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I do like Tiffany. In the first book about her, ‘The Wee Free Men’, she was nine: hard-working and likeable, but undisciplined, and unsure where she fitted into the world. She was very good at making cheeses, and fond of her old grandmother… she was thrust into adventure, and trained as a witch. Now, in this book, she is sixteen and established as the witch of the ‘Chalk’ area.
As the local witch, Tiffany has to oversee births and deaths. She’s like a district nurse or health visitor, who assists elderly people, binds up wounds, looks after children, and is generally a good influence in the area. She’s often very tired but - on the whole - she loves what she does. She’s a bit miffed that her former friend Roland no longer seems to speak to her, and that he’s become engaged to a very fluffy girl called Letitia. But she’s very fond of his father, the elderly Baron, who is dying. Tiffany visits him regularly to ‘balance’ his pain, in a way that is explained somewhat scientifically, but is one of the more mystical or magical abilities she has.
At the same time, Tiffany has a growing awareness that something evil is in the air. People who used to respect her are now suspicious; if a baby dies when she’s present at the birth, she is rumoured to be responsible. She learns about witches in former centuries who were burned at the stake, and discovers that, in kissing the Wintersmith (in the book simply called ‘Wintersmith’) she has unleashed an evil spirit, the ‘Cunning Man’, who had been benign…
Pratchett had a genius for weaving several different subplots together. Some of his Discworld books seem confusing for the first 50 pages or so, as so many viewpoints are introduced, with apparently unrelated storylines. This book is much less complicated, since Tiffany is the viewpoint character throughout, and although she’s older, it’s still intended for younger people, though probably teens rather than children.
Some of the references to the ‘Cunning Man’ and his activities are potentially quite disturbing, as is the description of terrible domestic violence which happens early in the book. Nothing gratuitous, but not appropriate reading for a sensitive child, or even a younger teenager.
We also see both Tiffany and Nanny Ogg trying to explain the ‘facts of life’ to a young, innocent girl about to get married. Nothing explicit is said, but much is implied. It might go over the head of a younger child, but I suspect most children would find this novel a bit dull; there are no children in it.
There’s more of a crossover with the main Discworld books than there was in the earlier Tiffany Aching books. Tiffany has to visit Ankh Morpork at one point, and comes across ‘Wee Mad Arthur’ who is delighted to meet the Feegles - the small blue men who have sworn to protect Tiffany. She also meets someone I had given up hope of ever reading about again - the legendary Esk from the early book in the series, ‘Equal Rites’.
I liked reading about Tiffany again. She has matured in positive ways since the earlier books about her. She’s kind and generous, and also quick-thinking and courageous. She’s quite determined, too, and mostly confident about her own abilities. There’s even a low-key romantic element for her, involving a young man with the brains to go to university, but no money.
Inevitably there are some lighter parts of the book, and some humour, particularly where the Feegles are concerned. But it’s ironic humour, the kind that made me smile wryly here and there, rather than anything overtly funny.
Overall I thought this a very good addition to the Discworld books. Definitely recommended if you liked the earlier Tiffany Aching books, or if you’re a fan of the Discworld books in general.
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