Books › Equal Rites
Equal Rites
First published 1987 · 336 pages
A delightfully sharp and funny dismantling of magical patriarchy, guided by a fiercely stubborn witch and a girl who refuses to learn her place.
What it feels like
Reading this feels like sitting down with a fiercely intelligent, slightly eccentric aunt who is determined to make you laugh while dismantling the patriarchy. The pace is brisk and bouncy, propelled by an endless stream of sharp observational humor, witty footnotes, and clever wordplay. It wraps you in a whimsical, cozy-yet-chaotic atmosphere where magic is less about mystical chanting and more about stubbornness and common sense. The emotional texture balances lighthearted absurdity with a genuine, warm core of feminist coming-of-age. It is an absolute delight for readers who love their fantasy tropes lovingly skewered, offering a joyful, irreverent experience that champions breaking the rules and finding your own unconventional path.
- Mood
- whimsical
- cozy-yet-chaotic
- playful
- Tone
- wry
- irreverent
- satirical
- warm
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- challenging gender roles · the absurdity of tradition · coming of age · unconventional mentorship
- The writing
- The narrative is famously peppered with witty footnotes, sharp observational humor, and endlessly clever wordplay.
- The arc
- The journey moves from the frustrating confines of rigid expectations to a triumphant, rule-breaking realization of one's own unique power.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love their fantasy served with a heavy dose of British satire, feminist undertones, and laugh-out-loud absurdity.
Content notes
- satirical sexism
- mild fantasy peril
About the book
Terry Pratchett's profoundly irreverent novels, consistent number one bestsellers in England, have garnered him a revered position in the halls of parody along with Mark Twain, Kurt Vonnegut, Douglas Adams, and Carl Hiaasen.In Equal Rites, a dying wizard tries to pass on his powers to an eighth son of an eighth son, who is just at that moment being born. The fact that the son is actually a daughter is discovered just a little too late...
Description from Open Library.
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