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livia_r's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.0
misssophiereads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is a clever, kind book about the power of fear and how it blinds, about misconceptions and not judging people by their first appearance.
Every time I read the next Tiffany Aching book I feel like that's my favourite one. At first, the darker themes of this volume caught me a bit off guard (trigger warning for assault within a family context and miscarriage), but they fit within the greater story. I love this concept of witches as powerful women, but the point is not the power or the magic or the flashiness - it's about helping people because everyone deserves to live a decent and dignified life right up until the end.
My favourite quotes that resonated with me:
"Miss Tffany, you need a rest, a proper rest in a proper bed. What kind of witch can look after everybody if she's not sensible enough to look after herself? Quid custodiet ipsos custodes. That means: Who guards the guards, that does," Preston went on. "So who watches the witches? Who cares for the people who care for the people? Right now, it looks like it needs to be me."
(Preston)
"There have been times, lately, when I dearly wished that I could change the past. Well, I can't, but I can change the present, so that when it becomes the past it will turn out to be a past worth having. And I'd like the boys to learn about girls and I'd like the girls to learn about boys. Learning is about finding out who your are, what you are, where you are and what you are standing on and what you are good at and what's over the horizon and, well, everything. It's about finding the place where you fit."
(Tiffany)
"It is important that we know where we come from, because if you do not know where you come from, then you don't know where you are, and if you don't know where you are, then you don't know where you're going. And if you don't know where you're going, you're probably going wrong."
(Author's note)
Every time I read the next Tiffany Aching book I feel like that's my favourite one. At first, the darker themes of this volume caught me a bit off guard (trigger warning for assault within a family context and miscarriage), but they fit within the greater story. I love this concept of witches as powerful women, but the point is not the power or the magic or the flashiness - it's about helping people because everyone deserves to live a decent and dignified life right up until the end.
My favourite quotes that resonated with me:
"Miss Tffany, you need a rest, a proper rest in a proper bed. What kind of witch can look after everybody if she's not sensible enough to look after herself? Quid custodiet ipsos custodes. That means: Who guards the guards, that does," Preston went on. "So who watches the witches? Who cares for the people who care for the people? Right now, it looks like it needs to be me."
(Preston)
"There have been times, lately, when I dearly wished that I could change the past. Well, I can't, but I can change the present, so that when it becomes the past it will turn out to be a past worth having. And I'd like the boys to learn about girls and I'd like the girls to learn about boys. Learning is about finding out who your are, what you are, where you are and what you are standing on and what you are good at and what's over the horizon and, well, everything. It's about finding the place where you fit."
(Tiffany)
"It is important that we know where we come from, because if you do not know where you come from, then you don't know where you are, and if you don't know where you are, then you don't know where you're going. And if you don't know where you're going, you're probably going wrong."
(Author's note)
alexcrin's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of my favourites of Discworld so far. Terry Pratchett was a phenomenal author and everything he wrote about still truly resonates.
The capacity Pratchett had to write from the perspectives of so many different characters and maintain a sense of authenticity is absolutely astounding. I love how he writes Tiffany, she feels so real, and reading this made me think of times in my life when I've had similar feelings, if not experiences, to her.
I have been reading Discworld by collection and Tiffany Aching has swiftly risen to the ranks of my favourites. The incorporation of other characters from previous collections feels like a little bout of nostalgia and familiarity whenever it happens, and this book in particular has done so much of that
The capacity Pratchett had to write from the perspectives of so many different characters and maintain a sense of authenticity is absolutely astounding. I love how he writes Tiffany, she feels so real, and reading this made me think of times in my life when I've had similar feelings, if not experiences, to her.
I have been reading Discworld by collection and Tiffany Aching has swiftly risen to the ranks of my favourites. The incorporation of other characters from previous collections feels like a little bout of nostalgia and familiarity whenever it happens, and this book in particular has done so much of that
thebrashbookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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? No
5.0
megb64's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
3.5
superdrea's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
celiapowell's review against another edition
4.0
Oh, how I love Tiffany Aching - one of my favourites of Terry Pratchett's many wonderful characters. She's older and more mature in this book, working as hard as she can as the witch for her towns. But people seem less friendly to witches - there are stories about stolen babies, and horrible spells. Tiffany needs to find out what's causing it, while trying to fight accusations that she helped the old Baron to his death. And making sure the Nac Mac Feegle don't get into too much trouble. Pratchett is so good at combining really terrifying scenes with hilarious ones, without taking anything away from either. This was a wonderful book.
(Also, as I discovered by watching an old episode of QI after reading this - the rough music actually exists. I was sure it was one of Pratchett's inventions).
(Also, as I discovered by watching an old episode of QI after reading this - the rough music actually exists. I was sure it was one of Pratchett's inventions).
gingerine's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
fantaiil's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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
4.75