With a Tangled Skein (Incarnations of Immortality, Book 3)

This was the first of the Incarnations books that I read, and fell in love with the series within the first couple of chapters. I was already a Piers Anthony fan, loving the Xanth series, but this series is much more mature and has deeper plots and characters than the light Xanth books do. You feel for the characters, come to love them, and this is what happened when I began reading about Niobe and her life. Honestly, this book has changed and influenced my life in a many ways, and silly as that may sound. While this is a stand-alone novel, much like Anthony's other series books, I highly suggest reading this one begining to end--it will help with understanding some of the later books, as this is one series that is incredibly interwoven.

I loved the first book, wasn't too wild about the second one, but could not put this third book down. It was WONDERFUL, a great addition to the Incarnations of Immortality series. It is nice to see the big story really start to develop. I had started loosing hope on the second book (I would suggest skipping it) but am really committed to the story now that I've finished the third one.Niobe is a character and her life is a real joy to read. It is great to see how her hand in the great game that Satan has bestowed upon the Incarnations. The story never lets up and never gets boring. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

If you up on your Greek Mythology, then perhaps you have heard of the 3 fates; Clotho who spins the threads of life, Lachesis, who measures the threads of life and Atropos, who cuts the threads of life. Piers Anthony incorporates this with a vey clever twist in this "office" as one of the incarnatins of Immortality.The Protagonist in this Book is Niobe. I consider her truly the most important charater of the whole series. She is the Mother of the soon to be Mother nature (Orb in Bk 5), the grandmother of Luna (Dating the Incarnation of death and play the pivital role in bk 7). She is also related to Orlene, to be a key incarnation in book 7. Satan and her go at it pretty hard in his Novel. Niobe has a pesonal grugde with Satan and Satan doesn't care for her....but her daughther in book 5 and 6..well that is a different review.Niobe also gets to be the Incarnation of Fate twice. Once as the beautiful Clotho in her youth. (After having Luna). Then she steps down after a few decades still young and has another child(orb). As an incarnation. One doesn't age. When Niobe assumes the second aspect (Lachesis) she is in her forties. As Lachesis, her and Satan really rumble. This is a pivital book because it helps clarify topic from the first 2 books and sets ups events for the rest of the series. Great read

Recently my friend (who's review is also here I think) lent me his copy of "On a Pale Horse," the first book in this series. I loved it and immediately read the next two books. But Skein was just amazing. Anthony was original once again, taking the three famous mythologic Aspects of Fate- Clotho, the spinner; Lachesis, the weaver; and Lachesis, the cutter of threads- and giving them distinct roles, duties, and powers. This book took place over a long period of time and managed to do so smoothly, for I felt as if Niobe had actually experienced 80-something years and developed from a stubborn young woman to a wize old one. There were a few aspects (pardon the pun) I was unsatisfied with, namely the fact that it wasn't made clear enough that the man who fills the office of Chronos who she interacts with first in the novel is not Norton from the last book in the series; her encounters with him seem almost exactly the same as the ones in the that novel. I was able to know this was not the case because I did the math, and in order for that to be Norton, Luna would have to be born while her father was only four years old. Later in the novel it was made more evident, but it still leads to misunderstanding. Whatever the case, its still an excellent book, second only to "Inherit the Wind." Satan's maze was creative, despite being slightly tedious, and it expanded well on the life of the mysterious Magician Kaftan of the first novel in the series. I particularly like that this book was full of many smaller incidents that made the larger story, much like in the first book- a quality which was lacking in the second. Now I've begun the fourth book. I've heard wonderful things about book six and I can't wait to get to it. This series is an excellent choice for anyone who likes creative another-way-of-looking-at-things type books whith lots of characters and secrets. Before closing, you might note that the branches of the family tree in Skein are awfully close... its as close as it can get to incest without actually being it. Enjoy this book and the rest of the series!

This book was good down to the last page. The background of Luna's parents was the most intriguing part of it. If you haven't read this book, pick it up!! This book wasn't as confusing as it seemed from the start. I think everyone should read this book as it is the best in the Incarnations of Immortality series. Piers Anthony is a GENIUS!!! Definately a must read!