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manlymangilly's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
I Get very emotional with this book. I find the story so deeply touching and feel so strongly about every character in it. It feels like a perfect ending that you wish would never end.
This is one of those stories that you finish and feel like your heart has been trapped in the story and it will take some time to emotionally detach. You feel full and empty at the same time.
It has deep life lessons, complex social commentary, and numerous laughs. I think it is heavier than the previous Tiffany books with significantly less whimsy. However it is moving and wholesome and tense and beautiful.
I only wish I could have more Terry Pratchett. No other author comes close. Truly one of a kind. The man has virtually created his own genre of writing because no other series compares.
This is one of those stories that you finish and feel like your heart has been trapped in the story and it will take some time to emotionally detach. You feel full and empty at the same time.
It has deep life lessons, complex social commentary, and numerous laughs. I think it is heavier than the previous Tiffany books with significantly less whimsy. However it is moving and wholesome and tense and beautiful.
I only wish I could have more Terry Pratchett. No other author comes close. Truly one of a kind. The man has virtually created his own genre of writing because no other series compares.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Child death, Domestic abuse, Murder, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Miscarriage, Child abuse, Hate crime, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Animal death, Death, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Grief, Hate crime, and Alcohol
jwells's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
It amazes me how many reviewers will automatically label a book a comedy or tag it as funny, just because Sir Terry's name is on the cover. The later Discworld books get dark, and this one is QUITE dark. Note content warnings. It's not a laugh riot.
Great series though. I love watching Tiffany grow into her role. New characters Mrs. Proust and Preston are good additions.
Great series though. I love watching Tiffany grow into her role. New characters Mrs. Proust and Preston are good additions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death of parent, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse
nnia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
I have heard this book spoken of and recommended so often.
I am very glad I have read it and look forward to reading it again.
It is Terry Pratchett’s last full Tiffany Aching novel of the Discworld series as the one after this is quite abbreviated due to the author’s declining health.
I’d recommend reading the other Witch books from the Disc World first in order, but as the author states on all of his Disc World books, each novel can be enjoyed on its own.
Witch burning, and the dark side of human nature are not new topics to novels, but Terry Pratchett’s writing and characters rise to the challenge and do not disappoint. The word ‘disappoint’ meaning literary ‘to be helpless in the underworld.’ Tiffany is a witch and must help herself and find a way to defeat the Cunning Man.
Really, this book is brilliant and now one of my favorites.
Would recommend to most anyone negotiating our current reality especially those coming to grips with it’s more toxic elements.
I am very glad I have read it and look forward to reading it again.
It is Terry Pratchett’s last full Tiffany Aching novel of the Discworld series as the one after this is quite abbreviated due to the author’s declining health.
I’d recommend reading the other Witch books from the Disc World first in order, but as the author states on all of his Disc World books, each novel can be enjoyed on its own.
Witch burning, and the dark side of human nature are not new topics to novels, but Terry Pratchett’s writing and characters rise to the challenge and do not disappoint. The word ‘disappoint’ meaning literary ‘to be helpless in the underworld.’ Tiffany is a witch and must help herself and find a way to defeat the Cunning Man.
Really, this book is brilliant and now one of my favorites.
Would recommend to most anyone negotiating our current reality especially those coming to grips with it’s more toxic elements.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Stalking, Misogyny, Miscarriage, and Death of parent
Minor: Confinement, Animal cruelty, Colonisation, and Death
anidharker's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
5.0
Eskarina Smith! What a pleasant surprise!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry
Minor: Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, and Death of parent
bluejayreads's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
4.75
The Tiffany Aching books all have a pattern. Some sort of magical evil being or force comes to the Chalk or after Tiffany herself. Tiffany must gather information and figure out what the thing is and how to stop it and rein in the Nac Mac Feegle while doing it. And then even though Tiffany is a child, she has to deal with it herself, occasionally advised but never helped by the older witches. And then, obviously, she deals with it. I don’t feel like that is a spoiler because the book never really has any doubt – it tries to make it sound like Tiffany could fail, but the reader knows she won’t and the real question is just how she does it.
In this book, Tiffany is 15 (and turns 16 somewhere during the story). She is The Witch now, coming into her own as the witch of the Chalk but still not entirely sure how to balance a witch’s duty of caring for others with taking care of herself. All throughout the book people were pointing out that Tiffany had to take better care of herself if she wanted to effectively help others, but I don’t elevate that to a theme because it never gets resolved. Tiffany does not take any of the advice, and in fact does not get a good night’s sleep until the last few paragraphs of the book.
All the attempted themes were a little muddled in this one. I think “it’s okay to ask for help when you need it” was trying to be a theme, as Tiffany needs to get the help of several people through the course of the story, but that’s undercut by the fact that if she were to ask another witch for help, they would lose all respect for her. Tiffany gets help from non-witches, but the “being a witch means dealing with everything yourself” message counteracted the “it’s okay to ask for help” message.
This book also introduced a lot of new and interesting characters: Roland’s fiance and her horrible mother, an abused girl from town who is definitely … something, a witch from Ankh-Morpok, and a guard at the Baron’s castle who is way smarter than he pretends to be. Esk from Equal Rites even made an appearance as an adult. I enjoyed all the new characters and dynamics in play, and I found myself really liking Preston, the guard. I’m hoping they all show up in the next Tiffany Aching book.
There’s only one Tiffany Aching book left, and even though I’m sad I’ve almost come to the end of my adventures with Tiffany, I have really high hopes for it. It’s also the last book in the Discworld series, though, so I’m considering waiting until I’ve read the rest of the series to make it a capstone of sorts for my Discworld reading experience. But I may just get too excited about reading more about Tiffany. We’ll see.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Body horror, and Suicide attempt
trench8891's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Miscarriage
Minor: Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, and Terminal illness
ladyfaceplant's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
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
4.5
So sad to let this series go. I wasn't sure about this one at first as I wrongly predicted how it was going to go. Terry Pratchett never fails to surprise me with his determination not to go down the obvious path. Even the 'villainous' characters turned out to have some spark. Tiffany has meant so much to me over the past couple of months and I don't think that will ever really go away. I didn't think I could ever love another witch more than Granny Weatherwax but here I am.
I will also add that I love Preston with my whole heart.
I will also add that I love Preston with my whole heart.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Hate crime, and Religious bigotry
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