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waden34's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked this book until the very end. Throughout the story Dor is gaining more confidence and realizing that he does have what it takes to be king. Then at the end when he is supposed to understand the situation with King Oary and act, his friends do it all for him as he is dumbfounded.
Other than that, the story was fun and the characters interacted very well.
Other than that, the story was fun and the characters interacted very well.
jayshay's review
2.0
A retrograde fantasy of my youth, a complicated nauseous naughty sexist blast of 80s nostalgia and escapism which certainly stirs up memories far beyond the simple story. For the childish but surely not for kids any more, right?
angelahayes's review
4.0
4 Stars
Centaur Isle is the fourth book in the the Xanth series by Piers Anthony. Dor has been left in charge of the kingdom while the king is away for a short while, but after a few weeks and the king hasn't returned, what will Dor do?
The Xanth Series is quite a really long series that has spanned many decades. I remember reading the first few books back in the very early 1980’s and was totally captivated by the epic fantasy that unfolded before my eyes. I collected all the books as each new one was released and have revisited them a few times over the years. Recently I had been reorganising my bookshelves, because eight book cases have become insufficient to house all my books (#bookwhoredilemma)- and it came to the point where I was going to have to get rid of some of my older books/series in order to make way for new favourites. I looked at all the larger/longer series first and this is one of the larger series that I have, it came under scrutiny. I decided to reread all the books I was considering getting rid of first- before making a final decision. I can honestly say that although I these books didn’t blow me away as they once did- I still really enjoyed all the adventure, magic, swords & sorcery like epic fantasy that Mr. Anthony is renowned for. He has imbued his stories with plenty of humour, a playfulness, lots of fun, action, some history, conspiracies, secrets, surprising developments, and much, much more. We meet so many varied and original characters along the way- the books are full of wonderful fictional beasts and paranormal creatures/beasts. From centaurs, to demons, dragons, fauns, gargoyles, goblins, golems, harpies, merfolk, elves, nymphs, ogres, zombies, and curse fiends- and a few more I am sure I have missed.
The world of Xanth is wonderfully rich and vividly descriptive. It is really well written and is so easy to imagine, it came to life before my eyes. Each ‘person’ in Xanth is born with their own unique magical ability, which is called a ‘talent’. We follow along on many epic adventures and explore the world as the story unfolds.
I have many fond memories of reading this book/series- and in the end I can’t cull any of my collection. So I decided to just purchase a couple of extra bookcases instead. #myprecious
A series worth exploring- especially for any epic fantasy lover who loves some fun and humour served with their adventure.
Thank you, Mr. Anthony!
Centaur Isle is the fourth book in the the Xanth series by Piers Anthony. Dor has been left in charge of the kingdom while the king is away for a short while, but after a few weeks and the king hasn't returned, what will Dor do?
The Xanth Series is quite a really long series that has spanned many decades. I remember reading the first few books back in the very early 1980’s and was totally captivated by the epic fantasy that unfolded before my eyes. I collected all the books as each new one was released and have revisited them a few times over the years. Recently I had been reorganising my bookshelves, because eight book cases have become insufficient to house all my books (#bookwhoredilemma)- and it came to the point where I was going to have to get rid of some of my older books/series in order to make way for new favourites. I looked at all the larger/longer series first and this is one of the larger series that I have, it came under scrutiny. I decided to reread all the books I was considering getting rid of first- before making a final decision. I can honestly say that although I these books didn’t blow me away as they once did- I still really enjoyed all the adventure, magic, swords & sorcery like epic fantasy that Mr. Anthony is renowned for. He has imbued his stories with plenty of humour, a playfulness, lots of fun, action, some history, conspiracies, secrets, surprising developments, and much, much more. We meet so many varied and original characters along the way- the books are full of wonderful fictional beasts and paranormal creatures/beasts. From centaurs, to demons, dragons, fauns, gargoyles, goblins, golems, harpies, merfolk, elves, nymphs, ogres, zombies, and curse fiends- and a few more I am sure I have missed.
The world of Xanth is wonderfully rich and vividly descriptive. It is really well written and is so easy to imagine, it came to life before my eyes. Each ‘person’ in Xanth is born with their own unique magical ability, which is called a ‘talent’. We follow along on many epic adventures and explore the world as the story unfolds.
I have many fond memories of reading this book/series- and in the end I can’t cull any of my collection. So I decided to just purchase a couple of extra bookcases instead. #myprecious
A series worth exploring- especially for any epic fantasy lover who loves some fun and humour served with their adventure.
Thank you, Mr. Anthony!
bookcrazylady45's review against another edition
3.0
I look forward to these books, the characters are engaging, the situations amusing.
alexxxxxxxxxx's review against another edition
3.0
As per most stories in the magical land of Xanth, this book was weeeiiird. I don't remember my reaction to the first three books in the series, but I'd say this was my least favourite so far. There were a lot of good story points and the humour was pretty chuckle worthy every now and then, but more so than usual Anthony's penchant to make comments about women (and in this case underage women) is preeetty creepy. I don't need to be reminded how hot a 16 year olds legs are once or twice a chapters.
The adventures through Xanth are always fun, and pun, with each monster, person and landscape having their own, fun gimmick. I'm forever in love with the idea of Talents.
Buuuuut like, as soon as we adventure into Mundania things start going kind of off the rails in maybe not a bad way?? But it started to hamper my enjoyment a touch.
Otherwise I'll keep reading Xanth and hope Mr. Anthony can hide his creepy sex pervert ways a little in the next book.
The adventures through Xanth are always fun, and pun, with each monster, person and landscape having their own, fun gimmick. I'm forever in love with the idea of Talents.
Buuuuut like, as soon as we adventure into Mundania things start going kind of off the rails in maybe not a bad way?? But it started to hamper my enjoyment a touch.
Otherwise I'll keep reading Xanth and hope Mr. Anthony can hide his creepy sex pervert ways a little in the next book.
pussreboots's review against another edition
3.0
Nice mindless reading for when I was commuting by train a couple times a week.
jgkeely's review
2.0
The first Piers Anthony book I ever read.
At my middle school, there was a yearly book drive where everyone would bring in boxes of books from home and all the kids could go buy books for a dollar. I would always buy anything that had a dragon or a knight on the cover. That's how I got into Piers, Dragonlance, Eddings, and all that other Junior High stuff. Not to mention Conan.
I got this book there, and needless to say, as an eleven-year-old, Anthony was hilarious. Especially in these early books, which had not yet become the endless list of fan-suggested puns and ephebophilic anti-sexuality that are his current fare. His early works are fairly amusing and harmless; even his penchant for escapism is toned down considerably.
Of course, looking back upon him, one cannot but blanch at his stilted prose, Mary Sue protagonists, puerile humor, and even more puerile sexuality. I know he does have some adult fans, and truthfully, I'm glad they're inside reading the latest Xanth novel instead of out in the world somewhere, voting.
My Fantasy Book Suggestions
At my middle school, there was a yearly book drive where everyone would bring in boxes of books from home and all the kids could go buy books for a dollar. I would always buy anything that had a dragon or a knight on the cover. That's how I got into Piers, Dragonlance, Eddings, and all that other Junior High stuff. Not to mention Conan.
I got this book there, and needless to say, as an eleven-year-old, Anthony was hilarious. Especially in these early books, which had not yet become the endless list of fan-suggested puns and ephebophilic anti-sexuality that are his current fare. His early works are fairly amusing and harmless; even his penchant for escapism is toned down considerably.
Of course, looking back upon him, one cannot but blanch at his stilted prose, Mary Sue protagonists, puerile humor, and even more puerile sexuality. I know he does have some adult fans, and truthfully, I'm glad they're inside reading the latest Xanth novel instead of out in the world somewhere, voting.
My Fantasy Book Suggestions
lmcox's review
4.0
Piers Anthony's Xanth series is a comedic take on the typical fantasy novel, set in a land roughly the size and shape of Florida, where magic is real and everything is more literal. This particular book follows Dor, the heir to the throne, and Irene, his future Queen, as they attempt to find the real king and queen in Mundania (also known as "the real world"). I won't bother with plot summary because I don't think it would be very informative. The book had some very clever moments (though some parts that were intended to be humorous came off as cheesy). I also liked the accurate depiction of the teenager's thought processes and the general style of the writing - it flows quickly from adventure to adventure.
raehink's review against another edition
3.0
Read the first five or six of this series when I was going to school. They provided great humor and relaxation.