Heidi's Reviews > Lords and Ladies

Granny Weatherwax set about finding out what had been happening around the stones in her own distinctive way." pg 46

Headology, humor and elves are the focus of Lords and Ladies, the fourth entry in The Witches series of Discworld books.

A ring of ancient stones sits in the mountains above Lancre. They were erected so many years ago that no one remembers why they were put up in the first place. No one, that is, except the witches.

Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat have returned from their long journey to install Magrat as a short-term fairy godmother and to free a distant city from the tyranny of stories- a far more dangerous trip than any of them realized it would be.

Upon their return, Verence, the recently crowned king of Lancre, announces his intention to wed Magrat. While the preparations are taking place, something dangerous and cold is pushing its way into Discworld through the stones upon the hill.

"You know," she said. "The Fair Folk. The Gentry. The Shining Ones. The Star People. You know." pg 53

Too bad the elves are nothing like what people remember in the fairy tales.

Terry Pratchett takes a completely different view of the elves than any other fantasy author I've ever read. Their beauty and glamor hides a viciousness that makes them terrifying rather than enchanting.

The three witches face the danger in their own unique way- a charming combination of psychology and common sense.

Unlike the last book where I felt that Magrat was disparaged and bullied, I feel like she comes into her own in Lords and Ladies.

"If you fought an elf and lost... then, if you were lucky, you would die." pg 169

We get to learn more about Granny Weatherwax's mysterious past as well as Nanny Ogg's capacity to fascinate a certain amorous dwarf.

Overall, I think it is one of Pratchett's best. At least, that's what I believe so far. We've reached the end of the Discworld books that I read eight years ago, so perhaps there are some gems waiting in my future.

I'll let you all know. :)

Highly recommended for fans of fantasy and British humor.