Mass Market Paperback, 375 pages
English language
Published Nov. 8, 2004 by HarperTrophy.
"Another world is colliding with this one," said the toad. "All the monsters are coming back."
"Why?" said Tiffany.
"There's no one to stop them."
There was silence for a moment.
Then Tiffany said, "There's me."
Armed only with a frying pan and her common sense, Tiffany Aching, a young witch-to-be, is all that stands between the monsters of Fairyland and the warm, green Chalk country that is her home. Forced into Fairyland to seek her kidnapped brother, Tiffany allies herself with the Chalk's local Nac Mac Feegle - aka the Wee Free Men - a clan of sheep-stealing, sword-wielding, six-inch-high blue men who are as fierce as they are funny. Together they battle through an eerie and ever-shifting landscape, fighting brutal flying fairies, dream-spinning dromes, and grimhounds - black dogs with eyes of fire and teeth of razors - before ultimately confronting the Queen of the Elves, absolute ruler …
"Another world is colliding with this one," said the toad. "All the monsters are coming back."
"Why?" said Tiffany.
"There's no one to stop them."
There was silence for a moment.
Then Tiffany said, "There's me."
Armed only with a frying pan and her common sense, Tiffany Aching, a young witch-to-be, is all that stands between the monsters of Fairyland and the warm, green Chalk country that is her home. Forced into Fairyland to seek her kidnapped brother, Tiffany allies herself with the Chalk's local Nac Mac Feegle - aka the Wee Free Men - a clan of sheep-stealing, sword-wielding, six-inch-high blue men who are as fierce as they are funny. Together they battle through an eerie and ever-shifting landscape, fighting brutal flying fairies, dream-spinning dromes, and grimhounds - black dogs with eyes of fire and teeth of razors - before ultimately confronting the Queen of the Elves, absolute ruler of a world in which reality intertwines with nightmare. And in the final showdown, Tiffany must face her cruel power alone...
In a riveting narrative that is equal parts suspense and humor, Carnegie Medalist Terry Pratchett returns to his internationally popular Discworld with a breathtaking tale certain to leave fans, new and old, enthralled.
I might just be a shallow person, but I enjoyed the earlier, more Feegle-heavy parts of this book the most. In the later interactions with the Queen of Fae, I had the uncomfortable impression Pratchett had one or more serious points about psychological abuse.
I haven't read this since I was a child and I'm glad to say it holds up extremely well. Despite being middle grade, I really enjoyed it and found the writing incredible; Terry didn't dumb his style down at all. All the fantasy elements were so beautifully complex in a way that a lot of YA and adult fantasy isn't. It's also really funny! I love the Nac Mac Feegles of course, but the toad especially was a delight I probably didn't find as funny when I was I kid
Tiffany was one of my favourite book characters as a child and she still is! I definitely see her in a different way now than then (I would have been her age when I first read it), she's clever in a very realistic way and her emotional journey really connected with me. I especially appreciated the flashback sections about her …
I haven't read this since I was a child and I'm glad to say it holds up extremely well. Despite being middle grade, I really enjoyed it and found the writing incredible; Terry didn't dumb his style down at all. All the fantasy elements were so beautifully complex in a way that a lot of YA and adult fantasy isn't. It's also really funny! I love the Nac Mac Feegles of course, but the toad especially was a delight I probably didn't find as funny when I was I kid
Tiffany was one of my favourite book characters as a child and she still is! I definitely see her in a different way now than then (I would have been her age when I first read it), she's clever in a very realistic way and her emotional journey really connected with me. I especially appreciated the flashback sections about her grandmother, they were so heartfelt and powerful.
Definitely a recommended read for anyone, regardless of age
This edition illustrated by Stephen Player is essential!
