My 12 year-old really liked -A Spell for Chameleon- so now we're on to the next book (can't say I'm all that excited).

So my reaction to this book is the same as my reaction to the re-read of [b:A Spell for Chameleon|76664|A Spell for Chameleon (Xanth, #1)|Piers Anthony|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179543785s/76664.jpg|2501416]. Too much sexual innuendo for kids. Too much "theory" for kids. Not serious enough for adults. Not funny enough for adults. Every woman is defined by her looks and made to be either a sexual object or basically "not a woman".

So again I ask who are these books written for? If I at age 41 (1000's of books later) was having trouble interpreting the the ethical debate about whether to set the demon free then it can't be for kids right? Then add in the comments about sex, temptation, the descriptions of the women and you think this must be for adults. But the story itself is "lite" and filled with silly puns, the kind of stuff you find in kids books.

Anyway my boy's 13 now and he liked it (I'm assuming because of the sex references). He says he wants to read more and I remember [b:Castle Roogna|96977|Castle Roogna (Xanth, #3)|Piers Anthony|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179544866s/96977.jpg|1387490] being my favorite of the first 3 books so I guess we'll move on to that one and hopefully like it more.

Funny how something that seemed so clever and original at first can just as quickly seem trite and sophomoric.

I was so into this series when I was a young teen!

I found this novel enjoyable, but I'm not sure that I can continue with the series. I feel like each book will be more of the same. Go here, run into strange creatures, escape from danger, talk about attractive or irritating females, solve problem, return home. The characters aren't very interesting, and Xanth is no more unique than it was in the previous novel. These stories would be better with a force of evil or sense of purpose. The puns are amusing at times and irritating at others. Overall, these books are decent light reading, and would serve you well for a brief escape into a different world.

A bit disjointed. I think I need a respite from the land of Xanth, but I'll return.

I have to admit, I only sort of remember reading this one in my youth. Elements didn't stick out to me as much as with the first novel, but I liked this one much better. I'm going to try to re-read the first nine Xanth novels, then call it good.

The second in the series did nothaverhw impact of the first, but it's still fun to see all the wordplay--literal sunflowers and blue bottle flies. Fun.

This book continues on from the previous novel, set a year on in the future, when the main characters are now married and trying hard to cope with the realities of married life and the sobering arrival of children, plus the unwanted affections of attractive females. In order to come to terms with this and to grow up a bit they go on an adventure to find the source of the magic.

Like the previous book this one is set in the magic world of Xanth where the characters are to some degree caricatures as in a cartoon world with the men always handsome and the women always pretty. Reality gets suspended and anything is possible. Action is fast paced and moves rapidly across the country. Light and easy to read, but with depth and delivery that lacks in the first book.