Book Review: I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett

Dark, dark, dark. Not the way that there are horrors, murder, and mayhem (okay, there are those too, but not in a macabre way), but with the way of showing the darkness from the reaches of the human mind. That is why I love the series. Right from the beginning, Terry Pratchett has demonstrated how our mind works, to show us the pitfalls, the glory, the way out, the horrors, the fears, the good, ugly, and bad. With I Shall Wear Midnight, he shows what prejudice, good intentions, stereotypes, and fears do when they come together.

This book is about witch burning and hatred of the unknown. Tiffany Aching has to come with the terms that not all are excited about witches. Sometimes they were drowned, burned, and tortured to death because people thought they were doing the right thing. Nobody ever does the horrendous things for the wrong reasons; there are almost always good intentions involved. When good people don’t re-evaluate their actions to achieve some ideology, evil will happen. Evil can be done in the name of freedom, justice, human rights, life, liberty, and love. What a powerful gift Pratchett is giving for the younger generation with this book. Tiffany doesn’t go along with the crowds, she could use her powers to vindicate her, get her revenge and due, but she doesn’t because she knows that path leads to the cackling witch who will push children into ovens. None of this means Tiffany is perfect, she has her qualms about who she is and what she is becoming, but that is a good thing. Pratchett lets her think nasty thoughts, but he also shows she doesn’t have to act upon them, and he shows that not acting upon them makes her feel better and the world a better place.

What more is that the ending, while to some it might seem lame, it is still the right ending. It is the bigger thing to do, because of those who hate each other, talk to each other. I just love this book, despite its flaws. Who cares about a few mishaps with unequal pacing and narration? This book is powerful, important, and everyone should read it. Plus, it contains Esme and Nanny, Wee Mad Arthur (love that guy), Eskarina, Carrot, Vimes, Angua, who else I am missing? Plus, all the new people like Letitia, Preston, Mrs Proust… Shoo, go and read this book.

Thank you for reading, in the midnight we shall meet ❤