Evil Elves Return. (Lords and Ladies - Terry Pratchett)

Name: Azurel

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Product:	Lords and Ladies - Terry Pratchett
Date:	15/04/02 (58 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Funny and readable.

Disadvantages: Need to know a bit of background for the story to work well.

This is Terry Pratchetts 14th Discworld novel; it is based on A Midsummer Nights Dream. The preface to the book gives all the details from the previous books that relate to this one, so having read other books in the series is not necessary but does add something to the understanding of the book in general. The books particularly relating to this one are, Equal Rites, Wyrd Sisters and Witches Abroad (although there are other books featuring the witches, these are the books that they feature most heavily in). This book also introduces Agnes (the only one out of the would be witches with any talent for witchcraft), who becomes the replacement for Margrat in the witches' coven

The three central characters in the story are, Granny Weatherwax (crone), Nanny Ogg (mother) and Margrat Garlik (maid). Although witches have no leaders Granny Weatherwax is the most respected of the leaders they don't have(Wyrd Sisters) she is both respected and feared by the residents of Lancre and is not half as ugly as she would like to be. Nanny Ogg on the other hand has a face like a well dried prune and fewer teeth than your average bar fighter. She is also related to most of the people in Lancre thanks to her liking for men and has a huge brood of grandchildren and other sundry relations. Margrat Garlik is the youngest and considered by Granny Weatherwax to be something of a "wet hen". She refuses to wear black and instead chooses bright dresses that don't suit her and probably never will, Granny Weatherwax thoroughly disapproves of such nonsense. Margrat is also engaged to king Verance II.

The story is set in Lancre, which is a small town in the Ramtops. And begins when Margrat decides to give up being a witch as she is about to become queen of Lancre.
Meanwhile a group of girls trying to be witches (wearing lots of black lace and fingerless gloves) are drawn to the stone circle called the Dancers on a Lancre hillside. They dance around the
stones loosening the bond around the circle, which prevents the elves from breaking through. With the weakening state of the circle and Margrats recent resignation the elves seize the opportunity to try and take over Lancre. So the Lady in the circle takes her chance.

The elves in this story are not the sweet, cute slightly mischievous creatures portrayed in fairytales. These elves are cold, cruel and have no empathy with suffering. They injure people for entertainment; one particularly horrible example of this is hunting, were they release a person and then chase after them trying to injure them before finally killing them.

As they try to take over the elves attack the castle and this pushes Margrat to the edge, the usually drippy Margrat realises that its up to her to save the castle and Verance so, donning an old suit of armour from a fictitious warrior queen of Lancre, Margrat feels like she can overthrow the elves. Rather surprisingly she does have a hand in saving Lancre and manages to win Granny Weatherwaxes respect.

I think this is a funny book and very enjoyable. It is nicely based on A Midsummer Nights Dream and this should be seen as an advantage. The book gives a good insight into the past of Granny Weatherwax and her relationship with a certain wizard. I thought the book was different in style from the earlier books but this is not a disadvantege as the writing flows better in later books. Its probably best read after one or two of the other books about the Lancre witches, but thanks to the preface this is not absolutely necessary.

Summary: