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Hair Suite #1
Hair Power
Terminal cancer patient, Quiti, walks into an abandoned building planning on taking her life. Instead, she encounters a telepathic ball of hair that insists it is an alien seeking to facilitate diplomatic communication on Earth. Quiti assumes it is all a hallucination conjured up by her brain tumor. Because of this assumption, when she saves the alien’s life and it insists on doing Quiti a favor in return, she only asks for her hair back. She soon discovers, however, that the creature’s gift extends much further than her new locks that can change color with a thought. As her powers grow and her deadly illness goes into remission, Quiti quickly realizes that there are those that would want to use her for her abilities and is forced to leave behind everything that she knew. Will this blessing curse her to a life on the run, or does the mysterious hairball have more in store for her? Piers Anthony, critically acclaimed author of the New York Times bestselling Xanth series, brings together humor and adventure in this original story of loyalty, friendship, extraordinary powers, and hair. Dreaming Big Publications
- GenresScience Fiction
130 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 5, 2016
79 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
About the author
Piers Anthony
441 books4,216 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 35 reviews
July 15, 2016
4.5 out of 5 stars
This was, admittedly, the first time I had ever picked up a Piers Anthony book. I’m glad I did. This story was told effortlessly, showcasing Anthony’s obvious experience and finesse in the art of writing. The pacing of the plot was just right, and kept me in suspense the entire time. The “hair power” was fun and fantastical without ever becoming unbelievable. I sympathized with the characters and enjoyed watching their growth. My personal feeling is that Quiti sometimes felt a bit stiff for a twenty-year-old, especially in her speech patterns, but other than that I found her quite likeable. I hope to see sequels for this story!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.
This was, admittedly, the first time I had ever picked up a Piers Anthony book. I’m glad I did. This story was told effortlessly, showcasing Anthony’s obvious experience and finesse in the art of writing. The pacing of the plot was just right, and kept me in suspense the entire time. The “hair power” was fun and fantastical without ever becoming unbelievable. I sympathized with the characters and enjoyed watching their growth. My personal feeling is that Quiti sometimes felt a bit stiff for a twenty-year-old, especially in her speech patterns, but other than that I found her quite likeable. I hope to see sequels for this story!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.
July 16, 2016
I just just finished Hair Power in one sitting and wanted to share my thoughts on it. Hair Power is the first book I've read by the renowned science fiction and fantasy author Piers Anthony. I must admit, I am a little ashamed that I have not read any of his other work-- especially the very popular Xanth series-- despite the fact that I love both genres. But, I am glad I finally got to read one of Anthony's very imaginative stories.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Hair Power. For me, it takes a very good plot to capture my attention so much that I read it in one sitting. I love the fantastical imagination that Anthony has and the original plot. But most of all, my favorite was the "hair".
My favorite characters were Gena and Desiree. They, like most of the characters in Hair Power, had experienced many hardships in their lives but overcame them. I think they were both great examples of independent women.
There were a few things in Hair Power that prevented me from leaving 5 stars instead of 4. I thought a lot of the wording seemed to radiate an older generation's perspective on millenials. What I mean by that is, it was a bit of a stretch for me for Quiti to refer to her parents as her "folks" in a non-ironic way. I also wished the novella was a few chapters longer--making it a full length novel. I felt that some of the relationships Quiti made were a little too fast paced and had the story been longer, a deeper connection would have been established. My final critique is that the dialogue was a little sexist at times. I felt Quiti was objectified and not valued for her killer character strengths, which were her selflessness and helpfulness.
That being said, I really enjoyed reading the novella and really hope Anthony continues to expand the Hair Power story/series one day. I would love to know more background on "hair ball" and see Quiti and Roque's future plans unfold in future sequels. I absolutely recommend this novella if you enjoy fast paced fantasy stories with hints of sex, action and redemption.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Hair Power. For me, it takes a very good plot to capture my attention so much that I read it in one sitting. I love the fantastical imagination that Anthony has and the original plot. But most of all, my favorite was the "hair".
My favorite characters were Gena and Desiree. They, like most of the characters in Hair Power, had experienced many hardships in their lives but overcame them. I think they were both great examples of independent women.
There were a few things in Hair Power that prevented me from leaving 5 stars instead of 4. I thought a lot of the wording seemed to radiate an older generation's perspective on millenials. What I mean by that is, it was a bit of a stretch for me for Quiti to refer to her parents as her "folks" in a non-ironic way. I also wished the novella was a few chapters longer--making it a full length novel. I felt that some of the relationships Quiti made were a little too fast paced and had the story been longer, a deeper connection would have been established. My final critique is that the dialogue was a little sexist at times. I felt Quiti was objectified and not valued for her killer character strengths, which were her selflessness and helpfulness.
That being said, I really enjoyed reading the novella and really hope Anthony continues to expand the Hair Power story/series one day. I would love to know more background on "hair ball" and see Quiti and Roque's future plans unfold in future sequels. I absolutely recommend this novella if you enjoy fast paced fantasy stories with hints of sex, action and redemption.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.
January 22, 2020
This is not good
Having previously been a fan of piers Anthony (a long time ago with Xanth novels and incarnations), I thought it might be fun to see something else.
The dialogue is clunky and by far the worst I have seen for a long time
It just moves from one scene to another with no genuine jeopardy or tension
There is no reason to develop any interest in any characters
Everything happens too perfectly
There is too much inappropriate sexual encounter
It reads like a under 5s fairy tale but with adult content
The story telling is rushed from start to end. The concept underlying this might be ok, but it needs a better story teller and writer
I won’t be reading any more like this.
Having previously been a fan of piers Anthony (a long time ago with Xanth novels and incarnations), I thought it might be fun to see something else.
The dialogue is clunky and by far the worst I have seen for a long time
It just moves from one scene to another with no genuine jeopardy or tension
There is no reason to develop any interest in any characters
Everything happens too perfectly
There is too much inappropriate sexual encounter
It reads like a under 5s fairy tale but with adult content
The story telling is rushed from start to end. The concept underlying this might be ok, but it needs a better story teller and writer
I won’t be reading any more like this.
June 4, 2017
Quiti is a 20 year old, plain girl with a brain tumor. She has seen the strain that it has put on her parents and she decides that she is going to kill herself. When she gets to the site, she meets a giant hairball that needs her help. Because she sets it in the sun in return it gives her a head of hair. But this is special hair that gives her special abilities. This puts her on the government’s radar and goes on the run. She meets some wonderful people along the way and learns that she is not the only hairball around. But this knowledge is not going to keep her the others safe. She is going to have to make a stand.
I absolutely love the Incarnations of Immortality and the Zanth series so I was over the moon to review Hair Power. Hair Power started out well, you feel for Quiti and can understand why she wants to commit suicide. But once the hairball gives her hair I started getting kind of irritated with it. She has to consume large amounts of food for the hair. But instantly she becomes a knock down, gorgeous girl that is clearly highly intellectual and is over the top with anything relating to sex.
I think the part that just grated on my nerves was how she is now super smart but she talks like she was a robot. Her dialogs were just rough and choppy. Then there was Roque and Desiree. I’m not a prude but that whole section just got to me. Plus I was screaming about the ending and not in a good way. Really?!?! Mind you I have to remind myself that Piers Anthony did come up with cat-ass-trophies in Xanth.
Over all that book was not as bad as I am making it out to be. Yes, it is supposed to be ridiculous and it is an over the top fantasy. It is very imaginative and I did not expect the powers of the hair. I listened to the audiobook and I feel Kristin James did a fantastic job narrating the book. She was clear on the different characters and has a beautiful voice. It is the start of a series and there was a lot of ground to lay. I can’t wait to see what happens in Hair Suite.
I received Hair Power from Dream Big Publications for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
I absolutely love the Incarnations of Immortality and the Zanth series so I was over the moon to review Hair Power. Hair Power started out well, you feel for Quiti and can understand why she wants to commit suicide. But once the hairball gives her hair I started getting kind of irritated with it. She has to consume large amounts of food for the hair. But instantly she becomes a knock down, gorgeous girl that is clearly highly intellectual and is over the top with anything relating to sex.
I think the part that just grated on my nerves was how she is now super smart but she talks like she was a robot. Her dialogs were just rough and choppy. Then there was Roque and Desiree. I’m not a prude but that whole section just got to me. Plus I was screaming about the ending and not in a good way. Really?!?! Mind you I have to remind myself that Piers Anthony did come up with cat-ass-trophies in Xanth.
Over all that book was not as bad as I am making it out to be. Yes, it is supposed to be ridiculous and it is an over the top fantasy. It is very imaginative and I did not expect the powers of the hair. I listened to the audiobook and I feel Kristin James did a fantastic job narrating the book. She was clear on the different characters and has a beautiful voice. It is the start of a series and there was a lot of ground to lay. I can’t wait to see what happens in Hair Suite.
I received Hair Power from Dream Big Publications for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
October 23, 2017
I chose to listen to this audiobook after receiving a free copy from Dreaming Big Publications. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. I've always had a lot of Piers Anthony books in my bookstore so when I had the chance to review one of his books, I thought I'd check it out.
Hair Power is a story of hope, friendship, and weird hair. I felt sorry for Quiti at first because she has terminal cancer but that all changes when the hairball she saves ends up saving her. She gradually becomes strong not only physically but intellectually and emotionally. She knows that it's the hair's doing and lets it continue to grow. The longer it grows, the more powerful she becomes.
This book was fun to read for the most part because it is so over the top. Quiti grows throughout the book and even when she is on the run she is self-sufficient and makes friends along the way. I was uncomfortable when she allowed her underage friend to do anything with her body but penetrate because that would still be considered wrong and probably illegal. I will listen to Hair Suite to find out what happens. Hopefully, it will be without the weird sex.
Hair Power is a story of hope, friendship, and weird hair. I felt sorry for Quiti at first because she has terminal cancer but that all changes when the hairball she saves ends up saving her. She gradually becomes strong not only physically but intellectually and emotionally. She knows that it's the hair's doing and lets it continue to grow. The longer it grows, the more powerful she becomes.
This book was fun to read for the most part because it is so over the top. Quiti grows throughout the book and even when she is on the run she is self-sufficient and makes friends along the way. I was uncomfortable when she allowed her underage friend to do anything with her body but penetrate because that would still be considered wrong and probably illegal. I will listen to Hair Suite to find out what happens. Hopefully, it will be without the weird sex.
September 18, 2016
Okay, let’s just get it out there. I’m a geek, a nerd with a lifelong (luckily, requited) passion for classic science fiction, fantasy, and puns. My beloveds include Terry Pratchett’s Discworld, Neil Gaimon’s everything, and of course, the trope-maker himself, Piers Anthony’s Xanth. So I was both delighted and worried when his publishers sent a review request for Hair Power, his new and decidedly non-Xanth novella.
Hair Power starts with a fabulous first line: “Quiti was no quitter, but she was looking for a place to quit.” Diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, she knows that all she has left instead of hope is the chance to end things on her own terms while she still can. When she spots the giant hairball that needs her help, she isn’t sure whether it’s a figment of her disease. But she puts aside her own suicidal plans to help, asking only for hair as her reward. She gets her wish, but soon realizes that she’s received far more. As Quiti’s new hair begins to grow in, it brings with it a mixed bag of miracles and problems that send Quiti and her decidedly motley posse off on their own hero-quest.
Quiti’s world is closer to urban fantasy than to the pun-fest that is Xanth, and (despite noticeable absence of either spaceships or horses) closer still to space opera. Consider the tropes that make up Quiti’s story:
* Urban. Quiti’s adventures happen in a fairly recognisable world, with crappy neighborhoods, back alleys, the occasional abandoned warehouse, and you know…aliens made out of hair. Of course.
* The quest. (Be named the Chosen One, recover the macguffin, fulfill The Prophecy, save the world. True love optional.) In most urban fantasy tales, if the main character is a hero, he’ll probably be a blue-collar warlock with a muggle best friend and a mysterious pet. If she’s a heroine, she’ll have a (possibly gay) paranormal best friend, and at least three super hot guys after her, which she won’t be able to understand because she’s just a normal, average girl who has long red hair, is loyal to her friends and family even though she has issues with one or more parents who (despite being dead) are trying to kill her, and who just happens to like to wear leather, fight vampires, and be a martial arts expert. Except… Quiti really is unattractive, and always has been—even before the cancer treatment left her bald and bloated. But now that she’s gorgeous, she has guys coming on to her, from a jailbait teen to gangs, rapists, and a confused but ultimately hair-blessed hero.
* Will they or won’t they? (If it’s season one/book one of the series—they won’t.) But in Hair Power, there are echoes of Xanth’s famous Adult Conspiracy, as Quiti refuses to have sex with her underage admirer. And even when she does meet up with a hair-enhanced potential mate (who has been specially trained by a terminally-ill prostitute-with-a-heart-of-gold), Quiti—an actual hymen-intact virgin—waits for marriage.
* One order of super-stud hero to go? The hero is probably somewhat barbaric but definitely larger than life, an honest to gosh evil-bashing machine until his last manly breath. Except this time it’s the virginal Quiti who unlocks her magical abilities, and turns into the badass (but still good-girl) fighter who has to keep rescuing the others.
* What’s in it for me? Despite the hero’s knee-jerk evil-fighting ways, s/he is mainly motivated by self-interest. I have to say that Hair Power veers into fairy-tale land here, with the poor but worthy humans proving their worth and receiving their follicle-enhanced rewards. No selfish hero/chosen one need apply.
* Attractive people are good. Unattractive ones are either bad or funny. No (fat, ugly) appearance-challenged hero will ever (stick it to the man) stop evil. Or (get laid) rescue the maiden. Or even (make the last-second winning run/basket/goal/WTF that cricket-thing is) save the universe. Um… actually the hair-enhanced in Hair Power do go from ugly to seriously hot. (Hey, don’t judge—even Buffy and her posse were cute.)
* If you kill the leader of the bad guys, their minions will close up shop and go away. No way will they say to themselves, “Hey! We’ve got this terrific org and now there’s upward mobility. Evil rocks!” These are not issues that troubled Zena, Conan, or Buffy. But the problem in Hair Power is that the source of all evil is The Man. Apparently, the government has a knee-jerk Area 51 reaction, “They’re different. Let’s dissect them!” So the only way to beat them is, apparently, to beat them at their own game.
* Horses. Who needs horses when your own mane lets you fly?
I loved the familiar feel of Piers Anthony’s dry narration. I even enjoyed the way he doesn’t build characters as much as set up puns. (“Call me Hair Brain.” —says the alien.) Given the novella format, the pace is necessarily fast, with lots of details brushed aside or ignored in favor of moving the story forward.
But there were a few things that really troubled me. First and most inescapable was the attempted rape. I’ve actually never been a fan of the wink, wink, nudge, nudge treatment of sex in Piers Anthony’s books. But that was young adult, with lots of puns designed to go over the heads of young audiences but amuse adult readers. In this day and age, a sexual assault in which actual penetration is prevented (and which causes no apparent psychological damage) by the victim’s magical ability to freeze her legs together is just eeewww… Not to mention the fact that she didn’t tell her date—or the cops—about it because “I didn’t want to mess up your evening.”
Overall, Hair Power is a fairly classic SciFi tale, complete with aliens and their mysterious powers. If you like an action and adventure, some fairly G-rated (if occasionally mishandled) romance, and lots of puns, then Hair Power is a fast, fun little read.
***I received this book for free from the publisher or author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.***
Hair Power starts with a fabulous first line: “Quiti was no quitter, but she was looking for a place to quit.” Diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, she knows that all she has left instead of hope is the chance to end things on her own terms while she still can. When she spots the giant hairball that needs her help, she isn’t sure whether it’s a figment of her disease. But she puts aside her own suicidal plans to help, asking only for hair as her reward. She gets her wish, but soon realizes that she’s received far more. As Quiti’s new hair begins to grow in, it brings with it a mixed bag of miracles and problems that send Quiti and her decidedly motley posse off on their own hero-quest.
Quiti’s world is closer to urban fantasy than to the pun-fest that is Xanth, and (despite noticeable absence of either spaceships or horses) closer still to space opera. Consider the tropes that make up Quiti’s story:
* Urban. Quiti’s adventures happen in a fairly recognisable world, with crappy neighborhoods, back alleys, the occasional abandoned warehouse, and you know…aliens made out of hair. Of course.
* The quest. (Be named the Chosen One, recover the macguffin, fulfill The Prophecy, save the world. True love optional.) In most urban fantasy tales, if the main character is a hero, he’ll probably be a blue-collar warlock with a muggle best friend and a mysterious pet. If she’s a heroine, she’ll have a (possibly gay) paranormal best friend, and at least three super hot guys after her, which she won’t be able to understand because she’s just a normal, average girl who has long red hair, is loyal to her friends and family even though she has issues with one or more parents who (despite being dead) are trying to kill her, and who just happens to like to wear leather, fight vampires, and be a martial arts expert. Except… Quiti really is unattractive, and always has been—even before the cancer treatment left her bald and bloated. But now that she’s gorgeous, she has guys coming on to her, from a jailbait teen to gangs, rapists, and a confused but ultimately hair-blessed hero.
* Will they or won’t they? (If it’s season one/book one of the series—they won’t.) But in Hair Power, there are echoes of Xanth’s famous Adult Conspiracy, as Quiti refuses to have sex with her underage admirer. And even when she does meet up with a hair-enhanced potential mate (who has been specially trained by a terminally-ill prostitute-with-a-heart-of-gold), Quiti—an actual hymen-intact virgin—waits for marriage.
* One order of super-stud hero to go? The hero is probably somewhat barbaric but definitely larger than life, an honest to gosh evil-bashing machine until his last manly breath. Except this time it’s the virginal Quiti who unlocks her magical abilities, and turns into the badass (but still good-girl) fighter who has to keep rescuing the others.
* What’s in it for me? Despite the hero’s knee-jerk evil-fighting ways, s/he is mainly motivated by self-interest. I have to say that Hair Power veers into fairy-tale land here, with the poor but worthy humans proving their worth and receiving their follicle-enhanced rewards. No selfish hero/chosen one need apply.
* Attractive people are good. Unattractive ones are either bad or funny. No (fat, ugly) appearance-challenged hero will ever (stick it to the man) stop evil. Or (get laid) rescue the maiden. Or even (make the last-second winning run/basket/goal/WTF that cricket-thing is) save the universe. Um… actually the hair-enhanced in Hair Power do go from ugly to seriously hot. (Hey, don’t judge—even Buffy and her posse were cute.)
* If you kill the leader of the bad guys, their minions will close up shop and go away. No way will they say to themselves, “Hey! We’ve got this terrific org and now there’s upward mobility. Evil rocks!” These are not issues that troubled Zena, Conan, or Buffy. But the problem in Hair Power is that the source of all evil is The Man. Apparently, the government has a knee-jerk Area 51 reaction, “They’re different. Let’s dissect them!” So the only way to beat them is, apparently, to beat them at their own game.
* Horses. Who needs horses when your own mane lets you fly?
I loved the familiar feel of Piers Anthony’s dry narration. I even enjoyed the way he doesn’t build characters as much as set up puns. (“Call me Hair Brain.” —says the alien.) Given the novella format, the pace is necessarily fast, with lots of details brushed aside or ignored in favor of moving the story forward.
But there were a few things that really troubled me. First and most inescapable was the attempted rape. I’ve actually never been a fan of the wink, wink, nudge, nudge treatment of sex in Piers Anthony’s books. But that was young adult, with lots of puns designed to go over the heads of young audiences but amuse adult readers. In this day and age, a sexual assault in which actual penetration is prevented (and which causes no apparent psychological damage) by the victim’s magical ability to freeze her legs together is just eeewww… Not to mention the fact that she didn’t tell her date—or the cops—about it because “I didn’t want to mess up your evening.”
Overall, Hair Power is a fairly classic SciFi tale, complete with aliens and their mysterious powers. If you like an action and adventure, some fairly G-rated (if occasionally mishandled) romance, and lots of puns, then Hair Power is a fast, fun little read.
***I received this book for free from the publisher or author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.***
September 26, 2017
Hair Power is as fun as any Piers Anthony book I have read before, which is to say it was indeed fun. Anthony takes a seemingly everyday situation, even a tragedy, and turns it around for a comic science fiction/fantasy novella that takes up an afternoon quite comfortably.
This is an author who knows how to set a scene and use dialogue and the actions in a story to keep the reader intrigued. It definitely will not be the last Piers Anthony book I read.
This was a brisk experience due to its short nature, but also due to Anthony's sheer readability. I would recommend this book to newcomers who want to enjoy some quality science fiction, as well as those who enjoy science fiction on a regular basis.
This is an author who knows how to set a scene and use dialogue and the actions in a story to keep the reader intrigued. It definitely will not be the last Piers Anthony book I read.
This was a brisk experience due to its short nature, but also due to Anthony's sheer readability. I would recommend this book to newcomers who want to enjoy some quality science fiction, as well as those who enjoy science fiction on a regular basis.
March 5, 2019
Hair Power is one of the stronger novellas from Piers Anthony. As with other works of this nature, it's satirical and quite entertaining. The novella also avoids some of Anthony's themes that would make it more controversial (see some of his other works, like Sopaths - which I really liked, by the way). Looking forward to reading the other two in the series.
January 6, 2023
I have been a big Anthony fan ...
For most of my life, have read his stuff for 40 years... But this is somehow lacking to me... Though the elements should make for a great read. I don't know if his style just adapted to the times, or if there's something else going on. Maybe I'll try it again sometime
For most of my life, have read his stuff for 40 years... But this is somehow lacking to me... Though the elements should make for a great read. I don't know if his style just adapted to the times, or if there's something else going on. Maybe I'll try it again sometime
July 7, 2017
This was a weird one. Very quick, easy on the details… it felt more like an exploration of an idea rather than a serious book. I don't regret time spent reading it, but that's only because of how short it was.
June 10, 2018
Never dissappointed
I absolutely love this author. He is my complete favorite writer. On my journey to read all of his work. This book was really well done. The beginning grabbed my heart strings and then I was off to my usual world of fantasy!
I absolutely love this author. He is my complete favorite writer. On my journey to read all of his work. This book was really well done. The beginning grabbed my heart strings and then I was off to my usual world of fantasy!
July 22, 2019
Pure Fantasy Delight!
Once again Piers Anthony delivers an absolutely fun and entertaining work of fantasy fiction. Fans of Piers Anthony and any fans of fantasy fiction are sure to enjoy this hair raising tale.
Once again Piers Anthony delivers an absolutely fun and entertaining work of fantasy fiction. Fans of Piers Anthony and any fans of fantasy fiction are sure to enjoy this hair raising tale.
August 25, 2019
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A very unique idea was turned in to an amazing on. This amazing idea was turned on to a wonderful story written by Piers Anthony. Hair Power was a great book. I'm looking forward to a sequel!
A very unique idea was turned in to an amazing on. This amazing idea was turned on to a wonderful story written by Piers Anthony. Hair Power was a great book. I'm looking forward to a sequel!
December 3, 2020
Love your work, Mr Anthony
Big fan, since childhood. Thanks for all that you have brought into my life, and the world, sir. You are one of those who's work formed our modern consciousness. So many memes, and in the true usage of the word as opposed to this new, modern one
Big fan, since childhood. Thanks for all that you have brought into my life, and the world, sir. You are one of those who's work formed our modern consciousness. So many memes, and in the true usage of the word as opposed to this new, modern one
October 13, 2019
Another good book
I have enjoyed Piers Anthony's books since I was a young teenager. I am a bit older now and still enjoy his writing. Never to be disappointed.
I have enjoyed Piers Anthony's books since I was a young teenager. I am a bit older now and still enjoy his writing. Never to be disappointed.
February 19, 2020
Ok reading
A bit xanth like in that Challenges and solutions presented a bit simplistic for me. Im still going to read the other two books.
A bit xanth like in that Challenges and solutions presented a bit simplistic for me. Im still going to read the other two books.
December 19, 2020
Piers Anthony at his best.
A real page turner. I read the entire book in one sitting. He has not lost his touch. Very enjoyable and suspenseful.
A real page turner. I read the entire book in one sitting. He has not lost his touch. Very enjoyable and suspenseful.
January 1, 2022
Truly terrible. Clunky dialog, flat characters, and the worst gratuitous sexual encounters ever.
The magic has left Xanth.
The magic has left Xanth.
October 6, 2022
Almost as good as xanth books
Having read at least 20 + , I can see where it is cimpaeable. More out of ordinary would be better thou BB h. Loved it!!
Having read at least 20 + , I can see where it is cimpaeable. More out of ordinary would be better thou BB h. Loved it!!
August 26, 2023
Excellent book
This is a very unusual book about the powers that arises from the head of Quiti, a young woman who has a deadly brain tumor that will take her life in 6 more months. It's should be only read by adults as there is sex in the story.
This is a very unusual book about the powers that arises from the head of Quiti, a young woman who has a deadly brain tumor that will take her life in 6 more months. It's should be only read by adults as there is sex in the story.
March 8, 2017
Piers Anthony creates yet another intriguing concept about an alien life force that comes to Earth and latches onto a human for mutual benefit. Main character, Quiteria, or Quiti, has cancer, or at least she did before she met Hair Brain. The alien form gives her physical strength, intelligence, allows her to change her physical appearance, makes her ravenous with hunger, and comes with a whole host of magical powers that grow as the hair does.
To be honest, the story is a bit bizarre and is not something I would necessarily choose to read. The plot seems underdeveloped in areas as the story moves along very quickly. Some scenes seem repetitive, especially when Quiti explains her predicament and her hair to others. There are also a decent amount of sexual scenes within the novel that aren’t necessary and don’t seem to fit with the story. The dialogue and word choice are simple and give a younger vibe, yet these scenes seem too mature for it. I am not saying that I am against writing like this, however, I didn’t think it was necessary for the plot to advance.
Piers Anthony definitely is a unique author and although his books wouldn’t be my first choice, I am still drawn to read his stories since they are so different than anything I have encountered before.
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.
To be honest, the story is a bit bizarre and is not something I would necessarily choose to read. The plot seems underdeveloped in areas as the story moves along very quickly. Some scenes seem repetitive, especially when Quiti explains her predicament and her hair to others. There are also a decent amount of sexual scenes within the novel that aren’t necessary and don’t seem to fit with the story. The dialogue and word choice are simple and give a younger vibe, yet these scenes seem too mature for it. I am not saying that I am against writing like this, however, I didn’t think it was necessary for the plot to advance.
Piers Anthony definitely is a unique author and although his books wouldn’t be my first choice, I am still drawn to read his stories since they are so different than anything I have encountered before.
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.
October 31, 2016
Hair Power by Piers Anthony Quiti is a young lady who unfortunately has terminal brain cancer. She’s been dealing with it well, but the cost of it emotionally on her parents and friends is weighing upon her. She has chosen to take her own life, planned it out in fact. However, at the moment when she is determined this is the right path and she is about to go through it, she meets an alien hairball that needs her help. Of course, she can’t say no to it’s simple request, but much to her surprise, her outlook changes and her cancer appears to be going into remission. What follows is a story of a buddy superhero and her adventures with her alien hairball.
This was an odd mix of a story for me. On one hand, the story is very simply told. The sentences are short and to the point. There are few descriptors and few large words. On the other hand, there are some adult themes (mostly sex) that crop up several times in this book. I don’t mind sex in books, but I wasn’t expecting the array of sexual relationships in this book, only one of which is a standard loving husband-wife scenario. I was constantly wondering if I was reading a book for teens or a compilation of sexual conquests, given the various scenarios. I will say that it was refreshing to have a young lady be so straight forward about her sexuality, though she does manage to get nude quite often, and sometimes it did not really pertinent to the plot.
I liked the start of the book the best. I felt that had the most meat to it. As Quiti gets to know her new hair better, she continues to develop superpowers. At first, it is just a raised IQ that makes her last year of highschool that much easier. Then she turns into a babe, which is, sadly, really important for the rest of the book because she uses her sexuality to distract people or obtain things. Her new looks definitely attract Speedo, who is a few years younger than her. In fact, they have a rather odd night together where she gives him permission to do as he likes provided it’s not intercourse and then she proceeds to sleep through it. This scene was the first time I really questioned where the author was trying to go with this book. I never really stopped asking that question. Couple that with the attempted rape scene at a highschool dance, well, read it and wonder.
Of course having the cancer disappear was awesome, but she felt she had to keep that under wraps at first. She ends up going on an impromptu trip to avoid being captured by some nebulous entity that somehow knows about her hair and her burgeoning superpowers. Along the way, she meets many interesting people like Gena (a truck driver), Idola (a 10 year old that needs a new family), Roque (a college kid who’s just figuring out his life), Desiree (a prostitute), and Tillo (a boy in need of some role models).
Here and there are hints that some secretive government agency is trying to track Quiti and her hair, but we see few manifestations of this until the last fifth of the book. Even then, it’s still nebulous, disjointed, and not at all fleshed out. In fact, most of the book felt like a very detailed screenplay for a movie rather than a novel. Actions are told so simply, the character’s logic laid out so straight forwardly that it seemed that Quiti lacked character. There were few facial expressions, few mentions of emotions, never really any going back and forth on decisions or anxiety or happiness, etc. I would have enjoyed this story much more if it had been fleshed out instead of just bones, tendons, and ligaments.
Also, Quiti gets so many powers from the hair that it seems there is almost nothing she can’t do. There’s invisibility, flight, underwater breathing, no need for clothing, super intelligence, invulnerability to bullets and knives, quickened reflexes, perfect health, ability to change appearance, etc. She does need to eat a lot (she’s eating for two) and the hair likes to sunbath daily if possible. It eventually got to the point that Quiti became boring because she was so powerful. There was no worthy adversary that could match her. So I was never really concerned for her safety or freedom and therefore the plot was a bit boring as well. All told, this was a rather ho-hum tale for me.
I received a free copy of this book.
This was an odd mix of a story for me. On one hand, the story is very simply told. The sentences are short and to the point. There are few descriptors and few large words. On the other hand, there are some adult themes (mostly sex) that crop up several times in this book. I don’t mind sex in books, but I wasn’t expecting the array of sexual relationships in this book, only one of which is a standard loving husband-wife scenario. I was constantly wondering if I was reading a book for teens or a compilation of sexual conquests, given the various scenarios. I will say that it was refreshing to have a young lady be so straight forward about her sexuality, though she does manage to get nude quite often, and sometimes it did not really pertinent to the plot.
I liked the start of the book the best. I felt that had the most meat to it. As Quiti gets to know her new hair better, she continues to develop superpowers. At first, it is just a raised IQ that makes her last year of highschool that much easier. Then she turns into a babe, which is, sadly, really important for the rest of the book because she uses her sexuality to distract people or obtain things. Her new looks definitely attract Speedo, who is a few years younger than her. In fact, they have a rather odd night together where she gives him permission to do as he likes provided it’s not intercourse and then she proceeds to sleep through it. This scene was the first time I really questioned where the author was trying to go with this book. I never really stopped asking that question. Couple that with the attempted rape scene at a highschool dance, well, read it and wonder.
Of course having the cancer disappear was awesome, but she felt she had to keep that under wraps at first. She ends up going on an impromptu trip to avoid being captured by some nebulous entity that somehow knows about her hair and her burgeoning superpowers. Along the way, she meets many interesting people like Gena (a truck driver), Idola (a 10 year old that needs a new family), Roque (a college kid who’s just figuring out his life), Desiree (a prostitute), and Tillo (a boy in need of some role models).
Here and there are hints that some secretive government agency is trying to track Quiti and her hair, but we see few manifestations of this until the last fifth of the book. Even then, it’s still nebulous, disjointed, and not at all fleshed out. In fact, most of the book felt like a very detailed screenplay for a movie rather than a novel. Actions are told so simply, the character’s logic laid out so straight forwardly that it seemed that Quiti lacked character. There were few facial expressions, few mentions of emotions, never really any going back and forth on decisions or anxiety or happiness, etc. I would have enjoyed this story much more if it had been fleshed out instead of just bones, tendons, and ligaments.
Also, Quiti gets so many powers from the hair that it seems there is almost nothing she can’t do. There’s invisibility, flight, underwater breathing, no need for clothing, super intelligence, invulnerability to bullets and knives, quickened reflexes, perfect health, ability to change appearance, etc. She does need to eat a lot (she’s eating for two) and the hair likes to sunbath daily if possible. It eventually got to the point that Quiti became boring because she was so powerful. There was no worthy adversary that could match her. So I was never really concerned for her safety or freedom and therefore the plot was a bit boring as well. All told, this was a rather ho-hum tale for me.
I received a free copy of this book.
October 31, 2016
Quiti is a young lady who unfortunately has terminal brain cancer. She’s been dealing with it well, but the cost of it emotionally on her parents and friends is weighing upon her. She has chosen to take her own life, planned it out in fact. However, at the moment when she is determined this is the right path and she is about to go through it, she meets an alien hairball that needs her help. Of course, she can’t say no to it’s simple request, but much to her surprise, her outlook changes and her cancer appears to be going into remission. What follows is a story of a buddy superhero and her adventures with her alien hairball.
This was an odd mix of a story for me. On one hand, the story is very simply told. The sentences are short and to the point. There are few descriptors and few large words. On the other hand, there are some adult themes (mostly sex) that crop up several times in this book. I don’t mind sex in books, but I wasn’t expecting the array of sexual relationships in this book, only one of which is a standard loving husband-wife scenario. I was constantly wondering if I was reading a book for teens or a compilation of sexual conquests, given the various scenarios. I will say that it was refreshing to have a young lady be so straight forward about her sexuality, though she does manage to get nude quite often, and sometimes it did not really pertinent to the plot.
I liked the start of the book the best. I felt that had the most meat to it. As Quiti gets to know her new hair better, she continues to develop superpowers. At first, it is just a raised IQ that makes her last year of highschool that much easier. Then she turns into a babe, which is, sadly, really important for the rest of the book because she uses her sexuality to distract people or obtain things. Her new looks definitely attract Speedo, who is a few years younger than her. In fact, they have a rather odd night together where she gives him permission to do as he likes provided it’s not intercourse and then she proceeds to sleep through it. This scene was the first time I really questioned where the author was trying to go with this book. I never really stopped asking that question. Couple that with the attempted rape scene at a highschool dance, well, read it and wonder.
Of course having the cancer disappear was awesome, but she felt she had to keep that under wraps at first. She ends up going on an impromptu trip to avoid being captured by some nebulous entity that somehow knows about her hair and her burgeoning superpowers. Along the way, she meets many interesting people like Gena (a truck driver), Idola (a 10 year old that needs a new family), Roque (a college kid who’s just figuring out his life), Desiree (a prostitute), and Tillo (a boy in need of some role models).
Here and there are hints that some secretive government agency is trying to track Quiti and her hair, but we see few manifestations of this until the last fifth of the book. Even then, it’s still nebulous, disjointed, and not at all fleshed out. In fact, most of the book felt like a very detailed screenplay for a movie rather than a novel. Actions are told so simply, the character’s logic laid out so straight forwardly that it seemed that Quiti lacked character. There were few facial expressions, few mentions of emotions, never really any going back and forth on decisions or anxiety or happiness, etc. I would have enjoyed this story much more if it had been fleshed out instead of just bones, tendons, and ligaments.
Also, Quiti gets so many powers from the hair that it seems there is almost nothing she can’t do. There’s invisibility, flight, underwater breathing, no need for clothing, super intelligence, invulnerability to bullets and knives, quickened reflexes, perfect health, ability to change appearance, etc. She does need to eat a lot (she’s eating for two) and the hair likes to sunbath daily if possible. It eventually got to the point that Quiti became boring because she was so powerful. There was no worthy adversary that could match her. So I was never really concerned for her safety or freedom and therefore the plot was a bit boring as well. All told, this was a rather ho-hum tale for me.
I received a free copy of this book.
This was an odd mix of a story for me. On one hand, the story is very simply told. The sentences are short and to the point. There are few descriptors and few large words. On the other hand, there are some adult themes (mostly sex) that crop up several times in this book. I don’t mind sex in books, but I wasn’t expecting the array of sexual relationships in this book, only one of which is a standard loving husband-wife scenario. I was constantly wondering if I was reading a book for teens or a compilation of sexual conquests, given the various scenarios. I will say that it was refreshing to have a young lady be so straight forward about her sexuality, though she does manage to get nude quite often, and sometimes it did not really pertinent to the plot.
I liked the start of the book the best. I felt that had the most meat to it. As Quiti gets to know her new hair better, she continues to develop superpowers. At first, it is just a raised IQ that makes her last year of highschool that much easier. Then she turns into a babe, which is, sadly, really important for the rest of the book because she uses her sexuality to distract people or obtain things. Her new looks definitely attract Speedo, who is a few years younger than her. In fact, they have a rather odd night together where she gives him permission to do as he likes provided it’s not intercourse and then she proceeds to sleep through it. This scene was the first time I really questioned where the author was trying to go with this book. I never really stopped asking that question. Couple that with the attempted rape scene at a highschool dance, well, read it and wonder.
Of course having the cancer disappear was awesome, but she felt she had to keep that under wraps at first. She ends up going on an impromptu trip to avoid being captured by some nebulous entity that somehow knows about her hair and her burgeoning superpowers. Along the way, she meets many interesting people like Gena (a truck driver), Idola (a 10 year old that needs a new family), Roque (a college kid who’s just figuring out his life), Desiree (a prostitute), and Tillo (a boy in need of some role models).
Here and there are hints that some secretive government agency is trying to track Quiti and her hair, but we see few manifestations of this until the last fifth of the book. Even then, it’s still nebulous, disjointed, and not at all fleshed out. In fact, most of the book felt like a very detailed screenplay for a movie rather than a novel. Actions are told so simply, the character’s logic laid out so straight forwardly that it seemed that Quiti lacked character. There were few facial expressions, few mentions of emotions, never really any going back and forth on decisions or anxiety or happiness, etc. I would have enjoyed this story much more if it had been fleshed out instead of just bones, tendons, and ligaments.
Also, Quiti gets so many powers from the hair that it seems there is almost nothing she can’t do. There’s invisibility, flight, underwater breathing, no need for clothing, super intelligence, invulnerability to bullets and knives, quickened reflexes, perfect health, ability to change appearance, etc. She does need to eat a lot (she’s eating for two) and the hair likes to sunbath daily if possible. It eventually got to the point that Quiti became boring because she was so powerful. There was no worthy adversary that could match her. So I was never really concerned for her safety or freedom and therefore the plot was a bit boring as well. All told, this was a rather ho-hum tale for me.
I received a free copy of this book.
July 18, 2016
Quiti is at the end of her rope. Not one for optimism, she has accepted that no matter what, she will die within the year of cancer. In a last attempt to seize control of her fate in some way, she resolves to end her life herself, freeing herself of the pain and suffering that is sure to come. Everything changes, however, when a telepathic ball of hair asks for her help and launches her into unexpected and uncharted territory.
Hair Power, acclaimed and prolific fantasy author Piers Anthony’s most recent work, is an exciting and vastly entertaining novella. From the outset of the work, Anthony’s writing style is upfront and appealing, pulling the reader into Quiti’s world. The plot is immediately interesting and unique, continually encouraging the audience to keep reading in order to find out what happens next. One can’t help but feel for Quiti and her situation as her shock at her newfound positivity and happiness following her encounter with the hairball truly showcases the dark emotional place she was in previously. With the new hair given to her by the alien visitor, Quiti finds herself possessing newfound positivity, strength, and even intelligence, each of which in a way reveal some of Quiti’s personality given they are so different from her prior state. Parts of the plot are pretty weird, but this doesn’t diminish the value of the plot or the work. Instead, this simply increases the entertainment value of the novella.
My only issue with Hair Power is at that at times the dialogue and bits of prose can seem a bit stilted or contrived. However, this is not a big issue and doesn’t detract from the work. Overall, I really enjoyed Piers Anthony’s Hair Power. It is a wonderful and delightful addition to the abundance of works in the science fiction/fantasy genre and is sure to appeal to any reader with its enjoyable plot and characters. Personally, I plan on looking into the rest of Anthony’s impressive and imaginative corpus.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for writing a review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.
Hair Power, acclaimed and prolific fantasy author Piers Anthony’s most recent work, is an exciting and vastly entertaining novella. From the outset of the work, Anthony’s writing style is upfront and appealing, pulling the reader into Quiti’s world. The plot is immediately interesting and unique, continually encouraging the audience to keep reading in order to find out what happens next. One can’t help but feel for Quiti and her situation as her shock at her newfound positivity and happiness following her encounter with the hairball truly showcases the dark emotional place she was in previously. With the new hair given to her by the alien visitor, Quiti finds herself possessing newfound positivity, strength, and even intelligence, each of which in a way reveal some of Quiti’s personality given they are so different from her prior state. Parts of the plot are pretty weird, but this doesn’t diminish the value of the plot or the work. Instead, this simply increases the entertainment value of the novella.
My only issue with Hair Power is at that at times the dialogue and bits of prose can seem a bit stilted or contrived. However, this is not a big issue and doesn’t detract from the work. Overall, I really enjoyed Piers Anthony’s Hair Power. It is a wonderful and delightful addition to the abundance of works in the science fiction/fantasy genre and is sure to appeal to any reader with its enjoyable plot and characters. Personally, I plan on looking into the rest of Anthony’s impressive and imaginative corpus.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for writing a review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.
August 13, 2016
Disclaimers
1. I have received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
2. To be perfectly honest and open, I love Piers Anthony! His imagination has always allowed mine to soar.
I really, really want to speak on the Xanth series because they were an intricate part of my life growing up, and, therefore, they are an intricate part of who I am today. But, I will refrain from doing so and only focus on Hair Power.
From the first line, nostalgic memories surged and I felt like that kid tucked into a corner and reading as though that's what sustained me. I enjoyed the play on words, the humor infused into the plot, and the characters who seemed to enjoy the story as much as I did.
While I enjoyed the quick read and loved the memories such quirky characters brought about, there were a few things that affected the read for me.
The first thing is the dialogue. It's fun at times, but at others it's very formal, and even if I took into consideration the powers of the hair, all characters spoke in a similar manner, including a prostitute. My feeling about this would be different were there a bit more variety in word choice and sentence construction based on character.
The other thing is odder than usual plot points. One major plot point that bothered me to no end had to do with Quiti, the main character, being invited to a dance by 16-year old Speedo. During the dance, Quiti discovers new things about her powers, but multiple men hit on her and one man spiked her drink while he had vodka... how in the world is this a dance for 16-year olds?
These issues were minor, at best, when compared with the overall story. I'm very interested in finding out more about the hairballs and seeing how the world adapts to their presence.
1. I have received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
2. To be perfectly honest and open, I love Piers Anthony! His imagination has always allowed mine to soar.
I really, really want to speak on the Xanth series because they were an intricate part of my life growing up, and, therefore, they are an intricate part of who I am today. But, I will refrain from doing so and only focus on Hair Power.
From the first line, nostalgic memories surged and I felt like that kid tucked into a corner and reading as though that's what sustained me. I enjoyed the play on words, the humor infused into the plot, and the characters who seemed to enjoy the story as much as I did.
While I enjoyed the quick read and loved the memories such quirky characters brought about, there were a few things that affected the read for me.
The first thing is the dialogue. It's fun at times, but at others it's very formal, and even if I took into consideration the powers of the hair, all characters spoke in a similar manner, including a prostitute. My feeling about this would be different were there a bit more variety in word choice and sentence construction based on character.
The other thing is odder than usual plot points. One major plot point that bothered me to no end had to do with Quiti, the main character, being invited to a dance by 16-year old Speedo. During the dance, Quiti discovers new things about her powers, but multiple men hit on her and one man spiked her drink while he had vodka... how in the world is this a dance for 16-year olds?
These issues were minor, at best, when compared with the overall story. I'm very interested in finding out more about the hairballs and seeing how the world adapts to their presence.
October 3, 2016
Wild idea; crazy ride!
What if a friendly alien race were to come to Earth with the intent to be helpful and trade knowledge and technology how could it avoid the worse of human nature and suspicion? One way would be quietly hiding in plain sight and evaluating passersby who had a great need of some type with which the aliens could help; for example, victims of dread diseases and poor social conditions.
What if those the aliens helped no longer fit into their niche in human society because of unique abilities set them apart from other humans around them? What if they had to remain in hiding until there were enough of them to establish an alien embassy so they could negotiate as equals with the governments of Earth?
And so it is with Hair Power that odd alien creatures resembling hair balls begin to locate people with great needs, brain cancer, AIDS, and similar issues so that they can restore their health and vitality while creating human/alien hybrids in order to establish a diplomatic presence on Earth.
Hair Power follows characters that become hybrids through the hardships of separating themselves from human society in order to fulfill the alien agenda. The characters are sufficiently well developed to serve the story and have interesting backgrounds before their alien involvement.
Hair Power is a science fiction ‘what if’ scenario that should appeal to any lover of science Fiction (especially followers of Piers Anthony) and to anyone else who simply wants a good quick offbeat read.
What if a friendly alien race were to come to Earth with the intent to be helpful and trade knowledge and technology how could it avoid the worse of human nature and suspicion? One way would be quietly hiding in plain sight and evaluating passersby who had a great need of some type with which the aliens could help; for example, victims of dread diseases and poor social conditions.
What if those the aliens helped no longer fit into their niche in human society because of unique abilities set them apart from other humans around them? What if they had to remain in hiding until there were enough of them to establish an alien embassy so they could negotiate as equals with the governments of Earth?
And so it is with Hair Power that odd alien creatures resembling hair balls begin to locate people with great needs, brain cancer, AIDS, and similar issues so that they can restore their health and vitality while creating human/alien hybrids in order to establish a diplomatic presence on Earth.
Hair Power follows characters that become hybrids through the hardships of separating themselves from human society in order to fulfill the alien agenda. The characters are sufficiently well developed to serve the story and have interesting backgrounds before their alien involvement.
Hair Power is a science fiction ‘what if’ scenario that should appeal to any lover of science Fiction (especially followers of Piers Anthony) and to anyone else who simply wants a good quick offbeat read.
October 13, 2016
With a very unique surmise, this tale borders on quirky while maintaining serious undertones which leave reader thinking long after the book is set down.
Quiti is dying of cancer and is about to simply give up on life. When a hallucination leads her to assist a talking hair ball--one that claims to want to grant her one wish--she's sure she's lost her mind. But it's exactly this wish which is about to change her life around.
This was the first time I've read a book by Piers Anthony, and it won't be my last. The writing style is a bit choppy, and the scene descriptions and character depth are sometimes left a bit shallow. But all of it is more than adequate for this book. Through a clever and somewhat curious plot, the author creates an easy to read, suspenseful adventure, while placing some very basic questions about life.
There's a little bit of humor, a sense of adventure and just the right amount of tension to make it impossible to set the book down. The characters each have their own backgrounds and the situations are kept just real enough to make them feel believable. The only thing which didn't quite fit was Quiti's age. She's supposedly around twenty, but her character came across younger at times.
This is a lovely read for science fiction fans and is sure to hook those who like a lot of thought with a bit of weird thrown in.
I received a free copy from the publisher.
Quiti is dying of cancer and is about to simply give up on life. When a hallucination leads her to assist a talking hair ball--one that claims to want to grant her one wish--she's sure she's lost her mind. But it's exactly this wish which is about to change her life around.
This was the first time I've read a book by Piers Anthony, and it won't be my last. The writing style is a bit choppy, and the scene descriptions and character depth are sometimes left a bit shallow. But all of it is more than adequate for this book. Through a clever and somewhat curious plot, the author creates an easy to read, suspenseful adventure, while placing some very basic questions about life.
There's a little bit of humor, a sense of adventure and just the right amount of tension to make it impossible to set the book down. The characters each have their own backgrounds and the situations are kept just real enough to make them feel believable. The only thing which didn't quite fit was Quiti's age. She's supposedly around twenty, but her character came across younger at times.
This is a lovely read for science fiction fans and is sure to hook those who like a lot of thought with a bit of weird thrown in.
I received a free copy from the publisher.
July 24, 2016
This was my first experience with Piers Anthony and I think it will end up being my last. I did not enjoy this book at all. The writing style is quite choppy and does not flow together nicely. It left me not enjoying the narrative and not fully being able to get into the story.
As for the plot, I feel like a lot of things were not thoroughly explained. The main character I had a lot of issues with. Especially in the areas that contained almost attempted rape scenes which seemed to be portrayed as attempted sex scenes (even though her hair allows her to prevent penetration). I did not appreciate what seemed like a lack of severity of the situation that occurred at the dance as well as her almost allowing it to happen, which magic/alien hair or not doesn't sit well with me.
I also didn't like the ending. It seems like the book went from alien hair to a High School Musical episode in a way that did not seem necessary or make sense in the light of all that is discovered throughout the book.
Overall, I had some high expectations since Piers Anthony has written many books and is a popular author. But I was disappointed and believe that this book did not live up to the hype surrounding Piers Anthony's name.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.
As for the plot, I feel like a lot of things were not thoroughly explained. The main character I had a lot of issues with. Especially in the areas that contained almost attempted rape scenes which seemed to be portrayed as attempted sex scenes (even though her hair allows her to prevent penetration). I did not appreciate what seemed like a lack of severity of the situation that occurred at the dance as well as her almost allowing it to happen, which magic/alien hair or not doesn't sit well with me.
I also didn't like the ending. It seems like the book went from alien hair to a High School Musical episode in a way that did not seem necessary or make sense in the light of all that is discovered throughout the book.
Overall, I had some high expectations since Piers Anthony has written many books and is a popular author. But I was disappointed and believe that this book did not live up to the hype surrounding Piers Anthony's name.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.
September 14, 2016
This book enticed me from the first sentence. Anthony kept me intrigued with a fast-paced read, including a blend of fantasy and romance. A story about Quiti, a girl who wants to end her life before a terminal illness does it for her. However, an unusual turn of events sparks a second chance for Quiti, leading her to new friendships and a gift that changes her whole life.
The story was creative and cute, a nice short read. The characters were charming. However, the story read choppy at times, not seamlessly flowing throughout the piece. It felt very blunt and formal. There really was not any work up, which made it hard to form connections with the characters. Depending on what style of writing you prefer, this might or might not be a good choice for you.
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.
The story was creative and cute, a nice short read. The characters were charming. However, the story read choppy at times, not seamlessly flowing throughout the piece. It felt very blunt and formal. There really was not any work up, which made it hard to form connections with the characters. Depending on what style of writing you prefer, this might or might not be a good choice for you.
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.
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