A review by ricksilva
Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-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

5.0

Following in a long tradition of folk songs with tragic endings, Polly Perks, the daughter of an innkeeper in the small nation of Borogravia, disguises herself as a boy to join the army. She's searching for her lost brother, missing in action in one of Borogravia's endless wars with its neighbors. With her nation oppressed by an overbearing religion, and threatened by impending invasion and famine, Private Perks finds herself matched with a grizzled sergeant, a bullying corporal, and a band of misfit recruits that includes a vampire, a troll, and an Igor.

It gets more ridiculous from there, and in the best possible ways, as the author pushes the Mulan trope to it's logical extreme while providing a fair share of commentary on war, religion, nationalism, and gender roles. All of this with a nicely twisting plot, a solid sprinkling of action, and some truly great characters. A few familiar (to Discworld fans) faces from the Ankh-Morpork Watch also make appearances in supporting roles.

The relationship between Private Perks and Sergeant Jackrum holds all of the disparate elements of the story together, and gives the book it's heart while the many subplots involving the rest of the regiment provide some legitimate laughs and some poignant moments. This was always fun, and surprisingly powerful in places.
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