An ageing wizard uses magic to seek out the eighth son of an eighth son so that he can pass on his staff before he dies. The infant grasps the staff and grows up with immense power - despite the fact that little Eskarina Smith is, in fact, a daughter, and everyone knows girls can't be wizards.
Source · ISFDB CC BY 4.0
Placement
- Discworld omnibuses
- contained in The Witches Trilogyomnibus