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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
The first in The Witches subseries in the larger Discworld universe, Wyrd Sisters is a satire of Macbeth, Hamlet and Witch stereotypes.
I actually read this last year but ended up listening to some of the others and decided to listen to the audiobook of this because Indira Varma just elevates the books, which are good anyway, with her fabulous narration. She's so good at doing distinct voices for each character and captures their personalities perfectly.
This is my favourite of the Witches books I've read, it's slightly meandering in plot sometimes but doesn't suffer the middle lull I've found some of Pratchett's books to have. The plot is very entertaining, taking some traditional tropes from Fantasy and Shakespeare, like secret royalty, and doing something different with them, along with gently taking the piss out of royalty.
Granny Weatherwax demonstrates just how magically powerful she is in this one, along with some of her usual tactics of "headology" (manipulation as most people would call it). Nanny Ogg is always good for a laugh and Magrat is trying her best. I could have done without the repeated references to Magrat's flat chest and lack of conventional good looks. I don't think Pratchett meant anything by it, she has a romantic storyline so I think it was more him trying to say two average looking normal people can have a romance, not everyone has to be conventionally attractive (this was written in the late 80s for context, and many of his books are social satire) but it was a tad too much imo. Magrat and the Fool's romance could have done with more substance as well.
Part of what I liked about the story is just how normal people are, it's just a backwater kingdom and everyone wants to get on with their lives and are content being average. It's basically like any English village. Even the Witches are quite normal and don't use magic all that much and go about village life when they're not getting swept up in evil royal's plots. I wouldn't want it all the time but it was quite nice for a change, the characters end up feeling like people you know or could be your neighbours as a result.
Overall, one of my favourite Discworld books.
I actually read this last year but ended up listening to some of the others and decided to listen to the audiobook of this because Indira Varma just elevates the books, which are good anyway, with her fabulous narration. She's so good at doing distinct voices for each character and captures their personalities perfectly.
This is my favourite of the Witches books I've read, it's slightly meandering in plot sometimes but doesn't suffer the middle lull I've found some of Pratchett's books to have. The plot is very entertaining, taking some traditional tropes from Fantasy and Shakespeare, like secret royalty, and doing something different with them, along with gently taking the piss out of royalty.
Granny Weatherwax demonstrates just how magically powerful she is in this one, along with some of her usual tactics of "headology" (manipulation as most people would call it). Nanny Ogg is always good for a laugh and Magrat is trying her best. I could have done without the repeated references to Magrat's flat chest and lack of conventional good looks. I don't think Pratchett meant anything by it, she has a romantic storyline so I think it was more him trying to say two average looking normal people can have a romance, not everyone has to be conventionally attractive (this was written in the late 80s for context, and many of his books are social satire) but it was a tad too much imo. Magrat and the Fool's romance could have done with more substance as well.
Part of what I liked about the story is just how normal people are, it's just a backwater kingdom and everyone wants to get on with their lives and are content being average. It's basically like any English village. Even the Witches are quite normal and don't use magic all that much and go about village life when they're not getting swept up in evil royal's plots. I wouldn't want it all the time but it was quite nice for a change, the characters end up feeling like people you know or could be your neighbours as a result.
Overall, one of my favourite Discworld books.
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3 stars. The plot in this book was decent and the characters were quite good. The humor was just okay; there were some funny moments but more fell flat than in previous entries. This may be me: I’ve heard there are a ton of references to Shakespeare which passed me right by. The conclusion was well done and did much to redeem the slow beginning and middle.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's got a really nice fairy tale feel but it finishes really abruptly.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes