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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
Yet another great story in this wonderful series full of adventure, puns, danger, romance, and coming-of-age.
Three stars. Better than Book two. Still too many things wrong with it for it to be rated higher.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The french translation is excellent
funny
fast-paced
This was a fun story. This story ties into the first two books so well and it creates a fun narrative.
I lied. I haven't finished this book. I'm not even halfway through. But there are far too many brilliantly written life-changing novels out there for me to continue to waste time on Piers Anthony's fantastical drivel.
It's not unexpected. Books that are loved in childhood rarely stand up the second time around. There are a few exceptions, Harry Potter being one that springs to mind. But with the Xanth series it has just got the point where I cannot justify carrying on, and also I'm not masochistic enough. Reading this book has been nothing short of literary torture and I have soldiered on with a mantra of: "the ones further on in the series are better; I just have to keep going". But I'm out now.
Not only are they AWFULLY written, they are incredibly sexist and misinformed. Every female character is portrayed as weak and simpering, and the strength of the male characters is measured purely through physical power. As an example, I was highlighting particularly sexist sentences and I came across this little gem (context: main character has just killed humanoid creatures for first time in his life):
"He had heard of girls getting upset when they lose their virginities, and now he had an inkling what it felt like."
?????
These books were written in the late seventies/early eighties, but even for this time are still appallingly ill-informed. Piers Anthony clearly thinks very little of women, believing them to be weak-willed and only existing to be ogled and impregnated. Well, Piers, I don't think much of your mediocre writing style and one-dimensional characters. You are a terrible writer/person and I'm embarrassed to have wasted so much time on you in my youth.
NO STARS.
It's not unexpected. Books that are loved in childhood rarely stand up the second time around. There are a few exceptions, Harry Potter being one that springs to mind. But with the Xanth series it has just got the point where I cannot justify carrying on, and also I'm not masochistic enough. Reading this book has been nothing short of literary torture and I have soldiered on with a mantra of: "the ones further on in the series are better; I just have to keep going". But I'm out now.
Not only are they AWFULLY written, they are incredibly sexist and misinformed. Every female character is portrayed as weak and simpering, and the strength of the male characters is measured purely through physical power. As an example, I was highlighting particularly sexist sentences and I came across this little gem (context: main character has just killed humanoid creatures for first time in his life):
"He had heard of girls getting upset when they lose their virginities, and now he had an inkling what it felt like."
?????
These books were written in the late seventies/early eighties, but even for this time are still appallingly ill-informed. Piers Anthony clearly thinks very little of women, believing them to be weak-willed and only existing to be ogled and impregnated. Well, Piers, I don't think much of your mediocre writing style and one-dimensional characters. You are a terrible writer/person and I'm embarrassed to have wasted so much time on you in my youth.
NO STARS.
Our 12 year old Dor sets out on a quest - to find the elixir which will bring zombie Johnathan back to life. Along the way, Dor makes unexpected friends and learns valuable lessons in growing up all while trapped in the body of a Mundane barbarian.
This is a re-read for me and the story is as well done as I remembered.
This is a re-read for me and the story is as well done as I remembered.
It's alright overall.
This is the fourth Piers Anthony book I have read and the third Xanth book. I see many of the same tropes and while there are a lot of new characters, most of them remind me of characters in prior Xanth novels.
One thing about this book that is divisive is that it has a brand new character and a 12 year time-skip after the second book. Another thing is that if you think about it the story feels removed from the main Xanth storyline due to the time travel aspect.
What I did like is the new main character's magic power to speak to inanimate objects like doors, rocks, beds and more. It was fun reading about how he used his magic to his advantage. For example to animate the spider's web to use as a translator to speak to a giant spider or how he asked a series of rocks for directions.
This is the fourth Piers Anthony book I have read and the third Xanth book. I see many of the same tropes and while there are a lot of new characters, most of them remind me of characters in prior Xanth novels.
One thing about this book that is divisive is that it has a brand new character and a 12 year time-skip after the second book. Another thing is that if you think about it the story feels removed from the main Xanth storyline due to the time travel aspect.
What I did like is the new main character's magic power to speak to inanimate objects like doors, rocks, beds and more. It was fun reading about how he used his magic to his advantage. For example to animate the spider's web to use as a translator to speak to a giant spider or how he asked a series of rocks for directions.
I think this is my favorite of the series so far. I like the contrast between Dor's boy mind and this man body he is suddenly occupying. I love that his traveling companion is a spider. Very creative.