Carpe Jugulum - Terry Pratchett

Returning to the Witches was always going to be difficult for Terry Pratchett after Maskerade - probably the funniest and most inventive of his witches books. Given the popularity of the characters, though, a return to Lancre was inevitable - and Carpe Jugulum was the result. The plot is quite an interesting one, though, and features all four witches to date as they seek to battle vampires who have taken over Lancre. Meanwhile, Granny Weatherwax goes missing, leaving Nanny, Agnes and Magrat to fight on their own. Initially, when you pick up Carpe Jugulum you hope for that same blend of ludicrous, but fun story and absurd humour which made Maskerade ...  Read the complete review

The vampire mythos has existed for centuries, especially in central Europe, and is a combination of legends from a wide variety of sources and of varying antiquity together with more modern additions made through the guise of novels and films, with the dash of historical inspiration added for good measure. Ancient legend held that vampires were creatures who feasted on human blood and lived for many years (usually, these claims were of the order of centuries). Various methods were proposed which could, apparently, dispatch such a creature, and which were based upon various religions and interpretations of religions, the most common examples being the wooden ...  Read the complete review

I really haven’t done much reading lately. I have even given up on two novels after reading 70-80 pages, which is so unlike me. It’s another symptom of my depression though, as I can’t concentrate for long. So the fact that a 425-page novel gripped me enough for me to finish the whole thing is just a few days is really quite remarkable! I have just got back into another phase of reading Terry Pratchett and this time, I experienced my first venture into the territory of the Witches. Carpe Jugulum is one of several Pratchetts featuring the Witches, but apparently his first to star vampires – and what a great bunch they are! This ...  Read the complete review

The King of Lancre is having a party for the naming of his new child, and he's invited everyone. That's everyone, including the vampires from the neighbouring kingdom. No one told him that inviting vampires into your own kingdom gives them power over everyone. It's a good thing Lancre is crawling with witches. There are several combinations of three-- the maiden, the mother, and the other one-- as Magrat is now a mother and Nanny is acting decidedly more crone-ish. However, Granny decides to head for the hills, only returning after some time away. She confronts some very modern-thinking vampires. How do you beat vampires who eat garlic, laugh at holy ...  Read the complete review

Vampyres have invaded Lancre. Well I say invaded, more like invited to the naming ceremony of the King's daughter. This makes it difficult to ask them to leave. It is made all the more improbable when it is discovered they are keen to make Lancre their new home and there seems to be little anyone can do about it, especially when the Discworld's most powerful Witch goes to ground. But who is this figure striding righteously across the valley? It's Mightily Oats an Omnian Priest with a crisis of faith. What can he, Agnes Nitt, a Witch who is in two minds over everything and Nanny Ogg, the oldest swinger in town do to fight these modern Vampyres who are so keen on a ...  Read the complete review