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4.39 AVERAGE
4.39 AVERAGE
Is this the moment when Discworld became great? Quite possibly. Good grief do I love these books and these characters (especially Carrot)
This might be my favourite book I've read this year. Everything about this is perfect. I love the detective aspect and the characters--they're all distinctive and flawed but still extremely likeable, and they feel like real people even if some of them are trolls and dwarves. My only gripe is that the ebook formatting is a little janky so it's difficult to tell when a scene switches, so it always feels a bit abrupt and confusing.
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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
adventurous
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:
Complicated
Unfortunately, it's been far too long since I read this and I can't remember the exact plot. I know it's a Samuel Vimes/Night Watch book, but beyond that I can't say. I remember liking it though.
Having just finished the book and fallen down a giant rabbithole known as r/discworld on reddit, I'm back!
Haven't realised how much I've missed visiting Discworld, and here's another great adventure and I must say, the Watch people are growing on me. Just a pity Vimes isn't as present in this one, but Vetinari makes up for it (oh dear me, I think...I'm having a crush on him.Back in Guards Guards I'm almost having a crush on Vimes too. What's up with me crushing on (almost) every character I met??! HELP Goodness me. Ummm, more on that later!) The story felt like a whodunnit, with clues and discoveries so subtle you'd miss it if you blinked. The plot is not going to be a favourite (halfway through I'm still slightly confused, and the recurring stand-offs between trolls and dwarves gets quite repetitive), but I'm giving this 4 stars anyway just for the enjoyment, Ankh-Morpork sightseeing and characters I'm starting to feel familiar with. They can come off being 1D at first, but they're oddly compelling and lovable when you get on (yes, even Gaspode).
Should we get on with it then... I present you with... The characters!
Captain Vimes
Ah, he's getting married. But that means he needs to move away from his duties. What would Captain Vimes be without his badge? I've missed him but he's not really present in this one. The scenes where he is, are great though. Having someone trying to kill one really makes one feel alive.
The pounding spirit of the gonne flowing up Vimes' arms met the armies of sheer stone-headed Vimesness surging the other way.
Also, my favourite line from Vimes so far is from Guards Guards, Not in MY city.
Also, his dynamics with Vetinari is gold. Can't wait for more.
Lord Vetinari
Is it just me, or is he just...slightly...hot? Oook, I've admitted it. But it's been quite intriguing to reveal his personality step by step. From the last Watch book I'd think of him as a cold, calculating dictator, but here (to be fair, he most likely still is), gaining a glimpse of his perspective is really interesting. He'd been counting on Vimes to blunder all along. He'd been forbidding Vimes to do what he was really hoping Vimes would do. Reverse psychology, gosh. And this line, this page where the previous reader has dog-eared before me, made me gasp out loud:
'There's a limit to the power of a spring, no matter how tightly one winds it.'
'Oh, yes. Yes. And you hope that if you wind a spring one way, all its energies will unwind the other way. And sometimes you have to wind the spring as tight as it will go,' said Vetinari, 'and pray it doesn't break.'
And he was so worried when Vimes didn't even thump the wall that time.
Seriously, their interaction is everything. They really act as counterbalance to each other -- and it works, like Ankh-Morpork did.
Also, both him and Carrot discussing about Vimes and trying not to grin made me smile so much!
Carrot
He really shines in this one. And gosh, he's so likeable isn't he, he wins even readers over (at least in my humble opinion he does, but as Vimes thought, there's no such thing as 'humble opinion' is there?). Hating Carrot would be like 'kicking the biggest puppy in the universe'. I love how he is so simple and honest, but this is not mutually exclusive from being clever too. The way he deduces the whole thing and gets along with everyone and gets what he needs too and doesn't get corrupted by the gonne... Protect this guy at all costs! Also, I firmly ship him with Angua.
The new recruits -- lance-constable Angua, Cuddy, Detritus
I love Angua from the start lol! Being able to spy around like that is a valuable asset to the Watch isn't it? Cuddy and Detritus compliment each other so well, and
The story itself isn't exactly the best, but I do love the writing as always. The way Pratchett could pack wit and humour with a punch all within one page has never failed to impress me. (The example I can think of, is in Guards Guards! The page where Vimes sees Errol, pities him, also relates to him too.) In this one, Vimes thinking about Sergeant Kepple and the Watch actually made me cry.
I was hoping more for the wedding and Lady Ramkin really! But ah, the ending is as good as we can get, Vimes back into his element and Ramkins approving that.
And really, the best thing about Discworld is the recurring characters: really makes it feel like you're in an actual city, with actual citizens in it. Cut Me Own Throat Dribbler still sells the 'food', Foul Ole Ron still mutters, and Harga still fries the greasy bacon and the Ankh still lumbers on, and all's well.
PS Can't believe I forgot to write a review for Guards Guards!!! I can't really remember much from there, so will probably do so when I get to reread it. Remind me in 10 years cuz right now I really want to read Equal Rites, Going Postal, Reaper Man, The Wee Free Men and very possibly the first 2 (if my schedule allows)... Sorry. Oook.
Haven't realised how much I've missed visiting Discworld, and here's another great adventure and I must say, the Watch people are growing on me. Just a pity Vimes isn't as present in this one, but Vetinari makes up for it (oh dear me, I think...I'm having a crush on him.
Should we get on with it then... I present you with... The characters!
Ah, he's getting married. But that means he needs to move away from his duties. What would Captain Vimes be without his badge? I've missed him but he's not really present in this one. The scenes where he is, are great though. Having someone trying to kill one really makes one feel alive.
Spoiler
And... the final confrontation with the gonne? So good.The pounding spirit of the gonne flowing up Vimes' arms met the armies of sheer stone-headed Vimesness surging the other way.
Also, my favourite line from Vimes so far is from Guards Guards, Not in MY city.
Also, his dynamics with Vetinari is gold. Can't wait for more.
Lord Vetinari
'There's a limit to the power of a spring, no matter how tightly one winds it.'
'Oh, yes. Yes. And you hope that if you wind a spring one way, all its energies will unwind the other way. And sometimes you have to wind the spring as tight as it will go,' said Vetinari, 'and pray it doesn't break.'
And he was so worried when Vimes didn't even thump the wall that time.
Seriously, their interaction is everything. They really act as counterbalance to each other -- and it works, like Ankh-Morpork did.
Also, both him and Carrot discussing about Vimes and trying not to grin made me smile so much!
Carrot
He really shines in this one. And gosh, he's so likeable isn't he, he wins even readers over (at least in my humble opinion he does, but as Vimes thought, there's no such thing as 'humble opinion' is there?). Hating Carrot would be like 'kicking the biggest puppy in the universe'. I love how he is so simple and honest, but this is not mutually exclusive from being clever too. The way he deduces the whole thing and gets along with everyone and gets what he needs too and doesn't get corrupted by the gonne... Protect this guy at all costs! Also, I firmly ship him with Angua.
The new recruits -- lance-constable Angua, Cuddy, Detritus
I love Angua from the start lol! Being able to spy around like that is a valuable asset to the Watch isn't it? Cuddy and Detritus compliment each other so well, and
Spoiler
YOU SURE YOU CAN HANDLE THIS SPOILER? I'M WARNING YOU HERE, IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK, DON'T READ THIS! I can't believe Pratchett really killed Cuddy off...TTThe story itself isn't exactly the best, but I do love the writing as always. The way Pratchett could pack wit and humour with a punch all within one page has never failed to impress me. (The example I can think of, is in Guards Guards! The page where Vimes sees Errol, pities him, also relates to him too.) In this one, Vimes thinking about Sergeant Kepple and the Watch actually made me cry.
I was hoping more for the wedding and Lady Ramkin really! But ah, the ending is as good as we can get, Vimes back into his element and Ramkins approving that.
And really, the best thing about Discworld is the recurring characters: really makes it feel like you're in an actual city, with actual citizens in it. Cut Me Own Throat Dribbler still sells the 'food', Foul Ole Ron still mutters, and Harga still fries the greasy bacon and the Ankh still lumbers on, and all's well.
PS Can't believe I forgot to write a review for Guards Guards!!! I can't really remember much from there, so will probably do so when I get to reread it. Remind me in 10 years cuz right now I really want to read Equal Rites, Going Postal, Reaper Man, The Wee Free Men and very possibly the first 2 (if my schedule allows)... Sorry. Oook.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow! What a great book!! It's got so many things I love! Discworld, humour, great characters, great relationships, enemies becoming friends, great villains, great mystery, a new favorite character, suspense, gasp moments, and math! Yes math! I can't gush about it enough! Wow! Corporal Carrot is such an amazing character and Captain Vimes is so great too! Wow! New favourite discworld book for me!
First of the Watch books in the discworld novel I'd ever read. Did not disappoint AT ALL. It was like a murder mystery novel with magical creatures (and magical creature racism) and all of Terry Pratchett's best comedy, plus some stuff and political commentary.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated