Spectyr (Book of the Order, #2)

Jun 23, 2011 Teri rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-release, arc, for-review

SPECTYR was amazing to read. It picked up right after GEIST had left off and Sorcha and Merrick soon find themselves coming into a horrible vision as well as an ancient battle. SPECTYR will test the limits of all of their bonds, and our three characters: Sorcha, Merrick, and Raed will struggle within theirs pasts and their futures.

Philippa Ballantine has created another masterpiece in this Second Book of the Order. We find out more about our characters while at the same time read of their inner...more

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Aug 23, 2011 Catherine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: series, first-reads-arcs-won-a-copy, curse, excellent, fantasy-paranormal-sci-fi, fiction-vixen-reviews, gods, ghosts, magic-mystical-ability, read-2011, were-shifter, crime-police-mystery-private-invest, historical, steampunk

4.5 Stars

Argh! Where’s the next book? I need to read it now! So many things changed in this installment. The book isn’t left on a cliffhanger, but, oh, I am dying to find out where the author is going with this. I am still gaping after turning the last page. Where do we go from here??

As with the first book, Geist, we are treated to dense story development and layered character building. This time around Ballantine’s not bogged down by introducing the reader to various characters and the world as...more

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May 10, 2013 Whitney rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal

I really wanted to like this book better. I gave it a chance because I liked the characters and the use of magic in the first book, despite the fact that I really did not like the writing.

I liked the story itself. It was well-paced, and had lots of action, good character developments, and a good plot twist. But there was too much I didn't like:

- Again with excessive repetitions of pet turns of phrase
- Again with poor writing; there were a couple of places that I read, read again, and then conti...more

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Mar 31, 2012 Ruby rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

This book was first posted on http://www.rubysreads.com.

I will say, right off the bat, that I liked this book a lot better than the first volume in the series (Geist). I suspect this was because I knew the characters a bit better, or because I knew what to expect. There is romance in these books, but it's light and of the variety that makes me nervous about the likelihood of a happy ending.
My enjoyment of this book was also due to the fact that I enjoyed the conflict. I'm fascinated by stories...more This book was first posted on http://www.rubysreads.com.

I will say, right off the bat, that I liked this book a lot better than the first volume in the series (Geist). I suspect this was because I knew the characters a bit better, or because I knew what to expect. There is romance in these books, but it's light and of the variety that makes me nervous about the likelihood of a happy ending.
My enjoyment of this book was also due to the fact that I enjoyed the conflict. I'm fascinated by stories where people's religious fanaticism ultimately works against them. This is probably because I was raised by parents who were only fanatic about their fear of organized religion. It's probably akin to watching a car wreck. You can't look away.
Spectyr picks up a few months after the end of Geist. Sorcha is trying to end her failed relationship with her former partner and husband Kolya. Unfortunately, Kolya doesn't want the relationship to end and he's hanging around. Therefore, it's almost a relief when a prophetic dream suggests that Raed, the Young Pretender's life could be in danger. Manufacturing an excuse, Sorcha and Merrick take off for the capital of Chioma, a land which appears to be modeled after the Turkish Empire. At least, its prince has a harem and the environment is a desert. Again, I'd've liked a map to help me sort out all these locations. Instead, I kind of just imagined Chioma being on the northern bit of Africa, facing the Mediterranean.
Sorcha and Merrick find Raed, who has come to Chioma to rescue his sister. It's this very action, of course, that has put him in danger. A goddess has reawakened and she is determined to destroy the Rossin, whom she holds responsible for her imprisonment. Unfortunately, Raed and the Rossin are indivisible. Killing one means killing the other.
Throughout the course of the book, we learn a little more about Merrick, which is nice. The first book focused on the bond that developed between Sorcha, Merrick and Raed. It also provided the conditions for Sorcha and Raed to become romantically involved. In Spectyr, we delve a little deeper into the lives and histories of these characters, but I still can't help wishing Ballantine had revealed more. Sorcha in particular remains a mystery. I'm unclear on how she became so cynical, which in turn makes it hard for me to believe that she was ever able to be married to Kolya at all. She reads as someone who would be as closed off from her husband as he supposedly was to her.
In all, though, this is probably a series that I'll stick with. I like the writing, the dirigible, and, in particular, I like Merrick. I'm hoping that Nynnia doesn't absorbed his every romantic thought, though. Especially since there's potential for him in a character I like much better. I'm probably out of luck there.(less)

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Sep 05, 2011 Jacqie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: didnt-finish

I got halfway through this one- about 150 pages. I was extremely disappointed in this sequel, because I really enjoyed Geist. I was hoping for more of the same. I wasn't feeling well when I read it- maybe it should have made more sense than it did? Because the plot was all over the place, the new culture introduced in this book made little sense, and the writing seemed far choppier than in the first book.

Sadly, I couldn't remember many of the details from the first book, and this one does you n...more

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Aug 23, 2011 Stephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

High fantasy without the completely unpronounceable names and with just enough technology, Spectyr continues the world Philippa Ballantine birthed in Geist and rachets up the complexity and suspense. You never know if, but hope for, the HEA. And, you aren't even sure which characters will survive or if they will survive intact. The characters always driven to survive, to rescue, to save don't and can't even trust the people they travel to rescue. It seems the trio can only trust themselves and a...more High fantasy without the completely unpronounceable names and with just enough technology, Spectyr continues the world Philippa Ballantine birthed in Geist and rachets up the complexity and suspense. You never know if, but hope for, the HEA. And, you aren't even sure which characters will survive or if they will survive intact. The characters always driven to survive, to rescue, to save don't and can't even trust the people they travel to rescue. It seems the trio can only trust themselves and a mysterious prince whose visage harbors either a terrible beauty or is of a frighteningly beastly nature -- I am never sure. In fact if there is one problem it is that although the world Philippa builds is described in detail a lot is left up to our imagination to fill in. For example, what does a god-like being look like as it attempts to gather enough atom to build a non-spectral body. Imagine that! Ballantine is asking us to use our own minds to fill in the blanks! In so doing, she will either totally capture your attention and taunt you into staying up late or you will be too tired to do all that heavy thinking and take longer to finish the story. I have a lot of distractions right now, company, injury, life so I found the complexity of the plot and the new area into which they traveled a bit hard to keep track of. But, I am finding pretty much everything hard to keep track of.

Then there are the love stories surprising, hopeless, hopeful and one dwelling in the interstices of time and the worlds. A polygamist culture where the prince isn't cruel and where people are not always people but may be inhabited by other beings. The hardest thing I find and this is nit picky, is Deacon Farris' use of cigars which while in a world somewhat different and yet not entirely different from our own I assume are still of tobacco. I hate cigars (long story) and so I dislike that a character with whom I would like to be comfortable would engage in something so heinous as puffing on something so unpleasantly odoriferous. But that may be Ballantine's point: that we shouldn't be comfortable with Sorcha. Sorcha is edgy, she is strong and she is the scariest thing an otherworldly creature will see. Certainly if small time gods prefer not to meet up with our erstwhile fighter of supernatural crimes, we mortals shouldn't either. Much more cozy is our relationship with her ally and partner, Merrick.

Ballantine brings us a complex world and story lines which all coalesce in the climactic ending, which must be the opening for the net entry in the series. Not much is resolved and unfortunately all my questions would be spoilers (very wily, Ms. Ballantine). But it is also a story filled with heart, with bravery and courageous actions, with plenty of actions. The cultures resemble those in our world so they aren't out of the realm of our ability to imagine them. For example when Philippa describes the head dress worn by the Prince of Chioma I saw something Asian: all white and pearlescent and blinding. The world is familiar enough not to put us off but unfamiliar to the extent we feel the edge. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you sidle up to this edgy world and read Spectyr; it does stand alone, but for the best effect read Geist first. Of course if you read Geist you MUST READ Spectyr. Some gore, tastefully written sex, make this a book for adults.

Please Note: Jason Chan who did the cover art for Geist and Spectyr won the The Chelsey Award (the big award for fantasy artists and are presented by the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors.) in the category of Best Cover; Paperback for Geist.(less)

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Aug 06, 2011 OpenBookSociety.com rated it 4 of 5 stars

Review brought to you by OBS staff member Heidi

This is the second installment of the Book of the Order series by Philippa Ballantine. We are re-introduced to Deacons, Sorcha Faris and Merrick Chambers, who are sworn to protect everyone from the geists or spirits of the world.

Sorcha and Merrick have been pretty disappointed with the jobs they have been assigned as of late and they have given them no real challenge as their superior has made sure that these cases have no true geist activity. So wh...more Review brought to you by OBS staff member Heidi

This is the second installment of the Book of the Order series by Philippa Ballantine. We are re-introduced to Deacons, Sorcha Faris and Merrick Chambers, who are sworn to protect everyone from the geists or spirits of the world.

Sorcha and Merrick have been pretty disappointed with the jobs they have been assigned as of late and they have given them no real challenge as their superior has made sure that these cases have no true geist activity. So when they arrive on the scene of a case that truly has a geist infestation (spectyrs in fact) they are overwhelmed with excitement, even if it is one of the most powerful geist nests they have ever faced.

They are able to clear all but one of the spectyrs. And that one has a message for Sorcha, “save him”. Both Merrick and Sorcha immediately know who the geist is referring to, as Sorcha has had a vision. Raed, The Pretender to the Throne, is going to be killed. It hasn’t happened yet and since he is part of their bond they feel it is their duty to save him.

They head out on a mission that leads them to the city of Orithal to try to save Raed from his impending doom.

Raed is also led to the city by his search for his kidnapped sister, Fraine, who is rumored to be in the Prince’s Harem.

The little Goddess, Hatipai, is disturbed with the lack of the faithful and is determined to change all of that. She has set all of this in motion as she is determined to get revenge on the Rossin that lives inside of Raed and take over as ruler of Orithal and to regain all of her followers.

I struggled with reading this book and it’s not because it wasn’t a good book, but more that I had not had the pleasure of reading the first installment of the book. I felt that I was at a great disadvantage as so much had apparently happened in Geist and I was just trying to catch up and make sense of everything. And the fact that I was so lost just goes to show how imaginative and detailed Ballantine has made this world and story she has created.

I think the whole premise to this series is enchanting and a great read for anybody that enjoys reading of magic and fighting evil, but I HIGHLY recommend reading this series in order! There is not much repeating of what happened in the previous books like other authors are known to do…so save your confusion and read the series in order as it was intended! As I personally know that I probably would have enjoyed this book a lot more if I had taken that advice.

http://openbooksociety.com/article/ph...(less)

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Aug 03, 2011 Odin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Deacons of the Order, Sorcha Farris and Merrick Chambers travel to a distant kingdom where Merrick comes face to face with his past and his future. Sorcha tries to save the world around her as she reconnects with Raed Rossin, the Young Pretender that has a geistlord living inside him. Together these heroes will not only take on the world, they take on a god.

Ms. Ballantine delivers. Again. Her writing grabs you in a way that is visceral. It hits early. It hits repetitively. It hits hard. No cheap...more

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Aug 01, 2011 Jason Banks rated it 5 of 5 stars

I gush about alot of things Anime, my pets, my family, movies, books etc. Though not very often have I read a book that starts with a action packed gut punch to the reader that escalates like a run away train downhill from then on until I read Spectyr by Philippa Ballantine. I have listened to her podcast novels Weather Child, Weaver's Web, Chasing the Bard, Digital Magic and read Geist(the first in the series 'Books of the Order') , and am half way through her co-written Novel with Tee Morris M...more I gush about alot of things Anime, my pets, my family, movies, books etc. Though not very often have I read a book that starts with a action packed gut punch to the reader that escalates like a run away train downhill from then on until I read Spectyr by Philippa Ballantine. I have listened to her podcast novels Weather Child, Weaver's Web, Chasing the Bard, Digital Magic and read Geist(the first in the series 'Books of the Order') , and am half way through her co-written Novel with Tee Morris Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences: Phoenix Rising, but dare I say Spectyr was the best hands down so far. I enjoyed all her works of fiction but I have to save anything before Geist and Spectyr was just a warm up, allowing her to stretch her imaginations legs before she began the race with Geist. Without having to introduce to many new characters in Spectyr she has been allowed to hit her stride and boy did she take off and pounce on the story she had within her to tell, and rip it free seemingly with no effort at all.

The story takes place mere months after the finale of events in Geist. The physical wounds have healed but festering just below the surface of our heroes are the emotional wounds from love having been lost, separated, and forgotten. The scars from betrayal also mar there psyche. Though as we all know there is no rest for or from the wicked and the path to hell is paved in good intentions, not long into Spectyr are we tossed in the middle of mysteries and intrigue from all walks of life, from ones family, religion, and the order that some have sworn to protect and fight for. Through all this there is passion and love fighting to reach the surface and Philippa Ballantine delivers there without fail giving us a taste of her 'Erotica a la cart'. These scenes are not just hot and steamy but passionate and deep, reaching to us all on some level. She can turn the same passion between lovers into the desire to reunite with and protect family no matter how misguided it can be.

All in all as an Author she grown beyond anything we could have suspected or believed, upon first listening to her humble begins. There is no stopping this growth in craft or voice from Philippa Ballantine and I for one and eagerly awaiting cogs and corsets and of course Wraith, and you should be too so go download those podcast novels, or buy the paperbacks if you can find them, but most definitely buy Geist, Spectyr, and anything else you find with the name Philippa Ballantine on it because she is someone special in today's literature and you will be hearing her name alot more in the years to come, trust me.

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Jul 22, 2011 Jacob rated it 5 of 5 stars

(Repost from: http://drying-ink.blogspot.com/2011/0...)

Middle books are a problem in fantasy: series often begin intriguingly, and end fantastically, but have trouble keeping the reader's interest in the middle. After all, there's no final resolution...

Luckily, Spectyr is one of the books that manages to avoid this problem: and adeptly keeps the length to a minimum as well, making it a fast and engaging read - free of bloat. So if you think Robert Jordan-esque volume is all there is to the genre...more (Repost from: http://drying-ink.blogspot.com/2011/0...)

Middle books are a problem in fantasy: series often begin intriguingly, and end fantastically, but have trouble keeping the reader's interest in the middle. After all, there's no final resolution...

Luckily, Spectyr is one of the books that manages to avoid this problem: and adeptly keeps the length to a minimum as well, making it a fast and engaging read - free of bloat. So if you think Robert Jordan-esque volume is all there is to the genre, think again!

So, let's go for our summary. Again, we begin with our paired protagonists: the Deacons, Sorcha Faris and Merrick Chambers.Now experiencing the rather petty enmity of the new Abbot, they haven't got a chance of being let near an actual geist: stuck instead with the rumours. (...The sort of rumours that happen in real life as well - what with all of the 999 calls for zombie attacks...). Nevertheless, when they learn that there's a potential threat to Raed Rossin, Pretender to the throne - and Sorcha's romantic interest - they manage to trick their way to a posting where they can help. Because the Emperor's sister has released a goddess. Or rather. a geistlord that wants its rival, the Rossin, dead.

It's an interesting plot, and to its credit for what could have become an episodic series, very different from the first. It also introduces us to some of Ballantine's rather unique and fascinating worldbuilding: and some intriguing clues about the abandonment of the 'little gods' in the past emerge. The Otherside and magic system, some of the more interesting aspects of Geist, also get their turn. Though there's less use of the runes, some of the plot points revolve around the geistlords. One in particular introduces an element which could get out of hand, and is unexplained in this book: so in order to avoid continual use, I'm going to be waiting for an explanation in Wrayth. (I would mention it, but - spoilers)

The characters are as entertaining as always: their interactions, especially with some personal acquaintances thrown into the mix, make Spectyr a constantly-surprising read! The gradual change in the Emperor's sister under the goddess' influence is also achieved well, as are the motives of the geistlords - often human emotions taken to extremes. What can I say? It's good to see the often stereotypical summoned 'demons' gain some actual motives rather than just 'for the evil!'.

All in all? Though without the surprise value of Geist, Spectyr keeps up the series' promise: well-crafted, tightly packed action, interspersed with clues to worldbuilding which should satisfy even die-hard fantasy fans. While Geist took us into the action, Spectyr is keeping us there: waiting for Wrayth.

8.5/10(less)

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Apr 02, 2012 Zoe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: action, fantasy, magic, mystery, supernatural, romance, young-adult

Rating: Four stars for the book overall, and I'm not sure why, but five stars seems more appropriate.

I found this book better than Geist. It's probably because I'm more familiar with the characters and the writing style. I like that Spectyr follows on almost directly after Geist so it's quite easy to pick up the storyline from. Like the first book, it came with more unanswered questions to make you want to read the next one. Luckily though, some of the unanswered questions from Geist were answer...more

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Feb 08, 2013 Lisa King rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: enjoyed-it

Deacons Sorcha Faris and Merrick Chambers are once more thrust into a situation that forces them to come to grips with their past and with their future. Sorcha knows that her lover and the Young Pretender, Raed Rossin, is in danger and she and Merrick orchestrate a way to journey and help him. Chioma is a distant and semi-dependent state of the Empire but something dark and sinister lurks at it's heart. Haitpai, the Bright One and 'little god' has broken free and all hell is about to break loose...more

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Sep 01, 2012 Patricia Eddy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I will say this for the Book of the Order series... the author knows how to write compelling characters. That sounds like I think the rest of the book is not, which isn't at all the case. But the characters do it for me above all. If you've read the first book, you know that the three main characters share a bond. And I find the three-way (in a totally non-sexual way) to be fascinating. The three characters spend more time apart than together in this book, which is the reason I gave it 4 stars....more

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Jul 08, 2011 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: giveaway

I was able to do one thing that I love to do... read books in a series back to back. Oh and don't worry, I won't spoil anything, but you may have to endure an *evil laugh* or two in the process... ;)

This book made it so easy to slip back into this world. Not just because I read the first book, but the way it was written was just brilly. In this book, not only is the world expanded and more interesting to our imagination, but the characters were more rounded out as well. We see even more softness...more I was able to do one thing that I love to do... read books in a series back to back. Oh and don't worry, I won't spoil anything, but you may have to endure an *evil laugh* or two in the process... ;)

This book made it so easy to slip back into this world. Not just because I read the first book, but the way it was written was just brilly. In this book, not only is the world expanded and more interesting to our imagination, but the characters were more rounded out as well. We see even more softness to Sorcha and even into some of her fears. We learn more about Merrick and are surprised at a few twists to his story. Even the Rossin, who is a Geistlord we learned to fear in the first book evolves his character. That was the most surprising and interesting bit of all! And some of the secondary characters who make a comeback have a bit more added to their personality. However, it is not only the characters we got to know in the first book that have a good story, it is also a new character of the Prince, Onika, whom I did not like at first, but rooted for in the end. So yes, if you are looking for characters to connect to with this series, do not neglect this book.

The mystery of the first book evolves and is connected to but different than in the first book. Will I say what that was? *evil laugh* I mean really... if I didn't reveal the first mystery, WHY would I do so here? *mumbles* some people *roll eyes* ;) However, I will say that it is an interesting and on the edge of your seat type of adventure. I will add this for those who love romance. There is much less of it in this one for some characters (but it leaves that door wide open for further romance) and more for others. *evil laugh* You'll just have to read the book to find out what I mean.

I give this book 5 stars. If you read and liked the first, you will love the second book. I can't wait for the third book, Wrayth which is currently being written. Oh and like the first book, it does contain a smidgen of steampunk to ease you into the genre.(less)

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Mar 03, 2012 Jill rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-challenge, fantasy, gifted-to-me

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Nov 03, 2012 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

I would give this book 10 stars if I could.

Spectyr is an amazing journey into another realm; Full of adventure, passion, mystery, and romance. This book picks up where Geist left off, with some surprising reappearances by past characters. Unpredictable, the complex world of the story is expertly developed and leaves the reader clinging for more. The story of the bond between Read, Sorcha, and Merrick depends, as do the complex nature of the characters. All is not what it seems, and the very fun...more

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Jul 22, 2011 Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, book-of-the-order

Just like its predecessor, Spectyr, is full of amazing details, distinctive locals and unique lexicon. It is a beautifully crafted and involving story that requires a reader’s full attention. The action is intense, and the plotlines are elaborately crafted. I will admit that I had forgotten several details from Geist, but Ms. Ballantine did a marvelous job “reminding me” of key events.

As events unfold, sections of the Empire began to crumble and I was left wondering what will happen next. Althou...more

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Aug 04, 2011 Pamela / SpazP rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Originally posted at WickedLilPixie Reviews
I was fortunate enough to move from the First Book of the Order novel Geist right on to Spectyr so everything that had been created in the first book was fresh in my mind. Even so, I had to sit here and blink for a while to figure out how to even summarize my impressions. This book was so good that I really had no idea how to start a review for it. I hemmed and I hawed over it, but here I go.

Sorcha Farris and Merrick Chambers leave their Mother Abbey he...more Originally posted at WickedLilPixie Reviews
I was fortunate enough to move from the First Book of the Order novel Geist right on to Spectyr so everything that had been created in the first book was fresh in my mind. Even so, I had to sit here and blink for a while to figure out how to even summarize my impressions. This book was so good that I really had no idea how to start a review for it. I hemmed and I hawed over it, but here I go.

Sorcha Farris and Merrick Chambers leave their Mother Abbey headquarters and travel south to the Hive city of Orinthal. Once again, Merrick takes the role as diplomat while the gruff and snarky Sorcha remains focused on finding the fugitive Prince Raed, whom she cannot stop thinking about. She has received a message from the Otherworld that his life is in danger, and he has been led to Orinthal to save his kidnapped sister. What the three of them find is a city full of fear due to unexplained murders connected to the Royal family. This is all I will tell you they find to prevent any kind of spoiler that would detract from the experience. What they really find is so much more than that. The events and settings are so richly described you will lose yourself in this book. You will also do a little happy dance once Sorch and Raed find one another.

We get to know more about all three of our favorite characters Sorcha, Merrick, and Raed. We learn a lot more about Merrick’s backstory and his family. The fascinating bonds between the three of these characters continue to grow and change. There is no guessing what happens next at every turn. Everything about Spectyr was new and refreshing, with amazingly vivid action and suspense. If you are looking for a new Fantasy series, please look no further. If you have never tried a Fantasy series and are curious, please look no further. Philippa Ballantine’s writing really and truly cannot be beat, and the third book in the series, Wrayth, is on my auto-buy list. Oh, and before I conclude with my gushing, how incredible are the covers for this series? I can tell you that this is definitely a case of the gorgeous covers matching the books perfectly.

Geist
Spectyr
Wrayth (2012)
Harbinger(less)

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Aug 25, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fantasy lovers

Not as good as the first, but still a page turner! (Or a button clicker for Kindle users!)

I'll admit, I had high hopes for the second installment, but it didn't quite deliver. I still love Sorcha, but there was so much going on in this one, I struggled to keep track.

That said, I enjoyed the change in scenary and the multi-dimensional aspect of it too. It's all about location, location, location. And this book delivered on that front! Vivd, capturing descriptions ensure that I still remember som...more

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Feb 08, 2013 Kaarina Nieminen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, steampunk

I love this series. Philippa just has this way of writing that means I cannot put the book down till I'm done; fast paced with so much intrigue.

The story took on a more steampunk feel with a very interesting tie in with the tinker's devices and the geists, mixed with the Turkish influence on the Hive City made for a really unique world. The concept of the runes and the otherworld is so interesting and fresh, very individual from what I have before. And the relationship between sensitives and act...more

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Sep 07, 2011 Rowan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book starts where Geist left off, Deacons Sorcha Faris and Merrick Chambers are still working together. Raed Rossin is in trouble again and they find a way to head off to help him in the far away land of Chioma. Complications ensue.

The world is still compelling, the story is still well told... but this is the middle book of at least a trilogy and it suffers for that. But it definitely had places where I just couldn't put it down and the characters and writing are interesting enough that I...more

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Aug 18, 2011 Cherry Mischievous rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-ve-read, own, arc, alltimefavorites

I was looking forward to this book after I finished Geist, but this book is even a slower starter than Geist was! It took me longer to get into this book than it did with Geist. Somehow the story telling quality felt like it wasn't as good as it did with Geist... Anyhow, one thing remains certain, the story and world building is beautiful and vivid, if not even more intricate! I could easily imagine myself in that world... It's a frontier world of magic on the brink of discoveries... A lot of un...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Charlie rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Life is never quite how you imagine it.

Warning: this post may contain spoilers or necessary information found in the first book, Geist.

You will definitely be thrown for a loop with this book. So many things are going on, and they all pull together. Geist seemed like such a huge feat, but Ballantine was definitely not prepared to go home. She went big! I give 5 stars for this detailed, well-written book.

This book once again delves into the powers of geists and the Otherside, with the introduction...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Shara rated it 3 of 5 stars

The premise: ganked from author's website: Though one of the most powerful Deacons, Sorcha Faris has a tarnished reputation to overcome. She and her partner, Deacon Merrick Chambers, find themselves chasing down rumors of geists, but long for a return to real action. So they jump at the chance to escort a delegation sent to negotiate the terms of the Emperor’s engagement. Their destination: the exotic city of Orinthal.

But a string of murders has Orinthal on edge, and Sorcha and Merrick are asked...more The premise: ganked from author's website: Though one of the most powerful Deacons, Sorcha Faris has a tarnished reputation to overcome. She and her partner, Deacon Merrick Chambers, find themselves chasing down rumors of geists, but long for a return to real action. So they jump at the chance to escort a delegation sent to negotiate the terms of the Emperor’s engagement. Their destination: the exotic city of Orinthal.

But a string of murders has Orinthal on edge, and Sorcha and Merrick are asked to investigate. Meanwhile the Emperor’s sister has unwittingly released a cruel and vengeful goddess, one who it bent on destroying her enemies, including the geistlord who resides inside the shapeshifting rival to the throne—Sorcha’s lover….

My Rating: It's a Gamble

This is my middle-of-the-road rating. If you liked the first book, you'll like this next one. If you didn't like the first book, well, I think this book shows a lot of improvements, and it's got me seriously considering the next in the series. It's definitely a series, though, that needs to be read in order. I read Geist two years ago, but I'd forgotten just enough key points from it that reading Spectyr was a wee bit difficult. But for those readers who want to read a secondary-world fantasy that's light in tone (not in content, but tone), I'd highly recommend this series to those readers. Sorcha Faris is definitely of the ass-kicking variety, and while her cigar habit reminds me a wee bit too much of Starbuck in Battlestar Galactica, her character reveals some interesting shades in this book. All the characters held my interest, and the world-building continues to fascinate. It's also an incredibly fast read, something easy to sit down and kick back with and enjoy.

Spoilers, yay or nay?: Nay. Although I do speculate about the fantasy world based on some things discussed in the book, so that in and of itself might be considered a spoiler. So if you're paranoid, don't read the full review at my blog. If you don't care, or if you've read the book, feel free to click the link below to go directly to the full review. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome. :)

REVIEW: Philippa Ballantine's SPECTYR

Happy Reading!(less)

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Apr 16, 2012 Mieneke rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, 2012

With Spectyr, the second book in her Books of the Order series, Philippa Ballantine returns us to the world of Arkaym. While I had some issues with the first book, Geist , I was looking forward to catching up with the main characters Sorcha, Merrick and Raed. And it was a joyful reunion indeed. As I was more aware of what to expectfrom the setting of the bookthis time round, a factor that gave me some trouble last time, it was far easier to settle into the book and just flow along with the story...more With Spectyr, the second book in her Books of the Order series, Philippa Ballantine returns us to the world of Arkaym. While I had some issues with the first book, Geist , I was looking forward to catching up with the main characters Sorcha, Merrick and Raed. And it was a joyful reunion indeed. As I was more aware of what to expect from the setting of the book this time round, a factor that gave me some trouble last time, it was far easier to settle into the book and just flow along with the story. We encounter Sorcha and Merrick at work three months after the ending of the last book. Three months in which they've been virtually benched by the Arch Deacon, who has only been sending them out on routine cases and mostly false alarms at that. It's a great re-introduction to the both of them, as we quickly see their characters and abilities summed up in their tackling of their latest, real, case. From this action-filled start, the story doesn't stop moving at a fair clip; we follow Sorcha and Merrick as they travel to city of Orinthal, while at the same time trying to figure out how to rescue Raed.

The city of Orinthal was fascinating; I loved the culture – seemingly a mix of Middle Eastern and Chinese elements – Ballantine created there. In Orinthal we don't just discover more about the different cultures or Arkyam, we also learn more about Arkyam's history and the reasons for the geist activity on the continent. Ballantine achieves this through having Merrick be whisked back into the past. The time he spent in the past and the things he discovers there are quite interesting, though I found the way he got there rather strange at first; it's only once we get to the end of the book it actually makes sense. Once it does, however, it ties into the other story lines and actually becomes quite clever and a good way to develop Merrick's character further.

Merrick takes a larger part in the story overall this time around. Where Geist was mainly Sorcha's story for me, Spectyr allows us to discover far more about Merrick and his past and get to know him better. His part of the story contains the most surprises, which makes it hard to discuss his development without spoilering those, so I'll leave it at saying that Merrick faces his past and moves beyond the pain therein. What I can say more about is his bond with Sorcha. I loved the interaction between Sorcha and Merrick and the fact that they're true partners now, after all they've been through in Geist. This time around they felt like equals and Merrick even takes the lead in some places, which was a pleasant development. In a similar vein we learn more about Raed and the Rossin's history, meeting one of Raed's father's supporters who knew him as a young(er) man. She shows up to appraise Raed of his sister's disappearance and this is what drives Raed throughout this book, the need to get his sister back. It was a good storyline, giving us more insight into Raed, his family and the Rossin, but at the same time I kept rolling my eyes at Raed's sister as she was so self-centred and immature.

One thing I find quite enjoyable about this series – and something I've rarely seen before – is the fact that the majority of its main characters, with the exception of Merrick, is in their early to late thirties or older. This also leads to more grown up problems. This is best exemplified by Sorcha's divorce from her husband Kolya. No simple unbinding of the marriage in a sentence or two here, instead Ballantine shows the difficulty of separating, of the regrets that come along with letting go and how painful it can be when one of the partners isn't ready to let go. In Sorcha's case it's doubly so, as the partner not willing to let go is Kolya, the same one who didn't seem to care about Sorcha until she said she wanted out. Throughout the story we see Sorcha becoming surer and surer of her decision, even if Kolya still doesn't seem to get the message. I wonder whether and how this situation will be resolved in the next book, Wrayth.

There were some surprises in Spectyr, both pleasant and less so, especially for Merrick and Sorcha, but definitely for the reader too. Overall, this was a solid second novel in a series; it's clearly part of a greater whole, but can be read on its own quite well. I really enjoyed my time spent with Spectyr and I'm looking forward to picking up Wrayth, which will be out from Ace by the end of summer. In addition, Ballantine announced she'll be relaunching the podcast anthology for the Books of the Order in late July, the first series of which was highly enjoyable. If you're curious about this universe, I recommend checking these audio short stories out as they give a good feel for what you can expect in the books.(less)

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Dec 14, 2011 Jen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: otherworldy

I really enjoyed this book as well. There were parts that were so gruesome though I could hardly read them... I liked Merrick in the first book but he is definitely growing on me after this installment. I can't wait for the next one. Now I just need to wait for it to come out and then find someone to mail to Taiwan. I have a feeling they are going to get a lot of use here being passed around as they are the only copies in this country. If you live in the States, there is no excuse - go buy it an...more

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Oct 13, 2011 Splash Of Our Worlds *Yiota* rated it 4 of 5 stars

For some reason i was pretty sure i had reviewed Spectyr and i still am but i can't find it anywhere so here i am (again or not again)...

I'm gonna skip how awesome the cover is, since you see by yourself its awesomeness!

I picked Spectyr immediatelly after Geist since as i have already told you it was one of the best fantasy books i've read. In Spectyr, the author gets the chance to open her world more to us. Geist was an introduction but Spectyr is the real deal. You get to learn more about the...more

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Dec 25, 2011 Talizmyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, e-books, fantasy, my-library, romance, favourites, reviews

I read Geist, the first book in the series, in early October and knew right then that I had to read the rest of Philippa Ballantine's books as soon as I could. Geist was just that good . Spectyre, unsurprisingly, is very much the same in that sense.

With the groundwork laid on in the first novel, Spectyre continues on from where Geist left us off. We get a closer look into each character and Sorcha's partner, Merrick, gets a little more focus as well. As with the plot... I never knew just where i...more

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Aug 27, 2011 J.C. Hart rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was so excited when this book came out, even more so because it was available for purchase on the Kindle in the Oceanic region at the same time as it was for the US. It's not often the case with the new releases I actually want to purchase.

I'll confess to being a bit of a Philippa Ballantine fan. I'm keeping up to date with all her recent work - I actually won a copy of Geist when it came out last year - and reviewed Phoenix Rising earlier this year. Aside from being a great writer, she is al...more I was so excited when this book came out, even more so because it was available for purchase on the Kindle in the Oceanic region at the same time as it was for the US. It's not often the case with the new releases I actually want to purchase.

I'll confess to being a bit of a Philippa Ballantine fan. I'm keeping up to date with all her recent work - I actually won a copy of Geist when it came out last year - and reviewed Phoenix Rising earlier this year. Aside from being a great writer, she is also a really approachable, lovely person. Plus, she's a Kiwi, and I love being able to promote works by NZ writers!

Anyway, back to Spectyr. This is the second novel in the series and is set not long after the first. Sorcha and her new partner Merrick are in limbo after the fallout from the first book, being given simple jobs to keep them occupied and out of trouble. However, the Otherside finds a way to contact them, drawing them into another action packed adventure that is tied to Sorcha's love interest, Raed, the Young Pretender/Rossin.

I love the characters in this series, they all have their quirks and are tied together by a bond that none of them intended to create, but cannot break. This novel deepens their relationships, and gives further insight into who these individuals are, and how they work together as a team. It was great to see different sides to the characters in this novel - Sorcha has some softer moments, and Merrick seems to mature a little and grow into his abilities. Raed's strong feelings of familial responsibility come through as well.

A lot happens in this book, some of the scenes are amazingly detailed and fast paced to boot. If anything, I'd say this book is better than Geist. It takes all the foundations that were laid and builds on them, giving more depth to both the world and the characters. Ballantine has crafted a world that is rich and vibrant, with a distinctive flavour all of its own. The plot is set against a backdrop of politics, and religion as well as both the regular world and the Otherside.

Ballantine sure knows how to weave a story with lots of interesting threads and layers that come together to create a stunning climax. I'd recommend that you read Book One before reading this one though, as it dives straight in. You can definitely still enjoy the story, but you'll get more from it if you've already read Geist.

While this book isn't exactly a cliffhanger, it leaves you with plenty of unanswered questions. I know that I'll be picking Wrayth, the 3rd novel in the series, up as soon as it's available.(less)

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Jun 24, 2012 Angie ~aka Reading Machine~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Deacons Sorcha Faris and Merrick Chambers have been doing jobs that no other Active and Sensitve would want to do for the last three months since the events in the Ossury in Vermillion. Deacon Faris is waiting for her divorce to be finalized from Deacon Kolya Petav who is trying to still be her Sensitive partner. Sorcha wishes Kolya had fought for their marriage as hard as he's fighting to be her partner. Sorcha would rather have Deacon Merrick Chambers as her Sensitive partner and tells the Pre...more

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Spectyr (Book of the Order #2)

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