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Unseen Acadenicals, by Terry Pratchett
Discworld Series, book 37
My rating: 6/10

A goblin working in the basement of the Unseen University, discovers his talent at "Foot-the-Ball", aka soccer, kicking off a journey into more than just sports. Joined by his friends--a cook, a model, and a soccer player--he must discover his talent and identity. Can he find who he is before it's too late? And maybe more importantly, can he be who he is without hurting everyone he loves?

The development of soccer in Anhk Morpork was hilarious, but I do have to point out that as an American, it was very confusing! All through the book I was struggling with the fact that Pratchett was calling soccer "football". Aside from that, the humour was sharp and the characters were interesting. His writing was as good as ever, as well. 

 This is where it goes downhill.
There's no good way for me to put this: the plot was sub par. It was meandering, confusing, and by the end, you realize that you've just swallowed another Soul Music-Moving Pictures trope. The ending was actually another major qualm of mine with this book. Sudden (non-wizardly) magic is introduced and never explained, all the relationships you didn't really care about come together, and just when you think its over, you get another ten pages.

 I didn't hate this book, but there are many fish in the sea with brighter scales, and I'd advise you to through this fish back.



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