This is the latest of Pratchett’s Discworld books, and also the latest in his young adult series about junior witch Tiffany Aching. In this, the latest adventure, Tiffany is unwise enough to dance with the Wintersmith, the (not particularly anthropomorphic) personification of the Disc’s season of winter. She’s a pretty young girl, and he’s your basic age-old anthropomorphic personification who’s never danced with a real girl before, and he’s rather smitten. Before you know it, it’s snowing….well, read it and see. Plus, there’s a fair amount of Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg to be had as well. (Of course, there always was a lot of Nanny Ogg to be had, and….ahem.) And, of course, there are the Nac Mac Feegle, who steal the show whenever possible.

Oh, and a cheese named Hector.

All in all, it’s not a bad outing; I read it to Jane over the course of a week, with much laughter and merriment. And if Tiffany’s larger story doesn’t advance much in the course of the present volume, neverthelesssome telling foundations are laid for the next one.

In short, well worth your time, if you’re a Discworld fan; and not the place to start, if you’re not. And if you’re not, why aren’t you?