A lot less fun than I imagined... There's also a lot to unpack here. Pratchett has a weird approach to the idea of a girl growing into a teenager. It can be an uncomfortable read at times, but it still has all the Pratchettisms I love in the Discworld series.
It kind of lost its steam along the way for me. The story is fun, who doesn't enjoy a good old Greek myth thrown in with witches in the Discworld? I really, really love the elder witches and the whole community (and the discussion of said community) surrounding Tiffany. The whole debate about her role in it, what a witch is supposed to be in these social circles is very captivating and engaging. The least interesting part for me, though, was the whole "romance" thing with the Wintersmith. I couldn't get myself into it at all. But the characters shine, the writing is fun, so despite having dragged this one for much longer than anticipated, I had a good time reading it. ( )

Tiffany enters into the dance that changes summer over to winter, and the Wintersmith gets her confused with his counterpart, the Summer Lady. Chaos and Feegles ensue.

I liked this one better than A Hat Full of Sky, but the pacing in the middle was pretty slow again, and the Feegle humor became a little too young for me. It also seemed like I connect less and less with Tiffany as the series goes on. Pratchett was okay at writing about the feelings and actions of a little girl, but as Tiffany moves more and more into adolescence, I get the feeling that I'm not reading about a young woman, but rather whatever old man Pratchett knows about a young woman, which doesn't quite ring true. It makes Tiffany seem a little unreal--kind of like the Wintersmith himself. ( )

Tiffany is a little older, a little wiser, but she's still almost 13. When her toes start tapping during a darkened autumn dance she can't help but step in and meet the Wintersmith. Now every snowflake bears her resemblance and the window ice spells her name. But when the snow keeps falling and winter doesn't fade, something has to be done.
Tiffany is faced with a lot of real life in this book from laying out the dead to taking responsibility something so others don't get hurt. That's a lot for someone so young. It's a lot for most adults. But somehow she faces life, accepts responsibility, and bears up under immense stress. It's admirable. ( )

Attending the "Dark Morris" dance, young witch Tiffany Aching finds herself inextricably drawn to participate. The Wintersmith, the mysterious personification of winter, mistakes her for the Summer Lady and kind of gets a crush on Tiffany. Now faced with the prospect of endless Winter, Tiffany has to solve the problem of the Wintersmith with the help of Granny Weatherwax, the Nac Mac Feegles, and her friend - and potential love interest - Roland (Tiffany is 13 after all and is beginning to develop feelings for boys although she won't admit it). On top of this, the elder witch Miss Treason dies, leaving her cottage to Annagramma, but it's up to the more skilled Tiffany to help Annagramma succeed as the local witch. This is another clever, amusing, and well-told tale from Discworld. ( )

It was wonderful to read about an Elemental attempting to become a human. The descriptions in this one were some of my favourites, too. They were full of a deep awareness and affection for the seasons. And I love the way Tiffany and her friends help Ana Grammar learn REAL witchcraft. ( )

I absolutely love the Tiffany Aching series of books. If you have not done so, do yourself a favor and read them (beginning with [b:The Wee Free Men|34494|The Wee Free Men (Discworld, #30; Tiffany Aching, #1)|Terry Pratchett|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1443764106s/34494.jpg|62580]), or even better listen to them on audiobook). ( )

I really haven't read a bad Terry Pratchett novel yet (seriously) and as a huge fan of the Discworld series I wondered whether his books aimed at a younger audience would still would entertain me. As my wife is a HUGE fan of the Tiffany Aching series, I took a chance and golly, I was blown away. I LOVE THE TIFFANY ACHING SERIES. I'm happy to say that the same energetic and lighthearted but deep storytelling is present in this book. The book tells the adventure of Tiffany Aching, a witch in training who accidentally gains the affection of none other than The Wintersmith himself and whilst fighting off the demi-God's ill attempts at romance must also cope with the local community who rely on witches to solve their everyday troubles. I love how Pratchett can affirm humanity and living in so many ways whether it is Tiffany telling The Wintersmith why he could never be human or Miss Treason's touching death and funeral (which seem strikingly similar to an Christian Orthodox funeral and prayers to saints) at age 111, though she gave it as 113, worrying the former sounded a bit too cutesy (and also like a certain Hobbit). ( )

Wintersmith continues the themes of A Hat Full of Sky, as Tiffany has to teach one of her fellow apprentices about what it means to be a witch. Honestly, the ostensible central conflict of the novel—about the Wintersmith—comes across as almost ancillary, but I didn't mind, because there's a lot of good stuff along the way. The climax to this one, though, is again a bit disappointing. I mean, I love the Feegles journeying into the afterlife, but Tiffany gets sort of left out in favor of them and Roland. (Though I did like Roland too.) But those are quibbles: much as the City Watch books work their way through the details of the intersection of violence and politics and law, the Tiffany books spend their time working out something even more basic, what it means to be a person who helps. It's serious work... but that doesn't mean it can't also be funny.

A fun one. Tiffany takes on the Spirit of Winter, whom she accidentally causes to fall in love with her by stepping into a Dark Morris dance at an inopportune moment. That plot is interesting, particularly how Pratchett handles the powers and personality of a demi-god, and in Wintersmith's creation of a Frankenstein body to inhabit by using the folktale ideas from a song lyric. But what I enjoy most about this book (and the others in the series) is how Tiffany (age 13 now) matures and slowly settles into being a 'proper' witch. It's interesting how none of the senior witches (Miss Treason, Nanny Ogg, Granny Weatherwax) ever comes out and simply says "Here's what you should be doing". They lead by example, and through providing access to educational 'experiences' that gently guide Tiffany (and her other acolytes) in the right direction. That is to say, the witches build character and leave the rest to human nature.

In this volume, she has to take care of the poor and wretched while simultaneously dealing with 'witch society' and helping the helpless Annagramma figure out the right ways to be a witch. It's particularly gratifying to see how the 'pig witch' Petulia Gristle is also maturing and coming into her own.

I especially liked how the silver horse pendant acted as a plot device, and in particular, how it was lost and then found again.

Of course, the book was made the more enjoyable through the voice work of Stephen Briggs, who makes it so three dimensional, and who does such a wonderful job characterizing the the Nac Mac Feegle, but everyone else as well. ( )

Such a great book and filled with such warmth and humanity and memorable events. There are laughs from the Nac Mac Feegles (helps to have heard at least one audio recording from this series), some eye rolls at the various Granny's and Witching crones (there were so many that it was hard to keep track of, hence the half star), and some great story telling to boot.

Humorous bits include Miss Treason's dialogue with the Nac Mac Feegles when they come in to check on her young ward, Tiffany Aching of The Chalk. Miss Treason is portrayed as the curmudgeonly old blind Witch who can curse with just a finger, yet when she speaks to her unexpected visitors in their language and they jump to mind their manners, hilarity ensues.

And one passage I wish someone had slipped into one of my books during my teen years that occurs after a fight between Tiffany and Miss Treason: "(Miss Treason's) voice was kindly. There had been shouts, there had been things said that might have been better put, there had been temper and defiance. But they were there together, with nowhere else to go. The quiet voice was a peace offering, and Tiffany was glad of it."

So yes, a very good "coming of age" story, or adventure story for a young Witch, or a lot of fun nonsense, or all of the above. Highly recommend to fans of Terry Pratchett, and fortunately one that can be read out of sequence in the Wee Free Men/Tiffany Aching series. ( )

Tiffany, now 13 years old, seems to have grown up all of a sudden. Perhaps I remember my teenage years better than my childhood but I felt that I could relate to her better in this 3rd book featuring her. ( )

A 2006 novel, book 35 in the Discworld series, book 3 in the Tiffany Aching series.

A 13-year-old apprentice witch catches the attention of Winter.

B (Good).

I'm a Tiffany Aching fan, but this was disappointing. The first two books were something special. This one's still a good book, but it's just an ordinary Discworld book.

(May 2023) ( )

I enjoyed reading this book, but at times it felt like I was reading three different books—about the same people—all at once. It got a bit much at times, and made it harder to keep focused on the story. While the plot lines all did essentially come together into one story, the result is that this wasn't my favorite Discworld novel. However, it did have some of my favorite characters—I loved getting to see more of the witches, and Miss Treason is a new favorite. ( )

Tiffany Aching. Feegles. Granny Weatherwax.

What? You wanted a real review?

This seemed like a good idea at the time.

Ach, crivens! ( )

“The human body only has so much air in it. You have to make it last. One plate of beans can take a year off your life. I have avoided rumbustiousness all my days. I am an old person and that means what I say is wisdom!”

"Sooner or later, every curse is a prayer."

This isn't really a children's book which actually makes it the perfect book for children. Terry Pratchett's touch with the ongoing education of young witch Tiffany Aching is clever and delightful. ( )

I want to move to the Discworld. ( )

The ending seemed a bit shorter than usual pratchett, but the insight it gave into Tiffany's personal growth in putting others ahead of herself made it unique. ( )

Another bedtime story book -- we continue to love the Tiffany Aching series. The elemental/manifestation/god of winter falls in love with Tiffany, and it's good for her (and the while world) that she isn't just any 13-year-old girl. She's Miss Treason's apprentice (slowly learning the art of Boffo), she has the allegiance of the Wee Free Men, and the loyalty of Roland. Plus Nanny Ogg & Granny Weatherwax are about to share wisdom and support.

The blend of very deep empathy, darkness, and incredibly silly humor is what makes these stories magical. I found this a bit less dark than A Hat Full of Sky and its Hiver, which was a relief. This volume centers Tiffany's groundedness and capacity for empathy, especially as she grasps just what will keep the Wintersmith from ever understanding what it is to be human.

Magical. ( )

"You danced into a story, girl, one that tells itself to the world every year. It’s the Story about ice and fire, Summer and Winter. You’ve made it wrong. You’ve got to stay to the end and make sure it turns out right."

Crivens! That was such a good read. Wintersmith is the 35th Discworld book and the 3rd in the Tiffany Aching sub-series. Tiffany is a trainee witch under the scary Miss Treason. Every year the region observes the Dark Dance, where summer transitions to winter, and Tiffany, for reasons she can't explain, joins the dance. Now she's attracted the Wintersmith himself and Tiffany's forced to face the consequences of her actions: the fact that there may never be another springtime.

Of course, the Nac Mac Feegles are right there to help their Wee Big Hag no matter whether she wants them to or not!

I'm always impressed with how much Terry Pratchett can pack into a seemingly simple tale. Wintersmith is about the power of stories and how humans shape the world with the stories we tell ourselves. It is such a deeply profound idea with so many layers to it that I think it's right up there with Small Gods as one of my favorites. As Wee Billy Bigchin says, "A metaphor is a kind o' lie to help people understand what's true." I highly recommend this book, though you'd likely want to read the previous two Tiffany Aching books first. ( )

Pratchett er mættur aftur með einhverjar skemmtilegustu persónur Diskheims, Tiffany Aching og Nac Mack Feegle hópinn. Tiffany er nú í þjálfun hjá Miss Treason til að læra kúnstina að vera norn en þegar hún er viðstödd hátíð þar sem því er fagnað að sumar tekur við af vetri stenst hún ekki mátið og stekkur inn í dansinn - og dregur þannig athygli Winthersmiths, vetursins sjálfs, að sér sem kemst á þá skoðun að hann sé ástfanginn af henni. Hann byrjar nú að biðla til hennar á sinn besta máta, s.s. að láta snjókornum í ímynd Tiffanys rigna yfir landið. Hvað er nú til ráða, hvernig á ung stúlka sem er að læra að verða norn að glíma við frumöflin? ( )

The plot wasn't quite as engaging to me as the first two Tiffany Aching books, but still a joy to read. Loved Miss Treason and You the cat and all the Annagramma stuff. ( )

Holds up nicely to a second read-through. 'werk' ( )

I never met a Terry Pratchett novel I didn't love. But you have to start at the beginning, more or less, or you'll be too confused. ( )

The trouble is you can shut your eyes but you can’t shut your mind.

Tiffany returns, this time slightly older and in just a bit more trouble than before. This time around, she accidentally danced with the Wintersmith (the very embodiment of winter) and, as one thing leads to another, the Wintersmith beings to fall in love, trying to become human along the way.

Iron enough to make a nail
Lime enough to paint a wall
Water enough to drown a dog
Sulphur enough to stop the fleas
Potash enough to wash a shirt
Gold enough to buy a bean
Silver enough to coat a pin
Lead enough to blast a bird
Phosphor enough to light the town
Strength enough to build a home
Time enough to hold a child
Love enough to break a heart

Perhaps the best part of the book is how Tiffany owns up to what she's done and does her best to put everything back together. There are some wonderful scenes with the main Witches from other Discworld books (Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg in particular), but the focus remains on Tiffany.

As with the other Tiffany Aching books, it's a wonderful Discworld'y with a fairy tale feel. Well worth the read. Honestly, I liked this one more than A Hat Full of Stars, possibly even more than the Wee Free Men--although of course you'd want to start there when first reading the series.

Well worth the read once again.

Finally, because one must:

Because no man wants to be a coward in front of a cheese.

What? It makes sense in context. ( )

Once again, Tiffany Aching finds herself in big trouble, but this time, it is of her own making. While witnessing the Black Morris dance celebrating the arrival of winter, Tiffany is so enthralled that she jumps in and catches the eye of the elemental, Wintersmith. He decides to become a man to be with her. Meanwhile, Miss Treason the witch with whom Tiffany is apprenticing dies; politics place the snooty Annagramma into her stead. With help from friends, including of course the Wee Free Men, each is able to overcome their problems. Tiffany is really a wonderful character, a strong willed, but sensible 13 year-old ... wise beyond her years. ( )