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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So far I honestly think this was the best book. I was able to read it steadily and didn’t get annoyed with any parts. Nothing felt like it was dragging and I honestly can’t remember if I’ve read this one already before. But I loved the characters and the stories. I enjoyed how they looped the past with the present and made everything just fit together and work out no matter what. And even though I caught on to the big surprise at the end roughly mid way it just made me even more excited to read it when it finally happened on the very last page. I also even though Millie is kind of a whatever character as ghost/newly human I loved when we met her in the past at a younger age. She was pretty ridiculous but it also just worked so well. I look forward to reading book 4.
Wonderful story, mixing time paradoxes in with good fantasy characters. Anthony always has very imaginative people and places set in his world of Xanth. Looking forward to the next one in this series.
I didn't like this book as much as the first two in the series. Adding in the spider (which I'm deathly afraid of to begin with) just made the hero seem less heroic. Because of Jumper's actions Dor never really had any growth.
That said, it was still a quick and enjoyable read.
That said, it was still a quick and enjoyable read.
I probably liked this book the best of the Xanth books so far -- which isn't saying too much considering I found the first two on the disappointing side. Castle Roogna introduces readers to the next generation in Xanath and contains a bit of time travel that allows for insight into the early years of the land. Fairly standard epic quest plot that is decently paced.
Honestly, 10-12 year old me enjoyed this book way more than 27 year old me. 27 year old me seriously just can't stomach the writing anymore. Piers Anthony's writing is like the fantasy of a pre-teen boy who decided to mix porn with D&D. It's just not appealing to read as an adult at all. Also, I can usually stomach some mysogyny in books because, unfortunately, most books older than me have a heavy dose of it, but it seems really clear to me that this guy has absolutely no idea about what women think or feel or how they act. It's more convenient for him to write them off as sex-obsessed waifs. Sure, there's a bit at the end where the 12 year old protagonist Dor, who's been fantasizing about every female in the book up until this point, treats two women with actual respect, but two scenes in the last 10 pages really don't make up for the other 316.
The only reason I'm not giving this book one star is that I still like the curiosities of the world he created, despite the stories being steeped in creepy sex-fueled pre-teen thoughts. I like Dor's ability - it's not one I've seen in other literature.
I would not recommend this to anyone, really, unless they are wholly forewarned and are looking at this book purely for the world itself.
The only reason I'm not giving this book one star is that I still like the curiosities of the world he created, despite the stories being steeped in creepy sex-fueled pre-teen thoughts. I like Dor's ability - it's not one I've seen in other literature.
I would not recommend this to anyone, really, unless they are wholly forewarned and are looking at this book purely for the world itself.
As a teenage boy I read as much of the Xanth series as I could find. I loved it. I went back to reread a couple years back, and found the texts well below my current expectations of the fantasy genre. This just hasn't held up over time. Still, good memories from my early years, and put me down the path to so much enjoyment in the fantasy fiction sphere.
Easily the best of the first three Xanth novels. For once the sexism, while still there, managed not to overshadow the story. Still, I think I'm done with Piers Anthony.
4 Stars
Castle Roogna is the third book in the Xanth series by Piers Anthony. Millie the Ghost loves Johnathan the zombie. Magician Dor finds things aren't quite so simple when he decides to help by finding a potion that will solve their problem. This means going back in time to find it, which leads to some danger, and an epic adventure.
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!
Castle Roogna is the third book in the Xanth series by Piers Anthony. Millie the Ghost loves Johnathan the zombie. Magician Dor finds things aren't quite so simple when he decides to help by finding a potion that will solve their problem. This means going back in time to find it, which leads to some danger, and an epic adventure.
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!
Love Millie the Ghost. Still enjoying this series.