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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Terry Pratchett takes on the world of opera. After prospective young witch Agnes Nitt (now known as Perdita X. Dream) leaves Lancre for the big city of Ankh-Morpork, series regulars Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg go after her, because you need three witches for a coven (two witches are just an argument).
Agnes has been employed by the Ankh-Morpork Opera, which is also haunted by a well dressed man wearing a white, bony face mask. But this isn't Phantom of the Opera, although Maskerade does borrow somewhat heavily from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. Instead Pratchett takes the basic structure of the story and layers on top his own stuff and intrigue.
The result is, in my opinion, one of the best Discworld books, and this is without me being a huge opera/musical fan, and therefore missing a lot of the references and little in-jokes. But a very fun story, more whodunnit elements and Pratchett reaching his peak as a writer of the Lancre witches carries the book even if you don't know anything about the opera.
Agnes has been employed by the Ankh-Morpork Opera, which is also haunted by a well dressed man wearing a white, bony face mask. But this isn't Phantom of the Opera, although Maskerade does borrow somewhat heavily from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. Instead Pratchett takes the basic structure of the story and layers on top his own stuff and intrigue.
The result is, in my opinion, one of the best Discworld books, and this is without me being a huge opera/musical fan, and therefore missing a lot of the references and little in-jokes. But a very fun story, more whodunnit elements and Pratchett reaching his peak as a writer of the Lancre witches carries the book even if you don't know anything about the opera.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Full disclaimer: I have not read the other books in The Witches series (I am planning to at some point though). That being said, it did not hinder my enjoyment of this book in the slightest. This is essentially The Phantom of the Opera set in Discworld, and it is delightful. Pratchett’s writing is very tongue-in-cheek, as per usual, but he hits you with Truth when you least expect it. Also notable were the many, many, many musical puns sprinkled throughout.