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....
Review
I really enjoy this author's work! She's pretty much on my must-buy list for well-done, light fantasy with a bit of romance that's not too smutty
- Felicia Day
Philippa Ballantine is back and with each new work, she surpasses herself and in the process proves that she is the real deal. Her new book, Spectyr, the second in The Order series, is a fine example of genre mixing done right
-Geek Life
The characters are solid and the moments of the book that deal with their interactions are where this book truly shines. Whether the small personal moments between family and friends or the heated moments of battle and betrayal by family, friends and foes (not to mention the occasional undead entity or goddess).
-Blogcritics.com
She weaves this amazing story like gossamer where we see this richly complex world that has all of these opposing forces battling against the characters, keeping them from each other in many ways while they really yearn to be together as they struggle through storm after storm, of whatever is coming.
-Snarky Mamma
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 shots are taken. None are needed. You see, Ms. Ballantine knows how to write characters that make you care.-View from Valhalla
*
About the AuthorNew Zealand author Philippa Ballantine, is a fantasy writer and podcaster.
Her multiple series--Books of the Order, the Shifted World, and the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences (co-written with her husband Tee Morris)--span many speculative fiction genres.
Her works have won an Airship, a Parsec, and a Sir Julius Vogel Award. They have also appeared in the Locus Bestseller list, and been in the Goodreads Top Science Fiction books of 2011.
She currently resides in Manassas, Virginia with her husband, her daughter, and a mighty clowder of cats. Visit her online at pjballantine.com or follow her on Twitter @PhilippaJane.
*