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Most Helpful Reviews
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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “Lots of fun and very humorous. My best friend found a huge stack of Xanth novels in her parent's basement, and she just devoured them! After seeing her reading a new one each day, I decided to give it a try. Wow, was that a good choice!” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “The first and best book of the series, which isn't saying much. The puns were amusing at first, but became old very quickly.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“Pretty good book. But I still do not think it is nearly as good as his Incarnations of Immortality Series. Perhaps my mind will be changed when I read the rest. :-)”
Holly wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“The first and best book of the series, which isn't saying much. The puns were amusing at first, but became old very quickly.”
Laura O wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“First and best of the Xanth series, the story of hapless Bink the only unmagical person in a magical land. Anthony is a funny and inventive writer, but his endless puns get tiresome after awhile. The Xanth series ran on for about 20 books, but I lost interest around book 7.”
Lesley W wrote this review Monday, November 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Never actually finished it, just couldn't get into it.”
Christy M wrote this review Wednesday, November 4 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This was the first book I remember reading, it is what began me on fantasy books and will continue to be in one of my favorite series.”
Kley G wrote this review Monday, November 2 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Xanth 1: A Spell for Chameleon, by Piers Anthony
leeanna c wrote this review Saturday, October 31 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Twenty-five year old Bink of the North Village is in danger of being exiled from his homeland, Xanth, because he has no magic talent. Xanth is a land where magic is the norm, and the King requires that every citizen have a magic talent. Naturally Bink wants to discover his talent so he can stay in his homeland and marry his girlfriend, so he heads off to the Good Magician for help.
So begins the first novel in the Xanth series, which now has over 30 books. Most follow the format introduced in this novel: a protagonist with a Question goes to see the Good Magician, navigates three Challenges for an Answer, which sends them on an adventure throughout the magic country. Throughout the course of Bink's adventure, he is exiled from Xanth, meets the Evil Magician, finds a very unique female, returns to Xanth, and shakes up the current order of things.
"A Spell for Chameleon" is light, fun, and fresh fantasy. This is one of my personal favorites in the series; I've read most of them. Some of the later novels are quite bogged down with puns, but this book doesn't have that problem. Anthony creates a world you'd want to visit, for the sheer fun you could find there. The reader isn't inundated with page after page of details about the world, instead you discover the dangers and excitement of Xanth along with Bink and the other characters.
I tend to read Xanth books as relaxation, and as a break from "heavier" fantasy. I find them refreshing - a good change of pace. Sure, Anthony has quite a fascination with ogling women and panties; sometimes Xanth seems like a land designed for juvenile boys, but if you can get past that, you'll find a fun, enjoyable read.
4/5.”
“Meh.. his name is BINK. I mean seriously.. and they make this huge deal out of his crappy power. It was a good read but.. whenever his name was mentioned I just about barfed, not to mention the author seems sexist. (when she's pretty she's a ditz and when she's ugly-ish she's smart and relatively annoying.) His power could have been cooler...”
Siobhan L wrote this review Thursday, October 29 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“i have not yet finished it but so far it is verry good altho it can boring at times”
LARRY A/DR.ƒR£@K$TER™ wrote this review Monday, October 19 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“an awesome book towards the end you find out that Bink in fact does have powers of a magician class”
Tyrell F wrote this review Monday, October 19 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
