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4.33 AVERAGE
4.33 AVERAGE
Honestly the best part of the book was the first few chapters. It wasn't the best for plot, nor characterization, but it did feel like Sir Terry managed to wind the tale down the way he wanted
I had mixed feelings going into this book. Knowing it was Terry Pratchett's last glimpse into Discworld made it very bittersweet, but I could not ignore the call of Tiffany Aching and the Wee Free Men. I listened to the audiobook version, which was excellently narrated.
Granny Weatherwax wanders away with Death, leaving the witches without an unofficial leader among them. Tiffany Aching is nominated to take her place. The elf world is in revolt. Queen Nightshade has been cast out into the human world while her people plot an invasion. The Wee Free Men find the fairy queen badly beaten and bring her to Tiffany. An unlikely friendship begins to form between the young witch and the former queen as Tiffany teaches Nightshade what it means to be human.
As Tiffany struggles to fill Granny's shoes as well as maintain her work on the Chalk, she must also train a new apprentice and babysit the fairy queen. If that wasn't enough, she must also come up with a plan to thwart the elvish invasion before the wreak too much havoc on the human world.
As always, Pratchett's characters are lively and loveable (or hateable). There's a perfect blend of humor and action as well as sadness, both due to events that unravel as the story is told, and the touching afterword regarding Pratchett's passing and his passion for his work. It's a wonderful story, and one I know I will revisit, once I think I'll be able to make it through without crying.
Granny Weatherwax wanders away with Death, leaving the witches without an unofficial leader among them. Tiffany Aching is nominated to take her place. The elf world is in revolt. Queen Nightshade has been cast out into the human world while her people plot an invasion. The Wee Free Men find the fairy queen badly beaten and bring her to Tiffany. An unlikely friendship begins to form between the young witch and the former queen as Tiffany teaches Nightshade what it means to be human.
As Tiffany struggles to fill Granny's shoes as well as maintain her work on the Chalk, she must also train a new apprentice and babysit the fairy queen. If that wasn't enough, she must also come up with a plan to thwart the elvish invasion before the wreak too much havoc on the human world.
As always, Pratchett's characters are lively and loveable (or hateable). There's a perfect blend of humor and action as well as sadness, both due to events that unravel as the story is told, and the touching afterword regarding Pratchett's passing and his passion for his work. It's a wonderful story, and one I know I will revisit, once I think I'll be able to make it through without crying.
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book opens with an event which is both sad and also very fitting... and changes things, a bit, for Tiffany Aching in the greater scheme of things.
As this event kicks things into motion, Tiffany finds herself being pulled in multiple directions, trying to take on 2 Steadings, maybe help train up some new witches, and also deal with the impending threat presented by the elves.
This book very much brings the whole "coming of age" story of Tiffany Aching to a full and complete circle, which is nice, since it is, alas, the last book of the series.
Overall I really enjoyed it. I didn't "enjoy" watching Tiffany's struggles to balance all of her mounting responsibilities, but I enjoyed watching her handle it and the conclusions she ultimately came to.
I also enjoyed the introduction of new characters Gregory and his weird goat, Mephistopheles.
My only real complaint is that I find the final battles to be a little anti-climactic after all the build up about how powerful the elves were, but, really, in some ways, that battle is almost a sub-plot, despite seeming to main story, as the real story is about Tiffany finally coming fully and completely into her own power.
As this event kicks things into motion, Tiffany finds herself being pulled in multiple directions, trying to take on 2 Steadings, maybe help train up some new witches, and also deal with the impending threat presented by the elves.
This book very much brings the whole "coming of age" story of Tiffany Aching to a full and complete circle, which is nice, since it is, alas, the last book of the series.
Overall I really enjoyed it. I didn't "enjoy" watching Tiffany's struggles to balance all of her mounting responsibilities, but I enjoyed watching her handle it and the conclusions she ultimately came to.
I also enjoyed the introduction of new characters Gregory and his weird goat, Mephistopheles.
My only real complaint is that I find the final battles to be a little anti-climactic after all the build up about how powerful the elves were, but, really, in some ways, that battle is almost a sub-plot, despite seeming to main story, as the real story is about Tiffany finally coming fully and completely into her own power.
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2522574.html
The last Terry Pratchett novel, written in the full knowledge that it would be; death and its consequences are a major part of the book (with a much spoilered plot development near the beginning setting the tone). But another large part of the plot centres around the battle between Faerie and technology, the essential conflict between magic and modernity expressed in a way that I don't think we had seen Pratchett do before. It's quite a difficult feat for a fantasy novel to make the case for rationalism and tech against superstition and brainwashing magic, and I think Pratchett managed to thread the needle here with his usual humanity and compassion.
The last Terry Pratchett novel, written in the full knowledge that it would be; death and its consequences are a major part of the book (with a much spoilered plot development near the beginning setting the tone). But another large part of the plot centres around the battle between Faerie and technology, the essential conflict between magic and modernity expressed in a way that I don't think we had seen Pratchett do before. It's quite a difficult feat for a fantasy novel to make the case for rationalism and tech against superstition and brainwashing magic, and I think Pratchett managed to thread the needle here with his usual humanity and compassion.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the sort of self-indulgent, "greatest hits" kind of novel I usually despise. But there is so much love in this for the characters and places that you overlook the simple plot and just roll with it. I don't know how history will treat this final offering to the series but I loved it. There are a few moments that fail to convince but as a send-off to my favourite writer and his best-loved setting, it was a wonderful farewell.
Mind how you go.
Mind how you go.
not his best book but reading it so soon after his death its a touching story that ends discworld series beautifully
I can't even give this book a star rating, so I won't even try. I was so emotional going into this read and finished the epilogue/author's note with a bittersweet feeling. No, this wasn't Terry Pratchett at his prime, but it was still a good book. If he had more time with it, this story would have been more fleshed out - certain characters would have had more time, and I think the resolution would have been a little more drawn out. However, a mediocre book from Terry Pratchett is a great book from anyone else. I am disappointed there are no more Tiffany Aching books, but will be content to continue working on the rest of this author's impressive catalogue. Thank you Mr. Pratchett, for all the time I have spent on the disc with you.
What could you possibly say.
It's an incomplete could-have-been masterpiece.
It took me a year to want to resume reading it. And hours to finish it. I feel so so sad.
It's an incomplete could-have-been masterpiece.
It took me a year to want to resume reading it. And hours to finish it. I feel so so sad.