What do you think?
Rate this book
Book of the Order #3
Wrayth
In the Empire of Arkaym, the Order of Deacons protects and shelters the citizens from the attacks of the unliving. All are sworn to fight the evil forces of the geists—and to keep the world safe from the power of the Otherside�
Although she is one of the most powerful Deacons in the Order, Sorcha Faris is still unable to move or speak after her last battle. Even her partner, Merrick Chambers, cannot reach her through their shared Bond. Yet there are those who still fear Sorcha and the mystery of her hidden past.
Meanwhile, Merrick has been asked to investigate a new member of the Emperor’s Court. But when Sorcha is abducted by men seeking Raed Rossin, the shapeshifting rival to the throne, Merrick must choose where his loyalties lie.
Although she is one of the most powerful Deacons in the Order, Sorcha Faris is still unable to move or speak after her last battle. Even her partner, Merrick Chambers, cannot reach her through their shared Bond. Yet there are those who still fear Sorcha and the mystery of her hidden past.
Meanwhile, Merrick has been asked to investigate a new member of the Emperor’s Court. But when Sorcha is abducted by men seeking Raed Rossin, the shapeshifting rival to the throne, Merrick must choose where his loyalties lie.
309 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 28, 2012
19 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
About the author
Philippa Ballantine
73books1,027followersBorn 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 ŷ 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 ŷ 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
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
September 10, 2020
This book is so abysmally crappy that it killed Little One's Kindle as we were buddy reading it. I kid you not. Now that is some very hazardous reading material right there. That being said, it seems losing her beloved Kindle wasn't too traumatizing for the dear girl since she still managed to write the bestest review ever for this PoC�. You might want to go and check it out, by the way. It's much more informative and to-the-point and articulate than any of my crappy non reviews will ever be. But hey, if you're energetically masochistic and have nothing better to do with your life, please do stick around for some High Quality and Beautifully Never Ending Sub-Par Rambling Nonsense (ϲʸ鱷�).
Soooooo, Wrayth. What a most delightful, delectable masterpiece. It's not everyday you read such wonderfully written, satisfying, thrilling, consistent, clever piece ofbullshit literature. No it's not. Thank fish for that.
Let's see, where to begin? There are so many stupendously wondrous things to talk about here! The possibilities are quite endless indeed!
Sorry for the interruption, I have no idea where the fish this thing came from. The Evil Russians� must have hacked my account again.
Okay, where were we? Oh, yes, endless possibilities and stuff. Let's start with the stunningly wonderful writing, shall we? Wait, we need to light some candles to set the romantic atmosphere first.
Love is now officially 🎶 🎶, so let'sshake that booty do this and stuff.
Saying this book is badly written would be the understatement of the last 10,000 years. At least. I mean, it's so bloody shrimping clunky, it kind of feels like it's been written by a hyperactive 12-year-old barnacle on meth or something. What is worse, I wonder? The incoherent inconsistencies? The inconsistent incoherences? The homicidal gibberish? The sentences that make no bloody shrimping sense, even to superior Mensa little heads like mine? The most disjointed, jumbled mess of a plot in the history of most disjointed, jumbled messes of plots, maybe? Then again it could be the Blah Blah Blah Me To Death Ms Ballantine Why Don't You Factor (BBBMTDMBWDYF�). Reading this 319-page book sort of feels like going through an overly descriptive 700-page Epic Fantasy so, yeah, I'd say this one is a sure contender in the renowned Will This Crap Never End Award (WTCNEA�). Congratulations, Ms. B., for this is quite the achievement and stuff.
Let's see, what else? Oh yes, this book features some of the most refreshingly enjoyable repetitions ever. Such delectable joy and felicity they brought me while I was reading. Nothing beats the 133 occurrences of "however," of course, but I must admit I have a weakness for the 43 spasmodic manifestations of "peon." Ah, "peon," such an admirably pleasing word. I think I could never tire of reading it. And reading it. And reading it. And reading it. And reading it. And reading it. And reading it. And reading it. And reading it. And reading it. And reading it. And reading it. And reading it. And reading it. And reading it. Sorry, what? You get the idea? Clever, clever Little Barnacles. Oh, before I forget, there is one more thing I wanted to mention here: I'm not sure you are aware of it, but I'm not the lawsuit type . Yes, there is actually a point to my mentioning this most fascinating fact. Because you see, my Little Barnacles, it just so happens that I'm going to sue the fish out of Ms Ballantine for vocable discrimination. "Why," you ask? Because there are only 11 occurrences of the word "cunning" in this book! 11! When there are, as you may remember, 43 bloody stinking "peons!" Since when do pathetically puny peons take precedence over glorious cunningness?! That is completely unacceptable! This cannot be! This will not do! The Slightly Malevolent Subaquatic League (SMSL�) demands an explanation!
I hear ya, Fleet Admiral DaShrimp!
Am I making it sound like this book was a little disastrous? Oh, you know me, I tend to slightly over-exaggerate a tiny little bit. Sometimes. Really, this book wasn't THAT bad. And to be honest, it could have been much worse. I mean, characterization could have been catastrophically calamitous. And some characters could have acted so illogically and stupidly and inconsistently and incoherently and exasperatingly as to make me think they'd had a personality transplant between this instalment and the previous one. Lucky for me, this didn't happen here. And I never, not for a single moment, felt like choppingone some of the characters into teensy little pieces and feeding him them to the murderous crustaceans. Absolutely not. This did NOT happen here. Nope nope nope.
Don't ask.
You know why I feel really blessed here? Because not only could this have been much worse, it could have been much MUCH worse, too. Oh yes, it most definitely could have. The author could have sprinkled the story with some historical romance type crap, for instance. Now that would have been slightly traumatic. Pretty sure I wouldn't have survived that. And what if she had decided to infect her whole narrative with gloriously fascinating (albeit a little repetitive) facts about relationships, sex and marriage within a certain community? Oh, that would have been slightly annoying indeed. And I'm not sure how I would have fared if she had embellished her story with ridiculously stupid, corny romantic stuff. Especially if said stuff had been inserted in the story at the most inconveniently ill-chosen awkward times, either. Like, say, in a middle of a big fight, or when the MCs were somewhat busy running for their lives and stuff. But Ms Ballantine wouldn't do that. Of course not. Don't be silly now. Actually, you know what? NOT doing all these 💀💣 things 💣💀 is such an accomplishment that you should all join me in congratulating Ms B. for a job most excellently done.
� And the moral of this Oh So This is What Shrimpawful Writing of Utter Doom and Total Destruction of all Life on this Planet is Like Crappy Non Review (OTiWSWoUDaTDoaLotPiLCNR�) is: Geist wasn't overwhelmingly catastrophic. Spectyr was quite unexpectedly pretty good and stuff. Ergo, Philippa Ballantine got abducted by the same aliens who kidnapped my Geralt just before writing this book, and was replaced by a bipolar, under-educated, overly inebriated unearthly creature who doesn't speak a word of English. QED and stuff.
· Book 1: Geist ★★�
· Book 2: Spectyr ★★★★
· Book 4: Harbinger - NOT to be read. I'm not that suicidal, thank you very much.
[Pre-review nonsense]
Missing: Philippa Ballantine, author of the Book of the Order series.
Age: who the fish knowsor cares?
Physical description: puny human.
Last seen: in the final and slightly awesome chapter of the slightly awesome book called Spectyr.
If you have any information about thisnot-so-terribly-upsetting disappearance, please do not, under any circumstance call either Fleet Admiral DaShrimp or my little nefarious self.
Reward: aserrated pincer fiesta of doom and destruction, courtesy of my murderous children.
All help in this mostnonessential distressing matter will be greatly appreciated. The MacHalos are most unwilling anxious to read the last instalment in this series, and would love to have their, um, beloved author NOT returned to them posthaste. Thank thee kindly.
� Full Bloody Stinking Fish Way to Ruin a Perfectly Entertaining Series Philippa Ballantine Crappy Non Review (BSFWtRaPASPBCNR�) to come.
Soooooo, Wrayth. What a most delightful, delectable masterpiece. It's not everyday you read such wonderfully written, satisfying, thrilling, consistent, clever piece of
Let's see, where to begin? There are so many stupendously wondrous things to talk about here! The possibilities are quite endless indeed!
Sorry for the interruption, I have no idea where the fish this thing came from. The Evil Russians� must have hacked my account again.
Okay, where were we? Oh, yes, endless possibilities and stuff. Let's start with the stunningly wonderful writing, shall we? Wait, we need to light some candles to set the romantic atmosphere first.
Love is now officially 🎶 🎶, so let's
Saying this book is badly written would be the understatement of the last 10,000 years. At least. I mean, it's so bloody shrimping clunky, it kind of feels like it's been written by a hyperactive 12-year-old barnacle on meth or something. What is worse, I wonder? The incoherent inconsistencies? The inconsistent incoherences? The homicidal gibberish? The sentences that make no bloody shrimping sense, even to superior Mensa little heads like mine? The most disjointed, jumbled mess of a plot in the history of most disjointed, jumbled messes of plots, maybe? Then again it could be the Blah Blah Blah Me To Death Ms Ballantine Why Don't You Factor (BBBMTDMBWDYF�). Reading this 319-page book sort of feels like going through an overly descriptive 700-page Epic Fantasy so, yeah, I'd say this one is a sure contender in the renowned Will This Crap Never End Award (WTCNEA�). Congratulations, Ms. B., for this is quite the achievement and stuff.
Let's see, what else? Oh yes, this book features some of the most refreshingly enjoyable repetitions ever. Such delectable joy and felicity they brought me while I was reading. Nothing beats the 133 occurrences of "however," of course, but I must admit I have a weakness for the 43 spasmodic manifestations of "peon." Ah, "peon," such an admirably pleasing word. I think I could never tire of reading it. And reading it. And reading it. And reading it. And reading it. And reading it. And reading it. And reading it. And reading it. And reading it. And reading it. And reading it. And reading it. And reading it. And reading it. Sorry, what? You get the idea? Clever, clever Little Barnacles. Oh, before I forget, there is one more thing I wanted to mention here: I'm not sure you are aware of it, but I'm not the lawsuit type . Yes, there is actually a point to my mentioning this most fascinating fact. Because you see, my Little Barnacles, it just so happens that I'm going to sue the fish out of Ms Ballantine for vocable discrimination. "Why," you ask? Because there are only 11 occurrences of the word "cunning" in this book! 11! When there are, as you may remember, 43 bloody stinking "peons!" Since when do pathetically puny peons take precedence over glorious cunningness?! That is completely unacceptable! This cannot be! This will not do! The Slightly Malevolent Subaquatic League (SMSL�) demands an explanation!
I hear ya, Fleet Admiral DaShrimp!
Am I making it sound like this book was a little disastrous? Oh, you know me, I tend to slightly over-exaggerate a tiny little bit. Sometimes. Really, this book wasn't THAT bad. And to be honest, it could have been much worse. I mean, characterization could have been catastrophically calamitous. And some characters could have acted so illogically and stupidly and inconsistently and incoherently and exasperatingly as to make me think they'd had a personality transplant between this instalment and the previous one. Lucky for me, this didn't happen here. And I never, not for a single moment, felt like chopping
Don't ask.
You know why I feel really blessed here? Because not only could this have been much worse, it could have been much MUCH worse, too. Oh yes, it most definitely could have. The author could have sprinkled the story with some historical romance type crap, for instance. Now that would have been slightly traumatic. Pretty sure I wouldn't have survived that. And what if she had decided to infect her whole narrative with gloriously fascinating (albeit a little repetitive) facts about relationships, sex and marriage within a certain community? Oh, that would have been slightly annoying indeed. And I'm not sure how I would have fared if she had embellished her story with ridiculously stupid, corny romantic stuff. Especially if said stuff had been inserted in the story at the most inconveniently ill-chosen awkward times, either. Like, say, in a middle of a big fight, or when the MCs were somewhat busy running for their lives and stuff. But Ms Ballantine wouldn't do that. Of course not. Don't be silly now. Actually, you know what? NOT doing all these 💀💣 things 💣💀 is such an accomplishment that you should all join me in congratulating Ms B. for a job most excellently done.
� And the moral of this Oh So This is What Shrimpawful Writing of Utter Doom and Total Destruction of all Life on this Planet is Like Crappy Non Review (OTiWSWoUDaTDoaLotPiLCNR�) is: Geist wasn't overwhelmingly catastrophic. Spectyr was quite unexpectedly pretty good and stuff. Ergo, Philippa Ballantine got abducted by the same aliens who kidnapped my Geralt just before writing this book, and was replaced by a bipolar, under-educated, overly inebriated unearthly creature who doesn't speak a word of English. QED and stuff.
· Book 1: Geist ★★�
· Book 2: Spectyr ★★★★
· Book 4: Harbinger - NOT to be read. I'm not that suicidal, thank you very much.
[Pre-review nonsense]
Missing: Philippa Ballantine, author of the Book of the Order series.
Age: who the fish knows
Physical description: puny human.
Last seen: in the final and slightly awesome chapter of the slightly awesome book called Spectyr.
If you have any information about this
Reward: a
All help in this most
� Full Bloody Stinking Fish Way to Ruin a Perfectly Entertaining Series Philippa Ballantine Crappy Non Review (BSFWtRaPASPBCNR�) to come.
December 30, 2021
Wrayth
or
How to Irremediably Wreck Your Series.
Shock your readers out of complacency!
� Consistent characterization: irrelevant. Recent studies indicate that the attention span of the average person is close to that of a 5 weeks-old Chihuahua. Who's who? What made a certain character thick so far? What motivated this other? Trust me, nobody cares. You don't remember, your readers most certainly don't remember and, since literature is a form of mimesis, even the characters themselves shouldn't give a shit.
So you previously wrote a strong, capable female character, a military leader who puts her country and her liege above all else but who's secretly plagued by religious doubts and gets tricked by her own deity into kick-starting the end of the world, only now you kinda totally don't feel like dealing with the aftermath of that depressing plotline and would rather try your hand at historical romance? No problem! Turn her into a sexy but delicate, fragile little flower of a Duchess, have her spin around the ballroom with a random male specimen for a few dances, et voilà!
... what? The random male specimen has been in love with another woman up until just now and he's deeply connected with another by a magical bond which you have repeatedly stated is stronger than any other relationship the two of them might have? So what?! Point � applies to each and every character and/or plotline. Go for it! I'm telling you, nobody will notice.
� Coherent storytelling: unnecessary. You worry too much! Didn't you just come up with atotally irrelevant brand new romantic storyline? Well, if you really want to overdo yourself, you can either recycle old plotlines - say, put one of your characters in terrible and immediate danger and have another race across the world to save him/her against impossible odds, it never gets old after all - or come up with chaotic, nonsensical new ones: how about the sudden, inexplicable threat of a civil war? The key, in this case, is to confuse your readers: the more, the better. Make it messy! Pile one plotline on top of the other, then repeat: they'll lose sight of what's happening soon enough, I promise. If you're afraid some overly fussy reader will call you out, throw in a deus ex machina that'll fix your problems for you. There, now your story is bulletproof. And yes, you can most definitely use this subtle plot device more than once!
� Writing style: say what?! Those posers and wannabees holed up in their creative writing classes have nothing on you. You previously wrote a couple of solid and inventive fantasy books but now you want to really suprise you readers with some stylistic fireworks? Great! Then:
a) write as you usually do;
b) print a copy of your book;
c) select random words, sentences and whole paragraphs: cut them out;
d) throw them in the air like a bunch of confetti;
e) pick the pieces up and put them back together as they come;
f) proceed to reassemble the book: do not re-read your work, it might spoil the final effect.
� Know your crowd. You're writing a fantasy, right? Cool, nothing's easier! I mean, it's a well-known fact that these nerdy fantasy types looove their details and descriptions. Plus, who's going to fact-check what you write, right?! Haha! Hey, don't worry: I'm not saying you have to come up with a whole new Elvish language - it's likely that your readers already know a couple of them anyway. But mind you, this is where it could all fall to pieces: you just have to keep on feeding them lengthy descriptions. I'd focus on the buildings, that always makes an impression. But if you really want to cross all your t's and give these Dothraki-speaking geeks something to think about, you have to come up with excruciatingly intricate and ultimately useless background information on imaginary institutions (both religious and non-religious ones). I'd suggest taking a very simple concept - say, can a certain group of people get married and have sex? - and stretch it as far as it can go. Then strategically (or not, it really doesn't matter) place this redundant and pointless bit of data all over your story: it'll give some meat to it and will make you look like you did your homework.
There. All done!
or
How to Irremediably Wreck Your Series.
Shock your readers out of complacency!
� Consistent characterization: irrelevant. Recent studies indicate that the attention span of the average person is close to that of a 5 weeks-old Chihuahua. Who's who? What made a certain character thick so far? What motivated this other? Trust me, nobody cares. You don't remember, your readers most certainly don't remember and, since literature is a form of mimesis, even the characters themselves shouldn't give a shit.
So you previously wrote a strong, capable female character, a military leader who puts her country and her liege above all else but who's secretly plagued by religious doubts and gets tricked by her own deity into kick-starting the end of the world, only now you kinda totally don't feel like dealing with the aftermath of that depressing plotline and would rather try your hand at historical romance? No problem! Turn her into a sexy but delicate, fragile little flower of a Duchess, have her spin around the ballroom with a random male specimen for a few dances, et voilà!
... what? The random male specimen has been in love with another woman up until just now and he's deeply connected with another by a magical bond which you have repeatedly stated is stronger than any other relationship the two of them might have? So what?! Point � applies to each and every character and/or plotline. Go for it! I'm telling you, nobody will notice.
� Coherent storytelling: unnecessary. You worry too much! Didn't you just come up with a
� Writing style: say what?! Those posers and wannabees holed up in their creative writing classes have nothing on you. You previously wrote a couple of solid and inventive fantasy books but now you want to really suprise you readers with some stylistic fireworks? Great! Then:
a) write as you usually do;
b) print a copy of your book;
c) select random words, sentences and whole paragraphs: cut them out;
d) throw them in the air like a bunch of confetti;
e) pick the pieces up and put them back together as they come;
f) proceed to reassemble the book: do not re-read your work, it might spoil the final effect.
� Know your crowd. You're writing a fantasy, right? Cool, nothing's easier! I mean, it's a well-known fact that these nerdy fantasy types looove their details and descriptions. Plus, who's going to fact-check what you write, right?! Haha! Hey, don't worry: I'm not saying you have to come up with a whole new Elvish language - it's likely that your readers already know a couple of them anyway. But mind you, this is where it could all fall to pieces: you just have to keep on feeding them lengthy descriptions. I'd focus on the buildings, that always makes an impression. But if you really want to cross all your t's and give these Dothraki-speaking geeks something to think about, you have to come up with excruciatingly intricate and ultimately useless background information on imaginary institutions (both religious and non-religious ones). I'd suggest taking a very simple concept - say, can a certain group of people get married and have sex? - and stretch it as far as it can go. Then strategically (or not, it really doesn't matter) place this redundant and pointless bit of data all over your story: it'll give some meat to it and will make you look like you did your homework.
There. All done!
September 11, 2012
It's hard to put a category on this, it's kind of steampunk/high fantasy? At any rate, it was a PLEASURE to go into this hybrid-world again. I love the characters, and the author puts them through their paces for sure, but there are enough ups and downs to really be engrossed, I literally had to read this book in one night. Very interesting upheaval happens to set up for a next book, and a VERY interesting character twist leaves you really wondering how the main characters are gonna get through THAT in #4! Def would recommend as a light alternative to heavy epic fantasy readers who like a strong female protagonist!
August 15, 2021
[me:] "By the Blood, I'm not dying like this!"
[narrator:] She nearly did.
This is a book whose quality is far worse than the quality of an average review on ŷ.
I rarely do this (and may, hasn't Sarah warned me!), but it is one of those cases when I am forced to admit that this series is beyond any salvation. Any pretence that by tormenting myself and reading on, I will finally reach a page (or two!) worth my time and effort is delusional at this point.
My warth on you, Ms Ballantine.
Also in the series:
1. Geist ★★★☆�
2. Spectyr ★★☆☆�
4. Harbringer no review, series abandoned, I strongly suspect it would be zero stars, though
[narrator:] She nearly did.
This is a book whose quality is far worse than the quality of an average review on ŷ.
I rarely do this (and may, hasn't Sarah warned me!), but it is one of those cases when I am forced to admit that this series is beyond any salvation. Any pretence that by tormenting myself and reading on, I will finally reach a page (or two!) worth my time and effort is delusional at this point.
My warth on you, Ms Ballantine.
Also in the series:
1. Geist ★★★☆�
2. Spectyr ★★☆☆�
4. Harbringer no review, series abandoned, I strongly suspect it would be zero stars, though
February 23, 2013
All the pieces we've stumbled across with Sorcha and Merrick (and Raed) are coming together in this gripping adventure with broken bonds of old and new.
***FULL REVIEW***
After the battle ending Spectyr two months ago Sorcha's old partner, Garil, lets her be taken by Aachon to find the Pretender, and the Rossin, to see if another can help heal her from her immortality that he believes is paralyzing her, stuck in her immobile body. The bond that's blocked as well, Sorcha is easily taken without alarm, unknown to her partner Merrick and any others. Merrick is called upon by the Emperor's sister, Dutchess Zofiya, to look into the Emperor's new visitor who does not set well with her nerves, Lord Vancy del Rue, which Merrick recognizes and is alarmed to his presence. Raed's been fighting and dodging bounty hunters due to the raised bounty on his head trying to help while tracking his sister as her and Tanguyre Greene are stirring for a rebellion everywhere they go. To get to where he is, he's invited the Rossin to the front of his mind to help. Dangerous, but Raed feels it's a needed resource to save the Emperor and the land he rules.
Merrick will have to pick the strong bond and his partner or the Order where he's wanted to be while finding peace saving others from geists. Raed maybe in danger from the Rossin, who's a powerful resource with what the world is coming to. Sorcha will learn of her blank past before the Order, it might help with the turns in the world, or it might consume her.
We start with a pair of young Deacons go missing while on site of cracked earth from an earth quake at a temple of the ancients founding a deadly creature of water, not seen with the sight of a Deacon, and the dead. This comes up later in the book as it's important, you just don't know it until later. This drew me in with new (old) happenings and made me curious.
Ah, nice to visit each of our trio in person again. All the characters are finding themselves in complicated and compromising situations. As they slowly fall victim to things they don't see or know I hold my breath waiting, wondering, if they will find each other and help each other or not know they all are in trouble. Life and death trouble.
I'm taken with the further would building and defining of geistlords with Raed's mess and Sorcha's paralyzing predicament due to a gift received in Spectyr. But I'm caught with Merrick and the surfacing troubles with the Order of the Circle of Stars. This is interesting to watch it unfold and the connections to past and where Raed and Sorcha are at and dealing with.
There is so much with this series, world, and little repeat (which is a very good thing) that I'd like to read all these books closer together in time to remember it all. This made the beginning a touch tough remembering the troubles but once you are with Sorcha, Merrick, and Raed again working to protect the world, you can't stop reading and the hints of past are embedded in the story as you go. Philippa is great at reminding you as you go of the past you need. The depth of the world and situations come back as you go. Have faith in Philippa as you start and all will come to you.
All the pieces we've stumbled across with Sorcha and Merrick are coming together in this gripping adventure with broken bonds of old and new. This book brings all happenings in Geist and Spectyr together with an old Order looking to advance and take advantage, upping the stacks in the political world and safety of many. The history is surfacing and maybe a select special few can stop it from taking over. Once you are sucked into the dilemma's of our trio, you won't stop until you know how it ends. The best of the series thus far!
***FULL REVIEW***
After the battle ending Spectyr two months ago Sorcha's old partner, Garil, lets her be taken by Aachon to find the Pretender, and the Rossin, to see if another can help heal her from her immortality that he believes is paralyzing her, stuck in her immobile body. The bond that's blocked as well, Sorcha is easily taken without alarm, unknown to her partner Merrick and any others. Merrick is called upon by the Emperor's sister, Dutchess Zofiya, to look into the Emperor's new visitor who does not set well with her nerves, Lord Vancy del Rue, which Merrick recognizes and is alarmed to his presence. Raed's been fighting and dodging bounty hunters due to the raised bounty on his head trying to help while tracking his sister as her and Tanguyre Greene are stirring for a rebellion everywhere they go. To get to where he is, he's invited the Rossin to the front of his mind to help. Dangerous, but Raed feels it's a needed resource to save the Emperor and the land he rules.
Merrick will have to pick the strong bond and his partner or the Order where he's wanted to be while finding peace saving others from geists. Raed maybe in danger from the Rossin, who's a powerful resource with what the world is coming to. Sorcha will learn of her blank past before the Order, it might help with the turns in the world, or it might consume her.
We start with a pair of young Deacons go missing while on site of cracked earth from an earth quake at a temple of the ancients founding a deadly creature of water, not seen with the sight of a Deacon, and the dead. This comes up later in the book as it's important, you just don't know it until later. This drew me in with new (old) happenings and made me curious.
Ah, nice to visit each of our trio in person again. All the characters are finding themselves in complicated and compromising situations. As they slowly fall victim to things they don't see or know I hold my breath waiting, wondering, if they will find each other and help each other or not know they all are in trouble. Life and death trouble.
I'm taken with the further would building and defining of geistlords with Raed's mess and Sorcha's paralyzing predicament due to a gift received in Spectyr. But I'm caught with Merrick and the surfacing troubles with the Order of the Circle of Stars. This is interesting to watch it unfold and the connections to past and where Raed and Sorcha are at and dealing with.
There is so much with this series, world, and little repeat (which is a very good thing) that I'd like to read all these books closer together in time to remember it all. This made the beginning a touch tough remembering the troubles but once you are with Sorcha, Merrick, and Raed again working to protect the world, you can't stop reading and the hints of past are embedded in the story as you go. Philippa is great at reminding you as you go of the past you need. The depth of the world and situations come back as you go. Have faith in Philippa as you start and all will come to you.
All the pieces we've stumbled across with Sorcha and Merrick are coming together in this gripping adventure with broken bonds of old and new. This book brings all happenings in Geist and Spectyr together with an old Order looking to advance and take advantage, upping the stacks in the political world and safety of many. The history is surfacing and maybe a select special few can stop it from taking over. Once you are sucked into the dilemma's of our trio, you won't stop until you know how it ends. The best of the series thus far!
April 14, 2013
This is a tough review for me to write. I've met Philippa, and she is one of the coolest, most engaging, and most interesting authors with whom I've had the pleasure of conversing. She has an amazingly rich imagination, a cool, cheeky style, and, usually, some well-crafted prose. But, sad to say, this is not the case with Wrayth, the third Book of the Order, following the much better Geist and Spectyr. The tale feels hurried, cobbled together and written far too quickly and carelessly, most likely at the impatient insistence of one of Ace Fantasy's editors. I know that Philippa is actively writing more than one series right now, and perhaps her head is simply in another project.
Whatever the case, I really can't find a way to give Wrayth more than one star. The story is formulaic, for the most part predictable, and decidedly unfinished feeling. The characters are paper thin - each more one dimensionally heroic and martyr-like than the last, and the villains are too transparently evil to be engaging or interesting in the least.
That's not to say that the series doesn't have potential. It does. The magic system, the Order, the Geists, the airships, and so many other things are all great invention, but none of it is utilized effectively in Wrayth. The story spins out too quickly, with no chance for effective or atmospheric description, and no room for building on the mythos established in the earlier books. So to with the central characters - Sorcha, Merrick, and Raed are all potentially intriguing characters that one could really get behind. But it seems there is no time in Wrayth to delve into their natures or humanize them in a way that will make them truly come to life. The only real saving grace is the Rosin, the lionlike Geistlord whose motivations are as mysterious as his true nature (though a foreshadowing turn at the end of the novel unfortunately takes much of that mystery away).
I can't recommend Wrayth, as it really does fail to rise to the standard established by Philippa in Geist. But if you, like me, have already read Geist and Spectyr, I'd recommend you muscle through Wrayth and hope for the next installment to bring the series' depth and quality back on track. At least, that's what I plan on doing, all the while rooting for Philippa to knock the next Book of the Order out of the park.
Whatever the case, I really can't find a way to give Wrayth more than one star. The story is formulaic, for the most part predictable, and decidedly unfinished feeling. The characters are paper thin - each more one dimensionally heroic and martyr-like than the last, and the villains are too transparently evil to be engaging or interesting in the least.
That's not to say that the series doesn't have potential. It does. The magic system, the Order, the Geists, the airships, and so many other things are all great invention, but none of it is utilized effectively in Wrayth. The story spins out too quickly, with no chance for effective or atmospheric description, and no room for building on the mythos established in the earlier books. So to with the central characters - Sorcha, Merrick, and Raed are all potentially intriguing characters that one could really get behind. But it seems there is no time in Wrayth to delve into their natures or humanize them in a way that will make them truly come to life. The only real saving grace is the Rosin, the lionlike Geistlord whose motivations are as mysterious as his true nature (though a foreshadowing turn at the end of the novel unfortunately takes much of that mystery away).
I can't recommend Wrayth, as it really does fail to rise to the standard established by Philippa in Geist. But if you, like me, have already read Geist and Spectyr, I'd recommend you muscle through Wrayth and hope for the next installment to bring the series' depth and quality back on track. At least, that's what I plan on doing, all the while rooting for Philippa to knock the next Book of the Order out of the park.
September 28, 2012
This is the third book in the "Book of the Order" series and I loved it. It is primarily the story of Sorcha, Merrick, Raed, and the Rossin, who gets a lot more "page time" in this book than in any of the others. We're introduced to the thoughts and plans of the Rossin much more in this book and it ends with even more mystery than it begins with.
I find the three (or four depending on how you see Raed/Rossin) way relationship between these characters incredibly complex and interesting. While it is Sorcha and Raed that have the romantic connection, Merrick's (non-romantic) love for Sorcha (and hers for him) is a constant presence through the book. Seeing the partners develop their relationship and understand how important it is for both of them has been very rewarding.
We learn much more about Sorcha's history in this book, though there are still a lot of questions. I hope that in the next book we'll learn more about Merrick's raw talent and how that came about. I also want to see Sorcha and Merrick be just a little more honest with each other, though they have started to trust each other more and more and the growth of their relationship feels very organic.
Highly recommended, though once you get to about 50% of the way through, you might want to clear your schedule. I didn't want to put the book down.
I find the three (or four depending on how you see Raed/Rossin) way relationship between these characters incredibly complex and interesting. While it is Sorcha and Raed that have the romantic connection, Merrick's (non-romantic) love for Sorcha (and hers for him) is a constant presence through the book. Seeing the partners develop their relationship and understand how important it is for both of them has been very rewarding.
We learn much more about Sorcha's history in this book, though there are still a lot of questions. I hope that in the next book we'll learn more about Merrick's raw talent and how that came about. I also want to see Sorcha and Merrick be just a little more honest with each other, though they have started to trust each other more and more and the growth of their relationship feels very organic.
Highly recommended, though once you get to about 50% of the way through, you might want to clear your schedule. I didn't want to put the book down.
September 14, 2012
Just as I was wondering how three people could get into so much trouble, I was clobbered by a plot twist I never expected! Philippa Ballantine is a wonderful author.
After dealing with a sick patient last night, I employed multiple delaying tactics to avoid reading the last 40 pages of Wrayth. All good things must come to an end; I finished Wrayth, and the plot twists kept clobbering. I knew this was not the final book of the Order, but I did not see any of this coming. A good series should be able to continually surprise and interest the reader. I have no idea where Ballantine is taking us, and I am looking forward to the journey.
After dealing with a sick patient last night, I employed multiple delaying tactics to avoid reading the last 40 pages of Wrayth. All good things must come to an end; I finished Wrayth, and the plot twists kept clobbering. I knew this was not the final book of the Order, but I did not see any of this coming. A good series should be able to continually surprise and interest the reader. I have no idea where Ballantine is taking us, and I am looking forward to the journey.
October 4, 2012
A must read for fans of Philippa Ballantine and her heroine Sorcha Ferris. The third book in the Book of the Order series is truly surprises. It seems everything is thrown into a cocked hat. This is not your typical fantasy-adventure series. The characters are getting more complex with each volume.
Can't wait for what happens next. Well done Ms. Ballantine.
Can't wait for what happens next. Well done Ms. Ballantine.
March 14, 2019
Confusing, and not much progress in the storyline. As a matter of fact, things are worse. Annnnd, another nothing-can-be-resolved-until-the-next-book ending.
November 2, 2012
This is the third book with Geist and Spectyr being the first and second books respectively. In this book it is a continuation from the second where we were left thirsting for more and wanting to know what will happen next. Yes, if you haven't figured out this series you must read in order.
You are not disappointed in learning what happens to our trio of Raed, Sorcha and Merrick. We also surprisingly get some background information on our main deacon and sensitive. I really enjoyed that and can see that playing a bigger role in the coming books. This also seems to be a crossover novel. One where you do get an adventure, but the information contained is of importance. Not only to answer the questions of the past but to lay ground for what is coming in the future.
I admit that in some ways the adventure seemed a bit disjointed, but I also feel that this was intentional. It was a time of chaos and dispair and that helped that feeling. Still it was almost too many things happening at once. So many conspiracies that it feels overwhelming but at the same time you do not get lost nor do you mistake one for another.
I give this book 4 stars. I recommend it to anyone reading this series. You must read this one as I feel the information within is important. There are also a couple of surprising twists at the end that make you hungry for more. For those interested, do start with the first. You won't be sorry. I am really enjoying my time in this world. I highly recommend it to those that love fantasy and a small bit of steampunk.
You are not disappointed in learning what happens to our trio of Raed, Sorcha and Merrick. We also surprisingly get some background information on our main deacon and sensitive. I really enjoyed that and can see that playing a bigger role in the coming books. This also seems to be a crossover novel. One where you do get an adventure, but the information contained is of importance. Not only to answer the questions of the past but to lay ground for what is coming in the future.
I admit that in some ways the adventure seemed a bit disjointed, but I also feel that this was intentional. It was a time of chaos and dispair and that helped that feeling. Still it was almost too many things happening at once. So many conspiracies that it feels overwhelming but at the same time you do not get lost nor do you mistake one for another.
I give this book 4 stars. I recommend it to anyone reading this series. You must read this one as I feel the information within is important. There are also a couple of surprising twists at the end that make you hungry for more. For those interested, do start with the first. You won't be sorry. I am really enjoying my time in this world. I highly recommend it to those that love fantasy and a small bit of steampunk.
September 17, 2013
This entire saga hits the floor runing and it makes sense, because it feels like Phillipa Ballantine had too much world build and too much action happening to stop and explain it to us. And these books are better for it.
I still don't have answers to many of the questions I had about what was going on, and I feel I finished with more questions, but there is a lot of development in the story and status quo change. I like it when there's status quo change. That was my problem with the second book, it felt formulaic. Nothing of the kind can be said about this one.
And the characters are so multidinamic. They have so many facets, and they get a chance to show them. To us and to each other. By far the most complex and intriguing is Sorcha. She can be an hard ass, a pain in the ass and also find a way to be charming and vulnerable. Raed and Merrick seem to be constantly trying to catch up with her, but they get her and trust her to do her thing. In a genre plagued by the asshole-macho-hero type this two know they're in the pressence of strong capable women, they respect them and it makes them far better characters whitout losing any of their virility.
Highly recomendable.
I still don't have answers to many of the questions I had about what was going on, and I feel I finished with more questions, but there is a lot of development in the story and status quo change. I like it when there's status quo change. That was my problem with the second book, it felt formulaic. Nothing of the kind can be said about this one.
And the characters are so multidinamic. They have so many facets, and they get a chance to show them. To us and to each other. By far the most complex and intriguing is Sorcha. She can be an hard ass, a pain in the ass and also find a way to be charming and vulnerable. Raed and Merrick seem to be constantly trying to catch up with her, but they get her and trust her to do her thing. In a genre plagued by the asshole-macho-hero type this two know they're in the pressence of strong capable women, they respect them and it makes them far better characters whitout losing any of their virility.
Highly recomendable.
July 27, 2014
Wrayth is the third book in Philippa Ballantine’s Book of the Order series. While I enjoyed the first two immensely, I did not feel as enthralled with this installment. This is perhaps because I took a lot more time to complete this novel compared to the other two.
There are two main dilemmas in this book. The first describes the Wrayth, a powerful geistlord who runs a breeding program using captured women. I found this subplot to be very creepy and entertaining, though I honestly don’t remember how the dilemma is resolved. The second dilemma involves a recurring character named del Rue who captures Zofiya (if I recall correctly). While the details are a bit fuzzy in my memory, I found the story enjoyable. It was very fast-paced and full of action and adventure. However, I spent a lot of time playing video games and watching anime instead of reading, so that probably hampered my enjoyment.
There are two main dilemmas in this book. The first describes the Wrayth, a powerful geistlord who runs a breeding program using captured women. I found this subplot to be very creepy and entertaining, though I honestly don’t remember how the dilemma is resolved. The second dilemma involves a recurring character named del Rue who captures Zofiya (if I recall correctly). While the details are a bit fuzzy in my memory, I found the story enjoyable. It was very fast-paced and full of action and adventure. However, I spent a lot of time playing video games and watching anime instead of reading, so that probably hampered my enjoyment.
December 30, 2012
Okay, so I actually finished this book about a month ago, but forgot to say so!
Eh, I was a little disappointed with this installment of The Order books. Sorcha is still super fierce, and the progression of her character and back story were awesome. She also remains one of the most self-possessed, genuinely strong female protagonists I've ever read. The magic system continues to get cooler, as does the whole steampunk/fantasy mash-up world. I just didn't feel like the plot progressed very much. I liked it, but not quite as much as the other two.
Also, I have to say this about the kindle version: Please, please, please hire an editor. I'm no English major, but there were so many grammatical mistakes throughout the entire text that it was actually distracting.
Eh, I was a little disappointed with this installment of The Order books. Sorcha is still super fierce, and the progression of her character and back story were awesome. She also remains one of the most self-possessed, genuinely strong female protagonists I've ever read. The magic system continues to get cooler, as does the whole steampunk/fantasy mash-up world. I just didn't feel like the plot progressed very much. I liked it, but not quite as much as the other two.
Also, I have to say this about the kindle version: Please, please, please hire an editor. I'm no English major, but there were so many grammatical mistakes throughout the entire text that it was actually distracting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2022
2.4 ☆☆
Ehhhh. There was SO MUCH going on, and it felt somewhat made up on the spot? Especially the part with Sorcha’s mother? Idk I would have loved to see a bit more foreshadowing, at least at the beginning of the book. And I know the writing in this series is very basic, but the story and characters kind of balanced that out for me. But in this book it reaaaally shows how bad it is in places.
I will say this though, the amount of story, world building and character moments Ballantine can fit into 300 pages is fucking impressive.
Ehhhh. There was SO MUCH going on, and it felt somewhat made up on the spot? Especially the part with Sorcha’s mother? Idk I would have loved to see a bit more foreshadowing, at least at the beginning of the book. And I know the writing in this series is very basic, but the story and characters kind of balanced that out for me. But in this book it reaaaally shows how bad it is in places.
I will say this though, the amount of story, world building and character moments Ballantine can fit into 300 pages is fucking impressive.
September 16, 2012
I couldn't put this book down. I found myself completely immersed in the story, and my goodness I felt so bad for Merrick and Sorcha n this installment. The ending was AMAZING and I really cannot wait for the next installment.
Damn you, Philippa Ballantine. You've got your claws in me and now I can't stop!
Damn you, Philippa Ballantine. You've got your claws in me and now I can't stop!
October 2, 2012
Wow, what a great adventure. It took me a bit to get into the different characters, but once I did I couldn't put down the book. The different settings were described so well, I felt as if I could reach out and touch them. The story line flowed perfectly from the last book in the series to this one. I can't wait to read the next one.
February 11, 2014
covered lots of ground, i didnt even realize there was this much to Sorcha's back story... there were a lot of names i didnt remember becuase of the time between last one and this one but all in all easy to pick back up. I want to know what the Rossin is up to!!! uhm... a bit fraught but decent all around
October 7, 2012
Another hit for Ms. Ballantine. She grows with each successive addition to the Book of the Order novels. Now I must wait because the story isn't finished yet....
October 9, 2012
I was on the edge of my seat for the entire book and finished it way too fast. More please.
Read
September 13, 2024another great book. everything it's making sense and I'm enjoying the hell out of it. leaning about Sorcha's past was both interesting and fucked up.
February 8, 2022
I was positively surprised by the second book of the series and really looking forward to this one. Man, was I disappointed.
It seems like every single character in the story is making one bad decision after the other, reading this story made me angry and frustrated. Also at this point I hate almost all of the characters and I couldn't care less what happens to them.
Many things happened much to fast, one event followed the other with no chance of suspense building up. At various points of the story, obstacles or dangers were overcome unrealistically easily. Also the character's emotions were only superficially outlined or easily cast aside, making it seem like they don't really feel much at all, or at least making it difficult to sympathise with any of them.
At some points I was excited to see how the events of all three books connect and the puzzle pieces come together. But it was ruined by the way the narration rushes through the events, leaving many things unexplained and many of the character's actions incomprehensible.
I love the magic system and the principle of the deacons working in pairs. The story started to be really exciting in the second book and I really wanted to know what happens next and how the character development would go.
After reading this book I feel like none of the characters has developed at all and some have made a huge step back.
It's sad to see how a series with so much potential ruined and I'm certainly not reading the next book right away, I'm not even sure I'll read it at all.
It seems like every single character in the story is making one bad decision after the other, reading this story made me angry and frustrated. Also at this point I hate almost all of the characters and I couldn't care less what happens to them.
Many things happened much to fast, one event followed the other with no chance of suspense building up. At various points of the story, obstacles or dangers were overcome unrealistically easily. Also the character's emotions were only superficially outlined or easily cast aside, making it seem like they don't really feel much at all, or at least making it difficult to sympathise with any of them.
At some points I was excited to see how the events of all three books connect and the puzzle pieces come together. But it was ruined by the way the narration rushes through the events, leaving many things unexplained and many of the character's actions incomprehensible.
I love the magic system and the principle of the deacons working in pairs. The story started to be really exciting in the second book and I really wanted to know what happens next and how the character development would go.
After reading this book I feel like none of the characters has developed at all and some have made a huge step back.
It's sad to see how a series with so much potential ruined and I'm certainly not reading the next book right away, I'm not even sure I'll read it at all.
January 21, 2018
I liked the way this book showed how different geistlords worked to gain a foothold in the world. From the Rossin in one bloodline, to Hatipai as a goddess, to the Coyote god burning through individuals via dog bite, following the Rosisn around, to the Wrayth, vampires and breeding in many humans so they can't be killed but are also blind to the other side. Those are all greta, clever ideas. I liked how the Wrayth gave Sorcha a complicated past and explained her super strength. That was a fun twist. I liked how she took the idea of the runes on her skin from her mother, although I am wary of the pattern maker.
The pace of the book was a little slow but overall I enjoyed it. Kolya finally be useful was nice. Having Nynnia warn them seemed a little deus ex machina, but ok. Fraine's suicide by mob was unusual, but there was no recovering her.
I can't wait to go to Delmaire and finally see it! There's been so much hype about it through the books. Having the orders as factions makes more sense now- but what happened to the other ones? And what does the Rossin want?
The pace of the book was a little slow but overall I enjoyed it. Kolya finally be useful was nice. Having Nynnia warn them seemed a little deus ex machina, but ok. Fraine's suicide by mob was unusual, but there was no recovering her.
I can't wait to go to Delmaire and finally see it! There's been so much hype about it through the books. Having the orders as factions makes more sense now- but what happened to the other ones? And what does the Rossin want?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2020
While this book had parts I liked it suffered from some of the same issues as the last one did. First off I still love the relationship between Merrick and Sorcha and I love it even more because it is a deep, intimate relationship that is not sexual or romantic in any way. I do think though that the relationship between Raed and Sorcha has gotten stagnant, they just keep rehashing the same issues for the last two books.
Overall the plot of this one did not do too much for me. I thought the Wrayth and the secret of Sorcha's birth were interesting but a lot of the rest of just felt like moving pieces around a game board without much progress. The first two books had much more of an episodic feel but now it seems like there is a strain trying to get all the plot threads to tie together for the big finale.
Anyways I will finish the series because there is only one book left but unfortunately I think this series just didn't live up to it's potential.
Overall the plot of this one did not do too much for me. I thought the Wrayth and the secret of Sorcha's birth were interesting but a lot of the rest of just felt like moving pieces around a game board without much progress. The first two books had much more of an episodic feel but now it seems like there is a strain trying to get all the plot threads to tie together for the big finale.
Anyways I will finish the series because there is only one book left but unfortunately I think this series just didn't live up to it's potential.
April 20, 2020
A solid fantasy book the mom and I read each night before going to bed. It was interesting how our main heroine and hero's have changed over this book and as always the plot thickens, but we do have to wonder what the authors fascination with separating these characters. In every book they end up being broken up as a group and than having to work to get back together. This may also be mad more relevant because the characters are always saying how they could use the other gifts and how not having them their makes it hard for them to work to their fullest ability.
August 15, 2017
So good I would read it again
As the world becomes larger and the characters revealed more fully I begin to dread the end of the series. This is one of those series you find that make you wish you could actually visit the world presented. I wish I could write better reviews as I cannot begin to do this book justice
As the world becomes larger and the characters revealed more fully I begin to dread the end of the series. This is one of those series you find that make you wish you could actually visit the world presented. I wish I could write better reviews as I cannot begin to do this book justice
May 30, 2017
This series is going great! I love plot and what's happening to all the characters. I'm really excited to see how it all ends.
July 3, 2017
Depressing. Too dark for my taste
December 5, 2017
3rd book
Lots of prep for the 4 book. I like the characters, but I feel this book wasn’t as good as the two previous. Having said that, I don’t want to know what happens in the 4th
Lots of prep for the 4 book. I like the characters, but I feel this book wasn’t as good as the two previous. Having said that, I don’t want to know what happens in the 4th
May 25, 2020
Finally, we get so many answers, but of course have new questions. A LOT happened in this book, and I can't wait to experience the final book of this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.