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ranooshe's review against another edition
5.0
I came across this book in audio form on YouTube. I started listening to it not knowing it was of the Fantasy genre. I'm not really fond of fantasy novels.
I found it funny, witty and with a lot of thought put into the plot. I couldn't wait for it to finish so that I could know 'who dunnit'. I wait worth while.
I hope to reread it soon in paper form. I guess it would be more interesting. I would be able to read and reread every page slowly to absorb the beauty of the style it was written in.
I look forward to reading other discworld novels.
I found it funny, witty and with a lot of thought put into the plot. I couldn't wait for it to finish so that I could know 'who dunnit'. I wait worth while.
I hope to reread it soon in paper form. I guess it would be more interesting. I would be able to read and reread every page slowly to absorb the beauty of the style it was written in.
I look forward to reading other discworld novels.
kobooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Yep, still great.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism and War
nick_knack's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mebius's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Sam is a good watchman, but bad commander, and you could call him a good husband only if you forget that he is married to Sybil and not to his job. Every Watch series book, I wait for his character development, but I guess leopard can't change his shorts. And even though I love plot of the books, I lost love for his character, because he doesn't grow, I more interested in side characters like Carrot, Angua, Cherrybottom etc., than him.
remmerich1's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
Might just be my mood at the moment but I didn't love this as much as I'd hoped to. The Watch is my favourite subseries, and there were aspects of this that I adored- Vimes' early interactions with the Dark Dwarfs, most of Angua and Sally, Brick, Where is my Cow...
It it felt a little muddled in the middle. It lost me a little, not in terms of what was going on, just in vibe, in tone. Perhaps thats intentional, and on a reread I might realise there's a narrative reason (no spoilers!) but it threw me this time round. Aspects of the ending worked well, but the crux of it didn't quite land for me, it felt a little rushed, a little twee even.
Overall, this is still a solid story, I have yet to read a Discworld novel I wouldn't reread, and there is far worse than this. I just wanted more from it I suppose. Part of it is that growing sadness as I approach the end of Pratchett's works- I want to end on a high, I want the last to be the best, I want to put down the final book and feel... I dont know, something powerful. But of course that's not how literary output works, we don't improve with every new book, some will not land as well as others, some will not, cannot reach the lofty peaks of Night Watch. Perhaps I need to make peace with the fact that my first read through of Discworld is ending, and not burden it with my expectations, desires, fears, and grief.
Anyway, I gave it four out of five, so it's not bad! I wouldn't recommend it as your first Pratchett, but if you're reading through, this is a solid one.
It it felt a little muddled in the middle. It lost me a little, not in terms of what was going on, just in vibe, in tone. Perhaps thats intentional, and on a reread I might realise there's a narrative reason (no spoilers!) but it threw me this time round. Aspects of the ending worked well, but the crux of it didn't quite land for me, it felt a little rushed, a little twee even.
Overall, this is still a solid story, I have yet to read a Discworld novel I wouldn't reread, and there is far worse than this. I just wanted more from it I suppose. Part of it is that growing sadness as I approach the end of Pratchett's works- I want to end on a high, I want the last to be the best, I want to put down the final book and feel... I dont know, something powerful. But of course that's not how literary output works, we don't improve with every new book, some will not land as well as others, some will not, cannot reach the lofty peaks of Night Watch. Perhaps I need to make peace with the fact that my first read through of Discworld is ending, and not burden it with my expectations, desires, fears, and grief.
Anyway, I gave it four out of five, so it's not bad! I wouldn't recommend it as your first Pratchett, but if you're reading through, this is a solid one.
gregbox2345's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
cappitak's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
clarejc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ai_burtle's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
caitibeth's review against another edition
4.0
[Re-read; first read 2011.]
This isn't my favorite of the Watch books. It's still a perfectly pleasant read and a fun addition to the Watch saga, but there are cracks showing and it's not quite as stellar a tour de force as some of the others in the series. The Diamond King and his worldbuilding wasn't fleshed out enough to me; he came across as a deus ex machina. Vimes' obsessive need to be home exactly at six every night to read to Young Sam was incredibly over-the-top; when it later became a plot point, that made more sense.
Carrot is underused in this book again. I don't need him front and center - Vimes is the protagonist - but I could've used more Carrot. Particularly since this book is so focused on dwarvish lore and actions. The 'comic' subplot of Angua and Sally was groanworthy at times, as was their mentoring of the dancer who's superlatively pretty and incredibly dumb and is going out with Nobby (!) because no other man has ever asked her out. MEGA EYE ROLL. There's also very little Vetinari.
But the dwarven politics is interesting, and so is the denouement when history gets rewritten. I'm a big Low King fan, so to see the King reappear in the series was great. And even a Watch book with some cracks in it is still a Watch book! Pratchett's world is, as always, a joy.
This isn't my favorite of the Watch books. It's still a perfectly pleasant read and a fun addition to the Watch saga, but there are cracks showing and it's not quite as stellar a tour de force as some of the others in the series. The Diamond King and his worldbuilding wasn't fleshed out enough to me; he came across as a deus ex machina. Vimes' obsessive need to be home exactly at six every night to read to Young Sam was incredibly over-the-top; when it later became a plot point, that made more sense.
Carrot is underused in this book again. I don't need him front and center - Vimes is the protagonist - but I could've used more Carrot. Particularly since this book is so focused on dwarvish lore and actions. The 'comic' subplot of Angua and Sally was groanworthy at times, as was their mentoring of the dancer who's superlatively pretty and incredibly dumb and is going out with Nobby (!) because no other man has ever asked her out. MEGA EYE ROLL. There's also very little Vetinari.
But the dwarven politics is interesting, and so is the denouement when history gets rewritten. I'm a big Low King fan, so to see the King reappear in the series was great. And even a Watch book with some cracks in it is still a Watch book! Pratchett's world is, as always, a joy.