Three witches go travelling (Witches Abroad - Terry Pratchett)

Member Name: January

Product:	Witches Abroad - Terry Pratchett
Date:	28/03/03 (63 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A good read

Disadvantages: none

Out of all the Terry Pratchett books, I love the stories about the three witches. Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat. Whichever book you pick up and read about these three, you will be entertained and Witches Abroad is just as good as the others.

The start of the book takes us to a cottage in the woods, where an old witch Desiderata is getting ready to pass away, all witches of course know the exact time and place of their death so they can prepare for it. Death who makes an appearrance in most of Pratchetts books is standing watching the old witch get ready. She leaves a note with the poacher and jumps into the grave which has been already dug for her.

The poacher has to deliver the note and a package to Magrat, the note says she has to stop a princess from marrying a prince in the town of Genua, she also has to tell Granny weatherwax and Nanny Ogg that she has to go alone. Desidera knows full well that if this is said to them they will ignore Magrat and go anyway, as they are stubborn witches and if you tell them not to do something they will do the opposite.
Having opened the package magrat discovers the magic wand which has been left to her by Desiderata. Magrat is now a fairy godmother and her duty is to help the princess.

All three witches have now to set off abroad to reach Genua, they encounter stories along the way, fairy stories which are coming alive in villages, little red riding hood, vampire stories and hear about cottages with little pigs and three bears living in them.
As they near Genua, Granny Weatherwax is getting nervous, she has seen a mirror with the reflection of her sister in it. This sister is making the stories come true by using mirror magic and Granny has to stop her, by stopping the stories from coming true.

I enjoyed this book as the witches take along Greebo who is nanny oggs cat, this cat is renowned for attacking or ravishing other creatures. It eats a vampire which has turned into a
bat in one of the villages and the witches transform it in another part of the book to help them fight the story.
The friendly banter which is exchanged between nanny ogg and granny weatherwax is very funny, this is where Terry Pratchetts humour is, with similarities and whit. I found this very compulsive reading and it could be read by older children as well as adults.
There are other charatcters which shine in this book too. Mrs Gogol and her Zombie friend take a major role too.
If you haven't read this book then get a copy. it will cost about 5.99p from Waterstones book shop or less at a bootsale.

Summary: