Book Review: I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett

Author: Terry Pratchett 
Title: I Shall Wear Midnight 
Narrator: Indira Varma
Previously Read By the Same Author:

• The Carpet People
• The Discworld Graphic Novels
• Good Omens : The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (with Neil Gaiman)
• A Hat Full of Sky 
• Monstrous Regiment
• Terry Pratchett: The BBC Radio Drama Collection
• The Wee Free Men
• Wintersmith 

Publication Info: Clarion Books, 2023 [Originally published in 2010]
Summary/Review:

Tiffany Aching, now 15-years-old, is facing new challenges as the witch of The Chalk.  Her old friend and sometime love interest Roland is marrying a noble woman Letitia whose mother the Dutchess makes things even more miserable for Tiffany.  There’s a growing fear and prejudice against witches in the land even though the people still rely on her to care for the sick and elderly.  And she is being pursued by the Cunning Man, the demonic spirit of a witch-finder with no eyes and a foul smell.  As always, the Nac Mac Feegles follow Tiffany wherever she goes to protect her but inevitably end up causing her more trouble.  The novel is more mature than it’s predecessors reflecting Tiffany’s age and experience, and touches on themes such as domestic violence, teen pregnancy, prejudice, burgeoning sexuality, death, and grief.  With a visit to the city of Ankh-Morpork, Tiffany’s story also crosses overs with characters from the City Watch stories of Discworld.

Recommended books:

• The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde
• The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente

Rating: ****

Book Review: Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett

Author: Terry Pratchett
Title: Wintersmith
Narrator: Stephen Briggs
Publication Info: Clarion Books, 2007
Summary/Review:

Attending the “Dark Morris” dance, young witch Tiffany Aching finds herself inextricably drawn to participate.  The Wintersmith, the mysterious personification of winter, mistakes her for the Summer Lady and kind of gets a crush on Tiffany.  Now faced with the prospect of endless Winter, Tiffany has to solve the problem of the Wintersmith with the help of Granny Weatherwax, the Nac Mac Feegles, and her friend – and potential love interest – Roland (Tiffany is 13 after all and is beginning to develop feelings for boys although she won’t admit it).  On top of this, the elder witch Miss Treason dies, leaving her cottage to Annagramma, but it’s up to the more skilled Tiffany to help Annagramma succeed as the local witch.  This is another clever, amusing, and well-told tale from Discworld.

Rating: ****

Book Review: A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett

Author: Terry Pratchett
Title: A Hat Full of Sky
Narrator: Stephen Briggs
Other books I’ve read by the same author:

• The Carpet People
• The Discworld Graphic Novels 
• Good Omens : The nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (with Neil Gaiman)
• Monstrous Regiment
• Terry Pratchett: The BBC Radio Drama Collection
• The Wee Free Men

Publication Info: HarperCollins, 2004
Summary/Review:

In the second Discworld novel about Tiffany Aching, the now 11-year-old witch leaves home to apprentice to an eccentric witch named Miss Level.  Apart from being frustrated with having to do more chores than learning spells, Tiffany has to deal with an entity known as a hiver.  The hiver occupies peoples’ minds and causes trouble up to and including death.

Meanwhile, the Wee Free Men under the leadership of Rob Anybody go on a quest to aid Tiffany.  Eventually the conflict with the hiver leads Tiffany to have to go on a journey of her own, accompanied by the powerful witch Granny Weatherwax.  What I love about this book is that when Tiffany finally confronts the hiver, she does so with compassion.  Even Granny Weatherwax is impressed.

It’s another funny and imaginative work from the pen of Pratchett

Rating: ****