The Witch of Clatteringshaws

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A subdued conclusion to a rollicking series - Rated
On its own, The Witches of Clatteringshaws is a fun, fast-moving, but not overly memorable book. But it's almost impossible to rate the book on its own--indeed, if this is a reader's introduction to the Wolves Chronicles, the book may seem close to nonsensical. But as the closing episode of the Wolves Chronicles, it's poignant, largely because it is the last in the series.
Like its predecessor, Midwinter Nightingale, it reads more like a hurried outline than like a full-fledged, fully satisfying novel--the characters are sketched in shorthand, and places are given only the most cursory descriptions. It's almost as if Aiken knew she had one final deadline to beat. Personally, though, I wish the ending had been more conclusive--heck, I'd just like to know exactly how old Dido and Simon are by this point! Nonetheless, having started the series when I was a child, I look forward to introducing my daughter to Dido, Simon, Pa, Dutiful Penitance (remember her?), and the rest. Thank you, Joan Aiken...