Wintersmith review

External Since: Jan 03, 2005 Posts: 49

This was a review of the novel Wintersmith written by myself to a
member from the newsgroup in an e-mail a couple of months ago. He
recently asked me if I'd consider putting it up on abp... so here it is.

S
P
O
I
L
E
R

Tiffany seemed to lose all all the courage she had in the first two
novels as the strong, brave and independent minded "big wee hag" who
ran around fighting evil monsters without needing anybody else's
help... exept the feegles of course. She had now become the sweet and
innocent stereotyped "Maiden-in-distress, simply awaiting her strong,
brave, hero (Roland) to come and rescue her.

She had suddenly become like a little kitten, now depending on other
witches to rescue her, such as Miss Treason at the beginning, mainly
Granny Weatherwax after her, who then, together with Nanny Ogg
protected and advised her 24 hours a day. Even Miss Tick and Annagramma
helped out to some extent!

I have to say, I simply fell in love with Roland in this story.
Although he was only 13, his courage, loyalty and love for his lady
seemed to astound me. How brave and romantic he was, and his
willingness to be a hero, a Knight in shining armour searching the
dark, spooky depths of the Netherworld for her.

I wasn't quite sure what the job of the Cornucopia was as a weapon
against the Wintersmith. At first I thought the Summer Lady had sent it
to Tiffany especially to kill him with... just in case she didn't wake
up in time to help her. It wasn't used for this purpose though - it
just made lots of chickens instead. Giggle, giggle! Smile

The Wintersmith only died after Tiffany kissed him at the end... which
made me curious as to why she didn't know this before and destroy him
earlier... and why on earth did she need Roland for in the first place
if she could kill the snowman herself?!

All in all though, it was a very pleasant and enjoyable read, but just
a little confusing at the end!

Thanks for reading

Sofie

--
Please visit my deviantART page: http://sofen.deviantart.com/

External Since: Aug 03, 2007 Posts: 88

Sofia wrote:
> This was a review of the novel Wintersmith written by myself to a
> member from the newsgroup in an e-mail a couple of months ago. He
> recently asked me if I'd consider putting it up on abp... so here it is.
>
> S

> P

> O

> I

> L

> E

> R

S

P

A

C

E

for those with deep screens
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Tiffany seemed to lose all all the courage she had in the first two
> novels as the strong, brave and independent minded "big wee hag" who
> ran around fighting evil monsters without needing anybody else's
> help... exept the feegles of course. She had now become the sweet and
> innocent stereotyped "Maiden-in-distress, simply awaiting her strong,
> brave, hero (Roland) to come and rescue her.
>
> She had suddenly become like a little kitten, now depending on other
> witches to rescue her, such as Miss Treason at the beginning, mainly
> Granny Weatherwax after her, who then, together with Nanny Ogg
> protected and advised her 24 hours a day. Even Miss Tick and Annagramma
> helped out to some extent!
>
> I have to say, I simply fell in love with Roland in this story.
> Although he was only 13, his courage, loyalty and love for his lady
> seemed to astound me. How brave and romantic he was, and his
> willingness to be a hero, a Knight in shining armour searching the
> dark, spooky depths of the Netherworld for her.
>
> I wasn't quite sure what the job of the Cornucopia was as a weapon
> against the Wintersmith. At first I thought the Summer Lady had sent it
> to Tiffany especially to kill him with... just in case she didn't wake
> up in time to help her. It wasn't used for this purpose though - it
> just made lots of chickens instead. Giggle, giggle! Smile

>
> The Wintersmith only died after Tiffany kissed him at the end... which
> made me curious as to why she didn't know this before and destroy him
> earlier... and why on earth did she need Roland for in the first place
> if she could kill the snowman herself?!
>
> All in all though, it was a very pleasant and enjoyable read, but just
> a little confusing at the end!
>
>
> Thanks for reading
>
>
>
> Sofie
>
>
Not sure if you are looking for explanations, but at the end both Winter
has to be banished and Summer has to be summoned. Tiffany and Roland
needed to work together (but apart) to archive this.

The key to the kiss was first given when Granny moved the heat from the
tea cup so that it froze. (Important that the heat does not go through
you) *

Tiffany, with great courage because she knows the risk, takes this
shifting of heat to a much higher magnitude when she shifts the heat of
the bonfire to the drifts of snow.
Tiffany, with great courage because she knows the risk, takes this
shifting of heat to a much higher magnitude when she shifts the heat of
the sun to the lips of the Wintersmith.

That's how she banishes him and that's why it could not have been done
earlier. She did not have the opportunity, did not know how and the
time was not right. Winter makes way for Summer. Without Summer -
Winter can never be truly banished, the Morris Men don't come, and you
get a grey cold year where crops fail and people starve, followed by a
Winter when they die.

*An IW for this skill is in CJ when Granny moves the heat of the
Vampires 'curse' into the Iron of the anvil. I will have to check if
there is a IW for Granny being able to move heat and pain before this
book.

--
Reader in Invisible Writings.. Something to Ponder upon!