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    Wintersmith
    Wintersmith
    Wintersmith
    Audiobook8 hours

    Wintersmith

    Written by Terry Pratchett

    Narrated by Stephen Briggs

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults * ALA Booklist Editors' Choice * ALA Notable Children's Book

    “Pratchett’s unique blend of comedy and articulate insight is at its vibrant best. Full of rich humor, wisdom, and eventfulness.” —Horn Book (starred review)

    By the beloved and bestselling grandmaster of fantasy, Sir Terry Pratchett, this is the third in a series of Discworld novels starring the young witch Tiffany Aching.

    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 all 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 for anyone.

    The five funny and fabulous Tiffany Aching adventures are:

    • The Wee Free Men
    • A Hat Full of Sky
    • Wintersmith
    • I Shall Wear Midnight
    • The Shepherd’s Crown

    Tiffany’s mentors, Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg, star in the novels Equal Rites, Wyrd Sisters, Witches Abroad, Lords and Ladies, Maskerade, and Carpe Jugulum.

    And don’t miss Terry Pratchett’s hilarious and wise Discworld novel The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents! 

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateJan 23, 2007
    ISBN9780061373398
    Author

    Terry Pratchett

    Terry Pratchett (1948–2015) was the acclaimed creator of the globally revered Discworld series. In all, he authored more than fifty bestselling books, which have sold more than one hundred million copies worldwide. His novels have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he was the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal. He was awarded a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to literature in 2009, although he always wryly maintained that his greatest service to literature was to avoid writing any.

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    Reviews for Wintersmith

    4/5

    2,265 ratings94 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Terry Pratchett will always be my feel good read. Thank you for the audio book
    • 4/5
      Wintersmith yet again visits Tiffany Aching. In this book Tiffany has caught the eye of the Wintersmith, in effect the personification of winter. He goes through several romantic gestures including creating snowflakes and giant icebergs in her image. Not only this, but Winter has not lightened, months have passed under the Wintersmith's cold thumb. Will the Chalk freeze to death, or starve without Springs return?
    • 5/5
      These Tiffany Aching books just keep getting better and better. I loved Miss Treason and her Boffo, and Annagramma. And omg Horace! Horace was the best! And I'm liking Roland, too. (And of course Tiffany and Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg, as well.)
    • 5/5
      I just love Terry Pratchett! The book is well read, the story is just strange enough to allow very human elements to shine and Tiffany is the epitome of every bookish girl. What‘s not to like?
    • 5/5
      tiffany aching book. good book. very enjoyable
    • 5/5
      I love how in between the lines and the funny characters, Pratchet inserts deep life insights about what is really important in life - friendship, common sense and keeping your feet on the ground.
    • 5/5
      Tiffany is completing her witches training in the house of Ms. Treason, a formidable witch who is blind and deaf but uses her "borrowing" skills to see through animals and occasionally people. One night, at the black Morris dance, Tiffany finds herself swept up by the magic and joins the dance. Later she learns this is a dance to appease the Wintersmith, a personification of winter. At first it just seems like one wild night created by adolescent high spirits, but then the Wintersmith begins courting Tiffany. She accidentally took the place in the dance of the spirit of Summer in the dance and now Tiffany is becoming a de facto goddess. Substantially worse news is that Winter is not turning to Spring as normal. Winter storms are ravaging the reason and threatening the lives of all.
    • 3/5
      Funny and incisive as one would expect from Pratchett, but this is not one of his best. The witches and the Nac Mac Feegles are great, but the story is a bit weak.
    • 5/5
      ‘Wintersmith’ is the third book about Tiffany Aching, a young witch in training on Discworld. Now 13, she faces an elemental force. Tiffany joined in dancing in the Black Morris dance on the autumn equinox, and for one brief instant, danced with winter. Winter has taken a shine to her, and has come courting. If she doesn’t get the Wintersmith to stop courting her, summer will never come, and the world will freeze to death. She doesn’t have to face him alone, however. She has the aid of several older witches, the Mac Nac Feegles (the Wee Free Men), an animate blue cheese, and Roland, a teenaged boy who she exchanges letters with regularly. This is a fantasy adventure filled with comic mishaps and satire, which Pratchett excels at. But this book goes a little deeper than most. The characters are more realistic and fully formed –okay, the animate cheese doesn’t have a great deal of personality, but the others do. There are no caricatures here, even though there are opportunities galore to use them. Even the ill trained, spoiled, self centered teenaged witch who takes over a cottage when an older witch dies turns out to be solid character who just needed help. The drunken, feckless Feegles are heroic warriors. In this book, Pratchett blends Discworld mayhem with mythology of the turn of the seasons and with a view of witchcraft that doesn’t involve wands and crystal balls as magical articles, but of witchcraft as a blend of practical knowledge (medicine, veterinary, plants) and of power coming from within. Compared to the wizards of the Unseen University, the witches are more sensible, useful and powerful. I liked that. This is one of my favorite Discworld books.
    • 4/5
      This snowy, icy, windblown story of the ancient winter/summer dance was refreshing to read in the current summer heat. Tiffany Aching, the main character, gets into romantic trouble with the Wintersmith who finds he is infatuated with this 13 y/o girl. He makes Tiffany-shaped snowflakes and icebergs. If he has his way, the world will freeze over and never see Spring. Not to worry! Tiffany has many magical friends to save her and the world. The sub plot woven throughout - "how to be a good witch" - raised a few important questions, e.g., If you kill your enemy, how will they know you won??? Love it! This YA book has a hefty amount of humor and fun. Recommended for the young and young-at-heart Terry Pratchett fans.
    • 4/5
      Its nice to see Tiffany's 'growing up' though I agree with other reviewers who say that the fact she even joined the dance was completely out of character for her. And if she was 'compelled' in a sense as she said, there wasn't any explanation to it. Tiffany isn't a frivolous girl. So WHY did she jump in as if it was meant for her?

      Otherwise excellent ^_^
      Since this story wouldn't have happened without her dancing with Winter..
    • 5/5
      Tiffany may be the brightest witch of her age, but she's still a dumb kid. She messes up the "winter is coming" dance, and now the Wintersmith is making life difficult. But she also has to deal with witch politics and friendships and boy troubles. Luckily there are other witches, friends, and the feegles to help. Oh man, those tiny Scottish men are still the best. I want them to be in every book. Terry Pratchett's ideas and philosophies still feel a little weird coming out of Tiffany's head, but I enjoy it nonetheless.
    • 4/5
      In this third installment in the adventures of Tiffany Aching and the Nac Mac Feegle, Tiffany is now thirteen years old. Living with (and learning witchcraft from) old Miss Treason, she still writes and receives letters from Roland, the Baron’s son. She very soon makes the mistake of dancing with the Wintersmith, a mistake which could have dire consequences. Because now Roland isn’t her only admirer.I think this is my favourite of the Tiffany Aching books so far. After a slightly slow start, I found it a great deal funnier than A Hat Full of Sky, and I liked Roland’s more prominent role. The Nac Mac Feegle continue to amuse me, while Granny Weatherax is her usual irascible self. Nanny Ogg makes an appearance, which is always a pleasure.
    • 4/5
      Witty and satisfying.
      I love Terry Pratchett and his Tiffany Aching characters.
      The Wee Free Men are a constant source of fun!
    • 5/5
      Teri Akin is a great character. this is the best so far of the series that keeps getting better. but don't expect anything less from terry pratchett.
    • 5/5
      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.
    • 5/5
      "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.
    • 3/5
      Must have read this one before but couldn't remember a thing about it. Have an extra half star. A comfortable and familiar world, entertaining and interesting.
    • 3/5
      Good but not great Discworld novel. The upside is that you definitely know what you are going to get, but that's also the downside. It is difficult to be surprising and novel, but he brings his usual whimsy and weirdness and makes it worth the read.
    • 4/5
      Delightful. I absolutely love the Tiffany Aching books.
    • 4/5
      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.
    • 5/5
      Tiffany Aching is a nearly 13-year-old girl who made a minor misjudgement and danced when she should have stayed still. For any normal 13-year-old girl, this would be a simple, silly mistake (or, honestly, no mistake at all) and life would go on. But Tiffany is a witch, and a right powerful one at that, and the dancing she did was at the Winter Morris Dance, and her partner was the Wintersmith. So now, unless she can fix her mistake, lots of folks will likely freeze to death under the snow that keeps piling on when it rightly should be spring. Oh, and the flakes all look like her.The Aching books are fast becoming some of my favorite in the Discworld series, with Tiffany herself being such a fantastic character and the support players including Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and the adorable and hilarious Feegles. Such a fun and happy-making read.
    • 5/5
      I love Pratchett's Discworld books, and I particularly love the Tiffany Aching books, so it was a surprise to me that I apparently missed noticing Wintersmith for ten years. Well, at least it means a new-for-me Pratchett when I thought that opportunity was gone.

      Tiffany Aching is an apprentice witch, currently living with a witch in the mountains, far from her beloved chalk hills. She's taken as part of her training to watch a dance she didn't know existed, the Dark Morris, which brings the beginning of winter as the Morris Dance we know brings the beginning of summer.

      Since this is the Discworld, the dances really do bring the starts of those seasons.

      Tiffany's feet, unfortunately, get the better of her. She steps into the dance, and dances with the Wintersmith, and gets some of the traits and powers of Lady Summer tangled up in herself. The Wintersmith thinks he has fallen in love with her.

      This is, of course, is a problem for everyone, especially when the Wintersmith wants to marry her and cause Summer to never come again. The Wintersmith has no real idea what being a person is all about, or why Tiffany is upset about the lambs dying when a blizzard hits too late in what should be spring, or why she doesn't love the ice palace he's made to lure her.

      The second half is a Discworld take on Orpheus and Eurydice, and both Tiffany and the local lord's son she rescued from the elf queen's court previously, take a few more steps toward adulthood.

      It's a fine taste of Pratchett, and a nice surprise for me to find it, when I thought there wasn't anything more.

      Recommended.

      I bought this audiobook.
    • 5/5
      I love Terry Pratchett. I especially love all of the Wee Free Men series. I mean, come on, how can you beat a bunch of little blue men who are a cross between leprechauns, smurfs, and gremlins? Tiffany Aching is a lovable heroine, as well. And the way she describes witching, I almost believe I could do it myself, if only I had a pointy hat...
    • 4/5
      The turn of the seasons seems like a dance orchestrated by nature to be both seamless and purposeful, but what if someone cuts in when she isn’t supposed to? Wintersmith is the 35th book of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series and the third in the subseries featuring witch-in-training Tiffany Aching. Unfortunately for Tiffany she finds out that when you succumb to the rhythm of the music, you find yourself in a Story and have to see it through.Tiffany has been training with 113-year old Miss Treason, who uses subtle “special effects” to impress people, when she is taken to witness the dark morris one night. The dance that welcomes the winter draws on Tiffany and she joins in, unfortunately she comes face to face with the Wintersmith—winter himself—and he falls in love with her believing she is the Summer Lady. The problem is as time progresses, Tiffany starts exhibiting traits of the Summer Lady while the Wintersmith believes to successfully woo her, he must become human. Unfortunately Miss Treason isn’t able to help Tiffany through things as she passes away and Tiffany goes to train with Nanny Ogg as well has help Annagramma figure out how to be an actual witch in taking over for Miss Treason. In the end, Tiffany realizes she has finish things with the Wintersmith with a kiss to finish the dance.Throughout last several books in the Discworld series, Pratchett has delved into various themes that touch upon real world issues except in the Aching books. Like the previous two books of Tiffany’s subseries, Wintersmith focuses on characters, world-building, and plotting. Although a tad older Tiffany’s continued development is seen throughout, Pratchett spends time growing the character of Annagramma while also enhancing the reputation of Granny Weatherwax. Even though this is the 34th book in the series, Pratchett is still able to world-build the Disc with elemental forces and psychological dispositions of people in various parts which are different and also the same. And finally the plotting which was well executed writing that began with a bang then suddenly took you to the quiet beginning of the story and progressing steady as you waited to find out how Tiffany was going to “end the story”.The Tiffany Aching subseries is Pratchett giving young adults an introduction to the Disc with is interwoven strains of fantasy and humor. Wintersmith is a fun, easy read that gives even adults a fresh look at their favorite series.
    • 5/5
      Tiffany may be the brightest witch of her age, but she's still a dumb kid. She messes up the "winter is coming" dance, and now the Wintersmith is making life difficult. But she also has to deal with witch politics and friendships and boy troubles. Luckily there are other witches, friends, and the feegles to help. Oh man, those tiny Scottish men are still the best. I want them to be in every book. Terry Pratchett's ideas and philosophies still feel a little weird coming out of Tiffany's head, but I enjoy it nonetheless.
    • 5/5
      Re-reread June 2015.

      The Tiffany Aching stories are more than simple YA adventures. The young protagonist is a magically talented witch-in-training, but she's also an excellent example for young readers. She's responsible, intelligent, and a deep thinker. It's not magic that makes Tiffany such an admirable character; it's her more mundane talents. These are skills that real people in the real world can cultivate.
    • 5/5
      Third book in Tiffany Aching's adventures, it adresses romantic issues (after all, she is growing up) as she is confronted with a BIG problem: a god is in love with her. This situation leads to desastrous results. Tiffany, who is still a trainee, starts to question her romantic ambivalence between the Baron's son, Roland, and the fact that a god tries to seduce her - who couldn't feel flattered?But danger grows and she can't make up her mind, therefore it's up to the other witches, including Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg, to help her understand her priorities. I also like the way that Granny's cat, You, is given its part as a comic relief in a memorable scene with Greebo the 'evil' cat. Having been following Tiffany's adventures for the last 3 books, I shall keep reading, as the plot is quite good (in spite of the series being YA).
    • 3/5
      As with most of Pratchett's books, I found 'Wintersmith' to be extremely entertaining, but not exceptional. Unlike many of the Discworld books, this novel will definitely be helped along if you've read some of the previous books in the series that deal with the same characters (The Wee Free Men, A Hat Full of Sky).
      I've read the first, but not the second.
      The story deals with the teenage apprentice witch, Tiffany Aching, who is helped/hindered by her friends the Nac Mac Feegles (blue, Scottish-flavored 'Pictsies'), when, due to an ill-advised dance, the titular elemental spirit of Winter falls in love with her - with less than salutary effects on the climate.
      Engaging characters and witty writing, but a fairly typical coming-of-age-type story.
    • 4/5
       I think I might have read too many Witch books in quick succession...This is the 'dating is difficult' installment in Pratchett's stories about teenage Tiffany Aching. She sees a cool gap in the dark morris, impulsively dances into it, and has to live with the consequences of her actions - in this case, that the Wintersmith falls for her, instead of Summer, and follows her around with deadly blizzards etc. It's a good story, although if you squint too hard there are messages that I would not 100% endorse - Nanny Ogg's relaxed 'ah, he's stalking you, but you should make him frightened of you and make him show you some respect' and the whole 'kissing him to melt him to save the world' resolution. I think I like the subplots even better. Anagramma, with her airs and lack of any practical skills, being saved and rallied round, and losing some of her corners (and being part of Granny's 'show how great she and Tiffany are' games). Miss Treason, and her boffo, and the ideas of looking the part and being the part, to get respect and get power. Little snippets of Ronald dealing with his father's illness and his evil aunts. And Horace, the cheese full of personality.Tiffany gives Granny a kitten. That's cute :-)