A Hat Full of Sky (Discworld, #32; Tiffany Aching, #2)

Title: A Hat Full of Sky (Discworld, #32; Tiffany Aching, #2)

Author: Terry Pratchett

Published in: 2004

Date read: 24th May 2011

Score: 4/5

Genre: Fantasy, Comedy

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"A Hat Full of Sky" by Terry Pratchett is the second novel in his Tiffany Aching series, following "The Wee Free Men." The story continues the adventures of Tiffany Aching, now eleven years old and feeling the weight of her burgeoning responsibilities as a witch.

After her first encounter with the Nac Mac Feegle and her defeat of the Queen of the Elves, Tiffany realizes she needs proper training to hone her magical abilities. She apprentices herself to Miss Level, an elderly and eccentric witch who lives in a cottage that seems to defy logic and possess a mind of its own. Here, Tiffany begins to learn the practical, often mundane, but deeply important aspects of witchcraft – looking after people, understanding the land, and dealing with everyday problems, rather than grand heroic quests.

However, a new and insidious threat emerges: a disembodied, ancient, and malevolent entity known as a hiver. Hivers are pure thought, but negative thought, and they are drawn to powerful, untrained minds, seeking to possess them and cause chaos. The hiver targets Tiffany, attracted by her strong magical talent and her unique connection to the Chalk.

As the hiver attempts to take control of Tiffany's mind, she finds herself in a desperate struggle for self-preservation, battling a force that can manipulate her thoughts and emotions. Her allies, the tiny, blue, whisky-loving, and fiercely loyal Nac Mac Feegle (or "Pictsies"), return to protect their "big wee hag," offering their unique brand of boisterous, often violent, support.

The novel explores themes of identity, self-reliance, the nature of evil, and the true meaning of power. Tiffany must learn to trust herself, understand the difference between being a witch and merely having magic, and ultimately confront the hiver not with brute force, but with the strength of her own mind and character, proving that sometimes, the greatest battles are fought within.

Comments:
I adored the "main" Discworld books, however, Tiffany Aching never quite impressed me as much. Great books but not the same to me. That pains me to say, but I have to be honest.

Books that we've read by Terry Pratchett (39):
The Colour of Magic (Discworld, #1; Rincewind, #1) (1983), The Light Fantastic (Discworld, #2; Rincewind, #2) (1986), Equal Rites (Discworld, #3; Witches, #1) (1987), Mort (Discworld, #4; Death, #1) (1987), Sourcery (Discworld, #5; Rincewind, #3) (1988), Wyrd Sisters (Discworld, #6; Witches, #2) (1988), Guards! Guards! (Discworld, #8; City Watch, #1) (1989), Pyramids (Discworld, #7) (1989), Eric (Discworld, #9; Rincewind, #4) (1990), Moving Pictures (Discworld, #10; Industrial Revolution, #1) (1990), Witches Abroad (Discworld, #12; Witches, #3) (1991), Reaper Man (Discworld, #11; Death, #2) (1991), Small Gods (Discworld, #13) (1992), Lords and Ladies (Discworld, #14; Witches, #4) (1992), Men at Arms (Discworld, #15; City Watch, #2) (1993), Soul Music (Discworld, #16; Death, #3) (1994), Interesting Times (Discworld, #17; Rincewind, #5) (1994), Maskerade (Discworld, #18; Witches, #5) (1995), Feet of Clay (Discworld, #19; City Watch, #3) (1996), Hogfather (Discworld, #20; Death, #4) (1996), Jingo (Discworld, #21; City Watch, #4) (1997), Carpe Jugulum (Discworld, #23; Witches, #6) (1998), The Last Continent (Discworld, #22; Rincewind, #6) (1998), The Fifth Elephant (Discworld, #24; City Watch, #5) (1999), The Truth (Discworld, #25) (2000), The Last Hero (Discworld, #27; Rincewind, #7) (2001), Thief of Time (Discworld, #26; Death, #5) (2001), Night Watch (Discworld, #29; City Watch, #6) (2002), The Wee Free Men (Discworld, #30; Tiffany Aching, #1) (2003), Monstrous Regiment (Discworld, #31; Industrial Revolution, #3) (2003), A Hat Full of Sky (Discworld, #32; Tiffany Aching, #2) (2004), Going Postal (Discworld, #33; Moist von Lipwig, #1) (2004), Thud! (Discworld, #34; City Watch, #7) (2005), Wintersmith (Discworld, #35; Tiffany Aching, #3) (2006), Making Money (Discworld, #36; Moist Von Lipwig, #2) (2007), Unseen Academicals (Discworld, #37; Rincewind, #8) (2009), I Shall Wear Midnight (Discworld, #38; Tiffany Aching, #4) (2010), Snuff (Discworld, #39; City Watch, #8) (2011), Raising Steam (Discworld, #40; Moist von Lipwig, #3) (2013)