This was an enjoyable novel, a pleasure to listen to. As a Pratchett novel, it is very funny, with just the right amount of thoughtful and disturbing ..Show More »bits, as it plays with genre clich??s and expectations and wittily blurs the differences between "story" and "reality."

Maurice is an amazing cat: self-centered, cocky, scheming, sarcastic, possessed of a good conscience???and sentient. The various rats in "the Clan" are neat, too, Dangerous Beans (the physically weak seer and spiritual leader), Peaches (the irritatingly ethical conscience), Darktan (the experienced and brave trap removal squad leader), Sardines (the entertainer), and so on. The rats' coming to terms with becoming sentient is vividly, humorously, and often poignantly depicted. The animals' stupid looking boy, Keith, has some surprises inside him. The far too imaginative, budding grim fairy tale authoress the Mayor's daughter, Malicia, is an appealing character. And the "evil" villain has a convincing and sad origin. The violent, scheming, arrogant, callous, and cruel side of human nature is tellingly exposed, too. And there are countless guffaw, chuckle, or smile points sprinkled throughout the story.

And Stephen Briggs does a marvelous job reading all the voices of the various characters, giving each one its own accent or pitch or personality and injecting plenty of wit into the already witty novel.

« Show Less

My 9-year old daughter and I listen to audiobooks any time we have a drive longer than 15 minutes and this has been one of our favorites. I find myse..Show More »lf chuckling just thinking about Rob Anybody and Not-so-big-as-medium-sized-Jock-but-bigger-than-wee-Jock Jock and their escapades. Humor aside, I love the message that looking at things and thinking them through is more important than being able to do magic. We should all have First Sight and Second Thoughts. Especially since they generally help Tiffany sort things out for herself before the Nac Mac Feegle arrive back on the scene from whatever carousing has distracted them from the crisis at hand.

« Show Less

Another great book from Terry Pratchett. Hear The Wee Free Men first, then move right on to this one. Good listening!

Its been a long wait for the next Terry Pratchett and I wasnt disappointed. I loved it! The plot and sub plots are engaging, the characters are are w..Show More »ell developed and the humor will make you laugh out loud. I listen while I'm working and there were a couple of close calls there when I got tickled. I'm a knifemaker, it could have been bad but the doctor says I ought to regain full use in a few weeks.
If you have read and loved any of Terrry's Discworld novels you'll love this one. If you've done the other two Tiffany Aching novels then you have no choice, you HAVE to have this one. Old friends return in the Wintersmith. Granny Weatherwax is as tough, wise and manipulative as ever. Ms. Tick is slightly over her head and Nanny Ogg is a disgusting old baggage. Tiffany is hard to sum up. A little sugar and spice but alot more steel than your normal 13 year old girl. What really made the story for me are the Feegles. Think of Braveheart only six inches high and slightly tipsy, OK strike the slightly.
The book may be aimed at adoles.. adulesc..kids but there wasnt anything at all childish about it. If I had to give this book a rating I'd give it a PG13 for some of the subject matter but there isnt anything racy about it.
The only question I have was why did they release a book that dealt with cold and ice and snow in january? I mean, jeez. It like 9 degrees F. out there. I could have done with it last august. Oh well thats ok I guess wearing 3 sweaters wasnt too much trouble. Thanks again Terry. Now get back to work, I want more

« Show Less

Every book Terry Pratchett writes is a treasure, and this book is no exception. In Pratchett's fourth book in the TIffany Aching series, he again prod..Show More »uces an astutely clever and astounding narrative reflecting the basic natures of humanity, both the good and bad, the just and unjust, the altruistic and spiteful. The nearly 16-year-old Tiffany must navigate the superstitious hatred and violence that is targeting "witches" in general and Tiffany in particular and stop the Clever Man who is generating it. This book delves into the meaner side of humanity, including family-directed violence. Pratchett skillfully navigates these issues in this YA book in such a manner that while the material itself may be considered as for a mature audience, the presentation is ideal for both YA and mature readers alike. Stephen Brigg's performance, as usual, is brilliant and fabulously entertaining, especially his performance of the Nac Mac Feegles. If you enjoyed the other Tiffany Aching novels, i think you will thoroughly enjoy this one, too.

« Show Less