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isaacks's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
relaxing
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? No
4.0
Pratchett holds up - and this book has enough juice that even knowing the core gag in advance doesn’t diminish it. (It’s also just a great core gag.) Come for the gender performativity, stay for the psychosexual religious nationalism - it’s funny all the way through.
writings_of_a_reader's review against another edition
3.0
Previously when I read Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett, I said it was Monty Python meets Lord of the Rings. Well, Monstrous Regiment is...
Black Adder
meets Sharpe
meets Mulan.
I'm not a huge Discworld fan, but the two books I've read, I found to be clever and funny. I enjoyed the humorous parts of these books, but I don't necessarily get drawn into the story that supports them, even though I do appreciate how Terry Pratchett used some serious subject matter in this one—there was much to think about on war, religion, and women in this book—for some reason I just don't end up loving the overall story. I can however appreciate it and the way it's executed.
For me, I liked the fun satirical feel to this book the most. The socks, the abominations, and the whole cross dressing thing was so very funny! That being said, I've seen quite a few comedic books, monologues, sketches, etc., that I thought would have been great if they had been dialed back just a little, and I think, in the end this book went a little too far.
Overall, I enjoyed this. I didn't love it, but I liked it. I appreciated things about it. It made me think a little and it me laugh, so I consider it a good read.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader and my Facebook page.
Black Adder
meets Sharpe
meets Mulan.
I'm not a huge Discworld fan, but the two books I've read, I found to be clever and funny. I enjoyed the humorous parts of these books, but I don't necessarily get drawn into the story that supports them, even though I do appreciate how Terry Pratchett used some serious subject matter in this one—there was much to think about on war, religion, and women in this book—for some reason I just don't end up loving the overall story. I can however appreciate it and the way it's executed.
For me, I liked the fun satirical feel to this book the most. The socks, the abominations, and the whole cross dressing thing was so very funny! That being said, I've seen quite a few comedic books, monologues, sketches, etc., that I thought would have been great if they had been dialed back just a little, and I think, in the end this book went a little too far.
Overall, I enjoyed this. I didn't love it, but I liked it. I appreciated things about it. It made me think a little and it me laugh, so I consider it a good read.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader and my Facebook page.
tasto777's review against another edition
funny
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? No
4.5
Great book. The changes made in the american version just suck though.
aramintapdf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
awesome book!!!!! gender and it's discussion in discworld always goes so hard. also was fun to see ankh morpork peeps cameo here. the trans and queer themes are definitely there but not as "well executed" as pterry's other commentary. all in all a good book
ma_parx's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
extrabees's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-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
5.0
Terry Pratchett did a lot of interesting work for this book in lesbian book shops.
dmcke013's review against another edition
4.0
Updated 2023 review
I wonder how this was affected by Pratchett's 'embuggerance'?
Original 2011 review
Not one of the strongest of Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworld books, this is only loosely - even more so than normal - connected to any of his other books in the series. Loosely connected, but not to the level of ""Small Gods"" (which is set centuries before the rest of the series), or "Pyramids".
In "Monstrous Regiment", Pratchett introduces a whole host of new characters - none of who have yet, been heard of again - as well as some new nations, with Commander Sam Vimes (from the City Watch books) and William De Worde (from "the Truth") only really having cameos in the story. He also exaggerates, to comic effect, the famous stories of women secretly joining the army, with this providing the basis for his plot.
As I said at the top, this is not one of the best of Pratchetts works, but even a below-par Pratchett is miles above any other author in the same genre
I wonder how this was affected by Pratchett's 'embuggerance'?
Original 2011 review
Not one of the strongest of Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworld books, this is only loosely - even more so than normal - connected to any of his other books in the series. Loosely connected, but not to the level of ""Small Gods"" (which is set centuries before the rest of the series), or "Pyramids".
In "Monstrous Regiment", Pratchett introduces a whole host of new characters - none of who have yet, been heard of again - as well as some new nations, with Commander Sam Vimes (from the City Watch books) and William De Worde (from "the Truth") only really having cameos in the story. He also exaggerates, to comic effect, the famous stories of women secretly joining the army, with this providing the basis for his plot.
As I said at the top, this is not one of the best of Pratchetts works, but even a below-par Pratchett is miles above any other author in the same genre
orphiq's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
transgenderism ftw
josworld96's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
5.0