Priestess of the White (Age of the Five, #1) in Aussie Readers

Dec 09, 2017 Kira rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, aussie-author

3.5 stars.

Auraya is a priestess of the white, one of five of the gods chosen to become immortal. The story follows her journey, and those closest to her, following her appointment and on the path to war.

The world building is the real winner in this book. I felt as though the land of Ithania really existed and had a clear sense of the way society(ies) worked within it. The story used a more distant third person viewpoint, and I felt distanced from the protagonist as well as the other viewpoint c ...more

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Aug 04, 2008 Tien rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, australian-author, fantasy

When Auraya’s village is being held hostage, she took a chance to be where the negotiation takes place. Further, she took the chance to say her piece in hope that it may help free the villagers. The result of this peacekeeping action on her part was an opportunity she may never have had. She is to go to learn the use of her Gift and become a priestess, a Circlian.

Auraya’s life changed tremendously especially when she was chosen to be the last & fifth White – Chosen of the gods. The Whites are to When Auraya’s village is being held hostage, she took a chance to be where the negotiation takes place. Further, she took the chance to say her piece in hope that it may help free the villagers. The result of this peacekeeping action on her part was an opportunity she may never have had. She is to go to learn the use of her Gift and become a priestess, a Circlian.

Auraya’s life changed tremendously especially when she was chosen to be the last & fifth White – Chosen of the gods. The Whites are to make overtures to their neighbours in the hope of a peaceful alliance and prosperous country. This endeavour, however, was threatened by an invasion by the Pentadrian who claimed that their five gods are the real gods.

Asides from matters of state, Auraya’s personal life was a surprised to her as well. She’s in love, with the wrong man, it seems. Whilst she has known Leiard from her life in the village, he is a heathen, a Dreamweaver, he does not worship her gods. This is unacceptable to her position but she is powerless to deny these feelings. There is no doubt that this will bring her grief but to make it all the more interesting, what about Leiard himself? He is a man of unknown depth or is there something more sinister hidden within him?

Since I loved the Black Magician Trilogy, I decided that I really had to read Trudi Canavan’s next trilogy (I also loved The Magician’s Apprentice) and so begins my next foray into a world full of wonder. It is a world of magic, of mystery and of intrigue. Since this is a re-read for me, I found it a little bit hard to get into it at first since I’ve already read this first book (but not the next 2 but I had to re-read before I read the next two – it’s been a while) however once I got into it, I couldn’t put it down. And as always with a re-read, you noticed more things you didn’t before especially the epilogue. I’m not quite sure yet whether I liked the epilogue. I do because it creates an intriguing feeling which makes me want to pick up the next book straight away. And I don’t because I’m afraid that my guesswork of what’s going on (under all that layers of mysteries) is correct and therefore, this epilogue would have just ruined the trilogy for me. I guess, this will all be revealed when I read the next two books in the series.

As a side note, this trilogy is not in any way connected to the Black Magician trilogy.
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Oct 10, 2011 Swiftsea rated it liked it

Shelves: university

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I must start by explaining how I never finished the Magician's Guild. I tried reading a few chapters of it, then gave up as Canavan drew us into excess descriptions of a sewer escape that I could make no sense of. As a result, I had low expectations of the Priestess of the White ("POW"). POW was tolerable which explains how I even managed to finished the book and shall attempt to go through its sequel Last of the Wilds.

I haven't written reviews in a long time (it's been over a year since I last ...more

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Jul 23, 2011 Lindsay rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: z2011, fantasy

Good old escapist fantasy, one of my favourite genres. I love being transported to another world, full of magic and political intrigue.

I read this fairly quickly because I got the first two books, and wanted to read them before I move (and so don't have to lug them on the train with all my other stuff), but definitely enjoyed it. Looking forward to the second book. ...more

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Sep 13, 2014 Aphie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: high-fantasy, fantasy

I know it's taken me a LOOONNNNG time to get around to reading some Trudi Canavan, especially after people have raved about her. So far, I'm liking the interesting, complex characters and world. ...more

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