The Xanth stories are almost always delightful, entertaining and fun. The light-hearted fantasy fun makes a nice contrast for the all too real-feeling emotions the characters experience, and this story is no exception to my eye. The main character heads off on the typical quest, with the usual crew of misfits/found family he gathers around him, in search of something he finds within himself (for a given value of that term--no spoilers here) .Yet still somehow Mr. Anthony makes it all feel fresh and keeps your attention till the climax. Definitely rec for fans of Xanth!

Sad to say that I could not get into this one, though I love the author. Perhaps it is just that I have grown away from this series.

"Isis Orb" is a complicated tale of magical powers gone wrong. Not so much that our questing travelers are using their powers for evil, more like the Gods were drunk and got power assignments tangled up with the result that these unhappy travelers all seem to have missed the particular powers they think they need. Somehow, though, the powers they have as a group do the needful and the various quests are completed. Love conquers and contentment ensues. Once again Piers Anthony endows a simple book with a cosmic message to enjoy who we are.

This is the 40th book in the Xanth series.

I received a review copy of "Isis Orb" by Piers Anthony (Open Road Integrated Media) through NetGalley.com.

Reviewed on Goodreads .

A very fun book! If your looking for an epic fantasy or series mystery, this is not it. This is just a fun story in the wacky world of Xanth. It has humor, puns, and a bit of puzzle solving. The thing about Xanth novels, is your told what the quest a person will be on and why, but you never know the twists and turns of how it gets too that end.

My first Piers Anthony book, many many years ago, was the first Xanth novel, A Spell for Chameleon in 1977, and I loved it! I have read most of his books since then. Xanth is probably the only series of his that I have not read in its entirety, because there are so many. Isis Orb is #40

This is a typical Xanth novel, in where the Good Magician Humphrey gives out a quest to a citizen of Xanth, to give them a chance to find what they want. In this particular story, Hapless is the name of the main character who can conjure any musical instrument, but cannot play any of them, in fact, he is excruciatingly horrible at all of them. He wants to find the one instrument that he can play well. Humphrey sends him on the quest for the Isis Orb, a powerful device that may help him.

Not to spoil anything, Hapless is joined by 5 other companions seeking there own answers to their problems, that the Isis Orb can help with as well.

Its a fast and fun read, has zany characters, a good overall plot, and lots of juvenile humor... as is expected in Xanth novels. Its not a serious, epic, fantasy story, but no Xanth novel is. It is meant to be fun and is. I highly recommend this book to Xanth fans!