Wintersmith (Discworld) by Terry Pratchett
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Book Reviews of Wintersmith (Discworld)
Book Review: Another great Tiffany Aching book!
Summary: 5 Stars
I always try to space out my Terry Pratchett books now that I'm finally catching up to the latest books, so when I saw that the newest Tiffany book would be coming out, I decided it was time. Needless to say, this book once again reaffirmed my love for Pratchett.
Since there's so many reviews out there already, I'm going to skip the description paragraph. If you're a Terry Pratchett & Tiffany Aching fan, you'll know what this book is about. If you aren't aware of either, I really do suggest that you start with the previous books. You could probably read this without reading the previous once, but you'd miss out on a lot of fun & backstory.
There's a lot to like in this latest book. It's interesting to see what makes up the majority of witch training (mostly housework, if you were curious) & as always, I love seeing the interactions between Tiffany & Granny Weatherwax. Readers will also enjoy seeing Tiffany mature- she's starting to move past her childhood years & is starting to gain more confidence in herself as well as start noticing (reluctantly so) the opposite gender. Especially fun is the advice Nanny Ogg gives her as far as dealing with the opposite sex in general. (On a side note, Nanny's home is called Tir Nanny Ogg- how cute is that?)
While the book does have a few scenes that dragged a bit, overall this was an entertaining read that fans of Tiffany Aching in particular & Terry Pratchett fans in general will absolutely adore!
Book Review: The Lord of Winter and the Lady of Sumner
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the third in Terry Pritchett's wonderful "YA" Fantasy series. I put the "" around "YA" as this book (and the entire series) is suitable for all but the youngest readers, and I heartily recommend it for the older crowd- of which I am part.
Tiffany Aching is a Witch. Well, no, she doesn't actually cast hexes or curses or sell love potions or tell fortunes- and in fact few Witches on Discworld do any "real" magic at all. Mostly what they do is tend to their "flock"- usually a small rural village. They use herbals, "headology", give advice, help with the lambing, sit with the dead, visit the elderly, and so forth. Mind you, they do wear pointy hats and ride a broomstick now and then.
Tiffany has made a mistake- when invited to watch the Black Morris (performed at the start of Winter- and in all other ways the opposite of the Morris dance) she intervenes and takes the place of the Lady Of Summer who dances with the Wintersmith. This intrigues the Lord of Winter, who decides he now needs to become "human" and woo our young heroine. What's interesting here is that the "villain" is not in any way "evil"- he just makes some bad decisions out of ignorance- he thinks eternal Winter won't really be all that bad!
How Tiffany solves this problem as well as handling all her duties as a "Witch"- as well as growing up, it the crux of this delightful and often humorous book.
Book Review: One of Pratchett's finest books
Summary: 5 Stars
Terry Pratchett is a remarkable writer, and Wintersmith is one of his finer books. It's quite rare to read a book that makes me laugh out loud, but this one did so numerous times. While technically a young adult book, this reads just like all the other Discworld books. The main character just happens to be 13.
The witches in Pratchett's books rank as his best characters, so following TIffany and her continued growth as a witch under the guidance of the elder witches is simply delightful. The Wee Free Men complement the witches perfectly. The witches use truth in wonderful sarcasm, while the Wee Free Men use it in complete innocence. Both result in great moments.
I highly recommend Wintersmith to any Pratchett fan, and to anyone who can appreciate the intelligent sarcasm and irony presented by his characters. Pratchett ranks up with the best writers ever. That's hard praise to give someone who writes fantasy, but he stands apart in the mastery of telling a story that encompasses so much more.
Book Review: Vivid yet subtle fantasy as you like it.
Summary: 5 Stars
The Discworld series has entertained countless readers for decades, but it is in the Tiffany Aching sub-series that Pratchett truly excels. The story telling is effective and entertaining, and is excelled only by the humor that laces every chapter. The heroine is strong, smart, and relatable, but the Wee Free Men always steal the show.
The transcendence and hope woven through the novel provide an upbeat counter-weight to much of the darker fiction these days. While written for children, adults can enjoy this work completely unashamed.
Fans of Wintersmith will likely also enjoy: Entwined
Book Review: Wintersmith
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been a fan of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series for many years, but have only recently begun reading his children's books. Frankly, I prefer his books to the Harry Potter series for a couple of reasons. First, Pratchett's style and stories are much lighter and funnier. He has an eye and ear for the comic which is just dead on. Also, I really like Tiffany Aching, who is a delightful heroine and smart, honest and unpretentious. Wintersmith is the 3rd book about her, the first is The Wee Free Men, and the second is A Hatful of Sky. I love them all. They are slightly skewed retellings of traditional fairy tales (think Fractured Fairy Tales).