicated by just about any able-bodied person? No way!). Slight spoiler: I'm still not certain why they put a lion on it. This is not how I pictured the Beast, but maybe that's just me.

On the surface, the protagonist, Sorcha, is a feminist's dream: strong, intelligent, independent, capable, in a field where it is not implied that she is the *only* female, or that females are any less valuable or able than males (thus making the character's capability some sort of extraordinary feat due to her gender. Yes, she is exceptionally good at what she does, but nowhere is it hinted that "Oh my, you're so strong... for a woman." It is simply put as "Your magical capability is extraordinarily strong.") Likewise, the males characters are not depicted as weak due to their gender (which sometimes happens in these sorts of books - if women are strong, then men are weak, or villainous - in other words, we simply swap out gender, and call it "feminist".)

However, by about halfway through the book, I was bored with her. And it struck me: Sorcha is simply a strong character, not a strong female character. In fact, switch out the genitals, and the character wouldn't change. It felt very much as though the author simply wrote a "guy's guy" and gave it female bits.

It's hard for me to put into words. Those familiar with Joss Whedon's work though might understand: his female characters are all strong, intelligent, capable ... but there is something about them that is also distinctly feminine.

In terms of world-building, I was left constantly wanting more. Ballantine gives us glimpses into a world that is already quite familiar to the characters, but is, at this point in the story, rapidly being turned on its head. All the "rules" of reality seem to be changing - the things the characters thought they knew about their world and how it works is being tossed into the air. How do we know? Because they tell us so, over and over again. There is a long tradition and rich history in the Order... at least, so we are told.

Plot-wise, it was somewhat predictable. It is obvious from the beginning that this is intended to be the first of a series (it's on the cover), and so we know that Sorcha is not going to die, and we're certain her new partner isn't either. The love interests are broadly hinted at well before they meet up with the "team", and it was only a matter of time in one case. There is tragedy... but it was a character that we don't know much about, and that I didn't develop any particular caring for - the death made no impact (for people who handle that sort of thing very well, see George Martin, who has become famous for "Oh, you had a favourite character...?" in his writing. The "worst" for me about his latest is that I went in thinking everyone was safe - he'd already dealt with the characters who meant most to me. The bugger managed to write *new* ones, make me love them, and then killed them.)

The book wasn't bad, however. It's the sort of thing that is good for reading on the bus, or the beach - someplace you don't want to have to worry about embarrassing yourself with sudden gasps of horror or surprise, loud guffaws, or audible comments of "he didn't...."

Gorgeous cover though.(less)

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Feb 20, 2012 Jenn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I picked up a copy of Geist while browsing in a local bookstore. I was thoroughly hooked by the amazing cover art by Jason Chan and the intriguing premise.

I wasn’t really sure what to expect with Geist since I’d never heard of Philippa Ballantine. I was thrilled with the book, though. Absolutely thrilled! The book mythology was really interesting — Deacons and geists and undead possession — and I loved the idea of Actives and Sensitives, and the occasional pinch of steampunk. But my favourite th...more

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Jul 17, 2011 Mei-Lu rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Mei-Lu by: Pamala

Shelves: sf-f

I've been super busy lately and I was looking for something light to read and I downloaded this book on the strength of a review by Felicia Day. Like Day, I find this book a little difficult to categorize. In attitude it is like an urban paranormal novel, but the setting is definitely historical. It isn't really a romance novel, but it does feature a female main character and she does have a love interest yet the romance angle is handled lightly enough that I think men would enjoy reading this b...more I've been super busy lately and I was looking for something light to read and I downloaded this book on the strength of a review by Felicia Day. Like Day, I find this book a little difficult to categorize. In attitude it is like an urban paranormal novel, but the setting is definitely historical. It isn't really a romance novel, but it does feature a female main character and she does have a love interest yet the romance angle is handled lightly enough that I think men would enjoy reading this book as much as women. (I don't think it's any more romance-y than The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, for instance.) The main character and her partner belongs to a magical order whose purpose is to protect the living from supernatural forces (geists) which can possess them, another is a swashbuckling pirate prince but the story isn't set in the typical Renaissance-y fantasy world. This world has steampunk elements (such as a dirigible fleet). It's fitting that in a book where nothing and no one is what they seem on the surface, the actual book defies categorization so well. One of the most surprising and delightful things about this book was the fact that the main character was a woman. Not a female but a woman. All to often heroines in urban-paranormal type books tend to be girls - uncertain about what they want, immature in their intimate relationships, and I'm often exasperated by their wishy-washiness (Sookie Stackhouse, I'm looking at you). When we meet Sorcha, she is unhappily married. She's impulsive, strong and powerful, and she's well-aware of the fact that her unhappiness is of her own making. She's coming to terms with her life in a conscious, responsible way when the whirlwind events of novel pull the rug out from under her feet, forcing her to question ALL the foundations upon which she's built her life. I can't wait to read more about the supernatural apocalypse-y events that are clearly on the horizon for the characters AND how the romantic lives of the characters are resolved. (less)

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Jun 26, 2011 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists
Geist
Philippa Ballantine
Books of the Order
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Ace; Original edition (October 26, 2010)
Language: English
Kindle Edition: 463 KB
Publisher: Ace (October 26, 2010)
Sold by: Penguin Publishing
Novel provided by author for possible review.
No remuneration was exchanged.
All opinions herein are my own unless stated otherwise.

Geist = Ghost, spirit. German.

Geists don’t always play by the rules.
Between the living and the dead is th

...more

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Apr 03, 2011 Annmarie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, romantic-elements, steampunk

The action starts rolling right from the beginning. Good action, good characterization, pretty good world building in this fantasy. It's set in another world where our main character, Sorcha, is a magic wielder in an Order that fights demonic otherwordly infestations or "geists". She's an "Active", in a system where Actives and Sensitives partner magically; the Actives are the fighters. She's a tough, mature, powerful woman who tell it like it is, not so great at the whole diplomacy and make-nic...more

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Jan 18, 2011 Gail Carriger rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, author-friends

I don't know quite what I was expecting from this book, but I was surprised by how very enjoyable I found it. (All admissions forward: Pip is a friend of mine.) To me it felt like some pleasant amalgamation of the first Green Rider book Kristen Britain meets the Abhorsen series Garth Nix meets Cadfael. I would call Geist traditional fantasy, hearkening back to what I read in high school (which is no bad thing, as that was my reading heyday). It had a very enjoyable and well constructed magical s...more

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Dec 12, 2010 Andrew rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have two reviews to give for Philippa Ballantine’s book Geist.

The first is the short review. The cave man version, as given by my slightly hairier Cro-Magnon alter ego Thag: “Geist good! Thag like! You buy!”

Thag is a man of few words.

The second was a lot harder to write, simply because writing a really good review that sounds honest is a lot harder than writing a man one. That’s my excuse for taking this long to write a review anyway.

Make no mistake, Geist is good, really good. Ballantine has...more

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Dec 07, 2010 Addisont rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am a series reader. I love books that span 3, 4 or more books. I grabbed Geist on the recommendation of a friend. I was quickly pulled in. My fantasy reading is limited as most stories haven't grabbed at me the way they used to when I was a teenager. Geist is an exception. I found the story interesting and the characters believable.
The pacing is even for the most part and it never got dull or uninteresting for me. My first thought when I finished was that I need to go get the next one. I hope...more

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Nov 29, 2010 Scott Roche rated it 4 of 5 stars

It’s not too often I run across a book that I feel has something truly original to offer. Much in the world of science fiction and fantasy seems to be someone trying to retell Star Wars or Lord of the Rings (themselves not entirely “original”). Finally in the form of Geist, Philippa Ballantine brings something to my bookshelf that’s a breath of cool, autumnal air. Not to push the comparison too far, while I was reading it there was some summer heat and the occasional slap of winter’s chill. Okay...more

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Nov 14, 2010 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Geist really had me from the first chapter. In it we see Deacon Sorcha Faris and her husband, Kolya trying to find and get rid of a geist in a crowd of civilians. Sorcha is an Active of the Order, a fierce combatant who uses gauntlets inscribed with powerful runes in order to fight the undead. Her husband, and Bonded partner, Kolya, is a Sensitive who are equipped with a Strop around their eyes and are there to guide their Active partners. I really loved this aspect of the world building. There...more Geist really had me from the first chapter. In it we see Deacon Sorcha Faris and her husband, Kolya trying to find and get rid of a geist in a crowd of civilians. Sorcha is an Active of the Order, a fierce combatant who uses gauntlets inscribed with powerful runes in order to fight the undead. Her husband, and Bonded partner, Kolya, is a Sensitive who are equipped with a Strop around their eyes and are there to guide their Active partners. I really loved this aspect of the world building. There are evil paranormal forces that are watched and dispelled by these Deacons of the Order, who are stationed around the land. They are forces of good in a world where geists can erupt from the Otherside at any moment. The story takes place in a familiar setting of a medieval-like time but progressed enough to have pistols and dirigibles. I enjoyed that part too. It was familiar yet different from what I've seen in other fantasy novels.

After a terrible and shocking geist attack leaves her husband badly injured, Sorcha is given a new temporary partner, Merrick Chambers, to work with on the mystery of the unusual geist attacks. Chambers is a young, newly ordained Sensitive who is Bonded to Sorcha despite his reservations. I really liked Merrick; he offered a fresh and interesting perspective, being so new to the world of the Deacons as we are. He does go through some ups and downs in the story, but by the end, I really liked him.

On Sorcha and Merrick's mission to the town of Ulrich, they are met by a captain named Raed and his crew who are not what they seem. They find their fates attached when they make it to Ulrich and find trouble waiting for them. On this journey we see Sorcha and Raed grow somewhat closer together (and definitely attracted to each other) into what becomes an unusual romance. Yes, she is married, but her relationship with her husband has been almost nonexistent for two years. I wasn't too bothered by this, but perhaps others would be. I appreciated the unconventional romance; however, it wasn't the thing I liked most about this story.

My least favorite part was Sorcha herself. She smokes cigars, is a pretty cold person on the outside, and is the best at what she does. I didn't connect with her for those reasons, although it didn't deter me much from enjoying the story.

Overall, I really liked Geist. The unique and exciting world building made this a great read for those who like undead and/or paranormal creatures in a different setting. There's a lot of action (which I definitely love) and good story. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys those things. The romance, on the other hand, could be improved upon. The sequel, Spectyr, comes out next year and I will definitely be reading it.

A review copy of this book was provided by Ace Books. (less)

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Feb 03, 2012 Kathleen Dixon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, n-z-author, book-lovers-2012-challenge

I recently went looking for a Discussion Group and found Book Loving Kiwis who were reading this as one of their December/January Challenges. Thanks to the group for alerting me to this book and to this author.

I've been reading fantasy over the last few months but I had several years where I really didn't. I'd been finding it all too much of "the same" and got tired of epic journeys and battles that went on forever and all-too-often-unlikeable chief protagonaists. And the magic was all very sim...more

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Aug 24, 2011 Mirjam rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Philippa Ballantine's Geist is the first in the books of the Order. Sorcha Faris is among the most powerful Actives in the Order. She receives her marching orders by the abt of the Order and is send on a mission to Ulrich, an isolated village. The mission is to come to the assistance of the Priory and deal with the surge of violent geist activity that is plaguing the village. Because her regular partner is out of commission she is thrust into a partnership with the young, but powerful Sensitive...more

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Feb 08, 2013 Charlie rated it 4 of 5 stars

“It was good weather for a riot.”

Oh, you know this is going to be good, like when the cops walk into the restaurant where you’re holding your graduation lunch, and you tell everyone to sit back down for the show.

This book is set on the continent of Arkaym. Previously there has been some political unrest, and the people of outlying towns are miserable, desperate, resigned and starving. You can just imagine the turmoil already in place. The princes of the land requested an Emperor to rule over Ark...more

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Dec 12, 2012 Jacen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-reads, 2012-fantasy, fantasy

This was almost a four star rating and I feel the only reason it isn't is probably more an effect of the other books I've been reading of late than any real reflection on this books quality at all.

Still getting the hang of writing these things so here it goes. Geist is an interesting read with a few things that just didn't work for me. What did work was the strong female lead at first I thought she came off as rather bitchy though after about 60 pages I liked her and she sat well with the story...more

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Jun 12, 2012 T.L. Schaefer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Very much enjoyed this book...once I got into it. Fair warning to traditional romance or urban fantasy fans used to "meeting" the hero/heroine right off the bat--this is more a traditional fantasy book in that there are several chapters of worldbuilding and character introduction that kick off this book. Once it gets going, though, it barrels along. Sorcha's character was totally badass, Raed was fantastic as the conflicted ship's captain, which I totally expect in a fantasy novel. Merrick round...more

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Jun 30, 2011 P.C. Haring rated it 5 of 5 stars

Geist is a wonderfully written, character driven story set in a fantasy (some may call it urban fantasy), world with a dash of steam punk thrown in for good measure. The Characterization is strong and the story compelling, complete with conspiracies, betrayal, political intrigue..and even a few days of isolation on a blimp. It paces well but is a fast read. I’d been reading it for a while when I took it with me on a recent trip to baltimore and pulled it out of my bag just before my return fligh...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Lianne Burwell rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Philippa Ballantine was already well know in certain sectors before Geist was published; her first book from a 'big six' publisher. She had two small press books and a number of podcast novels. But I can definitely see why Geist was her break-through book.

The Books of the Order series is set in a world haunted by 'Geists' -- creatures from another realm, often things like spirits of the dead. The Deacons, which are made up of 'Actives' and 'Sensitives'. Sorcha, an active, is partnered with a sen...more

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About Philippa Ballantine

Born 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)...more

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Books by Philippa Ballantine

Phoenix Rising (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #1)

The Janus Affair (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #2)

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Geist (Book of the Order #1)

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