A review by cursedepub
Small Gods by Terry Pratchett

adventurous challenging funny hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

my first 5-star read of 2022! an absolutely incredible and deftly woven story with various layers of meaning, stellar humor, and one of the best endings i have read so far from a Discworld novel - honestly, from any novel. 

i was wary at first given the topic of religion and faith - it is easy to be too blunt and crass with satirizing religion, or to gloss over nuances in favor of a cheap joke - but the novel is complex and moving, tying together statements on philosophy, politics, organized church, personal faith, power, judgment, and belief so smoothly that looking back i can barely believe Pratchett covered so much ground in a funny book about a tortoise. 

i clapped at the end of it, not kidding. excellent narration by Nigel Planer as well that no doubt contributed to how much this novel fully rocked. i appreciate how different his voices were per character.