Written by a New Zealander, I won this as a prize in the Book Loving Kiwis group. I used to read exclusively fantasy books like this and it was nice to revisit a genre I don't read so much of anymore. Geist has an interesting universe - a medieval (with a dash of steampunk) world where a pseudo-religious "Order" keep the geists from the Otherworld under control. As to be expected in a first book of a series there is a fair amount of info dumping in the first part of the book but necessary I think for this world where there is SO much detail in the world building - political intrigue, historical context, a hierarchical society, and, at times, an often complicated relationship between the world of the living and those on the otherside (I'd have loved a rune glossary at the back of the book!). 
 I think this book would have been stronger if it had been written in first person instead of third. I dont usually care too much (I think both have their strengths) but as other reviewers have noted there was often a sense of detachment from the action (and there is a lot of action). It was hard to really feel that attached to the main characters at times. 
 That being said this is a fast paced action packed book with a unique universe, which I really enjoyed and I will be reading book 2 when I can get my hands on it :)