somewheregirl7's review against another edition
3.0
In Wyrd Sisters we're introduced to Granny Weatherwax. Granny and two other witches have formed a tiny coven, and though witches are largely anti-social these three get together once a month for a good spell session. There are certain rules to being a witch and one of the most important is that witches don't meddle in politics. Unless of course the king tries to torture you, slander your name and threatens you with burning at the stake. In that case, meddling and a bit of magic, are exactly what is called for.
Like all Pratchett novels, Wyrd Sisters is filled with his usual dry humor, borderline insanity and cultural nods throughout. Patently borrowing from the bard in more than title, Wyrd sisters is a twisty story that at times spins close to Shakespeare's Macbeth and at times veers far away. The humor occasionally falls a bit flat and this book is a good deal longer than it should be but overall it's an enjoyable story. Certainly not one of my favorite Pratchett books but not a bad read either. Some of the outcomes felt contrived rather than natural but Pratchett has done a good job assembling an interesting cast and then playing out those stories.
Like all Pratchett novels, Wyrd Sisters is filled with his usual dry humor, borderline insanity and cultural nods throughout. Patently borrowing from the bard in more than title, Wyrd sisters is a twisty story that at times spins close to Shakespeare's Macbeth and at times veers far away. The humor occasionally falls a bit flat and this book is a good deal longer than it should be but overall it's an enjoyable story. Certainly not one of my favorite Pratchett books but not a bad read either. Some of the outcomes felt contrived rather than natural but Pratchett has done a good job assembling an interesting cast and then playing out those stories.
lonk's review
5.0
Hilarious. Shakespeare in Discworld.
Glad to see the last book, Sourcery, seemed to be just a disappointing outlier. Looking forward to the next books, here's hoping they're just as good as this one!
Glad to see the last book, Sourcery, seemed to be just a disappointing outlier. Looking forward to the next books, here's hoping they're just as good as this one!
janina_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
treehuggeranonymous's review against another edition
4.0
You don't have to read the series in order, but sometimes if you don't you end up ruining things for yourself. Having read all the Tiffiny Aching books, I remembered Margot and so saw things coming, although not Nanny's reveal at the end.
vishnu_r1's review against another edition
5.0
Terry Pratchett never fails to impress me. For yet another time, here is a work that is absolutely hilarious. The three witches are some of the funniest characters from Terry Pratchett. Another appearance from Death other familiar characters (librarian from Ankh-Morpork, etc) keep the story in-universe. But the story is in Lancre, a shakespearean setting replete with a dead king, a duke who kills after convinced to do so by the duchess (and then goes mad) and the three witches (Macbeth and Hamlet anyone?).
Granny and Nanny are seasoned witches who are constantly annoying each other while at the same time being friendly and Magrat is the new witch with fancy ideas about being a witch. Their attempts at bringing about the fall of the Duke and installing the rightful(?) king to the throne form the joy ride that is Wyrd Sisters.
Read it. Or be turned into a newt.
Granny and Nanny are seasoned witches who are constantly annoying each other while at the same time being friendly and Magrat is the new witch with fancy ideas about being a witch. Their attempts at bringing about the fall of the Duke and installing the rightful(?) king to the throne form the joy ride that is Wyrd Sisters.
Read it. Or be turned into a newt.
annarella's review
5.0
I read Wyrd Sisters more times that I can remember and always found something new, some food for thought, laughed a lot, and fell in love with Discworld.
This is the start of my favorite series, Esmeralda Weatherwas and Nanny Ogg are great characters. They're strong, clever, and very funny.
Magrat, the younger witch who's getting stronger.
And Greebo, one of my favorite characters in Discworld.
If you want an action packed book this is not the right one, if you want a highly entertaining and clever book please read it.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
This is the start of my favorite series, Esmeralda Weatherwas and Nanny Ogg are great characters. They're strong, clever, and very funny.
Magrat, the younger witch who's getting stronger.
And Greebo, one of my favorite characters in Discworld.
If you want an action packed book this is not the right one, if you want a highly entertaining and clever book please read it.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
thearbiter89's review against another edition
4.0
An entertaining if uneven inning in the Discworld universe. This time, Pratchett tells a story heavily influenced by Shakespearean tropes - involving regicide, unquiet ghosts, spot-cleaning fixations, and prodigal prophecies - except this time the witches are (the somewhat bumbling) good guys and the metacommentary on the play being the thing is literalized by the inclusion of a B-plot involving a traveling troupe that gets recruited to spread propaganda for the conniving regicide.
The conceptual depth of the novel, therefore, is not in doubt; but it does take a while to get going, and initial chapters felt like a bit of a drag. There are also some slight technical quirks in the writing here and there, such as the occasional abrupt switching between omniscient and limited third person POVs. But once it picks up, it does so in a highly satisfying fashion and leads to one of the best denouements in a Discworld novel to date, with a nicely earned twist; although methinks one could attribute that to some clever modifications to existing Shakespearean plot lines.
And Granny Weatherwax not knowing basic things like what theatre is but trying her best to appear worldly-wise anyway will never get old.
I give this: 4 out of 5 turbo-charged brooms
The conceptual depth of the novel, therefore, is not in doubt; but it does take a while to get going, and initial chapters felt like a bit of a drag. There are also some slight technical quirks in the writing here and there, such as the occasional abrupt switching between omniscient and limited third person POVs. But once it picks up, it does so in a highly satisfying fashion and leads to one of the best denouements in a Discworld novel to date, with a nicely earned twist; although methinks one could attribute that to some clever modifications to existing Shakespearean plot lines.
And Granny Weatherwax not knowing basic things like what theatre is but trying her best to appear worldly-wise anyway will never get old.
I give this: 4 out of 5 turbo-charged brooms
dzumara's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
cosmicquokka's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
2.25