The premise is simple - a devastating tidal wave brings two young people of widely disparate cultures together on a tropical island. The resulting story is anything but simple; packed with vast and universal themes, mixed with humor and peopled with vivid characters. This has to be Pratchett’s best. Like all his stories, the humor and the inventive quirkiness makes for a delightful read yet this is a story that also thoughtfully explores an array of fascinating themes ranging from faith, free will, gender, science, class structure, justice, duty and the nature of the universe. I am sure this is a book that will yield more and more each time it is read. Outstanding!

I completely fell in love with the characters and I also think that one of the most appealing features of this book is the underlying sweetness of it. Without ever being cloying, there is a belief in the goodness of life that flows from the story and moved me tremendously as a reader.

I also want much more of the tree climbing octopi and the grandfather birds ;-)