Madeline’s Reviews > Witches Abroad > Status Update

“Magrit plunged on with the brave desperation of someone dancing in the light of their burning bridges.”

“It’s not gambling to play against someone who’s no good. It’s common sense.”

“She wasn’t at all certain about the meaning of the word decadent. She’d dismissed the possibility that it meant having ten teeth, in the same sense that Nanny Ogg, for example, was unident.”

“The big paddle wheel sloshed through the thick brown soup of the river. The mode of power were several dozen trolls under a sunshade trudging along an endless belt. Birds sang in the trees on the distant banks. The scent of hibiscus wafted across the water, almost, but unfortunately not quite, overpowering the scent of the river itself.”

“Genua was a fairy tale city. People smiled and would joy for the live long day, especially if they wanted to see another live long day. Lilith made certain of that.”

“After a while, the velvet silence was broken by granny’s deep and resident snore. Shortly afterwards, it was joined by the genteel snoring of Nanny, who had spent far more time sleeping in company than granny and had evolved a more accommodating nasal orchestra. Granny’s snore would’ve cut logs.”

“Outside, deep in the trees, a wolf howled. The assembled villagers shivered in unison, as though they had been practicing.”

“‘Blessings be on this house’, Granny said perfunctorily. It was always a good opening remark for a witch. It concentrated peoples’ minds on what other things may be on this house and reminded them about any fresh cakes, newly baked bread, or bundles of useful clothing that might have temporarily escaped their minds.”

“It was the kind of landscape that had a particular type of story attached to it, featuring wolves and garlic and frightened women. A dark and thirsty story, a story that flapped wings against the moon.”

“Once or twice, they flew past castles. They didn’t look built, more extruded from the landscape.”