I didn't like this one as much. I found it hard to follow the plot and I disliked how a lot of characters were .. characterised. I also suspect that a lot of references went right over my head, since I haven't really read any Shakespeare, and I've ignored all summaries of Shakespeare that ever showed up in my life.
Solid, vivid and with a fun plot, but a bit flat philosophy-wise
4 stars
A great continuation of the storyline of witches, but this one is about craft, betrayal and Agatha Christy-esque finale. Colourful and interesting read, but – as we know – Pratchett could and did do books where it's all that plus a lot of depth.
I did love the quote where he compares Ankh-Morpork with a drain where everyone ends up and can't escape. As a relatively newfound Londoner, it strikes a chord.
In just the sixth novel in the overall series, the ambitious author takes on the bard.
In this second book of the Witches series, he adds two more to make up a Shakespearean triumvirate, and brings back other lovable characters like Death and the Librarian. I hope the cat makes an appearance in a future novel also - tough guy there.
And yet... there was a lot to put into this work. Half again as many pages as the previous witches book, this is not the longest Discworld book I've read - but it felt like it. Blame jet lag, perhaps. A goodly amount of humor, but at times it felt like pages were spent setting up a one-off reference. The Disc theatre was one example.
So in comparison, I found this really good, but not as good as the previous in the series (Equal Rites) and not as good …
In just the sixth novel in the overall series, the ambitious author takes on the bard.
In this second book of the Witches series, he adds two more to make up a Shakespearean triumvirate, and brings back other lovable characters like Death and the Librarian. I hope the cat makes an appearance in a future novel also - tough guy there.
And yet... there was a lot to put into this work. Half again as many pages as the previous witches book, this is not the longest Discworld book I've read - but it felt like it. Blame jet lag, perhaps. A goodly amount of humor, but at times it felt like pages were spent setting up a one-off reference. The Disc theatre was one example.
So in comparison, I found this really good, but not as good as the previous in the series (Equal Rites) and not as good as the best of the City Watch books. Still looking forward to reading more Discworld!
Kiekkomaailman sydämessä on pieni kuningaskunta, jossa vallananastaja murhaa kuninkaan ja kruununperijä pelastuu täpärästi noitakolmikon käsiin. Kun perijä on — yllättävänkin aikaisin — täysi-ikäinen, on totuuden hetki. Vai onko sittenkään? Sarjan ensimmäinen hyvä kirja! Tässä on oikea juoni, henkilöt tekevät muutakin kuin hölmöilevät alapääjuttujen parissa ja heitä tulee jopa sympatisoineeksi, ja huumorin kaarta rakennetaan pitkän kaavan mukaan.