A Spell for Chameleon, by Piers Anthony

 

A Spell for Chameleon, by Piers Anthony, follows a twisting and moving plot throughout the magical land of Xanth. It chronicles the adventures of Bink, a person of good heart, but no magic, which is grounds for banishment. He quests across Xanth, meeting a deceptive sorceress named Iris, gaining knowledge from an old magician, Humphrey, outsmarting a dragon, meeting a girl who changes appearance gradually each day, following a cycle, and eventually getting banished. He meets an old supervillain who had been exiled before Bink's time, and they (reluctantly) work together to reenter Xanth. Once there, they discover an old castle that's been masking secrets for centuries. Once there, they discover that the castle won't let them leave, and they realize that they could be trapped indefinitely.

I liked this book for a variety of reasons, including the unexpected twists in the plot, which always kept me guessing over what would happen next. The characters were also really hilarious, and evolved and changed throughout the book. The world itself was spectacularly creative, involving thoughts, concepts, and plays on words that were both clever and funny. Overall, I would say it is a pretty good book, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys jokes and fantasy books. My only complaint is that there are just a tad too many puns.

Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 9

Montrose Library