Three installments of the New York Times-bestselling series set in a land of enchantment filled with magic, surprises, adventure, and–best of all–puns! The world of Xanth is a wacky one full of offbeat heroes and surprising journeys. In these three volumes of this hilarious series, characters bumble their way through many misadventures to find their happy ending on the other side, aided and … the other side, aided and hindered by puns along the way.
Board Stiff: Thanks to a mental typo and an ornery wishing well the once beautiful Irrelevant Kandy is now a board of wood–with mind control powers. And Ease wishes everything wasn’t so easy. Fortunately, Humfrey the Good Magician is there to provide them with a quest: saving the puns of Xanth. But who released a virus that could destroy Xanth’s essence, and will Kandy and Ease figure out how to stop it in time?
Five Portraits: Astrid Basilisk is a sweet girl whose very glance is deadly. As she embarks on a selfless mission to save five difficult children from future Xanth, she must fight the pun virus that threatens to destroy the magical world.
Isis Orb: Hapless has the ability to conjure any musical instrument he wants, but he can’t carry a tune in a bucket. All he wants is to learn to play an instrument and get a girlfriend. When the Good Magician hears about his desperate desire, he sends Hapless on a quest to find the elusive Isis Orb, a magical talisman that could fulfill his wish. But the mysterious Egyptian goddess guarding it isn’t going to let him simply take it.
more
I adore all the Xanth books. Realistically I think I stopped reading them after about the 15th books, but ever so slowly I am re-acquiring them and I’m looking forward to these wonderful, whimsical books. They are such a delight to read.
Read them all,thought they were cute and punny ( not a typo). Now, not so much.
Too derivative. All the imagination is furnished by the fans, NOT the author.
I am no pundit on Xanth but I have enjoyed many of these novels over the years. As always good characters with whom you enjoy seeing the story unfold. Not deep but fun.
Piers Anthony is one of my favorite authors. I can never get enough of his books. I encourage anyone who loves sci fi or fantasy to give it a read.
I loved the puns and the play on words ; the use of common words and their alternative meanings.
His books are just a good fun read with great story telling Love the whole series
I love Piers Anthony as a writer.. He is a fantastic fantasy writer. He builds worlds with imagination, and his characters are phenomenal.
I loved these books. Loved the characters. Have read many times.
I’ve read the Xanth novels for decades and never tire of them.
the best xanth books are the first ten or twelve. that being said, piers anthony cannot write a BAD book. these later books are pretty good. just not up to the comparison with the first ones. they become just a little predictable.
I’ve read this series many times. I own many paperback and have quite a few on my kindle. It is a wonderful series of books! If you have never had a chance to read them then you are in for a very punny treat!
As usual I thoroughly enjoyed these “Xanth” books. Piers Anthony continues to make the setting/idea entertaining.
Tired…recycled…juvenile.
actually I’m half way thru it’s a good read. I’ve read most of the previous Zanth novels and I was very happy when i saw these 3 books available for digatal reading . So far this book is as good as all the other Piers Anthony book I’ve read I just wish I had more time to read them.
I loved the entire Xanth series!
I wrote a review for Amazon, here it is
Continues the Xanth series of novels, introducing some new characters and bringing back many characters, flora and fauna and locales from previous novels, and of course a plethora of puns.
If you’ve been following the Xanth series by Piers Anthony, you’re going to read these novels anyway. If you’re not acquainted with Piers Anthony and Xanth, you should start with earlier volumes and work your way forward. There is a chronological list of all the novels in the series, and lots more information, on Piers Anthony’s website. l like the style that Piers Anthony uses for his Xanth novels, it is easy to read and fun to think about. I would really love to see an animated movie of these stories. Some of the scenes are mind-boggling, and I am sure I would be “freaked out” by some of them!
I had a great time reading them, and loved this and the previous Xanth novels. But if you are not familiar with Xanth, and particularly if you don’t like puns and other plays on words, I don’t advise jumping into the trilogy.
Absolutely LOVE anything Piers Anthony writes!!!! This series is based on puns many of which are suggested by the readers. Input of readers is taken into account and may be used in future books ( complete with acknowledgement).
You have to really like puns. Some of the early books were more fun. In this one the puns are too forced.
Piers Anthony loves his puns! The world of xanth, a mirror of Florida, is magical and puntastic. From magical talents to pillows and fruit that grow on trees, this world is easy to read.