I haven't read any Terry Pratchett before because I'm not generally into genre fiction. But upon a very reliable recommendation, I started with this one and it was fantastic! I've read so many "girl disguises herself as a boy and goes to war" stories, and often I like them. But they so often have this undercurrent narrative that seems to be saying "look at THIS girl, how exceptional she is. she's not like other girls, she can fit in just like one of the boys, and be just as good - maybe even better!" It's not something I'm against exactly. But it's something I'm aware of, that sets me on edge when I read it done badly.

But THIS story? This story took all of the tropes belonging to that kind of narrative and turned them on their head. It *spoiler alert* turns out all of the men in Polly's regiment are women in disguise (aided by a carefully placed extra pair of socks). Brilliantly executed, sharply funny and like nothing I've read before.