Reviews

Crivens!

While Terry Pratchett had previously written novels for younger readers, this is only the second of such in his long-running Discworld series. This is also the first to introduce the Nac Mac Feegles, the Pictsies who are 'The Wee Free Men' of the title.

Unusually for a Discworld book, but perhaps because it is aimed at a younger audience, this novel is actually split up into seperate chapters - most of the other Discworld books are presented as one long continuous story.

In this, he also brings back some characters and situations from earlier novels, in particularly the Elves (in this case, Elf) from Lords and Ladies and, of course, Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg.

It's also impossible NOT to imagine a scottish voice when you read the Nac Mac Feegles dialogue. :)

Right, I'm offski!

lizzielikesfrogs's review against another edition

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4.25

terry prachett you ATE this up. the characterisation is beautiful and the writing is amazing. i was a bit confused at certain points, and i feel like the plot does get a little muddled, but overall very entertaining. listened to it all in one go during a long car ride, and it kept me hooked the whole time. viva la witches 🔥

amberacks12's review against another edition

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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

4.0

Another wonderful romp through an obscure part of Discworld with a new witchy friend named Tiffany Aching. I really love this world and am so happy that I have so many of Terry Pratchett’s books to get through still.
This book definitely has a more serious tone than his older Discworld books, the worldbuilding feels much more intentional and Tiffany is a much more rounded character than many of her Discworld compatriots.
That being said, I feel the pacing of this book was a little bumpy. The comical nature of the Nac Mac Feegles and the seriousness of Tiffany’s internal dilemmas felt strangely at odds at times. Not to say I didn’t appreciate both elements, but together they felt a little like two different styles of writing.
And Tiffany felt more middle aged than childlike. But maybe that has more to do with her witchy first sight and second thought abilities than that Terry Pratchett maybe isn’t so great at writing from a child’s perspective (I’m sure that even suggesting the idea is blasphemy somewhere).
Overall I had a lot of fun, this book was a fast read, and great to get me out of a reading slump.
I can always rely on Terry Pratchett to help with that.

Enjoyment: 4
Emotional impact: 3.75
= 3.8

reginas_books's review against another edition

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4.0

Loved this as a kid.

archytas's review against another edition

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funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

This was our favourite in a while, with a fresh take of witching in the Discworld, some decent time to build up a new character and a good change to practice Irish and Scottish accents in the reading aloud. It was a tad slow in the middle, and still not as funny as Pratchett at the height of his powers, but look forward to more with Tiffany and the Nac Mac Feegles.

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