⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 – A fitting end to the series (and to Discworld) but it does show that Sir Terry never finished polishing it before his death.
Format: Audio (Audible)
Read: May 2026
This is the final Tiffany Aching book and final Discworld book, written just before Sir Terry Pratchett died in 2015. The afterword by Rob Wilkins explains that it was not 100% finished, and that Terry’s process was to write scenes first, and then to keep going back and filling in the gaps later to flesh out the story out. It does show that he’d not been able to do this to his usual standard, especially at the start of the story. I remember noticing that it didn’t feel right, that scenes were too bare and basic and lacking the usual character, and the lived-in quality that Discworld always has. I was questioning if somebody else had written it. But then by the midpoint, the writing felt more familiar. I’m very glad we got a conclusion to Tiffany’s story, one that is a little less melancholic than I Shall Wear Midnight. It’s just a shame that Alzheimer’s prevented Terry from executing his full vision.
It definitely feels like an end-of-series book with the return of old friends and foes from both Tiffany Aching and the older Witches series. The elves are back again, having been fought back previously by Lancre trio (Lords and Ladies) and Tiffany in her first book (The Wee Free Men). Almost all the characters return to help, including my favourite Queen Magrat, though sadly the book opens with Granny Weatherwax dying (not a spoiler because it is the first chapter!).
“Witches didn’t have leaders, of course, but everyone knew that Granny Weatherwax had been the best leader they didn’t have, so now someone else would need to step forward to generally steer the witches.”
Tiffany has always felt like she would be Granny’s successor as the head witch, even though it is noted that witches don’t have a leader, and Granny makes this her official intention on her death. Unfortunately, this means that the already stretched teenager now has two steadings to manage – her homeland of The Chalk and The Ramtops, now inherited from Granny. Adding to the pressure is the disapproval of Mrs Earwig, who is waiting for her to fail so she can swoop in, and then also the Elves take advantage of the weakened magic defences to cross over again and start causing trouble.
“And Tiffany knew that if a witch started thinking of anyone as “just” anything, that would be the first step on a well-worn path that could lead to, oh, to poisoned apples, spinning wheels, and a too-small stove… and to pain, and terror, and horror and the darkness.”
As mentioned, some elements feel unfinished, and I think the inclusion of Geoffrey is one of those. He’s a young boy with a very mysterious goat called Mephistopheles, who turns up wanting to be a witch. Noting that he seems to have uncanny abilities to calm people, Tiffany gives him a shot as her ‘backhouse boy’ to help her with some of her duties. He proves to be a huge help with the retired old boys; it just felt like this should be a bit more to that plot. His ambition to be a witch and not a wizard is a sign of changing times, a recurrent theme in the book that many characters reflect on.
“I am intrigued, Geoffrey,” she said. “Why do you want to be a witch instead of a wizard, which is something traditionally thought of as a man’s job?”
“I’ve never thought of myself as a man, Mistress Tiffany. I don’t think I’m anything. I’m just me,” he said quietly. Good answer! Tiffany said to herself.”
Tiffany is now in a long-distance relationship with Preston, who is away in Ankh-Morpork studying with the Igors to become a surgeon. Tiffany isn’t sure what their future is going to be as they both love their jobs, jobs which take up a lot of their time. There are a couple of scenes where she wrestles with her feelings around this, and gets some assurances from the older witches, but I felt this thread wasn’t really resolved either. However, I’m sure they’ll be fine – they are well matched!
“It was never easy being a witch. Oh, the broomstick was great, but to be a witch you needed to be sensible, so sensible that sometimes it hurt. You dealt with the reality—not what people wanted.”
I enjoyed all the witches coming together, and the Nac Mac Feegle, of course, including learning a little more about Mrs Earwig, who has been present but in the background of previous books. I love seeing Magrat and Verence again, even if briefly, and I’m glad that Granny Weatherwax (my favourite character) got a good ending.
CAN SEE THE BALANCE AND YOU HAVE LEFT THE WORLD MUCH BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT, AND IF YOU ASK ME, said Death, NOBODY COULD DO ANY BETTER THAN THAT. . . .”
So while this is not a shining example of Sir Terry’s writing, it is a good enough ending, and it certainly has some moving moments, and we should all be very grateful to have gotten to read it.
The Tiffany Aching Series ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I greatly enjoyed reading about Tiffany, and I am so glad I didn’t let the “for children” put me off trying it! It really is the next part of the story following the Witches series, and explores the world and the role that witches play much more than the original five books do. So if you enjoy the Discworld Witches, reading Tiffany Aching is a must! Tiffany herself is a fantastic character – intelligent, brave and empathetic, but she is also flawed and often struggles with the weight of responsibility. She feels entirely real to me!
I even grew to love the Nac Mac Feegle. I thought I’d find them annoying, but I actually enjoyed them. I suspect that going the audiobook route really helped in this regard, as when I’ve been searching the eBook versions for quotes, I have seen how difficult their dialogue could be to read on the page!
I will definitely return to this series again and again, along with the earlier Witches books! Discworld is such a place of joy for me, and the new Audible audiobook versions are fantastically done.
I might explore some of the other pockets of Discworld after a bit of a break from it. I remember enjoying Guards! Guards! Guards! (City Watch #1) And also Mort (Death #1), previously, so I might dip back to either of those.
As for Law of Fives, this means I’ve completed a 5-book series! And it’s also another one published in the 2010s (2015).
REVIEW SUMMARY
I LIKED
- A fitting – and hopeful – end to the series, and a nice ending for Granny Weatherwax.
- Fun to have so many returning characters from the Witches series, too! (Magrat!)
I DIDN’T LIKE
- It wasn’t a finished novel before Sir Terry died, and it does show.
