The quirkiness and eccentricity of the characterisation is absolute genius. It is pure and high-spririted escapism, together with enough bottom jokes to keep every child in class laughing for at least a week

The absorbing world tinged with magic realism will appeal to children of different ages because of the author's deadpan humour

A joyful sign-off from a master of fantasy fiction . . . High-octane literary enjoyment.

Terry Pratchett was never so witty, direct and generous as in this, his final Discworld novel.

The Shepherd’s Crown is a sometimes sad, often funny and eminently suitable testament to the life and career of Terry Pratchett.

A crowning achievement for Terry Pratchett and his Discworld . . . This is a book for all ages, the tour de force of one of the English language’s greatest authors, who, in the midst of encroaching darkness and facing so many terrors of his own, has contrived to astound us one last time with his craft.

This final book stands among the very best of [Pratchett's] work . . . An exceptionally crafted finale from one of the greats

Pratchett's final work is a tour de force of compassion, great wit, and gleeful storytelling.

A worthy crown to Terry Pratchett’s phenomenal artistic achievement.

The last Discworld offering is a poignant farewell, both to Pratchett's readership and to his extraordinary world.

As ever in Pratchett's work, empathy and compassion are foregrounded. With its humour and humaneness, it reminds us, too, that its author, as Tiffany says of her deceased friend, 'is . . . was . . . unfollowable.'

Something to treasure

Funny, sad and extremely moving . . . most will likely consider it one of the strongest, and certainly one of the most – possibly the most – moving [of the Discworld novels].