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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really enjoyed this book and plan to keep up with the series. I enjoyed the witty characters and the world created.
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-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:
Yes
Finally delving into Pratchett and he's definitely lived up to expectations. It was fun and witty and fabulously fantastic, yet serious and real when it needed to be. Compelling characters and an exciting world, I look forward to finally reading more discworld
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
tldr/summary:
The characters are interesting, but it’s hard to get a grasp on who they really are until close to the end. Meanwhile the plot is brimming with potential, but is executed in a very messy way. The whole experience feels rather like setup: Now that all this is out of the way and we got a feeling for who these people are, we can finally get to actually tell an interesting story involving them.
Long Version:
In the beginning, the characters promise to have potential, but then seem to not use it for a long time. Mort is a great character who undergoes an interesting arc with great development, but it’s really hard to pin down who he is before he undergoes that journey. What makes him unique, different to other people? Why did Death show interest specifically in him? Early on, he doesn’t have many identifying character traits – except that he doesn’t like when people call him anything other than Mort – but he also doesn’t seem like someone who is still trying to figure out who he is himself. Only after he has already been on his journey for a good while do you get a feeling for his personality.
Similar things can be said about Death, but in the opposite direction. His introduction is strong and he continues to be a compelling character as he begins his character arc and transformation. But then he disappears for large parts of the story – and upon returning, he seems to cancel the journey of self-discovery he was on to return to his old self. In the finale, his actions and motivations become confusing as it is not at all clear what exactly his feelings, motivations and personality are.
Most side characters however are all the greater, even if they undergo less profound changes. Ysabell especially elevates every scene she is in. She has potential to be one of the most enjoyable and likeable characters on the disc.
Keeping up with the theme, the plot of the novel is also really promising, but inelegantly executed. The central theme of the importance of dying and not defying fate breathes down the readers neck at any given moment, as if to make sure they don’t forget it. However, there are several aspects of the world and story that very clearly defy this idea, undercutting the whole message. But this idea is so centrally portrayed in most story events, so much time is spent detailing the undesirable consequences of messing with the laws of the universe that ‘People have to die’ can’t not be the moral of the story.
This messy feeling is strengthened by the odd pacing. About 30% through the novel, it still feels like the plot has barely started. Meanwhile the final climax feels so rushed that none of the involved characters’ motivations ever get explained properly, except for Ysabell’s. It also seems to roll back a lot of character development for no reason and makes the Hand of the Author very apparent.