Scan barcode
crufts's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Although this is Book 4 of the Discworld series, there's very little connection to the preceding novels and you can read it as a standalone.
Through unusual circumstances, teenager Mort (Mortimer) becomes an apprentice to Death. Yep, that Death. Stricken by a crush when he's sent to collect the soul of the assassinated Princess Keli, Mort averts her death and inadvertently sets the universe off-kilter. With the help of Death's teenage daughter Ysabell, butler Albert, and the wizard Cutwell, can he fix it all up before Death finds out?
It's a very funny novel. Having Death as an anthropomorphic character allows for wry observations about how people deal with death! In fact, no one can see Death or ghosts unless (like the wizard Cutwell) they've been specially trained.
But not everyone is sorry to see Death. Paraphrased: "The kings and queens always hang on as long as they can when I come knocking, but the peasants? They can't wait!"
Many other interesting ideas are also passed around in the form of jokes. After his endless years of service, Death has learned helplessness about the inevitability of fate: "There's no justice. There's just us." But once fresh-faced Mort is on the scene, he remarks (paraphrased): "I've gotten so caught up in how things are, that I've forgotten what they could become." This character development is satisfying to see.
Another strong point of the novel is unity of plot. The main theme is death and the inevitability (or not) of fate, and the plot sticks to that pretty strictly. There are hardly any extraneous plot threads, making for a focused, "clean" story. This is in contrast to the previous Discworld novels such as The Colour of Magic (#1) and The Light Fantastic (#2), which twist and bend all over the place in order to accommodate the jokes.
Finally, the pacing was good as well. Too many times, I've written Storygraph reviews that say "It was good, but they rushed the ending!" Not so here. The climactic showdown scene stretches out the tension of the final moments, just as it should. Time slows dramatically at all the right points and we get exactly the explosive ending we're hoping for.
I would absolutely recommend this book.
Minor: Death, Murder, and Violence
Despite having Death as a literal character, death and violence in the novel is not graphically described.spacebornfew's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Death
leanneymu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Death
Minor: Fatphobia
bluejayreads's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Animal death and Child death
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and Body horror
Adult/minor relationship details:booksthatburn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Ableism, Fatphobia, Alcohol, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Murder, and Death
Minor: Toxic relationship
margretarson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Death
andreeahandrea1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Death
Minor: Animal cruelty
hiddeninfantasy's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Violence, Murder, Alcohol, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
rorikae's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
'Mort' introduces the series of books in the larger Discworld series that feature the character of Death. In 'Mort,' Death takes on an apprentice, the titular Mort, who is an awkward boy who is having trouble finding a normal apprenticeship. Death is looking for someone who can assist him and whisks Mort away to his home, outside of space and time, where he lives with his manservant and his daughter. He slowly teaches Mort what it is to be Death but Mort, who has caught feelings for a princess destined to die, has some other ideas.
I've heard a lot of people love the character of Death and with his full introduction in this novel, I now understand why. He's a fascinating character and getting to follow his exploits during the book (particularly when he takes an evening off to learn about human vices) is both hilarious and insightful. Pratchett weaves humor with life lessons in a way that makes them so much fun to read. I would say the one downside of the book is that though I liked Mort, I found Death so much more engaging that I favored Death's scenes and wanted more of them.
I am so excited to continue reading more of the Discworld books and I'll be looking forward in particular to the next installment that centers on Death's adventures.
Moderate: Death
podanotherjessi's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Death