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4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
I’m loving my journey through the Discworld series, from ones I’ve read so many times to getting further along and finding stories I’ve not read yet. Monstrous Regiment is one of the latter, and I loved it so much.
Sir Terry Pratchett had an amazing ability to ensure the reader fell straight into the current chaotic events of the world that exists upon Great A'Tuin from the first page of the book, and this was no exception. I loved the return of some familiar faces in the form of Sam Vimes and some of the more unusual members of Ankh Morpork’s Night Watch, including Reg Shoe, who’s a zombie. (I love the Watch, they’re both wonderful and awful at once….)
We’re far from the familiarity of Ankh-Morpork this time, but instead find ourselves in Borogravia, which sounds like the worst place to live for anyone who is in the least bit independent in their thoughts or look at their religion and wonder what is going on with the Gods. Nuggan, their God, does seem to have some intriguing views on what is and what isn’t allowed, and I couldn’t stop giggling at some of them because it sounds like the ranting of an upset four-year-old who changes his mind as quickly as a thought crosses their mind.
Our protagonist, Polly or Ozzer, is as all creations from Pratchett’s mind, written perfectly with insights into her thoughts, conflicts and insight into the situations she finds herself in. He had an excellent ability to ensure each character stood out, and enabled the reader to feel as though they were able to walk alongside them thanks to his characterization and immersive world-building. I had no idea what Monstrous Regiment was about, nor was I aware that the title came from a work by Scottish Reformer, John Knox, in 1558 titled The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstruous Regiment of Women were Knox stated that women in power, including woman monarchs, went against the writing of the Bible.
Once I knew that, the storyline made so much sense, and I was all the more invested in this group of soldiers who were fighting against all the odds and three different countries that surrounded them, to survive.
The camaraderie between the few unusual members of the regiment is so good to see grow, and their strengths come through as they embrace their new identities. Whether it be a vampire, a troll or an Igor (Gods I LOVE the Igors in every book) or human, each soldier has a secret that they need to keep and a reason for being there, which isn’t necessarily to save their country.
The star of the book, though, is Sergeant Jackrum, who has served in the Borogravia Army longer than it seems possible and, despite his size, seems to have the ability to take on half the opposition at once. Larger than life in every manner, Jackrum’s presence in the story makes him appear to be able to step out of the page and into reality. Jackrum seems to know the truth of the war, and does all he can to protect his little group of recruits from harm and teach them how to be a man, which seems to ensure you shave every morning.
I don’t want to ruin the story for newcomers to the Discworld or Monstrous Regiment, but I have to say that this book shines out in the series for Pratchett’s ability to weave in factual events and his awareness of the world when he was writing the series (the early 2000s for this book). This is different to many of the books in the series, some may like that and some not, but to me it’s one of the best I’ve read.
I also have to acknowledge how the media, whether fictional or factual, seems to have been a lot kinder to minority groups from 1999 to the early years of this century, and it’s sad to see that things have gone backwards. Sir Terry Pratchett has to be acknowledged as being someone who could bring in characters who break the rules and how it’s not only fine to do so, but how being different from the norm can be beneficial.
Sir Terry Pratchett had an amazing ability to ensure the reader fell straight into the current chaotic events of the world that exists upon Great A'Tuin from the first page of the book, and this was no exception. I loved the return of some familiar faces in the form of Sam Vimes and some of the more unusual members of Ankh Morpork’s Night Watch, including Reg Shoe, who’s a zombie. (I love the Watch, they’re both wonderful and awful at once….)
We’re far from the familiarity of Ankh-Morpork this time, but instead find ourselves in Borogravia, which sounds like the worst place to live for anyone who is in the least bit independent in their thoughts or look at their religion and wonder what is going on with the Gods. Nuggan, their God, does seem to have some intriguing views on what is and what isn’t allowed, and I couldn’t stop giggling at some of them because it sounds like the ranting of an upset four-year-old who changes his mind as quickly as a thought crosses their mind.
Our protagonist, Polly or Ozzer, is as all creations from Pratchett’s mind, written perfectly with insights into her thoughts, conflicts and insight into the situations she finds herself in. He had an excellent ability to ensure each character stood out, and enabled the reader to feel as though they were able to walk alongside them thanks to his characterization and immersive world-building. I had no idea what Monstrous Regiment was about, nor was I aware that the title came from a work by Scottish Reformer, John Knox, in 1558 titled The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstruous Regiment of Women were Knox stated that women in power, including woman monarchs, went against the writing of the Bible.
Once I knew that, the storyline made so much sense, and I was all the more invested in this group of soldiers who were fighting against all the odds and three different countries that surrounded them, to survive.
The camaraderie between the few unusual members of the regiment is so good to see grow, and their strengths come through as they embrace their new identities. Whether it be a vampire, a troll or an Igor (Gods I LOVE the Igors in every book) or human, each soldier has a secret that they need to keep and a reason for being there, which isn’t necessarily to save their country.
The star of the book, though, is Sergeant Jackrum, who has served in the Borogravia Army longer than it seems possible and, despite his size, seems to have the ability to take on half the opposition at once. Larger than life in every manner, Jackrum’s presence in the story makes him appear to be able to step out of the page and into reality. Jackrum seems to know the truth of the war, and does all he can to protect his little group of recruits from harm and teach them how to be a man, which seems to ensure you shave every morning.
I don’t want to ruin the story for newcomers to the Discworld or Monstrous Regiment, but I have to say that this book shines out in the series for Pratchett’s ability to weave in factual events and his awareness of the world when he was writing the series (the early 2000s for this book). This is different to many of the books in the series, some may like that and some not, but to me it’s one of the best I’ve read.
I also have to acknowledge how the media, whether fictional or factual, seems to have been a lot kinder to minority groups from 1999 to the early years of this century, and it’s sad to see that things have gone backwards. Sir Terry Pratchett has to be acknowledged as being someone who could bring in characters who break the rules and how it’s not only fine to do so, but how being different from the norm can be beneficial.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
New recruits join up. Turns out more women join than the men. Fairly predictable. A little too long.
While i have enjoyed my 'limited' discworld novels, this seems to be a little off.
While i have enjoyed my 'limited' discworld novels, this seems to be a little off.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I enjoyed all of the other discworld books I've read, but I found this one boring and predictable. I liked all of the characters though.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
adventurous