REVIEW - Equal Rites - Terry Pratchett

It's no secret that Terry Pratchett is one of my all-time favourite authors, so when I started Equal Rites I went in with my usual high expectations. As usual, the book was effortlessly charming, full of great characters, and made me determined to move worlds when I die!

This entry in the Discworld canon tells the story of Eskarina, or Esk for short. The night she was born, a wizard imparted his staff to her, mistaking her for a boy. From that moment on, there was a sense of magic about her... but not the right kind. It was wizard's magic – and everyone knows you can't have a female wizard. The local witch, Granny Weatherwax tries to tame Esk's magic, and put her on the path to becoming a witch. But the staff the young girl inherited is determined to put more wizardly ideas in her head and soon, she and Granny must set off on a journey to the legendary college of magic – the Unseen University.

I'll start off by say that as much as I want to shower this with praise and declare it perfect, it does contain a few flaws. The first is one that I've found in most of the Discworld books I've read. Whilst the book is enjoyable as a whole, it doesn't really get good until about half way through. Don't get me wrong, there's still some exciting moments scattered throughout the first half, but I didn't really care as much until I got to the second portion.

But when we get to the end-game, then Pratchett does what he does best and really kicks it into high gear. When it comes to the end-game he never disappoints and Equal Rites is no exception. But it's the fact that I enjoy the non stop action of the endings, which makes me wonder if that's the whole point of the slow beginning. It's there to make the finale all the more exciting and tantalising, simple because you've been waiting the whole book for something this exciting to happen.

The other problem is that our main character, Esk, is fine to read and follow, but not terribly interesting. She's one of those funny little nine-year-olds who straddles the line between mature and childish. That's not a problem and can sometimes make for interesting reading, but that's about it. She's a little cheeky and occasionally wise beyond her years. In the end she's just a little same-y.

Finally, in a way that connects to Esk's ok-ness, is that idea that she's only just the main character. Like I said it only gets really interesting half way through, and that's because we meet Simon. He's a powerful wizard apprentice who's on the very of discovering the magical equivalent of physics. He understands and can explain the breakdown of the entire universe with maths and calculations, right down to the understanding of form and ideas. It's that very knowledge of existence that has attracted the attention of the Things from the Dungeon Dimensions, who desperately what to break into the Discworld.

Now he should have been the main character!

It almost feels like Pratchett was plodding along with Esk's story of maybe becoming a wizard, when he realised that it wouldn't make for a good enough ending and decided to throw in a plot about magical physics and inter-dimensional monsters.

But do you know what? Pratchett's unique flare and humour is more than enough to get past that. Yes there's not all that much in the first half, but I didn't care because it was just charming enough to carry me along. I was interested to be in his world and was always curious to see what I'd discover next.

Not to mention (most of) the characters sure helped. I always thoroughly enjoy the wizards that Pratchett gives us, but after meeting Granny Weatherwax, I think I can develop a soft spot for the witches as well. She acts as the kind of staple character than I always like – the mentor. She's wise enough to fill the role, but not completely all-knowing in the way that elevates her above the reader. Plus she's unflinchingly tough and takes no prisoners. When the chips are down she's definitely the one you want by your side.

So in the end, all things considered, I can gladly give Equal Rites a good 8 / 10, taking points off old for the slow beginning and so-so main character. Everything else is the usual standard of humour and memorable characters that I've come to expect from one of the best authors I've ever read.