The Order of Deacons protects the living from geist possession. The Order works in pairs, a sensitive who perceives the threat and an active who does the fighting. After an injury to her husband and partner, Sorcha Faris, one of the Order's most powerful actives, is partnered— at least temporarily— to a young novice named Merrick Chambers. Sorcha and Merrick travel to the small outlying village of Ulrich to help the local Priory with an unusual level of geist activity. On the way, they meet Raed Rossin, the Pretender to the throne, and vow to protect him after Rossin and his crew have saved their lives. Rossin is burdened by a curse that has run in his family for generations.

Ulrich has more problems than geists. Something far more ominous pervades the town, infecting villagers and Priory alike. Sorcha and Merrick have to figure out what it is before they will have a chance at destroying it, and even if they can, all of their beliefs will have already been turned on their heads.

Philippa Ballantine has crafted a unique and engrossing tale with GEIST. Memorable characters, multiple subplots, and spot-on dialogue combined with some dramatic action scenes create a vivid and satisfying read. Unlike many strong heroines, Sorcha can only succeed in her duties with her partner; alone she can't see what she's fighting. This dependence on one another adds another layer to these characters. Sorcha is a powerful fighter, but she doesn't do well in social situations, although her humanity begins to show through as the story progresses. Merrick, on his first assignment for the Order, learns to rely on his own strengths. Ballantine has created 3- dimensional characters that ring true; they have flaws like the rest of us, and she throws in a bit of romance for fun. This novel is a promising start to a unique series, and I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment in 2011.

Book Summary

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

Among the most powerful of the Order is Sorcha, now thrust into partnership with the novice Deacon, Merrick Chambers. They have been dispatched to the isolated village of Ulrich to aide the Priory with a surge of violent geist activity. With them is Raed Rossin, Pretender to the throne that Sorcha is sworn to protect, and bearer of a terrible curse.

But what greets them in the strange settlement is something far more predatory and more horrifying than any mere haunting. And as she uncovers a tradition of twisted rituals passed down through the dark reaches of history, Sorcha will be forced to reconsider everything she thinks she knows.

And if she makes it out of Ulrich alive, what in Hell is she returning to?

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