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

[Nirkatze]

Ok, I'm guessing folks are OK with April 1st and May 1st for the rest of the series going forward.

I'd be game for slotting in the Black Magician books after that, from June 1-Sept 1. I'd probably recommend starting with the trilogy and doing the prequel after--else spoilers.

[Charlie]

Sounds good, we could do the sequel trilogy too if people are interested?

[Erin]

I've been meaning to reread Black Magician for a few years now so I can read the sequel series so I'm down!

[Monika]

Through chapter 32. Marching armies... Hmmm... Will Emerahl slip between priests' fingers? What with Auraya and Leiard? Will they stay separate?

[Nirkatze]

Erin wrote: "I've been meaning to reread Black Magician for a few years now so I can read the sequel series so I'm down!"

Same! I've been meaning to read the sequel series forever but never gotten around to it... hence me sneakily suggesting we jump into these next. ^^ I'll put the requests in today.

[Nirkatze]

Last two books scheduled for April 1 & May 1, and first book of the Black Magician trilogy tossed in for June 1.

[Monika]

Up to chapter 37. So... Armies in the move...

[Erin]

Charlie wrote: "Started this morning and I'm 14 chapters in, it's just as great as I remember. I love that Auraya can fly! Perfect timing for the alliance with the Siyee.

Mischief continues to amuse me, I want a..."

Agree with you on (view spoiler)[the selection of the white. It's a very interesting make up of personalities for the highest religious order that I wouldn't have expected (hide spoiler)]

[Charlie]

Monika wrote: "Through chapter 32. Marching armies... Hmmm... Will Emerahl slip between priests' fingers? What with Auraya and Leiard? Will they stay separate?"

dum dum dum... oh the tension :D

[Erin]

It pains me to say this but I'm about 360 pages in and I think I'm DNFing this one. I'm so bummed! Black Magician is one of my favorite series so I was so excited for other Trudi Canavan books but this one was just not doing it for me. I just was so bored. I didn't find myself attached to any of the characters and none of the POV's were interesting to me and I was finding myself just totally dragging to pick it up and read

[Charlie]

Nooooooo. I'm so sorry to hear that Erin but at least you gave it a go.

[Nirkatze]

Thanks for giving it a try Erin! I do like Black Magician more than these, even though I still enjoy these. I scheduled the first Black Magician so I hope you'll join us for those! June 1st!

[Erin]

Yeah I've seen a few reviews of this one where people were saying this one didn't work for them but Black Magician did so I'm hopeful Black Magician still holds up on reread for me!

[Nirkatze]

Fingers crossed!

[Nirkatze]

book 2 & 3 thread links are live!

[Monika]

Honestly need to catch up and finally finish this one 🤣

[Charlie]

So I read a load more last night and I remember a bit more about the Liard/ whore situation (view spoiler)[ I'm pretty sure that when Mirar took control, he purposely sought out a whore so if Auraya was looking for him, she would see in his mind what he was doing and assume he never really loved her. He thinks the Liard/ Auraya relationship is a huge threat to Dreamweavers so he's eager to sabotage it. I definitely don't think Liard would have taken that approach.
(hide spoiler)]

Regarding the Pentadrian gods (view spoiler)[ So Auraya has now seen for herself that at least one of them is real. This is huge and has shaken her whole world view. It definitely changes things, now the Pentadrian cause has legitimacy, if they, like the Circle are doing this at the behest of their Gods. (hide spoiler)]

[Monika]

Up to chapter 43. What a mess! Juran kick Leiard out of Auraya life (for now), so we have unhappy girl. Thanks to this she found enemies who used hidden passage to attack Whites and their allies. Them enemies seems very strong and kinda vicious lot. Very interesting.

[Nirkatze]

@Charlie--thank you for looking into that more in-depth. I'm definitely leaning towards your interpretation of events here. I also love that reveal--(view spoiler)[that the Pentadarian gods are real... and of course we know that the Circle's gods are real as well... would love to see the reverse world-shaking too, for a Pentadarian to witness the Circle's gods...

It's so interesting, isn't it, that we know both sets are real... and that both sets are SO CONVINCED that the other side's are not? This definitely stinks of conspiracy... someone somewhere had to make a decision to actively hide or cover-up their existence or spread this disinformation... but to what end? Especially something that could be disproved so easily... or what could be easily if the two sides had any sort of common contact. It's got to be linked to the war. (hide spoiler)]

[Charlie]

Monika wrote: "Up to chapter 43. What a mess! Juran kick Leiard out of Auraya life (for now), so we have unhappy girl. Thanks to this she found enemies who used hidden passage to attack Whites and their allies. T..."

I think Juran was way out of line. He doesn't get to choose who Auraya spends her time with, the actual audacity.

Nirkatze wrote: "@Charlie--thank you for looking into that more in-depth. I'm definitely leaning towards your interpretation of events here. I also love that reveal-.."

I know, I LOVE a good conspiracy! :D (view spoiler)[ I know it's not them but it sounds like the kind of thing the Spear family would organise... set up two neighbouring nations to war with each other, stoke the religious ferver fire and profit from selling weapons to both.

I think if both the White and Voices saw their enemies Gods, they still wouldn't think they're real. They're so convinced they have the divine on their side. (hide spoiler)]

[Monika]

Finished. Good read, really good. My thoughts... Juran is old-timer with lots of superstition and no will to move on. Auraya is still sort of pure - she cares and wants to help basically everyone. Emerahl is my fave 😁. She's one strong girl who can be nasty if needs to be, but I think she's good one deep down. Leiard... Hmmm... Is he Mirar or just his incarnation? We find out in some point of this story 😁

[Nirkatze]

@Charlie--oooh, conspiracies... (view spoiler)[The Spear family analogue really asks the question though--who is profiting from this? What is the benefit?? (hide spoiler)]

@Monika--More folks for the Emerahl fan club! Nice analysis and questions...

[Charlie]

@Monika so glad you enjoyed it! I hope to finish this soon. RE Liard, WHO IS HE :D :D :D hah i don;t think even he knows at this point and he's probably too scred to find out. Also, all hail Emrahl!

@Nirkatze Who indeed! All will be revealed... in book 3 :D

[Charlie]

The middle of chapter 46 (view spoiler)[ Tryss! I can't remember if he lives, he better! (hide spoiler)]

[Charlie]

chapter 48 (view spoiler)[ Tryss was healed by Liard! (hide spoiler)]

[Charlie]

Finished! I loved it just as much as I always have! (view spoiler)[ I had forgotten the chess dream at the end, good forshadowing I think. I also think then when 'Liard' appeared in that dream, that was Mirar, I think Liard is still supressed. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

re: Ending--(view spoiler)[Leiard being suppressed would fit with going into a second book--gotta bring everything down into the lowest nadir and throw the worst stuff at poor characters, so that the third book can bring everyone back up again at the ending... (hide spoiler)]