Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett
When the Spirit of Winter takes a fancy to Tiffany Aching, he wants her too stay in his gleaming, frozen world. Forever. It will take the young witch's skill and cunning, as well as help fromm legendary Granny Weatherwax and the irrepressible Wee Free Men, to survive until Spring. Because if Tiffany doesn't make it to Spring-
-Spring won't come.
This was my first Terry Pratchett book and I didn't realize at that time-since I was buying by the back cover blurb-that it was the third in Tiffany Aching series, started from The Wee Free Men.
I've heard Terry Pratchett's name, watched Hogfather and The Colour of Magic (I like this one between the two), but that was the extent of it. This book made me realize just how one-of-a-kind author he is.
The Feegles takes the gold in all of these books, their beliefs and antics provides endless hilarity throughout the story, to Tiffany's exasperation. I think this part of the book illustrates this best:
"Aye," said Rob Anybody, "the Wintersmith canna abide the heat. Oh, I'll be forgettin' my ain heid next! We brought a wee letter from that hollow tree down in the forest. Gi' it to the big wee haf, Wullie. We picked it up on the way past."
"A letter?" said Tiffany as the loom clacked behind her and Daft Wullie began to pull a grubby, rolled-up envelope from his spog.
"It's from that wee heap o'jobbies at the castle back hame," Rob went on as his brother hauled. "He says he bides fine and hopes ye do likewise an' he's lookin' forward to you bein' back hame soon, an' there's lots o' stuff about how the ships are doin' and' suchlike, no' verra interestin' in ma opinion, an' he's writ S.W.A.L.K. on the bottom, but we havena worked out what that means yet."
"You read my letter?" said Tiffany in horror.
"Oh, aye," said Rob with pride. "Nae problem. Billy Bigchin here gave me a wee hint with some o' the longer words, but it was mostly me, aye." He beamed, but the grin faded as he watched Tiffany's expression. "Ach, I ken you're a wee bitty upset that we opened yon envelope thingy," he explained. "But that's okay, 'cuz we glued it up again wi' slug. Ye wouldna even know it'd been read."
He coughed, because Tiffany was still glaring at him. All women were a bit scary to the Feegles, and witches were the worst. At last, when he was really nervous, Tiffany said: "How did you know where that letter would be?"
She glanced sideways at Daft Wullie, he was chewing the edge of his kilt. He only ever did this when he was frightened.
"Er...would you accept a wee bittie lie?"
"No!"
"It's interestin'. There's dragons an' unicorns in it-"
In this book, Tiffany made a grave mistake that could change the story of the changing of seasons, and the elemental 'Wintersmith' mistook Tiffany for Spring, the one he is eternally in love with but always remains elusive to him. Wintersmith thought that he had finally found her, that she has finally revealed herself to him as Tiffany and this turns Tiffany to Spring while Spring, who lies in the Underworld, will never wake because Tiffany has taken her place.
Superbly Pratchettian and a wonderful tale, the sense of urgency is there because Wintersmith carries winter with him wherever he is, killing many creatures in his path, but cushioned with humour from Rob Anybody and his clan.
The Wee Free Men would give you more history as to how Tiffany and Rob Anybody's clan met, but this book can be read as standalone. Very highly recommended to lovers of puns.
Related links:
Terry Pratchett's website
-Spring won't come.
This was my first Terry Pratchett book and I didn't realize at that time-since I was buying by the back cover blurb-that it was the third in Tiffany Aching series, started from The Wee Free Men.
I've heard Terry Pratchett's name, watched Hogfather and The Colour of Magic (I like this one between the two), but that was the extent of it. This book made me realize just how one-of-a-kind author he is.
The Feegles takes the gold in all of these books, their beliefs and antics provides endless hilarity throughout the story, to Tiffany's exasperation. I think this part of the book illustrates this best:
"Aye," said Rob Anybody, "the Wintersmith canna abide the heat. Oh, I'll be forgettin' my ain heid next! We brought a wee letter from that hollow tree down in the forest. Gi' it to the big wee haf, Wullie. We picked it up on the way past."
"A letter?" said Tiffany as the loom clacked behind her and Daft Wullie began to pull a grubby, rolled-up envelope from his spog.
"It's from that wee heap o'jobbies at the castle back hame," Rob went on as his brother hauled. "He says he bides fine and hopes ye do likewise an' he's lookin' forward to you bein' back hame soon, an' there's lots o' stuff about how the ships are doin' and' suchlike, no' verra interestin' in ma opinion, an' he's writ S.W.A.L.K. on the bottom, but we havena worked out what that means yet."
"You read my letter?" said Tiffany in horror.
"Oh, aye," said Rob with pride. "Nae problem. Billy Bigchin here gave me a wee hint with some o' the longer words, but it was mostly me, aye." He beamed, but the grin faded as he watched Tiffany's expression. "Ach, I ken you're a wee bitty upset that we opened yon envelope thingy," he explained. "But that's okay, 'cuz we glued it up again wi' slug. Ye wouldna even know it'd been read."
He coughed, because Tiffany was still glaring at him. All women were a bit scary to the Feegles, and witches were the worst. At last, when he was really nervous, Tiffany said: "How did you know where that letter would be?"
She glanced sideways at Daft Wullie, he was chewing the edge of his kilt. He only ever did this when he was frightened.
"Er...would you accept a wee bittie lie?"
"No!"
"It's interestin'. There's dragons an' unicorns in it-"
In this book, Tiffany made a grave mistake that could change the story of the changing of seasons, and the elemental 'Wintersmith' mistook Tiffany for Spring, the one he is eternally in love with but always remains elusive to him. Wintersmith thought that he had finally found her, that she has finally revealed herself to him as Tiffany and this turns Tiffany to Spring while Spring, who lies in the Underworld, will never wake because Tiffany has taken her place.
Superbly Pratchettian and a wonderful tale, the sense of urgency is there because Wintersmith carries winter with him wherever he is, killing many creatures in his path, but cushioned with humour from Rob Anybody and his clan.
The Wee Free Men would give you more history as to how Tiffany and Rob Anybody's clan met, but this book can be read as standalone. Very highly recommended to lovers of puns.
Related links:
Terry Pratchett's website