TERRY Pratchett’s final young adult novel starring teen witch Tiffany Aching is intended as a bridge to his main Discworld series and it’s not without its darker moments as the trainee witch ends up dealing with the aftermath of child abuse and wife-beating in the community.
Pratchett’s book is suffused with an awareness of the thankless exhaustion which awaits people in the caring professions. Most Discworld witches spend more time as a district nurse, social worker or vet than turning anyone into a toad – and Tiffany is no exception.
As the well-paced plot unravels in Pratchett’s inimitable style, it goes without saying that everything gets very funny. Like Tiffany, Pratchett has always known that “laughter helps things slide into the thinking”.
Alex Sarll
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here