Priestess of the White (Age of Five #1)[March 1, 2024]

[Yanique, Thread Master]

This is a Buddy Read for Priestess of the White by Trudi Canavanstarting on March 1, 2024.


Happy Reading!

[Erin]

Thank you!

[Nirkatze]

Looking forward to it!

Schedule:
1. Priestess of the White (March 1)
2. Last of the Wilds (April 1) [link]
3. Voice of the Gods (May 1) [link]

audio: All are Audible Exclusives
ebook: all on Hoopla.

[Erin]

That was my initial thinking and then adjust if needed

[Nirkatze]

Sounds good! :)

[Charlie]

This is my favourite series of all time! I'm so in!

[Nirkatze]

Yay! I love Canavan too--I was super bummed to miss out on the Millennium's Rule read last year... couldn't squeeze it in... haven't read those yet...

[Erin]

I'm a little behind with an end of February buddy read spilling into March so I probably won't get to this one until later in the week

[Monika]

Will start soon... I hope.

[Charlie]

Same here, I'm behind on 4 BRs so might be a week late.

[Nirkatze]

I was going to start next, but I'll wait a bit and go to some that folks have started first. ^^

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

It's interesting how this book/series is 50% 4-5 stars, and 50% DNFs on the front page of reviews AND my friend list...

[Erin]

Fingers crossed that having loved one of her other series bodes well for liking this one

[Monika]

Prologue read. Interesting start of the story.

[Monika]

Up to chapter 4. Hmmm Auraya seems mature... Why she was the Chosen?

[Charlie]

Timelord Iain wrote: "It's interesting how this book/series is 50% 4-5 stars, and 50% DNFs on the front page of reviews AND my friend list..."

Hmm definitiely devisive! I haven't started yet but I've read it a few times so I remember it pretty well. I don't see how anyone could not love it honestly, everything about it is just perfection. In my fangirling opinion :D.

[Charlie]

Monika wrote: "Up to chapter 4. Hmmm Auraya seems mature... Why she was the Chosen?"

That's the question isn't it! :D

I can tell you why, but what would be a spoiler!

[Monika]

Charlie please don't 😁. I'll find out during reading 🤣

[Charlie]

I think you'll figure it out during book 3 lol

[Erin]

Started this one on my lunch break but only got through the prologue. Not many thoughts yet but hopefully I'll read more after work today

[Charlie]

I'm so eager to join you guys but I really think it will be next week, I just don't have the time this week and I'm in the middle of several BRs

[Monika]

Up to chapter 6. I do like it so far 😁.

[Nirkatze]

Oh yay! Folks started! I'll be here tomorrow, probably.

[Erin]

Through chapter 2 and a few thoughts

(view spoiler)[I think it's interesting how we started the book with the prologue being when Auraya first joins the priesthood. And then we skip forward in chapter one to when she's chosen for the white and skip over all the years of her priest training because I feel like often in fantasy that 10 years of training would just be a whole book or series on its own.

Also was not expecting to have bird people in this series. (hide spoiler)]

[Charlie]

Erin wrote: "Through chapter 2 and a few thoughts

.."

I would actually (view spoiler)[ love a series just about Auraya and her early years in the proesthood, it would be super fun to me, becuase I'm a huge fan of this world. I should start a petition!

The Siyee are wonderful, they're so wholesome, I adore them <3. (hide spoiler)]

[Monika]

Up to chapter 10. Mischief is interesting creature 😄. Hmmm Emerahl intriguing me. Is she a Wild??? Hmmm.

[Charlie]

Monika wrote: "Up to chapter 10. Mischief is interesting creature 😄. Hmmm Emerahl intriguing me. Is she a Wild??? Hmmm."

Yay! so (view spoiler)[

Emrahl is my favourite character out of the lot, I won't comment on her Wild status, because, spoilers :D. But it's a cool possibility for sure, I love her no-nonsense attitude, she's my hero.

Mischief is freaking adorable, I always imagined him like a little fennec fox. His favourite words are treat and scratch, very much like my toddler! (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Just started, through Chapter 4. It's been ages since I read this series, and I'm realizing that while I remember most of the major reveals (I think), I've forgotten all of the details. Which is not a bad place to be in a reread. (view spoiler)[I didn't remember the Siyee being introduced so early, but I'm loving it! So interesting to have a people who can fly and are so physically weak, making up for it with ingenuity... and not weak as in regular people compared to superhumans, but like bird-bone brittle.

Even this early on, we're getting a sense of the religion having some serious worries, with the persecution of Dreamweavers... And all the mind-reading! Gods, Priests, Dreamweavers (or at least Auraya's mentor) all being able to just jump in and read folk's thoughts! That's so intrusive! It does make me wonder if there might not be folks with natural barriers, who can't be read... and I'm also asking the question on why Auraya was chosen--because of or despite her sympathy towards Dreamweavers? (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Through Chapter 9--(view spoiler)[I like the conversation in immortality and dealing with people growing old and dying--they don't get used to it, but they give themselves time to grieve and then move on. I feel like other books with immortality either go the emotionless or broken route... (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Through Chapter 24--(view spoiler)[I'm not overly fond of Auraya & Leiard--I am not a fan of large age gaps and mentor-mentee relationships... seriously, the guy knowing her as a child is a big ick factor and feels like grooming even if he "only now" realized he has feelings for her.

I like the series despite this, but this is definitely a large rock in an otherwise smooth path.

I also totally didn't remember Emerahl at all, and am enjoying her story... she's got to be one of the Wilds, and I'm thinking even the named one, the Hag....

Mirar taking over Leiard is concerning...(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Monika]

Up to chapter 17. Tryss is smart one, unfortunately his cousins are pain... Emerahl has some knowledge and gifts for sure... I do think she's the Hag...

[Nirkatze]

That was my thought too...

Up through Chapter 42 now--(view spoiler)[The whole thing with Leiard coming out of a whore's tent was rather sudden. Was it Mirar taking him over? Or something else? Definitely wasn't actually Leiard...

I find it interesting that both the White and the Penta...garians? Are so sure that each others' gods are false... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 46 (view spoiler)[noooo Tryssss!! This whole war feels rather... pointless. Why did they have to get the Siree involved at all? It feels like sending children to war... (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Finished! (view spoiler)[Emerhal seeing Leiard and saying "Mirar!" puts a lid on it... those memories of Leiard's aren't Dreamweaver leakings, but his own memories, suppressed... how did he escape death, and hide his self though? And I still don't know what was up with the whore...

So glad Tryss is okay, but I don't like surprise pregnancy storylines. Especially since they're so young!

The battle is over, but the war isn't... (hide spoiler)]

[Monika]

You are fast one @Nirkatze 😄. Will take me some more time.

[Charlie]

@Monika, Tryss' cousins are awful, I always rooted for Tryss, he's such a clever and good hearted person.

@Nirkatze (view spoiler)[ regarding the whore, if I remember and understood it right, at that moment, Mirar had took over so it wasn't really Liard. I can't remember if Mirar did it to discourage Auraya or just because he wanted to but either way, I don't think it's something Liard would have ever been comfortable with.

Both the White and the Pentadrians are adamant their Gods are really which is super interesting because they both believe the other religion's Gods must be imaginary. I always found this odd, if your Gods are real, surely other people's Gods can be real too. Fanaticism overcomes logic though. I actually like the Pentadrians style of governance better, they and their gods don't directly influence and police their followers in the way the Circle do.

Regarding the Siyee, I think it's an absolute tragedy they leaned how to be useful in war, They were so innocent in so many ways. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

@Monika & Charlie, re: Cousins--oh, that chapter made me so mad!!! Though it also emphasizes the feeling of the Siyee as child-like... those are the antics of jealous children, yet they are supposed to be cusping adults...

@Charlie re: gods--(view spoiler)[I totally agree!! The fact that they can have such fanaticism about their own, yet completely dismiss others--especially since they know that other gods used to exist before the war, and that new gods can come into existence... it is a definite red flag. I love that scene when Auraya (it was Auraya, right?) actually sees a Pentadarian communing with their god, and had to readjust her whole thinking...

Thank you for the clarification on the Leiard/whore scene... there's a later scene, when Auraya confronts Leiard and asks him about "the whore" and Leiard says "so you know about that..." and I'm still wondering if he was referring to something different... why would Mirar stage such a scene if not for Auraya to know? Or maybe just to break Leiard off of Auraya, and her seeing was just icing on the cake... And now I want cake. And that's about how incongruous I found that scene... (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Through Ch. 4... The Siyee are very interesting!

I am a first time reader and already am fascinated with this world, despite not really having any idea what the heck is going on... I am not worried though, because I trust the author will let me know as we read on... You guys know how much I love religion/politics in my stories, so I am very excited to be here.

Auraya is obviously a very bright young person from the start, now I hope she would be able to bridge those different cultures and help her world get along better...

I wonder how big of a role the old wizard woman and the girl she helped will have in the story going forward. I am very intrigued by her. Also, I want her to kick that horrible father's ass!!!

I love the way this author writes and I am sure she will not let us down!

[Charlie]

Choko wrote: "Through Ch. 4... The Siyee are very interesting!

I am a first time reader and already am fascinated with this world, despite not really having any idea what the heck is going on... I am not worri..."

Regarding the old woman... (view spoiler)[ She's my absolute favourite I hope you love her!

Auraya is a great character, she's smart and compassionate but still super likable.

The politics and religion in this world are very intertwined and it's just fantastic. (hide spoiler)]

[Charlie]

Started this morning and I'm 14 chapters in, it's just as great as I remember. (view spoiler)[ I love that Auraya can fly! Perfect timing for the alliance with the Siyee.

Mischief continues to amuse me, I want a veez spo much!

The White are interesting, initially I thought the gods would choose representatives who were very fanatical and serious like Rhian and Diara but Mirae and Juran seem pretty chill and Auraya has heathen sympathies so she definitely isn't the type I thought they'd go for. Towards the end of book 3 you do find out why the White were chosen but initially it seems like a really odd mix.

I really like the Dreamweavers, they vow to help and heal all who need it, and they actually follow through which is fantastic. The Circle probably had good intentions at one point but we've already seen corruption and bigotry and I don't think they do enough to make sure their followers are decent humans. The harrassment of Dreamweavers and those who use their services is not okay. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Glad to see your enthusiasm, @Choko! I really enjoyed Emerahl in this book--I can't believe I totally forgot about her!

@Charlie--loving your deeper analysis, re: through Chapter 14--(view spoiler)[Good point about the mix of characters in the White, and how the Circle is full of corruption and bigotry... It's pretty suspect too, how they would outlaw an order that's only creed is to heal... Auraya's whole worry about the souls of Dreamweavers really irks me too--and leans into Leiard's argument. Religion, and where your soul goes, should be the choice of the individual, not something enforced by laws... And that also plays into the fanaticism of both the Circle and Pentadarians--on whose gods exist and whose are false--even if there are powerful beings claiming to be gods, how do they know they actually care for their souls after death? This doubt has probably been exacerbated by reading Vigor Mortis recently. But anyway--there is no way to know, so the only thing to do is have faith, and faith should never be regulated with law... (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

I am up to Ch. 18 and I agree with you, Charlie. Auraya is very likable and the Siyee are magical! I really hope The Landwalkers of all ilks don't destroy them by involving them in their political wars... They are too beautiful and fragile to be in the midst of all this brutality...

I also agree with Nirkatze... (view spoiler)[ Auraya and her tutor together is a tad cringe... Particularly since he is obviously partially possessed by Mirar, and Mirar seems to be taking him over more and more...

The Pentagarians come off as horrible from the POVs we have had so far. I wonder if there is a deeper reason for their violent invasion of these lands...

I really like Emerahl and her transformation from the Hag into this young woman. The way she approached her need to prostitute herself felt very matter of fact for her, and I appreciate that. I am looking forward to figuring out what her role is going to be.

I hope the dude who is Auraya 's assistant, doesn't get killed... He seems to be too close to political danger and I don't want him to become collateral damage... (hide spoiler)]

[Charlie]

@Nirkatze @Choko

absolutely, (view spoiler)[ faith should be a choice, always, and thats where the Circle go wrong in my opinon. They's proabbly have more followers if they weren;t so militant about it. Forcing people is not the way, people will find a way to rebel.

I was never really for or against Auraya and Liard, they don't have any real chemistry to me, they're just old friends, in a comfortable way. If Aurya was 17 and Liard 30 in the prologue, that's a bit too ick, It does mean that if Auraya is currently 27 and he is 40, the age gap isn't too bad now they're a decade older. But I still don't seem them romantically involved.

The Pentadrians absolutely appear as awful people so far. They seem to have no regard for human life, which isn't a good sign.

Emrahl's transformation is super cool. Overall, her ability to change her age and appearance is super helpful. She's definitely a pragmatist. She's lived long enough not to be prudish and it's definitely refreshing.

I really like Danjin too, I think he's a good friend to Auraya, despite the power imbalance.


(hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Finished... I enjoyed it, although I think I am seeing some patterns that I am guessing will lead to an inevitable end by the third book finale ... (view spoiler)[ The way I see it, there are two choices - either the Five G-ds are the same for both sides and go by different names, ala Greek/Roman pantheons, or there are two sets of G-ds and they are fighting for influence through their followers. Also, it reminds me a bit of Discworld, where the G-ds see people as pawns and they are playing a giant board game with them. It wouldn't surprise me if that is exactly what they are doing and the prize for the winner is a kiss, or a dollar, or something ridiculous like that, to completely minimize the loss of all these people's lives... However, I think they are playing by set rules, like both sides have to have only 5 powerful players on each side, only so many immortals and so on...

I also think that Liard is actually Mirar, but has somehow changed himself, like Emerahl did to herself, and maybe because of knowing that the White, who think they have killed him, can read minds, he hid himself deep into his brain, manufacturing this new Liard personality so he can hide from the mind readers... And the "sharing of the mind" on death that is possible within the Dreamweaver community, is a great cover story if he gets caught... I know this sounds far fetched, but what if it is possible? Does that make him another Wild Immortal like Emerahl?

Speaking of Emerahl, I love her! She and Tryss' people are my favorite! I was so upset that they had to be involved in war and violence, when both just wanted to live and let live... Thank goodness for Mirar saving him in the end, because I would have been pissed if that kid died! And yes, Nirkatze, they seem way too young to be expecting a kid, but it might be their lifespans are closer to the birds' and everything might be a tad faster for their species... Plus, it's easier for us to infantilize their race, since they all look like children mostly...

I love Mischief!

I hate all the needles loss of life, especially when there seem to be such beautiful diversity of living intelligent beings in this world...

The prostitute scene was very obviously intended by Mirar to repel Auraya, so Liard would let her be and move on, the way I saw it... (hide spoiler)]

This author definitely has a style of writing and creating her stories that is very hers, and I am one of those people, like Charlie, who enjoys it:))) I am excited to be reading another series by her with you guys!!!

[Monika]

Up to chapter 27. Need to sit with it more seriously... Great read so far.

[Choko]

I enjoyed it too, Monika:)

[Nirkatze]

Grats on the finish, Choko! I love your theorizing, and comparison to Discworld. I'm pretty sure we get a POV from the Pentadarian side in the next book, so I'm looking forward to seeing the justification for everything and getting more clues on those theories...

@Charlie--thank you for the age numbers! I also like your description of Emerahl as a "pragmatist"--that's really her to a T! And something to admire.

If you are enjoying the writing so much, I'd love to continue on to the Black Magician series after we finish this...

Also, are folks good with keeping the 1st of the month for the next few books? If April 1st & May 1st work for y'all, I'll put in requests.

[Monika]

I think I read Black Magician series, but nothing wrong with rereading 😁

[Choko]

Sure!

[Monika]

Up to chapter 30. New nation. Interesting. Not easy bit for Auraya. I like Tryss more and more 😁. Curious about Dreamweavers and what Emerahl will do.

[Charlie]

@Nirkatze I would love to reread Black Magician, happy for the 1st of the month going forward. Are we starting with the prequal?

@Monika Absolutely not easy for Auraya! She definitely has an interesting first year as a White.

@Choko I soooooo want to comment on all your theories but I can't because of SPOILERS :D. I will say (view spoiler)[

Divine chess is definitely an idea and absolutely gives Discworld vibes, I picked that up on my first read too. If it's true, it makes the loss of life even more atrocious. Like, I know the gods are, well, gods, but c'mon, where is their humanity?!

Liard/ Mirar - great theories, keep reading to find out :D. Oddly enough I actually prefer the Mirar personality out of the two. He's not as likable but he's honest and forthright and it's refreshing.

Emerahl - I don't even know where to start, she is just amazing, I love her and I want her to take over Ithania and rule :D. Which is probably why the gods hate her, because they know she's do a better job than they do! (hide spoiler)]