The Tiffany Aching books are tied for my favorite books in all of Discworld (the other favorite being the City Watch books, because I love Sam Vimes), and based on the title of this review you won’t be shocked to find that I Shall Wear Midnight is my favorite of all the Tiffany Aching books.
So, why are the Tiffany books tied as favorites? I could go on forever! Tiffany isn’t just a complex female character, she’s a complex young woman who is given a rich inner life and a ton of power, yet she isn’t immediately made to be the savior of the whole world (though technically she does save it a couple of times) and she isn’t set up as immensely troubled because of this power or because she’s smart. She’s faulted but not in all the stereotypical ways you’d think an author would make a child or teenage girl faulted. She’s allowed to be interested in romance without it being the central focus of any of her stories. She’s badass without being a Mary Sue. Like I said, I could still go on.
I particularly love I Shall Wear Midnight because it’s got such a good blend of darkness and humor. The true intent of the Big Bad of this one isn’t revealed for quite a bit into the book so I won’t go into detail here, but it’s truly a chilling kind of evil, because it brings all of society into its plans. You end up scared for Tiffany but not horribly anxious the way another book could make you. And the moments and characters that are funny, always present in Pratchett books, really shine especially bright in this one.
Anyway. If you’re new to Discworld in general, I wouldn’t say start with this one, but maybe start with The Wee Free Men and look forward to this one when you get there!
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