I Shall Wear Midnight

by Terry Pratchett Narrated by Stephen Briggs

Overview

It starts with whispers.

Then someone picks up a stone.

Finally, the fires begin.

When people turn on witches, the innocents suffer...

Tiffany Aching has spent years studying with senior witches, and now she is on her own. As the witch of the Chalk, she performs the bits of witchcraft that aren't sparkly, aren't fun, don't involve any kind of wand, and that people seldom ever hear about: She does the unglamorous work of caring for the needy.

But someone amp;ndash; or something amp;ndash; is igniting fear, inculcating dark thoughts and angry murmurs against witches. Aided by her tiny blue allies, the Wee Free Men, Tiffany must find the source of this unrest and defeat the evil at its root-before it takes her life. Because if Tiffany falls, the whole Chalk falls wither.

Chilling drama combines with laugh-out-loud humor and searing insight as beloved and bestselling author Terry Pratchett tells the high-stakes story of a young witch who stands in the gap between good and evil.

A HarperAudio production.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

The final adventure in Pratchett's Tiffany Aching series brings this subset of Discworld novels to a moving and highly satisfactory conclusion. Tiffany, now nearly 16 years old, is forced to do battle with the hate-filled ghost of a long dead witchfinder, the Cunning Man, who has become obsessed with the young witch and is gradually turning her own community against her. As ever, Tiffany is ably supported by her loyal, intensely fractious, and totally amoral companions, the Nac Mac Feegles, whose leader, Rob Anybody, believes, "After all, ye ken, what would be the point of lyin' when you had nae done anything wrong?" She must deal with the heavy workload of a professional witch (birthing babies, training apprentices, and the like), fight evil, and come to terms with her former boyfriend's impending marriage. Pratchett's trademark wordplay and humor are much in evidence, but he's also interested in weightier topics, including religious prejudice and the importance of living a balanced life. Tiffany Aching fans, who have been waiting for this novel since Wintersmith (2006), should be ecstatic. Ages 12–up. (Oct.)

Rocky Mountain News

Pratchett’s skill as a storyteller soars.

ALA Booklist

In terms of pure humor per square word, Pratchett may be the cheeriest writer around.

Horn Book Magazine

One of the most entertaining and literarily rich fantasies for young adults available. Funny, thought-provoking, and completely engaging from first to last.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

At once touchingly poignant and uproariously hilarious, this novel is a splendid goodbye to a batch of characters who will be missed by readers who still must admit that, with this fourth volume, their stories have been well and thoroughly told.

VOYA - Timothy Capehart

At eight years old, she whacked the Queen of Faerie with a frying pan and saved a future Baron. At eleven, she defeated the mind-destroying Hiver. At thirteen, she had to fend off the advances of the Wintersmith (an eldritch god-sort-of-spirity thing) and save the world (again). Now at very nearly sixteen, Tiffany Aching is considered the witch of the Chalk region, and she has the no-time-for-sleep schedule to prove it. But that's what being a witch IS: taking care of the people in your steading, all the rest is press-on warts and cackle-boxes. Tiffany is confused when those people start turning on her, and rumors, innuendo, and lies are accepted as truth. The Cunning Man, what's left of the evil spirit of an ancient witchfinder, has been awakened; and he's coming for Tiffany. As if that were not problem enough, the old Baron is dying and the baron-to-be (who all assumed would marry Tiffany) has a soppy fiancee...and a monstrous mother-in-law-to-be. Though the Nac Mac Feegles (Tiffany's small, blue, brogue-spewing protectors) mean to be helpful, they often just add to the chaos (often through bloodletting). Pratchett rounds off the Tiffany Aching adventures with what is likely the final volume (she is an adult now); though fans may be sad at that, there's nary a one who will be disappointed with this thrilling, humorous, moving and most wise tale that examines religious intolerance, memory, and loss without ever straying from Pratchett's trademark witty wordplay. Reviewer: Timothy Capehart

Library Journal

Pratchett's fourth—and final—book to feature young witch Tiffany Aching (The Wee Free Men, A Hat Full of Sky, Wintersmith) is a delight from start to finish. The trademark Pratchett humor is in full force along with the classic elements of a witch, a royal wedding, a royal funeral, a trip to the big city, and an ominous villain. Comic relief comes in the form of frequent appearance by the Nac Mac Feegle (who would not be out of place in a farcical miniproduction of Braveheart) and everyone's favorite randy old hag, Nanny Ogg. A character from early in the "Discworld" series makes a cameo appearance, and we meet a new character, the learned young man Preston. As usual, Pratchett makes wise and wry observations about human behavior, for example, "poison goes where poison's welcome" refers to the mob mentality.Verdict YA and adult readers who like strong heroines and classic tales will enjoy this volume, which is sure to be in demand by Discworld fans.—Amy Watts, Univ. of Georgia Lib., Athens

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up—This is the final adventure of the young witch, Tiffany Aching, and her obnoxious, fawning, and yet lovable small blue companions, the Nac Mac Feegles. In many ways it's a coming-of-age novel, as Tiffany is now on her own. Known as "The Hag O'the Hills," she spends her time tending to the messy, menial, everyday things that no one else will take care of, such as fixing bones or easing the pain of a dying man. But as she tries to serve the people of the Chalk hills, she senses a growing distrust of her, and a loss of respect for witches in general. Along with the Nac Mac Feegles, she has to seek out the source of this growing fear. Tiffany discovers she may have been responsible for waking an evil force when she kissed the winter in Wintersmith (HarperTempest, 2006). The Cunning Man is in need of a host body and is searching for Tiffany. Pratchett combines gut-busting humor and amusing footnotes with a genuine poignancy as Tiffany tries to decide what her future should be. Fans of the author's "Discworld" (HarperCollins) books will enjoy the connections with the larger series, particularly the inclusion of Granny Weatherwax. Simply put, this fourth and final book in the series is an undisputed triumph.—Tim Wadham, St. Louis County Library, MO

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170065356
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	12/07/2010
Series:	Boyarskaya sotnya , #4
Edition description:	Unabridged

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