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Xanth #14
Question Quest
Youth is Wasted on the Young
Being grown up is a drag . . . or so thinks Lacuna, one of the mischievous Castle Zombie twins. So she makes the Good Magician Grey an offer he can't refuse. Thirsty for a taste of the Elixir of Youth, she'll help him outwit the evil Com-Pewter if he'll send her to Hell (in a handbasket, no less) to find Humfrey, the missing sorcerer. And while there, she'll learn the True History of Xanth (simplified) and help rescue a blushing Rose from the demon X(A/N)th . . . with the help of a gorgon or two.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1991
101 people are currently reading
2324 people want to read
About the author
Piers Anthony
438 books4,208 followersThough he spent the first four years of his life in England, Piers never returned to live in his country of birth after moving to Spain and immigrated to America at age six. After graduating with a B.A. from Goddard College, he married one of his fellow students and and spent fifteen years in an assortment of professions before he began writing fiction full-time.
Piers is a self-proclaimed environmentalist and lives on a tree farm in Florida with his wife. They have two grown daughters.
Piers is a self-proclaimed environmentalist and lives on a tree farm in Florida with his wife. They have two grown daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
May 20, 2016
This was another of the Xanth books I actually had read in the past. This one was published in 1991. I don't have much to say about it this time; Piers Anthony is Piers Anthony. As I was finishing it up last night, Sweetie asked why I liked these books. I said they were sort of escapist reading, a bit in between the more serious stuff I read; it's easy to read books that are just fun and simply written, and some days -- especially this past week -- I'm just not up for heavier reading.
One thing about this book: About the last 1/4 of it is simply a recapping of what's come before in the Xanth series. The book is essentially the history of Good Magician Humfrey, a major character in all the novels, and it tells why he disappeared several years ago. The basic plot of the book is that Humfrey is telling his life story while waiting for the demon whose magic makes Xanth exist, so that he can bargain to get his wife out of Hell; Humfrey hopes that when he gets to the present, Xanth will have to come deal with him, to avoid Humfrey simply telling his story into the future and saying he got the demon to agree. The latter part of Humfrey's life recounts everything that's happened in Xanth so far, making the final part of the book essentially a "Previously, In Xanth..." that I mostly skipped through. I suppose if you'd just picked up the series at book 14 it might be helpful, but does anyone do that? It felt like a way to pad out the book.
Anyway, I'm trying now to remember how many of these books I really did read. This one was even less familiar to me than the last couple, but I recalled having read it as I re-read it. Memory -- especially mine -- is a funny thing, although sometimes it bothers me how little I remember of some things; that, I guess, is what being 47 will do: make you worry about things that didn't used to worry you.
One of the things I like to do, though, is to think back to where I was, at a certain time, years ago. Question Quest was published in October, 1991. I probably would have bought it right away? 1991 was a long time ago, more than half my life. In October 1991, as near as I can recall, I was living at home, in between schooling for a while. I had gone to UW-Madison for a semester, done horribly, and dropped out because my parents didn't want to help pay for school if I wasn't going to study to be a doctor, and I didn't want to be a doctor. Two years later, in 1989, I re-enrolled, this time at UW-Waukesha, to study political science. On the 2nd day of the semester I got hit by a drunk driver, and missed that semester because I had to stay in bed for 2 or 3 weeks. Then, the following September I had to have surgery to fuse some vertebrae, so I wouldn't have gone back to school until winter 1990 or fall 1991; I don't remember which it was.
So I'm pretty sure that in fall 1991 I was still living at home, but it was around then that I moved out of the house and moved into an apartment in Milwaukee with two friends. But I probably would have been taking political science classes, and working at a gas station in town, as well as being a college radio DJ on Saturday mornings. 1991 is when I became a Buffalo Bills fan, and started to really like watching football.
Five years later would be October 1996; by then I had moved to Madison and enrolled in law school. This would have been the start of my second year, and would have been about the time my temporary job at the Department of Revenue ended, and I started working at the law firm where Sweetie was a legal secretary. 1996 would be when I started slacking off a bit in my exercise program. I weighed 170 pounds in 1996, and could run 6 miles in about 40 minutes, even though I was still a smoker, back then.
Five years after that in October 2001, we were living in a duplex in Middleton (just outside of Madison), with just the three older kids, no Mr Bunches or Mr F yet. I would have been at my old law firm, having started there a year before. At that time, the Department of Homeland Security was just being set up and Apple had released the iPod.
By October 2006 I'd been a nonsmoker for 2 years. The boys were a month old; I was still at my old firm. Sweetie had just gone back to work at the law firm she'd started working at after moving to Madison, and we would have been getting up at 5 a.m. every day to get everyone ready for school and daycare, then dropped the boys off at 7 to get to work by 8 so that we could leave work by 4:50 to pick up the boys by 5:30 in order to get home at 6, make dinner, do homework, and collapse into bed. After 6 months of that we decided Sweetie should quit her job and we'd make do.
We're still making do.
In October 2011, I was ending my first year as a partner at my old firm. I had an office on Capitol Square in Madison and had several lawyers working directly for me. I had the year before nearly died twice and had started to run for judge, but ended my campaign after Scott Walker got elected and being a judge became a terrible job. (Nearly all the county judges who were on the bench when he was elected have since retired.)
In October 2016 I...
to be continued.
One thing about this book: About the last 1/4 of it is simply a recapping of what's come before in the Xanth series. The book is essentially the history of Good Magician Humfrey, a major character in all the novels, and it tells why he disappeared several years ago. The basic plot of the book is that Humfrey is telling his life story while waiting for the demon whose magic makes Xanth exist, so that he can bargain to get his wife out of Hell; Humfrey hopes that when he gets to the present, Xanth will have to come deal with him, to avoid Humfrey simply telling his story into the future and saying he got the demon to agree. The latter part of Humfrey's life recounts everything that's happened in Xanth so far, making the final part of the book essentially a "Previously, In Xanth..." that I mostly skipped through. I suppose if you'd just picked up the series at book 14 it might be helpful, but does anyone do that? It felt like a way to pad out the book.
Anyway, I'm trying now to remember how many of these books I really did read. This one was even less familiar to me than the last couple, but I recalled having read it as I re-read it. Memory -- especially mine -- is a funny thing, although sometimes it bothers me how little I remember of some things; that, I guess, is what being 47 will do: make you worry about things that didn't used to worry you.
One of the things I like to do, though, is to think back to where I was, at a certain time, years ago. Question Quest was published in October, 1991. I probably would have bought it right away? 1991 was a long time ago, more than half my life. In October 1991, as near as I can recall, I was living at home, in between schooling for a while. I had gone to UW-Madison for a semester, done horribly, and dropped out because my parents didn't want to help pay for school if I wasn't going to study to be a doctor, and I didn't want to be a doctor. Two years later, in 1989, I re-enrolled, this time at UW-Waukesha, to study political science. On the 2nd day of the semester I got hit by a drunk driver, and missed that semester because I had to stay in bed for 2 or 3 weeks. Then, the following September I had to have surgery to fuse some vertebrae, so I wouldn't have gone back to school until winter 1990 or fall 1991; I don't remember which it was.
So I'm pretty sure that in fall 1991 I was still living at home, but it was around then that I moved out of the house and moved into an apartment in Milwaukee with two friends. But I probably would have been taking political science classes, and working at a gas station in town, as well as being a college radio DJ on Saturday mornings. 1991 is when I became a Buffalo Bills fan, and started to really like watching football.
Five years later would be October 1996; by then I had moved to Madison and enrolled in law school. This would have been the start of my second year, and would have been about the time my temporary job at the Department of Revenue ended, and I started working at the law firm where Sweetie was a legal secretary. 1996 would be when I started slacking off a bit in my exercise program. I weighed 170 pounds in 1996, and could run 6 miles in about 40 minutes, even though I was still a smoker, back then.
Five years after that in October 2001, we were living in a duplex in Middleton (just outside of Madison), with just the three older kids, no Mr Bunches or Mr F yet. I would have been at my old law firm, having started there a year before. At that time, the Department of Homeland Security was just being set up and Apple had released the iPod.
By October 2006 I'd been a nonsmoker for 2 years. The boys were a month old; I was still at my old firm. Sweetie had just gone back to work at the law firm she'd started working at after moving to Madison, and we would have been getting up at 5 a.m. every day to get everyone ready for school and daycare, then dropped the boys off at 7 to get to work by 8 so that we could leave work by 4:50 to pick up the boys by 5:30 in order to get home at 6, make dinner, do homework, and collapse into bed. After 6 months of that we decided Sweetie should quit her job and we'd make do.
We're still making do.
In October 2011, I was ending my first year as a partner at my old firm. I had an office on Capitol Square in Madison and had several lawyers working directly for me. I had the year before nearly died twice and had started to run for judge, but ended my campaign after Scott Walker got elected and being a judge became a terrible job. (Nearly all the county judges who were on the bench when he was elected have since retired.)
In October 2016 I...
to be continued.
June 14, 2025
Remember when television shows used to air weekly and run about 24 episodes per season? Remember how after a couple of seasons, they'd have a flashback episode so the audience could catch up on some key character moments for the various characters (never plot moments because the idea of "canon" didn't exist yet in most television shows (other than soap operas which were way ahead of their time!)). This usually took place when a few characters locked themselves inside a walk-in freezer. Well this is the Xanth book of that episode. About 85% of this book is just reminding readers what happened in the previous 13 books. Instead of saying "A New Xanth Novel!" on the cover, it should have read, "A Recycled Xanth Novel!"
The most interesting part of the book was the Author's Note where Piers Anthony admits that he didn't write 95% of this book. At least he gives the names of all the people who wrote the book for him. What do you call fan fiction that the author uses to make his next book? No, not stealing! I'm sure there's a less judgmental word for it!
This book was mostly told in the first person from Magician Humphrey's point of view so it's harder for me to attribute all of the male chauvinistic and sexist moments to Piers Anthony particularly. I technically have to point out how sexist and male chauvinist Humphrey is! Did you see me winking as I typed that? Because I was winking.
The main character of this book is Lacuna, the Zombie Master's daughter. Humphrey and Piers assure the reader that she's boring because she's an average looking woman past thirty. So her life is totally over and the only way she can make it not over is to make a wish that her life happened differently during her ripe years and not during her post-thirty spoiled years. That's a pretty good message for young readers, right? No? I don't know! Maybe it's a good message for Comicsgaters?
Lacuna has to go to Hell to listen to an old man's synopsis of all the previous Xanth books so that she can help out Magician Murphy with a problem he has. See, he had a problem. And Piers Anthony was all, "That's that. That's his problem. Poor guy." But a reader was all, "Hey, why doesn't Lacuna help him with her powers?" And Piers Anthony was all, "Oh thanks! Now I know what my next book will be about! I hope I spell your name right when I give thanks to you in the Author's Note!"
You know what? I had this rated 3 Stars but I just talked myself into rating it 2 Stars. It was not enjoyable.
The most interesting part of the book was the Author's Note where Piers Anthony admits that he didn't write 95% of this book. At least he gives the names of all the people who wrote the book for him. What do you call fan fiction that the author uses to make his next book? No, not stealing! I'm sure there's a less judgmental word for it!
This book was mostly told in the first person from Magician Humphrey's point of view so it's harder for me to attribute all of the male chauvinistic and sexist moments to Piers Anthony particularly. I technically have to point out how sexist and male chauvinist Humphrey is! Did you see me winking as I typed that? Because I was winking.
The main character of this book is Lacuna, the Zombie Master's daughter. Humphrey and Piers assure the reader that she's boring because she's an average looking woman past thirty. So her life is totally over and the only way she can make it not over is to make a wish that her life happened differently during her ripe years and not during her post-thirty spoiled years. That's a pretty good message for young readers, right? No? I don't know! Maybe it's a good message for Comicsgaters?
Lacuna has to go to Hell to listen to an old man's synopsis of all the previous Xanth books so that she can help out Magician Murphy with a problem he has. See, he had a problem. And Piers Anthony was all, "That's that. That's his problem. Poor guy." But a reader was all, "Hey, why doesn't Lacuna help him with her powers?" And Piers Anthony was all, "Oh thanks! Now I know what my next book will be about! I hope I spell your name right when I give thanks to you in the Author's Note!"
You know what? I had this rated 3 Stars but I just talked myself into rating it 2 Stars. It was not enjoyable.
January 22, 2016
The Xanth novels are a quick, fun and funny read. Great starter books for young fantasy readers. There is a ton of them and you can pick up any of them and start. Very recommended
July 22, 2022
Oh, the Xanth series. I started reading them back in the 80's and have very fond memories of them. Then of course, I grew up. However, they are still fun reads. Silly, entertaining. Especially this one being so long since I've read one. This one goes into most of the previous books and summarized them. It was a real treat for me after all these years, it brought so much back. On the negative side, I did find my mind wandering from time to time not really caring about some of the story. It felt like it didn't matter, but for the most part, it was just fine.
December 30, 2024
I read a whole bunch of the Xanth books several decades ago and enjoyed them, so I thought I'd try one again and see what I thought. I mainly thought it was tiresome. This one drags on and on. You get the main story, and then a massive flashback for several hundred pages before finally getting back to the point. Not for me any more. I don't think I'll be reading any more of these.
November 1, 2009
Xanth #14: Question Quest, by Piers Anthony
The Good Magician makes an appearance in every Xanth book. That's how most books start - a character has a problem in their lives that they need to see him about. So they make a journey to his castle, battle through the three Challenges, get their Answer from the Book of Answers, and end up on a journey through Xanth to figure out their cryptic Answer.
But *how* did the Good Magician get his Book of Answers? How does he know what every person ultimately wants? And just how does he have five and a half wives?
While "Question Quest" starts out with Lacuna, a woman who has passed into middle age and thus has a very boring life, it is actually the story of Good Magician Humfrey. Because his son-in-law is manning the Book of Answers and doesn't quite understand everything written the book, Lacuna goes to Hell in a handbasket to get a more complete Answer. There she finds Humfrey, who has been sitting in the Demon X (A/N)th's waiting room for 10 years, trying to rescue one of his wives from Hell.
I found "Question Quest" to be an excellent history book of Xanth. This is the first time Humfrey's story is told in full detail, from his youth with MareAnn, to marrying a demoness, to attending Demon University to get a degree in magic, to finding Castle Roogna, and quite a few other adventures. Humfrey's over 100 years old, and he's sure packed a lot of living into his century plus of life. This Xanth installment really fleshes out the old gnome, and adds a lot of information to any reader's knowledge of Xanth.
This is probably one of my favorite Xanth books, as I tend to like histories, especially histories of created worlds. "Question Quest" gives life to one of the more interesting characters in Xanth, a character included in every novel but one previously hadn't much back story. Read it if you want to learn about Humfrey, or if you're curious about the history of Xanth.
4/5.
The Good Magician makes an appearance in every Xanth book. That's how most books start - a character has a problem in their lives that they need to see him about. So they make a journey to his castle, battle through the three Challenges, get their Answer from the Book of Answers, and end up on a journey through Xanth to figure out their cryptic Answer.
But *how* did the Good Magician get his Book of Answers? How does he know what every person ultimately wants? And just how does he have five and a half wives?
While "Question Quest" starts out with Lacuna, a woman who has passed into middle age and thus has a very boring life, it is actually the story of Good Magician Humfrey. Because his son-in-law is manning the Book of Answers and doesn't quite understand everything written the book, Lacuna goes to Hell in a handbasket to get a more complete Answer. There she finds Humfrey, who has been sitting in the Demon X (A/N)th's waiting room for 10 years, trying to rescue one of his wives from Hell.
I found "Question Quest" to be an excellent history book of Xanth. This is the first time Humfrey's story is told in full detail, from his youth with MareAnn, to marrying a demoness, to attending Demon University to get a degree in magic, to finding Castle Roogna, and quite a few other adventures. Humfrey's over 100 years old, and he's sure packed a lot of living into his century plus of life. This Xanth installment really fleshes out the old gnome, and adds a lot of information to any reader's knowledge of Xanth.
This is probably one of my favorite Xanth books, as I tend to like histories, especially histories of created worlds. "Question Quest" gives life to one of the more interesting characters in Xanth, a character included in every novel but one previously hadn't much back story. Read it if you want to learn about Humfrey, or if you're curious about the history of Xanth.
4/5.
September 3, 2012
I've thoroughly enjoyed every Xanth novel so far, but this one got a little tedious. Much of the book is about Magician Humfrey telling his history. I didn't have a problem with that. It was interesting to learn how some things in Xanth's past came to be. But then about 65 of the last 115 pages of the paper back edition of this book (I'm not sure there is a hardback edition) are used to summarize the last 13 books in the series. Some of it was some stuff you didn't get to see in the books from Humfrey's perspective, but much of it wasn't. I guess if you hadn't read the previous 13 books in the series, it might have been nice to have gotten caught up on the happenings of the rest of the series. Or maybe if you hadn't read the books in a long time and had forgotten, but little of it had anything to do with the main plot of this book. The last several books were summarized much more briefly, in a paragraph or two. If they all could have been that way except the parts where we were getting new information, it would have been so much better. Minus the Magician Humfrey's telling of his History, there wasn't much to the plot of this book. This felt like one of those episodes in a show where they show you highlights from previous episodes in lieu of making a new episode. It was a lot like the final episode of Seinfeld or Beavis and Butthead (before they made new episodes recently) where there's some new stuff, but much of the episode is taken up with people remembering stuff from previous episodes.
January 25, 2010
The puns and reader-submitted ideas started to get really obnoxious in this book. Hah, started? Yes, well, I was able to get past them before. It's slightly overwhelming in this book, either because of the sheer AMOUNT of fluff (Including pages of loving descriptions of a woman's outfits, and a treacly poem from hell. I know Anthony has a lot of love for his fans and uses the things they send in with the best of intentions, but come ON) or because this is a super-fast review of the history of the Xanth books, all told from the Good Magician Humphry's point of view. The revisionist history comes on hard and fast here, and sometimes it's hard to keep up.
I realize I'm not being fair about the style of these books. Fluff and puns are what they're ABOUT. And I liked this one, I really did. Having a character reminisce about their personal history has always been irresistable to me, and that's 90% of the book right there. It's possible that I'm slightly bitter about the series because when I was twelve I ADORED these books. But after the first dozen, the humor started to wear thin. Ah well, more for everybody else.
I realize I'm not being fair about the style of these books. Fluff and puns are what they're ABOUT. And I liked this one, I really did. Having a character reminisce about their personal history has always been irresistable to me, and that's 90% of the book right there. It's possible that I'm slightly bitter about the series because when I was twelve I ADORED these books. But after the first dozen, the humor started to wear thin. Ah well, more for everybody else.
May 18, 2016
A lot of previous Xanth ground was covered in this 14th Xanthy novel, but still worthy of a perusal...! In this story we join Millie the Ghost and the Zombie Master's daughter, Lacuna, of the twins, needs counsel from the Good Magician. She is now 34 and feels as though she wasted her life. She seeks an answer to where she went awry ; she also uncovers what has happened to Humphrey! We get an overview of the true history of Xanth.
We learn about the grumpy Good Magician from his POV. We learn about Humphrey's loves, wives, & offspring. We see the history of beings that were introduced in previous novels: Storm King, King Trent, Queen Iris, Com-pewter, X(A/N)th, even Bink. There is a lot of previous characters covered, so a few reads of a few Xanth novels beforehand would help. Otherwise, most Xanth novels can be read as a stand alone story.
We learn about the grumpy Good Magician from his POV. We learn about Humphrey's loves, wives, & offspring. We see the history of beings that were introduced in previous novels: Storm King, King Trent, Queen Iris, Com-pewter, X(A/N)th, even Bink. There is a lot of previous characters covered, so a few reads of a few Xanth novels beforehand would help. Otherwise, most Xanth novels can be read as a stand alone story.
September 16, 2013
Some times I wonder if there is someone else writing some of these books in this series as it seems just a tad off, this was one of them. It was ok but a bit of a hard slog to get through
August 26, 2019
4 Stars
Question Quest is the fourteenth book in the Xanth series by Piers Anthony. Lacuna the zombie sets off on her own quest to find the missing magician. She strikes a bargain involving an evil nemesis- and her adventure sees her face demons, and meet gorgons- all while discovering more about the history of Xanthe, as well as herself.
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!
Question Quest is the fourteenth book in the Xanth series by Piers Anthony. Lacuna the zombie sets off on her own quest to find the missing magician. She strikes a bargain involving an evil nemesis- and her adventure sees her face demons, and meet gorgons- all while discovering more about the history of Xanthe, as well as herself.
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!
May 18, 2021
Question Quest is my least favorite in the Xanth series thus far. From childhood to young adulthood, I had read the first 13 books in the series and had stopped. Now that I've gone back and made it a goal of reading the entire series, I finally got to this book in the series and was disappointed. What could have been an interesting story turned into nothing more than a 'clip show' like you often see with TV shows that want to recap what's happened thus far. However, this clip show decided to rewrite a few things, in what I can only guess is to forward some of the ideas for novels going forward. It all revolved around Humphrey and makes several major changes to past stories. Hopefully, this isn't a sign of things to come as I move forward to the next set of books in the series.
September 29, 2025
I honestly didn’t really enjoy this one. Even though the first half was a recap of things we didn’t know the set up was almost misleading. I was excited to get a story from this character I had only met a couple times who hadn’t been a main focus yet and it’s just her “writing” the magicians history down. Which was just kind of eh especially once he just got to the point of traveling and having a wife and then proceeds to do that multiple times. Also to just now randomly inform us so many characters we’ve met are supposedly his kids just felt thrown in there just because. It was t a terrible read but I basically made myself power through it purely so I can hope the book after this picks up how it normally does.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2021
Large swaths of this book are recaps of the previous installment as retold by Humfrey. While some parts were interesting to see from his perspective, ultimately I skimmed several chapters, which I haven't done with a Xanth novel before.
I was also taken aback by the more graphic and gratuitous descriptions of the female body (when it came to Rose to be specific). It feels out of place, because while the previous books contained nudity, the descriptions were very minimal. This is the first Xanth novel to feature the word "nipple", I'm fairly certain :)
I was also taken aback by the more graphic and gratuitous descriptions of the female body (when it came to Rose to be specific). It feels out of place, because while the previous books contained nudity, the descriptions were very minimal. This is the first Xanth novel to feature the word "nipple", I'm fairly certain :)
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October 23, 2025Youth is Wasted on the YoungBeing grown up is a drag . . . or so thinks Lacuna, one of the michievous Castle Zombie twins. So she makes the Good Magician Grey an an offer he can't refuse. Thirsty for a taste of the Elixir of Youth, she'll help him outwit the evil Com-Pewter if he'll send her to Hell (in a handbasket, no less) to find Humphrey, the missing sorcerer. And while there, she'll learn the True History of Xanth (simplified) and help rescue a blushing Rose from the demon X(A/N) . . . with the help of a gorgon or two.
February 6, 2018
oh good god, Piers. I read many of these as a hapless tween so I knew what I was in for, but basically rehashing all the books that came before for the last 3rd of the book? Come on.
I don't come to Xanth for this. I come to it for the hilariously overblown misogyny and groan worthy puns. And mostly nostalgia.
I don't come to Xanth for this. I come to it for the hilariously overblown misogyny and groan worthy puns. And mostly nostalgia.
May 20, 2018
Loved this one. Great tale about the good Magician Humfrey (mainly) and a stroll through the history of Xanth... five and a half wives...Wow!!! Oh and we also hear that Jenny Elf is improving. Next....
June 5, 2023
Basically, this is the story of the Good Magician Humfry. It touches several other stories, but from his viewpoint. Most of it is told in first person by Humfry himself.
It held my attention from the beginning. Good yarn.
It held my attention from the beginning. Good yarn.
July 18, 2023
Man, Tossed around everywhere with this one.
Humfrey going to Hell in a Handbasket. LeCuna getting her wish of a Family she longed for so many years.
Some mixed emotions here, Lets see where it leads in #15
Humfrey going to Hell in a Handbasket. LeCuna getting her wish of a Family she longed for so many years.
Some mixed emotions here, Lets see where it leads in #15
August 10, 2017
This was the first Xanth novel I ever read and it cemented my love of Xanth.
October 16, 2017
This was a good story that was the backstory of Humphrey. It was in the same form as the rest of the series with plenty of puns.
November 25, 2017
Aleays a silly quick read. Love Xanth stories.
January 30, 2019
It should have been called Flasback Fest. It was basically a synopsis of all previous books. Oh, well. One more done.
March 24, 2019
Not at all what I was expecting. Interesting enough to keep my attention. Not much real action though.
March 19, 2020
Is basically a rehash of previous books with little bits of information that wasn't in the previous books. Do not recommend this book in any way. The best thing about this book is the cover art.
July 9, 2020
Dullest book in the series
Most book is just short review of previous books. I skipped maybe a half pages. Now I have no idea if I should buy the next or rather read something else.
Most book is just short review of previous books. I skipped maybe a half pages. Now I have no idea if I should buy the next or rather read something else.
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
August 3, 2020
Polygamy.
Read
September 15, 2021The last Xanth book I read as a kid. Hopped off that train right before it went full sketch with a novel called THE COLOR OF HER PANTIES.
June 10, 2023
Not the best of the Xanth series - although it does pull together some loose threads from previous stories.
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