A Hat Full of Sky / Terry Pratchett

 

4 out of 5 stars

Crivens! I am so glad that my SRR friends mentioned buddy-reading this series! I really like young Tiffany, our apprentice witch. She is growing up nicely and learning how to deal with the expectations of others, peer pressure, and other tricky situations. Through sheer ignorance, she leaves her body at the wrong moment and a hiver takes possession of her, proceeding to make trouble.

As in the last book, Tiffany has assistance from the Nac Mac Feegle, fae folk who prevent the book from being too serious or too preachy. Their determination to drink fuels much of the hilarity, with Daft Wullie at one point claiming he can safely drink rat poison because he's “no' a rat.” Their taste for Special Sheep Linament (moonshine) is on display too. The Nac Mac Feegle (also called Pictsies, The Wee Free Men, The Little Men, and “Person or Persons Unknown, Believed to be Armed”)

 

Tiffany gets a gift from Roland, the Baron's son rescued from Fairyland in book one. The image of the Horse carved in the chalk becomes an important image during her dealings with the hiver. (And their behaviour as they interact makes me wonder where this friendship is going). But perhaps her most important lesson is the human connection. It's difficult to be content with the daily grind of taking care of people and things, but it needs to be done and satisfaction can be derived from it.