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View Full Version : Terry Pratchett - Wintersmith


Kell
1st October 2006, 19:00
Wintersmith
Author: Terry Pratchett
ISBN # 0385609841
Publisher: Doubleday
First Published: 2006
399 pages
Rating: 7

Blurb:
Tiffany Aching is a trainee witch - now working for the seriously scary Miss Treason. But when Tiffany witnesses the Dark Dance - the crossover from summer to winter - she does what none has ever done before and leaps into the dance, into the oldest story there ever is, and draws the attention of the Wintersmith himself...As Tiffany-shaped snowflakes hammer down on the land, can Tiffany deal with the consequences of her actions? Even with the help of Granny Weatherwax and the Nac Mac Feegle - the fightin', thievin' pictsies who are prepared to lay down their lives for their 'big wee hag' ...

Review:
This is the third Tiffany Aching novel and it’s every bit as enchanting as the previous offerings. Pratchett’s Discworld is superbly realised and his younger fans will be delighted with Wintersmith. The Nac Mac Feegles are the ultimate in comic relief as well as being fantasy’s most unlikely heroes (think Glaswegian Smurfs – honestly, it’s better than it sounds!), and Tiffany, still struggling to come to terms with her being different to other girls her age (even the other trainee witches) and having great responsibility heaped on her young shoulders. Still, standing up and taking responsibility for your own actions is a lesson well-worth being learned and Pratchett manages to do this without sounding at all preachy or condescending.

There’s everything we have come to expect from Pratchett; clever, witty humour, excellent writing and superb story-telling, all in the most lush worlds ever to spring from a fertile imagination. If you’ve already read The Wee Free Men and Hat Full of Sky, do NOT miss this one. And if you’ve not already read them, why not? Go on, go and pick up a copy right now and get caught up! Tsk, there’s no telling some people!

Mia
1st November 2007, 20:19
I've just finished this today, and agree with everything Kell said, except that I would definitely give it 10 out of 10!

I thought this book was superb, and definitely my favourite of the Tiffany Aching books. It was wonderful to see Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg back in their double act. All the characters are wonderfully drawn - for me it's lovely to return to these familiar faces. Whilst these characters keep their comforting familiarity, others change and grow, notably Tiffany and even Rob Anybody.

But, as ever, my favourite thing is Pratchett's humour. The Nac Mac Feegles are as hilarious as ever, and Horace the cheese cracked me up completely. :lol: Even the throwaway bit parts are hilarious, such as Anoia, goddess of things that get stuck in drawers(!).

This is one of my favourite Pratchett books ever. I can't praise it highly enough. Top notch Pratchett.