ronitjauthor's review against another edition
3.0
This was probably my least favourite Discworld novel so far. Maybe because I haven’t read A Midsummer Night’s Dream, or maybe because the characters didn’t appeal to me much, I didn’t find myself laughing or particularly enjoying this book. The last time I was this bored of Discworld was Equal Rites.
Not much to write, TBH. There were some very funny moments, but for the large part it felt like that quirky Pratchett spark was missing in this one.
3/5
Not much to write, TBH. There were some very funny moments, but for the large part it felt like that quirky Pratchett spark was missing in this one.
3/5
raeanne's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. It's Pratchett. If you don't know what that means, you just need to read one to understand it.
Pratchett books always have lots of pop culture, science and literature references. There's introspection on life and everything in it, from creaking doors to societal oppression and stereotypes. It's witty and funny, with jokes from high brow to low. He certainly has a writing style, like the Elves, witches or cats. Especially like Greebo the Cat who hunts wolves and Nanny Ogg, the witch who talks baby talk to him.
I don't get a lot of the criticisms of this book. The elves were well done, especially since Pratchett had to work against everyone's bias of loving Elves. Granny isn't a terrible person and shouldn't leave Magrat alone, after all Magrat would be hiding in her shell without Granny.
Anyways, so glad Magrat finally stopped being a wet hen! I figured it would happen, I just couldn't see Granny and Nanny investing in a witch for 10 years without knowing if Magrat had it in her to be a witch. I'm glad we got to see more of Granny under all three vests she wears (so to speak), to get to understand and know her better. There's more history and personality. I'm just curious what the hell happened between the books, when Granny was suppose to be dealing with the Unseen College and Esk. Of course, the answer to that question may be in other books.
Again lots of awesome quotes I want to pull out, plenty of them have already been liked so I won't repeat and will keep it short.
On page 24:
Conversation on page 92, that begins with Nanny,
On page, 145:
Granny, on page 204
Oh, the awesome ending, on page 205:
Pratchett books always have lots of pop culture, science and literature references. There's introspection on life and everything in it, from creaking doors to societal oppression and stereotypes. It's witty and funny, with jokes from high brow to low. He certainly has a writing style, like the Elves, witches or cats. Especially like Greebo the Cat who hunts wolves and Nanny Ogg, the witch who talks baby talk to him.
I don't get a lot of the criticisms of this book. The elves were well done, especially since Pratchett had to work against everyone's bias of loving Elves. Granny isn't a terrible person and shouldn't leave Magrat alone, after all Magrat would be hiding in her shell without Granny.
Anyways, so glad Magrat finally stopped being a wet hen! I figured it would happen, I just couldn't see Granny and Nanny investing in a witch for 10 years without knowing if Magrat had it in her to be a witch. I'm glad we got to see more of Granny under all three vests she wears (so to speak), to get to understand and know her better. There's more history and personality. I'm just curious what the hell happened between the books, when Granny was suppose to be dealing with the Unseen College and Esk. Of course, the answer to that question may be in other books.
Again lots of awesome quotes I want to pull out, plenty of them have already been liked so I won't repeat and will keep it short.
On page 24:
"Corpses as such didn't worry her. Witches generally act as layers-out of the dead as well as midwives; there were plenty of people in Lancre for whom Nanny Ogg's face had been the first and last thing they'd ever seen, which had probably made all the bit in the middle seem quite uneventful by comparison."
Conversation on page 92, that begins with Nanny,
"I remember when I was young there was a girl like Diamanda. Bad-tempered and impatient and talented and a real pain in the bum to the old witches. I don't know if you happen to remember her, by any chance?"
They passed Jason's forge, which rang to the sound of his hammer.
"I never forgot her," said Granny, quietly.
"Funny thing, how things go round in circles..."
"No they don't," said Granny Weatherwax firmly. "I wasn't like her. You know what the old witches round here were like. Set in their ways. No more than a bunch of old wart-charmers.
And I wasn't rude to them. I was just...firm. Forthright. I stood up to meself. Part of being a witch is standing up for yourself- you're grinning."
On page, 145:
"Yes, because I've been paying attention while you were dodging the traffic in Memory Lane,"said Granny.
Granny, on page 204
"It all works out,' said Granny Weatherwax,"somewhere. Your young wizard knows that, he just puts daft words around it. He'd be quite bright, if only he'd look at what's in front of him."
Oh, the awesome ending, on page 205:
"Where does it end?
On a summer night, with couples going their own ways, and silky purple twilight growing between the trees. From the castle, long after the celebrations had ended, faint laughter and the ringing of little silver bells. And from the empty hillside, only the the silence of the elves.
The End."
m1thrandir's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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
thecolourblue's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.0
This and Carpe Jugulum are probably my top two favourite Discworld Witches books purely on the strength of Granny Weatherwas alone. She's such a badass, and this book includes some of her most iconic moments - facing off against the fae queen, hiding her mind in a hive of bees, hanging about with a unicorn, reminiscing with Ridcully about paralell worlds...
I also love the portrayal of the elves as something alien and sadistic, with their glamour powers and subtle mind-control. Nanny also has some stand-out moments here (particularlywhen seeking out the Elf King as does Magrat and her armour.
Lancre is such a great Discworld setting.
I also love the portrayal of the elves as something alien and sadistic, with their glamour powers and subtle mind-control. Nanny also has some stand-out moments here (particularly
Lancre is such a great Discworld setting.
teadrinking_bibliophile's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? No
4.0
evybobevy's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
robotswithpersonality's review against another edition
This might come across as fairly standard Discworld fare were it not for the villains of the piece: No LOTR Legolas here, these elves are scary fuckers. Though I appreciate the suitable, somewhat humourous extended analogy that elves = cats. Relatedly, Greebo is a viscious treasure.
I'm not as familiar with Midsummer Night's Dream, so there may be cheeky tidbits I didn't catch.
It's always a bit frustrating reading books focusing on the witches in the Discworld because they seem to be set up to almost-but-not-quite learn and grow from their experiences and perils.
Any other story might confirm how damaging it can be to try to think for another adult, act in what you perceive is their best interest without consulting them, and not communicate effectively but there seems to be a not-so-charming unwillingness to acknowledge why things went wrong, even if they all worked out in the end, with even more bossing around.
I enjoy a world where elderly women are respected for the knowledge and wisdom learning things the hard way provides, but there's something intractable about Weatherwax that I don't always find endearing.
There's a bit of a send up of the more trendy aspects of modern day Wicca/paganism/witchcraft/goths shown in the pursuits of the teens who want to be witches, which may offend IRL practicioners.
As always, I'm happy to see The Librarian feature more prominently.
I'm not as familiar with Midsummer Night's Dream, so there may be cheeky tidbits I didn't catch.
It's always a bit frustrating reading books focusing on the witches in the Discworld because they seem to be set up to almost-but-not-quite learn and grow from their experiences and perils.
Any other story might confirm how damaging it can be to try to think for another adult, act in what you perceive is their best interest without consulting them, and not communicate effectively but there seems to be a not-so-charming unwillingness to acknowledge why things went wrong, even if they all worked out in the end, with even more bossing around.
I enjoy a world where elderly women are respected for the knowledge and wisdom learning things the hard way provides, but there's something intractable about Weatherwax that I don't always find endearing.
There's a bit of a send up of the more trendy aspects of modern day Wicca/paganism/witchcraft/goths shown in the pursuits of the teens who want to be witches, which may offend IRL practicioners.
As always, I'm happy to see The Librarian feature more prominently.
bookbats's review against another edition
3.75
Characters - 4/5
Plot - 3/5
Worldbuilding - 4/5
Writing - 4/5
Nanny Ogg and Magrat got more of a chance to shine in this one, which was nice, and it was good to see Granny, sort of, realize she hadn't always treated Magrat fairly and her exclusion of her cause problems.
I enjoyed the elves as villains aspect of the story (although I'm slightly confused as to why they're called elves when they're clearly faeries? Not the same thing as far as I'm aware but that's me being pedantic) and the idea that beauty does not always equal goodness take down of traditional fairytale tropes.
However this book really seemed to take a while to get going, I know Pratchett's plots can be a bit meandering but this was even more so than usual. The whole Ridcully and Granny Weatherwax used to be a thing thing felt kind of random and weird to me as well.
Indira Varma is an incredible narrator as always but even she couldn't totally keep my attention as I waited for the story to get going and I just didn't enjoy it as much as the previous two.
Plot - 3/5
Worldbuilding - 4/5
Writing - 4/5
Nanny Ogg and Magrat got more of a chance to shine in this one, which was nice, and it was good to see Granny, sort of, realize she hadn't always treated Magrat fairly and her exclusion of her cause problems.
I enjoyed the elves as villains aspect of the story (although I'm slightly confused as to why they're called elves when they're clearly faeries? Not the same thing as far as I'm aware but that's me being pedantic) and the idea that beauty does not always equal goodness take down of traditional fairytale tropes.
However this book really seemed to take a while to get going, I know Pratchett's plots can be a bit meandering but this was even more so than usual. The whole Ridcully and Granny Weatherwax used to be a thing thing felt kind of random and weird to me as well.
Indira Varma is an incredible narrator as always but even she couldn't totally keep my attention as I waited for the story to get going and I just didn't enjoy it as much as the previous two.
beevimes's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
hstapp's review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.0
Do I not like the witches as well as I did guards guards because I'm not a Shakespeare fan? Hmm.
I did enjoy the story. Tis good.
I did enjoy the story. Tis good.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racial slurs