Just finished reading Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett and I REALLY ENJOYED this book!

 After a few chapters in, I’ve already made up my mind that I wasn’t going to write down notes, just sit back, enjoy, and see where this story takes me.

(This is the sixth book; I’ll probably spoil a couple of things.) Mainly at the start of the book.)

This is book 2 of the witches series, and I explained in my last review that I was apprehensive because I struggled a little bit with the story and the characters in the book ‘ Equal Rites ‘.  

However, I quickly realised that this time round it was way easier for me to read.  It’s possible that Terry Pratchett is becoming more familiar with these stories. With a clearer vision of the world. 

I came across a video discussing this book, and the reviewer said that the theatre part was the funniest part of the book.  So when the story near the beginning is about a theatre show and you can introduce the three Witches, I was a tiny bit confused.  (DW, I think they were talking about the theatre part at the end!) 

 There are two plots unfolding, one involving a murder plot and the other is……. Whatever the Witches are doing.  Im probably going to talk more about the Witches. 

Very early into the story, you get an introduction to our three main Witches, Granny, Nanny and Magrat, watching a theatre show. And immediately started laughing because the two older ladies, Granny and Nanny (these names in the book are unusual, haha), are confused about what’s happening on stage, and the younger one, Magrat, has to attempt to explain what’s going on.

(I don’t know about you, but I have definitely experienced watching a TV show or movie with an elderly person, where you’ve stopped and tried to explain what’s going on, or had to remind them that you have to wait and watch to find out the answers. Good luck watching a mystery/thriller film.)

The B plot is the murder plot; the king gets slain, and now the Duke and Duchess are on the throne.

One day, the witches come across a kid (Tomjon), take care of him, and quickly find out that he’s the rightful heir. To keep him safe, they give him to a travelling actors group for ‘safekeeping’.  Then, years later, when the kid grows up, they pick him up to be the rightful heir to the throne. 

When they gave the kid away, they started talking about giving the kid three gifts.  This immediately got me thinking, is this going to be a twisted tale of the three wise men visiting Jesus and giving him three gifts? 

After this, I must admit the pace slows down quite a bit.

It was here, in the second part of the story, that I started to realise the Witches don’t take many steps to move the plot forward. 

You learn how the Duke is running the kingdom (badly) and trying to catch the Witches. (for some reason). But every time he does, the witches outsmart the guards.

But apart from dodging the Duke a couple of times, they would rather sit back and do their own thing instead.

 I was quietly reading through these parts (I was still enjoying the book, mind you; just less was happening). There were a few Easter eggs to find in these parts referring to other famous stories with witches (Snow White and Sleeping Beauty), and in the back of my mind, I was saying to myself, When is the massive spell coming? This is the sixth book that’s always guaranteed to have a Massive WTF moment!

Then I’m reading it. 😀 

(I do have a couple of questions about it that I will likely save for the end of the review.)

(Check out the spoiler section. At the end of the review.)

I cut out the ending of part two and the third act because I want you to enjoy it for yourself!

The only thing I say is…  Then I come to a part of the theatre scene at the end of the book and WOOH!! That was masterfully done!  All the story lines from the A plot and the B plot came together so nicely!  Starts slowly and builds, builds and builds until the climax.  

It honestly reminds me of a Mission: Impossible movie.

I’ve been sitting here for a while now, and I can’t think of anything bad in this book.

I suppose the only minor thing is when the king dies and Death comes to collect him. Death allows him to linger on as a ghost?  Which I thought in ‘Mort’ when it’s someone’s time to pass on. Death comes to take your Soul away to somewhere more ‘peaceful’?  Have I got that completely wrong? 

(I’m only just starting to read these books, so my knowledge of the series’ world-building is not excellent, or I’m misremembering.) 

I can’t think of anything else! 🙂 Again, I REALLY ENJOYED this one! Possibly favourite story yet? Umm, have to think about that?

Thanks for reading this blog.  If you’re interested in my views on books 1-5, please feel free to explore them. 

When I read the next book, I’ll make a new post.  I’m not sure how long that will take. 

Ok with the blog finished,

Ok,

Earlier in this review, I’m talking about there’s a MASSIVE spell that I’m waiting for, and I couldn’t believe it when it happened.

Let’s discuss this in more detail, shall we?

Ok, Granny decided that the Duke and Duchess are doing a terrible job with the kingdom. So they need the baby Tomjon to grow up to the rightful age.  And do it quickly! How is this possible, I may ask myself? well …. 

TIME TRAVEL!!!

Well, is it time travel? Time warp? Time manipulation?  Im not sure what the proper term for it is.

But OMG WHAT? 

😮

And we’re not talking about a small jump either…

FIFTEEN-YEAR JUMP!!

To the point where Tomjon is old enough to challenge the throne.

Okay, my head is about to fall off my shoulders!  (Hopefully, the physio can glue it back on for me!) 

I got so many questions.  I think Granny says this spell would only affect the Kingdom and Tomjon.  Ok, so the spell is affecting a ‘small’ area.  So the entire world is not affected by this spell.  Or not even Great A’Tuin ( the flying turtle in space). 

 But Granny does the spell. and ….. It doesn’t seem like people are freaking out that they’ve just got older overnight?

I was expecting to have a chapter from the duke and duchess (or ANYONE)  looking in the mirror, screaming, as they saw their bodies had changed. Hair colour or wrinkled skin.

(Knowing the sense of humour of the books, I’m surprised that wasn’t in the book.) 

Because, if I’m remembering correctly, Granny does the spell, and then in the next chapter, we see Tomjon already grown up, working as a comedy actor with his actor buddies.

Especially from Tomjon’s perspective, that moment when he has dreams or visions of himself as a baby, just watching the three witches using their cauldron. So does that mean Tomjon was a baby and the next morning he was 15-16?!  So, does he have a childhood? Im assuming not right?  Tomjon just skipped pretty much his childhood, jumping straight into adulthood! Or does his life just happen to be unfolding at 5 times speed? Because he became an actor, he must have spent some time learning the skills, right?

I’m waiting for an explanation; the only one I got is this…. 

(The Wyrd Sisters by Terry Practett, page 312, loc: 4,297)

THAT’S ALL I GET! :O 

If you know the answer, could someone please explain it to me? 

‘….. We’ve all lost fifteen years.’

‘No, we’ve all gained them’…..…

Does that mean everyone is 15 years older, or does everyone gain 15 onto their lifespan hourglasses  (so if you time runs out at 60, now your time is 75)??

(saying that im not 100% on the lifespam on people living in Dicsworld?)

Speaking of hourglasses, what does Death think of this spell? Does this mean more work or less work for him? I know that Wizards and Witches have a unique relationship with/ view with Death.

I was expecting him to make a comment.  Something like: *sigh*, these witches do like to make things complicated, don’t they? Imagine the paperwork….

Or something on those lines. 

I know I’m going to get some people saying you’re thinking WAY TOO MUCH OF THIS, just sit back and enjoy the reading.

I CANT HELP IT, this is how my brain works. It overthinks or overanalyses fantasy worlds! Especially fun worlds like Discworld?  

ok, that’s everything!

Again, thank you for reading my initial thoughts on this book. Remember to check out the other Discworld reviews if you enjoy this one.

😀