By Sir Terry Pratchett

In my second year at university my parents came to visit me for my birthday and one of my presents was the CD Wintersmith by Steeleye Span it was a collection of songs about the Tiffany Aching books and while the was one song about the book I Shall Wear Midnight, most of them are about the Wintersmith.

“When the Spirit of Winter takes a fancy to Tiffany Aching, he wants her to stay in his gleaming, frozen world. Forever. It will take the young witch’s skill and cunning, as well as help from the 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 is a fascinating book. It looks at a more dangerous world. If you are someone who has read any of the Discworld series, you will recognise characters like Nanny Ogg when you meet her.

Before I get on to the book, I would like to talk about the Hiver and the lambing season. The Hiver is viewed as a monster that has destroyed so many people, but all he wants is to die. Tiffany helps him pass with a story. The story ends with Tiffany coming back to the Chalk to help with the lambing in full witch garb. This is dangerous because witches are banned in the Chalk. But we see Tiffany is known by everyone, and she’s Granny Aching’s granddaughter.

I have three thoughts.

Firstly, Miss Treason. This is not a good teacher, because she never learned how to be one. After all, before Tiffany, there was never a girl who would stay with her for more than a night. If she had ever been a teacher, she would have known that she should have told Tiffany why she shouldn’t join the dance. She just orders and controls and manipulates the people around her.

Secondly, Annagramma Hawkin. What I see of her from this is very much like someone who went hard on studying her arts degree and now must use it to make a living. With the way she talks, it seems that she was taught magic but not witchcraft. She seems to think that helping the people of her steading is below her.

Thirdly, the Wintersmith. On the one hand, this is an example of a toxic boyfriend with all the people who get hurt by his attempts to get Tiffany’s attention, and it doesn’t stop until Tiffany ends it. Also, on the other hand, the Wintersmith is not human; he doesn’t understand that what he is doing is wrong. But whether he is evil or not is for you to decide, until next time.

Happy reading to all, and to all a good night.