There's trouble on the Aching farm - nightmares spreading down from the hills. And Tiffany Aching's little brother has been stolen away. To get him back, Tiffany has a weapon (a frying pan), her granny's magic book (well, Diseases of the Sheep) - and the Nac Mac Feegle, the Wee Free Men, the fightin', thievin', tiny blue-skinned pictsies who were thrown out of Fairyland for being Drunk and Disorderly...
Discworld Series:
(there are too many books in the Discworld series to list them all so I'll just list the ones featuring Tiffany Aching)
The Wee Free Men
A Hat Full of Sky
Wintersmith
I Shall Wear Midnight
Visit Terry Pratchett's website for more information
Review:
9 year old Tiffany has spent her life working on her family farm and as the youngest daughter she is often left to look after her younger brother Wentworth. When he disappears she knows it is up to her to get him back. Armed only with her wits and a frying pan - and with the Nac Mac Feegles and a toad to assist her - Tiffany must enter Fairyland and take on the Queen of the Elves. Entering a dark and dangerous world it is up to her to find Wentworth and bring him home.
I've mentioned before what a massive Terry Pratchett fan and I love the Discworld series. I originally read The Wee Free Men when it first came out but am re-reading the books featuring Tiffany Aching in anticipation of book 4 (I Shall Wear Midnight) which is releasing in September. Although this is book 30 in the Discworld series it is the first book in the young adult series featuring Tiffany and makes a great introduction to the Discworld universe if you have never read any of these books before.
I loved Tiffany from the beginning, she may only be 9 but she is already wise beyond her years. She is sensible, smart and not afraid to stand up for herself and her family. She has all the traits of someone who will be a great witch but as yet has had no training and has to rely on her wits to get her through. I'm looking forward to seeing how her character grows as the series progresses.
The Nac Mac Feegle (or the Wee Free Men) absolutely steal the show, I don't think I read a single page featuring them without laughing out loud. Terry has managed to write the characters perfectly making it impossible to read without hearing their Scottish accents. The Wee Free Men may only be 6 inches tall but they are larger than life, Rob Anybody and No'-as-big-as-Medium-Sized-Jock-but-bigger-than-Wee-Jock-Jock (how can you not love a character with a name like that?) jumped out of the pages at me - so real that I could almost touch them. The clan's favorite pastimes may be drinking, fighting and stealing but they have big hearts and would do anything to protect Tiffany.
This is a book I'd highly recommend to fantasy fans of all ages, it contains everything I would expect from Terry Pratchett - some great insights into real life wrapped up in humor with characters that will have you itching to come back for more. If you're new to the Discworld series (or already a fan) then I can't recommend the Tiffany Aching series enough.
Source: Purchased
Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.
I do love a good fantasy! This sounds really good...great review :)
ReplyDeleteBelieve me I never read any of his books yet!It's a great review Sarah!
ReplyDelete@ Melissa - If you love a good comedy fantasty you'll really enjoy any of the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett! I'd definitely recommend this one as a first try though :o)
ReplyDelete@ Darlyn - If you've never read Terry Pratchett you've got to try one of his books! I'm sure you'll love them, every single one has me laughing out loud & I love the world he has created for the Discworld series :o)
i am going to start the discworld series one of these days.
ReplyDeletei tried colour of magic when i was really young and didnt gget the humour...but now...hopefully i will understand because the way everyone talks it up makes it sound amazing
great review!
@ Wings - Hi Amanda, it's a shame you didn't get on with Colour of Magic when you tried it but it would be worth giving it another go now you're older. Even if you still don't get on with it I'd recomend trying a different Discworld story - there are so many different characters that even if you don't like some of them there are bound to be others that you do. I love the Wee Free Men - they are sooo funny :o)
ReplyDeleteI love this book, I love all of the Tiffany Aching nes, I recently re-read Wintersmith, great review Sarah, and I agree about Colour of Magic, it is actually the only book I didn't completely enjoy, luckily I didn't start with that one.
ReplyDeleteHey Minx :o) I love Tiffany but the Nac Mac Feegles have me laughing out loud! I'm re-reading A Hat Full of Sky at the moment & really enjoying it, it's been so long since I last read this series that I can't remember much of what happens in it. I did enjoy Colour of Magic but I wouldn't say it's my favorite book in the series, I'm planning on re-reading all of my Pratchett books as & when I get time and am looking forward to re-discovering the characters again :o) I'm going to listen to Wintersmith on audiobook next - I love the Scottish accent Tony Robinson uses!
ReplyDeleteOoh. I did really love this book. I haven't yet gotten around to reading the other books in the Tiffany Aching series, but really want to. Especially if there's a new one out soon, I didn't know that! How exciting.
ReplyDelete@ Clover - If you liked this one I'm sure you'll love the rest of the series - I think they get better with every book. The 4th Tiffany book (I Shall Wear Midnight) was released today - I was lucky enough to go to a midnight signing with Terry Pratchett last night. I'm reading that book now so will hopefully get my review posted soon :o)
ReplyDelete